morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-16
To: Gear, Preparation
Miles today: 0.0

Hey there everyone, time really is flying, only about 8 months to go if I start sometime in mid-Feb. I'm getting more and more excited as time goes on and as my plans are starting to come together. I've been meeting a lot of the people who plan on hiking in 2004 and that makes it seem ever more real, seems like a great bunch of people and I really look forward to forming some good friendships on the trail.As for the money side of things, it looks like it's all taken care of, which is quite a relief, it seems like a lot of people are struggling with that area of planning. I have about $3000 US dollars worth of traveller's cheques set aside, which I think will last me a good part of the way, and hopefully the whole way if I avoid a lot of hotels and expensive meals. I've been looking into going to New York or Washington D.C., or possibly both as side trips off the trail which I know will add to the cost....but I'm from Canada so it might be once in a lifetime chance to see these cities.As for gear, I've spent countless hours researching outdoor gear. It's been enjoyable, but in a lot of ways I still feel unsure about some of the things I'm considering and have already bought. I've picked up quite a few things on ebay, definitely some good deals, even when shipping costs are factored in. My tentative pack seems to be right around 20 pounds, not including food or water, which I'm generally happy about. I think any lower might sacrifice some comfort and safety, especially in February and March. A few of the things I've picked up are:1.LED microlight keychain. I don't envision hiking too much at night so I think this will be fine. Got it on ebay.2.Frogg and Toggs rainsuit. So light, not so durable I've heard but probably nothing that duct tape can't fix!3. A new down sleeping bag, 0 degrees F, -17 C. Weighs just over 3 pounds, not too bad for the temp. rating and the price (just over $100 US on ebay)4. Titanium pot, 18 ounces, also on ebay5. pop-can stove, believe it or not...for free from this nice guy who mentioned it on trailforums.comI have most of my clothes and other stuff listed in the gear list...check it out. p>I was also considering an MP3 player, it might make those hard days go a little faster I think, still have to look into it more.So many decisions but decisions about gear are the best kind to make I think
Date: 2003-07-09
To: Who Cares
Miles today: 0.0

Lately I've been wondering why do I want to hike this trail. I've been making all these preparations, finding gear, obsessing over pack weight, asking a hundred questions on trailforums.com and then I wonder what am I really doing. Am I crazy to want to walk over 2000 miles? Am I crazy to not get a real job and be a responsible 24-year old. Am I crazy to not subscribe to the life of aquiring things? Am I crazy to willingly engage in physical hardship? My family is bugging me to go back to school and do something practical (my BA is kind of useless when it comes to job prospects) but if I go back to school to get a master's degree I would rather do something I'm interested in and worry about a job later. Am I irresponsible?Anyway, the conclusion I have come to is that I am not being irresponsible and that I will NEVER let other people tell me how to run my life when I know what will really make me happy. As for hiking the trail, after some searching, I know that I want to do it for the adventure...to see if I really am strong enough to endure everything the wilderness can throw at me. Why shouldn't life be fun? Why do I need a TV and a car and a big house?.There have been a few things in my life that I know as soon as I first hear about them I know that I will do, the AT is one of them. I want to walk the whole way, but I am learning really, it's more about the journey along the way than the final destination sometimes (actually most of the time!) I know it's an overused cliche, but I am learning that it's true. Even preparing for it has made me question what I want to do in life, how I want to live my life, my values. I think that in itself has made the AT worth any sacrifice it might take.This is turning into a book, but on a side note I'm going to Thailand in about 2 weeks for 11 days with a friend who's another English teacher. Words cannot convey how excited I am!!! I need a vacation....eight months straight teaching little Korean kids has really tired me out. I'll write another post when I get back and let you know how it went.
Date: 2003-08-06
To: open-minded?
Miles today: 0.0

Hello....my trip to Thailand was a great time all around, did a bit of hiking in the jungle to some waterfalls and then swam beneath one of them. Was a very refreshing break from the serious heat and humidity. There were a lot of travellers there who were lost, searching for something so in some ways it was quite dark and a little bit depressing. I would walk down the street and see foreigners obviously high on drugs, just staring at a wall or go to eat at restaurants where there were drunk, obnoxious foreigners and wonder where their lives are going...mabye they don't care. I think many people go there expecting the time of their lives but sometimes I think travelling isn't all it's hyped-up to be.So on that note...I've been reflecting and thinking if maybe if maybe the AT won't be all that I've expected it to be, in fact I know it won't. I've been on an AT high for a while and I think this trip to Thailand maybe brought me back to reality. I think I glorify the good stuff and gloss over the bad...I know I definitely have to work on the mental preparation as much as the physical and equipment preparations.As part of my preparations, I've been faithful in reading www.trailforums.com and seeing what everyone has to say about gear and whatever else. Something I found interesting was a post by Levi about a missions trip dated July 29...he wants to put a Bible in every AT shelter. The rudeness of people in response to this appalled and disturbed me. I am an evangelical, committed Christian so it disturbed me on that level but even if I wasn't a Christian I think I would still be disturbed by how mean people can be. I think I've glorified the AT community as all nice, accepting, open-minded people. Many of them really are...I like everyone in the AThikers2004 yahoo group...chatting with them is great and I'm excited to meet them on the trail....many people have also patiently answered my questions on www.trailforums.com and one guy even sent me a pop-can stove for free. I'm not saying I agree with Levi, unconditionally but I think his idea has some validity.I have a hard-time with rude people, I think everyone, because they are human deserves a basic level or courtesy and respect, no matter if their beliefs are different from yours. You can state a point intelligently without being rude, being rude and insulting other people is what people do to make themselves feel better because they in turn feel bad about themselves. Deal with your issues and don't cut down other people!!! So, in many ways I want to do the trail and that's what my plan is, come next February but in the back of my mind, in a little corner I wonder if this is really the place for me.
Date: 2003-08-30
To: esl nightmare come true
Miles today: 0.0

Well....you know how everyone knows someone or a friend of someone who is teaching English in Korea or Japan or Taiwan and you always hear stories about people getting screwed over and then when you actually go to teach, you think this isn't so bad, why all the horror stories? The horror story came true for me on Thursday!!!I was fired a few days ago with no notice...nothing...and told to leave my country and my apartment in 5 days. My contract I signed said they needed to give me 60 days written notice but obviously they didn't and have broken the law. So, I've gotten a lawyer...going to immigration tommorrow, going to the labor board etc. to file a lawsuit against these people. Really, it's too crazy almost to be true...one friend back in Canada called it like a soap opera, maybe Buffy the Vampire minus the vampire element!My school has done this to previous foreigners but they have just left the country and not fought...but this is one foreigner who is not getting screwed by the system, I want justice to be done. But I am realistic because obviously I am at a disadvantage not being in my own country.So what does this all have to do with hiking you may ask. Well, as for AT 2004 I have some money set aside but I'm just wondering if it's enough. Aaaahhhhh...I really want to do the hike but financially who knows what will happen. Soooooo frustrating but I will do everything in my power to be on the trail in 2004 and trust God for the rest. Maybe hiking the AT will be even more sweeter after having to struggle for it, even before it gets started.
Date: 2003-09-10
To: gruelling
Miles today: 0.0

Thanks to everyone for all our encouraging messages about my work situation. Really, it means a lot to me and I'm thankful that I have the support of friends and family. I've gotten some of the money owed to me but I need to go to the Korean labor board and fight for the rest. Korean society is based on corruption and bribes so I'm not overly optimistic about my chances, but that's okay. On the positive side though...it really feels like I've gotten out of jail, never having to go back to that crappy job. I've realized it wasn't worth the money they were paying me...the stress...the emotional abuse...the culture clash...the lying...etc....etc. So I feel quite happy about the whole situation and can really see WAY MORE positives to this situation than negatives and for that I'm thankful. Plus my friend is visiting me from Canada in about a week so now we can spend the whole time together instead of me having to work, which I'm excited about.Right now, I'm on a vacation to Jeju-island, the biggest Korean island, just south of the mainland. It's semi-tropical and dominated by a giant, extinct volcano in the center...beautiful beaches, amazing scenery. Anyway, I got an idea that I should rent a mountain bike and bike around the island (about 200 km)...in 4 days. It was all good fun for the first 10 km..then it started to get sweltering hot and there were some major hills. Gruelling to say the least...but I persevered. Looking back on it, I can see that it was like a mini-AT experience in a lot of ways:1. I always knew that I could bike the whole way, mentally I need to be srong though and not keep listening to that little voice that says I should quit. How tempting it was...I know this will happen hundreds of times on the AT.2. Focusing on the good and not the bad, this seems to be a big key to success.3. The need to be self-sustaining. It would have been helpful to have known a little bit more about bike maintenance. For the AT, I want to know a lot more about weather, first aid, gear, nutritional needs..etc...etc. I think the best way to prepare is to prepare your mind and not just spend more money on gear of focus exclusively on physical preparation.4. The need to have some type of distraction when negative thoughts get you down. On the big hills, I would start singing songs and this got me up them. For the AT I've been thinking about bringing an MP3-player as my luxury item and after this trip, I definitely think I will get one.So these are some things I learned from this little bike trip. Because of this, I have gotten even more excited about doing the AT! I love adventures and can barely wait for this next one to start.
Date: 2004-02-08
From: prep

To: Transcriber's Note
Miles today: 0.0

Hello all, this is Hammock Hanger. No you have not logged on to the wrong journal. I will be transcribing Jackies AT adventure for her. I just wanted to do a test post to make sure I got all of the passwords correctly, etc. etc.Looks good.My next time in here will mean that Jackie has her boots on the AT and is moving northward.Sue/Hammock Hanger
Date: 2004-02-22
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: few clouds

Walking...ever further and ever North. I feel excited, scared, joyful that this adventure has finally begun. I can't stop smiling! In so many ways it seems unreal that I'm even here. Along the trail today I felt like I was back at home in Canada walking in the Rockies. Anyway,7.6 miles down, only 2156 more to go!Lauren drove me to the trail this morning and walked with me almost all the way to the shelter. On top of Springer we did the obligatory pics of the plaque and the first white blaze. I met some really cool people, especially everyone from Scout Troop #501..genuinely nice kids and leaders. I met another guy who had checked out my trail journal and recognized me. I felt like a bit of a celebrity. At the shelter there were 3 other people, all travelling together and all walking home to Maine. They were all very nice but seemed a bit inexperienced. I felt a little bit freaky with all my high-tech light-weight gear. I hope to meet an ultralighter or at least a light-weight backpacker so I don't feel like I'm the only one out here.The sun is fading over the mountains and everything is still. I am at peace. I know that I will find rest in the quietness and the simplicity. All praise and glory to God for creating this beautiful place.
Date: 2004-02-23
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Odd...very odd. Where were all the mice last night at the shelter? I 've heard so much about them but didn't see a trace. It was a beautiful day yesterday and a great night as well. I was actually hot and I'm happy that I invested in a good sleep system. I woke up around 7:30 and was on the trail by 8:30 planning to do an easy 7 miles. I felt good today, the fallen leaves were kind on my feet and the gentle hills were kind to my body. I felt really strong, almost powering up the hills and I'm optimistic about the future. So far no physical complaints...I think mainly due to my low pack-weight. The people I'm travelling with, Lars, Maisey and Andrew from Maine are carrying a lot of weight and are having a bit more trouble doing the same miles I am. The trail today was very nice. Coming into the shelter, I walked along a valley, through the trees, almost like a jungle. It amazes me how fast the scenery can change. We all stopped for lunch beside Justus Creek. It if wasn't so cool it would have felt like the jungles of Asia. I was thirsty and drank about 2 liters of water and felt sick the rest of the night...I won't make that mistake again! Gooch Mt. Shelter is another 2-story affair that is very new. So far looks nice,hopefully the mice don't decide to come out and play. It's only about 2:00 but I decided to stop for the day and be kind to my body. Maybe if I look after it, it'll get me to Maine. I felt happy today, happy with my choice to hike the AT, happy with the great weather, happy about the people I'm with. I'm anticipating each new day and excited about what the future will hold. It will probably get harder I'm sure but I'm thankful that the beginning has been easy so far.
Date: 2004-02-24
From: Gooch Mtn. Shelter

To: Wood's Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I've descended into a pit of squalor. I stink...not just a B.O. type smell but a smell me from a 1/2 mile away stench. I pull my camp/sleep clothes out of their stuff sack and they reek! I put my hiking clothes on in the morning and they smell even worse. The good thing is that all the hikers are in it together so it's not so bad.Last night there were 7 of us at the shelter...me, the three thru's I've been hiking with and 3 sectioners. We had a camp fire with some laughs and good conversation. This is what I imagined the AT to be like and it hasn't dissapointed. It amazes me how complete strangers bond together so quickly in the wilderness. I announced that I wasn't very hungry and hence not cooking supper and I got offers for all kinds of hot supper leftovers...very tasty for no work. That's my style of dinner! I woke at first light and was on the trail by 8:00. The air was fresh and full of moisture...it seemed like the skies were ready to let loose. I picked up my hiking pace, wanting to get a few miles in before the rain hit. I felt good...confident knowing I can do some big miles if I have to. My average pace so far is under 2 miles/hour but I know I can do faster if I have to. The rain held off all day and the sun has just peaked out from behind the clouds. Another day of beautiful hiking.The terrain was gentle, with only a couple tough climbs but mostly flat. Who says that Georgia is the hardest state? I hiked with Andrew for about an hour but then was ahead of the rest of my group for the rest of the day. I think I hike slower but take A LOT less breaks than everyone else. After I finished the 12 miles I had a small debate in my head as to whether I should keep going and get to Neel's Gap today but I decided it was "be kind to my body" day and stopped. Today I felt strong. My legs felt good while I was hiking but now that I'm sitting in the shelter I'm getting a little sore. 12 miles has taken it's toll. I have a small blister on the pad of one of my middle toes so I was a little sore walking by the end of the day but besides that no physical complaints. The last mile or so I kept thinking, "mmmm....flip-flops...I NEED to put on my flip-flops." Kind of like Homer Simpson with his donuts. I look forward to a short day tommorrow and a trip to civilization to take care of the stench situation.
Date: 2004-02-25
From: Wood's Hole Shelter

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night at the shelter I was torn between laziness and squalor. The mouse droppings were abundant but how lazy I am when it comes to setting up my hammock! As it was I didn't see or hear any mice all night. So the lazy way appears to be a good choice. Sleeping in shelters is like having a sleepover every night except you go to bed at 8:00 and get up at 7:00.Today was a short, but beautiful hike up Blood Mountain. I've heard rumors it's a tough climb but it was a lot of fun. The rocks reminded me of hiking in Korea. I pushed hard, knowing that my hike was short today. There was an old stone shelter at the top of Blood Mountain. My guidebook says it use to be home to a bear back in the day. To put it kindly, the trail leading to and going down Blood Mt. could have been a lot better marked. The view would have been amazing if it had been a clear day.I got to Neel's Gap and it was great to see civilization! I packed down a whole tube of chips and a package of licorice, and then felt a little bit sick for the rest of the day. When I was with Lauren her Grandma offered me a place to stay. When I got to Neel¢s Gap I gave her a call and Grandma Nancy came to pick me up. I took care of the stench problem by taking a shower and doing laundry.I feel clean and relaxed. I've had a perfect day and I am happy my body has been able to rest. I had a great supper and look forward to hitting the trail tomorrow. Grandma Nancy is a true tail angel! She is so kind to go out of her way to help me out. Tonight the weather has taken a turn for the worse. There's 4-5 inches of rain and sleet/snow predicted for tonight and cold temps tomorrow. This will be the true test of my light-weight approach... to see if I can stay warm when the weather is bad. I have a small fear that I may not have packed enough clothes. Anyway I'm thankful I don't have to put it to the test tonight. Ahhhh... warmth and cleanliness, what could be better?(NOTE FROM TRANSCRIBER: This is my first time being on the other side of the journal. I hope I didn't botch too many of her words. Her handwriting is almost as bad as mine was at the end of a long day on the trail. HH :D)
Date: 2004-02-26
From: Neel's Gap

To: Neel's Gap Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today is my first zero day. So early on when I planned to take very few. Lauren's Grandma dropped me back off at Neel's Gap and I fully intended to start hiking but it was cold and windy. I went into the outfitter's and the group in there told me about the weather not looking so positive for later today. So I think common sense got to the better of me and I decided to stay at the hostel. I shovelled a lot of snow so now I can stay for free! I came all the way to Georgia from Canada to shovel snow.Neel's gap is famous because it is the first point of real civilization. There's legends of people coming into here with 60 to 80 pound packs, desperate to unload some stuff. The staff at the outfitters are more then willing to help, hoping you will pick up a few items from the trail store. The store mails home thousands of pounds of gear every spring and makes a tidy profit I'm sure selling over-priced gear to hikers who didn't do their research before they left home. Lars and Maisey sent home most of their cotton clothes, because as I like to say, "Cotton Kills." The outfitter at Neels Gap is also the somewhat official trail number counter because everyone who comes in is supposed to sign the guestbook and get a picture taken. I'm a bit disappointed today because I didn't end up hiking but think it is probably a wise choice. I know that I won't be hypothermic in cold, wet weather but I won't be warm either. The forecast looks better tomorrow and great for the weekend. I'll try to pick up a few miles then... I have 11, 14 then 10 miles planned until I hit the Blueberry Patch Hostel and I think it should be good with all the rest I've gotten.
Date: 2004-02-27
From: Neel's Gap Hostel

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today¢s hiking was a little bit crazy. It¢s the first time on the trail that I realized that really bad things could happen to the unprepared. It was cold this morning and there were a few inches of snow on the trail from the day before. It was really foggy, making it hard to see the blazes. It was easy to follow the trail though because there were tracks in the snow from yesterday.Most days I¢ve been the first one up and onto the trail. It¢s peaceful being first; I make fresh footprints and get to see the animal tracks from the night before. I know that there is no one ahead of me to catch. I hike faster or at the same pace as most people and so I see very few people all day. I like the freedom of hiking my own pace and resting when I feel tired.After hiking for a couple of hours, the forest started to come alive. The trees began dropping pieces of ice and giant snowballs on me as I walked. Nothing like snow going down your back to make you hike a bit faster! The ice chunks hurt a lot when they hit. The mist and fog has slowly disappeared and the sun is peaking out from behind the clouds. Everything is stating to melt and while I look forward to the warmer weather I know the trail will be slick tomorrow.
Date: 2004-02-28
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Today was tough, really tough! My legs are killing me. I am thirsty, tired and hungry. The first 10 miles today weren¢t to bad but then the climb up Rocky Mountain and Tray Mountain were hard! But I still feel happy to be out here. I would have taken it slower but there were a lot of other people out and we wanted to beat everyone else so we could get a spot in the shelter. My legs were screaming and I just kept telling myself ¢must beat boy scouts¢¦ must beat boy scouts¢.Last night I sheltered with Ty and Cairo, 2 sisters from Michigan, that are about my age. We hiked together for a while today and we are staying together again tonight. They¢re a lot of fun and it makes a tough hike a lot better, when you have some good company.Anyway I¢m really tired and need to cook supper. Rest feels good.