morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-09-07
To: new job
Miles today: 0.0

So thought I would add photos to all my entries that didn't have any. just because i like the effect! I went back to the beginning and went through, it was really interesting for me to read my first week on the trail. It seems so far away yet so close! i have been so busy! My life went from thinking about how many miles to hike, food, water, shelter, and what stories to tell.. to getting up at 530am working 6am-830am one place, 9-2 the next, then going on an interview, then going to work somewhere else 6pm-11pm.. getting up at 530 working 6-9 going for a hike to fit it in and keep myself sane! then right back to work 7-1230am.. back up at 530 with 5 house of sleep working the same thing 6-2 and then going on 2 more interviews getting me home at 7pm! i feel like i never stop these days.. And now i have these amazing families to choose from! When i narrow it down to a couple i will fill you all in. let you know what i choose.. MY AT hiking inspiration finished his 2000 mile kayak trip and will be hanging out in WA for the whole month of october, it will be so great to get to talk trail, hike here, and feel like i am back out there, as the last of my family will be done by then! I have these thoughts of packing my bags and heading to maine for the next 2 weeks to be able to finish this trip with the people i started with. And yet again money will stop me from doing that. It is ok i have a lot to keep me busy here! And getting a new job is number one. So i am crazy, but happy, and so glad i can still be apart of this life. Got the best message from 42 that i listen to over and over... as she passed the phone around to so many people i miss on the trail.. i am still so proud of everyone.. oh and thanks for signing my guestbook and filling me in on the people i was wondering about. I has missed a couple people and will keep searching through more trail journals, trying to find them!hope all is well with everyone!jah guiderasta
Date: 2006-10-21
From: seattle

To: PCT 08'
Miles today: 0.0

So I guess i am not doing well keeping up this journal. Must mean it is time to start another one! PCT class of 08' journal! make it real! i got a job! the one i wanted. i had to choose between working for a crazy rich family, traveling with them, and making a bunch of money... or working for another family that i felt comfortable with from the minute i stepped in the house, a flexable schedule, less money but benifits, paid holidays and vacation, and i get to stay with 3 other families i already work for ( of course that means i am going to be working 50-58 hours a week starting in november) It is all good, i will pay off bills, plan for the PCT, go to RI for a wedding in december, San fransico for new years, Hawaii for my 30th b-day if my friend still lives there, Peru in May (or patagonia), then i might move to Europe with the family i will be working for but that is way up in the air... what ever i do between now and then only adds to my life, but i want to finish a thru hike, i want to know what it feels like. I hiked on the PCT this week, i met some thru hikers with 100 miles left. I will be there 2 years from now.. i just know it! The AT was a blast! I love all the people i met and had a chance to hike with. I hope to know all of you for a long time, and better yet hike with you again. Thank you to every trail angel, hiking converstaion, campfire, hotdog, every guestbook entry, joke, ray of sunlight, drop of rain, every mountain top, every gap! every blister, every tear, every everything! My life continues to get better as i grow, learn and meet people from all walks of life.... as i walk...peace love and light alwaysRASTA...Look for further updates on my PCT journal.. i will have as soon as i figure out how to start another journal!
Date: 2007-02-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The AT group of 06 is doing a great job keeping in touch, hiker reunions, a yahoo group! it is great. Our yahoo group is like having a shelter log on-line.. i thought this was a funny post from jody foster.. about how i am missing a hiker reunion to to hiking in patagonia!Ok so if you are a punk ass, your name rhymes withpasta pegs and you decided to go off man hunting inPridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica instead ofattending the Austin Hiker Bash you are missing seeingJody Foster in nothing but a pie-rat patch and herworld famous pole tricks.wolfpaw replied with.. can someone send me photos of this?i love my trail family! it has almost been a year since i started.. i am still loving life, living life, and looking forward to more time living out of my backpack and meeting amazing people!
To: A Little Background on me:
Miles today: 0.0

A Little Background on Me:I was born in Denmark and came to the U.S. in 1996 as an International student. Already then I was falling in love with the outdoors and went on mountain trips in Europe in the summer and snowskiing in the winter. However it was not until I encountered the many trails in the Appalachian Mountains that the hiker bug really got me - boy did it bite hard! I have since hiked a lot of the trails in TN, SC and NC. I went through the Outdoor Educator Program with NOLS in the Rocky Mountains which included the Wilderness First Responder course. It was at NOLS my cooking skills got inspired - well at that time it could only get better! It is also the love for cooking and all the wintergear that prevents me from being a lightweight hicker as I carry a Dragonfly stove and a light weight fry-bake pan (which makes awesome pizza & cinnamon rolls!)Then why choose winter - why not wait another 2 months and shed 4 pounds or more of winter gear?I rather enjoy the cooler weather and my red hair does not so much agree with the sum and the heat - an added benefit is that there is ALWAYS room in the shelters, hostels, and campsites - and the big one - NO TICKS!I do not want to wait and do the trail when I am retired, because who knows if I will be able to do it then - that beef jerky is so hard to chew without teeth and hiking poles look a lot cooler than a cane!!!As Nike says it "Just Do It".
Date: 2006-01-03
To: Amicalola Falls
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I should be able to fly by now as I have so many butterflies in my stomach - there are only 4 more days until the big day arrives - I am more than excited.   This is a hike that I have wanted to do for the past few years and I had planned on doing it last spring but as it is said "life is what happens while you make plans" so I had to postpone the trip to this upcoming season.   The pack is packed, unpacked, packed, unpacked, and then packed again all the while the contents have been weighed against the scale and the multiple purposes.    Today is the day when I have to buy the first pearishable food items.
Date: 2006-01-04
To: Amicalola Falls
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The last details are being worked out and I am so excited. Having a group of friends that you know are there to help you should you ever need it makes you feel so good about a hike of this duration. A friend of mine has offered to take a whole day out of a busy schedule to take me to Knoxville where I will be meeting with my hiking partner and the next morning we will be meeting with another friend who has come from SC to hike the approach trail from Amicalola Falls to Springer Mtn. Thank you to everybody who has supported me in this endevour and donated money to the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Socitety. I am taking my family to the airport today as it is time for them to return home and I will pack and unpack my backpack one last time - still waiting for my crampons!. I hope the initial learning experience won't be too hard as I have tried hard not to schedule a lot of miles and a lot of weight in the beginning.   Safe hike to everyone
Date: 2006-01-05
To: Amicalola Falls
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Last night at home before the trail life calls - Had a favorite meal of mine - SUSHI um um um um uuuummmm.How can you you send fresh sushi through the mail drops? Guess I will have do with canned tuna The first two mail drops are already waiting - it makes it so exciting - Food is one of the most important things when you are out in the wilderness for several days or weeks so thanks to all who are helping in sending out mail drops - The best thing is not knowing exactly what is in each of the boxes. It will be like christmas everyday with beautiful sights, a long day of walking and finish the day with good food.Am I nervous - Yes, there are so many things that can cause your hike to end really soon, but I am not worried as I have done the best to prevent any possible failures and now it is just up to the Creator.Safe hike to all.
Date: 2006-01-06
To: Amicalola Falls
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Tomorrow it is going to happen - at 8:00am three of us are supposed to meet at the falls to start the hike up to Springer Mtn.During the drive from Nashville to Knoxville I starred out the window to look at the foot hills that will be home the next six months - it is incredibly hard to comprehend that it is actually happening. Looking at the forecast they are promising rain the next ten days - that only leaves me wondering what kind of precipitation that will lead to higher up in the altitude. Good hiking to ya'll
Date: 2006-01-07
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Black Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Sat 1/07/06 Amicalola Falls to Black Gap Shelter. Cold, Dry, SunnyAt 4:30AM a desperate Sandie wakesme up to give me the news of her sick husban, Kevin - my hiking partner to Damascus. He usually never gets sick, bad "choice" of Day. Decision - my friend Donna was waiting at Amicalola Falls, could not reach her on the cellphone, Kevin was sick should he stay home or come along and check in at a motel? Sandie knew Kevin was sicker than he pretended - isn't it usually the opposite for guys? So she gracefully offered to drive me to Amicalola from Knoxville leaving Kevin at home. We made plans that he should come the next day up to Springer Mt. or otherwise hook up with me at Neels Gap. In the car on our way Sandie suggested that his trailname wought to be virus - maybe that will stick. At the gate to Amicalola the park attendant looked at me and asked - are you the red-headed Dane that is thru-hiking and do you have a friend Donna that you were supposed to meet at 8:30? Well at that moment the time was already 10:30 so we had to spill our story about Kevin, his comment about that was "Donna said you usually always were on time so she went up to the Falls to see if you already had started".Went to the visitor center to check in and while signing my name - a flying furry of friend came through the door and yelled "Trine". We got hooked up packed our packs one last time and got on our way up - up - and up! We met several peo;le asking where we were headed - "Maine, but for today we are just trying to make it to Glack Gap shelter as we go started really late". - "Well, you've got six months to catch up", was the response! Donna cooked an awesome spaghetti sauce and off to bed we went. - Forgot to mention we met a guy named Mike in the shelter but as he would sit up in his green sleeping bag with a little hat on - he looked so much like a green worm - that became his name.
Date: 2006-01-08
From: Black Gap Shelter

To: Three Forks Campsite
Miles today: 5.5

1-8-06 Black Gap Shelter - Three Forks Campsite. Sunny and nice.Woke up a lot during the first night - listening for shelter mice but never heard or saw one. When morning came my stomach was a little off and I had a headache - well at least there is something up there if it can hurt! Donna and I did not leave the shelter until "the crack of noon". We had a pleasant hike up to Springer Mt. Took lots of photos and said our good-bye. Off I went down the trail on my way to the big journey. A few minutes later I heard Donna yell "Trine"! I thought maybe something was wrong - had someone gotten hurt? Donna came running after me - I had her keys and her wallet in the brain of my pack! After another goodbye I was finally off - again! Hello Appalachian Trail. Your would think the mountains would be deserted during the winter but I met lots of people along the way. At 4:00pm I got to Stoves Creek - Decision could continue to Hawk Mountain Shelter (another 4 miles) or stop at these great campsites - hmm- decided to cook in daylight. Pitched "Hubba" for the first time - really fast and simple - left the tent boday at home due to weight. Heated up leftovers from last night and started thinking about the food bag. Have never been much of a cowboy so it took me several throws and a couple of trees to get the bag up and hanging. Not completely sure a bear couldn't get to it but at this time of year I am more worried about mice and squirrels. Didn't see Kevin so maybe I will meet him at Neels Gap - must really have been sick.
Date: 2006-01-09
From: Three Forks Campsite

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Gooch Gap Shelter Overcast, foggy 48F Woke up after a restless night - kept dreaming of them bears eating my peanut butter! Ate bread and some leverpate, then it was off to a hard day. Stopped by Hawk Mt shelter to see if Grreen worm or Virus had signed in - negative. Made it to Gooch Mtn around 14:30. Met Half-Moon who is out hiking for a couple of weeks before returning the Boston. The shelter has two levels - I am staying at the top, hopefully the mouse traffic will be slow tonight. Wonder if I will meet anyone tomorrow? Planning on celebrating my B-Day with a candle (too heavy to carry 30!) and beef stroganof - the rest of the celebrating will have to wait until Neels Gap - I guess I will hook up with Virus there.
Date: 2006-01-10
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Woody Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woody Hole Shelter Foggy, misty, a little sun Woke up at 7:00 decided to sleep an extra half hour for my B-day. Slept really well in the two-story shelter, not a single mouse came. Had leverpate on Danish pumpernickel bread and hot chocolate for breakfast - even performed a nice Happy Birthday song for myself (maybe that is why I never saw any wild life that day!) Was packed up and ready to go within an hour. The day started by going uphill, which was a good description for the rest of the day. It was all foggy and misty - great atmosphere for story telling about trolls, withces, and fairies! Stopped at Woody Gap. The USFS were taking down the bathroom facilities there to build newer ones that can be open year round. At Jarrod Gap I was so tired I wanted to stop but a storm front was moving in so I decided to keep going up to Woody Hole so I could stay in a shelter. Phew! tough hike - and then the shelter was quite far off the trail! Half-Moon had already arrived there so we talked for a bit while eating dinner and I had a piece of Dove chocolate from Gail for dessert. I am for real 30 now - but it sure does not feel too bad. Hoping I can accomplish as much the next 30 years as i have done the past 30.
Date: 2006-01-11
From: Woody Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Neels Gap - Walasi-Yi Hostel Sunny, clear I had walked pretty fast all afternoon yesterday thinking the rain would come in fast - around 1:00 in the morning the rain started pouring down nd it kept on raining all through the night. Waking up it was a grey wet morning and it was still raining. Half-Moon got up and went to get the food bags hanging in the bear cables and I boiled water. Finally got ready and stepped out into the rain. Up it went to Blood Mtn. The stone shelter there smelled really musty and it was foggy and wet - so in accordance with tradition I had no good views from there (nor did I the last two times I was there). Instead I went down to Neels Gap got a shower, did laundry, and called Virus. It was all bad news - he had bronchitis and would not be able to come out on the trail until Tuesday next week. Bought a new pack as the old one had constantly given given bruises and blisters at the hips (it had always been a little uncomfortable whenever I added more than 25 pounds in the pack) Instead of going lighter and smaller I decided to get a bigger one that is intended for mountaneering that way I do not have to buy two packs one for AT and one for Mt Rainer. However it will be another week until the pack arrives - Winton said he could bring the pack to Hiawassee or pick me up there and take me back to Neels gap to get fitted for the pack. Got to meet Alpine, Cornbread, and Winton that all worked there - really nice and professional guys - I will recommend them to all who have questions about gear etc. They do not try to sell you anything you do not need, and the hostel is really nice with shower, laundry, microvawe, a library of movies, and a phone that does not charge extra if you use a calling card (normal payphones cost an extra 30 units everytime you make a call). Safe Hiking to Ya'll
Date: 2006-01-12
From: Neels Gap

To: Cowrock Mtn
Miles today: 4.5

Cowrock Mtn - Sunny, clear, warm Slept really really well at the Walasi-Yi. Winton (the owner), Alpine, and Cornbread worked there. As I was talking to Alpine I came to find out he speaks fluently Norwegian so we ended up chatting some Scandinavian and some English. I might meet Alpine soon again as he is starting a section of the AT from Fontana to Springer toward the end of January. Alpine got me a couple of birthday beers and we shared a little licorice. I was waiting to hear from Winton so while I waited I cleaned the hostel - It can get dangerously if you get bored - what might I next do - start remodeling the place!!! Finally word came that Winton was coming in later but just to go ahead and then give them a call whn I arrive in Hiawassee. It was after midday as I set out with a full pack. Met Paps (SOBO)2 miles north of Neels Gap. He was tired and ready to retire but was full of good spirit as he was about to complete his journey. Stopped as I arrived at Cowrock as there were some beautiful campsites, however, no water. I fried a bagel with cheese and oregano and enjoyed the views while washing down the appetizer with one of the birthday beers. A little later I made my second dinner consisting of a band freeze dried dinner, at least it was filling and I am trying to gain a little weight to better withstand the cold and the physical exhaustion that otherwise quickly can deplenish any triglyceride storage.
Date: 2006-01-13
From: Cowrock Mtn

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Low Gap Shelter   cold, windy, lots of rain The fantastic sunrise never arrived, instead a heavy fog had enveloped the area. Eat a bagel loaded with peanut butter and drank my second birthday beer - I believe they call it "Breakfast of Champions". The landscape did not make sense as I started heading North until I realized I had slept on Wolf Laurel Top instead of Cowrock Mtn. The "Cow" offered a spectacular view as a row of mountain tops across the valley where covered in clouds and at the same time a lower level of fog came flying in over the top where I was standing. It was facinating to see how fast the fog moved while the sun tried to penetrate the cover. Got to Low Gap around 13:00 but not a second too soon. Filling the water bottle as the first thing after arriving at the shelter, the first drops of rain started falling and before I was under cover it was pouring down rain and soon after came the thunder and lightning. It rained all afternoon, but it was not too bad becuse I had a roof over my head and I was frying up a bagel with cheese and had hot chocolate with cinnamon and cayenne pepper (really good on a cold day). Took an hour nap because I was warm, tired, and full. At 17:00 it was time for the next meal: Bulgur with soy sauce, nuts, and fruits. I had finally settled into the sleeping bag with some goodies and a So Duko book as I saw a mouse next to my good chocolate - not the Hershey - but the good European kind! I whacked it with my Journal and it ran away - must have been too heavy reading for it! Got up and packed away the rest. Now came the real chore: walk out into the cold, windy, spooky, bear-filled woods and hang the food bag - if ever there was a time I wished I had a hiking partner Well, they say it builds character - at least it builds up speed because I have never before returned to a shelter this fast. The rest of the night I will probably only wake up every other minute thinking I heard a bear or rather - a mouse! So, while the bear cables shriek and the wind is howling through the dark woods I just say "Good night, sleep tight - and don't let the shelter mouse bite".
Date: 2006-01-16
From: Steeltrap Gap

To: Dicks Creek
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dicks Creek (But overnighted at Neels Gap) woke up several times during the night between the snooring from Half-Moon a few feet away and the thumbing of rain onto the fly of my tent. Around 5:50 I was ready to get up - or so I thought until I heard the rain once again starting to pound heavily on the fly. I guess another half hour in the bag couldn't hurt. Finally at 6:10 I heard Half-Moon up and awake that meant I better get up too. Up I went alright but it ain't easy standing up when the tent is no taller than 3 feet. I started fumbling around for everything as I was trying to get ready, eat breakfast, and pack my bag all at the same time inside the tent. No way, I could do it outside - it was wet and cold! For an outsider it must have looked like an elephant trying to do Houdini tricks inside a can of sardines! Started out the hike by moon shine only - NO NO, not that kind of moon shine! Within half an hour the daylight started to break through. It only took one uphill before half-Moon and I agreed that the raingear needed to come off as it did not look like as if it was going to rain anymore and besides it was too hot to wear. Like cars so do most hikers have an optimum speed usually ranging between up-the-hill-with-full-pack speed and down-the-hill-with-empty-pack -waiting for a beer in town speed. So I started going ahead at arrived at the road 11:30. Nobody stopped to pick up this filthy, stinky, dirty hitch hiker - so I decided to start walking as there were 11 mi to town and I wanted to arrive that day. After 3 miles and a lot of thumbs out a nice couple pulled over and took me all the way to Hiawassee - but now, what was that behind the car? It was Half-Moon sitting in the back of a pick-up truck driving right behind me. He had caught a ride almost immediately - well, at least I got a ride in style inside a lexus 4WD Called Mountain Crossings and Heald came to pick me up after quickly realizing how expensive a stay in town would be as Hikers Inn was closed and nobody answered at the Motel. However, all this did not happen until I had already stopped at Ingles to devour a sandwich and some fruit, and then I went back in again for some more food - got to have your priorities straight!!!Arriving at Neels Gap once again Corn Bread got me fitted for this black HUGE backpack - it was like wearing a black Cadillac Escalade - huge, but it rides really well. Ate some more dinner and drank about two liters of sleepytime tea while sitting next to a heater so I am really having trouble staying awake now