morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-28
From: Stealth site 3.8 miles past US 60, VA

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter, VA
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: few clouds

Ok ok..so not sure why my butt would not get out of bed this morning, but Iended up sleeping till 7:30 a.m.! Crap! It was a comfie 67 when I woke up, and I was SO tempted to just spend the day in my hammock lounging and sleeping. I did putz around for awhile, so I didn't get hiking till around 11:00 a.m. Sometimes, it's just nice to not be in your "routine" and just chill.Probably the highlite was sitting on top of Cold Mtn. It was just perfect. Slight breeze, warm sun, a nice big rock to sit on, and views of the mountainsaround me. I ate lunch there and stayed there absorbing the beauty for at least an hour.The hike today was fairly easy. A few climbs, but mostly puds. I ran into 2botanists on my way down Cold Mtn. They come out and track how the plant called a Cow Parsnip is invading the area of another plant called something like an Indian Rest Plantaint. Dick (aka Lone Eagle) actually walked me down the trail a bit to show me which plants exactly. Apparently they write a report and send the info into the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. I could point to any green "thing" and Dick could tell me all about it. Amazing really.Then it was off to Salt Log Gap, where as usual, The afternoon storms startedrumbling. I was in a gap, the storms were pretty far away, and another milewould get me over a hump and the back down, so I decided to go. It was on this"hump" called Tar Jacket Ridge that I hit the 800 mile mark!! Unfortunately,the storms were moving in quickly, so I didn't have time to make a picture. Itried, but thunder was getting closer.I got down to the next gap, and a new guy, Calm Water, was there. I set up mytarp and offered to share the protection. We sat there for probably an hour,and it rained some, but the storm missed us for the most part.It still remains a frustration to me that I can pretty much count on 1-2 hikinghours being spent waiting out storms that "might" hit. Nonetheless, I can'tmake myself just hike either, it's stupid.I ended up stopping for dinner @ a beautiful creek. Just before it was thisawesome HUGE rock with a gigantic tree that grew on top of it, with the rootbase cascading down the rock. Really something to see.At the creek, the sun was at the perfect position so there was a perfectlystraight beam of sunlight shooting straight down, and the beam's lightparalleled a tree perfectly. Hard to explain, but it was a cool affect. I gotpics.I got to the shelter @ 7:15 p.m. Calm Water (from PA) and Bugs, a femalesection hiker from Buffalo, NY (home of Ani DiFranco!) are here.We all chatted a bit and then I called it a nite. I hear thunder again, butdon't know if it's headed this way. It's 72 degrees @ 9:00 p.m. Hopefully will be ale to get up in the a.m. and get a "normal" days hike in.~Certain
Date: 2007-07-02
From: VA 56 Tye River, VA

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Man, how life can change at a moment's notice. I was slumbering soundly last nite in the bunkhouse, when about 5:00 a.m. someone comes into the bunkhouse and states, "I have a message for Michele, there has been a family emergency and you need to call Cindy and Karen immediately."God you hate these moments, your heart stops and when it starts again it pumps out of your chest and falls right onto the floor at your feet. The details of the situation are too personal for me to share with the world, however, I did call Cindy, and Karen had left at 4:30 a.m. to come pick me up, because they and now I knew I needed to get home right away.They had been trying to get a hold of me since 3:00 a.m., but Cingular (as usual) gets no service in Montebello, VA. They ended up calling the local police who came out to the house and woke someone up to deliver the message to me. Again, you have to wonder, what would have happened had I not decided to hike that extra mileage yesterday? I would have been out in the middle of the woods with no cell service, so I continue making the point that all things happen for a reason. Karen showed up around 5:30 a.m., took me back to their house, I purchased an airline ticket and will be home by 7:45 p.m.I can not begin to describe the emotions that are created when something like this occurs, and for many many reasons.First is the emergency itself, second is the experience of being plucked from one reality and dropped instantly into another with zero time for you to psychologically/emotionally process it, and third is facing the question, "Is my hike over?"To answer that question, I actually do not believe this situation will warrant my having to end my hike this year, however, it is becoming abundantly clear that a flip flop will have to be my next move. I think it was headed towards that anyways, because I don't want to stress about running out of time. I can not say how long I will be home, but I will be here as long as I am needed. When the time is available, I will probably be doing some more reflecting via my journal, but I'll definitely post something at least once a week to keep everyone informed of my whereabouts.At this point, I just ask for good energy and strength to be sent this way.No situation is beyond overcoming, but those "unknowns" are flying every direction right now and I've got to get grounded again. I am not giving up on completing this journey. I am, however, where I need to be right now.~Certain
Date: 2007-07-25
From: Home

To: Virginia
Miles today: 0.0

Well hi again folks. First off, thanks so much for the positive energy, thoughts, and prayers. Whereas the situation that took me off the trail will have difficult lingering effects for quite sometime and an additional situation arose with my mom ending up in the hospital due to a fiddle back spider bite (she almost died, but THANKFULLY she's home recovering now....when it rains it pours huh?), I am planning on knocking out that 9 miles from the Dutch Haus to VA 56 within the next week, and then move forward from Rockfish Gap and get at least to Harper's Ferry.At that point, I will re-evaluate my financial situation (which is a total wreck right now) and physical situation (anyone want a gimpy left foot? I'll be happy to give you mine for anything that resembles a foot that can support the abuse of hiking), and make a decision as to whether or not to fly up to Maine. I didn't want to fly to Maine and then get a few days into it to find my foot just can't deal with the abuse. If things don't work for me to complete the hike from Harper's Ferry to Maine this year...guess what...everyone will just have to anticipate the completion of my journey next year. I consider this the worst case scenario though. I am torn about the possibility of not being able to finish the whole trail this year, but I'm not accepting that as my reality until I have time to get back out there and see what happens. I did make it to an outfitters yesterday to purchase some new insoles, new hiking poles (I broke one of mine), and some gaitors, because I'm tired of stopping 20 times a day to dump rocks and dirt out of my shoes. As for those of you who sent me something at Harper's Ferry, I've called them and the mail is being forwarded to me here in Virginia, so I am really looking forward to that. I'll try to be better at updating from this point on. Thanks again everyone, again, my faith in humanity has been restored because of the complete strangers who have reached out during all of these unbelievable events that I have faced from the beginning of my hike.~Certain
Date: 2007-10-09
From: Home

To: The Trail Again
Miles today: 0.0

Ok ok...I lied. It looks like I'll be getting my arse up to Harper's Ferry afterall, in one chunk. My logic? Well let's see, I can either:a). Sit at home, still jobless, phone not ringing at all despite all of my applications...all the while making no money-OR-b). Take 12 days to complete the 142 miles I have left to get to Harper's Ferry, and at least know that when I start next summer, I'm at the "unofficial" half-way point....and during these 12 days I'll still be jobless...and making no moneyHmmmm.......tough choice.The pic on this post shows my latest gear change, which was given to me as a surprise and the kitty in the pic is a new addition to the family, his name is Hank and as I type this I had to block my computer from Henry and Hank's wrestling match...the boys tend to get a little rough at times.No more aqua mira for me. The taste didn't bother me "that" much, but after watching Persistent (who BY THE WAY...summited last FRIDAY!! CONGRATS WOMAN I'M SO FREAKIN PROUD OF YOU!!!!) use her Steri-Pen and not die, I've decided it's the best option out there. (Now if only Persistent could admit that hammocks are the way to go, then I'd feel like we truly had a two-way friendship....hee hee). I will have journal entries for each day out there, but none of them will be posted until the end of the month, because I deactivated my pocketmail, but no worries, it will be as it always has been, I'll just have to type them in from home.So yup...the trail pulled me back in at least for a few more days, and seeing as how I live so close, this is easy for me to do. Question is, can I really handle eating Ramen and beef jerky again? I've had neither since getting off and I must say, it's been amazing to eat fruit and vegetables everyday.So in this time of year when everyone is getting depressed because all of the NOBO's are summiting (I remember how that felt), I'm trying to aid in your recovery by providing a few more day's worth of reading. So standby...a few more miles will be behind me soon.~Certain
Date: 2007-10-21
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Beep beep beep¢¦my alarm goes off. Typically I¢d be pumped, but I knew I had a decision to make within the next hour or so. I got up, showered, treated my foot, got dressed, threw my pack on, went outside, hiked up this hill by the motel, hiked down the hill, walked in the flat parking lot, took the pack off¢¦did the same, put the pack back on¢¦did it all again¢¦verdict? No hiking. ARGH!!!!You know how some giant blisters are in places where you can walk a little differently and it¢s not bothered? Well, this one is in an impossible place. So the decision is go back home, put in some more job applications, accompany Incessant on a road trip to Connecticut at the end of the week, let my foot totally heal, then get back out the next week.I¢m only concerned that the weather will not hold out, but then again, we¢re only talking 3 12 days and my longest day will only be 15 miles (hilarious I¢m even saying that¢¦couldn¢t imagine saying that last March). Also, I think I¢m going to do these few days with no cooking, all dry ready to eat foods like tortillas/pepperoni, beef jerky, gorp, as long as the temps stay in the 40¢s. That will cut down a bit on weight I hope. Not that my pack is that bad at all, but it will be cool to experiment a bit. So hang tight everyone. You¢ll have to wait another week or so for the conclusion to this year¢s hike (hopefully...maybe?). You¢d think I was doing this on purpose to string you along. I promise I¢m not, but look at it this way, you¢ll be reading a current NOBO hiker¢s journal well into November, and I know that¢s usually not the case!! I suppose I should just expect these things by now¢¦lord knows my journey has in part been defined by how I managed to work around yet another obstacle, so at least be encouraged by the fact that hiking this trail is still pumping deeply through my veins, it¢s just been a bit more of a challenge dealing w/obstacles, than I¢d expected it would be. I¢ll update you all again in the next week. Who knows, maybe I'll get home and I'll have 4 job offers. I'll admit, I'd be torn about what to do if I was offered a job that required me to start immediately. I feel getting to Harper's Ferry is where I need to be aimed for this year on the trail, but man, I REALLY need to start working. I guess I'll just wait and see what happens, which honestly, that's what life is all about anyway. ~Certain
Date: 2007-10-31
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well here's my update as promised. Happy Halloween everyone! First thing is that I got a job (FINALLY!). Nothing fancy, just serving at a restaurant, which pays the bills for now. I actually figured that's what I'd end up doing even before I left for this hike. It's just hard to find "the" job in a few months you know? Had I not chosen to come home and let my blister heal, I'd probably never even had seen this ad in the paper, so again...it all turned out the way it needed to. I had hoped to get back out on the trail actually yesterday, but after going up to a cold and rainy Connecticut last week and walking around in flip flops to let my blister heal, I've been in bed for 3 days with my "annual change of seasons knock me on my arse" head/chest cold, and I am SUCH a baby when I'm sick. BUMMER!! I had my pack all ready to go in the living room, Incessant was going to meet me and hike to my 1000 mile mark..it was going to be perfect, so I'm sure you all can imagine my frustration and disappointment, but as crappy as I've felt, I am SO glad I didn't get out there and then have this hit me. The other thing is that I don't start work till next week, so I can rest and get back to good health. It is the positive side...and lord knows there are times I struggle seeing it.So for now, Harper's Ferry will still be a goal, but not one I can get to right now, and it may have to wait until spring unless I do day hikes (which I might). This cold weenie has NO desire to spend the nite out in winter-like conditions again, and old man winter is starting to show signs of knocking on the door here. Hard for me to type that actually. Being a stubborn and very focused person, I am not used to having to (time and time again) practice flexibility when it comes to something that "appears" to be as simple as hiking up a dirt and rock path with a pack. I mean, some people leave Springer, hike everyday without incident, summit, and move to the next thing in life. Apparently, when I asked for something to really change my life's direction, I got exactly what I asked for. Perhaps I'll end up being one of those 10-year plan people, but rest assured, I WILL eventually hike every inch of this trail. I think it is trying to tell me that I'm not one of those people who is meant to get through it quickly, but instead, it is sort of a reminder to me of the impatient person I can be at times. But imagine this....when the day comes (whenever that might be) that I actually climb Mt. Katahdin in Maine, and I know that what I set out to do in March 2007 has finally been realized, it will mean something completely different to me than if I'd somehow managed to make it there this year. One is not better than the other, but I think each (sections versus a thru) have different lessons to offer.As always, if I get back out, you'll read about it here. Thanks for following again everyone. It was so great to reconnect with my cyber AT family. Oh, and when I do summit, I'm having a big party, and you are ALL invited!! ~Certain
Date: 2008-03-04
From: Home

To: AT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Alright folks...so here goes. Yes, I'm getting back on the trail sometime in April. Am I starting over at Springer? HELLLLLLL NOOOOOOO!!! I'm crazy, but I'm not insane!!!! I will continue from where I left off at Front Royal, VA. How far do I plan to go? That's easy....Mt. Katahdin, Maine. I am still (if not more) motivated to see every inch of this incredible trail all the way to Maine, so that's what I "plan" (there's that EVIL word again) to do.As usual, I've got lots to do, but not nearly as much as last year. Just have to reactivate my pocketmail account, I'm in the process of trying some new shoes (Keen Voyageurs) and we'll see how that goes. As for gear changes, I've got the Steri-Pen of course, but not much is changing other than that and I'm being "politely" asked to buy a new shirt so that I don't scare off every animal and human being within a 50 mile radius. LOLHow do I feel about this? Um....I am ECSTATIC!!! Until I complete this trail, this journey, this hike, until I meet all of you that I have yet to meet, see all of the trail towns I've yet to see, and experience all of the good and bad days that are waiting for me, my soul will be restless. I don't just want to hike the rest of this trail, I NEED to hike the rest of this trail. Luckily, I faced fear-o numero uno last year....NOT completing it when I thought I would and guess what I learned, the trail actually did NOT disappear! It's still there, waiting for my feet to carry me up it, so I have that confidence now that even if (God forbid) something pulled me off again this year, I'll not run out of chances to finish unless I create my own excuses, which is highly unlikely. I've missed you all terribly, and can't wait to start telling my stories, sharing my days, my thoughts, fears, frustrations, and comical moments with you all again. The AT runs through my soul, infused with my blood and being, and it is not something I can walk away from until I see it through. I realized I hadn't posted the pics from that last part I did from SNP to Front Royal, VA, so those will go up in the coming weeks. I'd like to share more thoughts on what the past 19 weeks and 2 days (the amount of time between my last day on the trail and today) have been like from a hiking standpoint. Lots of mental and emotional turmoil related to not knowing when I'd be able to get back, and I know there's probably more people out there that will face that than not, so as always, I want to share my thoughts...but that will be in the coming weeks as well. Right now, I need to do some "pre-hike training" and fetch myBen-n-Jerry's frozen yogurt from the freezer! Gosh...it's great to be back.~Certain
Date: 2008-04-13
From: Home

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

So today, Karen and I drove to the big metropolis of Strasburg, VA and got what will probably be the last hotel room for the next several months that has a curved shower rod (our benchmark for "fancy" versus "nonfancy" accomodations).Of course a cold front blew in today, which made it feel all scary again. We all know I'm a cold weenie indeed. I told my boys (Henry and Hank the ginger cats) goodbye this afternoon, which was hard. They provide us with hours of entertainment with wrestling matches and chasing the red laser pointer dot.It's so bizarre to be in this "night before" situation again. I'm almost as nervous as last time except that I trust and know my gear, and I know what to expect. The goodbye's are still the worst.Whereas my cubicle job for the past several months was less than fulfilling, I did leave behind some wonderful women, so I want to shout out to Cathy (DON'T get married before I get back!), Linda, Marilyn, Tabby, Lisa, and June. Remember, laugh as much as possible and always always be looking for the opportunity to play a practical joke on someone so that you can laugh at their expense. After we got to Strasburg, we found a great little Mexican place called Christina's Mexican Restaurant. Great food, and about the only place open on Sundays.Then it was back to the room for some more International Rummy card games, and mental/emotional preparation for tomorrow's departure. I know I'll fall right back into it, but I've realized it is the transition periods that are the toughest....as in from hiker to contributing citizen and vice versa. So on the menu this week are Cliff Bars for breakfast, tortillas and pepperoni for lunch, gross noodle meal of choice for dinner with a few snickers and yogurt raisins thrown in for luck.I feel a sense of strength in knowing my buddy Persistent will be cheering me on. We're still in touch, and as expected, she's not enjoying "the cube" at all. Well....I don't expect to sleep that well tonight. I'm all wound up, but I'm planning about 11 miles tomorrow. We'll see how that feels. I know I need to take it slowly at first, so I'm giving myself 4.5 days to get to Harper's Ferry instead of the 3 I'd planned at the end of last summer. Wish me luck folks, and I do hope you enjoy the read again this year. Oh, and goodluck to all the returning 2007 hikers...Sailor, Kokopelli, Blue Meanie & HikerChic, and Signage, Mothernature & Smokestack (this is who I know of as of now). Hope I see you all at some point in time. And for any 2007 hikers who might be in "the cube", let me know how/where you are. Just remember, emails sent to the pocketmail can not exceed 6000 characters, or it cuts your email off.Anyhoo....let's see what awaits me in the wilds this year. It feels so damn good to be back! ~Certain
Date: 2008-04-24
From: The Free State Hostel, MD

To: Devil's Racecourse Shelter, MD
Miles today: 5.1

Ok, so today was how all hiking days should go. After a quiet nite's rest, I still woke @ 6:45 a.m. on my own, so I got up and did some packing up, got on the internet, etc. I basically was ready to walk out he door by 10:30, but knew it would only take me 2.5 hrs to get to this shelter, so after eating 2 packages of poptarts for breakfast, I decided to take a 2 hr nap! It was awesome.Before my nap, I had the pleasure of talking to Matt, age 7 and oldest of 3 kids of the hostel owners. This kid is great, and knows all the AT lingo. So I go to sleep, and have a crazy dream that someone put a kitten in my arms as I slept, and took pictures of us cuddling (told ya I missed my boys!). I woke up @ 12:30 p.m.I basically ate the rest of my pizza from last nite, put my linens in the washer, and called Karen while I still had cell sevice for sure. I "thought" I'd leave @ 1 but it ended up being closer to 2.I had 3 small climbs today, all not too bad. 2 rivers were very high, I got to ford 1, but found a descent rock hopping path on the other. Headed over Buzzards Knob, I saw a HUGE black snake! Must have been 5 ft long, its head was up and tail was rattling (they don't really rattle, but they mimic rattlers). I couldn't get my camera out and it was speeding up a rocky area. Still beautiful to see though. Other wildlife was well, I don't know. A badger maybe? It was of the possum, rodent-ish family, but I have no idea what it was. It just ran into a big hole in the ground when it saw me.It was 73 degrees today, just perfect. I did some foot soaking after fording the 1st river, man does it feel like you are rejuvinatig your feet when you do that.Finally, 4:54 p.m. I was @ the sign for the shelter, but it was a steep .3 mile downhill. Stream is running strong. I noticed a road is nearby, but can't see the cars, and then, I saw in the distance a guy and girl walking in the woods. Honestly don't like being that close to civilization. I just ate a Reese's Cup for dinner since I was still full from lunch (of course now @ 10:30 p.m., I'm starving). I was sort of creeped out down here w/people so close, so I started a fire. Then. another hiker shows up, his name is Erik, and he's a ridge runner out here! I was glad to see him, and wow...what a COOL guy.We sat out and talked about everything, and he's a really unique and insightful person. I enjoyed hi company so much, good conversation, everything. He's actually waiting to hear if he's been accepted into a Friary. I asked him all sorts of questions, and he ws so interesting. He too was very inquisitive about me, so the nite was filled with conversation about religion, homosexuality, patriarchy, forgiveness, and other light topics like that.Later, some other hikers showed up, but they are camped up a bit. It's actually quite cool tonight @ 52, so I need to get bundled up. A really wonderful day, great hiking, great people, great weather. Tomorrow...CHINESE, meeting my friend Ann and some kitty time w/Opie! I'm so excited. ~Certain