morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-01-23
To: BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION
Miles today: 0.0

I would like to say that my dream to hike the Appalachian Trail was present in this cute little face when this picture was taken, but in fact that seed was planted much later. When I was born my mother, "Tee" thought I was the "Hottest thing since the Chicago Fire." She said my feet were in constant motion and that I was walking at 3 months-raring to go. Too Hot to hold back.I grew up in Western Pennsylvania in a large family, with endless opportunity and boundless energy. Little did I realize that my life would become such a great adventure that just keeps getting better.I look forward to sharing this journey with you: my family, friends, fellow hikers, the Trail Journal readers, and all the lovers of the AT that find solace here. Shareing this dream with you will make it that much more interesing and fullfilling. Glad to have you along for the hike.
Date: 2008-01-24
To: My Supporting Cast of Characters
Miles today: 0.0

I grew up in a great family. We were nine strong, unique individuals, with personalities to match. We never went hiking, camping or backpacking but we sure did our share of swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and beachcombing the sands of Longboat Key, Flordia during the summers. I am happy to say that I have managed to include some of my family in a few of my far flung adventures but it gives me even greater pleasure to say that each member is supporting me in one way or another on this ...the AT Journey of 2008. My supporting cast of characters: My sister Mike:   TranscriberMy sister Ena:      Literary Consultant My sister Lisa:      Director of Care PackagesMy brother Kelly:   Ground ControlMy brother Shawn:   International ConsultantMy sister Erin:      Director of Northern Terminus TransportationMy sister Pegin:   NurseMy brother Myles:      FinancierMy parents         The Life Givers, Moral Supporters and Morale Boosters
Date: 2008-01-27
To: From YCC to CSU
Miles today: 0.0

If I were to pick a moment in time when the notion of hiking the Appalachian Trail from beginning to end entered my mind, it would be the summer of 1973.   I had the good fortune of being accepted as a member of the Youth Conservation Corp (YCC) in Lamar, Pennsylvania. This program was modeled after the CCC camps of the 1930's that did a great deal of work building shelters,retaining walls, and the treadway of the Appalachian Trail.Our YCC weekdays were spent restoring river banks, planting trees, clearing trails, working for the Federal Fish Hatchery and learning a great deal about ecology and conservation. The weekends were my first introduction to the "great outdoors" -- rafting, hiking, camping and backpacking. In fact, the highlight of the summer was a four day backpacking trip on the AT. When I was told that the trail went from Georgia to Maine ... I was smitten! A seed was planted and a dream was born.I spent two more summers in the YCC program as a counselor, and then attended the Colorado Outward Bound School. I wanted to learn more about backpacking and the San Juan Mountains of Colorado was the perfect place. For 28 days I learned how to pack, carry and struggle with a 40 lb backpack; learned the pain of heavy legs, sore shoulders, hot feet, and the burn in my lungs while gasping for breath at 14,000 feet; learned how to cook on a tiny stove, eat strange -- dry, processed food, sleep on rocks, walk till I dropped, and do without a clean... anything. During that time, I was hungry, dirty, sore, cold, tired, and oh so happy! Climbing to the top of the San Juan Range (Mt Camby (13,487 ft & Mt Handes(14,006 ft), taking in the spetacular views, being above the clouds, made all the pain, hunger and inconvenience evaporate. The sky, air, water and mountains were so clean, clear, and captivating I wanted more. Colorado had captured my heart and part of my future.   I attended Colorado State University which helped make camping, hiking, biking and backpacking a part of my life. The adventure and the journey began to influence many of my decisions about what I wanted to study,and how I wanted to spend my free time. The lure of high mountains, and long trails became a way of life.
Date: 2008-02-21
To: Big Mountains & Hot Volcano's..My Talisman*
Miles today: 0.0

At the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is Mt. Katahdin (5,268 ft.), an extinct volcano. The name comes from the Indian word, Ktaadn, which means "big mountain" For me, volcanoes and big mountains have been my talisman*. It started in Africa during a semester abroad to study Ecology and Conservation. At the end of the term my sister Erin and I took six days to climb to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft). A unique feature of this mamoth mountain is that you can see it from a hundred miles away. It teases you with its beauty, and lures you with it's shear size and majesty. It is hard to take your eyes off of a horizon with Kilimanjaro or Katahdin staring back at you. The magic of mountains followed me to Papua New Guinea. I volunteered to teach high school in the Southern Highlands of this, the most beautiful, remote and unexplored island in the world. I lived in the Tari Valley in the shadow of the Doma Peaks, which just happened to be dormant volcano's. Every school break found me climbing to the top of the tallest mountains(Mt. Wilhelm 14,880 ft, Mt Giluwe 14,331 ft), slogging thru wet, thick jungles, or exploring spetacular places that could only be reached by walking for several days. My love of mountains found me in Java, climbing Gunung Merapi (9000 ft) an active volcano and to the top of Mt. Kosciusko in Australia. My passion possessed me in Nepal where I thought I had died and gone to heaven at the base camp of Mt Everest.  No matter where I roamed the call of "big Mountains" reached out grabbed me and lured me to their peaks. In Colorado, South East Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Great Himalaya of Nepal. I thrived and yearned and strived to make myself a part of each ones splender. They never disappointed me.  Family and friends have asked me why I would want to do such a thing as hike the Appalachian Trail. I do not think anyone has that answer. Perhaps the Appalachian Mountains have their own magic, or perhaps it is the pilgrimage, the journey on this long trail that takes you to special, sacred and venerable places or perhaps it is the bottomless pit of adventure wanting to be fullfilled. I am not sure, but my life's journey with this talisman* has kept me so alive that I want to see all the world from its peaks.*tal is man   {tal-is-muhn} anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions.   Webster Dictionary
Date: 2008-02-24
To: Gear In The Attic
Miles today: 0.0

It would be impossible to talk, think or do a thru hike without talking, thinking or doing GEAR. When I was getting ready to work with the Rocky Top Trail Crew, I had to find my gear...which had been scattered to the four winds, and many corners of my house, my parents' house, a friend's house and if that wasn't enough... a storage unit to boot! The attic, the basement, the garage, and any number of closets that I had not opened in who knows how long had become home to what used to be my most prized possessions. Once I managed to find them, collect them, dust them off and clean them up...they went right back into "service mode". My only complaint was that every piece of equipment: the tent (8 lbs), the Camp 7 sleeping bag (4 1/2 lbs), the Kelty pack (6 lbs), the Seva stove & pots(6 (lbs) and my boots (6lbs)...were SOOOOO heavy. After hiking to the top of Cosby Knob in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, with all of my "new found gear", I realized that my equipment was much heavier than the last time I used it as a much younger, stronger and more athletic woman.   I knew I was not going to get younger, or stronger, but I could do something to lighten the load.   As I buried myself in books and visits to the local outfitter, I learned that the era of the ultra-light backpacker had evolved with new technology, materials, and engineering.  I... The Rumpelstiltskin of ancient camping gear... had awakened to a whole new world of backpacking equipment.
Date: 2008-02-25
To: Shop Till You Drop ...those pounds to ounces
Miles today: 0.0

To bring my gear up to speed and into the 21st century, I attended 'The Gathering', the 'Southern Ruck', two workshops, read backpacking books and the latest gear issue of Backpacker Magazine , talked to many thru hikers , logged onto the Whiteblaze web site, and spent hours at the local outfitter. I was taking a crash course in light weight backpacking gear and the volume of information was staggering.I have never been a clothes horse, or a shoe hog, or a gear head, but I was trying to catch up on 30 years of innovation and technology. I needed to find the best equipment, for the best price, in a time frame that would let me meet my start date in March. Also needed to try all of the equipment and shake it out, down and over before I could take it with me...anywhere.Patronized the local outfitter, ordered on line,shopped garage sales and then took day hikes, and went on weekends and week long hikes and tried every piece of equipment....and talked to more people and read more reviews and went back to the outfitter, and returned items and even tried other peoples gear.If you would like to view the results of my research, development and shopping spree...just click the GEAR bar to the left. You can see it all and then some.
Date: 2008-02-26
To: Food Glorious Food
Miles today: 0.0

What to eat...every hikers constant thought and endless desire...FOOD.I do not come from a cullinary background, and boiling water was pretty much all I ever did...which...lucky for me... is all you really need when you are cooking on the trail. In an effort to escape the monotany of Ramen noodles, mac & cheese, and Lipton dinners, I devoted myself, with the energy of Rachel Ray,and the seriourness of Martha Stewart, into learning how to prepare interesing meals at home to eat on the trail.Back to the library to research trail cooking. The books were not that helpful so I attended a backpacking workshop with Wildside Adventures for Women and met three women who had done a thru hike and gave me helpful thoughts, ideas, suggestions,and guidence about cooking. Mary Holmes, author of "Feasting in the Wild Country" helped me even further. She walked me through every step: from dehydration, to packaging, modifying and creating receipies, adding flavor with spices and showing me the "how to of kitchen craft" camping style. Mary is in the process of publishing her book and I highly recommend it.My brother Kelly, who has the best hardwood grill and restaurant in the world (that might be a slightly nepotistic bias...but not much) gave me some of his choice ground beef (used for his famous hamburger). I promptly dehydrated it! Kelly thought this was a travesty, but I assured him that it would be beyond delicious once reconstituted and put with the aromatic spices and extra ingredients I had packaged for the trail. He is very skeptical...but after several trail trial runs...I am delighted with the results. HUNGER BEWARE and I hope..be gone.Breakfast is a meal I do not want to cook, but which needs to be power packed to get me going. Mary invented a fruit smoothy recipe with freeze dried fruit, ground to a powder, pudding, whole dried milk, and whey powder. When you mix these ingredients with water it will keep you hiking until lunch.Lunch is also an eat on the run affaire with: peanut butter, jelly, tuna, crackers, cheese, power bars, dried fruit, and what ever else you can carry that will keep you on the trail.I have spent weeks shopping, dehydrating,, packaging, sorting, and organizing food for the 6 month journey. I am looking forward to my maildrops along the way, and all the loving care packages my family, friends, and my sister Lisa will be sending me.
Date: 2008-02-27
To: The Shake Down Hikes
Miles today: 0.0

The best way to prepare for hiking the entire length of the Appalchian Trail, is to hike. Hiking with a pack is even better, and the ultimate way to get ready is to hike with a pack on terrain that will resemble the trail you are going to hike. So... to that end I have spent the last five months, hiking. I went to the Laurel Highlands in Pennsylvania and hiked the 70 mile trail with a full pack, hiked various sections of the AT, walked the beachs of Venice, FL and most recently, the city steps of Pittsburgh.I am certain that I will still be huffing and puffing when I get to Georgia, but that will be a good thing....it will mean that I am still breathing.Moira Harrington
Date: 2008-03-12
To: The People You Meet.
Miles today: 0.0

One of the best things about hiking the Appalachian Trail, is the people you meet. Thru hikers, day hikers, section hikers, trail angels, trail maintainers, and the unique blend of people who have a magnetic attraction to the trail and all who travel there. Over the past year I have met some of these charismatic characters. They love to "talk trail", and plan trips, and elaborate on the trips they have done - to all who will listen.One of the most amazing things is that they will go to great lengths to help hikers in any way, shape, or form.   Random acts of kindness are the rule, not the exception. A ride from Pittsburgh to Georgia to start your hike, the use of their down coat for the next 500 miles because the coat you brought is not warm enough, and a St. Patrick's Day Party with hotdogs and beer at Low Gap for all the present, past and future thru hikers. This is what you can expect from the people you meet.
Date: 2008-03-13
To: The Transcriber
Miles today: 0.0

My sister Moira, insisted that I introduce myself. I will be transcribing her journal while she is sweating bullets, eating dirt, sleeping on the ground, living out of a tent, and having the time of her life. It is a task not for the 'faint of heart' ..... well I am up for it .... it will be a slow beginning with a few 'goofs' but promise to be up to speed before her AT trek comes to an end!!!!
Date: 2008-03-15
To: A Foot Path of Fellowship and Wilderness.
Miles today: 0.0

"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting...So get on your way." Dr. SeussIt is time to stop "talk'en, and start walk'en." I would like to thank all of the people who helped me, with all of the "walk'en and talk'en."As I make my way to Georgia from Pittsburgh, along Interstate 81, the skyline will be filled with the silhouette of the Appalachian Mountains. These mountains will consume, captivate, and challange me over the next 7 months. !appalachian trial  There will be feelings of excitement, anticipation, anxiety, delight, and daring in my belly. There will be thoughts of what is to come and what is to be, in my head. There will be a surreal feeling... "is this REALLY happening"...and..."this can NOT be happening"... when in fact... it is....HAPPENING!!! No more "ifs, ands, or buts" "JUST DO IT" Wooo Hooo!!!I am looking forward to those white blazes and all that comes with them.
Date: 2008-03-17
From: Springer Mt.

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 30.5
Weather: clear sky

March 17th - March 20th Springer Mt to Neels Gap 30.5 milesThe start of my big adventure was somewhat auspicious. The day I landed in Georgia, Atlanta had the worst tornado ever. Perhaps Mother Nature was bidding me fair warning. Springer Mountain My first night at Stover Creek, I met Rethinker, a southern gentleman from Tenessee and Crabby Appleton (Rotten to the Core), a retired government wise guy. We have found a congenial comaradie. They are fun to be around and give a whole new meaning to humor. After the third day Crabby thought he had camped near a dead animal...until he realized that it was the shirt he had been wearing for as many days ((You can read more about these two on their Trail Journal).The trail is well marked with a wide tredway. The only bad moment was the rain and wind all day Wednesday when it came hard with big juicey drops...almost like hail. I was hiker number 246 leaving Amacoloa Falls, and hiker number 281 leaving Springer Mt. Everyone I have met is in good spirits...except the LARGE Mountain Dog that laid down on the trial and would not walk another step. His days on the trail maybe numbered..I have loved hiking in the Blood Mountain Wilderness, waking up to the sunrise over the Chattahoochee National Forest, walking along the tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains, startled by the brightness of the night sky with a full moon, and blown away by the power of the wind rattling my tent at night. I love the people who walk this trail, and the people who love the people who walk this trail. It is some kind of special magic that holds this all together.
Date: 2008-03-20
From: Neels Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 36.8
Weather: clear sky

March 20th to March 24 Neels Gap to Dicks Creek Gap   36.8 milesNeels Gap is famous for helping hikers lighten their load. Legend has it that Minnesota Smith came through a few years ago with 9 rolls of toilet paper in his pack. He started from Springer with 16!!! He said he needed all of the TP because he was eating alot of fiber!!! (After writing this I received an e-mail from Minnesotasmith and he informed me that he never carried more than 6 rolls at any one time but he did resupply often). After resupply at Neels Gap, I walked ten miles to sleep on Sheep Rock Top (3,600 ft). Retinker was there with his camp all set up and I quickly did the same. It was a spectacular location as it sat high on the Blue Ridge in a North - South alignment so that the sunset, moonrise, and sunrise could all be seen from the same spot. It just happened to be the night of the full moon and it was so bright and clear I could have danced with my shadow. As a matter of fact - I did...just for fun.Met Mustang Sally, a 57 year old mother from Charleston, West Virginia. She is walking to Maine, but when she left camp, she turned the wrong way, and after a mile passed another hiker going in the opposite direction. When she asked him where they were going, he said Low Gap. That was the direction she was headed. She turned around and is now back on track.We hiked on 11.5 miles, in a northerly direction, to yet another beautiful location, Rocky Mountain (4,017 ft.) the next day. It was perfect hiking weather, blue skys, crisp, clear air and the temperature was cool enough so that you hardly broke a sweat going up and down thousands of feet.Last night on Sassafras Gap (3,500 ft) was the coldest night with temperatures of 10 degrees or less. The water in our water bottles froze solid. Rethinker and I were joined by White Lightening, who filled us in on all the trail news. He told us about his fitful night at Gooch Mountain Shelter. When he first arrived at the shelter, which has a capacity of 14, it was nearly full. By the time the sun went down there were more than 25 hikers sleeping on top of each other. To add insult to injury, he was awoken in the night by a mouse nibbling the remains of his dinner from his thumb. He decided it was time to go, so he packed up only to wake everyone by disturbing a LARGE mountain dog which barked long and loud. I have yet to sleep in a shelter...not wanting to be crowded or nibbled on!!Today I made it to Dicks Creek Gap for my second resupply. So far my preparations of prepackaged food have worked well. Check with me in a week.
Date: 2008-03-24
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 36.3
Weather: scattered clouds

March 24 to March 28 Dicks Creek Gap, Georgia to Rock Gap, North Carolina 36.3 miles.I left Dicks Creek Gap with a crowd of people who were getting back on the trail after resupply and recovery from blisters, bangs and bruises. It was my first experience walking with a group since I started. I met, Five Stones, a middle aged man from Ft. Worth Texas who took his name from the five stones David picked up to sling at Goliath. He has given each stone a virtue and sees the trial as his Goliath. He will be writing a book about his revelations.   He is traveling with C-4 from Vermont.Two characters I crossed paths with over the three days were Stinger and Swamp Dwag. They took nine years to complete their thru hike of the AT, in sections, but low and behold they completed and are starting over! It may have taken Stinger a bit longer because he told me that when he came out of Muskrat Creek Shelter , he turned left and went back down to Bly Gap...2.9 miles in the wrong direction...and a loss of 1000 feet. He is still shaking his head over that.   I think the record for the longest section hike is 50 years. A couple started when they were 20 and finished in their 70's.The highlight of the week was spending a clear and cloudless night on Standing Indian Mountain (5498 feet). It was a view that mesmerized me for hours, and as the sun set the colors just darkened and deepened into shadows and shades silhouetted by the sky and the horizon. Multi layers of mountain ranges stacked one behind the next, in deep shades of blue. I lay under the sky as darkness was sprinkled with a million billion stars, and nothing to compete with all that twinkles. It was a magical evening, all to myself.The climb from Moonney Gap (4,460 ft) to Albert Mountain (5,250 ft) the next day was something akin to Frodo and Sam taking the RING the last mile to the volcano of liquid fire. It was STEEEEP and rocky. I think a ladder might have been easier. Once on top, the view from the fire tower was well worth the blood, sweat and tears it took to get there. It was a panoramic perspective of the Nantahala National Forest, and a view all the way back to Georgia.I really enjoyed Georgia. The people, the trail, and the best tasting water I have had for a long time.I am looking forward to North Carolina, the Smokies, and all there is to see.
Date: 2008-03-28
From: Rock Gap

To: Nantahala River
Miles today: 31.0

March 28th to April 1 Rock Gap to Nantahala River 31 milesAs I hiked into a fog encrusted cloud, I did not realize that I would not see the sun, moon, stars or any kind of view for more than three days. It did not rain, but the moisture in this thick soup made everything dripping wet. The going was slippery, so I stepped gingerly so as not to fall and knock my teeth out. (Dr. Susan!!}. I spent the first night at a campsite called Wine Spring. The water tasted so good, I thought for sure that was how it got its name. Butterfly Moon, her dog Luna, New York Minute, and Clothes Line joined me just before dark. Clothes Line is a young man from Cincinnati, Ohio who got his name when he hiked the day of the big rain, hung all of his clothes up to dry in the shelter and every molecule of moisture froze every fiber of clothing over the night as the North Wind blew through Tray Mountain Shelter. He said that he could have hit a baseball with his pants they were so hard with ice.The next night I finally got a glimpse of the sun setting from Wesser Bald Observation Tower. It made me feel good just to know the sun was still hanging around in the atmosphere, giving light and warmth.From Wesser Bald (4,627 ft) I walked down to Nantahala River and it turned out to be a beautiful day. The elevation dropped down to to 1,740 ft and I soaked my feet in the river most of the afternoon. I was joined by Butterfly Moon, a young woman who attempted a thru hike in 2005 but had to come off the trail because of a stress fracture. She is back to make it happen and is hiking with her white shepherd Luna.   Butterfly Moon got her name because she has a tattoo of a butterfly at the base of her spine and above her moon.I am going to rest up because the hike out of here tomorrow is going to be a doosie.