morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-08
From: East B Hill - Andover

To: First Shelter Past East B Hill
Miles today: 0.0

I decided to get out and hike today. It was rough getting the motivation to do so, as I have really had a lot of anxiety about hiking by myself. It just hasn't been a favorable experience for me, and I can't seem to get back the momentum I once had before I went home. I am thinking more and more, every single day, of just throwing in the towel, because I can't seem to have a good day. It's just not possible right now. The reason I came back out after my brother's death was to get back to "normal," and to try to move on and forward. Well, it's not normal. I was hiking with a good group of people before; now I'm hiking alone. I can't handle being alone right now, and can't expect or anticipate anyone being at the next shelter or the next campsite that I go to, just because it's not a guarantee. I thought that this time alone would be good for me, but it's just not. It's tearing me up. I don't want to be out here, hiking this trail that I formerly enjoyed, while feeling this way. I may just head down to South Arm tomorrow and head back into a town to figure out my departure. I don't think it's in me anymore, and it's certainly not healthy for me to be struggling like this every day.I guess we'll see in the next few days.
Date: 2004-08-09
From: First Shelter Past East B Hill

To: Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Well, I got out of the shelter this morning and continued north. The weather was nice, and the terrain not so bad, but I still had a nagging feeling about continuing north. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. So, I stopped at South Arm Road and took a break about noon. Eventually, I decided to head down into Gorham, and think things over for a bit. At this point, I don't know if I have the heart to keep going, but I do know that I don't want to walk through Maine anymore until I have the rest of the trail miles under my belt. It seems a little like eating your ice cream halfway through your dinner. That's just my opinion, though.So, I may take one more stab at this adventure, to see if I'm still up to it. I may go ahead and try to conquer the Whites tomorrow, or maybe even just head down to Massachusetts and start coming north again. I have a friend from last year, Magic Rat, who is headed up to Vermont this weekend, so I may just hang here in town and make it over to Vermont to spend some time with him. Who knows at this point! Every day just seems to be more and more of a rollercoaster, emotionally, so it's really becoming difficult to call the shots. I am hoping that all of this will calm down a bit in the weeks to come, but am also hoping that my patience and perseverence hold out long enough to see it through.   In any case, I'm really taking this whole "hike your own hike" mantra to the extreme.
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Gorham

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Just a quick note:My spirits are better than they have been within the past couple of days. I have finally gotten an appetite back, and have had a couple of decent days and nights out hiking. The current plan is to head out into the White Mountains Saturday, and possibly attack the rest of Maine afterward. A lot depends on the time frame; I would of course like to get more of the trail completed before I decide to summit, so I'm floating a few options around in my head. If I could hammer out at least Vermont, that would be great, but it would also mean kicking up the mileage. We'll see what we can do. Thanks to everyone for everything that has been done to help me along the way!
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Stratton, VT

To: nowhere
Miles today: 0.0

Confused, much?Ya, me too. I began the day of the 14th with a declaration that I was getting out of Gorham, once and for all. If that meant walking out into the Whites, then that's what it meant. So, I packed up all my extra food and belongings, and mailed them off to the next place I planned on stopping (Glenclif, NH). This was, of course, before I had my wits about me, and my first cup of coffee. I should know by now not to make any decisions that early in the morning. Seriously...why do I even bother with decisions at all these days?Anyway, as I start getting ready and start packing up to go somewhere, anywhere, I start hearing rumors about how the remnants of hurricane Charlie are moving up here, and that people are being urged to stay out of the Whites. Okay, whatever, UNCLE, I give....I'm tired of jerking myself around up here. I'm going to Vermont. So, I call up my buddy, Magic Rat, to pinpoint exactly where he's at in Vermont, and then I'm off. The first couple gets me over the state border, within extreme proximity to the Phish show. So close that almost everyone that pulls over tells me that I'm going the wrong way, because the show's north on 91, not south. Unfortunately, none of these people had an extra ticket, so I continue on South. A few rides later, and a few instances of being dropped off in the middle of nowhere and miraculously getting rides from the only car to pass in an hour or two, I make it over to my destination, and settle in for the night.So, really long story short, I've taken the time out that I need, and will be jumping back on the trail tomorrow, in Mass. I'm feeling a lot better about hiking now, especially after hearing and seeing that some familiar people are in the same area. It also helps to actually continue where I left off last year, on the trail, instead of jumping around like a maniac.   Let's see how it goes...
Date: 2004-08-17
From: Vermont

To: Dalton, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Today, I moved on down to Dalton, to just make an effort to cover the mileage I missed last year. Magic Rat took me down to Rob's in Dalton on his way back to NJ on a nice, beautiful day. Unfortunately, halfway through the trip, I realized that I had left my data book behind. We stopped at a few different outfitters, but none of them had the book I needed. Oh well...When we arrived at Rob's, I came upon a few familiar faces. Dig Dug was standing in the kitchen, and BackDraft soon appeared, out of nowhere, as well! I didn't think I was going to see these guys again, and my spirits were, once again, temporarily lifted. I also got to visit with Rob again, who helped me out last year as well, and quite a few other northbounders - - the house was packed. Once in Dalton, I started mapping out and copying down mileage as a tentative schedule. I am hoping that I will get the motivation back to continue, but I am beginning to wonder if I ever will. Each day seems to make this full circle of emotion; from the excitement of a new day (ironically enough at the end of the day) to the ambivalence to hiking the next morning. We can only guess...Anyway, I'm getting a ride back to Rt. 7 to start off where I left off last year, and will hopefully be able to enjoy it!
Date: 2004-10-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Not this year.I decided to head home from Dalton, Mass, after spending a few more days in various towns in the area. It was a hard thing to do, because I honestly did not want to come home, but knew my heart was no longer into hiking this season. I set out this year to do the thru-hike I did not accomplish last year. To walk all the miles, enjoy myself, accomplish my goal that was already a couple of years in the making, but knew this wasn't happening. I had already skipped miles I'd walked last year, and now felt that I was cheating myself --- and in light of everything else, I honestly didn't know what I was doing back out here. Of course, the literal reason was that I had a round trip ticket back out to the trail, and felt out of place at home --- to which the trail offers a certain refuge for, albeit very temporary. In the end, you just have to deal with what gets thrown at you, sooner or later. You can run and hide all you want, but life always catches up --- the good, the bad; all of it. In the meantime, I've been looking for a job that will either give me a little sustenance while I prepare to jump back into school, or maybe prepare me for my next trip. There is a certain stigma in my mind thinking 'what will happen next time,' but I guess the answer to that would be the same thing that would still happen if I chose to just move on and forget about my goal to eventually thru-hike this bitch. Besides, if I knew that, I'd forget about the trail and just open up my own pyschic network. Or join the circus. One of the two. For those still out there, good luck and keep on truckin.' For those who have completed their trip, congratulations --- and for those like me, that still just can't seem to get it right, don't worry --- it's not going anywhere.
Date: 2003-01-31
To: More bounce boxes and Visas
Miles today: 0.0

A little more planning and logistics...After mentioning bounce boxes I got an email with a nice tidbit of info.. What if you get to a trail town on the thursday and its a public holiday on friday? or you get there Saturday and its a holiday on Monday? Thats four days to kill to get the box..There is plenty of arguments for and against.I'm also in the position where the gear I start with, I finish with. There is none of this starting with a winter sleeping bag and sending the summer one on, swapping later.. Its start with winter bag, use winter bag in summer and finish with the winter bag...My gear will have to last, and last the entire trip...My other planning has been about Visas.. For aussies, we get an automatic 3 month entry, without paperwork... Well I cant thru-hike the AT in three months... But you can get a visa entry that has a maximum of 6 months... That would mean I would need a leeway of about 1 week at the begining and hopefully a week or two at the end, so I am looking at having a timeframe of 5 months to complete the walk.. Five months sounds, very short and rushed, but I have resolved to myself to do as much as I get done in that time period, without rushing through and seeing nothing. If I get it done, sweet, if not, well.. thats that.If I could get a 7 month visa, I'd be laughing!! ooh well. I need to do some prep work on my Pennine Way walk coming up later in the year, which I'm also really looking forward to doing!
Date: 2003-04-14
To: Parents Reaction
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I've just got back from driving my parents around England on a holiday.. During that time I told them about my hike...At first, my mums reaction was all about what I would do for money and my job, etc then turned to what I would be taking clothing wise for 6 months. When I outlined my minimal list, wow.. I got the usual questions, about safety, other people on the trail, etc.I kinda embellished a bit, saying it was 6 months in the wilderness without showers.. and that opened a whole can of worms and boy did I get a reaction to that statement!Overall it went quite well. Then I said, after my hike, I might go down to South America and hike the Inca trail or go to Tibet and hike around... Which brought on the 'When will you settle down' type questions...All in all, it went over well
Date: 2003-07-28
To: Tentative Gear Lists...
Miles today: 0.0

Looks like I will be doing the start of the Appalachian Trail with Joy (Happy Hippie Hiker Chic). Nice to know there will be someone there to laugh at me when I twist me ankle putting my pack on, in the carpark at the bottom of the aproach trail, long before the hike even starts!!My base gear list is just over 10 pounds (pack/tent/sleeping bag). My goal weight is < 25 pounds (hopefully 20) fully stocked. Since what you wear doesnt count to final weight, its just whats inside/attached to your pack. (food, gear, clothes). I'm less worried about pack weight (tent/pack/sleeping bag) than food weight!good food == heavy... Most of my clothes will be worn, with little spare (saves weight)... so I aim to get with food and everything closer to 20-25pounds. Food + Water will be the big killer I think. my brasslite stove weighs nothing.. my ti kettle weighs nothing... lexan spoon weighs nothing (I'd like to see Neo bend a lexan spoon!)mmm tentative (ie: 95% chance this is it) clothing list;- 1 kilt- 1 pair gaiters- 1 wicking shirt (my cycling jersey, no rear pocket or that. great for wicking sweat)- 1 wicking tights (my cycling nike dryfit tights)- 1 convertable zipoff hiking trousers- 1 longsleeve wind shirt- 2 pair hiking socks- couple of bandanas- 1 rain shell- 1 fleece top- 1 beanie- 1 neck warmer- 1 pair gloves(ive reused some stuff i already had to save cash, eg: my the shirt + tights I use for mountainbiking. these things are no different to any other wicking tops/bottoms you can buy so...)may or may not take the longjohns (woolen, very light).covers my base/mid/outer layer. underwear is a waste tho. its all commando! (esp with the kilt!)the kilt+gaiters may remove the need for my convertable zipoff dacks.(its just one less thing to carry/wash/pack and keep track off)it will be interesting to see how far I can wear something into the ground before replacing it due to whiffage or ground in dirt even a hydrochlauric washing machine demon cant budge with a sand blaster on acid.I'm debating the gloves/neck warmer/beanie.. but since I am starting off 29th feb (approach trail), there might be some cold weather early on... mmm.. 50/50.. keep em or toss em... could always wear second pair of socks for gloves (not that theyd actually do much)...
Date: 2003-11-14
To: American Visas!
Miles today: 0.0

So i went down for my visa today... Got there at 8:30am... queued up for 45minutes just to go through security to get into the embassy... Got to the front of the line, and the guy checking info sees I have UK and Australian passports and puts on some fake accent that made him sound like a south african with a dodgy afrikaans voice. I just smiled at the bloke...Once inside, and security checked, I queued up in a line for another 45minutes to get a NUMBER to have my visa interview. So I hand all my documentation over to the woman (everyone who works in the embassy is american), and am given a ticket...So I sit down in the room. Its strange. Like Dr Who's tardis. Its full of everyone waiting. Few empty chairs.. About once every 15 minutes someone goes up to a window, so the churn rate is really really low. But the queue of people coming in is constant, yet nobody was leaving. I couldnt work out where they were all hiding...So anyway, after waiting for about 1hr and a half, I get called to the window. OK! Here it goes, Im thinking about my spiel, my story, etc. Ive got my battle plan all sorted...Problem was, she didnt want to know! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!So she looks at the mileage chart joy did (I printed it out! hehe)...her: "You have dual citizenship? Australian and UK?"me: "Yep" {cuts me off}her: "Your walking the Appalachian Trail"me: "Yes, -" {cuts me off}her: "Going Northward"me: "Yes -" {cuts me off again}her: "Walking?"me: "Yeah I'm -" {cuts me off}her: "Walking?"me: "Yes, hiking."Her: "ok."It took all of about 10 seconds."We will post your visa in the mail"whooooooooooooooooooo!! I'm going to merka!!!
Date: 2003-12-01
To: Budgets
Miles today: 0.0

well.. Ive worked out my budgets! (I have an elaborate spreadsheet, conditional formatting etc). At first i was very worried, it was very grim reading.. but Ive worked it so it now balances just fine!(It takes into acount a range of 10 USD/GBP exchange rates and 10 GBP/AUD rates)..but... well its a big but (ahem!)... I had to factor lots of things in. My original budget only covered 6 months of car payments, but then I realised, I need to cover them for when I return to the UK, and take into account I wont have a job immediatly opon returning etc.. ack!So some refactorisation was in order. Reduction of monthly expenditures, etc. Thankfully I already own all my gear and have no major purchases. Plane tickets were factored in ages ago so thats already taken care of. I should be in a good position to have a budget of 2500USD for my hike. Since I dont plan on staying in every town I go through, my expenses should be only food, maybe a gear breakage or two. Some town stopovers will be a nescesity, so thats ok. I have enough GBP behind me for when I finish the hike, that an unexpected town stay should be ok...... and since I dont drink or smoke, there is none of that to worry my expenses.I should be able to afford to eat when I return to the UK.If the pound looses to the dollar (if it drops < 1.6) I am well screwed! But you get into the predicament of, do you transfer a large chunk at a set rate, or leave it dynamic and hope that 2 months into the hike that britain does not hit a majour recession and sterling v dollar drops to 1.1 or something...So much at risk, so much is left to the vagaries of the world market.Also my last pay cheque arrives the day I start the trail... So... should there be any inconcistency in my pay.. I am well beyond screwed and into haemoraghing status.
Date: 2002-12-14
To: In the begining there was only darkness
Miles today: 0.0

Prehike entry #1...The idea of doing the AT has been percolating for a long time in my mind... The original plan was to thru-hike in 2003, but my parents decided to surprise me and come and visit me in London in April of 2003, so I get to show them around England and do tourist stuff.That meant postponing it for another year. Disappointed sure but the trail isnt going anywhere (besides another year of erosion).In some ways I'm glad, as it gives me more time to prepare, not that I will be doing much preparation :)It also gives me more time to enable me to go and do the Pennine Way, which is 256 miles of rugged English scrambling from England up to just over the Scottish Border. 256 miles of remote wilderness, bogs, mountains and peat.
Date: 2002-12-15
To: Decisions Decisions...
Miles today: 0.0

My current place of abode is London, England. I live in a very very small room as a 'share' in an apartment. All my possesions are in one room, which helps to keep things limited, but still, I'm a packrat, and I've accumulated stuff.Part of my planning for my AT2004, is the core of my most fundamental question.Q) To do my hike, do I send all my gear back home to my folks in Australia or put it into storage in London?A) I've still no idea... AAAaaaargh!Ok, the qustion I still need to answer is wether or not I want to come back to London after the hike and work again, or return to Australia and settle back down in my hearts _home_...I think this is going to be one of those answers I change constantly, swinging from one to the other and only making my mind up right at the end.. or possible right in the middle of the hike!Hmm well looking around my little den of iniquity, I dont have much really. A small stereo, and cases and cases of books and a bunch of cd/dvds...The rest is the all important hiking GEAR!decisions decisions...
Date: 2002-12-15
To: Bounce boxes, Australiana, yet more planning
Miles today: 0.0

I spent today doing some planning, thinking about climate and weather. Also came up with a preliminary list for my bounce box.Mail drops and bounce boxes are going to be fun. I have no relations in america, so asking an unknown stranger to mail things to random destinations is a bit of a stretch. I'm sure there are kind folks who would be willing to help, but I just feel funny about it..One other thing I realised today, I'll have to hike carrying my all important stuff! I'll have to carry my passports (australian + british), plane tickets, etc all with me for the duration of the hike!Important contents of bounce box.Mega large jar of vegemite that I can spoon into small container as I need it.(The importance of this cannot be underscored highly enough. No aussie travels without vegemite!).Silk liner will probably stay with me at the start for the cold weather and be added in later.My civillian gear(I dont want to have to get on a plance wearing my hiking gear, land in LA, and get a transit flight to Atlanta, bus it out and start my hike all in the same gear.. I'll also need it to fly home with, something withouth that tangy hiker-stench!)Multivitamin tablets and other tabsFor restocking purposes, etcAll the other renewable cruft that goes into a bounce box(extra duct tape, international cheap phone cards, pre addressed postcards, etc)I've also got my one frivolous item I've allowed myself on the hike.. My boxing kangaroo flag. Its been to Turkey for Anzac day (2002), and it will be coming with me for my AT2004! Its image invokes several strong + uplifting memories for me.
Date: 2004-01-25
To: London Pre Kickoff Drink Fest
Miles today: 0.0

"London calling to the underworldCome out of the cupboard, you boys and girls"But it wasnt the Clash calling us out, It was the First Annual London prehike booze up!And, it was bloody awesome too. We did encounter one hitch, nobody knew what anyone else looked like (kinda important when your meeting people you dont know!) At any rate, I was approached by a strange fella.. which turned out to be Rick! Later, Ross and Renee showed up, then Trey and Hannah.. Soon the pints were flowing and no subject was taboo.. Renee had lots of advice and some great photos, which we all oohd and aaahed over.Lots of conversation. Three different pubs. Lots of pints and vodka mixes, it was decided to call it a night around 2am, So a quick night bus down to oxford street and everyone went their own way. Got home bout 3:30am and crashed out with a vodka buzz.Good luck to Rick for his VISA interview on Tuesday!I think we all have wildly different start dates and I doubt I'll run into any of the others on the trail unless we all hit traildays or something, but it was well worth it to meet everyone and have a natter and a laugh!
Date: 2004-01-31
To: Why is a crooked letter....
Miles today: 0.0

Everyone has their own reason for attempting a thru-hike.I am not doing this because I am looking for something. I am not doing this to find myself, or anything else.I am not doing this for god or anybody else. (yay atheism!)I am not having a midlife crisis and am using this as an excuse to hide from the world for 6 months.I am not running away from any responsibilities.I am not doing thise because I have nothing better to do.I expect to get sick.I expect I'll get lyme disease.I expect I'll eat some dodgy food and get the runs.I expect I'll get several colds/flu.I expect to be cold.I expect to be hungry.I expect to get blisters on the first day.I expect that any amount of gear I carry will be too heavy.I expect to make friends amongst my fellow hikers.I expect I'll forget everyones name unless constantly reminded.I expect everyone at home will worry.If I whinge and moan, you have the right to smack me upside the head.I like being in the outdoors. I like hiking. What better than a LONG hike?This is the first of many long distance hiking I plan to do. From India thru into Tibet to Everest Basecamp? Yukon, Alaska, South America, the Incan trail, chile, patagonia, argentina, central america. China. So many places to hike!
Date: 2004-02-02
To: Cancelled Flights...
Miles today: 0.0

Im so excited.. woooh.. times fast approaching.. Dunno how far I will get if my flights get cancelled tho... I'm flying frmo Heathrow to Washington DC.British Airways cancelled 3 flights to Washington DC today on orders of US Intelligence... In January it cancelled several flights to Washington DC.. Then at the end of January it cancells 2 more to DC and on Feb 1st and 2nd it cancelled 2 more.. So the odds are pretty damn good that they will cancel my flight out, but who knows... if they do, there isnt much I can do either.If it is cancelled they _might_ stick me on a re-routed flight at a later date, so I could end up in Portland Oregon or Seattle on the wrong side of the country a week later.. I might get a partial refund. wont that be a nice gift!Will see how my luck runs.