morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-13
To: Counting Down
Miles today: 0.0

Seems I am counting down to many things these days, school days left 11, days left in my house 18, days until I leave Houston 20 and finally days until my feet actually hit the trail 26!!! I am in the midst of crunch time right now with many things swirling and whirling around. Packing up portions of my house before Simone moves in. I have made my blue room(office) into a prep room for the trail. This coming weekend I do my huge food shop at Sam's and then I will pack up the first couple of boxes after that it is in Jan's hands to put them together to my likes, dislikes and my whines---lucky her! Packing up my classroom comes next week, trying to hold off as long as possible on that one so the students don't think it is summer just yet.So on June 2nd I am leaving Houston and driving my truck to Amarillo and spending a couple of nights there with my folks and then renting a car. Jan and I will drive to Harper's Ferry, I am looking forward to the drive, it will be a good time to relax and get out of the city and work mode before hitting the trail.My pack is coming along really nice--the complete weight is still hovering around 35 lbs with 5 days of food and 3 liters of water. Gelert is anxious, she knows something is going on and sticks close by so she does not get left behind. Hasn't she figured out she is going yet? She has been training with her pack, I have been rubbing "tough pad" on her paws(conditions them) and telling her non stop about our little walk. We have been walking around Buffalo Bayou in the city. It has a hike and bike trail around a bayou(like a man made river)--Houston is very flat, so the trail is too. The cars and trucks zoom by on Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive and I am walking in the shadow of the downtown skyscrapers---huummm. What will it be like when the trail is no longer flat, I can here only leaves rustling, birds chirping and walking in the shadow of mountains and the forest? I'm sure I am going to have a little trail culture shock, but it is very welcome this concrete jungle is too much and starting to heat up. My joke now is "I'm walking 2,000 miles to get away from the Houston summer"Signing off for now.Courage is the price that life extracts for granting peace--Amelia Earhart
Date: 2003-05-22
To: Busy preparing
Miles today: 0.0

18 days until I hit the trail!! Things are happening really fast now. The past several days I have been concentrating on two things; packing my belongings and shopping for supplies for the maildrops. Maildrops are boxes filled with food, supplies and goodies from home. I have a handle on packing up, but the maildrops - that is a big job! Thank goodness Jan has taken on the task. She says it is fun, like a puzzle. I say good, I think packing maildrops is the only thing I can't wrap my head around. I am finished shopping for them and that is a good thing. So I'm sitting here in my cushy bed, with the AC going and the TV on wondering, what it will be like in my hammock listening to the noises of the night? Wondering how 'citified' I am. This is also my first entry from my pocketmail composer. This going to take some getting used to and it doesn't have spell check - aarrgggghh!! Check out a picture of it on the gear page. My mom is also getting in some practice pages before I take off. HI mom!I'm going to catch some z's in this comfy bed while I can. Catch you on the flip side.
Date: 2003-05-27
To: Ziploc Poster Girl
Miles today: 0.0

I need to contact Ziploc and inquire about being their poster girl. I have purchased 2008 quart freezer bags and have used approximately 80 percent of them. I have also used untold numbers of gallon freezer bags, sandwich bags and snack size bags. This past weekend was focused on maildrops, and most everything packaged in the maildrops is in a Ziploc for a couple of reasons: keeps things dry, use them for eating out of so I don't have to do dishes, organize things, and the list goes on. . . Maybe I should think of some stock options with them. The maildrops are looking really healthy, and I have 95 percent of everything I need for them. Jan will pick up the other stuff like bagels, tortillas--things that could spoil.My house looks like tornado alley after a bad stretch of weather. I am a bit of a neat freak, and it is driving me crazy. I almost broke my neck tripping over all the boxes letting the dog out in the middle of the night. My grand plan now is to have everything accomplished by Friday so that I can have a normal weekend before heading to my folks' on Monday. School is winding down very quickly and I am READY for summer as are all I am sure. This afternoon I will complete my classroom and take it to storage, then my maildrops will be complete this evening.Everything is falling into place in an amazing fashion, that is when you know it is the right thing to do. People ask me "Are you scared" I'm no fool-- I am a bit scared, but it is the good kind--like it is the perfect challenge at the perfect time. Chasing the Dream --- Chasing the Dream. Dream as though you will live forever. Live as though you will die tomorrow. --James Dean
Date: 2003-05-28
To: Big Box
Miles today: 0.0

So I had this dream that my trail name was going to turn into 'Big Box'--it was more like a little nightmare. So, after we finished up the maildrops, I realized how big the boxes were that I got such a good deal on. You see I got 12 of them for 14 dollars at Sam's club and you know they only have one size there. If I had gotten smaller ones somewhere else it would have been twice as much. Back to the point--the boxes are bigger than I like and I am chuckling because the other hikers are going to be like "hey there goes that girl with the BIG BOX" or "hey weren't you the girl in town with the BIG BOX" it is kind of a giggle really, just a thought I had. Like the new kid at school -- they will tease me about my big boxes.
Date: 2003-06-03
To: Amarillo
Miles today: 0.0

I made the lloooonnnnnnggg drive to Amarillo yesterday--about 10 hours worth. Managed a speeding ticket in Corsicana, I always get one on the way to Amarillo. My folks greeted me with big hugs and a dinner of fajitas---yummy!!What has happened since my last journal entry. Well I am homeless--I moved out of my house and completed that finally. I had some anxiety of losing my space for six months, then I realized I would be in the woods and have more space than I could handle! : ) I completed my job at Pershing Middle for now. I received my five year service pin(after 6 years), a beautiful plant and a great song!! It went like this " Ain't no mountain high enough ....ain't no river wide enough" Thanks everyone for all you your support and encouragement, it has been a privilege to share my dream and work with the people at Pershing.So basically, I'm an out of work homeless person!! ha haI enjoyed my last weekend in Houston being a normal person, no packing things up, no counting noodles, no looking at gear--just eating out, watching DVDs and taking naps.Back to Amarillo--checking my gear over again, running last minute errands and basically enjoying being where the weather is not blazing hot! Wednesday I will pick up the rental car, Jan and I will begin our crosscountry trek to West Virginia.   YAAAHHHOOOOWWEEEEEEEEA ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships were made for. William Sheldon
Date: 2003-06-04
To: Ready for the Road
Miles today: 0.0

I just got the best deal ever!! We went to get the rental car and I got a Chevy Astro mini-van. It is brown and spacious!! The lady at National Rental Car asked if I would take it because it had been on the lot too long and she would give me a discount!!! Cooool!! So, we have tons of space, a CD player and we will be inconspicuous driving down the road--so no more speeding tickets.I am very excited about Big Brown Bertha!! We leave tonight for Oklahoma City.YYAAAAHHHHOOOOOWWEEEEEEE---watch out here we come!!HARPERS FERRY OR BUST!
Date: 2003-06-08
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We left Romney, WV, and the Kool Wink this a.m. It was a really cool place and I had a good last shower for a while. We drove into Harper's Ferry and registered at the ATC. By that time it was 12:30 pm and Jan had to be on her way to Baltimore to fly out by 1:00 pm, so it was more rushed than I had hoped. She dropped me at the trail in the center of Harper's Ferry and with a good-bye and a picture there I was in the middle of my dream. There is no way to fully describe the feeling of being dropped off with just a backpack and your dog. I cried a little bit - some out of fear, some out of anxiousness, but mostly because it was just the dream coming true! So Brown Dog and I walked for about 3.5 miles on the C & O towpath. It was very flat and easy, although not well blazed. I wondered more than once if I was going the right way. I was. Then it was up to Weverton Cliffs and a beautiful overlook. It was steep and I was sweating, huffing and puffing and this guy with a German accent says, "Just starting out, huh?" I said "Yeah." Then I walked a couple of more steps and wondered what tipped him off - the pack, the sweat, the huffing and puffing or just that wild look in my eyes!Made it to the shelter at 6:30 pm and met Fish and some others. Everyone seems very cool and laid back. I feel comfortable and know I am in the right place. Brown Dog is doing awesome and getting tons of compliments! That makes me happy. She is a great companion. Signing off for now. I MADE IT HERE!! I'M REALLY HERE!!
Date: 2003-06-09
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Dahlgren Back Pack Campground
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained most of the night last night. I suspected that it might and secured my tarps appropriately. Then I worried that I might get wet and readjusted again and then again. Let me just tell you - getting in and out of that hammock while in a sleeping bag is no easy task - similar to the game of Twister. So the short of it is, I didn't get wet and Gelert didn't get wet. Cindy one, rain zero. The side tarp Jan made is fantastico, just working out the specifics of the set up. I got out of camp at 7:00 am after having a Pop Tart. I hiked down to Gathland State Park and they had a soda machine! I laid myself down in the bright sun with my soda and guess what drove up? -- a bus full of middle school students!! Holy cow! They were there for a Civil War field trip where people where acting out different characters. Then guess what? Where I had spread out all my stuff was one of their stations, so I had to move or sit through the first speech. I promptly gathered my stuff and moved out of their way. It was cool to see all the people dressed up in costume, but I didn't want to be right in the middle of it. The trail is pretty gentle, but very sloppy. It evidently has been raining a ton. Apparently it also snowed a lot over the winter soooo wet trails, but they are soft on your feet and water is easy to find. Haven't met any other hikers today. I'm off to feast on macaroni and cheese with ground beef!! Yummy!!Oh yeah, I saw a turtle and a falcon today.Happy trails!!
Date: 2003-06-10
From: Dahlgren Back Pack Campground

To: Pogo Campsite
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

I can't believe it is night three already. I am cruising right along. The hikers who have been out here since March are like jet planes. They are flying, doing 20 and 25 miles a day. Some even do this thing called the 40 mile challenge, crossing Maryland in one day. The state is only 40 miles wide. Blows my mind! For you history buffs out there --there are many Civil War sites and other interesting history facts out here. It is cool to think I am walking on ground that armies of men and families fought to secure. I also saw a monument built in the early 1800's by locals to honor George Washington. It was about 15 yards high, maybe even higher, with steps leading to the top. Liz, an interpreter at the park, told me all about it. She was very nice. Then it was on to Pine Knob Shelter for lunch - Ritz crackers, summer sausage and gorp(good ole raisins and peanuts - some call it trail mix). I met Casey there. He is a 19 year old fellow starting his flip-flop, just as I have!   Cool!There were nice views of a valley from Black Rock Cliffs and then it was on to Pogo Campsite. Not much here, but a nice creek. I rinsed off and it provided an easy water source. There are two other hikers around here somewhere, but more or less I am by myself. Gelert ran a porcupine up a tree today, better than the alternative. Quills can be bad on a dog. I saw about six deer today, all doe.I have one tiny blister on my little toe and one working to the surface on the ball of my other foot. I have been very diligent about cleaning, airing out and basically taking care of my feet. They are my wheels, after all.Two days until my first mail drop - right on schedule. Happy trails!
Date: 2003-06-11
From: Pogo Campsite

To: Devil's Race Course
Miles today: 9.7

Another slow start this morning. I haven't gotten into a routine yet. We headed off after visiting the privy, which is an outhouse in the woods. I have had a privy every night so far. They are handy, so Mr. Stinky has not seen much use. That is a good thing! They also help the environment by putting all the impact in one place rather than letting everybody choose their own spot. The trail was super gentle the first five miles with an occasional rocky spot. I had a nice hour lunch at the Cowall Shelter and then off again. The trail was more difficult in the afternoon because I still have snail legs instead of trail legs.   I am now at the shelter planning on sleeping inside tonight. We will see how that goes. I did not see anybody all day until I got to the shelter. Rest Step from Seattle and Hiking Viking from Denmark showed up. Did I mention it was a stupid .3 miles downhill to the shelter which I will now have to go back up in the morning?   Arrrgghhh!!It is onward to my first mail drop tomorrow in Blue Ridge Summit, PA. I plan on finding a place to stay and having a shower because I STINK! I plan to order a pizza and then I am off again the next day. It is nice to have company at the shelter.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-06-12
From: Devil's Race Course Shelter

To: Blue Ridge Summit, PA
Miles today: 7.5

I stayed in the shelter last night and two guys showed up, so that was cool. Sleeping in the shelter was not near as comfortable as sleeping in my hammock, but the benefits were a quick start this morning and if it had rained everything would have stayed dry. I was up at 6:00 am and ate oatmeal, then packed up and was on the trail by 7:15 am. The trailed turned pretty rocky today so it slowed me down a bit. The best piece of equipment I have is those trekking poles. I would have wiped out so many times by now if it weren't for them. I arrived at Pen Mar State Park and was getting a soda and using the facilities when Truckin' rolled in and said his friend, Spiderman, had my bandana. I had left it at the shelter! Coool! I then left the park after a root beer, Snickers and a Nutty Buddy and was headed for my first town stop. I got to Highway PA 16. It was a pretty busy two lane road with construction. I stuck my thumb out to hitchhike. Whew! That was hard and goes against everything I have ever been taught. But I did it because I needed a ride to the Post Office. It was about noon and Truckin' stopped by on his way across the road and gave me some pointers. Then I waited thumb in air and about 12:30 pm a little blue car stopped up the road and was honking.   I ran my buns up there - pack and all, dog in tow. I jumped in. The driver's name was Beka. She was a cool chick and took me into Blue Ridge Summit. I had a burger and fries at the local restaurant in which she happens to works. Then she and a friend took me over to Waynesboro where there is a Best Western motel. Can you believe it! How great was that? She made sure that I was set up and then was off. Thanks, Beka!! I took a bath and a shower - aaaahhhh, I still stink a little but not near as bad as before. I suppose I should worry when I can't tell if I smell or not. I walked down to the laundrimat and washed up my duds. Then I went back to my motel room to sort out my mail drop, lay down and watch TV. Did I mention Liz, the lady I met at Gathland Park and then again at the George Washington monument? She had left a letter with my drop box and she gave me her phone number for a ride or anything else I need. Sooo I will give her a call this evening about a ride back to the trail. My clothes are clean and I'm outta here.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-06-13
From: Waynesboro, PA

To: Tumbling Run Shelters
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, after a great night of hotel, pizza, shower and phone calls I felt rejuvenated and ready to go. Liz, the woman I had met at Washington Monument State Park, had left a note with my maildrop and an email for me with her phone number. She stated that if I needed anything to just call, so I did. The next morning Liz picked me up at 8:30 am and she had some treats, sausages for Brown Dog, oatmeal cream pies for me and a bandana, because I had left mine at a shelter. She is a trail angel deluxe!!Trail Angels are people who help hikers out of pure goodness. She took me to breakfast and the post office to mail some things home I didn't need along with my digital picture stick. She dropped me .2 of a mile to the north of PA 16 where I had hitched in yesterday. Then I was ready to go again. Can't believe it was my sixth day today. I had a great hike today. I had been down a little before town, but the trail angels, emails and phone calls made all the difference. So what if I was passed by four hikers, no worries, I was up for a short day with a pack full of food and thunderstorms promised for late afternoon. I passed a shelter where I left 8 of the cream pies. Gotta share the wealth! Then I came to another shelter with a great stream in front of it. So we slipped our packs off. Brown dog played and played while I soaked my feet - Aaaaahhh!- and ate a Snickers - can life get any better? These weekenders setting up camp nearby had some beer. They came over and offered some, but I was set. Then it was on to tonight's destination. Met Jug, Mud, Snork, Librarian, and Clover. I enjoy camping near a shelter for the company and I meet all kinds of cool people. Jug has also hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, 2,6...something miles from Mexico to Canada on the west coast. I had stuffing, gravy and chicken for dinner. Yummy! I also made a food hanger with my chicken can. It deters rodents, namely mice from your viddles. A string hung from the edge of the shelter with a tuna type can upside down about midway down the string and a stick on the bottom to hang your food bag from and there you have it. It is raining right now, and camp is set up. I'm hanging out in the shelter nice and dry, enjoying the company. Big day tomorrow - 12 miles plus - my most miles yet. Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

Perfect start this morning at 6:15 am. I was out of camp at 7:30 am and started straight up hill, but once on top it was nice ridge walking. That means fairly flat. Every now and then there are these big jumble of rocks that are hard to get through. Today I have done the most miles so far. Yeah, it feels great! I stopped in at Caldoneia State Park. They have a swimming pool and a snack bar soooo I went for a swim and got nachos and a soda. We were getting up to leave and Brown Dog started limping. Yipes! I took a look at her paw and sure enough she had a tear on her pad, front left. So I tried her shoes out which she hates. I carried her pack a little, then we just sucked it up and got to the shelter. Wow, what a nice shelter! She is settled in on my sleeping bag now, so we will check the paw out in the morning. Bear Bait gave me some ibuprofen for Brown Dog and she had one. Hopefully she will rest easy. It is about 27 miles into Boiling Springs and they have a vet there. Huumm. . .   today's menu - Poptarts, Ritz crackers with half a stick of summer sausage, Snickers, nachos, Sprite, rice with chicken flavored meat and a cappuccino. Tasty.There are some interesting folks out here.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-06-15
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Toms Run Shelters
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a lovely sleep last night in the shelter so I will plan on that again tonight. It was a big day and my feet are screaming about it! I left at 7:45 am this morning and was at the next shelter by 11:30 am, 7.4 miles away. So I had a long lunch at the brand new shelter and met Do It and 50 from Quebec, a husband and wife hiking. After I took off from there I had some trail magic at a turn of the century cabin that the PATC rents out. A little boy came running up to me and asked, "You want some lemonade?" Sure I did. Gulp, gulp, gulp, then onward! I ran into a lot of day hikers and groups of kids so that was cool too. Well, the mac 'n cheese with beef is done and ready to go down the hatch. Yummy, yummy! I still don't have that "hiker appetite" so Brown Dog will get some. Happy trails!PS: It has been one week since I got dropped off and 74 miles later. What a difference a week can make!
Date: 2003-06-16
From: Toms Run Shelters

To: Tagg Run Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I was up and with it. My feet still were screaming, but I had Pine Grove Furnace State Park on my mind. A store with sodas and other goodies and the half way mile marker of the Appalachian. Yippeeeeeee!!! There is a store near the halfway point that does the half gallon challenge. This is at the half waypoint where thru hikers eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. They are a member of the half gallon club. So I watched Crazy Harry (a retired gentleman from Oregon) do it quite amazingly. I just got a soda, Twix and potato chips. My cap on the Coke won me a free 20 oz one that will be used tomorrow in Boiling Springs. I also got to use the phone to call back to civilization and that was a boost as well as use of my pocketmail for emails. I love getting emails. The walk is getting pretty stony so I have to watch out for those ankle busters. Those are the ones that catch you off guard and twist your ankle---ouch! Hate them. I am cooking up some spaghetti tonight, my favorite. Brown Dog is doing great!!Her paw is feeling much better.Happy trails!
Date: 2003-06-17
From: Tagg Run Shelter

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 12.2

I must confess I am doing this entry a day late. I was so enjoying my time in town and my room with running water and a real bed that I didn't type the journal entry. I got an early start that day and hiked hard all day to get to town for some pizza and a soda!! I got there about 3:00 pm and it had been raining for an hour or so. I said, "Why not stay inside tonight?" It sealed the deal when I saw the campsite was about 2 feet from a railroad track. I found a great place, Gelinas Manor, a house built in 1869. They allowed dogs, but she had to sleep on the back porch where it was covered, so no problem. The hot shower was divine!! It was a good time to be in as it rained most of the night. Boiling Springs is a beautiful little town.I saw the most beautiful male cardinal in a field near there. His red color was sooo vivid, maybe it is because he is a country bird or maybe my eyes are seeing things differently.Happy trails!