morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-02-21
To: THE Email 
Miles today: 0.0

Here is what I have currently to email my work to ask for a leave of absence. I plan on sending this over next Wednesday the 29th of February. This will give them a full month of notice. I work for an *Unnamed Bread Company* as a bakery technician/sales representative. I enjoy what I do and am good at it. I do not expect the request to go over well, but would like to leave the door open for a possible rehire when I return. I have *Edited* names to protect the innocent. (actually to protect my job right now)...*************************Subject: Request for Leave of AbsenceFebruary 29, 2012M*,I am requesting a six month leave of absence from the company. A window of opportunity in life has opened for me to hike the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Several changes in my life situations have enabled the possibility to fulfill this dream. This is a serious request and I understand the possible ramifications of this tentative undertaking. I am asking you for leave during the months of April thru September of 2012.I have worked diligently for G* for the past five years and have proven myself an asset and reliable employee. I have represented, and continue to represent myself and G* in an exemplary manner. In return, G* has continued to treat me with consideration, respect and 'put bread on my table' for my efforts. I understand that this is an unusual request and comes at a time that we are seeking additional employees in the North East. I hope that you look past the current inconvenience and forward to the benefits I will continue to bring to the company returning this fall.The Appalachian Trail is a 2184 mile continuous foot path that stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. In recent years, approximately two thousand hikers per year strap what they need on their backs and set out for 5-6 months to complete the path in its entirety. Most, as well as I am, start in the south and head north. The success rate numbers show that only a little over 1/4 of attempted 'Thru Hikers' finish the trail. The drop out rate is overwhelmingly largest in the first few weeks of the hike. Although I plan on completing the trail, there is always a possibility of an unforeseen happenstance that may force me off the trail early. Please take this into consideration when processing and discussing this request.I highly value and enjoy my career with G* and hope to continue our relationship. If granted this leave, upon return, I plan to continue my employment with G*. Although driven to complete this hiking trip, I am also driven by financial responsibilities upon my return. My teenage daughter will be starting high school next year and I need to look ahead to her possible college years. Also, the years keep slipping away and I need to continue salting away for my retirement (hopefully with G*). If this request for leave is not possible due to specific G* policies, I ask for your open dialogue to discuss any rehire options that my be available.Thank You for your consideration with our continued working relationship.*Signed**Email**Phone Number***********************************
Date: 2012-03-03
To: THE Response
Miles today: 0.0

This past Wednesday I readied my email for work to request a leave of absence. As I typed the email and attached the letter (see previous post to read), I paused before sending. I paused for a few minutes and contemplated all that I have and how lucky I am to have it. Then I sent it on it's way reminding myself of my reasons for hiking (see next entry). Nervously, I shut down the computer and waited for a reply. I purposely sent the email at 6:30pm. This would make it 5:30pm out at the main office and hopefully give some time for them to contemplate my request before they felt they needed to respond. Either I would get a phone call within 5 minutes, or they would respond the next day. The response from my company's Vice President came the next day. I abbreviated it here and have not mentioned the comany as to not step on any privacy policies.It was in the afternoon and I was in between seminars at a food show for a local supermarket chain at their main office. The email started out:Good Morning Al,We are accepting this e-mail as your letter of resignation...Nice! I knew it would not go over big, but I didn't expect to walk into a brick wall. I was unsure if she meant immmediately or if I could work through a notice period. As I have been planning on the next four weeks of work to help fund the expenses of the thru hike and bills while I am away, I responded accordingly. I was in the middle of working and didn't have the luxury of polishing up my response like I did my initial letter, but my 'back peddling' went like this:M*,Thank You for your prompt reply, but I believe that there must be some error in how the request was taken. As per my letter, this is a 'request for leave' and should not be construed as a resignation. I simply was asking, not telling. I need to finish up with the show and seminars I am currently doing then I will call you to discuss further.Thank You,AlAfter a phone call and confirming that they were not letting me go, I reiterated that I was asking for leave and not resigning. This now puts me in back into a position to wait a couple weeks then give my two weeks notice. Now I definately know where the company stands. I do understand that they are a business and have policies in place that they need to follow. I still hope to have a possible employment opportunity in the future, but we each need to go our own way sometimes.
Date: 2012-03-10
To: AHC Lehigh Gap Hike
Miles today: 0.0

Great little hike today (<8 miles) with the Allentown Hiking Club up at the Lehigh Gap. Crisp & Clear weather complimented this hike led by Jim Gabovitz. About 15 of us started at the Nature Center and hiked up to the AT. Hopped off the AT and up to the communication towers then down and around the scenic view trail overlooking Palmerton. The uphill kicked my butt as usual as I was very winded all the way to the shelter. Once near the top, I had to put on the wind breaker especially on one side of the mountain due to the cold breeze. One month and counting down! I am really getting psyched! Focusing in this last month on taking hikes (long or short) whenever I can fit them in. Tomorrow I will take another couple hour hike over at the reservoir again. My knees and ankles have been holding up great with no issues recently. Onward...Enjoy!
Date: 2012-03-25
To: T-Minus 2 Weeks & Counting
Miles today: 0.0

Hiked over at Green Lane Reservoir yesterday. It was my first 15 mile hike for a little while. I started on the blue trail at the Hill Rd day area. Then met the red trail at Knight Rd and crossed the bridge, then continued to the Connector Trail. There was also a small section on the Perkiomen trail before meeting back up to the blue trail and back to where I started. I carried my full pack and felt good the whole way. I was tiring a little near the end, but this is probably due to my lack of rest stops. It rained lightly for a couple hours of the hike. My eVent rain jacket performed very well and I will be taking this on my hike instead of my ground sheet poncho. Note: 'Gear' Updated. The hike went very fast, but this was probably due to the fact that, besides the blue trail, it had very little elevation changes and was not challenging terrain. Some of the trail was very level and even had some finishing grit/stone on it like in the picture. Obviously, most all of the AT will be nowhere near as graded as this path, but it was still great to be out walking with my pack. I passed (or was passed) by numerous horses on the red trail as well as mountain bikers and trail runners. Nice day to be out, even with the precipitation. Two weeks left before my trip and only one week of work. I have already had more than one people/business, that I both directly and indirectly work with, ask of my plans when I return. They basically told me that they thought highly of me and to call them when I return about possible employment opportunities. This is very nice to hear and somewhat of a comfort that there may be additional employment avenues available upon my return.Hard to believe that I will be out walking for months on end in just two weeks from now!Enjoy!
Date: 2012-04-09
To: Day Before Departure
Miles today: 0.0

Well here it is! The day before I leave for Springer. I woke up this morning and quickly rolled out of bed. After my coffee was in hand my mind immediately started to run away with stray thoughts. The hike is here. Although nice talking about it with family, friends, co-worker and other hikers...it is just talking. Now comes the doing. As I got up for a refill of joe, I felt a tenseness in my back and at the same time a sharp pain presented itself in my right ankle. Great! Is this just my body/mind fooling with me or is it going to be an interesting first few days on the trail? It is hard to describe the feelings and thoughts that are present. They go from definite excitement and pure anticipation to anxiety and unease. What have I forgotten? Are all my ducks in order? How is my family and especially my daughter going to be and how selfish am I to be leaving? Stop. I need to bring myself back to my 'Why?'(see previous post). This is what I have worked towards for the past couple years. Right now, this is my someday. Cowboy up and get a grip! More than that, start enjoying and fully experiencing what is happening. All of it.OK- Enough letting my mind run off with itself.The week off of work has been nice. I did not get as much done as I thought (is it like this when you are retired too?), but still very nice.I am very blessed to be able to go on this trip. Thank You everyone for your thoughts, prayers and support. Easter dinner was wonderful and spent with family and friends. I am sure that I will have thoughts dancing around in my head of the wonderful layout of food as I am on my hike and taking another spoonful of peanut butter. It was also great getting together with friends the other night for a small impromptu send off. Let me apologize now for all the soon to be missed birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and everyday interactions. Hopefully we will catch up when I get back. I will try to update this journal as much as possible along the way. If you have not signed the guest book yet, feel free to do so. FYI...when doing so, if you type your email address in, it does not publicly show it. It just makes it available to me. I hope to see some of you along the way! Wherever life has taken you...Enjoy! Edit: If you would like to email me directly, please use my 'One with the Trail' Gmail Account: onewiththetrail@gmail.com If you have my cell phone number, you could also send texts. Either or, I will get them when I am near town/resupply and access my electronics. Thanks!
Date: 2012-04-11
From: Amicalola Falla - Approach Trail

To: To Campsite 4.7 miles in on AT
Miles today: 13.5

AWESOME! Here we go...Yesterday my Father and I drove down to the start of the approach trail. It is at Amicalola Falls State Park. Noteable stops included breakfast at a Waffle House and while being detoured, giving a Tn man with a broken down vehicle a ride. We arrived before dinner time and waited for Big Rig to get dropped off by his shuttle driver Ron Brown. We had a dinner buffet at the lodge and a walk to the top of the falls before bed. In the morning we decided to hike the 1.2 miles from the archway behind the visitor center to the lodge before breakfast. This was a beautiful little section that had picture perfect views of the falls (see the perfect pictures) and included 604 stairs. A breakfast buffet then some pictures preceded our departure north. My Fathers final words were 'Good luck...be careful...don't hurt yourself...have some fun...meet people...enjoy'. Thanks again Dad for seeing me off on the journey.It was 9:00am and we were hiking from the lodge north on the approach trail toward the start of the AT. Down at the lodge, I had met Eon an aspiring thru hiker and his father Michael and chatted with them for a while. While climbing the approach trail the first other thru hiker we met was Jay from Jersey. I do not know if this is his real name or a trail name due to him 'rolling his own'. I guess I will find out up the trail. Eddie from VA was a section hiker going up to the NOC.It was beautiful, cool and windy. We worked up a sweat going uphill and quickly shedded a layer. Big Rig and I have different layering systems going and he likes to hike with an extra layer on, where I like to be slightly cool and not work up the sweat as to not get chilled to begin with.Took a break at Black Gap Shelter and hiked DOWN the 0.1 mi blue blazed trail to the spring. That was a long 0.1 and even longer hiking back up it. When going to purify the water we found out that Big Rig had neglected to put batteries in his steripen (UV water purifier) and would have to rely on mine. While resting for a few minutes at the shelter, we met Dillard who hails from the Orlando FL area. After chatting with him, we found out that he use to live in the same TX town that Big Rig currently lives in.We reached the summit of Springer Mt between 2:30 and 3:00pm. While we were signing the log book we saw a few day hikers and a few thru hikers (Jay, Mud Bug, Kyle & Dillard). The weather was beautiful and Temps now were in the 60s. I was planning on camping at the Springer Shelter, but we still had alot of daylight and a little energy so we headed farther down the trail. We ended up camping by a stream approximately 4.7 miles in on the AT. This plus the 8.8 mile approach trail brought the daily mileage to 13.5.A beautiful campsite but the forcast calls for a chilly night getting down to just above freezing. I am thankful for my good friend Big Rig and glad that he is along to share this first week on the trail with me. I am tired and hopefully will be well rested by morning.
Date: 2012-04-13
From: Gooch Shelter

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: few clouds

Woke up at 6:00 this morning. Looks like it is going to be another glorious day! Happy Friday the 13th!I packed away my sleeping bag and got out of my tent. After getting down the food bags from the bear cables that are at many of these shelters, I woke up Big Rig. Day 3 on the trail heading north (I hope). We stopped at Woody Gap to rest and replenish our H2O. There are picnic tables and restrooms there (even toilet paper!). Walking up we saw two young hikers with large backpacks and two dogs. Tom and Emery are thru hikers who have a site at trailboners.com if you want to check it out. They are wearing a helmet camera that they say takes a picture every minute of their hike. It may be a few weeks before any of the pics get posted, but it should make for a nice show. Not only are they hauling around 60+ pound packs (read:pain), but they are hiking with two dogs as well. They seem committed and I wish them luck. If I ever try that, please have me committed. Also at the Gap we met Mike from Florida (Tampa area) he has lived there 20 years but after stating I was from PA he mentioned about growing up in Gettysburg, PA. He just had two zero days in Suches to recuperate as his legs were not cooperating with his hike. Also, he was hiking slower than he anticipated so he needed to resupply sooner. I was eying up his lunchmeat sandwich that he had just brought from town. Yummmmm, real food. Ok, I will stop salivating now as my ink is smearing in my journal.The climb up Big Cedar Mt was a rough little climb. Although not that long, (0.75 mi?) it was steep! It slowed both Big Rig and myself down considerably. Talking about slowing down, I must be.... or Big Rig is hiking faster. The first day, Big Rig lived up to his 18 wheeler hiking style and was very slow on the uphills and very fast on the down hills. I outpaced him the first day and a half. Into the second day, he started turning on the juice. Today he was almost a machine setting the pace the whole day and almost always in the lead.There have been signs posted for a bear canister restriction area. Hikers are not allowed to camp without a 'bear canister' between Jarrad Gap to Neel Gap (including Woods Hole & Blood Mt Shelter). A trail runner from the ATC, 'Razor', was also informing hikers of this about 4.5 miles out from Neel Gap.Really hurting today. Feet, leg muscles and shoulders. I have never, that I remember, had my quads hurt so much. I always thought I had strong legs, I guess at my weight they need to be conditioned a little bit more to carry me through at this pace. On the bright side...absolutely no issues with my ankles or knees. I have been extremely careful, especially down hill to take it slow and safe.We stopped for a while a few miles before Neels Gap. Wow, what a beautiful sunny day again! Deep blue skies and puffy white clouds complimented by a breeze. The multiple spring green colors of the leaves against the sky begged for us to take a longer break, but we wanted to make it to the Mt Crossings Outfitter for resupply before they closed.
Date: 2012-04-15
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night we got to Blue Mt Shelter around 10pm. The first part of the night hiking was not difficult. The last section was. Rocks and roots abounded. We got to the shelter and saw numerous tents set up but no one in the shelter. This usually means mice. It was late, we were beat so we both slept in the shelter. There were a few mice and I did not sleep well. The shelter was also windy. On the bright side, there was a beautiful sunrise that we could see right from the shelter. Getting up in the morning we both were extremely sore from the 18+ mile day before. When we were hiking down into Unicoi Gap we saw Kevin, a hiker we met at Blue Mt Shelter. He said that his legs were hurting bad and he was going to a VA hospital down the road at the Gap. He is now unsure about continuing his thru hike. At Unicoi Gap, 'Solo', a 2011 Thru Hiker was giving some great little trail magic including coffee, donuts, poptarts, slim jims, etc. He said that yesterday he even had cold beer. A day too late and a beer short, but this was still wonderful! Thanks again Solo. His site from his hike is Davidshike.com.After Unicoi Gap and climbing up Rocky Mt we ran across some more trail magic on the trail. Soda cans left for the hikers. More great weather and more great people make for a continued strenuous but wonderful hike.This section had a couple rough 1000 ft climbs & descents. Rocky Mt & Tray Mt plus a little after that a tough 900ft mile long hike that was steeper due to not having switchbacks. Rough.Big Rig is hurting. His upper quad was in pain and he can't lift his left leg up far without a lot of effort. His fight with congestion continues. I think the last green phlegm monster that he produced started to crawl off the rock it was deposited on.I feel pretty strong right now. Especially after considering the terrain and the pace with which we covered it. I am still hurting, but it seems manageable at this time.The forecast called for a 10% chance of rain, and it did cloud up and spritz on us for a short spell. We removed our packs and put on our rain jackets and pack covers. Blue sky prevailed again before Tray Gap. Tray Gap was great! MORE Trail Magic. The 'B Team' there were three guys who were supporting three other hikers known as the 'A Team'. They were from SC and had a layout of pancakes, syrup, coffee, water, sodas, gatorade and fresh fruit! Wow...Thanks Guys! They stated that they do this a couple a times a year and will be up in NJ in a few months. I will look for them.Right before Tray Mountain Shelter we met Gollum. What a neat guy. He must be around 70 and has a charming British accent with wit to match. He considers himself a 'Wandering Brit'. He decided to hold for the day at Low Gap Shelter, we decided to push on.
Date: 2012-04-17
From: Dicks Creek Gap (Hiawassee)

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Day 7Big Rig's shuttle driver picked us up at 10am and dropped me off at the Budget Inn to get shuttled up to the trailhead. It was great hiking with Big Rig...Thanks again for showing your support. ONWARD TO THE NEXT STAGE OF THIS ADVENTURE! Packed 13 into the van for another scary ride from "Shuttles". I kept picturing a tire blowing out and sending us tumbling into the rocks and trees below...but alas, all went safely to our destinations. I passed my digital voice recorder around the van to see who all was taking this ride. Those in the van were: Ducky & Honeybun from Nebraska - Sassafras & Snackasaurus Rex aka Sausage party going to Damascus - Tim from Dallas - High Gear from NY - Sex Panther from Denmark - Goose from Raliegh - Tim aka That Guy - Leonidas from Kansas - Hot wheels from Illinois - Myself (One) and the van driver ,"Shuttles".Sometimes the trail of life seems to fulfill needs at opportune times. The other day I had ripped my pack cover and used duck tape to repair it. At the Budget Inn Dirty D had a pack cover that did not fit his pack properly and he was putting it in the 'hiker box' in case anyone else needed it. It fits my pack perfectly and I thank him for it. It was very humid and partly cloudy hiking. Rain was definitely on the way. NORTH CAROLINA BORDER! I reached the GA/NC border the same time Sex Panther & High Gear did. We exchanged cameras and took pics for each other. Right after the border was a spring. The others kept going but I needed to refill on water and needed a break. Hot Wheels stopped at the spring right when I was leaving. My rain jacket was on as it started sprinkling. I got to the overly packed Muskrats shelter and set up my tent right when it really started to downpour. Hot wheels came in (only 15 min behind me) and told us of his encounter with a growling bear 10 yards from him when leaving the spring. Its all about the timing Wet night of thunderstorms.
Date: 2012-04-18
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Wet and cold, I packed up a soaked tent and other gear and headed north. The hippies, Zig and Corncob, and their adopted dog stayed at the shelter for a zero along with Leonidas. I heard a few days later that they got off the trail and were hitchhiking to TX. Rough day. Did I mention wet and cold? Onward to Carter Gap Shelter.
Date: 2012-04-19
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap US64 to Franklin NC 
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Squeeezed into this shelter THANKFULLY. People on floor and even under it near the back of the shelter where it sloped down. Going to push to Franklin tonight to the Budget Inn and get dried out. Literally a CLIMB up Albert Mt to the fire tower. Hitch hiked into Franklin with a truck driver named Lloyd. He was nice enough to even take me into the town and drop me off at the motel's doorsteps. Thanks again Lloyd! After hanging things out front to dry and putting laundry in I headed for the shower in my room. WOW! Great hot water and massive amounts of water pressure. It reminded me of that Seinfeld episode where Kramer purchased that blackmarket shower head. Nirvana.