morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-09-13
From: Abol Bridge

To: Birches Lean to
Miles today: 9.9

(I will do my best to describe my last night on the trail, as I'm writing it almost 7 months later. Somehow this entry was lost in transmission, unfortunately.)I remember it like it was just yesterday. We woke up at Abol Bridge to a lazy morning since it would be a very easy day into Baxter Sp. Muster, Rocket and myself took our time packing up and went to the camp store for breakfast sandwiches, and our last bit of junk food to consume and pack out. We all grabbed our own PBR's to drink at the summit, ate breakfast with the rest of the hikers either just coming in to Abol or just leaving. We finished up and got moving. The mosquitoes were horrendous, but as we moved on for the next few miles, they was so mind-blowingly (new word?) bad, I thought I was going to pull every single strand of hair out of my head. I had just ditched my Deet just days earlier, argh! I picked up the pace and literally ran until they subsided. Once they let up, Team MFA stopped for one last lunch on the trail together. We cruised right along and once we hit the road that leads to the Birches, well, that was a surreal moment for me. The trail dead-ends with the road and goes to the right. I always had a habit of looking around for blazes so that way I knew where I was going once I got back to the trail from town. So, I looked around thinking "where does the trail go?" and that's when it hit me, this wasn't a town stop, I wasn't coming back to this very spot, this is basically the end of the trail. Wow, I remember feeling so very sad, and confused. But, I tried to shake it off, and we, along with Ice Fingers and Simple Man, continued on to the base of Katahdin and register at the Birches to camp for the night. We camped that night with Cruiser, Bunyan, D.O.C, and 4 boys who's name's I can't all remember since we had just met them a day prior. All I remember is Jelly Fish and Space Cowboy, but they were 4 college friends from the South that hiked the whole trail together. Later on that night we spent some time at Ice Fingers and Simple Man's site with Ice's dad, and Goof's campsite with his dad and their family friends. It was nice to drink some beer and eat burgers the night before the big day. So, after we said goodnight to everyone, we made our way back to our site, and I crawled back into my little home, my tent, that comforted me for the last 6.5 months, and my sleeping bag that kept me warm on the coldest of cold nights. It felt so strange to know this was my last time laying there on that ground, in that sleeping bag, in that tent, covered in filth, in those dirty clothes, and crusty socks, looking up at the stars out of my vestibule, all as a thru hiker. The next day would be the big day it all comes to an end. And I laid there wide awake, thinking over the last 2,000+ miles of what had happened. It took me a long time to fall asleep, but eventually I did, with a few tears in my eyes.
Date: 2009-09-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is what I came home to. My mom (and lots of helpers) surprised me by decorating the outside of the house with 100+ bows, and a big Welcome Home sign. Thanks everyone! My mom and I were approached by a neighbor who neither of us had met before saying "hey, welcome home, my nephew just returned from his third round." I said "umm, I am not a soldier and I am not returning from Iraq, I just hiked 2100 miles!" Ha, I guess the color of the bows is confusing, but it gave us a good laugh. I guess it's time to dismantle all that hard work and retire the bows for my next adventure and big return home, hmmmm.
Date: 2009-09-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'm getting back into the swing of life in a resistant kind of way. Physically I'm here, mentally, not so much. With each passing day, my grand adventure is slipping through my chubby fingers, eventually I'll have to let go knowing I am not a woman of the woods any more. I desperately miss the simplicity and silence of it all, the smell, the clean air, and the incredible beauty that is no more. For a long time it felt like I'd never reach Katahdin, that there was no end in sight and the trail would keep going forever and ever and ever. All good things come to an end, unfortunately. Life feels like I never left it. People are still driving like assholes, everyone is always rushing everywhere, there is still the same amount of traffic and road construction (not surprised), the telephone is constantly ringing, it's still pretty loud anywhere I go, wow this part of NJ is completely packed! I am getting used to being back to all the noise, but in all honesty, I hate it. I used to think I live on a quiet street, but with parents dropping their kids off to school, then returning to pick them up, and the kids screaming on lunch break, it's not quiet at all. At least the kids are out exercising and having a good time. Something that happens very quickly on the trail: your sense of smell is heightened. Any time there were day-hikers on the trail, you could smell them coming from 1/2 mile away, and when we passed them by, my head would whip around to keep smelling their clothes wafting amazing scents. Never ever had I noticed this pre-trail, that's because I smelled just like them. Some people you could keep smelling for up to another 1/2 mile or so in passing. So, if we could smell them, could they smell how horrible we stunk?! Probably. One time we thought we smelled some perfume, Rocket said "there MUST be people around!" Ha, well what are WE, apes? Essentially. Yesterday I got my feet back on the trail for a day hike with Rocket. It was pretty weird to walk at a normal pace with a day pack carrying only tasty food items, it was also nice not to carry 30+ pounds on my sore back. My body hurts so much more than it did on the trail though, I am just really stiff and my knees are pretty upset. For some reason, my hands are shedding a layer of skin, the underside is peeling at a rapid rate. Huh? I have no idea why, the trail does weird things to your body that you can't even explain. Anyway, we scouted out nice camping spots for another time, another short adventure. It was really fun to soak up a nice day and not rush through it as we so often had to do. Stay tuned for more post-trail life thoughts.
Date: 2009-09-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Some ask what a typical day was like on the trail, so here it is.Wake up with the sun, usually a bit before then around 5 am, toss and turn and not be able to go back to sleep. Eventually get up, change out of my cozy pj's, organize some things in my tent, visit the privy or a nice bunch of trees depending on where we camped. Return and pack down my tent, re-pack my pack, leave out the things I needed for the day (lunch, snacks, long-sleeve shirt) then plop down on the ground or a rock. The packing process was down to a science and took about 20 minutes to do it all. Begin the horrible process of shoving down pop-tart crumbs or some other gross breakfast item, put on my boots, converse with the girls, review the map and elevation profile, pick a spot to meet for lunch, put on pack and begin walking by 7:30 or 8, stop for water if needed. Stop 2 miles later for a snack attack, pop-tarts don't have staying power! Walk some more, take photos, stop to look at something amazing, take a photo, keep walking, trip and fall as much as possible (but never really get hurt), walk more, stop for lunch for at least an hour, walk, take a snack break, photograph a pretty flower or toad or turtle, examine some poop and decide what animal birthed it, struggle up a rock slab gripping tree roots, sleep-walk a little, walk into some branches, have your hair pulled by branches, take some photos, stop to refill and treat water, walk, roll ankle a few more times, chat with whoever I'm walking with (usually Rocket), listen to music either with ear phones or speakers we'd hook up to our packs to share and sing songs, eat more, arrive at destination at dark or just before dark. Immediately find a spot to pitch tent, pitch tent, set up my "bed," lay out things in the same order in my tent every night, change back into cozy pj's, gather water if needed, make a gross dinner of Lipton/Knorr sides or something of the like, eat like I've never eaten before, clean pot and lick spoon clean, help finish anyone else's dinner, eat a snack or dessert, hang food (or most times not), possibly brush teeth but probably not, get into "bed" and journal, chat through our tents because we were always tented 6 inches from each other, pass out by 10 pm and sleep like a rock, possibly wake up to a "bear" walking around, it was always a deer or chipmunk looking for food, never a bear silly! Things always sound much louder when you are in your tent. Wake up in the morning, repeat. I am sure some people think this would be so repetitive to do day in and day out, but none of it is. Every day is completely different from the last, every minute is different, and no day ever turns out as you thought or had planned, and that's the beauty of it all. Not knowing is half the fun. Innocently walking along, someone may pop up behind you that you hadn't seen in 500 miles or 8 states ago, and it becomes the most exciting thing ever. That's the gist of a day in the life of a thru hiker, fun and simple.
Date: 2009-11-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Below is something that Persistent shared with Rocket and myself a few days before leaving for Springer Mountain. I carried it with me every single step. Every once in a while I'd pull it out and read it. Sometimes I needed to reaffirm why I was hiking, it sort of snapped me back to where I needed to be. So, I'd like to share it here, in hopes that others planning to hike will find some inspiration in these words. I sure did, and I still do.DREAM BIG      If ever there were a time to dare,to make a difference,to embark on something worth doing,it is now.Not for some grand cause, necessarily,but for something that tugs at your heartsomething that is your aspirationSomething that's your dreamYou owe it to yourselfto make each day here countHave funDig deepStretchDream big.Know, though, that things worth doingseldom come easy.There will be good daysand there will be bad daysThere will be times whenyou want to turn around,pack it up,call it quits.Those times tell youthat you are pushing yourself,that you are not afraid to learn by trying.Persist.Because with an idea,determination,and the right tools,you can do great things.Let your instincts,your intellectand your heartguide you.Trust.Believe in the incredible powerOf all the things that will cross your paththis year.The start of something newbrings the hope of something great.Anything is possible.There is only one you,and you will only pass this way once.Do it right.
Date: 2009-11-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I think it's time I close the books on this journal, I don't think there is much more I can say, sadly. My hike came to an end a little over 2 months ago, but it's something I will always carry with me. That particular destination was reached, but my journey continues. I think about the trail every single day and how it has affected me. I miss it more with each passing day as I continue on into the groove of life. I will forever be a long distance hiker. The transition from trail life to home life has been anything but easy, but I'm getting there, one day at a time. It helps to be in close contact with my trail family, especially my hiking partners. I'm doing the best I can, and hope to bounce back by the start of the new year. My aches and pains are completely gone, though when I step out of bed in the morning, my feet still tingle a little. My body feels back to normal. I have lost a little bit of leg muscle, but they are just as strong as ever. I am still the hiking machine I was 2 months ago and can still hike at max speed while flying up a mountain, I am sure that will fade as more time passes though. I had lost around 15 pounds but have gained back a few and hope to keep it at that. My hiker appetite took a long time to decrease, but I imagine I still had a high metabolism for a while. I sometimes find myself thinking like a thru hiker when in the grocery store. I'll pass by Little Debbie's or Lipton sides and stop, thinking "how many days worth do I need?" and realize I don't need any, I'm not resupplying. Oops. It sure is nice not to eat that garbage anymore. I do, however, miss eating pints of Ben and Jerry's like there's no tomorrow! A few things I have learned from the AT: If you push yourself hard enough, you can do anything. If you have the will and desire (or stubbornness) to keep on keepin on, you can. There are no coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. What you need always comes to you. There are a lot of wonderful people in this world if you just open your eyes. The trail will beat you down then build you up, emotionally and physically. A shower can do miracles for your mental well being sometimes. Well, I hope whoever has been following my journal has enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I'd like to think I inspired someone, anyone, to get up off the couch and have an adventure, weather it be on the AT, or a short hike on some other trail, or a walk around the block. You should do whatever makes you happy, even if it is standing in place for hours watching time pass. Now for my next trick...My next adventure will not be on foot with a backpack, but on a bike, pedaling my little heart out. Yep, my hiking partners, now biking partners, and I are taking it to the streets and biking cross country this summer. Stay tuned, I'll be journaling from the road and will post my blog link as soon as I have one. With many thanks to those that have supported me along the way,Storm
Date: 2010-01-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well well, I said my last entry was my last, guess I lied! Here we are in a new year with new possibilities on the horizon. Time is growing close to a year that has passed since I started my hike, and though it's not March yet, I'm getting a little Springer Fever. Last year at this time I was so busy, mail drop planning and packing, shopping, hiking every weekend, preparing to leave my job, cleaning and discarding lots of random things that were just "things" and anxiously awaiting boarding that direct flight to Atlanta. I miss the productivity of it all.So Rocket and I were planning a cross country bike trip this summer, but right now it's been put on the back burner. I think we were getting in a little over our heads. I can't really buy a bicycle for $1,000 and neither of us have the bike mechanics experience necessary to bike 4,000 or 5,000 miles. I'd like to still consider that an option in my future, but not right now. A while back, way before deciding to bike cross country, we had agreed that we both want to finish the Long Trail at some point. We've already hiked 90 miles of it, why not just continue up to Canada? So as long as time permits, we'll finish it up this summer. I'd love to re hike the AT section, mainly because there were so many places I really loved, but realistically we will only have time to finish what remains to be hiked. I am hopeful in making it up to Vermont this summer, but if not, the trail is not going anywhere. Long Trail, here we come!That's all for now. I probably will not write again until I know if I'll be following more white blazes this summer, so stay tuned! Until then, happy trails!
Date: 2010-09-14
To: One year removed
Miles today: 0.0

Hello? Is anyone still reading this thing?Well, it's been one year since standing atop Katahdin, with tear-filled eyes and an enormously heavy heart. Those emotions were of great relief, and great sadness. There has not been a single day that has passed where I don't think of the trail. Every time I think about it, I cry inside just a little bit, still mourning the loss. I also have random outbursts of laughter, remembering the silliness of it all, and damn was it silly. Sometimes I wish I could share a small piece of it with others, so they could understand why I feel the way I do, sometimes I love that it's all mine. My very good friend Peristent recently said it best, suggesting that perhaps thru hikers sort of have a secret understanding that nobody else does. I think she's right. So, what have I been up to this last year? Living. Experiencing. Growing. Changing. Exploring new places. Making new friends. Traveling. And doing tons of what brought me here (to this dang website) in the first place, hiking. Yup, that's right, I'm completely addicted, I admit it. Hey, I could think of worse addictions! These days it's how I best identify myself, a long-distance hiker. I terribly miss the simplicity and rawness of the trail. I still would rather sleep in my sleeping bag and tent than in my bed, I still secretly love that I can produce such a repulsive hiker funk on a long hike (I blame the tech t, only the Diva's would understand), I still carry water with me everywhere I go, and I still stockpile Zip Lock's (and admittedly will rinse and reuse them). I am not cheap, but some trail habits die hard. Things I've discovered: car camping is too stressful and backpacking is way easier, the word elephant or anything having to do with an elephant is inexplicably a part of my daily life (giraffe's are second to elephants), I still love sending and receiving real life mail-drops (real mail is way cooler than e-mail), I have a new-found salt and pepper addiction (I blame the salty hiking food), and I CAN live without meat, it's been almost a year. When I enter the woods, if only for a short time, I know I am home. It is where I feel most comfortable. Will I ever hike another long distance trail? Yes. Will it be 2,000 miles long? I don't know. What I do know, is that I will continue having adventures and dreaming of the next big thing. If I had to choose one word to sum up my last year, it would be "epic." I can only hope that in another year, I look back with the same feeling. So, here's to another year of epic adventures, growth, and change.
Date: 2011-12-22
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hello out there! I just wanted to share my next adventure with anyone who may or may not still be checking in here. I previously mentioned riding a bike cross-country, but that was put on the back burner until the timing was right. Well, its now wiggled its way up on the front, and I'm SO excited to share it here! Next summer, 2012, I'm doing it. I started blogging a bit about it, and here's where you can follow along: http://notacyclist.blogspot.com/That is all, folks. Happiest of holidays, whatever you celebrate. Happy trails, and keep the rubber on the road.
Date: 2009-01-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I will be setting out on my hike in 49 days. They funny thing is I don't feel excited or nervous. The feeling I have is that of happiness or contentment more than anything. To say the least it is not what I was expecting. I suppose I know what lies ahead. I am aware that it will not always be fun and definitely will not be easy, but everyday will be worth it. I hope I have the proper outlook for what is coming. More importantly I hope I have what it takes to complete this. I believe I do, but I have not yet been broken by the trail. The trail can and will break the majority of people out there. To ignore this fact I believe will lead to failure. How you respond to finally being torn down is what counts.To change it up a little, I look forward to meeting all the other hikers. I look forward to seeing all the places I have never seen. I look forward to this trip that I dare to set out on. Finally, I look forward to what the trail has in store for me. May all who set foot on the Appalachian Trail achieve their dreams and goals.
Date: 2009-01-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Only 47 days away. There is no denying the fact that I might be the biggest or most overweight person out there, I weigh in at 256 lbs. I hate saying that because I feel it gives the wrong impression about me. I am a seasoned hiker and whether or not I can do this is not a question in my mind. Every time I go out for a week or so, I usually lose around ten pounds, the problem is that it always comes back. One of the reasons, out of what seem like hundreds, I am setting out on the AT is to lose weight. I was keeping up with one hiker last season and he lost over sixty pounds. That is what I am shooting for. My biggest problem in life is that I get comfortable with the way things are. I often get motivated to workout, but it never lasts. I get into the comfortable routines of life and I find it very hard to break them. So I am not just looking at this just as an adventure or some some goal I have set forth for myself. I see the six or seven months I will spend out there simply as a change of lifestyle. I'm not hiking the trail solely to get to Katahdin, I am hiking the trail because that is how I want to live my life. I need to get away from my easy and comfortable lifestyle which I presently possess for a while. I just hope no one judges me at first off my physical appearance. The good thing is that with every mile I hike up that trail, the less I will weigh.
Date: 2009-03-14
From: Winchester, TN

To: Dahlonega, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Arrived here today with Mom and Dad around 7:00 in the vening. Went out to eat at a local resturaunt called Danny's. After that we checked into our hotel and got situated for the night. I got bored and went to the local Al-Mart to look around and pass the time. On my way back to the hotel I heard a bluegrass band playing on the sqaure and I stopped in to listen for a bit before heading back to the room. I'm wide awake and so are Mom and Dad. It's been raining all day and it looks like rain for my first day on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2009-03-15
From: Dahlonega, GA

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

Drove from Dahlonega with Mom and Dad and the dropped me off at the parking lot near Springer Mountain. I was deading the day at first because it was raining pretty hard but it pretty much quit by the time I started hiking. It turned out to be an enjoyable day of hiking. I met and hiked with a guy named Ray, he seems pretty alright. I got to the shelter faitly early and quite a few people are here now. I socialized for most of the evening but now it is 8:30 pm and I am going to call it a day.
Date: 2009-03-16
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

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

Woke up this morning around 8:00 and hot the trail thirty minutes later. Today's hike was foggy and mostly in a light rain. Made it to the shelter fairly early again so I once again socialized with my fellow hikers and played some cards before cooking dinner. Tomorrow is going to be a fairly big day as bog days go for me so far. I am planning to make it to Woods Hole Shelter.
Date: 2009-03-17
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

First off. I took a trail name today. Hence forth I shall be known as "Storyteller". I was told I was telling stories the first night out. I don't remember telling to many stories, but I like the name and I better take it because it is a fairly good one. Todays hike was a long and tiring one. At least the sun was shining a;; day. There were a number of good views. I got tot he shelter and the spring has run dry. I don't care though. I'm not going any further today. There are just seven of us here, it is a nice change.