morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-01-27
To: It's All About Adapting
Miles today: 0.0

During my 2003 hike, somewhere in Tennessee, I came across this amazing tree. At the time, I did not know that the Native Americans bent young trees to mark routes through the forest; I thought it had somehow gotten bent through an act of nature, but adapted and thrived over the years to become the healthy, amazing landmark it now was. I thought about that tree, and others like it that I saw along the way, and how adaptable we are too...as long as we're open to new ideas, new friends, new ways of living.I learned to sleep shoulder to shoulder with men I had never met, men that helped me when I was oh-so-cold and tired coming into Cold Spring Shelter in the snow. They gave me a space and made me laugh in spite of my frozen body and mind. I learned to resupply for 4 days at a Shell gas station, and lived on cheddar cheese, beef stick, cheese crackers, snickers and nuts...and didn't mind at all. I learned to "brew" coffee in a 2 qt. sauce pot with no filter to catch the grinds. The pot was filled with water, several large hands full of fresh coffee was thrown in, and the water brought to a boil. Sure, some of the sips were a little chewy, but it was one of the best cups of coffee I had ever tasted. I learned to drink water that sometimes had funky things floating in it, and eat food that was under cooked, over cooked, or sometimes not cooked at all. Tortellini is actually kinda good when it's dried and not cooked!Just like in real life, there are loud, rude, selfish people on the trail and in shelters; they aren't the norm, but they're there and you have to deal with them. I learned to be more patient with circumstances I couldn't change.I never learned to like being cold and wet, but I did learn to deal with it and that a sense of humor can carry you a long way down the trail no matter what the weather.When I returned home in September of 2003, I said that I was "quieter, more peaceful inside". Like that bent tree in Tennessee, I thrived on the trail, sometimes despite what it placed in front of me. I learned to carry that feeling with me through my daily qigong practice and now look forward to what I'll learn on the trail in 2013.
Date: 2013-02-05
To: Food
Miles today: 0.0

Misses Moose asked in my Guest Book, "Just how DO you make meals? I read you do not cook 'in' your cookpot. What do you cook?" So I thought I'd talk about hiker food in this journal entry. Now understand that there are as many ways to "cook" on the trail as there are hikers, so my method is what works for me after much trial and error.I do not like to clean my cook pot, so the only thing I do with it is boil water. For breakfast when it's cold, I boil water and add it to 1-2 oatmeal pouches, mix it thoroughly, and set it upright against a rock or tree for a couple of minutes, then eat. I rarely cook for lunch, but if I have a real low energy day or it's really cold out and I'm chilled, I'll make a dinner for lunch.While resupplying, if I've purchased Mountain House, Backpacker's Pantry, or Enertia Trail Foods (dehydrated meals), I remove the contents of the foil bags and put them into separate Ziploc Freezer Bags and seal. The Ziplocs weigh less than the bags the foods come in, so why carry both? At camp, I'll boil 12-16 oz of water and add it to the chosen Ziploc freezer bag meal and stir thoroughly. In cold weather, the bag is then placed inside my coat to warm my core while it "cooks" for 10 minutes. In all the nights I've hiked in the past 10 years, I've only had one bag fail. I hope not to have a repeat of THAT this hike My food bags are all set up for the first leg of my hike; Springer Mt. to Neel Gap. My dinners will be: Enertia Mac and Cheese to which I'll add tuna, Mountain House Chili Mac and Cheese, and a half bag (once my trail appetite kicks in, I'll eat the entire pouch) of Idahoan Mashed Potatoes to which I'll add chicken, sun dried tomatos and cheddar cheese. All of these will be "cooked" in the ziploc freezer bags. Lunchs for the first 3 days will be cheddar and pepperoni with crackers or peanut butter and crackers. Snacks throughout the day will be trail mix, Luna Bars, and Starburst candies.I have a baggie of a meal left over from our October shakedown hike. I'm going to eat it today for lunch, but don't know what it is. It has some dried, skinny noodles, an assortment of dried veggies, and a flavor packet. I'll be surprised by what it is when I eat it, but I know I won't be disappointed.
Date: 2013-02-09
To: Talisman
Miles today: 0.0

Talisman: Anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actionsIn 2003, in a film canister placed-ever-so-carefully in my pack, was a small amount of my parents ashes. They deserved to go on that hike with me. My father taught me love and respect for nature and my mother taught me to accept and validate my fellow human beings.On the .9 mile walk to Springer Mountain, Jack gathered 3 small stones, one to represent him and the other two for our 2 grown sons. Before he drove away from me that misty morning in the parking lot below Springer, he gave me the stones to carry for luck, and then place on Katahdin at the end of my hike.A co-worker at the time had given me an angel that was lovingly attached to the shoulder strap of my backpack. On the very first day, the angel went flying when a branch caught my shoulder. Amazingly, I found her and added her to my precious film canister.At night when I prepared my bed, the canister was placed in the hood of my sleeping bag, under my homemade pillow of jacket and spare clothes. Once during the hike, I awakened in the morning to my Mom and Dad, stones, and little angel scattered in the hood of my bag. The unthinkable had happened! With a chuckle, I gathered everyone up, put them back in my pack, and continued with the same routine to Katahdin. I think my parents would have seen the humor in that too.When I got to Katahdin, because of the 180 mile jump I had made from Mt. Washington to Stratton, Maine, I did not scatter my treasures to the wind, or place them in the rock cairn on that magnificent mountain. Instead, I said a prayer to them for the part they played in my walking almost 2,000 miles and carried them back down the mountain.The film canister has gone on every hike since then. It will be gently placed in my pack on March 1st as I head out on this next great adventure. And if the Hiking Gods are in my corner, when I reach Katahdin later this year, they will be laid to rest in one of the most amazing places that I have ever set foot,and I know that my Mom and Dad will be happy for me~J.
Date: 2013-02-24
To: Sometimes YouÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre the Windshield...
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sometimes You¢re the Windshield, Sometimes You¢re the BugThis past week, I was the bug. This journal entry will be short and sweet as I do not have the use of my right index finger, making typing tedious.On Thursday I came home to my dogs having dragged a 50 pound dog food ¢safe¢ from the utility room, down the hall, down 3 steps, and across the kitchen floor, where they proceeded to eat a hole in it and sample about 3 lbs. each of the dry food. Needless to say, that was followed by a 4.5 hour vet visit that day and 4 hours the next. Thankfully, due to the caring expertise of Drs. Taylor and Maro and Staff, everyone survived with just a few mental scars (me¢¦not them). In the process of getting the dogs to the vet¢s that first day, I slammed my finger in the car door. The good news is I now have feeling in my fingertip and can even bend it slightly.My fuel has been sent to Dahlonega, my pack is sitting in its box waiting to be put on the plane. Final weight with 4 days food, 1ltr of water and more technology than even existed on my last hike is 22.3 lbs.Tomorrow, I¢ll send my bounce box to Neel Gap¢¦just in case there¢s anything I really did need that I¢m not carrying that first 4 days.I cannot believe that in 3 days I will be on my way. Walking 10 miles in the rain day after day is easier than the last week~J.
Date: 2013-02-26
To: I'm Outta Here!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

One of the most rewarding things that I have done since retiring is to volunteer my time to the Sahli Nature Park Advisory Committee here in our community. The park was gifted to Chippewa Township by the Sahli Family, and the 90 acres will stay free of development for the enjoyment of our residents forever. Yesterday I joined out Township Manager and Park Advisory Committee Chair for lunch. They gifted me with a pair of beautiful jasper earrings to wear on my adventure. Jasper is a nourishing, warm, and protective stone. The info says that if I am in need of more energy, vitality, or determination to reach my goals, jasper will help me. So if you see me rubbing my earrings.....you'll know I'm in need of help getting up that hill. Thank you Mark and Pam; I always enjoy your company and the gift was wonderful!Our wonderful neighbor Joan and our amazing vet tech, Megan and our always helpful daughter-in-law Kelly will help Jack care for the animals while I'm gone. I could not have walked out the door without knowing these capable people would be there to help.On Saturday evening we had dinner with friends. Thanks for sharing time and my adventure with us Gloria and Joe...we always enjoy your company. And I always enjoy talking about the trail Tonight we'll have dinner with our daughter-in-law and grand daughter Charlotte to say my goodbyes, as tomorrow morning, Delta will deliver me to Atlanta where Josh from The Hiker Hostel will collect me and put me up for two nights before I hike out on March 1st. The day has been spent closing loose ends, hugging the dogs, laundry, cleaning and eating all those things I love but won't get on the trail. The dogs are fully recovered from last week's poor choices and my finger is getting better daily. I think it's time to go. Where oh where has the time gone?
Date: 2013-02-26
To: Social Media
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Can't live with it. Can't live without it.If you are on Facebook and would like to follow along there:www.facebook.com/JourneyontheAppalachianTrailMy fortune from the Thai restaurant on Sunday:                  If you think you can do a thing,                  or think you can't do a thing,                           you're rightGotta love it~J.
Date: 2013-02-28
To: Waiting
Miles today: 0.0

8:04amThere was a knock on my bedroom door at 6:50 this morning, " Breakfast in 10 minutes" called Josh, one of the hostel owners.Sixteen of us enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs, French toast, oatmeal and grits, washed down with good strong coffee.All but two of us are headed out on the 8:30 shuttle, going to places called Woody Gap, Gooch Gap and Springer Mountain. Tomorrow I will have my turn.My hiker friend Knee Hi from Gainsville arrived late morning and we immediately began going through my gear piece by piece.We drove to the beautiful,historic town of Dahlonega, GA for lunch and had the very best burger and fries at Shenanigan's. The walls are covered with dollar bills on which many notes are written. Unusual and noteworthy!Knee Hi's help was indispensable today and I enjoyed her company and whit. I sure wish she were hiking out with me tomorrow!I'm showered (won't have another for 4 days), fed and my pack is sitting.....full....at the bottom of the bed, waiting (more patiently than I) for our adventure to begin.I've spoken to Jack, who has survived the first 24 hours. Huge thanks to Kelly and Charlotte for doing the lunch shift with the dogs, and Megan's and Rylee for taking the dinner shift. This would not be possible without you ladies!It's 10 PM and the only thing left to do is go to sleep. That might be the toughest thing I've done all day~J.
Date: 2013-03-01
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter, GA
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

My morning started around 5 AM, but I didn't arise until 6:30. I would not need the knock on my bedroom door telling me of breakfast this morning as I was too excited to sleep. Like a child on Christmas morning, I was awaiting the adventure about to unfold for me.After another satisfying breakfast and settling up with Leigh, 10 of us were shuttled to the Springer Mountain parking lot by Willie.We all shouldered our backpacks and spread out quickly, heading the .9 miles up to the Springer Mountain plaque and the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.While headedup Springer we were treated to the most amazing frost both on the ground and on the trees, called hoar frost I believe and if my fingers weren't frozen from the cold, I would google it to make sure. At one point, I came across Jan Liteshoe and the Pack 31 hikers that hiked in 03 with me. It was a lovely reunion there in the middle of the trail, and we leapfrogged for the rest of the day.I hiked with a delightful young girl named Barbara from Maine and an older fellow named Silver Fox for most of the day. We had similar paces and the conversation flowed as the miles passed.I was quite surprised to round a corner and find the Georgia Adventurers Club doing trail magic on the very first day of my hike! I helped myself to an apple, then a pack of crackers and moved on. Tomorrow morning they are serving soup, coffee and hot chocolate.We arrived at the shelter around 4PM and I quickly set up my tent and took my food and stove to the picnic table to cook my dinner of Backpackers Pantry Mac and cheese to which I added tuna. It was so cold that I had eaten, cleaned up, collected water and was in my tent for the night. It's not unusual in the beginning of the hike for me to be in my tent for 14 hours a night.I knew within the hour that it was not going to be an easy night. First I added my rain pants to my long Johns. I kept on my base layer, long sleeved shirt and fleece jacket. I added a heat patch to my back, toe warmers and hot hands. Then I added two more hot hands. Oh my. I'm bailing tomorrow morning, having my bro overnite my 0 degree bag, and staying in Neel Gap until Monday when this cold snap is over.Last night I forgot to mention the Outfitter in Dahlonega on the main square of town. It was a great place with 2 floors of gear and clothing. The owner Deb was helpful and I purchased a pair of merino wool gloves that have saved my hands in this frigid weather~J.
Date: 2013-03-02
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter, GA

To: Hightower Gap, GA
Miles today: 0.5

I finally fell asleep last night at 7:30 and slept for 3 hours. I journaled until my frozen fingers refused to obey my mind, adjusted my hand warmers, and fell back to sleep until 1 AM when I adjusted my hand warmers and journaled until my fingers again revolted and refused to work, even with hand warmers in my hands. I had never experienced this kind of cold while hiking.The wind growled through the campsite and the freezing rain/snow pelted my tent all night.At 7 AM I was awakened by loud voices from several campsites over. I guess they didn't realize they weren't the only ones there Dixie Grits (also on trailjournals) had set up his hammock behind me and said that he was comfortable in his 15 degree bag.I immediately packed up and went to the shelter's picnic table where I made my breakfast of organic oatmeal and hot green tea. It, and the 2 new toe warmers helped to warm me up.The Pack 31 reunion hikers had called for a shuttle to meet them at Hightowet Gap, a short half mile away. The offer was made....I accepted, and at 9:15 we were on our way to meet the 10 AM shuttle.The going was slow as the trail was snow covered and slippery, but we arrived at the gap a short time later and Lumpy our shuttled arrived just 5 minutes later.An hours drive down the mountain had us in Neel Gap where I killed a few hours in the warm and cozy Mountain Crossings Outfitter waiting for another shuttle to take me to Goose Creek Cabins for the night. I treated myself to a hot coffee and hot dog, purchased some food for the next few days, and bought a floating top for my Granite Gear VC60 pack. I missed the floating top so much. I used to keep my day's food and 1st aid in it, so I never had to go into my pack during the day. It weighed 9 oz, but after I took my Leatherman scissors to it, I think I got it down to 7 oz.I fell asleep on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, watching TV. It took me a full 8 hours to warm up!Tomorrow I will strip my pack of every unnecessary ounce due to adding my 0 degree, 3 lb sleeping bag and the new floating top. I'll also make plans for how to handle the next few days. Apparently there is another storm on its way for Tuesday and Wednesday. Maybe starting 2 weeks earlier wasn't such a great idea~J
Date: 2013-03-03
From: Goose Creek Cabins, Blairsville, GA

To: Goose Creek Cabin
Miles today: 0.0

I awakened often through the night, most likely due to being in a strange place, on top of a mountain, alone, but always went back to sleep and finally got up for good at 8 AM.I made myself some hot tea and cheesy Grits and settled on the sofa, happy that I was not out in the weather before me. The thermometer on the deck read 20degrees and the snow was blowing horizontally. The cabin creeked all night from the high winds, but the fire place and heater kept me warm inside.I've made plans to be shuttled back to Hightower Gap in the morning. My shuttler will collect me in the late afternoon from Cooper's Gap after my 8.6 mile hike over Sassafras and Justus Mountains. Then I'll spend the night in the hostle at Mountain Crossings to await my sleeping bag's arrival on Tuesday~J
Date: 2013-03-04
From: Hightower Gap, GA

To: Gooch Gap, GA
Miles today: 8.6

I awakened at 6AM, excited to be hiking today. I got out of bed at 6:30 and dressed, ate and readied my gear for my 8 AM pick up by Lumpy.It wasn't long before Lumpy and I were on our way up the mountain to Hightower Gap, where 2 days before Lumpy had saved us from the 0 degree wind chills.I was hiking by 9:30 AM in 20 degree temps with sunny skies and no wind. It was a delightful day to hike and I enjoyed every minute, even my slow hike up Sassafras Mountain. Numerous times I found myself smiling.....for no apparent reason, other than the fact that I was back in the woods.In two hours I had gone the 3.5 miles to Cooper Gap and started up Justus Mountain.By 1 PM I had reached the beautiful Justus Creek. Within the hour I was at the deserted Gooch Gap Shelter and stopped to eat my lunch of pepperoni, cheese and crackers, washed down with creek water flavored with essential lemon oil. Soon after I was back on the trail, headed to my destination of Gooch Gap.When I arrived at the Gap, I called Lumpy to let him know I had arrived at the Gap an hour early. Within 10 minutes, Lumpy had arrived and we were on our way back down the mountain to Mountain Crossings where I had reserved a bed in the hostel for the night.As I entered the hostel, many hikers that I had been with the first night at Hawk Mountain Shelter were there, coming in from Lance Creek Campsite 7 miles away. The stories they told of the night before, including several cases of hypothermia, assured me that I had made the correct decision in getting off.Of the 16 hikers in the hostel 50% were over 50 with most being over 60. It's really nice to see so many older people on the trail this year~J
Date: 2013-03-05
From: Neel Gap Hostel

To: Goose Creek Cabins
Miles today: 0.0

After a night of tossing and turning, or should I say being tossed and turned, by the young hiker in the bunk above me, I got up for good at 6 AM. Pirate, the hostle caretaker had coffee made and was making pancakes for the hostle guests. The night before Pirate had grilled chicken and pork chops. That was one of the best pork chops I had ever had the pleasure of eating...with my hands. One of the things I enjoy the most about the trail is the lack of ceremony when it comes to eating. The important thing is that the food travels from the plate (or pan, or bag) to your mouth in whatever way works best.When the young hiker above my bunk emerged from the back, I asked him if he had yet been given a trail name. He replied, "No", so I proceeds to name him."Are you restless at night?", I asked. He grinned and said, "Yea, sometimes I have trouble getting comfortable because my 6'7" frame is about 4" longer than the bed". "Well" I continued, "Around 4 AM you settled down and for a minute I thought you might have been dead. And I was OK with that."He and his friends began to laugh. I went on... "Around 5 AM, I came to the conclusion that sleeping under you was like being in a stormy sea. So I have named you Tempest." "I like that," he said. And out the 4 friends went into the stormy day.Seven of us lined up a cabin at Goose Creek Cabins, and waited in the outfitters for our shuttle ride 3.5 miles down the road.Snowman and his wife Escargo, Silver Fox, Blue Moon, Dixie Grits, Trail Movin' and I settled in to await the forecasted storms, and when they came, were happy we were not on the mountain.I'm laying in my bed, updating my journal and listening to the horrendous wind whip the trees surrounding the cabin. Tomorrow will be a better day.My zero degree bag is due around 11 AM. I'll be there and ready to hike once it's stuffed into my pack!
Date: 2013-03-06
From: Goose Creek Cabins

To: Goose Creek Cabins, Blairsville, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

I'm snuggled in bed with the anticipation of hiking in the morning. We will see what tomorrow brings. I have called the outfitter and my zero degree sleeping bag has arrived and is, I'm sure, as anxious to hike as I am.Three hikers left this morning and one came in. Turned out it was our '03 trail sister Dirty Bird, whom I had not met during our hike. We shared stories of those we knew, and her good company, in addition to Dixie Grits, Snowman and his wife Escargo, made the day pass quickly.The day was spent sorting gear and eating trail food, as that's all we had to eat, that will have to be replaced before we hike out.There is no wi-fi at this cabin, so journal entries will have to wait for tomorrow. For some reason I'm having difficulty sending my journal entries to my transcriber from my Kindle Fire. Hopefully I can rectify that soon!