morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-01-21
To: Forward in time
Miles today: 0.0

A week is a long time in politics.                                 - Harold WilsonOne week from now I¢ll be on my way to the airport to head to Atlanta.One week. Sometimes that seems far too short a time for all the things I want to get done before I go. I have things on my spreadsheets that haven¢t been accomplished. Things I could have, should have, done last fall. Some are mundane, trivial things that won¢t really matter at all. Others I will notice sometime when I¢m on the Trail.But in this final frenzy of getting things done I¢m really coming to appreciate the use of the ¢Backspace¢ key on my computer. A long list of things to do? Click. Ffffffttttt. Done.Other things really must get done: I still haven¢t tested my lovely new tent. Soon, soon, I tell myself. Final gear selection. I hope it doesn¢t come to shoving it all in a pack and sorting it out in Georgia!Final cookdates for my clients ¢ there are some things I will not miss about my business, but the actual cooking is not one of them! My maildrop list so I can get some of those essentials from home. Taxes. Now there¢s a big one. I can¢t delegate the task, and it must be done ¢ at least the part for Come Home to Dinner, my personal chef business.Despite the lack of time to get everything done, there¢s some sort of weird time distortion going on. Even while the red digits on the clock seem to change with ever-increasing rapidity and the chime of the old grandfather clock sounds with greater urgency, time seems to drag.I find myself checking the 10-day weather forecast and wondering why it hasn¢t been updated since I checked it last a few hours ago. No, it can¢t STILL be Thursday. It¢s been Thursday FOREVER, and it¢s still only the morning. I can¢t wait to start. I want to be out there ¢ on the Trail. I try to breathe deeply. I remind myself that the Trail will still be there. A few more days are nothing compared to the months it will take to complete the hike. And yet¢¦. And yet it seems to be taking forever. One week. It can be such a long time.
Date: 2010-01-24
To: Whispers
Miles today: 0.0

¢Ever notice that the whisper of temptation can be heard farther than the loudest call to duty. ¢                                        - Earl WilsonHere I am. I should be working on my seemingly endless list. I¢ve cut it down to the things that really, really should be done by the time I leave. I only have a few days left and sometimes a rising sense of panic fills me. The clarion call of duty tells me to finish packing, do the taxes, get things finished up around here. Go to the gym for a solid workout. But there is the sweet whisper of temptation that leads me here, reading the trail journals of my fellow Tenners. Low murmurs that urge me to write yet another entry in my journal instead of doing what needs to be done. I slow to listen.I have gotten some work done, I reason. I slept in my tent last night during the thunderstorm. The modifications I want to make to it are limited. I¢m making progress on other fronts. I gathered all my business information and made a first run at my Schedule C. Other tasks are coming together. My final cookdate is tomorrow. I could take the time to ¢No. I tell myself firmly. Don¢t listen to those voices that would distract you from the main business at hand. Return to duty. I put my fingers in my ears, close my eyes, scrunch up my face, and shake my head. I¢m - not - LIStening.
Date: 2010-01-26
To: Launch Party
Miles today: 0.0

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.Happy trails to you, keep smilin¢ until then.Who cares about the clouds when we¢re together?Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.Happy trails to you, ¢till we meet again.-        Dale Evans RogersOn Sunday I attended a gathering of friends. A ¢launch party,¢ if you will, for me. There were laughs, chocolate, encouraging words, wine, cheese, more chocolate, and hugs.I answered questions and talked at great length, and with great enthusiasm, about my impending adventure. My friends cheered me on. While all said they were sure I would succeed, a few weren¢t sure why I¢m doing it at all, especially starting so early. But that¢s ok. That¢s one of the things about friends. We don¢t have to see eye to eye, we just have to stand together, shoulder to shoulder.A card from one tells me to remember where my family and friends are. That reminds me of a line from a hymn ¢ ¢Roots hold me close; wings set me free.¢ I will, indeed, hold those memories close as my wings (or feet) carry me north.At the end of the evening, the entire company sang ¢Happy Trails¢ to me as a send-off.   On the trail, I might not be able to ¢just sing a song and bring the sunny weather,¢ but some cold, rainy day I will conjure up thoughts of Sunday evening and be warmed in my heart. Thank you.So, to my yet-to-be-met friends on the Trail, I say, ¢Happy trails to you, until we meet.¢ To my ¢old¢ friends I echo your song - ¢Happy trails to you, ¢till we meet again.¢
Date: 2010-01-28
To: No go
Miles today: 0.0

RAIN WILL DEVELOP ON FRIDAY...MIXING WITH AND EVENTUALLYTRANSITIONING TO SNOW BY FRIDAY EVENING ACROSS THE NORTH GEORGIAMOUNTAINS. THE TRANSITION TO MAINLY FROZEN OR FREEZINGPRECIPITATION SHOULD OCCUR AROUND MIDNIGHT SATURDAY MORNINGELSEWHERE ACROSS THE WATCH AREA. THE SNOW MAY BE MIXED WITH SLEETAND FREEZING RAIN AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY AFTER MIDNIGHT FRIDAYNIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE FORSNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS AND1 TO 3 INCHES AT LOWER ELEVATIONS. ICE ACCUMULATIONS DUE TOFREEZING RAIN ARE ALSO POSSIBLE EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA.-        National Weather ServiceYesterday, when I checked the weather forecast for northern Georgia, it was seemed worse than the above. There was a Severe Weather Warning, and it sounded like it would be foolhardy to head off into to the teeth of such a storm. How many words for precipitation does the National Weather Service have in its vocabulary? I¢m not sure, but quite a few of them appeared in the missive. Rain, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, icing, sleet, snow¢¦ These are not words I like applied to the weather when I¢m hiking.In an earlier post where I went through my reasoning for an early start (in great detail), I said that I would haul out if the weather looked bad. So, instead of hauling out, I¢m simply not putting in ¢ for now.Yes, looking at the weather forecast this morning, I see that they¢ve refined the prediction, and I would probably make a different decision now, but I went with the information I had at the time.Instead of having arrived in Atlanta already this morning, I will arrive on Saturday. I may skip the Approach Trail and proceed directly to Go on Sunday, when the National Weather Service is predicting ¢abundant sunshine.¢ I hope they¢re right.
Date: 2010-01-30
To: Launch successful
Miles today: 0.0

The real pleasure was having the chance to enjoy being weightless, and the other was to spend some time looking out at this beautiful Earth that we're all lucky to inhabit. -        Robert Crippen¢Three, two, one, zero. All engines running. Commit. Lift-off. We have lift-off at 0650 CST of American Airlines Flight 4278 bringing Second Stage to the Appalachian Trail and quiet to the Midwest.¢And the clock is running.¢Clear the tower.¢And with that, the aircraft was on its way. I could see our car's headlights shining where Angus sat watching our take off. I watched as the distance between us grew.   We had separation, but it was between me and my husband.In many relationships there is a balance of personality traits. In ours Angus would sometimes say that if he kept the brakes full on he could just keep me to a managable speed. I, in turn, teased him with names such as "Speed Bump," "Sandbag," and "Sea Anchor.". But here he was, being my first stage, providing the boost, the initial power to get this flight underway, then falling back allowing the second stage to take over. (Thanks, Dear!)I watched until the wing obscurred my view back to the airport. When I looked out the left window I saw the full moon about to set. When I looked to my right I could see the glow of the rising sun.Soon it was light enough to see the crazy patchwork quilt of fields below. Over all lay a thin coating of snow, softening and blurring the contrast between fields and roads. I found myself relaxing as we flew along. I no longer felt any weight of responsibility for things at home. At the same time there was no pressure to hike since I hadn't yet reached the Trail. I felt buoyed by anticipation, almost feeling weightless, balanced between life at home and the future of hiking. I enjoyed the feeling all the more for it being different from my usual feelings.Still with this sensation of floating I arrived in Atlanta, claimed the Green Beast from baggage and took the train out to North Springs, where Josh from Hiker Hostel picked me up.After a couple of stops to pick up last minute items like stove fuel, we arrived at the lovely hostel.   I'm here at the time and place I've planned for. I've spent many springtimes reading other people's journals, imagining what it would be like for me to hike. I've waited and bided my time.Only one more night (weather and road conditions permitting) and the wait will be over. I will stand atop Springer Mountain ready for my adventure to truly begin. I will look down between my boots and see the Trail I will be lucky enough to hike.And, finally, I shall be wait-less.
Date: 2010-02-04
From: Neels Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

"All that frickin' yoga made my feet bigger."                                 - Tanya from "Mama Mia"Today I spent another day working on gear refit. This time the time off the Trail didn't hurt so much since the weather was gray and rainy, as opposed to yesterday when it would have been a fine day for hiking.With much reluctance I finally agreed to send the Green Beast home, swapping it for a lighter pack. The new one is an Osprey Ariel 55. Kevin was able to get everything in with just a bit to spare. While this one is 3 pounds lighter, it still doesn't fit with the same comfort as my Terreplane. But I'm hoping the new pack will grow on me, so I will give it a chance to prove its worth.I know 3 pounds doesn't sound like a whole lot, but when you carry it all day long it seems like a lot. When I headed out of Neels Gap my whole pack weighed 36 pounds. Shaving that 3 pounds from my pack saved 1/13th of the pack weight. How many pounds would YOU lose if you suddenlylost 1/13th of YOUR weight? Wouldn't you feel a lot lighter?(Speaking of weight... there is a bathroom scale at the hostel. The other thruhikers, all men, were weighing themselves. There was general grousing among the men about how they'd ALREADY lost 5 pounds, or whatever, and how they'd better eat more. They'd hoped they wouldn't have lost that much already. So I eagerly got on the scale. I anticipated the big drop in the numbers. After all, I'd spent the last few days hiking all day, and not eating that much. I definitely had not been making an effort to keep the weight ON, like the guys had. You might imagine the few choice words that escaped my lips when I saw that the scale hadn't budged for me.)Anyway, back to the gear refit. I had a new pack, but I still needed boots. My four year old Dunhams, purchased here at Mountain Crossings, were retired here, too. They were broken down and ready to leave the Trail. Since the selection was low at Mountain Crossings until the new inventory comes in, Cool Breeze drove me to Outdoor World, where he helped me find a pair of Keens that fit. They have the nice, boxy, squared off toe box that I need. No dainty, tapered slippers for me. I expect it'll take some time to break them in, but I'm hoping for no more lost toenails. I expect it's all that yoga that have made my feet bigger.
Date: 2010-02-12
From: Deep gap shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The hobbits were delighted to hear this, and thanked Tom many times; but he laughed, and said that they were so good at losing themselves that he would not feel happy till he had seen them safe over the borders of his land. 'I've got things to do,' he said; 'my making and my singing, my talking and my walking, and my watching of the country. Tom can't be always near to open doors and willow-cracks. Tom has his house to mind, and Goldberry is waiting.'                        - J.R.R. Tolkein                           "Fellowship of the RingI rejoined the AT about 9:30 on Friday morning. The snow was thicker along this part. In some places the trail was actually clear, but in other places the drifts were up to my knees. A few places were clear glazed ice. I had hopes of putting in some good miles today. If I'm going to make it to Maine, I've got to put in some serious work.However, between yesterday's stiff work, continuing difficult trail conditions, and gray, cloudy skies, it was hard to work up enthusiasm.I was content enough hiking along, and some snowbank artwork put a smile on my face, but something was missing.Fahmah caught me up, and we hiked along mostly in sight of each other. Then it started to snow. Then it started to snow harder.By the time we got to Dick's Creek Gap, we'd put in about 3 hours and only gone about 3 miles. I felt like a limp dishrag. Hand and arms were sore because I needed the extra balance and traction of my poles. My legs, knees and feet were burning. Altogether I felt pretty crappy. Not sick or sad. Not wanting to get off the trail. Just beat. Fahmah seemed to be feeling the same way.He called Blueberry Patch (a hiker hostel in Hiawassee, GA). He got no answer. So. You're adrift in northern Georgia, and hoping for a friendly voice and good advice. Who ya gonna call? That's right. Robin and Dave.In minutes Dave showed up to rescue us. We stopped at Blueberry Patch. They definitely were not open, but may open tomorrow. Fahmah and I had discussed going back to the Holiday Inn Express, but Robin and Dave took us in for the night.Another of Robin's wonderful meals plus an anticipated good night's sleep and I expect we will be ready to head for Franklin. Despite the snow that fell here most of the day.Like the hobbits, we will head on out for new adventures. And try to leave Dave and Robin in peace.
Date: 2010-02-22
From: Nantahala River NC

To: Nantahala River NC
Miles today: 0.0

¢Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.¢                        - Ralph Marston Rain pouring down woke me in the middle of the night. The warm, dry bunkroom was even more welcome under the circumstances. I worried a bit about "breaking and entering" charges, since I hadn't been properly checked in, but with a sense of peace and acceptance unusual for me, I rolled over and went back to sleep.After the office opened I went down and 'fessed up, and made arrangements to stay another night. It turned out I was in a male bunk room and had to move to a female bunk room, but otherwise no problem.The staff graciously allowed me to use a computer in the office to journal. That's something they usually can't do, but since it's there slow season right now they did. Thank you.At lunchtime Sherpa Dave and Goldberry (aka Robin) showed up to chuck me under the chin, bolster my spirits, and make sure I got enough to eat. We had lunch at a restaurant at NOC RIGHT on the river. In season one can watch kyakers do their thing right out of the window. At this time, however, there was very little activity anywhere around.After lunch we stopped in at the outfitters. It was open only limited hours and didn't have its full stock in, but I was able to replace my bite valve (but not the cover) and pick up some extra food and fuel canisters.Dave and Robin took me for a drive through the beautiful North Carolina countryside. It was fascinating to see trees whizzing by at 55 mph instead of at .5 mph. At the end of our pleasant ride they dropped me back off at the NOC with wishes of good luck for the remainder of my trip. It had been good to see them once again. I hope to see them sometime again when this adventure is over.I picked up my boots from the bunk room and headed back to the outfitters as I wanted to get a pair of Superfeet insoles for my Keens.And then...! It was time for laundry. There's nothing like freshly laundered clothes to brighten the day when you've gotten used to dirty, stinky clothes as the norm. There's something sensual and decadent about warm, fresh-smelling clothes. Especially after another shower.One of the Wilderness First Responder students had gotten pizza and invited me to join them. Thank you!After dinner and conversation I set to organizing my gear and doing some packing as I hoped to make a somewhat early start in the morning.I had read in the register that the trail north of NOC was thick with blowdowns and had caused a couple of people to get off the trail, at least temporarily. I considered doing the same, but noticed that the entries were more than a week old, and that weather conditions were now MUCH better than they had been then. So I determined to go on. Feeling much better than the night before, it was time for me to get back to work.
Date: 2010-02-23
From: Nantahala River NC

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light snow

The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky. ~Antoine de Saint-Exup©ry, The Wisdom of the Sands, translated from French by Stuart GilbertThe NOC campus was still quiet when I left the bunkroom key at the office. I paused to take some pictures and then was off to make the almost 3,000 ft climb to the top of Swim Bald and on to Sassafras Gap Shelter. The trail by the river was free of snow, and I made good progress initially. As I climbed up I saw remnants of the snow that had been here - huddled under mountain laurel thickets or lurking behind logs. Shortly before reaching Grassy Gap I began to see a number of blowdowns. Fortunately the area around the trail was wide enough that going around some was an option. Others required going over or under.I paused for a quick lunch at Grassy Top. The wind was picking up so I didn't linger but started off again as soon as I had eaten a little.Immediately the trail took a hard right to slab along the hillside. Snow and ice covered the trail. Blowdowns did, too.Some were just the tops of trees that had been snapped off and were now lying on the trail. Some were large branches that had fallen. Others were large trees that hadn't been able to cling to the shallow soil. Those had toppled over, pulling the rootballs out of the ground, leaving great craters in or near the trail. In places there were rhododendrons that lay over the trail, their many branches spread everywhere.It took me 2.5 hours to go the approximately 1.2 miles from Grassy Top to the Nantahala Gorge Overlook. That was 2.5 hours of very hard work. It was made worse by the fact that the trail here was only a couple of feet wide and the slopes uphill and downhill were fairly steep and ice and snow covered. That made going around the blowdowns much more difficult and hazardous.In the morning, on the clear trail, I had felt happy and pleased to be reminded of what hiking is *supposed* to be like. One foot in front of the other without impediment. This, however, was draining and frustraing. And saddening to see these majestic trees toppled like pickup sticks. I'm glad I wasn't there when they were coming down.In the late afternoon a heavy fog developed and was freezing on the branches of trees along the trail. I hoped it wouldn't build up enough to bring more trees down.I made it to Sassafrass Gap Shelter with enough time to settle in and have dinner before it was completely dark, but not by much.It had been a long and very tiring day. A long, tiring day to go only 6.9 miles. I was happy to get into my sleeping bag for the night.PS. Thanks to all the "warm" wishes and words of encouragement left in the guestbook. The comments do help and are much appreciated.
Date: 2010-02-25
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance - waiting for the bathroom.                                                    - Bob Hope First of all, I have a request, a favor, to ask of all you 'vicarious hikers' out there. My daughter's birthday is coming up very soon. Please go to Ellen's website, www.rockettium.net, go to her blog, and leave her birthday wishes, perhaps saying where you are from, after one of her day's entries. I won't be able to be there with her, but I'm hoping that some of you will help send the "Happy Birthday!" message. Thanks!Snow was falling when I woke. That made me happy that I wasn't going to be hiking today.I planned to take a couple of days off to rest and relax while trying to decide what to do next. The last couple of days had been very hard, and I didn't want to even think about taking on the conditions and remoteness of trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I knew from my reactions since NOC that some of the resiliency was gone, and that fear was too present. I hoped that some time off would bring things back into perspective.It turned out that there was another good reason for sitting it out for a couple of days.It might have been due to decreased personal hygiene, or it might have been drinking untreated water, (I usually use Aquamira chemical treatment for my water, but when I did the required premix, it froze!), or perhaps it was the takeout food I'd had the night before, but, well, let's just say that I was glad I was glad I was somewhere with indoor plumbing and no waiting.I had decided to move down to Robbinsville, NC where I could get a signal for my Blackberry. After the snow stopped, Jeff drove me down to town and dropped me off at the Microtel.I spent the day resting and journalling.In the late afternoon I decided that I felt well enough to go across the road to the Ingles grocery store to get something to eat, and then I rested some more. It felt good to not be moving.