morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

So today I went for about a 1 mile walk today at the Monticello trails here in Charlottesville. I walked in my crocs, not my hiking shoes, and it was pretty good. A little sore, but I stretched a lot. I'm sort of at the point that I know I've done everything I can, so if there is still pain upon my return to the trail, I feel confident managing it and continuuing north. Just going for that walk made me miss the woods so much. I've decided that one of the greatest gifts the AT gives to you is an experience that utilizes all of your senses. You can go through a normal day and never smell something sweet and fragrant, but it's rare (especially now in Spring) to have a day where your nose is not stimulated and bombarded by scents and frangrances that cause your brain to register delight. Another sense that goes underused in normal life is that of touch. I don't mean so much from other people, as I do touching the natural world around us. Feeling the Earth, sensing the heat that radiates from the slabs of rocks that I take breaks on, soaking up the breeze as it runs across my skin. It is a total body experience out there for sure, and how great is it that you actually have the opportunity to notice, if you're paying attention?Tomorrow looks like a fun day of floating down the James River in an innertube with Karen and another friend Ron. It will be pretty relaxing (as if I need to lay around anymore than I already have this week! LOL). I'll also be resupplying and getting my pack ready to go. No bites on my request for a ride, so it looks like my friends here will be taking me back to Damascus, which I really hate that they'll be spending 8 hours driving. We also checked into rental cars (none available for these locations) and a bus (closest I could get is Marion, which is far enough away to be difficult to get a hitch). Arrgggghhhh!!!! I must continue believing all things happen as they should. I'm just lucky I've got friends that are so accomodating. THANKS CINDY AND KAREN!!!!!! I OWE YOU BOTH A HUUUUGE ONE!!!!~Certain
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Oh my gosh, did I have fun today! I went to the P.O. and store to resupply, but after that, Karen and another friend, Ron and I all spent the afternoon floating down the James River out of Scottsville, VA. WOW!! I had done this with Cindy a few years ago, and had a blast then too, but imagine hopping in an inner tube in cool river water, outside temps were near 90. The water was crystal clear, the sky so blue and then you add to that the company of friends and it could only be described as a pure moment. I realized this week, that the ability to define and create your own journey is a beautiful thing. Whereas I have a certain amount of pressure that I feel because I am now another week "behind" I have to say that this time to reconnect with 2 people that have been the kind of friends to me that I think come along once in 10 lifetimes, has served an even greater purpose. I am leaving their home this afternoon with a sense of sadness, only because I think it's so rare for this type of friendship to exist between people. Karen is taking me back down to Damascus, where we'll spend the nite and then I'll get an early start tomorrow morning. This will also prevent her from having to drive 8 hours in one day. So right now, I'm going to pack everything up and spend a little more time with Cindy (who has to work this weekend and can't really go down to Damascus with us). I am excited to hike, and now (after this wonderful time with friends this week) have even more to reflect upon and appreciate. (I know you'll read this Cindy...LOL) but truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your unending willingness to bail me out of yet another "Michele" situation. And Karen, it was wonderful spending so much time with you this week. You two ladies are beautiful people and I hope to repay the HUGE favor someday soon. I'll miss you both.Off to get packed up and then more tales from the trail will start following! ~Certain
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Well, today I finally had to face reality and pack everything up. It has been wonderful staying with my friends.They decided it would be easier if Karen just drove me down, we'd stay at a motel,then she'd drop me off in the morning. This prevented her from having to drive 8 hrs in 1 day, and she could stop and visit some friends on the way home.We left their home and 20 minutes into the ride, Karen's car starts losing power! So we went back home and swapped out vehicles. 2nd try worked. We got into Abingdon pretty late and finally crashed. Tomorrow it's backto hiking. I'm both nervous and excited. Cindy sent us off with her world famous cinnamon rolls, and a cooler of beverages. Really tough saying goodbye to her. We've been friends for 16 years, we met in college and have been thru more than our fair share of "life stuff" together. She's an amazing woman and somehow, knowing I'm in her current homestate makes me feel a little safer.I met Karen for the first time about 3 years ago, and she is this absolutely brilliant scholar who can keep a room full of people laughing for hours with her stories of her life travels and situations she seems to get in to.I know Cindy, and I know she's been on the lookout for a shower of praise and compliments for saving my ass...AGAIN. THANKS CINDY! (you have your very own caps locked thank you now! LOL)And thanks Karen for the great conversations and your willingness to drive me all the way back to Damascus after having driven across the ENTIRE country just 10 days ago. I'm sure another 8 hour drive was the last thing you felt like doing.So there you have it. Back to hiking tomorow.~Certain
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow was I THE laziest person in the world today. I layed around, listened to music, caught up with some emails, and ordered some gear to be mailed to Cindy's house. I ordered some gaiters (really tired of trash getting in my shoes and socks), 3 new pair of socks, 2 more canteens, new pair of shoes, and new pair of hiking pants (mine are about falling off now), and new insoles. All of this to be delivered to Cindy's house so in another few weeks when I arrive @ Rockfish Gap, she'll pick me up and I can get my new gear together. Then it will be off into the Shenendoah's.The exciting part of the day was dinner, FINALLY got that spaghetti and meatballs I've been craving for days and days now. So weird I'd crave pasta when my trail dinners are always some sort of noodles.There is one very good thing about zero days, and that is the opportunity for reflection. I looked at the pictures on my journal of my first day on top of Springer Mt. It seems like a lifetime ago, and I remember feeling so nervous and uncertain about what this journey would entail for me. Would I actually like hiking, could I physically handle it, would I get bored or burnt out, all of these things you wonder in the beginning.At this point, I can answer those questions, but they've been replaced with new ones, which are mainly related to my purpose in life. As my friend Karen put it, what gifts do I have and how do I use them to create meaning in my life? How do I know where the next chapter begins, and where does it start? I do know one thing, and that is I still believe my place is in educating, but probably not in a formal institution like a university. I suppose that's a sign of progress.Well, must pack up my gear and prepare for an early depature back into the mountains tomorrow. It will be great to be back. ~Certain
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, VA

To: Laurel Creek Shelter, VA
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

Man did I pass out last nite. Woke up to 58 degrees and in the same position I fell asleep in.I kept hearing what sounded like rai drops, but after reading a shelter register, apparently what I'm hearing is caterpiller or silk worm poo! LOL Lots of caterpillers and worms hanging from the trees.I was off by 8:05 a.m. Today's hike was a bit tougher with 2 pretty steep climbs up to ridges. The weather was beautiful, and the terrain was a bit more rocky than days past.About 1.5 miles into my morning, there was a sign that said the bridge over Stony Creek was out. You had the option of taking a detour and road alking, or just fording the crek when you got there. Well, I figured this would be good practice for when I get to Maine, because you have to ford a lot of rivers there, so I stayed on the trail.I just changed into my crocs and took it really slowly...no problems. The deepest water only came to right below my knees, but I was surprised at how strong the current was even in shallow water. Still fun though, and yes, I got a pic.After that excitement, the day was pretty uneventful. I did see 2 der, which were beautiful, and there were a lot of flies out too.I got to War Spur Shelter and talked to a guy who is training for his thru next year, Dan. Super nice, and very curious about how we (thru-hikers) do stuff. It was too early to quit (3:30 p.m.) so I ate a snack, took a break, and decided to go to the next shelter, which was 5.8 miles away.Man, this was THE longest 5.8 miles! This was the second climb to a ridge and was STEEP! I started wondering if I should have just stayed at the other shelter, but it was too late to change my mind (as if I would have anyways). I kept plugging along, but finally made it to the top..whew...I made it to Laurel Creek Shelter @ 8:00 p.m., so 12 hrs of hking for me today. Shadow, Shea, and Dan are here tonight. I am exhausted, but again, did not realize till I started typing this that I had gone 18.5 miles. I'm shocked.It's a cool 67 degrees @ 9:30 p.m. Not sure where I'm headed tomorrow, but I am excited that the miles are finally coming a bit easier. ~Certain
Date: 2007-06-23
From: Buena Vista VA

To: Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 0.0

"Patience butterfly", that is what I need someone to hike behind me and repeatin my ear all day long. No worries though, I was able to take advantage of some site-seeing in the area. I realized I was only 1 hour away from my friend's house, so Karen brought down all of the gear that has been accumulating @ their house. This was good because I could get my new shoes now (which are stiffer and I think will help this irritated tendon). I was also able to get my new canteens (both my others were starting to leak), my new hiking pants (I've gone down 2 sizes!), and other little crap like socks. And...(drum roll please) I was surprised with a brand new pair of crocs! THANKS KAREN!! I'll admit, I was hoping to start a new trail trend of wearing one camp shoe and one hiking shoe at nite, but I suppose it will have to wait.We drove down to a place near Buena Vista, VA called Natural Bridge, which isthis tourist attraction of a natural rock bridge that was formed over years andyears (like probably millions). It's like 200+ feet high. It was a cool site,but I'll admit, being in a "natural" tourist attraction was a bit unsettling for me. It all seemed so fake and superficial to me. People seemed as if they were so yearning for a "real" nature experience, and yet, there were cheezy gift shops full of crap and what was once a beautiful creek that now smelled of dead something. I hate to sound so negative, the actual natural bridge was indeed amazing, what we do to our natural treasures is not. Then it was down the road to something that was just freakin hilarious. It'scalled Foamhenge! (yes, a play on Stonehenge). Some dude spent all this timerecreating a Stonehenge replica only it's made of these 450lb foam blocks! Iabout died..of laughter that is. This area was just weird to me, wax museum, an abandoned funland with creepy giant figurines of gestures, seriously, not quite sure "what" it was, but I was happy to have had the experience nonetheless. I got another glimpse of this country that I would not have had otherwise. Then it was off for some lunch @ a diner called the Pink Cadillac. I devouredmy club sandwhich, and then something crazy happened. I went to go use therestroom, and on my way back to my seat, someone goes, "Michele?" I stop andlook, and by some absolutely BIZZARE chance, Suzanne, one of the 2 women dayhikers I met when I was hiking past McAfee's Knob several days before, wassitting @ a table with family and she freakin recognized me! HOW WEIRD IS THAT? She's from this area, but seriously, what are the chances of me runnng into her again? So I chatted with her, got a pic, and went about my way. Just amazing though. After playing tourist all afternoon (and by the way, I was trying to get a feelfor how my foot was...which wasn't great honestly, Karen was having to wait forme at the bottom of stairs), it was just chillin and eating pizza and enjoying good company.A interesting day to say the least.~Certain
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Buena Vista, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Got up this morning, Karen drove me to the trailhead, I threw on my pack andknew immediately, hiking was not an option yet (I AM getting this patience thing down though huh?).So, instead of wasting more $ on crappy motels, I just went back to...guesswhere? Charlottesville again! Man, this town won't release its clutches on me.I am here to tell you folks, I know that from your perspective, sitting @ homereading about these interruptions, some of you may be giving up on me, but I'llwarn you against that. I don't know why my journey has included the things that it has, but I accept them and do not believe I am meant to stop hiking. If it looks like I'm running out of time, I will just do a flip flop.A flip flop is where you go to a certain point NOBO (say Harper's Ferry forinstance) then travel up to Maine and hike SOBO, ending in Harper's Ferry. Foryou purists out there, let my journey serve as an example. There is no "right"way to hike the AT. You just gotta keep hiking. My gut tells me 1 more day of rest..we'll see what the foot has to say. ~Certain
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I always say trust your gut. Indeed, today I spent my time going thru the loads of crap that have accumulated at my friends' house. I was ticked to find out the insoles I'd ordered had been cancelled, because the company was out of stock! BUMMER!!I looked at the next set of maps and guidebook section that my mom sent to me,which was exciting. It wil get me from the Shenandoah National Park thruMaryland! Wow..could I really be approaching the half-way point soon?My good friend Blackie mailed his personal hammock to me so that Karen can useit when she comes out and hikes with me for a few days. We took Chance (the dogprince of their household) for a walk, and I strung it up to show her theawesomeness of a Hennessy Hammock. Um, yeah, she wouldn't get out of it!! I am standing there holding the dog leash (mind you, Chance was a "special" shelterdog and because of his sad history can be quite tempermental) and next thing Iknow, he's deciding he wants to go kick another dog's rear! I'll admit, I'm acat person, so I'm like trying to hold him back (to spare the other dog) andmeanwhile, I hadn't explained to Karen yet the easiest way to exit the hammock,so she's all moving about, trying to figure out how to get out of it (it wasn'tmy best hang) and I'm all like, "Um...what should I do!?" It was freakinhilarious actually.All dogs were kept safe, the hammock performed wonderfully, and Karen has nowbecome the next member of our hammocking "cult" (as Persistent calls it). Allit took was 1 time folks. Once you hang, you'll look at the ground withdisdain. (like that one?) ~Certain
Date: 2007-06-26
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Charlottesville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Alrighty then, 1 final day of this zeroing crap and I'm back on for suretomorrow. YIPPY!! My thoughts today revolved around how our lives receive meaning. I know, abiggie. It's as if a seemingly insignificant occurance can turn into acatharsis (my new big word). How do we know what we should pay attention to? How do we know if our choices and decisions are the "right" ones, and can wereally know unless we've executed them and wait for the resulting occurance? How does meaning get created and then attached to life's occurances?I suppose this phenomenon called faith is one possible answer to thesequestions. I know that term is traditionally attached to "religious" faith, but I don't believe that having faith has to mean that it is attached to a specific religius philosophy. If you really believe that all things (and by all I mean ALL) happen for areason, then that means you must accept the "good" and "bad" things equally. Iput those words in quotes because perspective changes, and what might seem badone day, may actually be good a few days later. But, this faith that I havegives me a sense of peace and calm that I would not otherwise experience.What I appreciate about Buddhism is that it teaches you to acknowledge life'soccurance, and then stop. You don't judge the occurance (as in good or bad orparticipating in negative self-talk) and you don't create a meaning for it inorder to make it fit into your view of life. You just acknowledge it.So take my continuuing foot problems for example. I'll admit I believe thatmost people would have thrown in the towel weeks ago. I also believe that somepeople get so fixated on Mt. Katahdin that they refuse to quit when that is thevery thing they need to do. I don't fall into either category.I truly feel my place, my journey, my current purpose in this life is to be onthis trail, hiking, thinking, pondering, questioning, redefining, appreciating,absorbing, connecting, and just being. I let go of that idealistic romantic version of a thru-hike months ago, and know in my heart that this journey that I am on can probably only happen under these conditions, the ones in which I am faced.I acknowledge my foot issues, I do not apply my own meaning to it, like it'ssome omen that I not continue. In fact, with each obstacle I overcome, I growas a person, which was one of the biggest reasons I came out here to begin with. To find "me" again.I realize I share some pretty personal stuff with this entire anonymous world of people, but I can't believe that's a bad thing. Perhaps it will provide a few of you with the comfort of knowing you are not alone in the desire to understand this life and its trials. For all of the things I am not sure of in my life, I am actually quite certainthat my journey (via this hike) is not complete. So what do I have to say to my foot? It is what it is...nothing more nothingless. And tomorrow I will hike again. ~Certain
Date: 2007-06-27
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: Stealth site 3.8 miles past US 60, VA
Miles today: 3.8

As Willie Nelson would say, "On the road again.." Man does it feel good to beback out here. I'm really starting to wonder just exactly how hard it will befor me to reintegrate back into society after this, seeing how comfortable I amout here now.This afternoon when I arrived back down here, storms were everywhere. It was really hot and humid, so I waited for awhile before starting my climb,because it was all up from my starting point. Karen (who brought me back downto Buena Vista), asked what I thought about hiking into this weather. Obviously I wasn't thrilled, but I couldn't stand the thought of spending another nite off the trail honestly. My choices were to hike, or have her drop me off back in Buena Vista, and hitch back to the trail head in the morning. I just wanted to hike, so that was my choice.After waiting out a few rounds of storms (which honestly blew the majority of my hiking day)I started up, and probably not 15 minutes later, another round ofstorms hit. I did the usual, set up my tarp, and chilled. This lasted forprobably an hour, but was not as bad as past storms. I spent so much timewaiting out storms today...not ideal for making good mileage, but it is what itis.I had made my goal to get up and over this first mountain today, 4,059 ft BaldKnob, and then find a good stealth site.The climb was pretty tough only because my pack was full. I was, however,thrilled that the irritated tendon was no longer overly painful, and my new shoes were feeling really good. I didn't see a lot of wildlife, probably due to all the storms, but to be backout in the serenity of the woods, with the smell of a fresh rain, hearing thebreeze run through the trees, and feeling the beads of sweat pouring down myface, was just what I needed.I found this great stealth site, and as I was hanging my hammock, the sun wassetting. I looked over and amongst the thick tree cover and leaf coveredground, a small spot of warm orange sunlight was illuminating a patch of leaveson the ground, but the color was amazing. I thought about taking a picture, but knew it would be pointless. This small patch was almost glowing a fuzzy hue of burnt orange and red. I can't really describe it, but I also couldn't stop looking at it. It was just beautiful. It's still in the 70's as I lay in my hammock. A deer (which I finallydiscovered are the animals that make this strange squawking noise.I had beenblaming it on Sasquatch) is probably 15 feet away from me. It's running around. The breeze feels cool, I pitched my tarp wider tonight. I am at peace right now.~Certain