morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-19
From: Holy Family Hostel, Pearisburg VA

To: Holy Family Hostel, Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

My parents left today after whisking me away to Blacksburg for a couple days off of renewal and relaxation. It was really hard to see them go for a million reaons - there is something unbelievably comforting about having my parents support when I'm going through a tough time - probably the same something that's existed since infancy where just being hugged makes everything all better. I also knew thah should I make it to Maine I probably won't see them again until I hit Baxter State Park. But they took care of me like only parents can - they stuffed me full and pumped me up and gave me lots of love and support and eased a great deal of my recent homesickness. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I have the greatest parents in the world.I believe I've found the source of my doubt and emptiness lately - I've forgotten how to look at the trail with wonder - wonder and awe are so important in life - I think they keep you alive and young and full of "spirit" as we've liked to call it lately. It's not about the mileage or sticking to a group schedule - it's about noticing the buds on a tree or sitting alone on a rock and taking in a view - it's about sitting alone quietly and reflecting on what I'm doing and how it's changing my life and how I want to be a different person when I come home. I spent today walking around town by myself listening to great music. I sat on the porch of this beautiful hostel writing and thinking and writing some more. I sat alone and watched one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen in a while. I walked around examining the flowering trees around the church. And I laid on the gazebo's picnic table reading and listening to the bees buzz and the birds sing all afternoon - and I feel better tonight than I have in a very long time. . .
Date: 2005-04-20
From: Holy Family Hostel, Pearisburg VA

To: Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Tough climb out of Pearisburg and my pack felt heavier than it ever has before-my food bag continues to amaze me- I sent considerable weight home with my parents and replaced it (and then some) with food weight...ah well, at least I'll fall asleep with sore muscles but a full belly. We planned 19 miles for today, but in a town as spread out as Pearisburg, leaving before noon is virtually impossible. We've camped on a nice ridge and just saw a gorgeous sunset, almost wishing we'd stayed at the shelter a mile back, rice field shelter, which was nestled atop a wide open bald/field type thing. We just had a disaster of a bear bag hanging (this is the first time we've camped in the WOODS vs. shelter camping or town camping, thus our first bear bag experience, man are we still novices 650 miles into the trail...) After 20 tries Gunter (former trail name sure shot for his bear cable precision---we've effectively stripped him of his former title forever after tonight)got our rope over a high tree branch and then picked a rotten stick to hoist the heavy bags in the air as Heidi held and pushed from underneath. Needless to say the stick and the bags both broke and almost fell on top of Heidi's head which would have been disastrous-our combined food bag weight is probably 150 pounds. The bags are now safely hung and out of reach of anything under seven feet tall. My parents brought me a wonderfully cheesy love story that I'm both engrossed in AND trying to speed through so I can burn the book and be rid of the weight...come on, I gotta make room for more candy bars!!!
Date: 2005-04-21
From: Campsite

To: Bailey's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

I woke up this morning feeling like a new woman. I've been working really hard on re-focusing and re-centering my hike...getting rid of some of my attachments (i.e. staying with the group, always having a hiking buddy, pushing big miles when my body isn't feeling it to keep up, by-passing a good view so I can make it in before dark, etc.)I woke up before the rest of the group to birds singing (a wonderful bonus of spring) and watched a beautiful sunrise to compliment the sunset last night and was all around looking forward to a day of hiking by myself and pondering the questions of the universe all while falling in love with the trail again, a relationship that I've let deteriorate these last few hundred miles. My body unfortunately had alternative plans. About three miles before our 10 mile lunch break stop (we were hoping for 20 miles today) my body fell apart. My feet that I so desperately tried to nurse back to health (and invested a lot of money into) were in agonizing pain-every step killed and my knees likewise fell apart. I haven't had a hint of knee pain since the beginning, and can only attribute it to my failing feet. I literally walked into the shelter in tears. No matter how positive your attitude, severe pain ruins a hike. Even after a ton of Ibuprofen I couldn't have gone another step past the 16 miles I hiked today. My hiking buddies, worried about me, have abandoned their "schedule" and are staying with me tonight.We had a big thunderstorm dump just after we got to the shelter, which was beautiful and powerful from our safe spot under a roof. We have a full shelter of soggy hikers tonight, which is fun but chaotic. I've been able to burn half my book already and now Gunter is engrossed in the cheesy romance-he's been reading over my shoulder this afternoon-I think he's just in it for the steamy love scene at the end. I'm feeling pretty anxious about my foot pain-I absolutely cannot hike under the kind of pain I did today...
Date: 2005-04-22
From: Bailey's Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I reached a very difficult decision. I can't walk anymore because my pain is ruining my hike and my thru-hiking experience. I can't hike but four or five miles before the insane cramping and swelling sets in in my feet-I've got blisters and knee pain and my feet are twice the size they should be. I can't even walk around in camp without hobbling. We were talking about mileage at lunch because Gunter and Pigpen have a timetable to get back to Pennsylvania and they were talking about doing big miles today to get back on track. I wanted to keep my decision quiet, but couldn't bear the thought of leaving them for good today, so I told the group my plan-hike to troutville and take a bus home in a few days. So now we've decided to hike the next few days together as a last hoorah and say our goodbyes in troutville. Having verbalized my plan I'm all of a sudden very sad and torn. I looked at the whole trail differently today knowing that I would be leaving soon and I started missing it before I'd even left. It's so strange how humans take so much of their lives for granted; the moment I decided to leave the millions of reasons that I love the woods and hiking and the AT became more clear and tangible than they've been the entire time and I know that I'll be back on the trail-as soon as my body allows. I'm just kind of overwhelmed in a way that I can't really put in words right now. The trail has changed my life and it's very much a part of me at this point in my journey-it's a horrible thing to have to say goodbye to something you love against your will.
Date: 2005-04-24
From: Catawba

To: Campbell
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

We didn't want to leave Down Home B&B this morning-they fixed us the best meal we've had on the trail so far-homemade granola, a huge fruit plate, danish, enormous waffles with blueberry and real maple syrup, real AND veggie sausage, and coffee, hot chocolate, and OJ-it was WONDERFUL! Cord, Billy, and I stayed up until 3:30 AM talking last night-easily the latest I've stayed up on the trail. We all had beds in the living area (pull out sofas and day beds) and talked about just about everything-it felt like an old junior high sleepover. It was inspirational conversation though- I woke up feeling really good about the decisions I've made and confident that I'll "be back" soon.It was SNOWING when we woke up-just flurries, really, but I'm still glad we stayed in a real house last night-tough to leave a cozy B&B for cold hiking, though. Luckily nothing is sticking and even though it's snowing it doesn't FEEL that cold-the wind's blowing like crazy though-we've rigged tarps over the opening in the shelter, so we're very comfortable. We did really short mileage today-partially for my feet but mostly so Gunter and Pig Pen can catch up. It was a pleasant hike to McAffee's Knob today-the most photographed spot on the AT-the clouds magically parted for the 15 minutes we were at the Knob so we could take our pictures and then covered up the view once we were done-PERFECT. I got really woozy up on the overhang-when you see the pictures you'll understand.It was a great day-surprising I can say that even though snow's still coming down like crazy outside-I was feeling a mixture of nostalgia and pride-thinking of all that I've learned during this crazy, wonderful journey, thinking of all the laughter and tears, realizing how much I've grown up over the last two months, and feeling proud-not like I'm admitting defeat-but empowered by the fact that I've come over 700 miles on my own and in the company of wonderful strangers. I've overcome wind, rain, sleet, snow, sunburn, loneliness, fear, exhaustion, soreness, hunger, homesickness, and unbearable foot pain...and now it's time to listen to my body and go home with the lessons I've learned. Gunter and PigPen just showed up, so I'll go and spend my last moments with my friends!
Date: 2005-05-31
To: Final Update
Miles today: 0.0

Just wanted to write a quick note and apologize for falling off the face of the earth without any word of what's been going on the last few weeks. Unfortunately it looks like being a lightweigt backpacking feather didn't save me from the thru-hiking death sentence...INJURY. It turns out I have some nasty tendonitis in my feet and probably knees. I'm not into drug treatments etc. and the other alternative to being able to get back on the trail is physical therapy, which I can't afford being a broke graduate lacking basic health insurance. One of the few sacrifices of avoiding the work force post-degree. I have been taking some herbal supplements, resting, doing a lot of stretching, and trying to ease back in to physical activity. I can only just now run after 4 weeks of rest and can still only hike 4 miles before severe foot pain sets in. After a couple of really depressing weeks after I realized my body wouldn't let me back before time ran out to finish my thru-hike I've found a new peace and have realized that all things happen for a reason and that the trail will always be there for me to finish. Now I'm looking for the next adventure in my life-hopefully a summer job in or near a national park or some outdoor naturalist work in good ole Charleston followed by a few fall months working in Europe. I'm also planning on joining Gunter and PigPen in Maine at the end of the summer if possible to celebrate reaching Katahdin with them. I'm very thankful for my time on the trail and for all of the support I received from everyone as I hiked-thank you for sharing my journey with me-I hope you had as much fun as I did! I'll be posting some final pictures in the next few days and will then move my journal to that sad category of trail journals-"got off the trail"-only so it can be resurrected some time in the future when I finish the whole Appalachian Trail. It was a blast-thanks for hiking with me all of you-the ones who walked beside me past those white blazes making me laugh all the way as well as those who walked with me in your hearts and minds through this wonderful website. The journey never ends-When you get to the top of a mountain, keep on climbing...Peace, simple joys, and blessings to you all-
Date: 2005-06-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'm headed to "got off the trail" section, but everyone stay tuned, I'm going southboud from Maine next summer to finish this year's trip-with all of the new insights and lessons from my journey from Springer to Virginia to guide me along the way. Thanks again for your support-and please stay in touch with me my trail family! Alpine and Gung Ho send me an email because I have no way to get in touch with you!!! mhumphries82@yahoo.comLots of love and Happy happy hiking,Feather
Date: 2006-04-12
To: Virginia
Miles today: 0.0

It's hilarious how different this year's hike already is...last year my preparation entries spanned months and months before my departure date. About two months ago I thought about getting back on the trail, the last couple of weeks I've been waiting to see what plans presented themselves, and this monday-two whole days ago-I started planning this trip back to Virginia-to the spot where I first skipped even a mile because of horrific foot pain last year. I think I've healed-the rest of my body and my mind are in a far better place so I'm hoping my feet will come along for the ride. The best way to live life I've discovered this past year is to plan as little as possible, assume you know nothing, and laugh at every moment you're given and the whole sweet brevity of it all.I leave tomorrow morning and journals and pictures will follow in a week or two!!!Peace and Blessings
Date: 2005-02-25
To: Destination-Springer Mtn - 3/25/05
Miles today: 0.0

One month/four-weeks from today it begins. Where to start...since the first time I set foot on the Appalachian Trail in the Summer of 1970 at Bigelow Mtn. in Maine, I've thought it would be an incredible adventure to hike the ENTIRE trail in one long thruhike. Hard to say what the appeal is. My friends think I'm crazy (my family knows I'm not), but I think they also admire that I'm tackling something of this magnitude.I've got a great life. A wonderful home. Friends that matter. I almost can't imagine being more comfortable. But sometimes when it gets too comfortable, I think you need to shake things up, and I guess that's what I'm doing by thruhiking the AT. I see this as one of the defining events of my life. When I hit 100 (optimistic, huh?), I hope to be able to look back 50 years to when I hiked the AT and relive the joy of completing such a tremendous undertaking. And after my birthday on July 20th, to live with the memories of the experience for the next 50 until that day.I'm fortunate to be in the position that I can take a voluntary sabbatical from my working life, which I may or may not return to when the journey is behind me. This will be a chance to immerse myself in the beauty of nature for an extended duration. Haven't done any overnight wilderness hikes since college days, so I'm hoping it will come back to me. I've got the drive & determination, I'm getting the equipment, I'm in good shape from a regular gym routine. I'm focused, organized. I don't shy away from physical challenges and I have a high threshold for pain and discomfort. As I sit here typing, I can visualize being atop Katahdin with the thrill and glory of completing the hike. But still, there are the unknowns. So many try and so few succeed. Will I be one of the ten percenters who do? Stay tuned...
Date: 2005-03-01
To: Here we go...
Miles today: 0.0

As my departure date looms closer, the trepidation builds. I've never taken on a physical challenge of this magnitude. Never spent this long a period "roughing it" in my life. Crewing at 24 hour sports car endurance races is probably been about the most grueling thing I've done, looking back. This past year I unexpectedly developed a blood clot in my right leg, for no apparent reason (then or since). After treatment, I've been given the medical clearance to hike, but what if it should happen again or complications develop? This is perhaps the biggest apprehension I have going into the hike. But I'm committed.... moving forward to the 25th at Springer. I plan a couple of short practice hikes (with full pack-weight) on local trails (not much elevation on Long Island, I'm afraid...), some outdoor hammock trials to make sure I'll be warm enough at night in the early days of the trip, some practice outdoor cooking with my new alcohol stove and then final equipment prep. The goal is to have my base pack weight in the high teens so as to keep it under 30 lbs with food & water. Not superlight, but reasonable. I'll start with lightweight gore-tex mid-boots, then switch to trailrunners through the mid-atlantic states, then trail shoes through the rocky states, then back to boots for the Whites and Maine. This weekend, I met a guy Paul working at EMS who hiked in 2003 (trail name Nimble)and he gave me some great pointers on equipment, strategy, attitude. It was fun to see the gleam come into his eyes as he began to re-live his hike telling me about it. I'll be there too one day, I hope...
Date: 2005-03-15
To: 10 Days 'til Springer
Miles today: 0.0

Things are falling into place pretty well, it seems. Equipment suppliers have been great about getting things to me, I've been testing my Hennessy Hammock indoors, but plan an outdoor test this week to see how I'll be in colder temperatures. Also, will do a couple of short test hikes with full pack to see if any unexpected problems crop up. Lots of last minute details and goodbyes to take care of and time is running out. Almost there...
Date: 2005-03-18
To: One week and counting...
Miles today: 0.0

Just got back the other day from a week in Mexico visiting cousins (primos) Susan and Richard in a sleepy little Pacific resort town named Barra de Navidad. Paradise before punishment. The calm before the storm. Now it's a frantic countdown in the final week. As I write this, I'm thinking that a week from this very moment I will be arriving at Amicalola State, Park getting ready to begin an epic journey. Purists might criticize my decision to skip the approach trail and backtrack from the Forest Service road that crosses the trail a mile from the summit. But I really want to soak in the top of Springer and the magnitude of what lies ahead with Patty beside me, and then begin the journey with her at my side until we reach the car a mile into the trail (maybe she'll carry my pack the first mile?). Saying goodbye will probably be one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do, even though we'll see each other soon, either at Fontana Dam or Hot Springs NC. She's going to be my regular "Trail Angel", meeting up with me every couple of weeks along the trip for re-provisioning and comfort.What a range of emotions as the start looms near. Some days I feel excited, anxious to get underway, other days I wake up almost in terror of the idea of embracing this new reality for so long a period. I like the reality I've got pretty well, so why do all this? I'll let you know when it's over if it was worth it...
Date: 2005-03-25
To: A No-fly in the Ointment
Miles today: 0.0

Patty & I woke up at 3:00 Thursday morning, ready to fly to Raleigh/Durham NC, where we planned to rent a car and head to Springer. In probably what will be the first of many glitches I'll encounter on this adventure, our 6:30 AM flight was cancelled. Being that we fly as standby, non-rev passengers (airline employee perk), we're sunk. The re-booked full-fare passengers get priority on the few flights that make it out, due to a snow/ice storm we had in the NY area late Wednesday, which left American short of planes in NY. We considered options like flying to Chicago, then to Chattanooga, but the chance of making it was slim and the downside risk of being stranded in Chicago was high. So my departure was postponed until Friday. We had a nice final evening at home together, with a Filet Mignon dinner and last-minute briefings on things needing to be done for resupply and in my absence. I actually enjoyed being ready to go, but having time to savor the last few hours of being home. Then we got up Friday morning, and encountered more of the same problems with flights, with the result that we didn't get to Raleigh/Durham until late Friday evening. Rather than rush to Springer early Saturday AM, be exhausted and starting the trail with my head still spinning, then flailing to make the first shelter, I've decided to move my official start to Easter Sunday. We'll stay with Susan & Richard tonite, get up at a reasonable hour and then make our way to Dahlonega for our final night together. I guess I'll have to make up my 2-day delay by hiking an extra 1,000 yards each day for the entire trip. Oh well. I'm going to miss everything at home, but in particular, Patty...
Date: 2005-03-26
To: Shut up and hike...
Miles today: 0.0

A six-hour drive to Dahlonega GA later, and we're at the Holiday Inn for my final night in the "real" world. Patty took me out for a nice ribs dinner and I have all the energy stored that I need. Picked up some Easter Bunny ears to wear tomorrow for the start. I'll probably end up with the trail name "Easter Bunny", my luck. No more excuses. My logs from here on will be from the trail, so they'll be sporadic at best. If it's been more than a week, I'll probably just summarize the high and low points. I hope I can really do this...
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Springer Mtn, GA

To: Gooch Gap Shelter, GA
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

I'm doin' it...really. After a drizzly, damp 10:20AM Easter start at the peak of Springer Mtn, Patty and I hiked just under a mile back to the car to part company. It took a couple of attempts and a few tears before I actually could walk into the woods and leave the dearest person in my life behind, even if only for a couple of weeks when we meet up on the trail in NC. The first mile was pretty easy hiking and I thought of home, Patty, cars, life. But then I got into a strong rhythm and started chugging along, thinking mostly of the trail and what lay ahead. When I hit the first shelter possibility of Hawk Mtn. it was only 1:00 and I was feeling good. Too early to stop, and at that pace I could make Gooch Gap Shelter by about 6:00. A long way for day one, but why stop if you're feeling good. Hey, I can do this hiking stuff! Pushed on for Gooch and made it about 5:30, giving me a little over an hour until darkness. The drizzle had eased up, but it was still damp. The shelter was full, the tent sites were all taken, with about 20 people in all. I cooked my first trail dinner uneventfully (wasn't as good as the rbs the night before...), then set about hanging my hammock. Of course the drizzle started up again, but heavier, so I had to rush getting my stuff assembled. Quick washup then into bed about 8:00. Patty, are you liking this in bed early stuff? The rain got heavier, then the wind began to rage. It was really blowin' and I was getting a little wet from water blowing in under the fly. Couldn't get to sleep with all the wind, rain noise. Then about 11:00, during the hardest of the rain, the fly pulls it's stakes up from a strong gust of wind and I'm fully and directly exposed to torrential rains. I've got to extricate myself from my mummy sleeping bag and the hammock PRONTO (no small feat) and re-secure the fly. The stake is gone, so I tie it to the shelter foundation. Back into the hammock, muddy, wet, cold. EVERYTHING is soaked. Since down bags lose almost all insulating properties when wet. I'm screwed. Spent the night shivering, sleepless and wet. No fun on my first night on the AT.
Date: 2005-03-28
From: Gooch Gap Shelter, GA

To: Neels Gap, GA
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

Up and out early on day two with the mission of making Neel's Gap to dry out and re-group. Keeping moving helped me stay warm, but it was noticeably colder out so I couldn't stop without feeling a chill. Ran into Noonin (trail name) who I had met at Gooch and together we forged on to Neel's. Halleluljah...we made it, or I'd have been found dead and frozen in the woods. Warm shower, laundry and town food helped salvage the day. I'm taking a Zero Day tomorrow to rest the weary bones and muscles, then we'll see where we end up next.