morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-12-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It has already been a week since I finished! Time slips by so remarkably fast.As I review my hike this year I conclude it was one tough hike. There was the difficulty of hiking southbound starting out with all the rugged terrain before developing hiker legs. Lots of humidity and heat caused me to feel sluggish. The giardia certainly took a toll on the body and the mind. A corn on my toe was more painful than my eroding knee and would plague me the entire journey. In the South the unusual cold weather along with the ice storms placed a damper on my last weeks of hiking. I also think the shortening of the daylight definitely took some enjoyment out of the journey. Usually during warmer and longer days I enjoy sitting outside the tent soothing my mind by viewing the wild surroundings. Hiking more often in the morning or evening darkness was not my favorite thing although it sometimes was a unique adventure. All that was part of the successful journal. Now I look back at all the difficulties and smile.I think my most enjoyable thru hike on the AT was in 2008. Weather-wise it was a beautiful hiking season. My 2012 AT hike was my second favorite. It was the central part of the Eastern Continental Trail thru hike. Weather was also very favorable that year. This year would be my third favorite. 1998 was my first thru hike and would rank as my forth favorite but that doesn¢t mean it was bad. It was a very wet year and I carried too much weight. I remember my sleeping bag was seven pounds!I carefully would not recommend a southbound hike to anyone. Unless that is the only timeline one could thru hike the AT I would strongly suggest a northbound thru hike overwhelmingly. Northbound starts with Spring. If there is a cold day there is always hope of warmer days to come. The excitement of all the Nobos with their energy, hopes and dreams blossoms into the sweet camaraderie. The longer days allows prolonged enjoyment of the mornings and evenings.One of the things that tugged my heart during this hike was when I was walking through Georgia. I¢d remember those times I headed north from Springer Mountain carrying a dream. It was such a time as we'd envisage a season of hope and excitement. No one knew what would be ahead for us but we all shared the hope and anticipation of a great life changing adventure.As I sit here drinking coffee and eating anything but peanut butter and Spam I must admit I miss the trail no matter what the conditions¢¦to a certain degree. I miss the smells, the vistas, the mountains and the people. I miss the moon and sun rising and setting. I miss the thru hikers, weekend hikers, day hikers and all those that emailed me, called me, or followed along on Trailjournals. Incidentally, I am surprised and blessed at all the comments, congratulations, and well wishes sent via my Trailjournal guest book. Thank you everyone.I love the Appalachian mountains. I love the Appalachian people. I love the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail Thru hike¢¦forever in my heart.
Date: 2018-12-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Prior to 2008 all I wanted to do someday was hike the Appalachian Trail a second time. That desire was fulfilled in 2008. Never in my wilds dreams did I plan or expect to hike the Pacific Coast Trail from Mexico northward and into British Columbia. That was a success in 2009. I had no desire to hike the Continental Divide Trail with its grizzlies and bushwhacking. Then that moment in December 2009 while carrying firewood in the snow up the hill to my house something changed my mind and I was at peace with it. Prior to heading out on the CDT, in the Spring of 2010 I went with a group to Vanuatu on a missions trip hiking into the jungle seeing a spectacular paradise and beautiful loving people. Later that year I finished the CDT. I thought what John Brinda hiked in 1997 and what Nimblewill Nomad hiked in 1998, both from from Florida into Canada, was the greatest hike ever. Even now I don¢t understand how I was able to hike the Eastern Continental Trail in 2011-12 and was successful. Trying to hike across the USA was a mix of successes, failures, and fallures (fallure is when one gives it 100% yet does not succeed). But I had a good hike from Battery Park, New York City, into Ohio. Then a similar good hike across Oregon to Riggins, Idaho (perhaps some year I can connect those hikes via a bicycle). This year¢s hike on the AT is the conclusion of 10 years of remarkable adventure.Tomorrow I¢ll return to my home in Pennsylvania and that is when and where I¢ll realize the journeys are complete. It could be a rough road. I¢m sure there will be some great desires to return to the trails but I plan to stay in place. My plans are to continue to work on trails as a volunteer at Worlds End State Park. A new trail is planned from the northern terminus of the Loyalsock Trail eastward to Ricketts Glen State Park and I hope to be an instrumental part with the construction of that trail. A few minor trails are planned in the area pending approval. I think I could be busy doing trail work for years as long as there is no interference.When I am home and out hiking this weekend I will conclude the 10 years of adventure and finish this journal. I never like endings because they do come too fast and they pass too slow. But, as one season ends another begins.
Date: 2018-12-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I wish I was on the other side of the dream, back when it all began, now almost 11 years ago. It was a sweet, simple dream. I've seen so many grand sights and met so many wonderful people. Sometimes I flew like an eagle and sometimes I was deep in despair.Well, this year is almost over and so is my season of adventure. One too many hikes down the narrow trail of time. I just don't know what to write. I do but it would be too mushy. Maybe I'll slip in some lyrics from songs and nobody will notice.Great thanks and sweet peace to all of you. Someday in the mist of time if someone asks you if you knew me please smile and say you were a friend of mine then this sadness would be lifted from my eyes.As far as my eyes can see...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWFeUNyfpmM
Date: 2019-01-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Yourprovidence has been extravagant! Against the odds You have permittedme to trek so far and yet return home so safe. My Appalachian venturewas not as a prodigal son but as an exploring disciple seeking Youand seeking You early when it is written that I will find You. ¢Takedelight in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires of yourheart.¢Theextravagance of Your artistry was on display wherever my eyes choseto glance.Duringthe lonely first nights when I questioned my decision You cloaked mewith Your extravagant peace.Onfrosty hilltops I was charmed by the extravagant displays Youpresented in the heavens. Withinthe wilds I journeyed and slept safely because of Your extravagantprotection.Asthe distance and days shortened, Your extravagant attentiveness tothe weary soul preserved me.Whomam I to seek and soak in all you have created? You have granted myheart's desires. Though my heart twists with many stirring memoriesand emotions and the tears wrung out, You gently eased my heart'spains and allowed me to understand what I was experiencing:Extravagant love, only given by an extravagant God, You. Oh, let thiswarrior-in-waiting give birth to an extravagant devotion to You.Oh,beautiful Father, how can I thank You for Your beautiful extravagantprovidence? How?
Date: 2018-05-16
From: Houston, TX

To: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I'm here. Harpers Ferry, WV. The AT "midpoint" and also home of the ATC headquarters.Feelings: Anxious, Lonely, Excited, Bewildered.Thoughts: What the hell am I doing here??HF is a small, expensive country-type town with country-type people. My Amtrak train from the airport in Baltimore got canceled, so I had to take a $120 Lyft ride here. If you have AT&T, there's basically zero cell reception in the whole town, except for on the corner of the street next to the Town Hall. So here I am standing in the rain trying to say my last goodbyes to people before I'm cut off from the world forever (until Monday) but like FOREVER. Its raining now, but apparently tomorrow through Saturday are supposed to be a god damn hurricane. I heard once that AT thru-hikers spend more than half their trip hiking in the rain, and honestly I believe it. So, it's gonna be a wet one folks! Time to stop fighting the wetness and embrace it!I'll upload my posts here once a week, so stay tuned!
Date: 2018-05-17
From: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

This morning, on my way out of town, I stopped by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters. Probably the coolest little place ever. The guys working there were super nice. They took my photo for the registery book, gave me a tag for my pack, and an overwhelming amount of advice. I found out that i'm the #161st Flip-Flopper of 2018 to start in Harpers Ferry. They wanted to know my whole schedule, why i was doing it, how i heard about it, etc. After talking with them, I felt like they were all so personally invested in my journey that there was no way i could turn back now. lol. I met a kid name Dale on my way out. He's here from Australia and surprisingly also has they same flipflop schedule as me. We were both headed to the same campsite for the night, so we spent most of the day hiking with each other.The hike out of HF was a bitch. There was rain, steep inclines, mud, rocks, did i mention the inclines?! I trained a lot for this, but there is nothing in Texas that could compare to the inclines out here. Like Texas is so damn flat compared to the terrain i'm going into. It's only day 1 and i'm ready to start dropping weight. My pack is around 35 lbs with 5 days of food and it's killing me. Everything is wet. like everything. Trying not to let it get to me though. I camp near a shelter because there's people around and some tenting sites. I don't ever really plan to use the shelters though. I prefer the solace of a tent no matter how hard it's raining. I met 3 NoBos (northbounders who started in Georgia). Raindance, One Shirt, and Spoons. Everyone out here goes by a trail name that was given to them by other hikers. I don't have one yet, but i'm sure it'll come soon enough. I learned of two things today that i really don't like. 1) ringing out my rain and sweat soaked socks before going to bed, and 2) hanging up your bear bag. Every night now before bed, I gotta put all my food in my food bag and hang it high up in a tree so animals don't get it. So, I tied my  carabiner to the end of my rope and through it up into the tree. It got stuck on the first try. Embarrassed and angry, I pull out my knife ready to cut the rope out of the tree and walk away. Luckily though, Raindance and the crew stoped me and decided they were gonna climb the tree and untangle it for me. It turned into a challenge between the 3 of them and was a real sight to see. Thankfully, they got it out. It took me probably another 20 mins though to successfully hang my bag. This will probably be my least favorite part of every day lol.
Date: 2018-05-18
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: fog

So first night sleeping in the woods and i had a series of really weird dreams. One of them was about a family (mom, dad, and 3 kids) that were trying to push me out of my tent and steal it. The other dream, more like nightmare, was of me waking up to the sound the Texas Chainsaw Masacre outside my tent reving up his chainsaw. I guess that's what I get for watching all those horror movies lol.I left the shelter around the same time the NoBos did. It's weird watching them hike and interact. I can't imagine being at the "halfway point" like they are. Both of the guys in the group are wearing really short, tight shorts because apparently this was the best solution to the terrible chaffing they were getting between their legs lol. I don't hike with them for long. Mainly because it takes 3 of my steps to equal 1 of theirs. They got the hiker stride and it'll be about a month until i get mine. While i'm hiking, i really start to crave some Jamba Juice. I would litteraly give anything for a Greens & Ginger smoothie right now. I was so spoiled at my job, and now i'm out here eating Ramen everyday...The trail today passed by an old church built during the civil war time. The caretaker, a chipper guy in his 60s, saw me hiking by and stopped me to ask where i was headed. When i told him Maine he just about freaked out lol. He thought that was the coolest thing ever. He told me all about the church, like who built it and when, and insisted on showing me the inside. There's a wedding happening there tomorrow so a bunch of people were inside decorating. He brought me inside and announced to the room that i was walking to Maine haha! Apparently thru-hikers are celebrities out here. It's crazy how invested strangers get into your own hike. At this point, i feel like the whole world is rooting for me, which is pretty cool. The Pine Knob shelter is mostly full of kids and weekend hikers. I pitch my tent again. I meet several more NoBos. Two being a young couple, Blueberry and Pickle, who both have a strong Alabama accent. And the other being an older guy named K-bar, who reminds you in just about every other sentence that he's an ex-marine lol. I don't expect to see them again after tonight because with their regular 20-25 miles a day they'll be light years ahead of me.
Date: 2018-05-19
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: light rain

The rain lightened up a little today, but still very wet. It feels like the terrain on the trail changes almost every mile. You'll be walking through a thick mudslide that feels like quicksand, then over giant slippery rocks, then through a shallow pond, then a gravel road, then a mowed lawn, etc. Really crazy. Experienced my first set of tech problems day. In order to keep me from going insane, I like to listen to music and podcasts while I hike. So I brought a back-up portable phone charger, so i could keep my phone alive and listen to music throughout the day. But for some reason, i woke up to my phone dead and the charger that it was plugged into overnight just stoped working. i was really pissed about the idea of having to hike in silence for the next couple of days until i can fix/replace it.Fortunately, though I met some slack-packers (people that day hike sections of the trail but drive home at night to sleep in their beds). A group of 3 middle-aged women out here doing some day hiking for the weekend. They call themselves The Grim sisters, which i thought was pretty awesome. They kept me company for most of the day while i hiked. I was surprised i was even able to keep pace with them for as long as I did lol. We exchanged numbers and they told me to keep them updated on my progress. I definitely can't quit now -- i got the whole world holding me accountable! lolI had to walk knee deep across Little Antietam Creek today, which was pretty exciting. The current was pretty strong because of the rain and i felt pretty top-heavy with all the extra weight on my back. At first I wasn't concerned because everything important in my pack is in a ziploc or waterproof bag. It wasn't until I was halfway across the creek that i realized that my phone was in my bra. lol So if i went down, my phone was definitely going with me. Luckily i made it out!The climb up to the shelter was insane. I was drenched in sweat when i finally made it to my tenting sight. I ran into two other girls my age who also just started in Harpers Ferry. There's way more people out here flipflopping than i expected to meet.Just so y'all know, I thought I'd breakdown my daily diet for you. The hiker diet isn't that glorious, and besides the instant packets of tuna and spam everyone out here has, it's not too hard to do it vegan. Breakfast: granola bars/ trail mixLunch: pb & jelly on flour tortillas Snack: vegan jerky (mailing to myself), seeds & nutsDinner: plain Ramen noodles with teriyaki sauce and dehydrated veggiesThis will pretty much be what i eat consistently everyday for the next 6 months, with slight variations every now and then depending on my resupplying options in towns and stuff.
Date: 2018-05-20
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.2

First dry day! Yay!Passed over the mason-dixon line, separating Maryland and Pensalvania!Saw some wildlife today, two black snakes! One was about 4 and a half feet long and was slithering down a creek over some wet rocks while i was washing my shorts and socks. lolThe Tumbling Run shelter im at tonight is super nice compared to what i've seen so far. Their tenting sights are graveled, so no sleeping on mud! Finally able to lay out my wet tent and clothes to dry. Mildew is starting to grow on the inside of my inflatable sleeping pad which smells real nice. As I set up my tent though i realize that i left my tenting spikes in the damn ground at the last shelter... Stupid!! So i make-do with rocks and sticks. I met a trail-runner at the shelter named Birchie who helps oversee a 50ish mile part of the trail. He's quite the character. He looks over my schedule for the next 7 days and basically changes everything. He directs me to better towns, better water sources, and better post office locations than what i had originally planned. A little overwhelming, but super helpful. The night ends with me, Birchie, and a group of 4 guys here from England sitting around a campfire while one of them sings and plays a miniature guitar he's carrying with him all the way to Maine lol!
Date: 2018-05-21
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2

Today was pretty hot and rocky. The one thing i miss about the rain is that it kept all the bugs at bay. Now i just have a permanent family of gnats that circle my head wherever i go lol. I did my first resupply in South Mountain, PA. At least i think that's what it's called. I walked a mile off trail to a hiker-friendly diner called Timbers. In the guide book it said they had a charging station and desperately needed to charge up my electronics. I wasn't planning on eating there, but when i walked in the husband instantly handed me a menu and the wife got me a table. It dawned on me that obviously i was gonna have to spend money there in order to charge my phone -- which i was stupid to assume otherwise. The menu is chalk-full of hardy, meaty, cheesy items that i'm sure the average thru-hikers drool over. I desperately scan the menu for a house salad, maybe soup, anything remotely vegetarian -- nothing existed. So i swallowed my pride and got one pancake with a side of fries. The wife looked at me weird when i told her that's all i wanted. Most hikers that come through there order 3 meals for one person and here i am getting 2 sides lol. I've never been so desperate to charge a phone battery. In retrospect, the couple running Timbers are two of the nicest people i've met yet. They filled up all my water jugs in their kitchen, offered me ziploc bags (which are always needed by hikers), asked me to sign their hiker register book and poster on the wall, and even watched my pack for me while i walked a mile down the road to Dollar General. Truly great people. AND went i went to pay for my bill, they said that it was already taken care of by some Trail Angels!!! Trail Angels are usually anonymous people that provide for hikers in unexpected ways. I was shocked and beyond grateful. Felt weird not being able to thank whoever it was though. Dollar General by the way was a jackpot. I got 5 days worth of food for less than $20. They even had those jars of peanut butter with the jelly already mixed in it, which makes life out here way easier! However, there was not an ounce of produce in sight. I just really wanted a banana or apple. I feel like fresh fruits and veggies are gonna be super hard to come by out here. I once again swallowed my pride and  settled on this mango-peach concentrate juice. Before dipping back into the woods, i made some of my first phone calls back to civilization. I've honestly been an emotional roller coaster since coming out here. I left behind a lot in Austin and think about it often. I just hope it's all worth it in the end.
Date: 2018-05-22
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Toms Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.6

We got some drizzle today, but not too bad. The rain makes everything SUPER green, which is really pretty. Saw a rattlesnake today! Almost stepped right on him! He was just chilling right in the middle of the trail. When i got to the campsite, I asked if others had seen it and they said yes. Seemed to have snuck up on everyone lol. Think i'm getting a cold. bleh. Don't really have a group yet, but not sure if i want one. I like hiking alone. Takes the pressure away of trying to keep pace with someone. The only downside is that it might be awhile before i get a trail name since i'm not really hanging around people long enough to get to know me lol. Really need to game plan a way to get a new portable phone charging system. The one i have only works when it wants too, which is barely. Not being able to regularly communicate with my ankors back home is killing me. My pack is killing me too. I'm kicking myself for not throwing down the monies for a nice pack. The one i have is a Gregory, which is a good brand, but it's about 8 years old so it's pretty outdated compared to the nice plushy, padded packs i'm seeing out here. Someone buy me an Osprey!! lolI'm trying to get used to everything being very moist. Like even when it's not raining, the morning dew condenses on my tent, sleeping bag, everything really, leaving me to wake up in a nice puddle lol. I remanence over the times when a shower or washing machine was just a few steps away. I have know idea when a shower or laundry opportunity will come. No matter how hot it is, I wear tight leggings to bed every night so that i don't have to feel my sweat and dirt crusted legs stick together while I sleep. Just think about that one for a sec lol.
Date: 2018-05-23
From: Toms Run Shelter

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 10.3

Nice clear day today. The trail passed by the famous Pine Grove General Store today. This hole-the-wall convenience store caters to hikers and is known for their Half Gallon ice cream challenge. The store is located just a dozen miles or so from the AT halfway point, so i'm celebration they challenge hikers to buy one of their half gallon tubs of ice cream and eat it all in one sitting. If you do, you get a little wooden spoon that says you're apart of the Half-Gallon Club. Not surprisingly they didn't have vegan ice cream, so i abstained lol.  Next to the store is the AT Museum. Small, but kinda cool place. I shamelessly took advantage of their outlets to charge up while i ate one of my pb&j tortilla sandwiches on the porch lol. I also took the time to purchase a new battery charger on Amazon that'll be coming to me in two-days when i pass through town on Friday. So very excited. My mental and emotional health resides in this. The James Fry campsite i end up staying at with a handful of others is super nice. Right next to a creek, so gathering and filtering my water was a breeze. Journey Man, a section hiker in his 50s i presume, is at camp with me. He thru-hiked the AT last year and has come back this year to do little pieces of it. I've ran into him several days in a row now. He bestows a lot of confidence in me. Says i look like a seasoned hiker and that i "got this hiking thing down". Makes me feel like a million bucks because up until this point i've felt like a fish out of water lol. Since it's dry out, i decide to treat my clothes with this anti-tick spray i got. You spray it directly on all your clothes, let it dry, and then it's supposed to work as an effective deterrent for up to 30 washes. I sure hope so. One of my biggest trail fears is getting Lyme Disease, which is a real concern out here. Gotta say, checking my nether regions every night for burrowing ticks is a humbling experience. lol