morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-01
To: and the doctor said....
Miles today: 0.0

I have a fever and sinus infection. I've been sick for the last 2.5 weeks but thought I was getting better and would be well enough to "leave out" tomorrow morning. However, late yesterday I began feeling tired, achy and was coughing all night. This morning it seemed like a good idea to check in with the doc before leaving so that I didn't end up in a tent wishing I'd stayed home. I haven't taken antibiotics in years, preferring home remedies and time. But I want to get on the trail as quickly as possible so I'll be taking Zithromax and Flonase and have changed my start date to Monday. I'm trying to see the bright side and that's easy enough since rain is predicted until the weekend. By Monday the sun will be shining and I'll be feeling much better. Not to mention the fact that I'll have a few more days to fret over gear decisions.Today's panic centered around footwear. I wear a size 11 in women's shoes and that makes it exceptionally difficult to find anything anywhere that fits. I usually don't even bother trying to find something that I like, if it fit's I like it! It's made all the more difficult by the fact that I live in an area that is almost totally devoid of retail stores of any sort and certainly no outfitters. That leaves online shopping and I've ordered and returned several boots and shoes. Until today I thought I'd decided to make due with a great pair of New Balance boots that I had professionally stretched in hopes they would still accommodate my feet as they swell from hiking. Problem is, I'm just not sure they will and that doubt has plagued me. I'm envisioning myself in a Walmart along the trail trying to find a replacement for my aching blistered feet. This vision is always accompanied by my self-chastising: "you should have kept looking for something better, blah blah blah...". So today I pulled out one of the pairs I'd bought and kept. A low cut pair of Vasque's. I'd had another pair by them years ago and they were great, until I melted them around a campfire one night while trying to warm frozen digits. This new pair was not so great but they weren't the worst of the bunch so I held onto them. They fit a bit more loosely than the boots and so I went to the REI (which is an hour and a half each way!) to buy some thicker socks. Now, with two options to choose from you'd think I'd feel better, right? Nope. So while I'm resting in my cushy recliner over the next few days trying to get well enough to start my hike I'll be drinking plenty of fluids and trying to decide....shoes or boots.....
Date: 2012-05-05
To: HYOH (aka live and let live)
Miles today: 0.0

With approximately 48 hours before I begin walking, I'm beginning to realize I've been in a rather defensive mode for quite a while now. Well, this has to come to a halt right now! I do not wish to begin my journey carrying feelings of resentment that are the result of my allowing the value judgements of others to make me feel the need to constantly explain why and how I can choose this undertaking. I've been called stupid (yes, to my face) for taking such (perceived) risks. Others, though appearing to be well meaning, have cloaked their comments in such phrases as: "my, aren't you the least bit concerned about leaving all your responsibilities behind....isn't this a time when you really should be ______ blah blah blah?" For the most part I have indulged people in their beliefs and allowed them to speak their mind even when their advice, suggestions, and (especially) their comments have been unwanted and unappreciated. Preferring not to engage in arguements that can't be won, I've usually uttered a few words in the way of explanation. But it's quickly reaching the tipping point and I just really want to feel the energy of others who have chosen (literally) the same path. Among hikers there is a four-letter word (not really a WORD, but you get my drift) that in non-hikerese translates to live and let live. HYOH, hike your own hike. It's frequently put out there to remind each other that we are all different and that everyone must find their own way. It's used also as encouragement and a reminder that sometimes we must defy conventional wisdom and make choices that are based on our own individual values and needs even when they differ from what others consider to be "safe". Hikers often use it to refer to such things as gear choices, which usually comes down to finding a balance between cost, weight, and our perceived need to include in our pack a particular piece of gear. There is no definitive answer to any of these decisions. There is no one right choice that is best for all hikers or would-be hikers. If there were there would be only one gear list and everyone would have all the same things and do all the same things, behave and react the same way. If the science of how to best live a life had been perfected so that there was a prescription to follow, life would lose it's meaning. There would be no striving, no adventure, no joie de vivre. And that would be terrible.      So please, to anyone who may be reading this and need encouragement to be themselves and to do this crazy thing, HYOH!!!!!
Date: 2012-05-07
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Ed Garvey shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

*This is Rockie's daughter, she emailed me the information that I am passing on*Checked in at harpers ferry 7.2 miles. Will definitely be sending pounds of gear home! Some things look better on paper than in real practice. Muscles twitched all night. But was good to be on trail finally. Slept in my tent.
Date: 2012-05-08
From: Ed Garvey shelter

To: Rocky Run shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

*This is Rockie's daughter again with another update*Did 9.1 miles. Saw 7 ladies slippers growing together by side of trail. Rained all day. One blister.Slept inside tent inside shelter. Met 'Sticks' who made it from georgia in just 7 weeks!
Date: 2012-05-09
From: Rocky Run shelter

To: Pine Knob shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Did 7.5 miles. Saw a humming bird at shelter in the morning. Met "You Again" who was doing 4 state challenge which is Virginia, WV, Maryland and land in Pennsylvania. 46 miles must be all in one day! He started in Georgia. Rain again, and a second blister. I cant get used to how bad I smell! Bodhi's doing great and loves it. Great hiker.Happy with progress so far. Plan to be in my third state on Friday.
Date: 2012-05-10
From: Pine Knob shelter

To: Ensign Cowall sheltee
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Was planning to log more miles today but after enjoying a nice rest at Annapolis Rocks, we ran into what seemed (and maybe was) miles of big rocks that had to be carefully navigated. It wasn't difficult, just had to be careful. The trekking poles are miraculous in helping with balance and setting rhythmic pace. Definitely recommended for any shall we say "nontraditional" in either age or fitness. I can vouch on both accounts. Since it was a short day I am going to turn in early and hopefully will be back on the trail earlier than has been the case thus far. But the sleeping bag is sooooo much nicer than the cold mornings
Date: 2012-05-13
From: Deer Lick shelter

To: Tumbling Run shelters
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: broken clouds

Decided to take a leisurely Mother's Day and after a late start and a gift from a lovely young couple of some genuine Starbucks coffee, I made my way to the beautiful Antietam shelter. Bodhi and I played in the steam and lunched on beef jerky and cheddar cheese. Another hiker told me that the cheese held up well for several days in a backpack so I got some while in Smithsburg. It was a nice treat. So were the beautiful flowers that were fewer by far than in. Maryland, but plentiful enough in this spot. We tore ourselves away from the sun and rest to head back into the woods toward our destination for the night, Tumbling Rock shelters. When we first arrived I laughed outloud at the names given to each of the two shelters, which shared a wonderful cooking and dining covered canopy. The first was called snoring and the second nonsnoring. Those of you who know me have no trouble guessing which I chose.
Date: 2012-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.0

Started the day off from Tumbling Rock shelters in pouring rain with a high of 62 degrees. Should have stayed there and taken a zero, but I was driven to make it to Caledonia State Park where I was planning to spend the night, shower and charge my almost dead cell phone. espite the cold and nonstop rain I made good time and reached Rocky mountain shelters in about 3.5 hours. I think it was 6.6 miles. Had to hike down .3 miles on a narrow path on the edge of a steep drop off . Upon arrival I found both shelters full. So after making some hot ramen soup, I packed up and continued on. If it had not been full I'd have packed it in for the night. Made it to Caledonia at 4:30, after the office had closed. I put a note in the honor box and walked around for an hour more looking for the dog friendly camping area. It was still raining, boots and pack and contents were completely soaked and HEAVY, so I found an open ladies room, fed Bodhi and dried him up, and called my daughter. She found a nearby hotel that would accept a dog and even pick me up, all for a reasonable price. After checking in I was too tired to walk across the street to the diner and instead dined on instant trail food from the microwave instead of the alcogil stove. I finally let Bodhi have the sleeping bag all to himself as I took the bed. He, at least, was very pleased with the situation!
Date: 2012-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up this morning feeling not very well at all. I made an executive decision and opted to spend another night here in the motel. At 9:00 I phoned in a take-out breakfast order which included a large omelette, toast, fried potatoes, coffee and oj from the Flamingo Family restaurant. It was reasonably priced and the portions generous. I carried it all nack to the room while holding onto Bodhi's leash. All the while I was busy balancing two largw drinks and a heavy bag of real food and my dog on a leash, he must have been busy scoping out the area and making his own plans. After sharing my breakfast, he accompanied me over to the office to pay for our second night. At the owner's recommendation, I stopped at Leroy's Original Jamaican Jerk chicken restaurant to get a menu for tonight's dinner. While chatting very briefly with the friendly owner, Bodhi slipped loose from where he was tied and went off on an adventure of his own design. One man told me he'd seen him apparently preparing to hike down busy rt 30! This seemed unbelievable as he always stopped far back from the road and sat waiting patiently until his leash waa securely attached and I gave the OK before crossing. However, it seemed plausible to me that he could have thought it would be acceptable since, in fact, his leash WAS attached and dragging behind. Still, I thought it was not likely. For 4 hours I remained hopeful, though my daughter and her friend were coming from NJ to aid in the search and I'd called all the appropriate authorities an and agencies. It was not until the 5th hour that I began to cry. I'd talked to a million people and no one had seen him. Finally a man came chasing after me while I was on the road calling out his name thru the tears. He wanted to know if I was looking for a dog as there was one behind his place. Needless to say I ran and Bodhi came running toward me. It was like a scene from a love story except he was a dog and I was not. Well, it turns our that he was following the herding nature of his breed and had spent the day guarding a flock of sheep, albeit one that was already safely corralled in a fenced yard. The other gentleman had noticed his shewp looking toward the back yard during the day and when he went to investigate found Bodhi camped out on the other side of the fence. The two men put two and two together and realized he must belong with the crazy stranger walking around theie neighborhood yelling. And I cannot thank them enough. So many people here have driven around looking for him and have been so kind. I am truly grateful. Once he was securely in our room I did go get a giant jerk chicken meal complete with just about every side dish offered. It would have been an absolutely fabulous meal anyway, but I was ravenous and ordered far too much whatever remains in the morning is going in my backpack cause we are getting a ride back to the trail in the morning.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Caledonia State Park

To: Birch Run shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

Just as we were about to pass the Quarry Gap shelter I was shaken out of my Zen hiking moment when simultaneously I heard a strange combination of sounds and Bodhi, who was leadind jumped back several feet. I looked up just in time to see a timber rattler easily three feet long moving toward us. It had been in the middle of the trail and I'm not sure if it lunged at Bodhi in a warning move but it definitely scared him. He hid behind my legs while I did my best, with my trekking poles clicking and banging on the rocks, to make it stop coming in our direction. But in what I suppose was a posturing move to remind us that even though he hadn't bitten Bodhi he could have, and that made him king of the road. We didn't argue.
Date: 2012-05-17
From: Birch Run shelter

To: Pine Grove State Park
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

The trail wanders through this beautiful park which is home to the Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel, a lovely giant old building that now serves as an inexpensive place for hikers to spend the night. $25 gets you a bunk and shower, plus dinner AND breakfast the next morning. I could not determine their dog policy and so decided to spend $29 to tent in the park. While it wasn't quite as luxe (relatively speaking) as I imagine the hostel to be, it was nice to have a hot shower and I stayed in until my fingers and toes werr all pruned up. I slept very well even though it was more than chilly once the sun went down.
Date: 2012-05-18
From: Pine Grove State Park

To: James H Fry Shelter
Miles today: 7.6

This morning I awoke and was not immediately bowled over by my own smell. It was going to be a good day, I could tell already. Fond remembrances of last night's long hot shower with it's bounty of soap came wafting to the forefront of my consciousness and I was lulled back into a slumber. When I finally did awake and made my way through the instant coffee and instant oatmeal ritual, we packed up and made the hike back to the office to pay for the site since the office was closed when we came in last night. Following this, Bodhi and I visited the Appalachian Trail Museum and had our picture taken by the greeter for posterity's sake. Since there was a hiker's box (a place to leave unwanted/unneeded items for other hiker's who might be able to use them) I unloaded all the food I wouldn't be needing. The friendly staff and I chatted about all kinds of things, including the fact that the camp store was closed except for Saturday and Sunday. This was a real problem as it's the home of the famous half gallon challenge, a ritual that all thru hikers look forward to completing. I'd read the trail log book outside the store and some of the comments were quite harsh, to put it mildly. I suggested that perhaps someone could put a sign up letting hikers know that there was another store down the trail only a few miles that was ready to pick up this monumentous responsibility. They agreed this was a good idea and I do hope that someone remedies this situation as it's a well known and much anticipated tradition that should not be allow to die. Some thru hikers wrote about how reaching that half gallon challenge was never far from their minds, and for some, it served as a goal to keep themselves motivated. I cannot imagine their disappointment.   I took in the displays and was surprised to find so many artifacts in such a little space. Over the years the story of Grandma[Emma Rowena] Gatewood has remained in my mind and served as inspiration when I thought about all the reasons why I might not be able to do this hike. She was 67 years old when she hiked it for the first time in Keds and using a shower curtain for a shelter. All her things were carried in a homemade sack that resembled a pillow case. She went on to hike it two more times and the tales of her adventures are remarkable. This little museum had the actual items she used as well as the clothes she wore, among those of other famous characters associated with the trail. I left the museum and park feeling a kinship with her and was reminded to be especially careful with my glasses so that I don't break them and have to hike without them, as she once did.
Date: 2012-05-23
From: Green Mountain Store

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Tomorrow it's back on the trail for me, and happily so. Being home has been nice and I can't remember enjoying my own bed more, but I'm anxious to be hiking again. I've made a few gear changes, namely swapping out my heavy ill-fitting boots for a new pair of Teva's. I'd brought my old pair as camp shoes and ended up hiking in them for last 5 days after developing blisters and a purple toe nail. I ordered a new pair that they arrived yesterday and will serve as my main hiking shoes. I'll let you know how they work out but preliminary trials suggest that I'll be a happy hiker.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: Little Dogwood Run campsite

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally made it to Boiling Springs and claimed my prizes at the post office. Mother's day presents (things I needed like bug net, compass and Starbucks coffee packets). Thank you kids! And a wonderful box of food and provisions from a very dear friend who knows I like Indian food. My pack is now very full (and very heavy) and I couldn't be more delighted.Boiling Springs is a charming old town and since we have to walk 14 miles tomorrow I decided to see the town and to get some fresh fruit at the little grocery store. It was my holiday treat to myself. I feasted on watermelon and pineapple, then stopped at Cafe 101 for a salad to take to the tent site for dinner later. The down is abuzz with holiday activity and there are flags flying everywhere. A number of thr u hikers I talked to said they were leaving the trail for the weekend, either friends or family or just to hang out in one of the towns. The trail was fiing up with folks out for the weekend. I met Motown this morning, the first solo female thru hiker to cross my path. Actually she was zipping past me as all the folks who already have 1000 miles do. I also met The Dude who agreed that the journey is the destination and that to be more concerned about logging miles than with enjoying the trail is better left for the young folks. He assured me that I'd soon find my trail legs and that it would then become easier. And then he zipped on past me too.
Date: 2012-05-27
From: Cove Mountsin Shelter

To: Darlington shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Almost out of phone battery but trying to keep journal current. Niice start to the day, mailed home shoes and now using Tevas exclusively. Feet feel better than any other day. Long day ahead...14.2 and I've only done 1/2 thus far. Near 90 degrees and very humid. Stopped for lunch (half of the morning's breskfast sandwich, bought in town and shared with Bodhi) and water and to cool off in stream about 5 miles in. Met enchanting Chloe and her dad who were out for a day hike. She taught me quite a bit about her family's love of geocaching and was full of questions about backpacking. Packed up and headed out. Should have stopped when thunder started but pushed on. I began to feel very nauseated and think I was beginning to have heat exhaustion. Drank over 3 quarts of water but did not need to urinate. The last few miles were a climb that I had a hard time making. Steep, slippery and nothing to stop me from going over and waaaayyyyy down if I stumbled. Eventually I had to stop as I was faint and becoming afraid (and those of you who know me should be surprised at that). I found the rain cover for the pack and my headlamp cause even though it was not even 6:00 it was getting dark. Terrible thunder and lightening but now no place to put a tent on the steep rocks. I was hungry and knew I needed to eat something but could not pull my food bag out without making a mess and risking something falling over the edge. I grabbed at something and pulled out the only thing I could get....a bag of dried pineapples. Never before a favorite of mine, I ravished them and felt almost immediately better. Within a few mit nutes I had the wherewithal to figure out that I was very close to the shelter and set off with a smile. I arrived just as the rain stopped and I suet up the tent in the last of the day's light. In the end, just as in the beginning, a pretty good day......thanks to dried pineapple.
Date: 2012-05-28
From: Cove Mountain shelter

To: Duncannon Pa.
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

Let me preface this by saying that you may notice some of dates and entries have gotten mixed up. I have been trying to fix that but ended up, I think, making it even worse. Sti, I have logged (only) 123 miles. Tomorrow is another day and I will straighten it out when I have access to something other than the tiny phone keyboard. That said.....The trail winds itself literally through the middle of the historical and charming town of Duncannon. It was just after noon when I sat down on the rickety park bench outside of the famous Doyle Hotel to consult my map. My intention was to make my way to the campground where for $3.50 I could get a site for the night and a SHOWER. I needed to first to phone them up and ask about their dog policy. While I was waiting for my phone to boot up the door opened and a very friendly gentleman invited me to take my pack off and to "come on inside, dog and all" Well, after a rough and sleep deprived night in the crowded shelter, and with temps in the mid 90's, it didn't take much convincing. I went inside, took my pack off and made myself comfortable. I settled Bodhi into out $25 room and went back down to pay and haveunch. Bambowie, a hiker qho started 6 months ago in Key West and intends two go to Canada, and who was one of my many shelter mates was ready enjoying a beer. I also ran into the young man I'd been told was hiking with his Border Coilie. The dog was resting up and we will likely see each other (the dogs, I mean) on the traill.I think the secret for making mMore miles lies in hitting the trail earlier in the day. The heat and humidity have really been zapping me and causing me to feel ill. Since it's only going to get worse I have to figure something out if I have any hope of making it tbrough the summer.....and I want to. If I could give up coffee in the morning I could go with a cold breakfast and that would be great. To that end, I am going to allow myself only half my normal amount, then quit from there. Instant coffee doesn't even taste good and that fact should help. But the real help would be to give up the tent.   It's a great tent and I have no complaints about it. But, like all tents, they require time, and especially when it rains. And it ALWAYS rains. Three of the guys in the shelter last night are "hangers" and have me convinced to at least try it. My concern is the dog but they believe a double hammock would solve that problem. Something to think about. Anyway, with my clothes freshly laundered and my pack dried out and ready, I am determined to be on the trail by 7:00 and to do 12 miles tomorrow. Wish me luck!