morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-29
To: Two things make for an enjoyable hike.
Miles today: 0.0

All my planning up to about a month ago was for a NOBO hike. But as the date drew closer, I realized I was setting myself up for possible failure. That's when I took into consideration two pieces of advice I see time and time again to prospective thru-hikers. One, a thru-hike should be the single most important thing in your life. With worrying about school in the fall, I was preoccupied waiting on some answers. Two, plan out your hike but be ready to make changes as you see fit.With these things in mind, and now that I have the answers about school, I was looking for, I have postponed my hike till June, 2005 and changed to SOBO. At first I was a little disappointed but now I'm more excited than ever. I've been out section hiking the last few weekends and have met some great people. Some on their NOBO, some section hikers. It's been a little hard, not being out there now with them, but I'll see them again as we pass each other in New England somewhere this summer. As far as my gear goes, I am happy with everything but my tent and am currently looking at switching to a hammock for most of the trip. The tent, no matter what I seem to do to it, leaks. This weekend, if I can find a ride, I hope to hike from Hot Springs, NC back to Erwin. This will be my most mileage on a section hike so far. But with a 3 1/2- 4 day weekend should be doable. I'll post some pics and update after the weekend. Till then...
Date: 2005-04-22
To: house
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Over the last few weeks of reading the journals and hiking myself on the weekend, I have been chomping at the bit to get out there and thru-hike. All the great people I have met and had lengthy discussions with, or even brief passings. They all have been, and will continue to be over the next few weeks, as the thru-hikers make their way through the Erwin area, great sources of inspiration and envy. Inspiration because after talking to them, I know that I have the mindset of the ones that have made it this far. Trying to not be over-bearing about equipment, I have picked up some tips to lower my pack weight and increase my comfort; all of which are priceless!Envy is for those that get to hike this year. 2005 was supposed to be my year. I have spent countless hours researching equipment, investigating the rigors and determining if I had what it takes to thru-hike the A.T. "Scarecrow" even proposed the "elitest" status of hiking SOBO, which set me to thinking of a SOBO hike. In a way, this year's hike is over before it begins for me. Between a situation with school and a little health problem my Doctor pointed out to me, I have to cancel my thru-hike of `05. However, after I get this all behind me, `06 is my year! I have set my start date for 03/11/06. I hope to see as many of you as I can in `05 as I section around Erwin, TN. I wish all of you luck in 2005, I hope you find many blue skies to hike under and dry, mouse free shelters to carry you to slumber. I do hope that at least some of you take my advice and hike some of the side trails in SNP/VA, they are well worth it and a thru-hike "should" be incomplete w/o them. But I know all of you will hike your own hike and experience all the eastern woods have to offer. Then again, you will all envy me when I'm on my `06 hike! When spring starts, to roll around, you'll all here the familiar call......
Date: 2005-04-24
To: La casa
Miles today: 0.0

Snow in April. Not the usual fair for this month. Despite the naysayers, I opted out of hiking this weekend. Oh the joys of being a weekend warrior. Despite the RADAR, we actually ended up with quite abit o' snow for April. Luckily, I had talked a thru-hiker 2 weekends ago out of sending the winter gear home till after Grayson Highlands. It seemed silly in 70 degree weather but I guess I knew what I was talking about. I snapped some in-town pics of the snow and am finally getting to the end of my disposable's roll. So, hopefully the pics I been promising will be short in coming now. This coming weekend I'll be hiking again from Sam's Gap to the Nolichucky Gorge. Wonderful hike, I just have to get over the fact that the thru-hikers are up to doing more mileage than I am. I know it's not a competition, I just have to get over making excuses as to why my fat a@# isn't going 20 miles a day.It's only hard to admit when I think about the fact that I'm supposed to be out there now, on my thru-hike. I'm chomping at the bit to be out there and it kills me not to be. But, I know I'll be there next year. So it's not so bad. Till next weekend.......
Date: 2005-05-20
To: A little Song I Wrote
Miles today: 0.0

I was sitting at work tonight bored out of my mind and started thinking about the trail. I always gt songs in my head, but tonight, Jimmy Buffett's "A Pirate Looks At 40" would not leave me. After a few rounds, I started changing the words to better fit my situation. Enjoy!Appalachian tra-ilfinally heed the callthrough 14 states and all their bordersI will walk it allfrom spring into-o fallfrom spring into-o fall From Springer I will walknorth unto the Springall the cool days and cooler nights`till easter bells do ringhear the birds singhear the birds sing Planning out this walkhas tak-en its tollnow my friends run away each time I saydo I really need a bowlgotta make my goalgotta make my goal Now all my gear's been boughthave read each book twicejust watch out for rattlesnakes andbe-ware the shelter micethey'll steal your ricethey'll steal your rice Glance at the calendar still over two monthsIn eighty-six days, I think I'll go nutsbut to the trail gods I pray`till they take me awayget me through the approach trailand boots please don't failand boots please don't fail To Damascus by Maythough my heals may be rawhave one too many in tent city now I'm in Arkansas?need a shuttle to callneed a shuttle to call Katahdin's in MaineAugust that's where I'll beif they don't throw me in debtor's prisonover the AMC hut feework for stay pleasework for stay please.
Date: 2005-09-10
To: You're hiking the what?
Miles today: 0.0

Hey all! Just stopped in to catch up on some of the journals I've been following and realized it'd been a while since I put up an entry. I've been in CO for 1 1/2 months now. So far I've done sections one and two of the CO Trail. Nice trail as long as you don't mind montain bikers. I was talking with someone at work the other night and we got on the subject of hiking. Talked about previous experiences, etc.. and I brought up that I was doing a thru on the AT. next year. I guess I was naive to think EVERYONE knew about the AT but, alas, not everyone does. Fortunately for him (he,he,he),I just happened to have my Companion with me and showed him the map and explained it to him a little. BUT, I am homesick!!! I miss the green of the eastern mountains. Everything out here is mostly shades of brown. Even the greens seem to have a brown tint to them. To compensate I have been checking every book out of the libary that even remotely has anything at all to do with the Appalachian mountains. Currently, I've got this Thoreau vs. Hawthorne Celebrity Death Match thing going on in my head. It's a tag team match. Henry has Mother Nature on his side, Nate has God. Trust me, it's not a pretty sight. In the mean time, I keep remiding myself that it's less than 6 months to Springer!!!
Date: 2005-12-21
To: Atlanta bound...
Miles today: 0.0

Bought my ticket from Denver to Atlanta!!! Looks like I'll be starting a couple of days ahead of schedule. No sense hanging around ATL when there's mountains to climb! New start date looks to be 03/04/2006, barring blizzard conditions on Springer.School's over for the semester. Did good in my classes but now don't have to worry about them till next fall!!! Now I can concentrate more on being class of `06, A.T. NOBO.Just want to wish everyone a merry Christmas! and a great new year!
Date: 2005-12-29
To: Gettin' Anxious!
Miles today: 0.0

Wow! Only 66 more days, no wonder I¢m getting anxious. Seems like there¢s a million things left to do. But in reality, the only thing¢s I have are to get my first mail drops ready and pick up an extra memory card for the camera. Way too early to send out mail drops and I just haven¢t stopped off to get the card yet.         I keep going over my itinerary tweaking it and probably over-doing it. I haven¢t planned out every minute but just places I want to be by a certain time. I¢ve left it mostly flexible except for the first couple of mail drops but just as long as I¢m done in time for school next fall¢¦I almost feel guilty taking time off from school like this and actually considered taking a couple of online classes but then thought, ¢ do I really want to carry those books with me on the trail?¢ And of course, the whole idea of deadlines while hiking would detract from the experience.         Happy new year ya¢ll!
Date: 2006-01-01
To: Will hike for Peanuts
Miles today: 0.0

First, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year! For me, 2006 proves to be an exciting year with my thru-hike and all. Not sure if it's the holidays, or being away from family or who knows... but I've had memories from the past that I hadn't thought of in years popping up in my conciousness. Some of it may be from trying to put into words exactly why I'm hiking, and hiking this year in particular.The memories started basically enough. Remembering hiking with my family in the SNP on day hikes while car camping. How I was impatient and never paid attention to my surroundings, concentrating on the destination, and only then if it was something cool like a waterfall or a rock scramble. Otherwise, I would have been happier back at the campsite listening to the radio or going to the ranger program. Somehow, these led to memeories of my grandfather(I called him Popeye. No resemblence to the cartoon character, just my toddler translation of Papau and it stuck.).He died at a young age, for both of us. He was 47 and I was 6 or 7. I can never really remember us doing anything particular outdoors except for golf and visiting a friend of his that owned a peanut farm. When I'd go to the golf course with him, I would sit in the cart while he played. Just sitting there proved too much and I would inevitably put the cart in reverse before he got back in. He thought it was funny the first, say, 100 times I did it but after a while it did agitate him, even though he wouldn't get mad at me. And I loved going to the peanut farm. I got to eat raw peanuts and I thought this was the neatest thing. I think the link might be the peanuts. I still LOVE Virginia peanuts and can tell the difference. My mom always includes a big tin of VA peanuts in christmas packages and what-not. And I always have trailmix with me when I hike and try to use my VA supply whenever possible. So now when anyone asks me "what am I hiking the trail for?" I'm gonna just say "Peanuts." and smile while they look at me like I am nuts.
Date: 2006-01-30
To: Transcriber ....check!
Miles today: 0.0

Wow, a month to go! I am definitely excited! Still have a small case of the jjjitters but I've learned to live with them. Talked to Mom over the weekend and she agreed to be my transcriber. Yea! Mom! I just have to give her a quick "how-to" but she'll do great as long as she can read my handwriting. I decided against getting a Pocketmail. I just have an affinity for the handwritten word and know in years to come I'll enjoy reading through my journal more if it is written rather than typed. Giving my notice at work tommorrow. Hope they accept my early resignation(I'd be canned in a couple months anyway, layoffs) so I can get my severence. If they don't, oh well. And I scored a sweet deal on a storage unit here in the Denver area so all my stuff will be waiting for me when I get back! finally got a chance to set up my hammock over the weekend. Fairly easy but I don't see it only taking 3 minutes like the instructions say. Someone said I'm going to look like a big Tootsie Roll to the bears. Do bears eat Tootsie Rolls?Talked to Dad and he's planning on coming out and hiking with me when I get to Northern VA. That will be cool. Growing up we always talked of hiking SNP together but never got around to it. until next time....
Date: 2006-02-08
To: A Burning Tribute to Bob Marley
Miles today: 0.0

Well, Superbowl Sunday was an interesting day. After the Seattle Ospreys lost, a group of us were sitting and talking and that it was Bob Marleys birthday came up. Well someone suggested having a drink to toast in his honor and a flaming Bob Marley was decided upon. Not a bad drink(not an everyday drink either), Bacardi 151, grenedine and creme de menthe. Anyway, they layer so it looks like the Jamaican flag but then you light it and drink it.WELL, I went to drink mine and it flamed up so I sat it back down and the alcohol splashed out and onto the bar AND my left hand. Let me tell you now, never fan an alcohol flame if you want it to go out. Rather than grabbing the bar towel a few feet from me, my first instinct was to get it off, so I stared shaking my hand. It didn't work. finally someone threw the towel over my hand and it promptly extinguished. I didn't think anything more of it, didn't feel any pain in my hand, no redness, must be ok. Yeah right. When I wake up the next morning, I feel something on my ring finger. Upon inspection, I have several blisters on my hand but the one on my ring finger is about 1 1/2" long and a 1/4" wide and FULL.So now that I've determined I have 2nd degree burns and have popped the biggest blisters, I'm just trying to keep `em from getting infected. Not an easy task considering how much I have to work with my hands. But since I have 18 days left `till I start hiking, I should be ok, I'll go to the Dr. if it looks like it's getting bad and get some antibiotics. On another note, I'm not going to be able to bring my XM radio(MyFi portable) with me. When I got it in November, I became hooked. Those out there that have satellite raio no what I'm talking about- no commercials on the music channels, new music more often than on broadcast, bigger variety, and TONS of talk stations.Speaking of commercials I'm starting to sound like one. Anyway, the battery only lasts for about 4-5 hours in satellite mode and for about 9 hours in recorded mode. At $40 a piece, extra batteries were ruled out( it uses a dedicated battery) and I haven't been able to find a hiker friendly solar charger that will work in the long green tunnel. So, I'm just going to send it to Mom to use while I'm gone. She's been thinking about getting one so she can test drive mine for a few months.Guess I'll just go buy a cheap and light AM/FM one(with headphones) and bring that with me. I know, I don't need a radio on my hike but I want one, I listen to music practically 24/7. Call it a crutch if you want to, but I'll just call it a radio.
Date: 2006-02-10
To: Pre-hike conditioning, what's that? :)
Miles today: 0.0

Honest it was/is on my todo list. But with working 65-80 hours a week since thanksgiving, and other social obligations, just ain't had the time. I do ride my bike to and from work though every day, so that's something, right? So, I guess I'll just have to take it slow at first and build up. Confirmed reservations for HH for the 4th, so everything's falling into place. Except work. No severance pay unless I work till I get laid off. Oh well, it was only two weeks pay, no biggie. Still tying up loose ends and packing things up. It's always amazing how much crap one can aquire in a short period of time. I've only been in CO. for going on 7 months and everything I brought w/ me fit in 3 bags and 2 boxes I had mailed to me. Getting everything ready to go in storage, it's going to take a pickup truck to get it all. And then to think that I'll have everything I need to live for 6 months in a pack on my back.....One last thing, FINALLY a little snow here in Littleton, CO!! Hasn't been much this year so far. Being the meteorology student I am, I had to look up what the cause was. Sure enough, La Nina is up to her tricks again. Seems NOAA has confirmed a slight drop in temps in the Pacific Ocean. Uh oh, last time we had a La Nina cycle, there were hurricanes galore! The year was 1995 and we had 21 tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and 19 became named storms with 5 impacts on the US mainland. Looks like it could be another wet year for AT thrus! (dang! knew I was gonna need the mask and snorkle for something!)
Date: 2006-02-15
To: Snow. Snow, Snow....
Miles today: 0.0

Knew it couldn't hold out all winter. I just didn't expect the "storm of the century" to hit less than two weeks before I start walking to Maine. One report has Mt. LeConte at 41"! Now I'm glad I bought the gaitors! Postholing w/o them would probably be a cold and wet ordeal.Did a little research on the last La Nina cycle back in `95 and it seems that rainfall was not a big factor for hikers that year. No big deal if it is an issue this year, one thing is always for certain, weather happens. Finally got my wish for some winter temps here in Denver area. I've been hoping for them all winter in aneffort to climatize before hiking. Might even pull some snow out of it. And in case you haven't figured it out by now, I obsess about the weather. Guess that's why I'm going to school to study it. I did pick up a radio this weekend. Sony Walkman AM/FM/TV/WX band. Works pretty good so far and the battery supposedly lasts a long time. Tied up all(almost) the last minute gear issues, got another card for my camera and a reader that only weighs close to nothing and its compact, so no need for a bounce box so far. Do still need to get a liner for my hammock- to boost the insulation a bit. But my buddy Jeff said he knows where a cool surplus store is in town and we'll stop there when he helps me put everything in storage next week. Thanks Jeff! Carrying all that stuff on a mountain bike was gonna be a pain! One thing I have gathered over the last year or so that I have been planning this hike, is the sense of family that exists within the hiking community. We come from all different backgrounds and different stages in life. We even hike for our own reasons and in our own way. But through different events, message forums and here at Trailjournals, we all try to help one another. And that spills out onto the trails in the form of trail magic and great company. The one thing I have received from my hike without even beginning is my restored belief in human kindness. Now, let's all join hands and sing..... only kidding! 17 days, 5 hours and 58 minutes to Amicalola!!!!
Date: 2006-02-21
To: So into coast mode
Miles today: 0.0

Today's entry is dedicated to Fishin'Fred- thanks for the pre-trail magic!This is one of my favorite parts of a job. Those last few days, everyone knows you are leaving and you get to do pretty much what you want to. I'm so relaxed. The jitters of weeks passed are gone and I am so ready to do this! Tommorrow I mail my 1st mail drop so it'll be there before me. Then I'll drop the next couple in the mail on the way to the airport. I'm doing most of my resupply by buying as I go. This seems to be the best way for me as I don't have to tie myself to closing times for POs. I'm not all that picky an eater so I shouldn't have a problem and if I get tired of something in particular, I don't have to worry about it. I have added my maildrops from Springer to Harper's Ferry total of 7 or 8. Chosen mostly in regard to trail proximity to a grocery store. For instance, I really don't want to go 11 miles into Franklin, NC when there is a hostel only 1 1/2 miles from the trail. After all, I'm hiking to be in the woods, not towns. I'll add the ones for up north once I get a feel for it. Well, here in the Denver area, we had a C-O-L-D weekend, shattering temp. reocrds all over the place. Starting with Friday night, we got down to -4 with a windchill of -26. Saturday day only got to +7 and then Sat. night it was -13 with a windchill of -30. All that made today's high in the low 30s feel warm! Luckily, it doesn't look like the temps should be getting down that low at least the first week I'm out there. Maybe when I reach the Smokies but I'll worry about that when I get there.
Date: 2006-02-23
To: Ready to unplug.....
Miles today: 0.0

First, some of you may have noticed a subtle difference in my journal: I had to push my start date back a week. I won't go into details but it was totally financial. I am so disgusted right now with the state of things in this country. I am ready to go to the woods and unplug(okay, so I will have a radio but I'll try not to listen to current events). This seems like running away but I need to get perspective. I don't know how we got to where we are but I do know we can't continue along this path(foreign or domestic policy) and survive as the great Nation that we once were. I must confess my own guilt in allowing things to get to where they are, in that I have done very little other than right a letter to my congressman now and then. We all have to find our own way to make a difference if we care at all. Hopefully I'll find mine on the AT. Very tired mentally right now......
Date: 2006-02-26
To: The Tax Man Cometh....
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I finally did my taxes last night, figured I just didn't want to take `em out on the trail with me. Anyway, I'm one of those people that don't believe in loaning to the govt. interest free so I set my witholding very tight. I'd rather owe them a few bucks than anything. Long story short, hit it right on the money! And I must commend the IRS on their goal to simplify the forms- a lot easier, thanks guys. Colorado(tax forms) on the other hand, whew boy! I think H&R BLock and Jackson Hewitt got together and said, "Let's see how screwed up we can write these forms so they have to come to us!(evil laugh ensues)" Alas, I defied them! Took a bit of re-reading but I broke the code.As far as my hike goes, I'm just frustrated right now. Everything's packed, mail drops taken care of, only thing left to do really is get on the plane to ATL. To keep me occupied, I just go to work, keeps me outta trouble, mostly. The one cool thing about delaying a week is it seems there's gonna be some sort of send-off/ AT gathering at Amicalola this weekend. The downside is the seven day forecast is calling for rain. Was hoping to at least get a day or two of fair weather hiking in at the start, we'll see. After all, how often are us weather people ever right about a forcast? (LOL)Meanwhile, back here on the Front Range, we're in the midst of a warm front. Almost 70* today. Now, how am I supposed to get ready for the temps on the AT next week with weather like this? Guess the only thing to do is enjoy it while it lasts.Tune in next time for...."Not yet, it's still a little sensitive."