morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-02-24
To: AT-3 Weeks!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Three weeks from today I'll begin my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail on behalf of People Serving People (PSP) and the homeless families it supports. In some ways three weeks feels like an eternity, but I'm confident it will pass in the blink of an eye. My time is occupied almost entirely right now with timetable calculations, equipment refinements, travel logistics, training, meal planning, and a multitude or tasks related to the all-important fundraising component of this endeavor. I'm confident in my preparedness in certain areas (e.g., equipment), much less so in others (e.g., meal planning). With 18 days to go before I depart for Georgia, I take some small comfort from the fact there's still time, however brief it may be!As of this morning we've collectively raised $10,591 in support of the parents and children served by PSP. We're standing just $309 shy of the 50% mark, which we're striving to reach by the time I start the trail on 17 March. Numbers can be sterile things, so consider this: the funds raised to date have provided ten families with the services and support needed to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency, and 50% of our goal will bring us within striking distance of helping an eleventh family find safe and secure housing. If you'd like to learn more about PSP, I invite you to check out their website at http://peopleservingpeople.org. Should you feel called to join our movement and help these very deserving parents and children, you can do so at http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome. Donations convey in their entirety to PSP and are 100% tax deductible.I want to thank my friends, family, PSP, our growing army of donors, and the amazing AT and outdoors communities for their support and encouragement. I would not be here without you, and I'm humbled by your generosity, your compassion for those less fortunate, and the fact that many of you have chosen to read my Trail Journal and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I look forward to sharing this journey with you. I¢ll be grateful for your thoughts and prayers during the coming weeks, I¢ll need them!
Date: 2014-02-28
To: All the News That's Fit to Print!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm absolutely thrilled that 2,000 Miles From Home was featured in today's Stillwater Gazette, and above the fold no less! I spent the better part of an hour chatting with the Gazette's Avery Cropp on 18 February, and I'm so grateful she and the Gazette felt ours was a story worth telling. Here's hoping Avery's fantastic article is a sign of things to come as we continue working toward achieving our fundraising goal for People Serving People and Minnesota's homeless families! If you're interested, navigate to the following URL to check out the piece: http://stillwatergazette.com/2014/02/28/2180-miles-of-service/
Date: 2014-03-01
To: Polar Vortex? What Polar Vortex?
Miles today: 0.0

Conditioning myself for the AT wasn¢t difficult when I lived in Virginia. The weather was temperate and the ground was usually dry. Not so in Minnesota! Deep snow plus the polar vortex equals a¢¦challenging¢¦training environment. My Virginian stair running has largely been replaced as a matter of necessity by snowshoeing and cross-country skiing while swaddled in enough layers of thermal and waterproof clothing that I expect I¢d survive direct exposure to the vacuum of outer space. Mind you I¢m not complaining, as I love both activities and I¢m a big fan of winter, but environmental considerations are much more of a factor here. I also find myself craving carbs CONSTANTLY. I guess my body needs fuel to keep warm, and I¢m more than happy to oblige!This week¢s training involved cross-country skiing miles of freshly groomed track at Afton State Park wearing a 38-pound pack. Trust me when I tell you that I become the world¢s least coordinated Nordic skier when carrying weight! If you don¢t believe me, I have the bruises to prove it. As cold as it is, I worked up a sweat and my legs definitely feel as though they were on the receiving end of a strenuous workout. Just what I need with the AT approaching in just over two weeks! Let¢s just hope that Georgia¢s gnarly spring weather doesn¢t force me to wear as many layers as I¢m sporting in this entry¢s photo!Hot cocoa, anyone?
Date: 2014-03-03
To: AT-2 Weeks!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

The days and weeks are flying by now, filled as they are with a multitude of planning tasks that must be satisfied before I depart for Georgia on 14 March. As of right now I have nearly all equipment in hand, although I need to make some final adjustments to refine my base weight and I'll likely need to make a couple other minor purchases to round things out. I've sketched out my tentative timetable through the end of April, developed a meal plan that should facilitate resupply along the trail, and I'm chipping away at my monthly mail drops. I'm continuing to train, but I'm entering the tapering phase and I'll be taking care to not risk injury with the AT so close at hand! In short, everything is going smoothly and I expect to be fully squared away before I board my flight to Atlanta next Friday.Logistics aside, you might wonder how I'm doing with the thru-hike just around the corner. It's a mixed bag. On the one hand, I'm absolutely committed to reaching our fundraising goal for People Serving People (http://www.peopleservingpeople.org) and Minnesota's homeless families, and I'm eager to hit the trail to advance that endeavor. On the other hand, I'm positively dreading saying goodbye to loved ones for so long. While my last six months have been a time of great transition they've also been incredibly blessed with friendship and love, and that has the unintended side affect of bestowing a higher personal cost on spending four-to-six months walking in the woods. Still, I've gone away for longer (Iraq and Afghanistan) and like the past six months I expect the coming thru-hike will pass in the blink of an eye.As of this morning we're just $209 shy of reaching our pre-trail goal of 50% or $10,900 for PSP and the deserving families it exists to serve. I'm confident we'll reach the 50% mark before I hit the trail on 17 March. Please consider donating; PSP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all tax-deductible contributions convey in their entirety to the charity. If you feel called to join our growing community of donors and change lives TODAY, you can learn more at http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome.Thank you for continuing to share in my journey, I wouldn't be here without your encouragement and support! Stay tuned for more updates this week and next, and certainly once the thru-hike begins!
Date: 2014-03-05
To: Over Halfway There!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Yesterday was a huge day for 2,000 Miles For Home: We passed 50% of our fundraising goal for People Serving People (http://www.peopleservingpeople.org) and Minnesota's homeless families! As of this morning we've raised more than $11,200, enough to transition 11 families from homelessness to self-sufficiency. We have a long way to go before reaching our overall goal of $21,800, but I'm confident we'll reach our destination thanks to your generosity and compassion. For a donation of $22, YOU can make a lasting impact in the lives of some very deserving parents and kids. Your contribution will feed, clothe, and equip these families with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to end the cycle of poverty and homelessness and permanently improve their circumstances. All donations convey in their entirety to People Serving People, a 501(c)(3) charity, and are fully tax deductible. If you'd like to make a difference today, please visit http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome. If your finances don't permit a donation, please help spread the word by letting your friends, family, coworkers, and congregations know about what we're trying to accomplish here. Every bit helps!Thank you for your continued encouragement, support, and selflessness. Back to AT-related updates tomorrow!
Date: 2014-03-07
To: Trail Name!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

If you¢re a regular visitor to Trail Journals or have read anything about the Appalachian Trail, you know section and thru-hikers almost universally adopt ¢trail names¢ while hiking. Trail names are traditionally bestowed by others, which as you might imagine can yield some interesting results! Given my thru-hike¢s underlying purpose¢raising funds for Minnesota¢s homeless families¢I thought it best to refer my naming to some of the amazing kids staying at People Serving People¢s shelter in Minneapolis.Long story short, the kids did a fabulous job! They brainstormed a list of names they felt best described me and what we as a community are trying to accomplish on their behalf, which was subsequently narrowed down to the name that was ultimately given me. The kids then took some time to create the fantastic banner you see in the photo at left, which I¢ll carry with me on the trail.I know it¢s a non-traditional approach to receiving a trail name, but I can¢t think of a more appropriate solution. Everything we¢re trying to achieve through this thru-hike is centered on helping these kids and their families, and while they¢re not technically thru-hiking they¢re on a difficult journey of their own, one I¢d submit is far more arduous and existentially consequential than the one I¢ll be taking. The arduousness of their journey affords them a voice, and I¢m honored to carry the name these kids bestowed upon me.So without further ado I present your humble aspiring thru-hiker, Hiker Monkey!
Date: 2014-03-10
To: AT-1 Week!!!
Miles today: 0.0

They say time flies when you¢re having fun. Or in my case, when you¢re preparing to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail! It¢s hard to believe that a week from today¢at approximately the time I¢m writing this entry¢I¢ll be setting foot onto the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain. I¢m eager to tackle the crux of this journey, which began in earnest six months ago with the launch of 2,000 Miles From Home but whose roots were laid down many years ago.As of this morning, all equipment is in hand save for one item scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Everything has been sorted, tested, weighed, and in some cases replaced. Ongoing gear refinements have reduced my winter base weight to around 16 pounds and my summer base weight to roughly 14 pounds, excluding food and water. My monthly mail drops have been organized are ready to go, and my generalized meal plan is complete and loaded into my cell phone. In short, I¢m rapidly running out of things to do, which must mean it¢s about time to leave!If you¢ve been following my journal, you know the past week was a big one for our fundraiser as we passed the 50% mark¢$10,800¢and continued to make strong progress toward our goal. During the coming days we¢ll announce a new initiative that will run through the end of my thru-hike: we¢re hoping 500 people will join us by donating $22 to People Serving People (http://www.peopleservingpeople.org) and the very deserving families it supports. This will achieve our goal of raising $21,800 for PSP and will transition an additional 11 families from homelessness to self-sufficiency. I hope you¢ll join the movement by visiting http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome today!So how am I feeling, with only a week to go? Both excited and anxious. I¢m blessed to have the absolute support of my loved ones, and although that will ease the hardship of separation I¢ll still miss them tremendously. I¢m certain the trail will prove among the defining experiences of my life, but there¢s a new life awaiting me here in Minnesota¢one for which I have high hopes¢that I¢ll be eager to return to from the very moment I set foot on Springer Mountain. I¢m not unique in any of this, and I look forward to sharing the experience, difficult though it may be, with my fellow thrus in the AT¢s Class of 2014. Happy trails folks, I'll be seeing you soon!
Date: 2014-03-11
To: Kit Complete!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well, it has finally happened. After months of research, gear purchasing and weighing, and endless refinements I've at last completed my AT kit! I don't have an appropriately sized scale on hand, but I'm guessing the kit you see in the photo at left weighs around 16 pounds. Not as light as I'd hoped, but the weight will drop a couple pounds once I swap out my winter inventory.The pack--a Cilogear 30:30 Guide Services worksack with a capacity of around 40 liters--may be an unusual choice for an AT thru-hike but it weighs only 2.5 pounds as configured and it's absolutely BOMBER. The suspension is spare, but with my base weight I don't anticipate carrying more than 35 pounds at the very most. The pack swallowed my gear with room to spare for a full food sack, leaving me feeling as though I've forgotten something. I assure you I'll spend the remainder of my time in Minnesota reviewing my packing list, double- and triple-checking my inventory, and asking knowledgeable friends to confirm nothing has been overlooked!During the coming days I plan to make a quick and decidedly low budget video of the equipment I'll be carrying with me, for posting to You Tube. Check it out on the 2KMH blog (URL below) and let me know what you think of my choices!
Date: 2014-03-13
To: 500 For Families
Miles today: 0.0

By the time this post goes live, I¢ll be just over 24 hours away from departing Minnesota for Georgia and the Appalachian Trail. On Monday I¢ll take the first of approximately six million steps over the course of 2,180 miles through 14 states along the spine of the Appalachians from Springer Mountain to the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. It¢ll be a long and challenging journey, but you¢ll be with me each step of the way!When I hit the trail we will have been walking this path for over six months. Thanks to your generosity and compassion, we have raised $13,692 for People Serving People and Minnesota¢s homeless families, enough to transition 13 families from homelessness to self-sufficiency. This represents roughly 63% of our goal of $21,800 and is a huge achievement. Yet just like my hike on the Appalachian Trail, we have a long way to go before reaching our destination.Today I¢m excited to announce 2,000 Miles From Home¢s 500 For Families initiative. If just 500 people join our movement by donating $22 each, we¢ll surpass our goal and give People Serving People the resources needed to provide the food, shelter, clothing, education, and training to help 22 families and 66 children find their way home from homelessness. All donations are tax deductible and convey to People Serving People in full. I receive no share of any funds donated to People Serving People through 2,000 Miles From Home. How can you become part of 500 For Families?- Visit 2,000 Miles From Home¢s fundraising page at http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome to donate $22 today!- Share this initiative with your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and congregations.- Follow us on your social media platform of choice; we maintain an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Instagram.$22 equals roughly one cent per mile; if you¢ve ever dreamt of hiking the Appalachian Trail or simply support what we¢re trying to achieve, I can think of few better ways to join me on this journey! We have the power to make a lasting difference in the lives of others, and I hope you¢ll consider joining the dozens of donors who have already done so much for the most vulnerable families in our community.
Date: 2014-03-14
To: The Things I'll Carry
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Friday everyone! I'm just 4.5 hours away from leaving for Atlanta and the Appalachian Trail, so I'll keep this brief. I've uploaded a video overview of everything I'll be carrying with me when I set foot on the AT at Springer Mountain on Monday. My pack weight is a little higher than I hoped--winter inventory weighs in at around 17 pounds with some food and no water--but on the whole I'm satisfied with my baseline outfitting. Hope you enjoy it, and let me know what you think!Well, I'm off to finish packing. I'll post at least one more update before Monday, then--Verizon Wireless willing--I'll update daily or as near to it as I can manage. Expect my next post from the Peach State!
Date: 2014-03-17
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

What a day! After a long drive from Amicalola to Springer Mountain I finally stepped off on the AT at around 11:30. The day was rainy and cold, with the mountains mostly socked in and the temperature in the 40s and 30s. I hustled the 8.1 miles to Hawk Mountain Shelter, mainly to get a spot out of the rain! I snagged a spot, settled in, and prepared for the next day. I felt pretty solid, save for some pain in my left knee that caused me serious concern. It was bad enough I worried I may need to get off the trail at Gooch Gap to see a doctor in Suches.
Date: 2014-03-18
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Lance Creek
Miles today: 16.2

My knee was bothering me when I started hiking and it nagged me throughout the day, but I took a brief appearance of the sun early in the morning as a promising sign, and I made it over 16 miles to Lance Creek. The weather was much improved, although the mountains remained socked in and the temperature was in the 40s. I was grateful to encounter Tick-Tock at Woody Gap and his trail magic helped me through the last stage of the day! I was happy to set up my bivy at Lance Creek around 5 PM and looked forward to a dry if cool evening.
Date: 2014-03-19
From: Lance Creek

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 7.4

So my dry evening failed to materialize, and I awoke to rain steadily falling on--and leaking through--my bivy. I pulled myself out into the rain at 6 AM and knocked out my morning chores preparatory to a 6:30 departure. I wanted to get on the trail quickly to snag a spot in the hostel at Neel Gap! The morning passed quickly, with rain steadily falling before turning into a fine mist that persisted until I reached Blood Mountain. I hiked into Neel Gap at around 10:30 and went about drying my clothing and equipment, doing laundry, resupplying, showering, and catching up on my trail journals entries! I'm heading out tomorrow with the goal of reaching the Nantahala Outdoor Center in 6-7 days. Wish me luck!
Date: 2014-03-20
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

I struck out from Neel Gap at around 7 AM with the intention of not making another town stop until I reached the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina, and for a couple hours I thought I'd make it. The weather was decent--sunny but chilly--and I made excellent time until I reached the summit of Cowrock Mountain, about 5 miles outside Neel Gap. On the descent, I started experiencing a sharp, lancing pain along the outside of my right knee. Before long it grew agonizing, and my pace slowed to roughly 1 MPH. It quickly became clear that I wouldn't reach my destination, which I originally hoped would be Blue Mountain Shelter at mile 50.5. I pulled into Low Gap Shelter (mile 43.2) around 2:30 PM and decided to stop for the day to rest my knee. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening doing camp chores and elevating my knee, hoping against hope it would improve Friday!
Date: 2014-03-21
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7

As much as I hoped my knee would improve, I was equally disappointed. I packed up and headed out from Low Gap Shelter around 7 AM and my knee starting hurting right from the start. Still, I made relatively good time in the early going despite some truly agonizing descents. I bargained with myself throughout the morning; perhaps I could eke out a few more miles, bypass Hiawasee at Unicoi Gap, and head into town at Dick's Creek Gap like everyone else on the trail. Then I'd hit a descent and convince myself that no, I'd head into Hiawasee at Unicoi Gap to prevent lasting damage to my knee. This internal debate repeated itself over the 9.7 miles into the gap, and my decision to get off the trail at Unicoi was clinched by the agonizing descent from Blue Mountain Shelter into the gap.Once at the gap, I arranged for a ride into Hiawasee and the Blueberry Patch Hostel, a trail-famous establishment run by the wonderful Gary and Lennie Poteat. After settling in and showering, Gary ran a couple of us into town for resupply (and an ice pack for me). I spent the evening getting to know Wet Dog, Mum, Guy on a Buffalo, Son Driven (from Minneapolis), and one other gentleman whose trail name escapes me. I was counseled by these kind folks, as well as by the home front, to take a zero on Saturday, which while anathema may very well determine the success or failure of my thru-hike attempt.
Date: 2014-03-22
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Take note of the photo at left, kids: this is what happens when you attempt to put in big miles on a bum knee. Specifically, when you favor your injured left leg over the course of an arduous 16-mile hike. The consensus here at the hostel, and on the trail, is that I messed up my right knee by favoring my left, which is now fully recovered. I've spent the past 24+ hours recuperating here at the Blueberry Patch Hostel in Hiawasee, and while things are improving I'm not certain I'll be in prime shape to continue on. I've been icing, elevating, and rolling my soft tissues, and while there have been some improvements I'm not where I need to be. But I'm loathe to take another zero day. All I'm doing is sitting around watching the time pass, time I should be hiking!Right now I'm planning to hit the trail tomorrow morning after breakfast and hike the short distance from Unicoi Gap to Tray Mountain Shelter, only 5.7 miles or so. The only problem is that there's a long descent after Rocky Mountain which could prove difficult given my knee. If it's still hurting tomorrow morning, I may take another zero. But boy if it isn't the precise opposite of what I want to be doing right now! Thoughts and prayers would be very welcome...
Date: 2014-03-23
To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Short hike today, Unicoi Gap to Tray Mountain Shelter for a total of only 5.2 miles. I reduced my pace to what felt like a slow trudge to avoid aggravating my knee, and on the whole it worked save for some periodic twinges. I pulled into the shelter at around 14:30 and it was tough to stay put as other hikers arrived, checked the shelter log, and hiked on. The night promised to be very chilly with strong, cold winds blowing more or less directly into the shelter, so I climbed into my bag as soon as I finished eating dinner. I never would have thought 18:30 would be an acceptable bedtime, but then again I've never attempted a thru-hike!
Date: 2014-03-24
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0

It was a cold night on Tray Mountain, which led me to rise early and head out as quickly as possible to warm up. My 35 degree sleeping bag is simply not cutting the mustard in this weather; I chose not to carry my 0 Degree bag to cut down on weight, and I'm regretting that decision!I leap frogged The Alchemist, Montana, and a nice French Canadian couple several times en route from Tray Mountain to Dick's Creek Gap, where I planned to stop for a rest prior to continuing on for a couple miles to a campsite. I began reconsidering my plan as the day wore on in light of 1) renewed knee pain and 2) trail panic concerning frigid weather blowing in from the north. The dire forecast was of primary concern, calling as it did for freezing rain, snow, and temperatures in the teens.When I reached Dick's Creek I made up my mind and hitched back into Hiawasee with The Alchemist and Montana in the hope of avoiding another restless night. I was welcomed back at the Blueberry Patch with open arms; Gary and Lennie Poteat are true trail angels. Gary drove me into town to purchase a more aggressive knee brace and a subway sandwich, and I spent the remainder of the day icing my knee and preparing to head back out the following day.