morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Yes, it is STILL dark here In Alaska this morning ! I am getting eggs cooked for me and listening too good music. I don't think it gets much better then that....The roads are getting icy up here and my winter drving skills are getting tested.. yikes ! I have been using my Granite gear ozone this week.. pretty much fully loaded. What a sweet pack it is. The trail that I hike here is so so pretty. I can't wait to snowshoe it. This state never fails to stun me with its' staggering beauty. When the rivers freeze we will be able to run them and really see some magnificent country. I don't have much winter gear as I wasn't expecting to be [??] this time of year.. but am getting by.. for now. Almost every day I see folks running thier dogs.. some training for the grueling races to come, others cuz it is darn fun ! There is a dog team living next to the cabin that the guy NEVER runs. it makes me sad . They just sit on thier chain.. straining.. always straining, wanting to be free. I have very strong opinions about all this .I go over and visit them, bringing treats and attention. I feel awful when I leave the dog yard. Thier eyes watching every move til I go up the driveway and then the howling begins. I wish I could just unhook them all. Anyhow, still walking most days.. and sorting stuff out. I won't really do much planning til after the new year. As the curtain of winter begins to fall here Spring feels like a LONG way off..
Date: 2004-11-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I had a terrifying experience yesterday. While I was snowshoeing my dog got caught in a trap. I heard her yip... then yip again then silence. I don't understand trapping. It seems cruel and unwarranted to me. I have always been able to visualize the bite of the trap, the fear, hurt and eventualy panic of a wild animal. So, to hear that fear in my sweet dog was almost my undoing. I was about 2 miles of hiking to the car .. so I left my shoes and started running in the knee deep,foot sucking snow. I wasn't sure I would make it. I kept talking to myself... "you can do it.. you can do it .. keep running Sarah" When I finally got to the car I had to really focus on not simply tearing down the road. The roads here are now snow covered and will be until April/May. Brad was at the cabin.. thank God. We took the snow machine out and he freed her. The WEIRD thing was it ended up being his trap .. set for martin. My boyfriend traps. He felt awful and sorta stunned that it was his trap the caused this harrowing ordeal. I know that he does it.. duh.. and he knows how I feel about it but it has never crisscrossed our paths like this. Anyhow, he was very calm and efficient when he freed her and she was scared but fine. She loved the snow-go ride back to the car !.. ..I know one thing. I now feel even stronger about the issue. Most of the trappers don't hear the first bewildered whimper of fear. They are already dead when the check them.. so they don't have to go thru that part of it. I heard that and it will stay with me for a LONG time.
Date: 2004-11-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I have been snow shoeing alot lately and my appetite kicked in ! Kinda weird and brought back alot of memories. I follow Brad out.. he on his snow machine me on foot. It so wildly beautiful out here. We cross frozen rivers and I creep even though he goes across on a 500 lb machine I still tiptoe.. listening for the crack and break of the ice. Lulu scampers around enjoying the cold air and intoxicating smells. There are moments when Brad is far ahead and the silence is absolute. I gaze around at the mind bending scenery and then down to my feet.. looking for tracks..lynx.. wolf or the ever elusive wolverine. Right before our last river crossing we built a little fire and I sat on my pack .. gorging on tunafish sandwiches and thinking about the other fires I've leaned into... warming my hands. The AT has been wandering into my dreams.. both awake and asleep. I day dream about it while I am driving ..and drift off to sleep thinking about that pretty trail several thousand miles from here. I will miss Alaska next summer.. the long summer days and endless vistas and my splendid dog Lulu and of course, Brad. He thinks I am crazy.. But the sweet siren song of the trail can't be ignored. Is it 2005 yet !??!
Date: 2004-11-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It is supposed to be 25 below here on Sat and we are leaving for Costa Rica tomorrow ! Yahoooo... who needs all that cold weather ??.. I still can't believe I will be on the beach in a day or 2... in a very pretty little town called Zancudo. The cabina we will be staying in costs.. are ya ready ? 20 bucks !.. I grew up in the Virgin Islands so I KNOW how $ places are when it gets cold in the states . Costa Rica... remote, warm and cheap . Anyhow,today will be my last snowshoe for awhile and I feel withdrawl pains already. I have become an addict. There is something about crunching thru all that white expance that just makes my heart burst ! Or maybe that is my lungs.. I have most of my gear.. except sleeping bag. I will wait until early Spring and see what they come up with. Also see how much $ I have after CR... Lulu is watching me with worried sorrowful eyes while I pack... I hate leaving her. HOW will I ever leave her for the AT ? Dennis is taking her for this trip. I am so relieved by that. I know that he is lonely and she makes terrific company and that makes me feel good. The sun barely creeps over the horizon these days... just a glint of gold.. then back to white and black...stark and removed. Everyone is bundled up.. head down..borrowed in their winter gear. Then again, winters here are also achingly beautiful...sorta !!! next entry from the beach !... Yahoooo....) Bring on the freckles...
Date: 2004-11-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

snow shoeing.. what snowshoeing . I have no idea how to make a question mark so you?ll have to bear with me.. or a smiley face for that matter.. i am in costa rica !!!.. hey, I figured this out ..it is so freaking pretty here and hot ! I can?t believe I lived in this kind of heat for 26 years. If I am dreaming please don?t wake me up. The beach here is spectacular with the jungle growing to its edge and then spilling into the sea. I have seen monkeys, parrots, turtles and have eaten some very strange food.. I wake up sweaty and go to sleep sweaty. It is 30 below and dark in Fairbanks. I just can't get over that ! My friends are all freezing to death ! The people here are very friendly.. but it is more then that. They are happy.. just right where they want to be. How many of us can say that ?.. Folks walk around barefoot.. dogs slumber inside the restaurants.. and locals sprawl out under that coconut trees..snoozing the glorious afternoon away, brown as walnuts. I love that.. not constantly racing after the dollar. The fact is they seem to be quite content with next to nothing... kinda like we are on the trail. I wake up in the morning .. go onto the little porch and listen to the raucous screech of the birds.. the sky turning a pearl like pink..the ocean kissing the sandy bay and I think.. Wow....what a way to live. there are quite a few foreigners here.. lugging heavy packs around.. all with a story. Anyway.. have to head out and catch the ferry..life is mighty sweet right now..
Date: 2004-11-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I am not sure I can do this...no, not the hiking part..( although that is always a possibility ) but keeping a journal !!,, I tried to keep one in Costa Rica and I got all of 2 days in .. Yikes,, and I couldn't read my own frigging writing ! how in the world will anyone else be able to ?..I have kept a journal for a hike but not many and not for my other AT and Pct hikes.. which I regret, I did keep them for the Colorado trail, Long trail and some other short ones...I wasn't real good at it though.. lol. So this will be a challenge for me to keep up...I admire the folks that keep good journals. Well, finally back in my own little cabin . Yahoo !!.. I am sick of flying and eating weird food.. plus... drum roll please.. I am going snowshoeing today !! I can hardly wait to take my FAT dog out. Yes, she got fat while I was gone.. but was she ever happy to see me. How in the world will I leave her in a few weeks??. We are looking at a late March start in Georgia now. The sobo hike may change.. although I still hope to hike for a few weeks nobo and then jump to Maine and head south. I just can't wait til June to go..so gonna head north awhile.. I am going to look into a vapor granite gear pack in the next few days and shoes.. yes, I don't have shoes yet !!..I did pick up a feathered friends sleeping bag on sale in Seattle .I am amazed to be going out again. I haven't been on the southern portion of the AT since 94 and living out here I wasn't sure I would be again. Fact is, I am so thrilled to be going back out again and hope to soak this experience up like sweet creek water...the beauty, struggle and power of this beefy, glorious trail. what a treat ....Looking forward to meeting my fellow hikers out there !!.
Date: 2005-02-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I stood there underneath the bridge..bundled up and drinking coffee just like about 1500 others folks waiting for the first racer to come in. The late Feb sunshine making a mockery of the deep snowpack along the river.I didn't know quite what to expect as this was my first Yukon Quest so I was just stamping my feet , trying to keep warm... Then I saw them, this ragtag group of dogs.. trotting with what seems like a fierce yet exhausted determination towards us and the finish line. My heart literally stopped when they got close. They were thin with a half wild loping stride and by God they were gonna get the man riding the sled behind them where ever he needed to go. Some had eyes the color of a Spring Alaskan sky and others had droopy ears and dangling tongues. One thing they all had in common was a lionsized heart. Wow....They stopped at the finish line.. staring back at us.. seemingly confused with all the clapping. The winner talked to the reporters about " the Race " etc... but, I swear all I was really interested in was reaching out and sliding my hand along skinney flanks. Congratulations I wanted to yell !!.. Warriors.. While the mushers are all the rage.. the dogs.. well...they stole my heart and gained my admiration.The musher who came in 2nd was within a couple of feet of me and I saw the exact same look of some in distance hikers... beyond tired .. confusion just another minute or 2 away. He was whipped ! He had pushed his dogs wanting to gain minutes and in the process had succumbed to exhaustion himself. He has just 1 leg.. This race is the toughiest dog race in the world by far.. with weather conditions that would send most of us hikers running for the Super 8. I wanted him to win. I am still torn about the dogs..I know they love to run, live to do it.But, to see the limping, the ribs . I don't know..Anyhow, back to my hike,, ! I bought my ticket.. and will be in Orlando the 15 with hopefully on the trail a few days later. YAHOOOOO.. ) I have a transcriber now.. Wild Hare and she sounds perfect..Thanks so much for taking me on...,,,Yukon Quest 1100 miles-Whitehorse to Fairbanks AK
Date: 2005-03-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

There is a goodbye between the trail and I .. a goodbye for all us us hiking. I envision Brad and I in the car driving to the Fairbanks airport ..the dogs in the truck with us..I leave at 2 am to arrive in Fla at 5 pm. I think of me turning to hug Lulu and Vegas 1 last time.. skimming my hands down silky ears..then going inside. The airport up here is small and intimate and usually half empty a hard place to give a last long hug. Brad has been an astonishment in my life.. changed it absolutely. I know that the Trail and the summer will be over before I know it, even though at times it seems to move like I am underwater.. and I will be back in this airport laughing with a joyful expectancy to see him !.. and then racing out to the car to an armful of dog... but still the goodbye lurks . For the last decade or so I had been married to another distance hiker..so have never experienced the letting go or the missing...The AT is a LONG way from alaska in more ways then the obvious. But ya want to know something ?.. right behind this bittersweet emotions lurks an overwhelming excitement. I feel as if I have a secret and she it sitting on my shoulder whispering...right behind my tears.
Date: 2005-03-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This hike is Very very different from the others I am learning. I have been doing alot of thinking these last few days about the other trips and the reasons for them. Why Dennis and I spent virtually all our free time planning or hiking a long trail. We didn't have a connected marriage in alot of ways.. the hikes did that for us. I think we clung to them like folks pitched off a dingy into the raging icy waters of the alaskan coast. They were all we had . I was running away from my life.. plain and simple. I couldn't cope with what was going on in the real world ..so off I went, again. Part of me knew this while I was doing it but. NOW,,,, well,I see it alot more clearly. Don't get me wrong. I had a fantastic time... every time.. even the hard stuff was what I wanted and needed.   This trip is just so different ! I am not running from myself. I am happy here.. YAhoo! I love this little 16 by 20 foot cabin . Every time I look out my window, go for a drive or stretch my legs out here I gotta laugh..wow, is it lovely ! I feel good about where I am inside my heart.. no more running. I don't obbsess about maildrops or where I am going to be laying my head every night. I stopped doing that a long time go actually. It never worked for me. the Trail has her ways of letting me know...I am doing this hike this summer purely for the trail alone... the challenge, beauty,other hikers ( they are the best people in the world ! ) the great towns and the folks who reside there...but mostly just to walk awhile and enjoy this person I am becoming.Strengths weaknesses and all. I don't need anything from the trail this time around ! I know that probably sounds crazy but I always have before.. I'm free....can't wait for the hike to begin.
Date: 2005-03-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Fla is cold ! I might as well be in Alaska.. After what seems like a long time this adventure is about to begin. It is positively weird to be in such a busy place after the quiet of 2 Rivers Alaska. Where did all these people come from ? We spend most of our days buying bizarre amounts of junkfood.. We arent doing many drops but wanted to do a few in the beginning. I haven't done a hike with Brian in 16 years !.. We will learn as we go. Anyhow I miss Lulu and it was a painful day .. leaving. Here's to my girl.. Wild Hare for transcribing for me.. see everyone on the trail. I am Springer bound.. aint that amazing !
Date: 2005-03-19
From: I don't know, lol!

To: Approach Trail
Miles today: 0.0

Finally... after a wrenching goodbye, a long, tuff flight and several days in weird traffic and busy stores here we are! It is astounding to be here aftr 11 years and a lifetime of experiences to be about to take our first step on the AT again. Yahooo!!! very surreal... Brian and I out again after all these years. thanks to everyone who has helped us these past few days....hike on baby !! cant wait to start...
Date: 2005-03-20
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Black Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Is that a dead animal on his pack?? yes ladies and gents... someone actually thought my hiking buddy had a dead beaver hanging off his pack. He does have a stuffed bucky the beaver ...So, Brian has been christened Dead Animal... We are about 7 miles in at the shelter before Springer. There are couple of other hikers here and after a few minutes of conversation one informed me that he had food to Fontana dam in his pack !! Well, I tried to keep a straight face and then the other guy pipe in enthusiastically that he had food to Hot Springs (he had his hand on his lower back the whole time) Hot Springs?? are these guys crazy ? When I told them could resupply very easy and WAY before Fontana or HSpgs they were surprised and said they weren't hitching anywhere..lol... He actually had 90 lbs!! on his back including 25 cans!!...ouch. I told them I had 27 lbs on my back and they looked at me with disbelief! Yes, I am having a good time and nice to be back out on the trail after all the driving of the past week. I can't wait to see what suprises tomorrow brings
Date: 2005-03-21
From: Black Gap Shelter

To: Justus Creek
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

A long day today but felt pretty good. There are alot of folks out here! I had forgotten how busy the AT is. Everyone is very nice but I am amazed at how heavy their packs are. We saw 1 guy just sitting forlornly on a stump talking about going home already. He had a jansport pack that had to have weighed 70 lbs. Yikes! havent these people looked at trail journals for heavens sake !...lol. I am suprised though at how little info some have about gear. They just BUY. Anyhow, Iam having a fabulous time and it is so fun to be out again. Georgia is as pretty as I remember her and the folks every bit as nice. My gear is holding out well. I like the little tarptent and the vapor pack. There are 2 dogs out here and it makes me miss Lulu and Vegas. I wonder what is going on in Alaska? Brad you better be missing me! The creek is busy singing to me and I am going out to pay my respects..
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Justice Creek

To: Slaughter Camp. st
Miles today: 13.7

I'm sitting here in my tent trying not to get my sleeping bag wet... everything else is. It started out as a nice morning. We hiked under a bleak gray sky with rain clouds heavy above us. I like hiking in that kind of weather..the gray brings out the color in the trees, everything feels more remote. I love the small intimate canyons here with slender creeks skimming down the gullies. brian and I are having some difficulties as partners . I am stronger then he is and like the miles. It isnt easy doing something like this with just a friend. I would like to set my own pace and be independent as I am sure he would too. We are sharing a stove so...that makes it harder. It started pouring n the early afternoon and I got cold waiting for him. I don't want him to get hurt so just cant book on. Funny, when we did this hike together in 89 it was him who moved better and I struggled. I think after the 2 hikes on the PCT I just got alot more confident and these hills, while hard, dont seem to bother me much. Anyhow, the day ended well after some tension. I think if you are married or boyfriend-girlfriend it is different. we will se how we do in the long haul. I am excited to get to neels gap and drink coffee ! plus i want to get some straps so I can put the tent on the outside and a compression stuff sack for the sleeping bag. The other hikers are nice and scattered along the trail. We have yet to stay in a shelter as they are WAY crowded. I hope I dont blow away tonight ! wish me luck.. .
Date: 2005-03-23
From: slaughter camp. st

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: light rain

Yahoo! Yes, I got soaked last light. It freaking stormed and the rain found its way into the tent. I'm am figuring out better system to be more efficient at setting it up. We broke camp early and hiked up Blood mountain to a glorious sunrise... with clouds racing along the sky...hills drenched in rain, really pretty. It reminded me of New England. When I got to Neels I immediately gulped down a cofee and browsed the store.What a great place. It has grown up. Mickey 1 sock took us to town for a great burger and fries. A very nice guy who is starting his own hike April 2nd. We are in a cabin down the road with a few others. I don't think it has yet sunk in that I am doing this. I saw that traffic while I was hiking in this morning and I had to laugh out loud ! I am finally racing to a town for a diet Coke. It has been a long time coming. We will leave tommorow back to the woods, Hi Brad..ya ring ring. :0
Date: 2005-03-24
From: early morning

To: windmills of yappy's mind
Miles today: 0.0

it is early here at the cabin and i am watching the sky turn a silky pink. I have been thinking about the trail this morning. Mickey 1 sock reminded me about what kind of person i want to be. I lose sight sometimes. I want to be able to hike my own hike and still be fair to Brian . I am not sure how it will work out but I am going to try and not get impatient. I started with a partner and i need to give it a chance. I am already wanting to stretch my wings and embrace this whole hike MY own way and i have to just chill ! So, that is that. I have no idea how long we will walk together but this is where it is right now. Anyhow, packing up to hints of blue sky and nice temps...[transcriber's note: yappy sends me 5 emails at a time with NO DATES, so I am trying to figure out order and that is why you may have noticed that this post (and others) have swapped dates... just little glitches to be worked out... but we'll get it straight by Katahdin ;-)]
Date: 2005-03-24
From: Neels Gap

To: Chattahoochee gap
Miles today: 15.6

We had a perfect day today. We rolled out at 9 am. It was tuff leaving that very cool store with the best staff I have ever seen. REI could learn a thing or 2 from those guys. Lots of hikers came in. I saw the older fellow with the 70 lb pack gettin some much needed advice.Brian gotta new tent, the MSR Hubba. He is disappionted with the tarptent. I may get my zoid sent here too. This was the first day that we hit our stride together and enjoyed each other's company. I think things will work for us if we keep things simple and give each other space. The views today were for miles, the air crisp and the trail not to bad. We got our first magic today ! Coming out of Hogpen Gap, a couple was sitting out enjoying the spring sunshine and doling out bananas, soda and cookies. I am always astonished that folks do this for us. They don't have to and they really seem to like us stinky hikers. I love this trail!.. for alot of reasons. I saw some thru hikers from previous years kicking back at Low Gap swapping stories about folks we all knew. An instant connection. Well, I am tired..so gonna fall asleep with the full moon for company.[transcriber's note: editting entries kicks us off the front page update list, so I am not going to change the previous dates -- thanks yappy for including this info!]
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Chattahoochee gap

To: Sassafrass Gap
Miles today: 14.4

We left the gap this morning and worked our way to Blue Mtn shelter ( nice spring ) and now I am sprawled out in the sunshine in my bare feet. Not a bad way to live huh? It has been a terrific day with lots of climbs but sweet views too. I am having a fantastic time out here. There is something about walking that sooths me, just the motion itself is very satisfying and, let me tell ya, rubbing my feet on the ruff grass feels good ! I have seen lots of folks out enjoying a glorious spring day. Nice to chat with everyone. I even got some magic from a woman at Unicoi ! She was dropping off another hiker and she gave my an ICEY coke and a candy bar. Yum !! Well, gonna lay against my pack and listen to the silence awhile....miss you Brad..always missing you..Back again: It is evening now and the sun is just distant color in the sky and the full moon rising. We have a nice fire going and I faintly hear a guitar, and see lights twinkling in the distance. I think of those folks down there eating dinner with thir families and I am up here camped among the trees. Both are nice. There are quite a few older folks out here. Man, they are cool ! I hope I am so lucky to be out here when I am their age, strong too! I'm holding up well and feeling good... though tired at nite. To tell ya the truth I had forgotten how pretty GA is.. man, she is a beauty..! Well, gonna go hear these guys singa song or 2. I miss Idol !..