morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-03-10
To: Crunch Time!!
Miles today: 0.0

   Well, it's crunch time!! We have only 5 days left before we head south. The house looks like we're moving. The rooms are piled high with food and gear for both a 20 day canoe trip and my hike. I have 15 boxes ready to go.   Once I get all of this stuff out of the house and into the van I have to spring clean in a day! I can't leave it for months. in this condition. My husband will clean up, but will he "clean"? That's the question. Then, if time permits, (and it better ) I have to shave the winter fur off of Brady, our sheep dog. That will take a couple of hours a day for several days.   I've been going to Curves every day and taking my pack up the hill for a 3 to 4 mile jaunt in the afternoons. Sitting on my fanny in a canoe for 20 days or so won't help the conditioning program, but it sure will be fun!   I'll get out of shape again before I start, but everything I do now may make getting back into shape a little easier.    I'm surprised at how little gear I had to buy this year. I spent a small fortune last year. I needed a new thermorest, because the one I used last year has a leak that I can't seem to stop. My small stove has conked out, too, so I bought a coleman F1 ultralight. It will do the trick. I was going to take the alcohol stove, but I think the propane is less hassle. I may throw a small alcohol can stove in for emergencies, though. My camera screen shattered, so I got a new camera for Christmas. I found "OR" low height gaiters on sale so I bought another pair. The ones I used last year are getting tattered. I'll use the old ones as long as I can, though. New boots, too. My Merrels were too small. 8 blackened toe nails last year, led me to a larger size. My husband, Rich, had a new pair of boots from EMS that were small for him. I tried them and they are a size big, but they fit! I've been wearing them on my hikes with no trouble, so I'll start with them. Other than that, all my gear is the same. I haven't weighed it yet, though.   I best get to packing. Time waits for no man ( or woman ), you know!
Date: 2009-03-14
To: Last night at Home
Miles today: 0.0

Well, if it isn't done by now, it isn't getting done! We leave for the outer banks in the morning and will be canoeing in Florida on Thursday. The van is packed to the roof with hiking gear, canoeing gear, and 9 food boxes to be dropped off.    The pack is done and it all fits. Now is the time I start to worry about why it's so light. What did I forget? Check the list again and again. I just need to go to bed and forget it. By the time I get on the trail, ( around April 6) I'll have forgotten what is in it anyway. It's good to know that I can get what I need at Neel Gap.    I can't wait to join all those thru-hikers out there!
Date: 2009-05-03
From: four weeks on the trail

To: View Entry
Miles today: 340.0

This is Rusty's husband updating her Trail Journal. We lost her login password,so this will bring her trip up to date, May 3ed. She actually started on April4th and now has been on the trail for four weeks. After I left her in Georga Itraveled along the trail, droping off her food at various hostels, motels andpost offices. This morning she left Uncle Johnnies in Erwin,TN. Up to this point she had been averaging 12 1/2 miles a day, but lately has been doing 15 or better. As far as the weather it has either been wet or cold. The Smokieswere wet and cold, the day she left the Smokies it was sunny and 85. It was such a change in temp. she took a half day off at Standing Bear Hostel. So far no hiking partner, I will probably start hiking with her when she reaches the half way point at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in PA where we live. She is carring the SPOT, the GPS device that sends me an Email with a Google map showing me exactly where she's at.
Date: 2009-05-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.0

Hi, Rusty's husband again. I just got off the phone with her, she's at a bed & breakfast called Mountain Harbour, she has been hiking in the rain for three days, she needed some down time to dry out. The place she's staying is the top floor of an old barn with horses living underneath. The weather has been so bad the only thing she has seen is the muddy trail. She's hoping to leave early in the morning and arrive at Kincora Hostel in two days, and than on to Demascus,VA. I will be meeting her at Atkins,VA and take her back to Demascus for trail days. Later,Rich
Date: 2009-05-11
To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Greetings from Damascus. Hi everyone, I'm sitting out the 11th day of the last 12 rainy days here in Damascus. Yesterday the sun actually was shining, so I hiked 24 miles just to get here. That part of the trail was very flat and slightly downhill, so I just kept on going. I made a poor decision, however. I was enjoying the day so much I camped 2 miles from town. I thought it was a great idea until it started to pour at 4:00 this morning. So, I made the grand entrance into town like a drowned rat! After blueberry pancakes, a hot shower, clean dry clothes, and a semi-dry tent, I feel pretty good. Maybe pizza tonight!   I plan on leaving early tomorrow to hike the Mount Rogers Wilderness and through the Grayson Highlands State Park to see the wild ponies. After 3 days of hiking, Rich will pick me up and I get a mini vacation in a motel for two nights. We will be attending Trail Days back here in Damascus. It's one of the biggest trail celebrations on the trail.    So far the trail has been kind to me. The weather, however has been a challenge. I'm sure that those hot sunny days will get to me later on, as well. Yesterday, though, was the perfect day to hike. I guess I'm destined to hike to PA by myself. There are only a few other ladies by themselves, and our hiking styles and daily milages don't seem to be matching up. I see lots of people, however, and meet up with them at shelters along the way. I'm having a great time and am enjoying the daily challenges. I'm working hard on taking what comes and dealing with it quietly. Patience is not one of my virtues ... YET! I'm working on it. My sights are set on PA. Soon I'll be half way there. Rich should have more pictures to put on the site after Trail Days.Well, I'm off for Pizza!
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Damascus

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi all,      Since leaving Damascus, I've been hiking the Highlands. The elevation up there is around 5000 feet. The weather was actually pretty nice. The wind on Whitetop Mtn. blew me sideways and was pretty cold, but any day without rain is a good one. The scenery up near the top of Mt. Rogers was beautiful. It's wide open with lots of rock outcroppings. The trail was rocky and hard on the feet, but the views were easy on the eye. I couldn't stop taking pictures. The wild ponies in the Grayson Highlands surrounded me and demanded anything I had. They began licking and gnawing on the handles and straps of my poles and pulling things out of my pockets. The poor guys needed salt. I had a couple of packets, so I sprinkled some on the rocks. They licked it up like kids with a sucker. It was hard to get away. Luckily some other hikers appeared and were at once surrounded, so I made my getaway.    Rich picked me up on Friday at Dicky Gap north of the Grayson Highlands at 8:15 in the morning. I had hiked out 5 1/2 miles from Hurricane shelter that morning. We were really glad to see each other. It had been 6 weeks. We then drove in and met Burt and Judy Martin at Damascus. After a big plate of bluberry pancakes at Cowboys, we walked through town, and I met lots of hikers I had previously hiked with. I saw a few from last year, too. I met Mr. Burns, Cannibal and Genuine Draft, Rain and Barley, Serial,and Bone Lady.We looked for Peanut, but couldn't find her.      I was able to get a pull tab sewed onto my tent, and I turned my hiking poles into Leki for repair. Rich and I went to Abingdon and checked into the Days Inn. Life is sweet!! I spent most of the afternoon trying to organize my gear. I'm switching out most of my cold weather gear for summer stuff. It's nice that Rich can take it all home. Just think. I not only got a wonderful shower, I get another one today!! We spent Saturday cruising at Trail days again and picking up my poles which have been nearly replaced with new parts. Leki is great!! We went into town to eat with trail friends Mosey and Dulcimer Dave. Now all that's left is to pack the pack for tomorrow's trek. It's hard to believe that the weekend is over, and Rich is heading home. We made a date, though, to meet in Waynesboro, VA. That will be in 3-4 weeks.   It's been nice chatting with you all, but it's past hiker midnight. I must get the pack ready and hit the hay. Oh yeah, maybe another shower, too.
Date: 2009-05-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I've reached Daleville, VA and 720 miles. It sure has been wet lately. We've had 4 days of rain, heat, and high humidity. The rocks of Dragon's Tooth are difficult in dry weather, but the rain adds something extra. This has led to a hotel stay. There's times when you really need a shower and your clothes washed. I also needed some real food to fuel up for the next week. The Mexican restaurant was just the thing last night. I've been out a week since Pearisburg. The hotel room looked like it had been hit by a twister. I had everything out of my pack and laying all over the room. At last everything is dry again, and I smell human. I'm going to the outfitters to get my box of supplies, hitting Wendys, and then hitting the trail. It will be a short 10 miles today. I hope to get to the shelter before the afternoon storms hit.       I'm excited. 5 more miles and I'll be 1/3 of the way up the trail and only 360 miles from home. I've been making really good time. I'm motivated to get home, I guess. Rich will come down to Waynesboro, VA and spend the day and night with me in a little over a week. I'll get rid of more stuff and get my really warm weather gear.    Everything is going well, and the sun is shining. Life is good!!
Date: 2009-06-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi all, I've been on the trail for a week, now, since I left Daleville. It's been a long haul, but I've reached the Dutch Haus, a bed and breakfast that caters to hikers. I'm back on the trail tomorrow after 3 good meals and a good night's sleep here. I'll be in Waynesboro, VA on Sunday. Rich will meet me there with supplies. I'll switch out some more gear and try to make my pack lighter for the final push home. I hope to be sleeping in my own bed in about 16 more days. I've been averaging about 13.3 miles per day with stops since I started, and I'm happy with that, but the closer I get to home the more I just want to push on. The weather is getting hot and muggy, now. Storms are kicking up in the afternoons. There are a couple of tough mountains to climb before Waynesboro, so I'm glad for the restful day to refuel. The Shenandoah Park will take about 5 twenty mile days, 3 more to Harper's Ferry, and then about 5 more to home. That is in the perfect world. We'll see how things work out. I hope the hot tub is up and running when I get home!
Date: 2009-06-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.3

A note from Waynesboro, VA. It's hard to believe that I've come 850 miles already. I'm really excited about getting into the Shenendoah Park tomorrow. Rich met me this morning and brought me, along with trail friends ( Ranger, Bluegrass, and Birch ), into town. We had a breakfast at Weasies that was absolutely enormous! We got rooms at the Quality Inn, and I settled in to getting organized for the rest of the trip home. We all went to Applebee's for dinner, and stopped for ice cream before calling it a night. It's nice to have a vehicle in town!The trip here from Daleville was tough. The mountains were high and rocky, and it seemed to rain a lot, too. The Dutch House, B&B was a real treat, though. I had a mail pick-up there, and after three great meals and a day of rest, I forged ahead into town. It was a tough 22 miles yesterday, but now we are entering the mellow Shenendoahs. We shouldn't see too many high hills for a while. I'm looking forward to eating at the waysides and restaurants and maybe a few handouts if I'm lucky. Best yet, I'm hoping to be home within 2 weeks. Let's just hope that it doesn't get too hot. ( 90 ) tomorrow. They are calling for scattered storms every day this week, so I'm hoping to be where the rain is not! I am excited, though, that my fully loaded. pack is down to 30 pounds. That should help me to get through the park in 5 days.Unless I find another computer, it will be up to Rich to fill you in before I get home. Home, for those of you who don"t know, is the half-way point at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in PA. That is where I will finish the 1096 miles for the second time in as many years. I know it sounds crazy, but life doesn't get any better than this!! I'll get a few days rest, I'm sure, before I continue on.
Date: 2009-06-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings from the Bear Den. Tonight I'm at a hostel owned by the ATC and run by a young family. I'm in the lap of luxury. This place is a stone mansion that was a summer home for a doctor in the 1930's. For $25 I got a bed, shower, laundry, a huge pizza, drink, and a pint of Cookie Dough Ben and Jery's ice cream. After hiking 19 miles up and down 7 rocky hills called the Roller Coaster, I thought I was in heaven.      I will be in Harper's Ferry tomorrow night, and if I hike strong, I'll be home on Friday the 19th for our 38th anniversary. That will make 2 1/2 months on the trail. Tomorrow I hit 1000 miles. It has rained so much that the stitching on my boots is falling apart. I have only 103 miles to reach my back door, so I may be showing up covered with goop and duct tape. I'm like a horse that smells the barn, now. Rich will be able to hike north with me, and we'll leave no later than July 1. Ike and Linda, I'm really looking forward to the annual picnic. I can taste the chicken already. I'll probably take short hikes north to the Susquehanna River to break in some new boots, too. This will give me some more miles, and keep me in shape.
Date: 2009-06-17
To: Pen-Mar Park
Miles today: 1054.0

   Well, I made it home today. I didn't walk, however. After hiking 8 miles this morning, I felt pretty good. Then it started to rain, the temperature dropped, and the wind was blowing the rain sideways. After 10 miles of that, I was at Pen-Mar Park on the MD, PA border. My boots (what is left of them) were soaked, and my little toe was crying out for help. I had 5 more miles to the shelter, but I knew I was done for the day. I simply pulled out my phone and called for the cavalry. Rich and Brady came swooping in to save my sorry butt. After turning up the heat in the car and a devouring a Hardees hamburger, I felt fine. Once home, I enjoyed a hot shower and put on lots of polar fleece. Life is good. It does get better though. Rich filled the hot tub, and it just reached 102 degrees. I've been dreaming of this day!    Had the weather been okay I'd have had no trouble going on to the shelter, but the rain and wet boots have played havoc with my toe. It took 950 miles, but I managed to get two on one toe. I could manage it okay with dry boots, but today's rain was the last straw. I sure hope we see less rain going north.   Anyway, after a couple of days I'm going to get some new boots and walk those last 32 miles home. We hope to have some fellow hikers stop by at the house before we leave for ME, but I hope to have time to hike on to Duncannon, as well. We'll see how all that goes. Right now I'm hitting the hot tub!!!
Date: 2009-06-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's been quite a week since I wrote last. Rich (now called Hijacked) took me back to Pen-Mar on the 19th and I hiked home in 2 days. Rich had invited 8 hikers to stay at the house on Friday evening and to slackpack to Boiling Springs on Saturday. I had a couple of hikers to bring home, too, so we had 10 great kids (under 30) at the house that night. Names : Ahab, Ninja, Penny Mouse, Shorty, Joe Kickass, Rainman, Vapor Lock, Hardcore, Stud the Dud, and Mojo. It was a great group, and I was amazed at how nice the house looked when we took them back to Boiling Springs on Sunday morning. Brady, our sheep dog, really enjoyed all the attention while they were here and was bummed out when nobody showed up for Sunday night. Ranger and Bush Man came in on Monday, though. They hiked to Boiling Spgs. on Tuesday. (with full packs, I must add). Birch and Bird Song called from Pine Grove State Park that afternoon, and we picked them up, too. We all went to Ryans (ayce) in Chambersburg, and the next morning, I took the guys to Bo. Spgs. to hike north. Birch and Bird Song hiked from Pine Grove SP to Bo. Spgs., and I hiked ( with pack) from the house, here, to Bo. Spgs., also. Rich had work to do with a friend. He picked us up in Bo. Spgs. along with 2 more hikers, Pound Hound and Garage Man, from AK. We all ate at Anilies, an Italian restaurant, and came back to the house.   I guess we could be Banjaks Happy Hollow Hostel. We kept 16 hikers this week and had a ball doing it. It felt good to give some trail magic after having received so much.      We had a picnic here last night with friends from the area, and today we leave for a weekend in State College, PA. Our friends, the Rosensteels have a big Chicken BBQ / picnic on Saturday. It's a yearly event, and I look forward to seeing old friends and eating, eating, eating .......   We will be home on Sunday and will have 2 1/2 days to get ready to hike north on Wednesday. It's crunch time again. Being gone for 3 months, we have a lot to take care of.   I'll try and post some pictures and another journal before we leave.
Date: 2009-06-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well the BBQ weekend in State College, PA was wonderful. Just what I needed to recharge and fuel up. Many thanks to Linda and Ike Rosensteel for a great time. It's crunch time, now, to pack boxes, pay bills, pack the packs, shave the dog. etc.... We leave on Wednesday morning. I've added some more photos of the last couple of weeks. Check them out.
Date: 2009-06-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Well, we're ready to go. I feel really good that my husband is going to come with me. We've always done things together, and this will be a grand adventure that we will dream about in our old age. 10 days at home was enough. Hosting 16 hikers, and eating myself silly at gatherings was fun, but I was really busy, and the solitude of the trail is inviting. All of my chores are done. Cutting hair, shaving the dog, washing the sleeping bags and my backpack, getting new boots, buying trail food, paying bills, filling and sending mail drops, changing out gear, pulling weeds, and trying to convince my husband, Hijacked, that he'll have the time of his life.   Our new boots fit pretty well. We hiked 4 miles of the trail yesterday with packs to try them out. Our packs weigh in at about 31 pounds with food and water. That is pretty good. This is the point where we hope we haven't forgotten anything. Only a night out will put our minds to rest about that. I sure hope that the rainy season is over for the year and that we don't have a repeat of last years monsoons! I'm feeling really confident, now, and I'm eager to hit the trail. Hopefully we can make good time, but this half of the trip is more about enjoying ourselves. It will probably take a full 3 months. I just hope I am up to the challenge of the White Mtns.and Maine. I may try Hijacked's patience in the tough spots, but we'll git-r-dun one way or another.    I'm off, now, for one last night in my bed. Too bad we drained the hot tub today!Happy trails to all.
Date: 2009-07-08
To: Finished
Miles today: 0.0

   Well folks, you can add me to the growing list of those who have quit the trail. One minute I was on my way to Maine, and the next minute I was going home. I wanted to finish the entire trail in one season, so I started over again this year. I didn't mind hiking the southern section by myself because I had hiked it last year and everything was familiar to me. I actually played tour guide on my way to the half way point. My husband had agreed to hike the northern half with me. ( Not because he wanted to, but because he wanted to see me succeed. ) He's a hiker, but not a long distance one.    We began our trek on July the 1st. The first day was a stretch from north of Boiling Spgs, PA to Cove Mtn shelter just 3 miles from Duncannon. It was a warm day. There were some flat miles, a climb, and some rocks to finish out the hike. Rich lagged behind most of the day, and that was unusual for him. Most of the time, I can't keep up with him. The following morning, he dropped a bombshell and told me that he was done. He woudn't hike any farther than Duncannon. He was really sorry, but he couldn't see himself going on a long hike. Needless to say I was shocked. There went my trip. Our friend Vern came and drove us home. As soon as I got home, though, I knew I couldn't stay there. I repacked and had Rich take me back to the trail. I wasn't sure how far I would go, but I needed to be walking to sort things out. I can't tell you how torn I was for awhile. I really wanted to finish the hike, but I really didn't want to go on alone either. I hiked for 12 miles to the Peters Mtn. Shelter. By the time I got there I had made up my mind. Finishing the trail meant a lot to me, but I wanted the experience to be with Rich. I didn't want to be apart from him for another 3 months. We've done everything together for 38 years, and I didn't want to finish my great adventure with him sitting at home. I was also really tired of hiking alone every day. I would miss the trail, the other hikers, and the challange I had made for myself, but I called Rich from the shelter and made arrangements for him to pick me up in the morning.       After getting home, the old doubts started to surface, and after talking to Rich, he agreed to meet me at the Whites and hike north. I tossed it around all day and we finally talked through it. We decided I should stay home. So here I am.    I don't regret my decision. I had a great time on the trail this year, and in the large scope of things, that's all that matters. We're planning a long canoe trip as I write.   Thanks for following, and to other hikers,Happy Trails