morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-12-20
To: The shelter of choice
Miles today: 0.0

So I was looking at tents on the internet, then emergency bivys (since their cheaper). All the reveiws said the condinsation was really bad. So I typed in 'How to not have condinsation in your bivy" and the site said don't breath in the bivy, but even better was that the guy made his own bivy out of two trash bags and ducktape. He said it lasted about a week. So i got thinking I could make my own bivy out of goretex. I already bought a 1.5 yard of it and 1 yard of some heavyer goretex for the bottom. It seems that I am saving money, since an emergency bivy that is reusable and durable is like $70 (with condinsation), and my materials were like 30 bucks. Shipping was like a third of the price. I am an okay seamstress so that shouldn't be an issue. I had my first workout (let's see how long this lasts) i pilled a bookbag full of my brothers college text books and candles, and walked up and down the steps, and drive way once i got to hot, and came inside after I got to chilly. I lasted about 30mins.
Date: 2011-01-03
To: The Concrete World
Miles today: 0.0

ChristmasNow I know my parents don¢t want me to go hike, because of the presents they didn¢t give me. But I do know they want my brothers to go hiking, because my brother got a hammock, and another getting a flashlight, and yet another got a headlamp. For my brothers birthday a couple days before Christmas he got a pocket knife. No I must be wrong they do want me to go, I mean they got me a hand held luggage scale, So that I won¢t over pack. Their so sweet. Imagine if they got me an actual scale, I mean that would be pretty mean, Who wants to be able to weight themselves and their luggage in one device. So now if I want to weight myself I can if I¢m 75 pounds, because that¢s the limit, so every day I can check just to make sure I didn¢t go under 75 pounds. But if I bought another HHLS (hand held luggage scale) I could strap them both to the ceiling and hang off both of them and add up the weight. That is unless I become 150 lbs.My sister was the sweetest thing she gave me a headlamp. And my Brother gave me a hammock. So it wasn¢t a total disaster. I can actually be grateful. I get sick of roads and ugly buildings, and cars, cars cars. Yes i think stores are ugly buildings, in Europe they actually look pleasing. No we cover our homes in sheets of plastic. Really?...... Am I the only one who can't stand modern civilization? Like when I'm in a car at night every other second there is a bright light in my eyes. perhaps it's cuz its winter. Or cuz it¢s dreadfully dark, may be due to the fact that I watched avatar last night where the natives get attacked and their tree home is destroyed. Just made me upset. And today at work we killed what 8 trees. No lie, I watched squirrels jump out of their falling homes. In my own yard my favorite tree got hit by lightning so that was sad. But just as surprising, the other day my Dad didn't tell me we were going to cut down a childhood tree in our yard, It was like chipping up my childhood memories, and not to mention the much needed shade come summer I¢m a tree killer.
Date: 2011-01-08
To: Got my food
Miles today: 0.0

So I think I have all the food I need. I have 17 pounds of nuts (almonds, macadamions, walnuts, pine nuts, pistacios (i will shell)) I have 9 pounds of chocolate. lots of rice. Coussous with seasoning and beefjerky, that another hiker had made, makes 12 cups. I have 4.5 pounds of dates. I got a 14 pound turkey to make jerky with, as well as a bunch of seasonings including liquid smoke. I got Parmeasan cheese, cuz it has a lot of protein, 10 grams per oz. This is all for 12 maildrops, I guess each box will have around 5 pounds of food. I'll have to wait to make the jerky since it takes a couple days for a frozen turkey to thaw.Lindsey, told me she is still in the decision mode, but actng as if she were going. Which is frustrating, since its like two months away.
Date: 2011-01-12
To: Complications
Miles today: 0.0

I have good and bad news. Good News lindsey still really wants to hike this year with me. Bad news we might be delayed a month, in prospect of a temporary job, to pay for the trip. We will still have enough time to finish the hike, it's just waiting I hate. So as of now the leaving date my be mid April. I also though about starting before her, and then having her join me a month's time.
Date: 2011-01-17
To: Opps
Miles today: 0.0

So my little hike, did damage to my back. lesson never use school backpacks to train with. I had to stop working it hurt so bad. But once I get another pack I'll be off on road hikes, cuz their fun.Thanks for the idea on another form of shelter, but I'm really proud of my bivy. You know what, tonight is the perfect night to test it. I heard snow, sleet and freezing rain in the forecast.
Date: 2011-01-18
To: Got my Bag
Miles today: 0.0

I got a backpack, yippee. Its a Redwing 2500w Kelty. I did zero research on it. I got it at the mall, at EMS. I went cuz I figured I should make sure it would fit, And also make sure it was a decent size, cuz its hard to tell online. So the place was vacant, And i was'nt sure if I wanted help, but I got it anyway, good thing too. I was interested in a day pack, small and cute. The man there, college age, asked me what I wanted a backpack for, "thru-hike" I said. I feel strange telling people I want to thru-hike, I haven't even hiked a week. But he told me I had to get a backpack with a decent hipbelt. I agreed, I witnessed the pain on myself. So I had to let the little one go since the hipbelt on that thing was more like a strap. He measure me, was kinda odd, he measure from the top of my hip to the biggest bump on my neck. I'm a 16, a small, great like I didn't know that. I could have just left then and found something on the internet, but i didn't, I found a backpack from the scant selection there. So we found a small backpack with a hipbelt, was the only one there that fit the requirements. It has a ton of straps, the guy there explained the uses. First tighten the hipbelt over the top of your hips. Then tighten the shoulder straps, and then there's top straps made for little people, he said people misuse the top strap and tighten them the whole way, and hurt themselves. Their made to keep the pack straight up and down for small people. But on my pack he said they didn't work. I walked home then from the mall, stuffed all my purchases in my backpack, in the dressing room.
Date: 2011-01-20
To: I'm Excited
Miles today: 0.0

Alright, so you guys don't seem so impressed with my pack, or my knowledge of it. But So far I'm happy with it. I like to have it with me around the house, and trudge around with it on. So people have been telling me not to wait on Lindsey, and she emailed me that she isn't 100% about the trip, and that was the criteria on if I was going to wait. So now that Im a loner, I want to stay one until I get on the trail and actually bump into people my speed. We'll see how my parents take it. As of now I think my brother will drive me on his spring break. The date is still set for March twelve, peek thur-hike season!!!! I am totally going to buy a camera and interveiw hikers.So out of my excitement I am rapidly buying gear on Amazon. I am stumped on a stove though. Alcohol is cheep and easy, but doesn't burn when cold and burns at a low heat. So I'd need to bring more compaired to others. I'll have to talk to Haj. He wants to join me for the four state challenge, good thing it half way through or I'd get hurt. It's like a little under 50 miles touching virgina, and going through west Virgina and Marland and then arriving at Pennsylvania. 51 more days until the hike. The countdown is On. To trudge: the slow, weary, depressing yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in life except the impulse to simply soldier on. - A Knights Tale
Date: 2011-01-24
To: hypothermia
Miles today: 0.0

Time for the weather report. It's cold out folks. Bonecrushing cold. The kind of cold which will wrench the spirit out of a young man, or forge it into steel.-Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern ExposureThis morning the air was so cold my nose hairs froze.So my mother is scared I'll get hypothermia. So i looked it up.At body heat 95°F shivering, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure increase.As the temperature drops further, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure all decrease. A feeling of clumsiness, apathy, confusion, and slurred speech.At bodyheat 82.4°F reflexes are lost and cardiac output continues to fall. The risk of dangerously irregular heart rhythms increases, and brain activity is seriously slowed. The pupils are dilated, and the victim appears comatose or dead.so then I looked up Preventions, cuz comatose sound kinda creepy.Get adequate nutrition and rest. Travel with a partner. Wear multiple layers of clothing, and try to remain dry. Be wary of wind and wet weather because they increase the rate of heat loss.Mom wants me to spend a week sleeping outside (In the snow), before I go. 47 more days
Date: 2011-01-28
To: video camera
Miles today: 0.0

SO I got my Video camera, and I made a video, about mixing up all the pounds of nuts I have and putting them in baggies. If any of you like it, thanks. It took forever to download. Perhaps I'll make a movie of my hike, so this would be considered practice. If you want to watch, this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb-42QCYuXY
Date: 2011-02-07
To: Dream
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

last night I had a dream of a jaybird attacking and killing a cardinal. recently i have been trying to remember my dreams and find the meanings.So i looked up the meanings for birds which were: Hopes goals asperations.jay birds were: arrogant, overlooking somthing. cardinals is: vitality, happiness, being in the lead.Then birds fighing was: dissapointment, consistent worry, feeling of attack.So the conclusion I came up was that My aspiration of hiking the AT is being or will be hamperd by my overconfidence, and will therefore affect my abilty to suceede and be happy. I also think the killing part has to do with, when people give advise, and suggestions about me hiking I feel attacked.also something I just thought of was the jaybird was picking at the neck of the cardinal. so I looked up neck and found this: To dream that your neck is injured or sore, indicates a separation between your heart and mind. There is a literal disconnect between how you feel and what you think. You are feeling conflicted. Alternatively, the dream represents something or someone, who is literally a pain in the neck.I dont know about the first part but my mother can be a pain in the neck. recently i have been listening to my mother, being more kind then normal, and willing to take the gear and safety percautions she tells me to take.
Date: 2011-02-13
To: Last things to get done
Miles today: 0.0

So on the dream thing, i got two other dreams, before i forget. One was my cousin Donald who thinks my hike is pretty cool, well in my dream he decided on thru-hiking and for some unknown reason i was going to be an exchange student to Poland for the next year. I was happy and bummed out on missing the hike with Donald. And Donald had a rack full of toliet papper rolls. For the record I was an exchange stduent my JR year in school to Aahus, Denmark. I encourage you to look it up if you don't know where it is. (I'm betting you don't)Another dream was I was on the trail, it was the beggining, and I was all excited. For some reason the white blazes where on the ground and lead me into an electronic store. I was weaving in and out the ile, when I saw my mom studing different cell phones. i had seen her buy on for herself, and there where others trying to help her. When I came her way she stopped me and showed me a phone, she said,"i got this phone I want you to take with you it's a little on the pricy side." I look at the paper, it read $1299. "I know it exspensive but, it has an app for purifying water." I also saw a friend Paul from Denmark, and I greeted him like i would now, with a hug, and perhaps a tear or two.Anyhow, neither dreams are realistic, in anyway. So I have also been doing stuff. I went to the post office,(drove all by myself). I got twelve boxes for food supply. I was setting them up and I was like wow they're lot bigger then I thought. My mom tells me to test one by putting my stuff in it to make sure their the right size. I was kinda stubborn, but finally I did. And she was right they were more then twice too big. i could fit lie twelve bags of marshmellows to fill up the room. So I got that fixed. Most of my gear is in mail limbo. So waiting is hard. But I figured out I am going to get waterproof trailrunners with gaiters. I think that's all I really need to get, other then more food. One more month. Oh and I turn 19 tomarrow, I'm a valentines baby!!!!!
Date: 2011-02-15
To: Grrr
Miles today: 0.0

I'm actually trying not to write to much, but things happen. So this morning the morning after my Birthday, my mother proclaims that I will not be permitted to hike without a partner from this ares. I am beyond frustrated, I tell her I found a parter in this area, this is Medical Mike, but my mother didn't approve of him. Not even picking him up on the way down to Georgia. "Horrible things happen to people, that were just being kind."she had said days before. I tell her, "Well, If you can't even approve of a partner I do find, how am I ever going to get any partner at all." In the end I told her I was going hiking if she liked it or not. She told me to talk to my Dad. So Riding to work, I poured out my angry flames on my dad. He didn't say much at all. I started wailing, and I blamed him for not letting me go. I was shocked when said "I think your hike is a cool idea, I want you to go." At this point I felt guilty and said sorry. But it didn't fix much.Later I told my dad I decided not to go hiking without permission. He liked that idea, and said things could be sorted out.so the rest of the day was poopy, and by the way I'm praying and fasting that I will get permission. I think I gave myself a sore throat.
Date: 2011-02-17
To: news
Miles today: 0.0

Can you stand the suspense. Cuz I know I can't. Last night I was told the decision would be finalized in 24 hrs, and I can't ask if I'm allowed to go until then. So today, while I was working, I was in a miserable mood. I kept having these thoughts like My mother is ridiculous. Then I started to feel depressed like my parents can't care If they leave me hanging like this. Then whats the point of even hiking. It went as far as, well if I die I bet they'd feel guilty. At that moment I was like "Wait just a minute." You know in cartoons where there's a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. I was entertaining the devil side. Once I realized what was happened I totally disregarded the thoughts, and felt better.Well it looks promising, my mom and dad are driving down to Florida March 2nd. So their looking at maps and putting things together. My mom likes the idea of me joining Catherine Vaux. Yesterday, I gave my mom a printout of all the comments of my last post. BTW I got I lot of them. It was kinda funny actually, very encouraging. My mom thought the comments were very good, well most of them.So thanks guys.Looks like I'll probably be leaving sooner then I thought, 13 days now.
Date: 2011-02-19
To: Finalized
Miles today: 0.0

K i'm going! i was frantic about getting everything together, and now, I can't think of anything else I need. I tested my sleeping gear yesterday and got cold. The wind was crazy. So tonight hopefully i will be warm with a zipper to close my bivy and a 25degree adding sleeping bag liner. 10 days till I drive down.
Date: 2011-02-23
To: Final days
Miles today: 0.0

K so, i've been testing my Sleeping gear.....and looks Like it's all replaced. I haven't spent an entire night out yet!!! i got one of those egg carton sleeping mats, cuz the one I got has a hole or two. Though my brother did fix it. my mom also said my feet would get cold cuz it's short. Then since my feet got cold I got pink down booties, there cozy. Then since I wanted to make sure i would be warm i got a legit sleeping bag, and i made an oops by getting a long, oops. But hey its roomy. I also got a sleeping bag liner, it was the warmest @ EMS. The guy there was kinda excited about it. it took him a while to recongize me. "ur the girl that bought that small backpack" then in the shelter department, well I got a zipper for mine. and there a little holes for breathing on the sides. but when I tested it, man I thought It had rained it was so wet. i was offered a nice tent/bivy. So I'll have room. Goodbye to dirtbagging. lol. I do get it 50% off though. My bagpack is kinda crammed, it weights around 25 pounds w/out water. My food weights like nice pounds, I'll have to take some out. oh and I'll use my hemock in the summer Know whats really cool, my mom helps me, and finds helpful tips, like bringing sunscreen. I can't imagine what it would be like if i was going without her permission. It's stressful enought. But deffinatly worth it.
Date: 2011-03-02
To: Georgia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Im in Georgia the weather is warm, the daffodils are up. It's just lovely. My parents are moving on tomorrow to Florida. I'm having fun at my cousins. I have fun playing games with the kids. I don't really remember them, but we've had a bunch of fun and it's just been one day. There are two boys. We played frisbee monkey in the middle, and three square. It's kinda weird wearing my hiking clothes in such a nice clean house. My parents and I met my hiking buddy, Catherine and her parents at chick-fil-a. Can't wait till Saturday.
Date: 2011-03-05
From: Springer

To: Hawk shelter
Miles today: 7.8

I am really Happy! It is cold and rainy, but as long as I'm moving I'm good. I simply love nature, the streams and bushes. Kathrine is fun and chill. she is defiantly faster than me. We stopped early in the day at hawk, earlier than I like. It's wet but I'm warm in my sleeping bag. I'm kinda giggly. I dropped my crocs while hiking, but luckily Kathrine's dad picked them up. I am so lucky to be at a shelter, it has rained all day and all night. Richard this guy with two dogs and I made a campfire. I sawed up the wood and I used my Vaseline cotton balls to start up a starter log, under sheet metal, found under the shelter. I cooked up some couscous.later Kathrine and I played cards. I won until we played crazy 8's. it's terrible leaving a warm sleeping bag to go pee, and get wet by the rain. And I also get hungry but I hung out my bear-bag, (the wrong way, plus it got wet) Day hikers left food behind I took a cucumber, instant mashed potatoes and tuna.
Date: 2011-03-06
From: Hawk shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Morning it rained I started at nine o'clock i wasn't sure what way to go I tried two ways then asked Paul, an older fellow. He lead me down the way i was positive to be south, but he was 1005 sure it was right, and my compasses on my hiking poles both said North. So we hiked in two miles then we both were sure we were going the wrong way. Plus we asked a hiker going the other direction, which way he was headed "North" he says. Paul could not believe it, he kept on saying sorry and trying to figure out his mistake. Happens the first trail I did try was correct. But you know never question a man about directions. We hiked together until Gutch shelter, which was real nice. They were making a fire. i ate my lunch there, it was two. Paul stayed I moved on, alone five miles to woody Gap. The Gap was real windy, and Kathrine and he dad were relived to see me. I set up my bivy and slept in it for the first time. it was so windy I ate a salmon pouch inside. my wasabi peas got wet, and I'm about out of chocolate. it's real windy and ice is pelting. I'm sure glad I didn't take my homemade bivy. I got one that gives me headroom. So I actually hiked four extra miles.
Date: 2011-03-07
From: Woody Gap

To: Bull Gap
Miles today: 12.0

I feel sick, I didn't sleep well, I really didn't want to get up to go pee. Once I did i felt like me knee would give out, in the wind and ice. I was a hard morning, my shoes froze too. later, today turned out nice the sun came out and i had my first real good view. we hiked Blood mt. and passed Neels gap!!!!! it's a bit of a mile stone. i met Lumpy a thru-hiker who advised me to get a real bearbag, at is waterproof. I grabbed some food from the hiker box. I hung up my bear bag properly for the 1st time. Kathrine stopped me from throwing my food bag over the tree limb. "you have to tie a rock to the end." My feet hurt. i know they say you get trail legs, but do you every get trail feet? I got confused on the trail took the wrong direction or thought i did. one time i was on a sheer rock slope i thought I had to go down it. I heard later the same thing happened to another hiker and he couldn't make it back up so he just made it down the mountain until he ran into another trail, and was pointed in the correct direction. So I did make my way up, but it sure was hard work and scary. Andy has camped with us every night so far. I like getting out early in the morning, around seven.
Date: 2011-03-08
From: pasted neels gap

To: Low Gap shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

today I woke up early, i got up as soon as I saw light out. teh hike was easy until a sharp climb, but that was it. At lunch Andy caught up to me, and shared some trail magic, I just so missed. we hiked together, til we found a campsite. it was the first time I really talked to him. He is 20. we set up our tents, but Kathrine and he dad later came to tell us rain was forcasted, and they were staying at Low gap shelter. So we packed our gear, and hiked over a mile back, at their fast not pack pace. (they are fast to begin with, that's why I get up so early.) Cathrines dad carried the wood i chopped up for a fire, which was real sweet. I made a fire, and cooked instant mashed potatoes, and couscous. It was a lot of food, but I'm running low on cold meals, and since I don't have a stove, I though well if i eat more for supper i won't be as hungry for breakfast. The shelter was pack since rain was predicted. we squeezed 10 people into the shelter. The last guy came later and took a corner, but fell out of the shelter during the night. four of us played cards. I thought them scum and i was loser most of the time. we were joking around a bunch. the place was beautiful. I was hard to sleep, i was between two guys, and it started raining very early in the morning.
Date: 2011-03-09
From: Low Gap shelter

To: Helen
Miles today: 10.0

In Helen GA, in a hotel. We hiked 10 miles in the cold rain. I slashed through puddles. about half way through the other caught up, and we sang songs, well mostly me. I didn't want to go to the hotel, but after stopping at blue mountian shelter, where it was packed, and I was sopping wet. I decided to keep with my group. and I'm happy I did. Beds never seemed as wonderful there's no unpacking a sleeping bag no taking out a sleeping pad, its great! and the hot shower and warm clothes are wonderful. And clean cloths at that. I called my dad and he asked what state i was in......Georgia?