morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-10-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Wow can life get away from you fast. Grandchild having problems in school, and another one sick with H1N1. Holidays fast approaching, of course Halloween is the first of the season. I do love a great spookfest!! Though with everything that is going on, we did manage to get away for some fall activities - we, Jessie (my daughter) and her 3 boys went apple picking, lunch at pizza hut (ate too much as usual), and then pumpkin patch train ride. I think we all had fun. This coming week I am the fill in daycare since H1N1 has infected us.I find myself craving the need for a simpler (is that even a word) life, I hope that is part of what i find on the trail. The more i ponder about what i will experience/gain from the trail, the more i feel the pull. At first i wanted to conquer the quest, then i wanted to belong to the community, then it was to learn about myself and to find my peace, now it is still all of those things but i feel like i need the trail. I can't explain it, its just a feeling. I will come to understand it in time.I think i am going to try to get away this weekend for some hiking. Somewhere close to home only have the weekends now. The trees are changing, nice briskness in the air. Need to try out that foot.175 days til i hit Springer!
Date: 2009-11-06
To: Gear, Gear, Gear
Miles today: 0.0

Thanks to everyone that has signed my guestbook and sent well wishes about my foot. So far so good, have gotten back out there doing some walking 5 - 6 miles a day. But have not had my pack on, the superfeet (green ones) seems to be helping. It funny though, now that I know I have a problem, I feel every little thing with my foot. I am following up with another Dr. to see if they think getting fitted for a orthopedic insole would be beneficial, thats next week.On to gear, I am constatntly tweaking my gear. I had not been happy with my Hennessy Hammock just felt a bit crowded and could not get a flat enough lay. So I bought a Big Agnes Copper spur 1, tried it out love the tent some condensation but I guess that is to be expected with the colder temps. I also had an Eureka spitfire 1 coming as an exchange. I didn't want to give up on hanging so I kept looking at Warbonnet's Blackbird and finally broke down and ordered one. It came in the mail today, and of course like every other gear head, I ran out to the back yard and set it up. Let's just say I LOVE IT!!!!! Roomy, lay flat so I'm back to hanging on the AT yippie. Also got my Spitfire today and yes I set it up in the back yard along with the copper spur. Thats right I had two solo tents and my hammock set up, bouncing between them testing them out. This is easier to get in and out of, this one is heavier, this one offers better wind protection, this one, this one, this one. Here's what I ended up deciding. I am keeping the hammock I LOVE IT!!! and i am keeping the Big Agnes but am selling the Eureka spitfire. Weight and size won out, but there are several things I really like about the spitfire it was a hard decision. But I am so glad I opted for the Blackbird hammock. (Thanks Brandon)Tomorrow I am going to lake for an overnighter, do some hiking with a pack and try out my underquilt (JRB mnt wash 4) with the new hammock.I also picked up a summer sleeping bag 40 deg. rating, wow is in light (mont bell super stretch bag). Want to get some lighter biners for the hammock, and some compression straps for it as well.Trying to decided between my jetboil pcs and pocketrocket, pot, fuel setup, haven't made any decisions yet.Oh yea I also order myself the Kindle ereader, got it, so cool was playing with it and then it happened - boyfriend touched it - broke it (i think it was defective but still have fun harrassing him). I sent it back for a refund and will order the upgraded model for the same price. So I am excited for it to come again.Asked for some things for Christmas, so now I have to wait til then can't do amymore tweaking ugh. Enough gear talk for now, just wanted to touch base let you all know I was still alive and kicking. Can't wait to get out there and meet all of you.
Date: 2009-11-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well one holiday down, I just want to get through the holiday season so I can get back to concentrating on my thru hike. Self fish yea, I know, but sometimes thats the way we need to be, right!I still check the forums and journals trying to stay in touch. Ordered a few things (hardware stuff really). Nothing earth shattering and exciting. I am planning a 2 night outing with a couple of ladies from KY area that will also be thruing next year. I am looking forward to meeting them and practicing with my gear. Oh yea I am attempting to make a top quilt for my hammock, so far so good. I hope I have enough down for the project, I have 15oz 10 baffles but want it to be warm enough. Working with down is insane talk about fly aways.Well just wanted to touch base with my journaling friends. Back to real life now, have to clean up from yesterday and get ready for Christmas decorations. Having 6 grandkids they don't let me scale back at all. They count on Grandma to make it magical and fun. I am up for the task. HO HO HO.See you all on the trail soon. Happy Holidays to all
Date: 2009-11-29
To: DIY
Miles today: 0.0

I had ordered a TQ kit, wanted to try to get weight down from a 10 deg. WM versalite bag @ 38.1 ozs. I finished it last night it weights 23.4 ozs with 15 ozs of down. With about 2.5 inches of loft. I hope it will be warm enought, will test it out next weekend.I have to say as I thought I did a pretty good job, it was not as neat and clean as it could have been. Working with down is a pain! Though it was cheaper cost $175. I think I might cough up the money for the convenience of having someone else do the work. But I am glad I attempted the project at least once. I don't think I will be jumping on the DIY bandwagon, but I have gained some confidence if I should ever need to do it again.102 days til I am on Springer mountain. Whoopie! Which reminds me I better check on my reservations at Hiker Hostel. I thought they said they would put out confirmations in November but I have heard nothing better give em a call.Okay Bye for now.
Date: 2009-11-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey guys I'm still alive. I have been busy with the holidays, as much as I enjoy them I am usually glad when they are over and things go back to normal. We had some snow after Christmas so I still have a few lights I have to take down and put away ugh. I think I am all done buying gear, but I still check it all out. I still have to make a decision on whether to take my WM versalite full bag or my DIY TQ. I will do a short overnight in Feb at a local state park to test the two out see which one I like better, I think if the TQ is warm enough I will go with it, but there is something comforting about being enveloped in a bag. We'll see. Also bought some Keen watershoes they are a little heavier but have a good solid foundation for fording rivers (don't want to slip and cut my foot). I still struggle with clothing, what to take what to leave. I don't really have a support person at home, maybe i can semd winter stuff home to my sister's hubby that way when I need it back he can mail it back to me, hey that might work. I will have to shoot off a email to him. Good idea guys!!I was going over my reservations yesterday, confirmed my stay at the hiker hostel. Josh said everything was good they would be at the station to pick me up. I checked on my car rental, oops reserved it for the wrong day, duh. So i fixed that and they told me the place I wanted to drop off the car was closed so I have to drop off at another location which is about 4.5 miles from the train station, not that big of a deal. It's all fixed now, "one less thing" double checked the train tickets. All looks good. Wow, I guess I really am doing this thing. I bounce between can't wait and are you crazy. Want to spend sometime practicing my knots to make sure they are second nature to me, and have been doing some fbc to fine tune that. Which needs some fine tuning - I have eaten more mistakes this last week than I did when I was first married!! yuckWell the alarm went off time to wake up my grandson and get him off to school and then to the gym for aerobics and resistance training, am doing that since I can't seem to get away to hike. Hope it helps.See you on the trail. Not long now - 43 days til I leave for Spring mnt.
Date: 2010-02-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

25 days, 14 hours, 0 minutes and 13 seconds I can't believe its under 30 days till I leave, though I am on track with preparations, I still feel like a chicken running around without its head. I was going to shut off utilities while I was gone but think now I will keep them on but shut off water and phone/internet service. I am not doing maildrops per se, have to packages with new trail runners and another with boots, spaced to about 700 miles. I threw a few extra things in the box that I might like.I bought a new camera that can attach voice captions to still pictures, thought that would be a great feature. That way when I get back I will not have to worry about remembering what that was a picture of. So I have spent the last day reading the 240 pg manual. ugh!! But to my delight it is a simple, easy to use camera. Glad I made the purchase. For any of you that would like a good camera for the trail (oh by the way it is dust and waterproof, can even take pictures under water) it is the Penax W60.I have been reading Second Stages' journal, I hope I get the oppurtunity to run in to you on the trail. I am enjoying your journal very much. I am getting more excited about getting out on the trail. Today will spend some time finishing boxing up boots and review gear once again. I think all is good though. I am at 32lbs with 3L of water and 3days food. I think I will lighten up the water some and expect more weight with the food, but at 32lbs I have some cushion room.My family and loved one still think I am nuts but are beginning to realize that is in fact really going to happen. Funny I think I am right there with them. Even though I have been planning this for almost a year, now that we are at 25 days out, I am saying "what were you thinking" and this is really going to happen. But the desire to be out on the trail is so strong, even though I have never done anything like this before. I agree with something that Second Stage said that fear is one of the many reasons that makes me want to do a thru hike. You get to a point that you are tired of fear being a part of your decision making. So I say lets face it, deal with it, and push it aside.See all you fellow tenners soon, 25 days soon!!
Date: 2010-02-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

21 days and counting. Ordered what I think is my last piece of gear tyvek ground cloth in case I have to use my hammock as a bivy. But even as a ground cloth under the hammock it might come in handy. My boyfriend bet me that I would order to more gear upgrades before I leave, (funny man), he is going to lose that bet.For Christmas he gave me a coupon for a massage which I plan on using before I leave. It will be the last pampered think I do for myself, I am looking forward to that. My daughters want me to come visit the grandkids since I will be away for 7 months so I am making a trip to KY late Feb. for the weekend. Then when I get back i'll have about 1 week before I leave, time to pull everything together. Considering I leave soon things are pretty calm, hope that is a trend.See you all on the trail soon. Can't wait
Date: 2010-02-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I think today was the first day that thru hiking the AT became REAL to me. I mean up to this point I've been planning, buying gear, thinking about, buying gear, TALKING about (sorry twotone), buying gear. But today I actually felt excitment/panic. You know the kind, like wow this is really happening and sooner than I realize. I can't put off things anymore, must have a count down plan in place, so I get everything done.questions are beginning to haunt me; can I really do this, is my gear good enough, have I picked the right combinations, will my significant other still be there when I get home, am I over planning, will I be warm enough, on and on. It is the fear of the unknown, I am sure that once I am out there all will fall into place and I will laugh at the things I worry about now. But like someone else said in their journal, fear is one of those things I plan to overcome on the trail.So girl, take a deep breath, yea your doing this thing, exhale, it will be the time of your life. NOW GO TO BED AND GET SOME SLEEP.
Date: 2010-02-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Last Friday spent the afternoon looking at houses. My daughter is trying to buy her first house. Exciting. We found quite a few in her price range, but only 2-3 we wanted to take a second look at, which is scheduled for Monday. I now remember how tedious this process can be. But the good thing is that by the time is buys a house and moves I will be on the trail and unable to help her move!! It seems that I always get stuck helping to move. I hope we find something and get a lot done toward the purchase before I leave but if not my sister can stand in for me. It's good to have family.
Date: 2010-02-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Okay it's almost like I'm nesting, today I spent cleaning house and purging old stuff that I no longer need. I go through these "simplfy my life" cycles where I start throwing away anything that is not totally necessary. It feels good to get rid of the clutter. Today was one of those days, I did the upstairs, maybe on Tues. I will do the downstairs. I know it is busy work because I am getting anxious and need to keep busy. There is one room upstairs I have not done and that is the gear room, I just can't seem to focus. That time is coming soon.This coming weekend I am going to Covington, KY across the river from Cincinnati to visit my daughter and family. The weekend after that my other daughter is coming to visit me, plus I am trying to see my sister and daughter that lives here in town all before I leave. Next time I decide to do something like this I am not telling anyone, I am just going to go. Tomorrow the gym, food, rest, visit from my "funny man", house hunting (second look), back to gym, then sleep - one day closer to the mountain.Good Hiking
Date: 2010-02-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey guys, It must be a combination of nerves and excitement cuz I can't seem to get a good nights sleep. I try to go to bed at a decent hour, toss and turn then end up getting back on the computer. Either Whiteblaze or trailjournal and spend a couple more hours. Finally going to sleep around 1 or 2 am and wake up at 5:45 ready to start the day. I wish I could get a solid 8 hour stretch. Its fun to see so many people making their way to GA, look forward to joining the troops soon. Maybe I will be able to get some sleep on the trail. Happy hiking
Date: 2010-03-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This week has been filled with last minute details. It started last weekend going to KY to visit my daughter and her family, had a great time enjoyed the grandkids. Came home planning of course to have one last week of good eating (I mean good weight loss eating), didn't happen must be bulking up for the trail. lol Not worried I know it will come back off as soon as I hit the trail. Continued to go to the gym and workout. I printed off maildrops and posted a supply at the gym for anyone that was interested in following my hike and hopefully to recruit some goodies. Friday was pamper day, went to get my grey covered up, though I can only imagine what it will look like when I reach Katahdin. Made my eyebrows perfect (for about a week). So I beautiful (again for a week). Saturday I went to my last weight watcher meeting (did not weigh in - you didn't read that Dee) said my goodbyes. Also, my oldest daughter came in from Detroit for the weekend, we had a nice visit, my youngest daughter that lives here in IN came over with her 3 boys and we had a nice day. Went to dinner, then early to bed. I have been having some problems sleeping excitment I think. Today I said my goodbye's and everyone went home. It is really beginning to sink in. I emptied my pantry, freezer, and refrig and took 10 bags of food over to my youngest (who lives to two blocks away). At least she and the boys won't let the food go to waste.Twotone (boyfriend)came over to hang out for awhile, always enjoy that time it is so relaxing and fun. I don't think we fully understand that 7 month separation is here, I don't like that aspect of the trail. You better not replace me while I'm gone!!Utilities are taken care of, sister is taking me to pick up rental so i can get to Indy to catch my trail on Tues. Will call other big sister in Seattle tomorrow night, two more exercise classes. One maybe two more visits with twotone and then I'm Springer bound.I am planning on getting my house the way I want to leave it for 7 months, thats harder than I thought. Will pack up the catalyst tomorrow night, double check gear. Oh by the way, daughter didn't get home loan, very sad. But she is headed in the right direction, will try again in a year. Jessie keeping your head up and do everything right and you will be in a house of your own very soon.Looks like 47 people are starting the same week, so I will have lots of new friends to make, good luck to us all. whoooo hooooooooooo here come the tenners!!
Date: 2010-03-09
To: 0 days-leaving for GA
Miles today: 0.0

The night before I leave for GA, well actually it is the wee morning of the day I leave for GA. Deep Breath. So many mixed emotions, can't wait for the adventure to begin. Wish me luck all. And thanks to all that have signed my guestbook, I love hearing from you. You all will be a big help on my trip. Keep the post coming.
Date: 2010-03-09
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today my journey started. I drove a rental to Indy to catch the train to GA. I arrived around 4:30pm returned the car and caught a cab to Amtrak. When I arrived at the station, I must have looked like I didn't belong because the janitor (very nice man) came to my rescue answering all my questions. I scoped out the area, sat for awhile and realized that I had 7 hours to kill. So I found some lockers walked over to them and as soon as I did the janitor appeared. He stated that these lockers had not been used since 1974! He pointed me in the right direction to the updated lockers. Locked up my backpack and headed for Circle Centre Mall about a block away. This mall is huge, the nice thing was it had a theatre. So I opted to watch a movie "Brooklyn's finest" with Richard Gere. Ate some White Castle and headed back to the station. My daughters and twotone called several times so with their help the time went by fairly quickly. But then around the time the train was suppose to be there we found out it was running about 2.5 hrs behind ugh. Finally at 2:00am I boarded the train, found my sleeper car and am going to sleep. Good night
Date: 2010-03-10
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The train ride was long and I was ready to get off the train when we arrived at Charlottesville, VA around 5:00pm. Next train is suppose to leave at 9:52 (we'll see). I met Dr. John yesterday boarding the train, he has thru hiked twice before and is heading back to the AT. We decided to go get some dinner to pass the time. Thanks Dr. John it helped pass the time. Hope I run into you again.It came and it came on time-the train, the train. Was on board at 9:50 and rolling out of the station. Again I was in my sleeper, everyone else that had been in coach wanted to upgrade to a sleeper but there went any available. Sorry guys.Had my bed turned down, journaled for a short time, checked my e mail. Now it is time for sleep. Tomorrow Josh from the Hiker Hostel will pick me up from the train station. Soon I will be on the trail. Weather is yucky though, rain and fog.Good night
Date: 2010-03-11
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Josh from the Hiker Hostel picked me up from the train station. Cool guy, we also picked up Bob at a local motel. Got to the hostel met everyone: nature boy (who has been hiking for 10 yrs now), russel, Kat, Cindy, lil buhda, RA Wizard, Mark, Chris, Gabe and Jacob (which are brothers), Denver, and a couple of other who I just don't remember their names. Sorry guys! We ordered Chinese for dinner, made a run to Walmart got some snacks. Ready, set, go. I may have to do the approach trail which is not my first choice but hey I'm up for what ever. Josh is going to see if it doesn't rain anymore tonight he may try to make it up forest road 42 to the parking lot at Springer mountain. I guess we'll find out in the morning.It's been a good day. Bed time soon! Hiker bed time is 7pm to 8pmdownes911
Date: 2010-03-12
From: Hiker Hostel

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

We made it up to Springer Mountain, so yippie I did not have to do the approach trail, which I have heard can kick you butt. I 9 of us were starting today. Here we go up to the infamous Springer mountain plack, a mile up the trail we made it, it was foggy and raining so we didn't spend much time or open the wine that Mark and brought, we took our pictures and headed back down and toward the AT.The trail was good not to much at first, beautiful even without green. Lots of water and streams flowing. Rained most of the day but was fairly warm. We got to Hawk mountain shelter around 4:30pm. It was completely full but no matter to me I had my hammock. Waited til the rain subsided some and I got set up. Went to get water and then it started to pour and it went on for some time. I cooked my first dinner in the shelter, fetticine noodles with too much water and all the seasoning at the bottem. No flavor on top, too much at the bottem ugh, live and learn-stir, stir, stir.Crawled into bed around 7:30pm, snuggled in a little cool but I'm sure it will warm up. See you tomorrow morning, headed for Gooch mountain shelter.Good nightdownes911
Date: 2010-03-13
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Woke up several times last nite, stayed warm. Had to get up to pee, looked up and .... no silly, I saw stars, a perfectly clear night, it was amazing. Morning, however, brought more rain, had my 1st experience putting on cold wet pants (something everyone must experience to truly understand). Not having my breaking camp system down I left around 9:30am. Had two climbs today Sassafrass & Justus mountains. "just keeping moving" is my mantra. Sassafrass was long but I made it. Arrived at Gooch mountain shelter with day hikers having a fire w/a tarp cover, sweet. Everyone was friendly, lots of margerita's flowing. I set up camp, cooked four cheese potatoes for dinner, enjoyed conversation and the fire and early to bed around 7:45pm. Changed time up an hour. Morning will be her soon. Tomorrow will be a short mileage day.