morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Ensign Cowell Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

Whoop whoop! 18.1 miles and I have lived to tell the tale! Now, don't think that just because I am alive doesn't mean I am all well. My feet. Can we just pause and discuss the feet for a minute? OK so Transition has mentioned once that I had a blister. I don't know why, but numerous people have contacted me, asking about this infamous blister. "pinkie", as this blister is known as, has been an issue since day 1. It is on the bottom of my pinkie toe, and while it is a very common place for hikers to aquire a blister, this is my first time experiencing such discomfort. Fortunately it doesn't hurt nearly as much as the ones you get on the backs on you ankles from breaking in new shoes. I have two calluses there now. "pinkie" has morphed many times since day 1, from big and puffy, to drained and sore, to yellowish and healing, as it is now. Gross, I know, but this is just how it is. "pinkie" only hurts when I first set out in the morning, and whenever I start hiking again after a break. Transition thinks if I were to be given a trailname, pinkie would have been it. Pinkie though, was the least of my worries today. When you walk 18 miles, you feel it in every single muscle, bone and joint in your feet. The 18 miles we did today was totally my doing, we had the opportunity to stop at various shelters along the trail, but sometimes, as I was today, I felt inspired to push myself.I paid the price in the last 5 miles, practically wobbling my feet hurt so bad. The pads, the balls, the heels. Every single toe. Stretching my toes periodically by curling them in my boots was seriously some form of torture. After miles of soreness, the rest of my legs began to hurt too. But the bottom line: I was in VERY high spirits the entire way, up until the last mile!So many great things happened today:-High Rock in Maryland-Crossing the Mason-Dixon Line (from Maryland into Penn. Back to the free states of the north for us!)- I crossed the 100 mile mark today! An accomplishment that I am sure I will appreciate more once my feet stop hurting.-Awesome shelter and trail magic at the end of a longgg day: apples and coke from the nicest shelter overseer ever. And our tent set up right alongside a bubbling stream.So hurt feet aside, it was a long, rewarding, happy day.Kick: my feet. Wow.Kiss: 18.1 on my 9th day of hiking. Not too shabby! Crossing into my fourth state feels good too.Song of the Day: Let Freedom Ring!Much Love,Bow
Date: 2009-07-01
From: Fayettville

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Because of the rainstorm yesterday, we didn't end up swimming in the local pool. Today we woke up to bright sunshine and after checking out of the hotel, decided to check it out before heading back to the trail.The pool is right in Caledonia State Park. You can see the giant pool from the trail, which is why so many hikers get sucked in I am sure. For 4 dollars, you get in, and for us, it was so worth it. It was about noon when we got there. We suited up (matt in hiking shorts and me in hiking shorts and a tanktop), and ventured out to the pool. How refreshing. It was other-worldly to be able to relax poolside for 3 hours, swimming, tanning, listening to our i-pods, licking icecream cones, watching kids on vacation splashing in the shallow end. Heaven. We laughed, thinking about how for just a few moments, we actually felt like we were at home, enjoying our summers like everybody else instead of hiking. Matt even fell asleep (yes, he likes his naps when he can squeeze them in!) in the grass while I called home to mom. Although we had sunscreen, someone forgot to lather his stomach and awoke to red, red, red. Ouch. Sunburn #2 for Matt. Both times while napping. I don't know when the last time I swam in a pool was, but it was amazing.It was very hard to leave. But we had 10 miles to do, and it was 230. I was feeling a lot better about the 10 miles we had to do today, as opposed to yesterday. It is funny how different 10 miles can be. It went by fast, we stopped about 7 miles in to have a snack, and that was the only break we took the entire way. We made it to the shelter by 700, where we met back up with Flatlander, a thru-hiker in his 50's hiking with Flicka, his 17 year old daughter. We met them two nights before at Tumbling Run Shelter, and so we were happy to be with them again. Flatlander mentioned how good it is for Flicka to meet other hikers, especially a couple like us because we are good role models. Flicka was great, I admire her for deciding to spend her entire summer hiking the second half of the trail with her father. Wow. She has big plans to finish the entire second half, which would mean that she would be missing at least a month of her senior year of high school back in North Dakota. I say go for it, and Flatlander seems to think that hiking would be much more of an educational experience. I agree. Senior year is a joke anyways, right? haha. Matt and I settled into our mac and cheese and chatted with Flatlander, Flicka and eventually, when they arrived, Bubbles and Birdie, a young married couple that Matt has met before on the trail months ago. They are actually planning on moving to Portland after the hike, so we had a lot to talk about. Everyone out here has been so incredibly nice and such fun to hang out with.Over-all, a great day.Kick: Leaving the poolKiss: The pool. The great company at the shelter. OH and the shelter had built in bunkbeds, nice!Much Love,Bow
Date: 2009-03-15
To: To get on line--it takes 3 you know...
Miles today: 0.0

Why "B"??? To "B" continued.... But here is a hint. My friend Evelyn and I are walking down the street when I break into song..."I gotta "B" meeeeee, I gotta "B" meeee, the dream that I seeee makes me what I am!!! Thank you Sammy Davis Jr. and Taylor Hicks.
Date: 2009-03-15
To: Up and down the stairs 
Miles today: 0.0

Back to "B"...I was hiking the Greylock portion of the AT with friends discussing my desire to finally thru hike the AT. My parents were big hikers, and when I turned 12, I was given one of the original trail markers from the AT. These markers were metal, painted white and diamond shaped and were hammered into the trees. My family happened to be on Bear Mountain in New York State when we came upon a crew changing the metal markers to the white blazes we follow today. The crew gave me a marker that hangs in my house today, and holds the tale of who I "B", who I will "B"-come, who am I "B"eing, what I "B"lieve.Here is part of a poem sent to me last week. It was written for my friend by her brother and so much of it speaks to me... The name of the poem is Simple yet Deep......It starts with My sister,I wonder how you are?Are the forces aligned? Can you feel your calling,The sacrifice of the following the wind to the places you dream,To unknown lands Just to get a glimpse, a taste of what is realThe place where you Belong without even seeing what is surrounding the signs of one who is destined to Be Exactly what she isI hope you feel safe in this new place you know so wellAnd that all that is, unfolds before your very eyes,Tangible, and real for the one who is in the heart of allthose whom she meets. Be safe, Adventurous, and Open, this is your time and "everything that is happening, ishappening for you not against you"Loneliness is there for you to gain company and securitythrough yourselfTime is there for you to be lived in, nature, a force as you can relate to where you are from, Seasons so you mayfeel each and every moment just as mother intended.People to enrich and lively up their own loves through your presenceand the places you choose, as to give you experience to flower into what you are making yourself to Be, what you already are...Hemda also gave me a very special gift. It is a pendant to wear on the trail. It is very spiritual and blessed and is to keep the wearer safe. She gave it to me with the words--wishing for you everything that is about Being, with safe and joyous passages.
Date: 2009-03-15
To: Is up and down the stairs considered training?
Miles today: 0.0

So, says my beloved "A"..."you need to embody why you are doing this hike. Go meditate on it!" Believe in myself, because, be one with nature, be one with myself, who am being? and who I will become. You get the drift? "B"...I have a job I love and people I love working with, but, I needed to let it go to come back to being and really step into my life. I gave Mark an 8 month notice and suddenly felt so free! That was before the economic down turn. A few months later, boy, did I start second guessing my decision to leave. By then we had hired my replacements and I was training them, my house was rented for 4 months, and I had started packing. Sing it Sammy! Sing it Taylor!!That far-away prize, a world of success Is waiting for me if I heed the callI won't settle down, won't settle for lessAs long as there's a chance that I can have it allI gotta "B" meeeeeee!!!! I gotta "B" freeeee!!!My daughter, Zubie (AT 2007, see, it runs in the family! finally had to put an end to my hour by hour endless texting...compressor jacket or my old Mountain Hardware...Granite Gear or my Grossmer Gear, 15 or 20 degree with liner, blah, blah, blah? She finally told me to stop being a gear head and make a list and she would answer all questions the next time I saw her. My son, no trail name yet, but proud owner of a new, double black diamond tatoo on his side, ah, youth...was standing at the top of Loveland Pass, Co. on snow shoes when I called...Dave, what do you think???..."hey mom", he said "bluebird sky, powder!, I'm surrounded by mountain peaks! I'm at the top! Take what you know is best!!!" So now I am packed...and I'm going to weigh in at work this week. I want base pack weight to be about 12 pounds. We shall see..."I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out...for going out, I found, was really going in"...John Muir
Date: 2009-03-26
From: Packing

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday was my last day at work. I recieved a great care package and card from the crew at Wellness Pharmacy in Alabama. Thank you all! I could tell there was so much thought put into this package. It is hard to buy things for a "ultra light" backpacker...and you were right on with everything! The bars are already packed in my food bag and I sampled the soothing muscle rub last night. Everything else will find a place in my pack. Just perfect! Ted, our FedEx guy, who picks up packages at work, got to my house with my extra cell battery and decided to bring it right to me at work! His cousin hiked the AT a few years ago and he was soooo excited for me! Great people all aroundMark and the UltraWellness gang gave me a good-bye/good-luck/"B" safe party last night. Tears and laughter. A feast of Indian food and chocolate cake! As I looked at all that food I realized the memory of it will keep me drooling on the trail for more. I know how thru hikers get to dreaming about food all the time!My house is so empty of personal belongings. This was a major under taking. The renters move in May-for 4 months. Tonight I bring Cleo, my senagal parrot to Zubie's house. I'm a little worried about her. Parrots are very sensitive and this one has a "anxiety disorder!" She has never lived anywhere else. Cleo does whistle a tune that Zubie taught her, so I hope she will feel some comfort in the familiar. I called AT Survivor Dave's trail shuttle yesterday. He was going to play golf on Monday, the day I was getting to Atlanta! Joked with me about not giving him a two week notice and asked me what type of fuel I would need for my stove. He has a great sense of humor, very upbeat. Dave tried to hike the trail at one time and got many miles into it before he developed a stress fracture that derailed his hike. He supplies all types of fuel, makes stops at an outfitter if needed and will mail my duffel back home to Zubie. I decided to eliminate the approach trail, Zubie's advice, and head directly to Forest Service Road 42, which is only a .9 hike to Springer. Dave hikes that .9 with you and takes a photo of you at the top of Springer for his website then sends a digital copy to you. In the morning, I will have to do a short back track, to the first white blaze and "B" on my way.I keep asking my friend Laurie "Peeps", to pinch me. It has not sunk in yet that I am actually going. Beloved "A" is trying to find a way to meet me soon. He says once he does, he may not go back to work!To "B" continued...
Date: 2009-04-03
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

April 4-- Ahhh, the cabin was so nice. Shower, bed and laundry. The 4 of us, Sparky, Jared and Brett shared 4 pizza's and ice cream!! Hiker hunger after only 4 days! The Outfitter at Neels Gap was filled with every hiker I had seen from the last 2 days and every piece of cool hiker gear you could ever want. They do "shake down's of your pack if you ask them to. Every piece of your pack is laid out on the floor and you are told what to mail home, what gear to replace, how to lighten your pack. They also mail your stuff home for you. The place makes a fortune! Hikers talk about gear endlessly on the trail. At least in the beginning. Ok, here is a little history about the mountain range I just hiked through. The Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia was created by Congress in 1936. At that time, much of the forest had been laid bare from timber harvesting. I got a creepy feeling hiking through Slaughter Gap and over Blood Mt. Warm and fuzzy names...According to tales of the Creek and Cherokee, a battle between the two nations left so many dead and wounded that the ground ran red with blood. But what a beautiful mountain it is.We found out tonight that there is a ban on camping up to 6 miles past Neels Gap due to bear activity. They are stealing food. Tomorrows hike will be about 10 miles. Coffee and muffins at the outfitter in the morning before we leave!
Date: 2009-04-04
From: At Low Gap Shelter

To: At Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

What a wonderful day! Sunny and in the 70's. Finally! We had our coffee and huge blue berry muffins at Neels and off we went.I set a Zubie pace, learned from years of hiking with my wonderful daughter. It can also be called scooting up the trail. Quite a crew at this point. Bark and Berry, Good View and Mike, Jed, Sparky, Gyspy, Retired Marine and Nurse, Flat Lander, Otter and so many more. We took our time, resting on large flat rocks and relaxing. At Hog Pen Gap we had our first trail magic. Smurf the World Traveling Redneck and his wife Barb and dad set out a spread of hot dogs, hambergers, garnishesn drinks, chairs, Twinkies. Yes, Ultrawellness gang, our favorite! Twinkies! I heartly chowed down. Photo proof to follow.Low Gap Shelter should be called Fly Gap Shelter. Another reason I don't like to stay in shelters...we had a wonderful fire and now tucked into tent city listening to a lone owl hooting loudly. Conversation tonight was mostly about the upcoming freezing weather and snow. Options were endlessly discussed for shelter, mileage, staying warm and maybe even getting off the trail. To "B" continued...
Date: 2009-04-05
From: At Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap. Ga.
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

When we packed up at Low Gap we had already decided to head into Helen, Ga from Unicoi Gap. The weather report was calling for freezing temps, high winds and snow.Jed, Sparky and myself were almost the last to leave Low.Paul and Kathie said they would share rooms with us. The day was LONG, HOT and tiring. Not too many big climbs but clouds of biting black flies followed us. When we sat down to eat we were covered with them. At Unicoi Gap,Paul and Kathie were no where to be found and Sparky met up with friends to travel on. Jed and I were reading the hiking board and there was a note on cardboard stuck up there with red tape! "B"-we are at the Hiawassee Inn! Call the shuttle!Ron the owner of the Inn is great! He has it all planned out for hikers.He shuttled us to the steak buffet, did our laundry and even had loner clothing for us to wear.I hit the buffet in lime green crocs, a extra large yellow shirt and green shorts-topped with my rain pants! Lovely. Planning a slack pack for tomorrow with some of the gang. To "B" continued...
Date: 2009-04-06
From: Unicoi Gap. Ga.

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Soooo many hikers came off the trail to avoid the weather. The Hiawasse Inn was loaded,everyone doubling up in rooms.Jed, Paul, Flatlander, Otter, Singing Blisters and myself decided to do a slack pack on Monday (hike with a light pack and get picked up at the end of a section) from Unicoi to Dicks Gap. We had a great contental breakfast at the Inn and Ron drove us to the trail head.Temp was 30 degrees and the wind was howling. Very long hill out of Unicoi. As we hiked higher it got colder. Wind chill brought the temp down even more. Stopping for only short periods at a time to snack. We did not want to take our gloves off to eat!It started to snow and hail!! The wind was driving this mix horizontially from the left stinging my face. I had my Mountain Hardware Compressor over my gortex rain coat with the hood tied tightly. It was a yeahaaa!!!! moment! I found Singing Blisters standing in the wind on top of Kelly Nob looking at snow flakes on his gloves. He had come to the U.S. from Israel just to hike the AT and had never been in falling snow!! Jed, who was a Park Service Ranger in his last job, pointed out the dead Queen Anne Lace flowers lining the trail. Soon to be budding in the spring, last years dead flowers were covered with a magical dusting of snow. You could see perfect flakes nesting in spider webs. Without heavy packs the miles flew by!Dinner was Mexican tonight. Boy, can we thru hikers eat!   There we caught up on trail news with Scarecrow and his gang from Boulder, Co. They told us this great story. One of the women in this group was having boot problems and Alan, from the outfitters at Neels Gap told her to call him if the problems continued. She did, and he came all the way to Hiawassee with 10 pairs of boots for her to try! This is such an amazing, caring community of people.In honor of the prdicted blizzard/freezing conditions w will all take a zero day (no miles) on Tuesday.For those of you who have signed my guest book, thank you!! It means a lot to hear your words of encouragement.If you get a chance, please go to Paul Travers, my trail buddy's web site and check out his trail journal www.paultravers.com. He is hiking in memory of his dad to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association.To "B" continued...
Date: 2009-04-07
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.07
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey Peeps! At 1:13pm today your lime green croc's crossed from Georgia into North Carolina! I heard Jed (now Jedi) give a howl a ways in front of me and when I reached him he was standing at a tree that had the state line marker on it. He has the photo of me crying.I could not believe how emotional I felt. Flatlander showed up shortly after that and we had a photo frenzy. What a beautiful day for this occasion. Brisk temps, blue sky and snow in the higher elevations. Some steep climbs with views. Our group is still basically together and meeting more people daily. We had a fire tonight and it is very cold out here.The guys at Neels asked me what temp my sleeping bag was rated for. It's a 15 degree bag. They said that is the survival rating and not a true warmth rating. I never knew that! Humm.. Well, I did purchase a second bag liner when I heard that.I opted to pass on the $500 Western Mountain 0 bag they suggested.   Hey Draggin, thanks for your advice abput the meals and anything else you can think of. I am known as quite the cook out here. Everyone checks out my gormet meals! I also cook breakfast every day and started a new hot spiced apple cider craze!! 13 more states to go!To "B" continued...
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Another beautiful day with new nightime entertainment. Some guy lost his 3 bear hunting dogs and two of them ended up in camp. These dogs are trained to run down bears until the bear tires and climbs a tree Then, the hunter gets the bear. They are equipted with transmitters around their necks. Must have been hard on the hunt to loose their master.One of the Army guys on vacation and camping in the shelter called the number on the dogs collar. The owner answered and said, "dang! Those dogs are 13 miles away! I ain't coming for them tonight!" Soooo... Barking and running and bumping into tents ensued. Someone finally got the dogs to lie down. I guess we don't have to worry about bears tonight though we all still hung our food!!Morning brought the smell of ozone and we packed up just in time for it to start pouring with thunder and lighting. We high tailed it to the shelter and sat in our sleeping bags, one of the dogs keeping my feet warm. Jesse Girl listened to her weather radio and the outlook was bleak. Thunder, rain and hail predicted for later in the day. There was a clearing at noon and a few of us left the nest for the next shelter.To "B" continued...
Date: 2009-04-10
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: light rain

Us birds left the Carter Gap nest one at a time. Walked in the rain and fog. It was like walking into nowhere. You could tell there was a steep drop to the right but the Nantahala (Cherokee for "land of the noonday sun") National Forest did not offer sun or views. One very step climb to the "non" observation tower We got to the shelter and it started to pour. Then big hail, lighting and high winds. It was crazy wild weather. Jesse Girl's weather radio called for tornado warnings. I have to say, I was scared. Good thing there are others here. Tonight, I sleep in the shelter. There are 6 of us. Young Scott is here, (18 years old) he lives in Hillsdale, NY. Another neighbor! He slept at the foot of all of us. There was no room in the main part of the shelter. He is hiking with 3/4 who dripped all over my sleeping bag last night. I had to remind her that muddy boots and dripping rain gear in the shelter were a problem around clean dry bedding. Ohhhh...It's only 7:50pm and we are all tucked in already. Round 3 of rain and hail starting up