morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-12-23
To: The fire was lit
Miles today: 0.0

I first heard of the AT from a friend while living in Iowa. She said that if any of her three children got into serious trouble, she would remove them from school and they would hike the AT together. As far as I know they were normal kids and didn't have to go on a forced march. But, it piqued my interest; I didn't know what she was talking about. Fast forward seven years and Mike, my husband, wanted to make a job change from Iowa to North Carolina. One of his lines to convince me that this was a good move was that we would 'get into hiking'. I didn't need convincing. Seventeen years later, our babies now working women, I started reading every book out there on the AT. The fire was lit.
Date: 2014-12-24
To: The fire was smoldering
Miles today: 0.0

In 2012 I was in my local REI store and I saw a bulletin for an information meeting for a fund raising hike. It was a 28.3 mile hike, all done in one day, on a section of the Appalachian Foothills Trail (not to be confused with the AT). It was a fund raiser for CureSearch for Children's Cancer and they were providing training hikes with a trainer as well as support on the trail. I signed up thinking if I could do this, maybe I could hike the AT. I did the Ultimate Hike (the name of the CureSearch hike) in 2012 and again in 2013. The fire was smoldering as I joined a local hiking Meetup group, started by the Ultimate Hike coach, Joe Miller. He is an outdoor enthusiast and has written two great books titled '100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina' and 'Backpacking North Carolina'. I continued reading AT books and consumed two seasons of trail journals. Mike was reading each of the books after me, I guess to see what my obsession was all about. He supports me 100% in this but he is not a long distance hiker. He has a job! I seem to have hiking as my job.
Date: 2014-12-25
To: The fire was stoked
Miles today: 0.0

Last summer I had just started reading a book titled 'Called Again' by Jennifer Pharr Davis during a weekend of hiking near Roan Mtn. She set the record for the fastest supported hike, accomplishing it in 46 days. Her faith and pluck totally amaze me. I was hiking on the three balds when I saw a young man hiking SOBO. He was so skinny he just had to be a real live thru-hiker!   He kindly stopped and introduced himself as Matt when I questioned him as to whether he was a thru-hiker. We spoke for a minute or two and I mentioned that he sure wasn't carrying much for a thru-hiker and he actually declined some trail magic in the form of peanut butter crackers. Now, that was contrary to everything I had read about hikers!   I asked if he was attempting a record and he said yes!, so I quickly wished him well and stepped aside. He was very kind. A couple weeks later as I finished reading Brew Davis' book, '46 Days: Keeping up with Jennifer Pharr Davis on the Appalachian Trail', I saw a picture in the book of a guy that looked like the curly haired hiker I had met. So I looked him up and indeed, Matt Kirk did continue on to set a record for the fastest unsupported thru-hike. Mike and I went to see Jennifer speak on a book tour about her hike. Well, now I was just star struck. Fire stoked.
Date: 2014-12-26
To: The fire is ablaze
Miles today: 0.0

This last March I attended a showing of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour in High Point, NC, with my daughter and her fiance. REI was there giving away door prizes and when they called my name out that I had won a tent, well, my daughter had to push me out of my chair to go get it and I cried a happy tear...I knew at that moment that I would give the AT a go. I was going to hike the AT because my first piece of gear just fell into my hands. Ok, fire now ablaze!
Date: 2014-12-27
To: First Solo Night in the Woods...Ever!
Miles today: 0.0

I have researched and purchased most of my gear over the last 6 months. I finally got to go on my very first backpacking trip for two nights with a group in October in South Mtn. State Park, NC. I could not wait to get inside my tent that first night, I was just so excited to be camping! It got down to 37 degrees one night and I was ok with my gear. And I camped in our backyard one night, half hoping the 20% chance of rain would prove true so I could get that experience. But it was a dry night. I have hiked plenty in the rain, I just want to know that my tent won't leak or melt. I did learn that you will slide all night long if you don't set up on a flat spot. I though my spot was flat enough. Flat means flat. And putting a bunch of stuff at my feet to stop my slide just caused me to fold up like an accordion as I slid down. My first solo camping trip was at Jordan Lake, NC. I built my first fire that burned for three hours thanks to being able to ¢phone a friend¢ (Chris, my now son-in-law) for advice on how to. It got down to 26 degrees and I stayed warm except for my feet. I used my stove to make a Mountain House dehydrated meal - it was pretty good. I was just a few feet from the lake and saw shooting stars from the Geminid meteor shower. By the light of the fire, I gave myself a manicure - I mean, what else is a girl to do? - and texted my friends, who didn¢t know that I was solo camping. Right now, they just think that I am crazy. In a few months, this will be confirmed when I tell everyone that I am leaving my warm bed and wonderful husband to hike the AT.
Date: 2014-12-28
To: Training
Miles today: 0.0

I want to thru-hike. If desire is all it takes, then my hike will be a piece of cake. But I know better. I run a couple of days a week, 2 to 6 miles depending on time. I hike with a full pack a couple of days a week, 5 to 11+ miles depending on time. And, I work a couple of days a week to support my habit of "spending like a drunk monkey", to buy my gear.
Date: 2015-01-19
To: Shakedown
Miles today: 0.0

I went on an overnight backpacking trip 2 weekends ago in the Uwharrie National Forest. I was fortunate to find that Penguin, another 2015 thru-hiker, was familiar with the trails there so we agreed to meet on Saturday, hike six miles to a campsite then hike eight miles on Sunday.When I heard the temp was going to be a low of 17 degrees, I let Penguin know I was anxious about going. She confidently told me she had camped when it was that cold, that it is doable. Thank you Penguin for your encouragement and for not letting me back out! Instead I went out and bought a warmer layer of pants to sleep in and a balaclava. I also stopped at the local grocery and bought some firewood to take with us. When I met up with Penguin and told her I brought firewood, she asked if I was going to carry it 6 miles! Ok, so I was hoping that we just might car camp since it was going to be so dang cold.But it worked out great! I stayed toasty warm all night in my tent and was surprised when I woke up the next morning and saw that my rainfly was covered in ice crystals. It was very hard to get packed up and moving, I was moving so slow. We needed to hike 2 miles to meet up with my local hiking group to join them on a hike on a new 6.2 mile section of the Uwharrie trail. The hike was being led by Don Childrey who wrote "Uwharrie Lakes Region Trail Guide", which he just revised and includes this new section of trail. Lesson learned from our shakedown campout: 1. Check my batteries in my headlamp and the backup batteries I carry.They were all dead. Fortunately, I had thrown in my new running hat that my daughter had given me for Christmas, which has LED lights in the bill.Thanks, Sara! It works better than my headlamp!2. When leaving your campsite, remember to walk away from area a few yards, then return and recheck for items left behind.   I returned to my tent area tofluff up the leaves, as in leave no trace, when I found the top cross pole for my tent lying on the ground. Yikes, that was close.
Date: 2015-02-14
To: Stone Mountain, NC
Miles today: 0.0

I went camping last weekend at Stone Mountain in NC. We had beautiful hiking weather.   We were planning to hike at Doughton Park on Sunday but the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed where we needed to go.   We didn't have a map of the BRP or Doughton Park and no cell service for our numerous GPS devices. So we went back to Stone Mtn. and hiked Widows Creek Trail which is described as isolated and difficult, with steep climbs. Yep, that's what it was. Although we did meet a barefoot hiker on the trail. The trail meets the Devils Garden Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the turn around point for us. Widows Creek Trail is on the MST (Mountains-to-Sea Trail). Because we had to head back to Raleigh and didn't start the hike until early afternoon, we didn't get to make it to the overlook. Ok, we were slow too!   But we did enjoy "climbing arduously" as described!! And of course, now I have to go back and finish it by starting a lot earlier. Anyone nearby want to join me?? I will bring the maps...
Date: 2015-03-26
To: Going Away Party
Miles today: 0.0

Last weekend friends Patti and Mark hosted a goodbye party for me. It was so beautiful. Thank you for the blessing and for the toast:May all the bears be your kinMay the bugs be repelled by your skinMay beauty be seen by your every gazeAnd may you find Captain Morgan every 3 to 4 days!After dinner, they humored me as I held show and tell with my backpack. The girlfriends all had to try on my pack and now have a new admiration for me. The main course was prepared by Dave, chef extraordinaire. I will think of this last meal while eating Cliff bars and dehydrated meals for the next six months. Then to end the evening, Mark played his guitar while we had a sing along. Patti had printed the words to 14 songs, one for each state I will travel through on my thru-hike! I will sing these songs to the bears at each state line I cross. To Mark (rock star), Patti (professional party-giver), Chef Dave, Darlene (the only one who could stand up straight with my pack on, or the one who drank the least wine), Rick (no, I am not carrying), Nancy (thanks for checking in on Mike), Glenn and Debby (thanks for volunteering to have Mike over for dinner every Tues. night), Ray and Debora (thanks for the trail magic), Karen (loved the flowers in the boot), and Paul (I got the space blanket): Thank you all for your amazing love and support.
Date: 2015-03-29
To: Ready for Tomorrow
Miles today: 0.0

A day doesn't go by that I don't thank God for walking with me every day. He will be with me on the trail. I am comforted by the offer of so many friends, family, and even people I don't know, to pray for me in this adventure. Thank you.I am fortunate to have Mike, my husband of just 36 years, wholeheartedly supporting me in this crazy, crazy desire of the heart and soul. And I wouldn't be in the physical shape I'm in if it wasn't for our two very inspiring daughters, Rachel and Sara, who encouraged me to take those first running strides, just five years ago. If Rachel, my eldest, would just quit bringing me boxes of Hostess Ding Dongs! No, really, I will make sure she has all the mail drop addresses so she can keep them coming! Mike and Sara are going to walk with me to Springer and walk those first miles with me. And while I am away, she and her Dad are going to see a whole lot of movies, something they love to do. I have to thank Joe Miller for introducing me to the world of hiking and backpacking. Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge, and for your encouragement. It takes awesomeness to lead from the back of the pack and you are awesome. Mike and Sara are with me here at the Amicalola Lodge in GA.   We are staying in a cabin alongside a stream. We spent the night laughing, eating, and face timing with Rachel. As we drove up the switchbacks to the lodge and looked out at the panoramic mountain views from the top, I thought, have I lost my mind? I am going to be out there for how long?? I stepped out of the car and my left foot started hurting. Then my right foot started hurting. My feet have never hurt before. I'm sure there is some explanation for that....Today more family and Kathy, my hiking buddy from home, came to spend the night and then see me off tomorrow. I am ready. Mike told me to sleep in my tent last night. He is ready, too.
Date: 2015-03-30
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: few clouds

It rained hard last night, the trail to Springer was muddy. Made it 8.1 miles to my first shelter - Hawk Mountain. The hike was beautiful. There are at least 30 people here - tent city. I am tenting. Dusk fell and everyone slipped into their tent or the shelter.
Date: 2015-03-31
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

I was the last one out of camp today. Didn't start until 11am. I stopped frequently. Took a break at Sassafras Mtn, only 3.4 miles into the day, but my butt was kicked. Local Army Rangers were doing maneuvers and had a tank of potable water at Cooper Gap road crossing and let me fill up. I arrived at the shelter at around 5pm and I was too tired to eat at first but made myself a dehydrated meal - I didn't have much of an appetite. There is a hiker with a didgeridoo, one with a guitar, and one with a ukulele who serenaded us 'til 9pm. I got my water from a spring tonight. It's raining. I'm having fun but good Lord is it work!
Date: 2015-04-01
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 5.0

I hiked 5 miles today, to Woody Gap. It was a beautiful day! Hiked with Cherokee Dancer and Mudder. Saw some hawks soaring. I got to a spring and took off my boots and socks and soaked my feet in the cold water - heaven. Got a shuttle into Suches, GA. Staying at Wolfpen Gap Country Store - combination gas station, convenience store, and hostel. ¢Bunks, laundry, beer, soda, hiker foods, pizza, and BBQ.¢ Had pizza, chips, chocolate milk, and a Diet Coke for dinner. Met a girl from Seattle. I got a shower and did laundry. Will slack-pack up and over Blood Mtn tomorrow, to Neel Gap and Mountain Crossings. Q: In what state can you find small Pepsi's? A: Mini-soda. (Thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-04-02
From: Woody Gap

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 10.9

I slack-packed today. This is where someone takes your full pack, drops you at the start of a trail section, and delivers your pack to your end point, while you hike with a much lighter day pack. The Wolfpen Gap Country Store folks slack-packed us today. Hiked just under 5 hours today, over Blood Mtn. It was an easy, easy hike - I never stopped - just awesome. It rained the whole time but my new rain coat was great - I just love it. The photo, on Blood Mtn., shows what you should do when you see a bear¢¦make yourself look tall. I saw my first cairn marking the trail today. It was rocky going down Blood Mtn. I was trying to hurry so I could get a bunk at Mountain Crossings¢ hostel but the guys in front of me got the last ones. I was so cold waiting at Mountain Crossing for a shuttle to town that a store clerk took pity on me and gave me a towel. I shuttled to Blairsville, GA, with 2 other hikers. It¢s foggy and gray outside, with a loud thunderstorm. Had meatloaf for dinner tonight at the American Catch Restaurant across from the motel. In the town square a bell tower is playing a beautiful song right now as I enjoy sitting in a rocker outside the motel. I hope to get a pack ¢shakedown¢ tomorrow morning at Mountain Crossings (outfitter and AT gift store) before I start hiking. This is where you empty the entire contents of your pack and an experienced staff member winnows out stuff you really don¢t need, lightening your load. You decide if you want to keep any of the ¢extras¢ with you and ship the rest home. The AT actually passes through the Mountain Crossings building. We¢re waiting for our packs to get here, we¢re still in our hiking clothes from today.
Date: 2015-04-03
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: few clouds

I had a 2-hour pack shakedown this morning (see yesterday¢s post for a description) so I got a late start today. I took out and shipped home a tarp, compass, shirt, cup, lighters, and some matches. The shakedown guy showed me how to better stow my gear. My pack is now 4 pounds lighter! I even found a hat that I was missing! Which was good because I needed it - it was so sunny. I hiked alone today and was tired at the end. Thunder and lightning tonight. My muscles are sore from hoisting my pack. Sleeping in the shelter with 5 other people. I tripped over a guy line. ¢Every sunrise is a new message from God, and every sunset his signature.¢ -William Arthur Ward (thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-04-04
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7

Got an early start this morning - 9:30! Easy hike today. Got my first trail magic (¢an unexpected act of kindness on the AT¢), from an older couple who gave me some mini-Snickers, ¢from the Easter Bunny.¢ My second trail magic was meeting legendary hiker Sir-Packs-Alot and getting a ride from him to Hiawassee, GA.
Date: 2015-04-05
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 0.0

I¢m taking a zero today (meaning: no hiking, zero miles) in Hiawassee, GA. Thank you so much to Carol and John Webb for picking up Bee Man and me and taking us with you to church this morning. Carol & John are from Alabama and are friends of my parents and have re-located to Hiawassee. It is so beautiful here. We enjoyed a morning of singing. The other blessing today came from Mudder, who sealed my tent. (My brother Chris told me to seal it before I left, but I figured since it was new it would be ok.) Mudder has the same new tent and his leaked in the second night¢s rain. Thanks Mudder! Ate at an all you can eat (AYCE) buffet for dinner with Bee Man, Mudder, Advil, Spot of Tea, and Rock Boat. Rock Boat suggested we take a slow sailboat up the coast to Maine for the next 6 months, instead of hiking, because the trail¢s so hard.
Date: 2015-04-06
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 5.7

Today was a drag. Hiked from Unicoi Gap to Tray Mtn. shelter. It rained all day and I was a drowned rat. Started to get cold so I stopped at the first shelter so I wouldn't have to put my tent up in the rain. Got into dry clothes along with 6 other hikers - we lined the shelter sitting in our sleeping bags. It stayed very foggy all day so no views today. A father and son were section hiking and the son put up his tarp from his hammock and blocked the wind. It wasn't a cold night so once in my bag I was warm. At about 9pm a late hiker came down the trail through the fog. It was so eerie, his headlamp had burned out and I don't know how he found the shelter.
Date: 2015-04-07
From: Tray Mtn Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0

Got up very early and jumped into my wet clothes and hit the trail. By early, I mean I wasn't the last one out of the shelter. I just may be getting the hang of this! It was supposed to thunderstorm around noon so I wanted to get to Top of GA Hostel soon. I hiked fast listening to the iPod Chris, my brother filled up for me. It never rained and I took my coat off quickly after starting out and it didn't take long for my clothes to dry out. When I got to Dicks Creek Gap, there was trail magic. Two sweet couples had bottled water and bbq sandwiches and Rice Krispie treats and Oreos and cheese nips and more and I ate all of it. I was so thirsty and downed two bottles of water. Thank you to these awesome people who do this for the hikers. They have a son who had hiked the AT and just do this out of kindness. They were just packing up when I crossed the road but waited for me to share their magic. Bob Sir-Packs-Alot¢s hostel is just up the road and he stopped at the gap to see if anyone needed a ride. I didn't make a reservation but they had a tent spot left. Score! I am now sitting in their cozy hostel in an easy chair sitting in scrubs while my laundry is being done for me and looking out at the gorgeous mountain. This place is awesome and the owners are so cool! It has been a great day. Somebody saw some bears today - glad I didn't. Some oxymorons: clearly misunderstood, pretty ugly (Thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-04-08
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Left Top of GA hostel at 9:15 and hiked to Muskrat Creek Shelter, arriving at 4:45. Had a beautiful day of hiking. Made it out of GA and into NC, 78.5 miles after the start! I tented with Advil and Spot of Tea. The bugs were out today so got a leaf fire going to smoke them out while we set up out tents. After dinner some of us hiked back a ways to a rock outcrop to see the sunset. (See my photo gallery for other photos.) At 7:30 I got tired of waiting, the sun sets later when you're at 4500' elevation. I was asleep by 8pm. (What runs but never walks? Water (or your nose!) Thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-04-09
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.2

Left Muskrat creek at 9:15 this morning. Hiked to Betty Creek Gap where there were probably 25 tents scattered among the rhododendron. Got here about 4:45.   Nice stream here where some took advantage of to bathe. No thanks, that water was cold! There were lots of youngsters here. Got offered my first weed here. They were having a good time and when darkness comes, as always, everyone retreats to their beds, whether at a shelter or tent, and camp becomes silent. I was glad to meet up with Bee Man and Mudder here. (Why shouldn't you make fun of a paleontologist? Because you will get JurassKicked! Thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

Left Betty Creek Gap at 8:15. After hiking 15 minutes it clouded up so I stopped and put my rain cover over my pack. It was warm and I didn't wear rain pants. After a half hour of light rain I stopped under a rock with about 8 other hikers and we put on rain coats and they stayed on the rest of the day. Hiking was scary over some big rocks. And lots of slippery slopes. Took my first fall today tripping over a rock after crossing a stream. Knees first, poles jammed into my shoulders and pack weight took over taking me to the ground on my right side ending with my head hitting the soft ground with a loud thud. No harm done but a bruise on the back of my hand and a huge bruise on my right thigh from the small runners hand water bottle that I carry in my front pocket for washing up.   I replayed the sound of that thud in my head for a few miles but finally shook it off and it quit raining in the afternoon. Made it to Winding Stair Gap on US 64 at about 2pm. Saw Hwy 64 and thought, gee, I could just take this road home... Stayed at Sapphire Inn tonight in Franklin, NC. (What does an attorney wear to work? A law suit! Thanks, Nancy)