morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

(THIS IS ONE OF MY ORIGINAL ENTRIES FOR MY 1ST HIKE, APRIL 9TH, 2004)"Hey Wil, so i hear your hiking some path in the woods?" (still laughing) I suppose for those who really don't know much about the trail, it's odd to comprehend, but yes... many have been popping their heads into my office asking all about it. My twin and i have buying gear on hold until April 1st, when we will finish up our shopping in Kittery, Maine. It snowed here in upstate New York yesterday! I love winter, my fav season, it cracks me up, all the people moaning about "more snow". "Have you checked the calendar" is my reply. (It's still winter) Spring will start soon enough, and it will find me on the trail. It's starting to hit me . . . not really the trail, but the concept that this is my last "journey". For the last 12 years I have moved on average every 7 months, and have lived in 26 towns, between 10 states. It has been amazing, but this journey north, will become my "journey home". The last week of work is next week, this weekend, I'll announce the ECAC Women's Ice Hockey Championship, the last sports for awhile.. I'll miss it as I'm out "hiking some path in the woods" Sure enough though, everyone will be telling me how "i belong in radio", and asking me for sports updates.. ect, ect! Eh, I'm use to it . . . . Cheers, SOLACE
Date: 2004-03-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

(ONE OF MY ORIGINAL ENTRIES FOR THE 1ST, 2004 HIKE)Years of planning. . . days of counting. . . and tomorrow, FINALLY, we board the train from Albany, NY for GEORGIA! My twin and I just back from a 5 day swing through New Englang where we had some righteous dinners with family (little sister's shells rocked!) And spent time with friends (and the police) at a rockin party! (thank heavens for women!) Now back to New York where we had the hockey banquet last night... it was great, what a season, I shall miss it.We arrive in Gainesville, GA Wednesday morning, and begin the hike FRIDAY @ 3pm.To everyone and anyone who is sitting there in your office, looking at your picture on the wall of YOUR DREAM, well then.... my only question is (your dream is'nt going anywhere....) however.. are you?Godspeed all... my dream begins this FRIDAY.. when does yours...P05... Jay, Jeremy, Ali, Sarah, fzs, chs, union, Fite, Snee, Grace, Geddes, Zimmer, Joelle...Cheers.... Billy "solace"
Date: 2004-04-22
To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 113.0
Weather: light rain

(1ST TRAIL ENTRY OF FIRST HIKE, 2004)When's the last time you witnessed a sunset? Ok.. when's the last time you witnessed a sunset from 3,600 feet???    Greetings everyone.. and yes, we are alive! 113 miles in, and the Appalation Trail has bitten back! So much to say, so many we have met... (WALK ABOUT & SASAFRASS!) And so much to say.. which i will.. finally in a town with the internet & a HOT SHOWER! We are good... We have hiked 11 Mountains thus far, and have more blisters than politicians have lies! Tommy.. "Kick The Rocks" has been dubbed "KTR" by everyone, and even though i go by the name of SOLACE.. which everyone has been calling me.. I've also been dubbed the "radio guy"... lol, for those of you who know me well.    Things i miss... hmmm... my family and friends,time with our "dad", Jay, my bid sisters chili! THE BRUINS! Dear Lord! Up 3-1, AND WE LOSE!!!! Urgh! (No more on my team for now    No Bears yet, except for a Wild Turkey that scared the living heck out of KTR!!! Came right out of the bushes! He didn'y know what it was, and told me later he almost didn't have to use the "privy" hahahaha (privy is the john on the woods)   I miss UNION, and friends there. The town treat of choice hads been ICE CREAM! KTR and I are both keeping Dairy Queen in business here in the South! We have met the most incredible people! A married couple from New Jersey.. aka - "Walk About" & "Sasafrass" ! Are just the best.. (I will write a seperate stroy on those 2 tomorrow) Tune back in to read up!   TRAIL MAGIC Has been amazing! (Trail Magic is anything good, or unexcpected that happens in your favor)... Trail Magic was getting off the train on April 8th in hte little town of Gainesville, GA, and getting a couple breakfast sandwiches from the local cafe. Only to have the owner come running out telling us we "forgot" a bag of biscuits, pasteries, ect.. and wished us well on hte hike! There is just so much to say... and we will... KTR has bad tentinitis in his right achillies, and we are taking a few days off...   We appreciate all your prayers, all those we met on the trail and wish us well... and encourage each of you to indeed...   FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS... you may not reach tham, but you can look to where thay lead...               For Now.... Cheers from the woods... "Solace"
Date: 2005-03-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   ~ So, I'm at the Market today getting supplies for the hike in 2 days, when my cell phone rings.. it's SASSAFRASS! How great! I'm like, "Sassafrass!!! God, how are you".. (all the while I'm looking at soup.. and the old lady accross from me is prob thinking that's the MOST excited she's EVER seen anyone with a frigin can of soup! ~ Anyways.. She and "Walkabout" are leaving New Jersey Thursday for the trail! Also, Sassafrasss is turning 30! It will be a TRAILTOWN birthday! For her students reading.. we will be having lots of cold "MILK" !!! (If Guiness can count as milk!)   SPEAKING OF SASSAFRASS's students... Sassafrass is a HS teacher in New Jersey, and upon meeting her last year on the hike, she talked all the while @ her students.. how great they were.. what bright kids they were... ect, ect.   Now, I have several HS teacher friends.. and.. NOBODY brags like Sassafrass... Needless to say.. it was refreshing, and KTR and I have been hoping to meet them someday.. perhaps this spring I thought... I'm hiking for a few weeks, perhaps more? And I'll have my car... so, mabye a drive up to the Jersey shore.. I use to go all the time as a kid. Back to the Market.. let's see.. plenty of Lipton rice and pasta mixes, tons of tuna, a zillion granola bars, yogurt covered raisens, goldfish, a summer sausage stick, instant jello packets (great for cold days), and some sweet Hawaiin bread.. great stuff! Also, an instant camera, which i think I'll send back with sassafrass and have her delelope so she can bring the pics to class! That's all for now.. It will be @ a 10 hour drive to Franklin, NC on Wednesday, and then a few mile hike to the first shelter.. the pack is going to be H-E-A-V-Y, as I have some Easter Candy for fellow hikers... KTR called me yesterday morning from Neels Gap.. he is good, icing down his knees a bit.. but has NO IDEA IM COMING!!! It will be great! It was the 2nd day of last years hike we met Sassafrass & Walkabout ... they are just the best.. such "real" people.. who love life, and live it to it's fullest.. and I could not wait to see them! That's all for now...   to sassafrass's class . . . a huge thanx for all the support, and we hope to get in for a "show & tell" day (yes, we will even shower first!)   "LET THE THINGS YOU LOVE BE YOUR ESCAPE"                                                 Cheers, Solace
Date: 2005-05-09
To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

THIS ENTRY WAS FOR THE TIME OF 2005 ON THE TRAIL, WRITTEN MAY 9, 2005 ... March 24th, this years hike began @ Rock Gap, NC as i SOBOED 2 days solo in search of my twin, KTR, and hiking partner, CUPCAKE. Hiking south on the AT for 2 1/2 days by myself was one of welcomed solace I pushed 14 miles the first day, not to feel a thing until the next morning as I awoke with "cement legs"! Trail legs truley take much time to aquire! I ran into 81 NOBO hikers in those 2 days, many with dreams of seeing Katahdin... Being my 2nd year on the Trail, it was nice to give advice, and words of encouragement.   So.. here it was, south of Standing Indian Mountain summit by mabye 30min that i SHOCKED THE HECK out of KTR and CUPCAKE! They had no idea i was coming, and the looks on their faces were beyond priceless as they rounded the bend to see a grinning SOLACE standing smack in the middle of the trail! What a reunion it was!!! And.. it only got better, as, only 20min later.. we ran RIGHT INTO SASSAFRASS AND WALKABOUT! Our good trail friends whom we had met in 2005.   The 5 of us celebrated like royalty long into the night.. talking of times past, dreams ahead, and realizing that the most important things in life are nothing more than being surrounded by good people... We hiked the next 2 days in pouring rain, some snow... on into FRANKLIN, where good friend Ron Haven greeted us warmly as always! There is nothing more that defines TRAILMAGIC than Mr. Haven.. he has been helping hikers for years, and is just "good people"! From Franklin.. finally.. I went farther.. in 2005, this is where I had gotten off the AT... and so, with packs packed, zippers zipped, and determination at hand, CUPCAKE, KTR and I set forth, towards the NOC. ... For me.. those first few steps brought a sense of pride and a smile that has yet to leave my face... I hiked the next section to the NOC with fellow granite staters HAIRBALL & SNOWBUNNY, and CUPCAKE & KTR. I renamed cupcape to "MUDCAKE" as it did nothing but rain for 5 days.. ad we realized we would never stay clean... at night.. it was magical times around the fire... good friends.. (instant soup that tasted gourmet) and time with KTR that remains priceless... ~ KTR and I parted ways, it is always hard to leave my twin.. my best friend... having completed a 478 mile section hike... KTR....   you have "fought the good fight".. you have have neither won nor lost.. simply.. you have met the challenge . . . .. and you have met it well ~   congrats brother.... And to CUPCAKE HAIRBALL & SNOWBUNNY.. as you trudge on your attempted thur- hike . . . . one day was today.... and tomorrow.. well... its just a step at a time...   THE NASTIES RULE!   I'm back in the "real world" again.. now, having left St. Louis, and have moved to Maine.. where more adventures await... Cheers to Walk, Sass, Snow & Hair, Cup.. and KTR      Cheers to life.. to being alive.. to being able to walk.. to see... and to see WHAT YOU SEE....   Let's all "reach farther... and not dock until we no longer have strength to pull anchor"         Much Thanks ~ solace
Date: 2005-09-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

THIS ENTRY WAS MADE IN THE FALL OF 2005. WRITTEN SEPTEMBER 13th    My calendar says Autumn next week... I'll bid goodbye to summer here in upstate New York, only an hour from the trail in western Mass. Funny, I just got my pictures of the hike from this March/April today... sitting in the car, with traffic roaring by.. the images just sank the sounds of everyday life away, even for just a short time. I'll pass the winter here in New York, before taking one good final shot for now.. at her... at KATAHDIN ~   I've said this before.. that I know all thats there up on top of her.. is just an old wooden sign.. some 2,100 + miles up the "path". But it still calls to me.. more than anything in life.. more than a family, a career.. even love. And so I'll leave here early March... with a few stops in the country before making my way to SPRINGER around St. Patricks Day, 2006 For those of you "thinking" of trying... quit thinking about it.. and just get out there... not one of us is promised tomorrow ~ And to those who made it this year.. who climed her... and many more along the way.... all my respect.. and all my congrats... Looking so forward to seeing Mt. Springer in just 5 short months... perhaps my old friend "KTR" will join me, even for a bit round here . . .                  For now, it's time with friends, and thank god.. the Boston Bruins are playing again!                                           Cheers, SOLACE
Date: 2005-11-07
To: Scotia. New York
Miles today: 0.0

Early November, 2005 ~ Upon driving back from New Hampshire yesterday... (I had been in town to attend the CONCORD HS vs PINKERTON HS boys soccer class L Championship.. which CONCORD won.. their FIRST state title.. ever! props to you DUCLOS!) Anyways.. I was on Rte. 9 in Vermont and passed the Trail intersec @ 60 mph.. only to look up.. see an amazing afternoon before me, and without hesitation, turn my car around and hike for a bit going sobo. The first white blaze I came accross, i kissed the tree.. (yes, thats correct).. but thats will/"solace" for you. No matter what I set out to do every day in life still.. everywhere I look.. there it is.. SPRINGER MOUNTAIN, starring back at me.. as if to say.. "C'mon solace.. I'm waiting...". . . For now, its 2 jobs.. work hard.. and getting ready... because... I owe it... TO MYSELF.. and NO ONE ELSE.... except perhaps ktr...   Here I go.. "Reaching Farther" ...   CHEERS!   ~ Solace
Date: 2005-12-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Finally ~ Old Man Winter is here.. indeed, my fav season So many people always ask me "why winter" ? . . . Yes, i do enjoy the cold and love the snow, but thats only part of where i find my "solace" in. The peace that Winter brings alone is what i look forward to all year.. The whole world slows down a bit, most days are very quiet, and people are home, where thay should be... with the ones they love.    Perhaps one of my most fav things in the entire world is just to take a walk during a snowstorm.. "even the act of shivering in one is an expression of oneness with nature" ~ Just to hear the snow crunch under my feet, and look out on the forest, in perfect whiteness, in perfect peace... no loud screams of the beach in summer, just stillness, and time to think.      Only 3 months from tomorrow that I shall begin again (it can't come quick enough!) I'll head home.. to New Hampshire this weekend for CHRISTMAS at my big sister Dani's home... just time with her and family, midnight mass, a little Bailey's Irish Cream... more than Holiday enough for Solace    I'll be looking at a new Big Agnus tent for myself after the Holidays, in case Santa forgets HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CUPCAKE.. she will be "29" on Decemner 24th... Its often hard to forget about the best people in your life.   Happy Winter Everyone.. before you know it.. those of us out on the trail will indeed be "chasing spring" ~      MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR   Cheers, Solace
Date: 2006-01-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

January closes... and my thoughts turn towards just 6 short weeks before boarding Amtrak and stopping in Jeresy to see Sass & Walk, then on to NC to see Cupcake, and finally into Gainseville where KTR & I will once again begin.. for how long... who knows.... but.... we WILL BE THERE.. that place we love... Amicolola Falls, and begin anew.   My last day of work is actually this coming Tuesday, JAN 31st, and then its off to see family & friends in Vermont & New Hampshire The month of Febuary will find me traveling to St. Louis, then sitting on my duff, watching ALL of the 2006 Winter Olympics! GO USA! GO GERMANY! Our tenative leave date from Albany, NY is March 15th! Tomorrow (JAN 28th) marks 20 years of the Space Shuttle "Challenger" diaster, where Christa McAuliffe and 6 other astronouts lost their lives. I can remember even now... being in 6th grade just south of Concord, having seen & met Christa 3 months prior, how excited we all were... that a teacher from our state was going to be the first in space.. and then... sitting there with all the other kids watching the shuttle blow up... the Principal came around telling us school was dismissed, and to go home.... God rest your soul Christa.... Indeed.... "It is better to shoot for the stars and miss... then to aim for nothing at all, and hit"   54 days till the AT   Ahhhhhhhh . . . ..   Cheers ~ SOLACE
Date: 2006-02-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

THE WINTER OLYMPICS Start today! Hurray for non-stop tv coverage! Have to say, i LOVE the Winter Olympics... I'll get my fill of TV now, b/c last I remember, the "cable" in the AT Shelters was down... lol. I'll never forget my first year (2004), the woman from CA who on the 2nd morning awoke asking where the "plug-in" was, she had brought a small hair dryer... I didn't dare ask if she had an iron in there as well... she went on to say how the ATC should provide more "outlets" on the trail... umm.. ok.. sure, and perhaps there should be a helicopter close at all times for a BEER RUN! (The kindly lady went home a few days later)... WOW... only 33 days until KTR & I leave for hike III . . . I was in Vermont this previous weekend, for our annual "friends weekend"... There are 5 people I am closest to, and Ali (Burlington, VT) & Jeremy (Concord, NH) are 2 of those, so it was WONDERFUL to just visit, and spend time.. that & Ali conned us into helping her cut-out some math project for her 1st graders... ouch, I think I have carpel-tunnel! Ali's roomie Lindsey (who sings quite well) and old friend Beth joined us... I have often said, if you continually surround yourself with great people, nothing but great times will be had! Ali called me later in the day to say she was thinking about hiking a few days? She has already been dubbed "SALLY-THE-SNAIL" ~ I am enjoying some time off, and soon will head "home" to New Hampshire to visit family, and register South (my car) for the year. Truley, it tugs at my heart, every time going home, I love NH.. but I love alot of places, and after hiking this year, I will once again be on the move... where? still not sure, but I will either return to New York, head home to New Hampshire... or back to the mid-west... ST. LOUIS ~ stayed tuned! Almost forgot.. almost Valentines Day!!! ( I DESPISE THIS DAY ) I'll be sure to dress in my traditional black, c'mon.. who needs a day all about l-o-v-e when we have GROUNDHOG DAY! What could possibly be more lovable than a big furry rodent who does nothing but eat-sleep & poop, only to be grabbed from a peaceful slumber once a year so we can all gawk & cheer! Enjoy the Olympics All!   GO GERMANY!         Cheers ~ Solace
Date: 2006-02-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Another year.. another Birthday! My twin, "KTR" & I turn the big 33 today And... oddly enough, it also marks my parents wedding anniversary... both of whom passed away long ago. ~ Birthdays tend to make me think of family, and I can't think of one I would rather have. Sharing a birthday with a twin makes for some interesting times indeed... I can remember 5th grade when a cute girl who thought I was my brother gave me a candy bar... yep, life was pretty good that day I remeber thinking as I walked away with a chocolate face! Heres one... KTR & I were attending a Sarah Mclachlan concert in St. Louis. It was September 1st, 2004(the concert was simply amazing) ~ We found ourselves on the Metro Link (St. Louis above ground subway) afte the show making our way back to where we left the car. The Metro was PACKED to say the least! Here we are, 2 guys in between women.. everywhere! (We didn't complain) What I found odd was that all of then were starring at KTR!?! Eailer that day he had bought a magazine entitled "PLAYER". Now.. this honestly is a POKER magazine, and it had a scantly dressed women on the cover with some cards. Well, without realizing it, KTR had rolled up the magazine, holding it to where the innocent bystander could just see some guy clenching a magazine that said "PLAY" with half a women showing!!! (I can imagine every women thinking to themselves.. "great, smut on the Metro!") It took me a few moments to realize what was going on... I mean, here we were, just 2 guys, in a sea of women... everywhere, and it looks like KTR is holding a PLAYBOY magazine to everyone! ~ When I informed KTR as to what I though was going on.. he quickly spoke up.. laughing... he even held open the magazine (Yes, mothers were covering their daughters eyes everywhere!) Finally, once everyone realized that it wasn't what they thought.. we had a subway train full of chuckles... Eh, the adventures of KTR & SOLACE So, today, we turn 33 . . . Physically, I only feel @ 25... I have always been in good shape.. but mentally.. it feels more like 55! All in all... indeed, it's been one hell of a ride... at 33, honestly, I have done everything I have ever wanted too.. except complete the AT ~ Thanks to Jaime for the scarf, i love it! ~ Thanks Ali, for being the first, as always to wish me well in getting older ~ Thanks Zimmer & Cher for the nicest trashcan I have ever seen ~ Thanks Tantas, Cuz & Grandma, not just for supper, but having us here in Scotia ~ Thanks Snee, for bearing with me ~ Thanks Rylee for the picture.. we love you! ~ Thanks Qwin Man, for being a Cardinals fan ~ Thanks to the P05 for being family, 24/7 ~ Thanks to you Mr. Fite, because I know you'll call at 1159 pm tonight ~ Much thanks to all of you for well wishes ~ I had planned on heading to St. Louis before the hike this year, but the car had to go in a few times, and my birthday lottery scrath off wasn't the "big" winner, haha I "THINK" we finally have a date to leave... MARCH 13th ~ stay tuned!      HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kick The Rocks !      ~ Thanks for being my twin for 33 amazing years!         Time to blow out some candles, Cheers ~ Solace
Date: 2006-03-08
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Gainesville, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from the woods! I am alive and well, no bear has decided to eat me yet, on account that I didn't get a hot shower for 6 days! It is currently March 13th and I am writing this from Neels Gap in GA- 40 miles & 9 mountains in.   Mike dropped me off at the Albany (NY) train station and I began the journey to Georgia. It began in style as I was one of the last to board the train, and the conductor was yelling everyone take a seat... so I did... right there in the business class When they came by to check my ticket, the conductor never said a thing, so i enjoyed my roomy seat & free drink all the way to New York City!-While waiting on the train to GA, I walked around Penn Station, where immediately I was the attraction! Several people asked, "What is that"? Its a BACKPACK was my reply! The train ride down was uneventful except for when the thermostat broke in our train car while it was set at 90! 2 AM and I'm trying to sleep in the dining car- what a ride!The train pulled into Gainesville GA @ 8 AM, and there to meet me was the southern legend himself, RON HAVEN! We decided on a 4 star breakfast @ McDonalds and then he dropped me off at AMICOLA FALLS STATE PARK. Ron pulled away, and there I was, standing all alone, with only 2000 miles to walk to get HOME.After 2 days of no sleep, I made an early fire "feasted" on noodles & tuna and tucked into the warmest sleeping bag in years ... It was 7:30 PM!Did I deserve a peaceful, well nights rest? Yes, I thought so; but 2 young giggly girls that showed up at 9:00 didn't. After crawling out of that warm, comfy, soft sleeping bag, I helped them re-start the fire, after which they shared marshmellows and we had some laughs... and even with them playing with their cell phones; I drifted off to get a few hours sleep The next morning I left my mark @ the shelter. Each year, upon beginning this adventure, I write a quote on the wall of the Base shelter, it has become a tradition.Final thoughts:Leaving Albany was tough... tougher than I expected. In all my comings & goings over the years, I have made lots of friends their... none better than Mike & Cheryl, and it was especially har leaving "Zimmer" (mike). "Best" Friends are hard enough to find, and why I keep choosing to leave them, I do not know. -The next morning, I signed the register. Where it asks for "DESTINATION"... I simply put "unknown"... After all, that really was the story of my life, the story of "Solace" as you'll come to know. The Park Rangers took my picture under the stone arch, and with my hiking stick in one hand and a Blueberry POP-Tart in the other, I was off. 8.8 miles up Springer Mountain to the start of the trail, and another journey, which simply has become my life, a life I love.   - The Quote I left you ask?One of my favorites, entitled"Bretton Fishermans Prayer":"Dear God, be good to me...For the sea is wide,and yet my boat, so small"Cheers, Solace