morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-05
From: Fontana Dam Vistors Center, NC

To: Hartford, TN
Miles today: 82.9

Today, I finished the Smokie Mountains. It often rains for many people, but the weather cooperated for me. We did have nasty thunderstorms 2 days, but they were early in the morning as we were still sleeping, so it just delayed the start to the day. It rained the aftenoon the day before I summitted Clingmans Dome (highest point on the AT). That just served to clear out all the haze and pollution the next day! That day was fabulous - you could see Mt Mitchell 100 miles away. Also could see back to many of the mountains that I had visited on the way - like Standing Indian & Albert.Much of the Smokies walks along the ridges, so you would get periodic long distance views. Often there was little room for the trail either left / right.Many people have bear encounters in the Smokies, in fact people walking ahead / behind me did....but alas I didn't. I did have a couple up close and personal encounters with deer. Today, a young buck, who's antlers were just starting to bud & I came face to face on the path about 20 feet away from each other. We chatted for 10 mins before he decided to go back to eating rhododendrons.The descent today was so pretty, the rhododendrons and other flowering shrubs were in bloom from 4500-2000 feet. The path was just corridors & tunnels of flowers.I certainly miss everyone, but I am slowly getting my hiking legs & endurance back. Next stop Hot Springs in 3 days.
Date: 2008-06-14
From: Hartford, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 93.0
Weather: light rain

The weather out here has been HOT & HUMID!!! It's been so hot & dry that a few of the springs have started to dry up. The worst day was when there was not water between where I was starting & going to finish 13 miles away. Trust me 3 liters of water on top of everything else is heavy. Thankfully, it started to rain just after I arrived in Erwin, so hopefully, that will recharge the springs.Hot Springs was a nice spot to stop. I stayed at a place Elmer's Sunnybank Inn that was a wonderful hiker hostel. Elmer also fixed the most incredible vegetarian dinner - a cold soup, huge salad, and some sort lasagna that included potatos. Most of the ingredients were fresh grown from the garden, or a near by farm they run.There have been some incredible views. One of the high points was Max Patch, a tall bald (grassy topped mountain). It was late afternoon and had just started to thunder. The bald was in the sun, but the scenery was in the darker shadows. Needless to say, I didn't stay at the summit very long!Didn't run into any bears at the two shelters that were having bear problems. Met some friends in Hot Springs that stayed on of the same shelters the next night, who did have an encounter with a very large bear!A lot of the trail is a long green tunnel, but occassionally you pop out to great views. Two highlights were one rock exposed ridge and the other was Big Bald which was covered with a lot of yellow flowers glowing in the sun.Interesting things I have encountered were 1. Trail magic of oatmeal cookies and water along the approach to Big Bald, 2. Wild goats that I ran into on the rockiest part of the ascent to Big Bald, 3. A cheap green plastic chair at a campsite at Whistling Gap. (Trust me one thing you start to miss out after long days of hiking are chairs with backs. It was so great to sit for 10 mins and eat a snack before hitting the trail again.) 4. I flushed a turkey from the underbrush about 5 feet away from me - nearly scared me to death as this butterball took flight. 5. I had been using my iPod while doing some of the longer ascents when hiking on my own. However, I may need to rethink that strategy, since later in two different spots, someone asked - did you see that big rattlesnake at such & such. Either God was watching over me & it had moved on...or....I will be heading towards Roan Mountain the next couple days. People say that it is one of the most beautiful mountains in the southern Appalachians. It's also known for the rhododendrons which are supposed to be blooming...Stay tuned for pics.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Erwin, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 121.3
Weather: clear sky

Today I entered Virginia! For the last month I had been bouncing back & forth between North Carolina & Tennessee. (The border follows some of the ridges, so some days I'ld cross the border several times.)This section went over Roan Mountain. This is an area that many think is one of the most spectacular on the AT. There used to be an old hotel, Cloudland that spanned the NC/TN border. It burned down, but many of the rhododendrons from that time remain. They were all in bloom! In fact 3 days later they were having their rhododendron festival.The trail then goes from Carter Gap over a series of balds (mountains not covered by trees). Several were covered by rhododendrons & flame azaleas all in bloom. It was spectacular! Those were the easiest hills to hike. They were also crawling with photographers. Whenever I started to get winded, I just looked for a photographer with a Nikon body and started talking photography. This is one area on this trip that I wish I have my DSLR with me.I also had a couple of animal encounters. One day, I was taking a rest break near a stream. I was sitting reading my map when I heard a branch break. I looked up to see a surprised black bear 20 yards away, turning & running away. A few days later while I was headed North, I spotted a snake coming South. I stepped off the trail a few feet to let it pass & take some pictures. As it got closer I realized that there were rattles on the nothern end of the snake. He passed in piece.The weather ranges from warm to hot. It always sees that the hottest, most humid days are those where there are water problems between shelters so you are carrying extra weight (water). The trail has turned into the long green tunnel, it's been at least 2 days without any sort of vista. Make for boring hiking.Being away from civilization helps you appreciate simple things like showers, clean clothes, and a good meal. I went 5 days without a cell phone signal, so couldn't talk with Amy. I did connect at long last & learned that the Celtics had clinched the championship! Yeah Celts.
Date: 2008-08-11
From: Kent, CT

To: Falls Village, CT
Miles today: 23.2

He's hiking again...As some of you know Thursday, Libby dropped me off in Kent, CT on her way to a wedding in Chicago. As she dropped me off it was thundering, but that storm quickly passed to the north. It was a nice seven mile hike up and over a ridge and then along the Housatonic River to the Stewart Hollow Shelter. There I met 4 SOBO's and 3 NOBO's (South Bound & North Bound) thru hikers. I was gld I was in the shelter, because that night it poured. The next day, I hiked another 10 miles, sat out another thunder storm in a mosquito ridden shelter and then hiked another 2 miles to Shanon Mtn to camp for the night. There were several showers overnight, but the tent stayed dry & the netting kept out the mosquitos. After breaking camp, I set out north. I stopped to enjoy the view of cars racing around the track at Lime Rock for a few minutes before continuing on. About a mile later, I twisted my ankle taking a nasty fall and spraining my ankle. Those who know me well know that I have sprained my ankles so often that they rarely swell, or cause me much pain. But this one did! I had to limp down a wet & slippery, steep hill stepping gingerly the whole way. After walking another mile along the flat fields bordering the Housatonic, I realized that this one was different & I was going to have to take some time off. So I called Amy to come pick me up. While I waited the 3+ hours for her to drive out to get me, I sought comfort under a tree outside the Mountainside Cafe. They were nice enough to give me two large zip lock bags full of ice for the ankle. As Amy arrived the last cubes were turning into water.Libby returns from Chicago later this week. She had hoped to hike with me for a week. My ankle is feeling better today, so I am hoping that we can return to the trail the end of this week.
Date: 2005-03-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Gosh & Be Golly (does that sound Irish or what)GOFirst of all THANK YOU to Lief and Zipdrive. What a tremendous service they provide to the likes of us.Second, this entry symbolizes the step from dream to preparation stage, which I guess makes it reality.This journal is for a number of reasons:   #1- That my family and friends can read up on my progress and through reading my thoughts, finally understand why in the world I want to do this.   #2- That I have an outlet, a place to organize my thoughts, a means of accountability to myself   #3- To perhaps converse with others making long term plans to hike in 2008, so that I might get to know some of them and perhaps meet them on the trail.      #4- To have a place to document "Lessons learned" while taking short trips in preparation for the real thing.    Final thought for the day. I so seldom read of women that have been sucessful in completing the entire trail. The first woman that I followed was Bluevist, which actually gave me the idea that even though I am not a youngster, I have a chance. Then Jellybean sucessfully finished the trail. I want to include in my journal thoughts the parts of planning and hiking that are unique to women and how I choose to deal with them. Then 3 1/2 years from now, we'll see if planning for those unique things proves me a success.So hang on, I'm on my way.zeke
Date: 2007-10-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I guess it¢s about time I introduce myself. I'll do it using my pocket-mail so I can get some practice. I'm 49 years old which means I will hit the big 50 while I'm on the trail. I have 4 children, ages 32, 30, 27 and 26. And life wouldn't be the same w/o my 5 grandchildren ages 10, 9, 8,and two 3 year olds.   I've loved the outdoors since I can remember. I was a Girl Scout for as long as one could be, attending summer camp 2 weeks per summer where I was introduced to backpacking. I was also able to participate in a Wider Opportunity in Wyoming, backpacking in the Big Horns.   I spent most of my adult years raising my family. We camped every summer with the family, but somehow I left my backpacking behind me...until our family visited the Porcupine Mts in upper Michigan...and I haven't been the same since.   I found out about the AT while searching on the Interweb. I had at first thought that I wanted to hike the PCT, but I fell in love with the AT as soon as I heard of it. I found Trailjournal.com and I started following hikers. I thought that I could fulfill my need by reading of their adventures and I just had to start planning.   I have had a blast so far, taking short trips, testing equipment, asking questions and charting an itinerary. I think I have walked all 2,160 miles in my dreams. In a way I've been holding back introducing myself afraid someone will pinch me and I will wake up from the dream. But here I am, in October, still making plans and nothing has changed my plans for me.
Date: 2007-10-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

As the leaves start turning brilliant colors, I notice the Canada geese getting restless, flocking up and feeding off of the corn and other sniblets left for them by the farmers. So too it is with myself, gathering and testing the final selections of gear destined to make it's way to Springer Mt. just 6 months from now. Like them, I grow restless, glamoring with anticipation; patiently wait for the start of the journey. I had thought the I would be journaling on a regular basis by now; instead life has gone into fast forward, taking over what little free time I had. Once you decide, I mean truly decide to hike the AT, life is consumed with preparations; at least that is how it has been for me. I started by plotting my daily miles. They say that it's not realistic to do that; that once you are on the trail, everything changes, but I needed to do it to be able to see that I could do this starting on 4/1/08 and be in Maine summiting Mt. Katahdin by the end of September; 6 months Leave Of Absence is all I have. More recently, plotting my way has become more important, as family and friends realize that I wasn't talk just to hear myself talk. Now is the time when they are thinking about next year's vacation, and perhaps meeting me somewhere on the trail. I figure that in order to do that, I will need to know about where I will be near certain dates. And then there is the subject of maildrops. In order to keep this dream of mind under financial control, I will be dehydrating much of my food and having E, my daughter, mailing them to points along the trail. More plotting required. I will be stopping @ various campgrounds, shelters and hostels along the way. I will also be able to supplement my rations in trail towns along the way. With all this plotting, my spreadsheet grows bigger but I find that writing things not only help me prepare, but aides in curbing the anticipation. And so I keep plotting.
Date: 2007-12-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It is getting real- Real close, real hectic and sometimes real scary. While continuing to try and make as many memories with my family, I have been moving ahead on my plans for the trip. Although the time for planning is getting shorter and action is not required, other than flapping the jaw while talking (incessantly) with others about my hike. *Started purchasing dried food with expiration date > 9/2008 *Continue to nail down warm weather clothing *Weigh EVERYTHING *Ordered Priority Mail boxes from USPS *Mark plans on map set *PrayI do know that these past years of dreaming have been a blast. Time has sometimes dragged on. I have a feeling that life as I know it will never be the same.Life IS good.Zeke
Date: 2008-01-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So what does a chunky, middle-aged woman think of when she has but 83 days to wait for the "dream of a life-time" to begin?I mentioned years ago that I had hoped to be helpful to other women having the same desire, dream, - call it what you want, to hike the Appalachian Trail.So here is what I know today:Start to make your plans aware to your family just as soon as you even think that you want to do this. I started the dream 35 years ago and began bringing the subject up to my family 10 years ago. I remember this past spring warning my family that if they really intended to not support my hike, because I couldn't do it any other way, to speak now or forever hold their peace. And since April 2007, there has been no turning back. I was delighted that one of my family members started off 10 years ago thinking that this was a very selfish idea and today she is my Rock.I have 5 grandchildren ranging in the ages of 3 to 11. These days they are my life's blood. For the past years we've been talking, hiking, planning, marking maps, dehydrating food and most recently writing a book with them. I needed them to know what their crazy Nanny would be doing for the 6 months she was gone; and I think they "get it" better than the rest of the family. We have a big family, knit closely together. There are people who think that it will be my love for them that takes me off the trail before my time. I say that it is that which will make me strong.I know that I won't be able to stick to an itinerary, but it's a flexible plan; it's a clue to my family of where I will be. I haven't set dates to the stops, but I have numbered them. At least as I pass the place that I thought I would be, I can communicate that information back to my family. I have the places that I "plan" on staying entered in a spreadsheet that will be dispersed to the people that need to know.The equipment that is on the market now is so much different than the equipment 35 years ago. The more time that you allow yourself to choose the right equipment, the better prepared you will be. I went through 3 tents before I found the right one for me, a MSR Hubba. I labored months determining whether I wanted to stay with the external backpack frame that I was familiar with, or change to an internal frame, which was my choice. I tried on dozens of pairs of boots, settled on a pair of $150 Montrails, only to change my mind and comfort level in choosing the Merrell brand of Trail-runners; a boot that is light-weight and not ankle-high. I learned that I love using a platypus; a plastic bag with a tube running from it and a bite valve, once filled with water delivers water on demand. After hours of research and a great demonstration at REI (my favorite store) I choose the MSR Whisperlite stove. Don't make decisions hastily and I've found that you do get what you pay for. However, I have successfully purchased new items for a steal on Ebay. Give yourself time and test your equipment. Become familiar; leave the surprises for the scenery.So there it is. This I know for certain.
Date: 2008-01-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This quote has been sitting on my desk at work for probably 6-8 years. I copied it from an ATC newsletter onto an index card so many years ago that is is faded; but it might resembles some of the reasons I have to take on this journey:   "The mute beauty of passage, the hope of walking cares and mortality and regrets into the dust. The simple focus on taking the next step until there are no more to take; That is all there is here". unknown authorMakes sense to me!
Date: 2008-01-10
To: GOING FOR A WALK
Miles today: 0.0

For those of you who are familiar with the Appalachian Trail (referred to as the AT from now on), you may wish to skip past the following few entries. I write these next entries for my family and friends, who have listened for years of my desires to travel this footpath, and now that they know that I am indeed destined to achieve this might want to learn more about the history of the trail and other tidbits about my preparation.I find it amazing that more than 85 years ago, a gentleman by the name of Benton MacKaye had the idea that industrialization would change the world as he knew it, and wrote and article in The Journal of the American Institute of Architects that discussed the topic of creating a ¢pathway¢ that allowed humankind to ¢commune with nature¢. There are many other inspiring people that helped in creating this vision, but he first had the inspiration to start the wheels turning. Here we are, all those years later, with a ¢footpath¢ spanning 2,175 miles and 14 states including, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The goal is to complete the journey in 6 months, leaving April 1, 2008 and reaching the northern terminus, Mt. Katahdin by the end of September 2008. This is known as thru-hiking. There are other methods of traversing the 14 states. There is the method of day hiking, and section-hiking; spending shorter periods of time on the trail and continuing year upon year until the distance is completed. Although this method probably ensures a greater chance of completing the entire 2,175 miles of the trail, there are those who choose to take the AT on in one continuous hike, as have I. My chances are slim. I¢ve heard reports that 3,000 people start out intending to complete the trail in one trip and only 300 to 600 people actually finish it in the same year. But I¢ve never been one to blink at challenge. Why am I doing this? I¢ve had a million answers. When it comes right down to it, there is a ¢force¢ within me that keeps leading towards this trail. I¢ve tried talking myself out of it, but in the end I came to the conclusion that I would be regretful if I didn¢t at least try. So hang on family and friends, we are ¢going for a walk¢. Thank you for the opportunity to act on my dreams.
Date: 2008-02-27
To: FOOD
Miles today: 0.0

If 2/3 cup powdered milk reconstitutes to 2 cups, how many servings are in a 4 pound box?If you can get 7 breakfasts from a bag of cereal, how many bags of cereal must you buy?How many variations can I come up with containing pasta and XXX?How many calories will it take to climb a mountain, cross a stream or get through the Mahoousac Notch?This is my world.
Date: 2008-03-17
To: LISTS
Miles today: 0.0

This in the time for perpetual lists. If I don't write it down on the list, it surely won't get done.    order 6 months of perscriptions, check   take care of banking, check   plan the easter egg hunt,   complete plotting trip on topo maps, check!   need to make 19 breakfasts, 33 lunches and 20 dinners   stuff and address maildrops   determine items for first aid kit   determine items for personal hygeine   determine final pack weight   update journal, check   distrubute lots of hugs and kisses   break in another pair of boots, check   It has also come to the point of seeing friends and family that I won't be seeing for another 6 months. Many bittersweet moments.Surreal, I often wondered the meaning of the word; now I know.
Date: 2008-03-18
To: On The Topic Of Food
Miles today: 0.0

By use of the many resources available to me, other hikers lists, the AT Database, The Appalachian Pages, WhiteBlaze and my topographical maps, I have developed a list of places that I will have a dependable person mail a ¢base¢ supply of food. Many hikers buy their meals at local grocers; but in the attempt to have a variety of foods, I have chosen to use mail drops. As I need more than I have allotted for in my boxes, I will re-supply along the way adding fresh vegetables, fruit and fast-food (the three basic food groups).I don¢t know if it has only happened to me, but nobody told me that I would be re-packing the first several food-drops that I prepared. You get a feel of what fits in a 4 day box and save the bigger items for the 3 day boxes. I will be using the Priority Mail portion of United States Postal Service for most of my drops. By doing this, if I miss a drop for reasons like, I¢m hiking faster than anticipated, or I land in a town on a Sunday, the Postal Service will forward it to another Post Office for free. Make a mental note to myself that postage increases in May. A hint to future Priority Mail users, close the side of the box the ¢Pull to Open¢ tab. This will make closing a bulging box much easier. I will be carrying between 3-8 days of food. My pack will be over-flowing on the pick-up day of an 8 day food drop. For this reason, if you would be inclined to send something, to get it to my daughter to forward to me. That way she can determine which drop to send it to, or else it will be given to other hikers. I can guarantee that it won¢t go to waste, just maybe not to my waist.The best that you can send me is a message to my e-mail device or sign the guestbook in my journal. I will not be able to view the messages on a daily basis, but I know that your support will help me get through the long days. I will miss my family and friends.
Date: 2008-03-21
To: Young Ones
Miles today: 0.0

I worry about the 3 and 4 year olds the most. I know that they do not have the ability to put together the fact that I will be gone for months. To them it will seem that I have just been wiped off the face of the earth.So The 4 year old and I were watching the evening news predict the path of "The Big One", a spring snow storm headed for our neighborhood. She is all about the weather and watching for storms. The meteorologist stated that the storm was still out among the Rocky Mountains and she asked if those were the mountains from my "hike". We talked about the Appalachian Mountains and I continued explaining that I was going to be gone for awhile, that we wouldn't see each other, but we would be able to talk on the phone to each other. Then she asked where her Papa was going to be and I told her that he would be at home taking care of the house.She nodded her head and said "okay". She has been listening. She's going to be just fine. My cup runneth over!