morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-03-27
From: Amicolola Falls

To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

6pm - I survived day one. I think hiking may be alot like giving birth. There are some totally horrible parts that seem not so bad when its all done and you know what you've accomplished. Today was far from that kind of horrible, although, there were definitely points where I could have used a few minutes, and I had blisters on my feet within 2 hours, it was still a good day. Holly's system is a little different than mine. She like s to push it out and get it over iwth but it suits me better to stop for a minute every so often and then begin with a little more energy. I know we'll fall into a pace and despite my stopping I don't think I was holding her back (although she's way to nice to tell me if I was) :-)I'm mostly sore in my shoulders and my neck from the pack, but I'm sure I'll feel it everywhere soon.I know this isn't going to be easy, but I'm still glad I decided to do this. I thought about so much today and that was inbetween my thoughts of throwing up! (which were mostlyin teh beginning) My arm's getting tired, so I'm going to end for tonight. Although, I did think of something today that relly bothers me. Why is being on our way up a positive metaphor? Up is where all the work is. Although, I've often thought that it's actually in the struggle we accomplish, not at it's end, but that's for another time. I'm done for now unless anyone knows what's up with stumbling blocks. If it weren't for those rocks in the middle of the trail you'd have nothing to grip, to go up. They help more than hinder but because of clumsiness get a bad rap.
Date: 2006-03-28
From: Springer Mountain Shelter

To: Sassafrass mountain
Miles today: 10.0

There will not ever be words for the pain my feet are in. Surprisingly they're the worst. My back is soar, but felt like it ws getting stronger today. I'm tired, but even that seemed better. The thing about my feet is that with in the first two hours I had blisters, but now at the end of day 2 they're crippling me. thankfully my blister kit told me what to do, but I could barely walk to go to the bathroom. It's not just the two massively ruptured blisters on my heels or the ones on both pinky toes. It's the ones on the middle toes that have me worried. I had a blister all around my toe nail so that my toe nail was actually lifted up in the middle of the blister I had no choice but to pop it. So my toe nail would return to its rightful place. It wasn't that painful, but I'm really not sure if I did it right. My heels are throbbing right now. If they're not better in the morning I honestly don't htink I can hike. Please God help my fee. I can't not hike tomorrow. Billy just told me he was impressed with my hiking. I'm not here to impress him, but it would definitely suck to have some seriuos issue right after that. I thought about a lot today - some important things but I can't write about them now. I'll say this though prior to this moment there was no doubt that I'd do this trail, and there still isn't but my feet..... I've never felt so crippled. Anything else and I could go and suffer, but this I just don't know.....10pm I just woke up. My feet felt much better but when I slippped my boots on to pee it was pretty painful. I have an alieve in me so it's safe to say tomorrow will be rough. I think I can push through the pain. It was bad today too, but I wonder if medically that's ok. I never read anything blisters. Anyway, sense of time is weird. I slept three hours and am wide awake now. Hope I can fall back asleep. Nice night though. wonder what everyone at home is doing.
Date: 2006-03-29
From: Sassafrass mountain

To: Just before Big Cedar Mtn
Miles today: 0.0

7pm - I'd be lying if I said today didn't bring thoughts of home. Through massive blister pain, and immense frustration at our pace and lack of breaks I thought of going home. I thought about soaking my feet and lying cuddled up in K. I almost called my dad today. We got to a place where I was pretty sure there was phone service and I was on the verge of tears. I was looking for my phone when I saw my H (my friend I'm out here with). I stopped searching because I didn't want H to know what I was doing, but I wanted to call him so bad. I wanted to call him and cry. I wanted to tell him how much this wasn't going how I wanted it to and how frustrated I was, but I couldn't. I'd imagine if I had he would have apologized and told me to follow my heart - that he loved me. Maybe that's all I would have needed. B (my friend's boyfriend) likes to play things by ear, but that usually means I get screwed. We're pushing hard, and that wasn't the deal. We were supposed to take it easy in the beginning. I really wanted to take it easy in the beginning, but I'm outnumbered. H mentioned something to B about breaking for an extended period tomorrow. I think she sees how frustrated I am. So, do I want to go home 3 days in? Let me think for a second.... No. I don't. I'm out here to find something - an inner strength, an inner peace, maybe a Godly peace too. And then when that's done I can go back to everything I'm comfortable with. I have a good life back home, blessed really, but something wasn't working or I wouldn't be out here. Day 3 was tough, but its over and maybe the morning will bring renewed strength.   Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Date: 2006-03-30
From: Just before Big Cedar Mtn

To: Blood Mountain
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: few clouds

5:30 - So, today was significantly better. That may even be an understatement. As we speak we are sitting on a humongous rock looking out over the Appalachian mountains waiting for the sunset. We just took a shot of captain and for the first time I feel some commradery. So, what changed from yesterday? Well, the ups didn't get easier nad the flat ground didn't come more often, but I felt alittle stronger and the duct tape helped [my heels]. I felt like H & B & I were talking and listening to each tother, but the truth is we laughed today. Alot. And, for the first time I felt like we were all here together. Day 3 is not gonna be my last rough dayand day 4 wasn't roses either, but I'll make it and when I get home I'll be ready for whatever. A house with my dad and brother - a potential life with K or even if he's not involved in the grand scheme, I know when this is done I'll be ready to go forward. Although, 4 days in an dI have to admit I'd like K to be in my future. I've thought about whether or not I want him there just because he's been around, but ht etruth is in so many ways he has all the characteristics of what I want. Ryan asked me once why I had to do the whole thing. Like, if I found what I needed in a week - why not come home? Well, because it's only 4 days in and I've already realized so much about what I want, but whose to say there aren't countless more lessons awaiting me in the next 5 months. This is only the beginning of the enlightment. I'm alittle nervous about if I return home and Kyle doesn't think the same way, but we'll see that's something else that maybe I need to think about. Sunday we'll see if he left a message for me and how our phone conversation goes. Olga doesn't thinkhe's going anywhere - just from how he looked at me and spoke of me, an dwhen she said that it meant alot. I'm rambling nowso I'll be done for now, but I can't wait for Helen when I can gage where he's at. It hasn't been as much time for him as me. A few days, a few days...
Date: 2006-03-31
From: Blood Mountain

To: Whitley Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

7:30 - There's alot that I thought about writing today, but I'll go with my immediate thought. I find that I"m apologizing form my speed and asking H if B is aggrevated and quite frankly caring too much. Who am I on this trip for? I pushed myself today through blistered feet and back pain and I think I did a damn good job so starting tomorrow no more apologies. Silvia's facebook wish for me was that I came here and stopped caring what other people think, and this is the first step. She's right. No matter what you do or how well you do it not everyone is going to like you. What matters is that I like me an dpart of what I'm doing here is making sure I do. I thought more about K today. I wonder if I'm not doing with him what I always says people who end up divorced do. They get it in their mind that they care about someone, need them even, and eventually fall madly in love and get married without taking into consideration that in a marriage there are times when you don't like each other and your two lives must become one. Are they going in the same direction? Kids? Jobs? K has a sense of loyaltly that I admire, but I don't know if he has a passion for me. Maybe he just feels because we've been dating for so long that it ought to be more....hmmmm....Good thing there's plenty of time to sort this out. I'm changing and then trying some new blister stuff I got in Neel's Gap. One more day and then Helen! Whoo-hoo - hotel :-)11:56pm It's amazing to me that this little tent is keeping me so dry and safe as the wind howls an dthe rain pours - crazy. When I awoke due to rain I instinctively stretched my calves and was able to do so without tremendous pain (due to heels) which is a good sign for tomorrow. Not looking forward to a wet morning. If it rains like this all day I may not leave my home. We'll see. My contacts are bothering me too. Ready for new ones.
Date: 2006-04-02
From: Henson Gap

To: Helen, GA
Miles today: 4.0

7:20pm (Dick Tracy's wife gave us a ride into town 2 miles or so into our hike down the windy highway)I'm surprised by how much more I enjoyed the barren rocky woods of GA than I do the populated areas. That may not necessarily be fair, but the things we've seen today... the classic, stereotypical, red neck, tooth missing, ignorant comments - the drinking and smoking with small children, the clydesdale drawn carriage of overworked beauties. In general, the people are exceptionally pleasant, but so simple. We first reached civilization at Neels Gap FA and as the nice bearded employee helped me find a special pad for my feet he asked the quantity I required. "i'll take a bunch" I had responded. "how many's that?" he asked. "10" His co-worker commented that a bunch was always 10. The man looked at him questioningly and asked since when. "It's a yankee thing" he responded and I was unexplanably proud. I felt a similar pride when the hotel concierg asked if I started the trail in Boston after only a few mere seconds of speaking with him. I think thi smay be the adventure I needed to show me where my heart is, and therefore my home too. These are the kinds of questions I wanted to find answers to, and if, as (i should say) I stick this trail out I know there are only more answers to come.   By the way when I turned my phone on there was a text from K saying he was thinking of me. Then he called me babe on the phone. I don't know if we'll survive this trip and come out together, but it sure made me happy to hear him call me that and to see that text. Time will tell, God will tell and our hearts will speak for themselves. Excited for tomorrow - a day of nothing.
Date: 2006-04-03
From: Helen, GA

To: Helen, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Everything has been going reall well until I called for a cab ride back to the trail when I told Hthat it would be 40 dollars she told me to call and cancel. It was the way she said it and how she jus tmade the decision that bothered me. I did as she asked but was a little confused about it. I know money frustrates her, so I was trying to let it go, but I heard her tell B if he wanted to get a ride she'd pay. I was frustrated that she asked what he wanted to do, and told me what we were doing. Then when I came out of the bathroom she was like "if you want a ride call, but that's money we don't have to spend" I started to say I thought it was reasonable considering ti would be almost a whole day of hiking on hte highway adn she interruped and was like "I know you odn't want to walk up hte hill" as if I"m being such a baby. That's an 11 mile hill that she's talking about and once we get to the gap we have a mile and a half switchback and a 1000 ft elevation gain to climb. I explained that while this visit to Helen was expensive we were trying to figure things out and that it was kind of a learning experience. She then said "fine, call for a ride then" still aggrevated and telling me what to do. I took a showere instead. I know she's frustrated but it's not my fault. I seriously think we will regret hiking to the gab, but we're all getting antsy here and money is frstrating so we'll just have to see. I hope the morning goes well.I just spoke with my dad and he's giving me cab $. He told me tha the and Mike were talking about how amazing I am for doing this na dhow jealous they are. I know that they're right about this opportunity and it means a lot to me that they support me. I'm doing this for me, and I cannot let anything or anyone distract me from my purpose."I do wish I could put my arms around you" he said and chills ran up an ddown me. Between my dad, my brothers, my mom and K I truly am so blessed. Do I really need anyone else's approval? (aside from God's?) I think the answer's clear. My relationship with K still needs to be explored and much about the motivation considered. Like tonight when I asked him to tell me something that would make me feel better he said "I definitely miss you." I went on to explain that if we got together at the end I wanted it to be for the right reasons. Like, no just because I was there and he said what if b/c you are there is the right reason. I'm not sure what I make of that. Does he just want someone to care about? It's early in this trip still and I want to be back in the mountains. Maybe keeping a cell phone was actually a bad idea. Do K and I need to be totally cut off to really know? Ugghhh, emotionally I'm exhausted. Physically not so much, but I will try to rest my tired eyes. I can't help but think that if K was here, w/his arms around me everything would be better. But, he isn't. It's just me an dGod an dmaybe that's who I really should be wrapped up in. Now I lay me down to sleep....
Date: 2006-04-04
From: Helen, GA

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 0.0

8pm I don't want to write about this morning. If H choses to then I guess my side will go undefended, but, let's just say it wasn't good. We swept the whole thing under the rug and pretended like it was fine but for me it isn't. My mother gets really mad sometimes, well, not really now, but when we were little. I can remember instances where Tim and I would be locked in one of our rooms affraid. Not long after the upset she'd knock to ask aobut dinner. I didn't understand it then,a nd I don't get it now. It means the world to me to see someone else's point of view in a problem or a conflict. It helps to understand the other person and prevent similar conflicts in the future. It's one of my favorite human features, but when you ignore it, it lurks an dit's probably only a matter of time...It's gonna be a long 5 months if I keep focusing on K - it's exactly what I told Olga I didn't want to do, but I cna't help it. Thought of him always bring a smile to my face. It's early still though. who knows how things will progress.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: Addis Gap

To: Plumorchard Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

So, right now I asked where we were an dB started to sa it,a nd I rembered, so I cut him off. H waslike that's pretty "Pranorchard" and we were like, ya, that's pretty but it's plumorchard. I guess that's a story you had to be there for. Anyway, today went ok, we've had fun since we stopped. B wants to push to Franklin for Sat morning instead of Sun night, but I think H and I both think that may be too much. We'll see. This is our first night in the shelter and I'm kinda nervous b/c I know I snore, but I can't be the only one. Also, B introduced me today as H's best friend. It was probably just semantics but I'd never though abou tit before. Well, anyway, it's weird in the shelter. I hope I get some sleep. I was really hungry all day today. I'm gonna have to increase my food intake. Missed my guinea pig a lot today - when I get back I'm gonna have to spend mass amounts of time reacquainting him with me. Alright, going to try to rest. *****April 5, 2007**** I don't want to alter these entries unless it's absolutely necessary, but I do feel that in this instance it is. This is the shelter where I was branded "Pillbox" completely and totally against my wishes. I didn't realize it then, but later in PA, so alive (another thru hiker), remembered that I was named here. What happened was I thought I lost my vitamin box for the 3rd time. I ended up in tears b/c it was honestly what was carrying me through each day. When I could see each box (labeled sunday-saturday) empty out I knew I was accomplishing something, and that much closer to town and the end (the beginning was rough for me). Anyway, b/c of my passion and dependency for that box I got my trail name, which people still call me a year later. Thankfully, I grew to love it!PS This is also were we learned mice will steal your stuff. An arbitrary item this night, but it gets worse...
Date: 2006-04-06
From: Plumorchard Shelter

To: Standing Indian
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I have a confession. I turned my cell phone on. I wanted to know if K got my message thanking him for his support, but I hadn't recieved any text. What's weird is I spoke with him Tuesday morning. It's now Thursday night. It's perfectly reasonable that he wouldn't have texted me yet. And still I not only found I was upset but actually thought he maybe forgot about me. It's been two days since we spoke na dhe was so sweet. So, why so worried? Is it K I'm affraid to lose or the support an comfor na dslef confidence K plays in my life. I'm sure I'll speak with him in a few days. I"m curious what's gonna happen at the end. I've spent almost all of today devising a plan for my life. ONe involves K and one does not. Either way, I think things look promising. B wants to hike to the top of the mountain to catch the sunrise tomorrow, so I better try to get some sleep. Good day today.
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Standing Indian

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

We hiked a mile and 1/2 today before the sun came up to try to make it to the top of Albert Mtn. It was a nice idea, bt didnt' exactly work out. A few people came with us. Mudbogger I and I and a section hiker. RD (the section hiker) is an older gentleman, 64 I think and he wnated to try to keep up with us. He did awesome, and he's sincerly the nicest gys. He filled my water and does whatever for anyone, but he wants to share a room - double up in town. I think he must ahve meant with B, but he knows H an dB are together, so I'm not sure. Still, he said to save money but the truth is the whole thing makes me uncomfortable. Is he shady, slimy or give off any sense of creepiness? No, not in the least, but still I just can't do it. I tend to be very private at first, an dI felt horrible when he mentioned it to me, but I don't think it's unreasonable for us nto to bunk with him. Although I have a feeling the difference in what's acceptable may be a north/south issue. Anyway, we're stopping the day after tomorrow and I'm anxious to talk to K. It's funny, but I have some vide of a night at his house and I hate watching it b/c I'm acting stupid and I think annoying people. I'm sure we all have our moments (especially when we're intoxicated), but watching it just makes me cringe and feel like I should be lucky to have any friends at all. I'm sure there are parts of ourselves that we all hate and actions we don't like too. And somehow, more managed to be caught on tape. I wonder if anyone else remebers that night or how annoying I was. Probably not and yet it still bothers me so much. It's weird what we humans put ourselves through. I hope K's thinking of me :-) and that everyone and everything at home is good. I'll find out soon.
Date: 2006-04-08
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: moderate rain

morning: Camping is a lot of work. Onthose mornings like today when it's harder to get up then it ever was in high school, and it poured the night before and it's still raining and you know you have to pack upu your entire home/food/clothing and everything you own is soaked thouroughly including your towels, you realize how much work this is and how unlike the peaceful escape I may have envisioned. But then, you remember something your here to accomplish something and just because your deep inthe woods doesn't mean you can escape life. Life has bad days. Life has rainy days and wheterh or not your in the woods or at home in a 9-5, at some point, you go out in the rain.Rock Gap Shelter: So, today we met the nices man - trail name crutch b/c he's hike portions of the trail on crutches. He's an MA native and such a nice guy. IN th emorning he's going to give us a ride into town. I woe him a beer though b/c I called to let them know there were 7 of us, which is the max he can take b4 upgrading the van, but the guy misunderstood me and so crutch came all the way back up. He wasn't mad at all and in the morning he's bringing us coffee. I asked if people fall in love with him often b/c of all the trail mafic he doesn and he laughed and he said he's still single - no one would wnat to live his life - independently walthy and retired since he was 37 (he sold his company). He basically lives in the woods. Anyway, I said I could buy him a beer tomorrow, which I'd be happpy to do so. It should be fun.We had easy terrain today - a lot was very rocky and fun to scramble around on. I know we have some hard days ahead, but I'm happy to be out here. I'm pumped to talk to K tomorrow and my family. I'll call around if ther's sprint service, but I doubt it, so I'll probably jsut talk to K. My mom and my dad, but that's ok for now. I'll send out some more postcards nad I'll call everyone else after April 23rd or 26th or something. H just told me that if she can't walk it's over - see you later. I'll have to remember to pay attention to her when she's old and decreped. She's older than me after all ;-). All you can eat buffet in town tomorrow, coffee in the AM and contact with the people I love the most. All in the midst of a 5 month vacation where my only worries are weather, food and having to bee. Good Bless America.