morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-12
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

Today started off going up a very steep, 1 mile climb. There were some nice soft places to walk and more rocky places. Some of the places were boulder fields where I had a hard time even seeing where the trail was. There wasn't a trail at that point, just boulders piled on each other and a few white blazes letting us know where we should be going. A thunderstorm rolled through as we cleared the ridgeline. Unfortunately, we passed a guy who was going south who was on top of the ridge when it went pass. I hope he was fine.Last night the caretakers of Tumbling Run shelters came by and brought us cokes. Then he stayed and talked with all of us for a while. He was concerned about my blisters so he called the caretaker of the next shelter onthe other side of Caledonia to keep an eye out for us. How nice. We went to Caledonia with the intention of taking a shower. That didn't happen. We decided to roll on. We can get a free shower in 2 days so for now we will just continue sponging off. At Caledonia there was a hiker feast put on by a church group. We feasted. It was nice. Everything was vegetarian. So I had a veggie patty with cheese, cucumber spears, some kind of bean and veggie salad, watermelon, a spoon of mac & cheese, and a mini blueberry muffin. Sounds like a lot. But guaranteed, I worked it off in the next 2.5 miles I hiked straight up the mountain. We did 12.2 miles today. We are beat. My blisters held up but my feet hurt. It is all getting better. Nothing to make me quit. As I am clammering to the top of our crazy hills I just keep saying to myself "there is a top to every hill." Today, I actually began to wonder if that is indeed true because the hills were so long. Well, they do indeed have a top. It just takes a lot more to find it sometimes.More tomorrow.   Gonna try to get some sleep. Good night.
Date: 2011-06-13
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Hello. We stayed in a very nice site last night. It is called Quarry Gap. It is really taken care of. The caretakers of that shelter is actually in competition with Tumbling Run shelter to be the best. Kinda funny. I was more comfortable at Tumbling Run but both are both very nice. It got so incredibly cold last night. As long as every inch of me was under the sleeping bag, it was fine. But at some point you gotta stick your head out.   My bag is rated at 40 degrees. It was almost not warm enough. It was so cold getting up this morning, I didn't want to get out of the bag. I got so used to sweat pouring off my body all day. The temps were supposed to be in the 70's today. I was actually cold all day.We only did 7.6 miles today. After such a long day for us yesterday, we decided to make it a short day today.   Did I mention the section hiker from Caledonia yesterday? He wasn't hiking then, he was there with his family. He saw us walking by and gave us both a Gatorade and a banana. Wasn't that such a gift? We talked to him a bit. Very nice.   Well, back to today. The walk was very nice. There were several very long, steep climbs but it was so cool that we barely broke a sweat. We came upon a very flat soft walk. It was a good break for our knees, because every time you go up you eventually go down. Those downs are killer on our toes and knees. It was a good day. We are at Birch Run shelter tonight. It is nice also. There are many other hikers here. We were the first ones here today. As they came in, we just talked and talked. I am impresssed with the people we are meeting out here. Chicken Wing came out and brought us sodas. He owns a hostel one mile up the trail. I think he was trying to get some business. That's fine. Alot of the people are stopping at his place for a big breakfast in the morning. We aren't sure we will. He is serving breakfast rather early. We like to sleep. Besides, it is too cold to get up early. We saw a timber rattler today. It was cool, just sitting off to the left of the trail. We are apparently getting into the area where there are many snakes. Gotta keep my eyes open for sure now. We are going to Pine Grove Furnace tomorrow. It is a nice big area with a hostel, concession stands, a bathhouse, swimming pool, and a beach to a small lake. They do the half gallon challenge there. We will not be taking the challenge. I may get an ice cream cone though. Well, 2 more nights out then at the B&B in Boiling Springs.   Okay , it may be 3 nights. It depends on our feet. My arms are so cold right now. I am actually starting to shiver a little so I am going to put this up for now. We are having a blast. Brittany, been thinkinng about you today. So are we buying pink, blue, or one of each?
Date: 2011-06-15
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA

To: Tagg's Run Shelter
Miles today: 7.2

Well, it was cold, but not as cold as the last 2 nights. I slept the best I've slept yet on the trail. Apparently, I was sleeping so well, that Brandon didn't want to move because he was afraid he would wake me. So sweet. He had a stiff hip because of it. My hero! We ate breakfast slowly,c just enjoying it. Had some hot chocolate. Took my shower this morning. I was surprised with how clean they were. Nice morning.Walked up to the General Store after we were packed up. Ordered a grilled cheese with ham to go. Now the intention was to take it with us and eat it for lunch. It didn't make it out of the parking lot. Brandon asked about it and he was still hungry so we split it walking out of the lot. So funny. The walk out of the park was amazingly easy. The ups were great. The downs, well, rocky. Glad it was a short day today. My poor toes were screaming from the rocks. I enjoyed climbing the boulders...it's the smaller jagged ones that kill me. We got to out camp and a father-daughter couple were here. We've been hanging with them since Birch Run. It seems we're on the same schedule. We're staying at the same places along the way. Their names are Wade and Abby. Very nice people. Talked with them a lot and ate dinner with them tonight.They're from the San Francisco area. Haven't seen a bear yet. Praying that I don't. But kinda hope to see one from a distance. A very loong distance. The thru-hikers see themgoign through the Shenandoahs. They say they are cowards. I don't want to test their claims. I prefer to just believe them. So, finally got connected to the net today and saw that Brittany's getting double the blue! Yahoo!! Such a nice day. We're going 10 miles tomorrow. That is, if my toes can take it. So, we're leaving early. We're staying at a B&B. Yes! Sue, Brandon's mom, is meeting us there in Boiling Springs. She's brining our next supply of food and Aspen. I miss my little lovebug. Wanna play catch for a while with him, wrap my arms around him, and rub my face in his fur. I love him. There is a laundrymat across from a restaurant and the owners of the B&B said they would give us a ride to the laundrymat to do laundry. We figure we can eat dinner while the cllothes wash. 2 birds, 1 one stone... efficient. Okay, gotta conserve the batteries in my headlamp (I am writing this on paper and will add it to the net when the phone gets recharged). So, goodnight people. Oh, thank you for the kind words you've been sending. They make me smile.
Date: 2011-06-17
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Middlesex, PA
Miles today: 8.0

Got a late start today so we only got 8 miles of the 14 we wanted. I was so tired but could have made it all the way. It wouldn't have been pretty and I think Brandon knew that. So we are staying at a hotel tonight. I need some sleep. We are going to get out early in the morning. Oh by the way, we went over our 100 mile mark. We've officially walked over 100 miles! Tomorrow we have an 800 foot climb! At the top of it is the shelter we wanted to get to tonight. We may stay there tomorrow, it depends on how I feel, It is only 6 miles away so I hope I feel good to keep on going. There really isn't much else to say. Well, the terrain was pretty flat today. It was very humid. The trail needs a lot of work between here and Boiling Springs. There were a lot of trees down and couldn't see the trail with all of the debris. Seriously, it was such a narrow swath if woods with farmland and housing developments on either side of us. So therefore, if we needed to, we could have gotten out of it if it got too bad. So, goodnight now.
Date: 2011-06-18
From: Middlesex, PA

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Only did 6.3 miles today. My feet hurt pretty badly so we are going to do some short days. We are at Darlington shelter just north of the Cumberland Valley. We had a great night sleep last night. I fell asleep as soon as I crawled in. Brandon put Batman on, the last one. I woke up about halfway through then fell asleep soon after again. I was so tired. Woke up refreshed and ready to go, except for my feet. My legs are ready to go but my feet are fighting them the whole way. Sometimes I think my feet are winning. Coming through Cumberland Valley is rather easy terrain. It is mostly farms that we cut through and parallel. The only challenging part, really, are the ruts. It is tough walking one foot in front of the other with 34 lbs on my back. So, my feet kept twisting. As heavy as my pack seems to be, it blows my mind that I used to have that much more weight on my body. It amazes me that I was able to walk at all carrying all of that on me every day. It just can't be good for you. Today I started asking myself why I am doing this. All I want to say is to have fun and do something different. Well, it isn't fun with my feet hurting all of the time.   It was fun, but now I just want to cry all of the time from pain. The thru hikers say that is normal for the first few weeks. Well, I am starting my third week today and would like some relief. It does feel good though when we get to our destination and get to relax inside the tent. I had an emotional hiccup today and wanted to just quit. Not going to do that. We'll be in Duncannon in two days. Then in 5 more passed that we will be in Pine Grove. We are planning to take a couple of zero days then to rest up before the big rocks (about 60 miles worth) to the Pa/NJ line. I can press through. It will feel good to get to another state. I am laying on my back typing this. I have been watching this huge ant on the roof of the tent going in circles. Can't figure out his deal. Is he lost? Is he confused?   Okay, going to put this up for now. More later, out!
Date: 2011-06-20
To: Hagerstown, MD
Miles today: 0.0

Well, sad to say we are through for now. Woke up this morning and my left foot was sooo sore. The outside bone on my left foot hurts badly. Not sure what is going on but any weight on it is bad. I could continue by taking 800mg of ibuprophen every 4 hours, but I just don't think that can be very good for my body. It's just not worth breaking a foot just to prove I can do it. So, we will do week long treks over time. I love hiking and camping. It was not easy making the decision. Believe it or not, it is quite liberating just getting up and going in the morning. Just get up, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, find a tree, and pack up the tent. Amazing what little you need to survive. I have come to understand that it is not nature that is dirty, it's us who are dirty. I feel less dirty climbing mountains than walking down a city street. It's easier to breathe and it is much prettier. We truly live in a gorgeous country. What a blessing to live here. What a responsibility. So people, pick up your trash and take pride in what we are so blessed to be given. Turn off your cable TV and take a walk, read a book, paint a picture.   LIVE! Okay, I'm off my rather large soap box. This morning, we were rather perplexed about how we were going to get back home. Brandon went down to the office to see about checkout and finding a ride back to town. Sharon, the Stardust owner's girlfriend, just happened to pull up and said that she was on her way to Harrisburg and offered us a ride. Cha-ching! We packed up in a hurry and accepted the ride. Thank you! So we are now on a Greyhound bus. Should spend the night in my own bed tonight. Gonna be with my Aspen. We walked a total of 124.3 miles over mountains in 16 days. Not bad. Thank you everyone who supported me (us) on this. Sorry to have to cut it short. We'll hike more of the AT, just one week at a time. I don't think my foot will take more than that.
Date: 2010-10-13
To: Let the Record of the Journey Begin
Miles today: 0.0

This is my first entry. I am in preparation for a 2011 thru-hike that will begin in March 2011.Much work has already been done: equipment selected and tested in section hikes, weight reduction and physical training is underway, and a "plan" for the 2,170 miles - a plan that will be changed before we begin and daily thereafter.This journey is a life long ambition that is within just a few short months of beginning. I and my hiking partner Currahee will be on our way sooner than we probably can expect.Our pack weights are now within thruhike range of 35 pounds cold weather with food and water, and about 30 pounds warm weather again with food and water.Let the journey begin.
Date: 2010-10-29
To: Preparation Hike Through Southern North Carolina
Miles today: 0.0

We had a prep hike last week from NOC to Fontana. It went well over Cheoha Bald and during the initial descent from Cheoha until I slipped on leaves wet from a light overnight rain and the inevitable fog of a cool fall morning. The slip ended with a pop in my right ankle and a landing on my butt.The thought.....I hope it is not broken went through my mind. I sat for a few moments, and then tested the integrity of the ankle, all was intact if somewhat stretched and swollen. It was a good lesson in walking out on a sore and damaged leg.....we made it back to the cars and completed the shuttle.The swelling never was severe....so after a week of daily walking and workouts and I am almost back to normal. Falls will happen and I hope they are no more severe than this occassion.The gear list is tightening up and I am looking forward to spring.Hopefully, we will get to do a little winter hiking to test us and our gear prior to March 2011.The fall leaf change was well underway and the views of the southern GSMNP were excellent.
Date: 2010-11-03
To: From Gear to Meal Planning
Miles today: 0.0

I am so glad that this election cycle is over. Yes, I am grateful for living in a democracy with free speech, but the endless robo-calls, unsupported innuendo and attack ads, assumptions that if you are not with me you must be a right/left wing nut, etc., etc. I am so glad that it is over and I can not wait until my March 2011 thru-hike start.I am using the current time to test me food recipes and combinations with my FreezerBagCooking(FBC) approach. I am working on being more flexible in my approach so that pre-packaged meals are not my only approach. This should serve well with resupply points in towns with limited population. So far I have added nearly a dozen new meals.Gear is now nearly complete, and I will be scheduling a visit to Walasi-yi/Mountain Crossings for a shake down.Is it March yet ????
Date: 2010-11-04
To: From Meal to Bounce Box Planning
Miles today: 0.0

I am really beginning to get excited.... it is only about 3 1/2 months to our March start date from Springer. Time is flying by and there is still so much to do. I will be ready.I challenged myself to get more flexible in meal planning and execution, and this effort has been successful. I have added quite a number of hot meals for FBC (freezer bag cooking) that are not based on the Lipton dried meals or typical freeze dried prepared food that is not readily available. I also have practiced purchase of meals at Lavonia Foods - one step down from a local IGA, and was able to get 10 or so hot meal components with only one or two relying on Lipton fare. Much better than I expected. I have even tried a couple of the recipes on my family with good reasonably good reviews.My hiking partner Currahee and I will be getting together to go through our initial plan for stops - knowing full well that it may be out of sync on day 2, but the effort will help us get more on the same page with the basis for planning day to day stops. We will also review contents of a common bounce box, and some meal planning.
Date: 2010-12-13
To: Gratitude for Support of Family
Miles today: 0.0

I have been asked frequently in the last several weeks why I want to hike 2170 miles from Georgia to Maine. This is an impossible question to answer to anyone else's satisfaction. The reasons I give myself are: to fulfill a life long goal to thru-hike, to test my self discipline, to experience solitude, and for the spiritual journey that these represent. I am really looking forward to the simplification of life that will come from carrying all I need in a 35 pound pack, and with routine and discipline of doing the same thing day in and day out. Also, as incongruous as it may seem at the same time, I look forward to the social community of thru hikers.At this point in the preparation process I am confident in my gear selection and in the physical fitness work done in the gym, on the daily walks, and on our training hikes through Georgia and North Carolina. All that being said, I wonder about my mental toughness to meet the challenges of six months on the AT. I will only know by doing...March 2nd is just around the corner.I am so grateful to my bride and her understanding and support in being willingness to endure the singless of focus through the last 18 months of planning. I know the six months on the trail will burden her with both my role and hers at home and with our children and grandchildren. Thank you for being willing to indulge my dream.
Date: 2011-01-12
To: Looking Forward to the Simplification of My Life
Miles today: 0.0

I am sitting in a snowy north Georgia tonight. The snow of Monday is still here, and it is clear, quiet, and cold. I have less than 60 days until my friend - Currahee - and I leave Springer Mountain GA bound for Baxter State Park, Katahdin Peak ME. A journey of 6 months and many mile - full of joy, pain, camaraderie, solitude, excitement, loneliness, wilderness, urban sprawl, etc. - more than I can imagine.The events in Tucson jarred me and brought back memories from my childhood of the deaths of JFK, RFK, and MLK. I think I need the perspective of the solitude and the community of a thru-hike to understand my own shortcomings and to become more tolerant of the shortcomings of others - a bit more of humility - to offer simple kindliness and love to those around me.In many of the other trail journals entries being posted, I detect the same childlike anticipation of the start of a journey, and the nervous anticipation of learning something about what I am made of that in others that I am experiencing myself.The journey begins in less than 60 days.I have posted a partial gear list with more to follow.
Date: 2011-02-19
To: Anticipation - Chasing After a Finer Day
Miles today: 0.0

We are down to about 10 days remaining before the start of our thru-hike. Preparations are over. All but the initial three days plus of food remain to be purchased. Only both the excitement and apprehension remain. Even with the preparations all but done, the focus on the journey occupies most wakening hours. I am sure those around me are tired of hearing about the thru-hike, and want it to start as much as I.The weather in NE Georgia has been quite spring like - mid to upper 30's at night and 60's - nearly 70's during the sunny days. Rain has been absent for a while, but the weather guesser believe it will return during the week. Perhaps the week after will be drier. We normally get another dose of winter before spring arrives, but perhaps this year our dose has already happened. I have two more medical hurdles - confirmation that the topical beta blocker has lowered my right eye pressure and a new crown installed on a tooth the dentist detected had a cavity under the original crown. All should be done by the end of the week.I have been actively following the journals of the early starters - White Wolf, mike and NOBODY; etc., and those in the last stages of preparation. May the wait be soon over. This must be what is meant by Springer fever.
Date: 2011-03-01
To: Patience and I Have a Difficult Relationship
Miles today: 0.0

The trail gods seem to be conspiring against us. My hiking partner, Currahee, has come down with sinus stuff and a fever. If we were hiking you go on, but just setting out we will delay a few days to get Currahee in better health. It looks like Monday, March 7th is the day, but time will tell. This delay now has me climbing the walls. I will up my daily neighborhood mileage to 6 miles, since I canceled the gym membership starting March 1. I trying not to keep moving the deck chairs around with every repack of my pack. I will try to get into spring yard work and getting the boats ready for the Spring and Summer. Springer Fever is very real, and it only abates when standing on Springer Mountain.
Date: 2011-03-05
To: The Hiker Hostel - Dahlonega GA
Miles today: 0.0

I am so looking forward to beginning the journey. All are now healthy, and all the preparations are complete; all that remains is to do and do and do. Our weather guessers have indicated that we will have two days of mild, sunny weather to start - perfect for a start. The next day will be quite wet, but hopefully we will be getting into Walasi-Yi at Frogtown Gap (Mountain Crossings at Neal Gap). We should be able to dry out for an evening before moving on. I am looking forward to meeting some of the thru hikers at the Hiker Hostel that we will hike with on Monday.The thru hiking season seems to be heating up if I can take the growing list of journals as a indicator. I noticed in falling Turtle and Trashcan's journal that just over 110 thruhikers have registered at Amicalola Falls SP.
Date: 2011-03-06
From: The Hiker Hostel - Dahlonega GA

To: The Hiker Hostel - Dahlonega
Miles today: 0.0

Traveled with Currahee and his spouse to The Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega. Along with good conversation and discussion of the journey ahead, we ate dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant on the square in downtown Dahlonega- The Piazza was its name. Their salad and lasagna were excellent. The thought did pass I hope this is not our last good meal, but was quickly replaced with the excitment of the moment.We checked in at The Hiker Hostel outside Dahlonega and were greeted by the owners - Josh and Leigh. This is a great place. We met the thru-hikers we would be hiking with over the next days/weeks - Hellion, Jimdawg, Moonshine, a young women from Mad River, and many others.Let the journey begin.