morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-29
From: Wapiti Sh

To: Pearisburg Holiday Motor Lodge
Miles today: 12.6

I tracked down a package at the Holy Family Hostel which packages do not go to anymore. I got cleaned up and found my friends in town and split a room with the skirt crew. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM BEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!
Date: 2008-05-31
From: Pearisburg Holiday Motor Lodge

To: Captains trail magic
Miles today: 0.0

Dave gave us a ride to the Trail Magic we have been seeing advertised on the trees the past few days. There were alot of hikers here! We played lawn darts, frisbee, played in the creek, and Toze and I invented a game; fly flickin footbal the picks should explain it.
Date: 2008-06-05
From: Sarver Hollow Sh

To: Pickle Branch Sh
Miles today: 16.1

Audie Murphy kicked my ass today, where the hell is all the water? This shelter is about .33m off trail and the water is about another .2m down hill. I camped near this awsome stream with Longshot and Wannabe Goat who are traveling with 2 awsome ladies Snap and Snack. Snap has a talented eye for photography (look at my stream picks) and Snack made purple cream of wheat.
Date: 2008-06-06
From: Pickle Branch Sh

To: Catawba General Store
Miles today: 12.6

So Snap, Snack, Longshot, Canuk and I did the 5.9m that everyone skips after Va Rte 624. I had not eaten much all day because I was earning and AYCE Homeplace experience. I almost couldn't eat but quickly realized I could and did so VERY WELL. The rest of the skirt crew made it to Catawba and I joined them for dinner. Pilot ate until he was sick and later vomited in a pasture and Gouda laid in the grass and cried for an hour. No exageration check it out at Snack's and Snap's blog at www.maggieandbeki.blogspot.com.
Date: 2008-02-01
To: A little background
Miles today: 0.0

First Entry, I feel like this is actually official. A little background about me- I've been thinking about doing this hike for about 3-4 years. I have been working on boats for the past few years, but getting out into the woods/desert as much as I can. I had a year and a half battle with a bum ankle after a bicycling accident (I was hit by a truck), and after my last surgery (last summer), decided I needed to really use this ankle thats been so annoying. So 2008 is my year! Right now I'm finishing up a contract on a Tall Ship in LA, but will be heading back in a few weeks to my homebase in NY to finish planning. I love my current job, but am SO excited about hiking that I have a hard time being sad about leaving. Next week I will be doing a sort of shake-down hike with the couple of new pieces of gear I recently bought. One of my shipmates and I will be heading out to the desert for a few days, which is a welcome change from the ship life. More on that later!
Date: 2008-02-11
From: South Kaibab Trailhead, Grand Canyon NP

To: Bright Angel Campground
Miles today: 0.0

This was completely unplanned, but as my shipmate, Sarah, and I were on our way down we couldn't beleive we almost didn't do it. We had planned a 6-day road trip to see some National Parks, but somehow overlooked how cool the Grand Canyon actually is. This morning we visited the Visitor's Center on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and approached the super friendly Rangers behind the desk to ask about some good hikes. I had been so moved by the simple sight of the place from the roadside pull-off that I wanted to spend as much time as possible there. Simply out of curiousity I asked what hiking to the bottom entailed. The ranger told us that she had just hiked down a couple weeks before, and gave us some information and very useful advice. The older guy behind the desk also gave us some amusing anecdotes such as the French lady that had tried to hike down last summer in heels... anyway, in a flash we were off to the Backcountry office to chat some more about this endeavor. I am so grateful that Sarah is just as impulsive as myself, because within a few minutes we were at the general store buying yaktrax (great cheap-o alternative to crampons) for our big hike. After getting our backcountry permit and throwing our packs together, we hit the trail. The ice in the first mile or so gave way to a "muddy muddy muddy" trail (just as the ranger described it!) which, eventually, gave way to the desert conditions one expects from the canyon. The hike down was a little more than 7 miles and took about 4 hours. We stopped a lot for photo breaks- that place is just gorgeous. I simply couldn't get over the beauty that surrounded us at all times. Every time we came around a cliff the view was breathtaking. About halfway down, a young man passed on his way up. I lifted the brim of my hat for a quick glance and smile at the passing hiker, and it seemed like a familiar face, so I turned around just as he was passing Sarah- just in time to see him turn around and sure enough- an old friend from NY that I hadn't seen in about 3 years! I couldn't beleive it (and neither could he)! Just one of those crazy things- the Grand Canyon of all places! We only had time for a quick chat and picture before we both had to hit the trail. amazing.We finally got to the bottom and found a nice little campsite beside the Bright Angel Creek. There were only a handful of other campers there, so it was quiet and peaceful. The night turned out to be pretty mild (about 20 degrees warmer than the rim, so it was in the upper 30's), so after dinner Sarah and I hit up the Cantina at the Phantom Ranch for a Tecate while we wrote some postcards before hitting the sack. And oh the stars... What a wonderful place.
Date: 2008-02-12
From: Bright Angel Campground

To: South Rim
Miles today: 0.0

In the morning we awoke to the constant gurgling of rushing water from the creek, and by the time we got breakfast going the sun's rays were peeking over the tops of the canyon. I felt as though we should spend more time at the bottom, but we were a bit nervous about making it to the top in daylight, so we hit the trail as soon as we could. Crossing back over the river to the South side was beautiful (see pics in my gallery). It was quite an awesome experience to see and hear the mighty Colorado surging below, whilst gazing out at the jagged land that this river had carved. The first few miles were just lovely. Again, every corner we turned beheld a more amazing view than the last, and the photo breaks were numerous. The beginning of the Bright Angel is decievingly gentle as it curves along the river then slowly makes its way into the canyon. By the halfway point we were beginning to be fearful of the rest of the trail. We hadn't gained that much elevation in those 4.5 miles, and simply by looking up at the snow covered rim we knew the last half would be rather difficult. This trail was much icier than the South Kaibab due to the lack of sunlight, so we donned out yaktrax and were very grateful for our trekking poles we had rented. (PS- I learned the beauty of trekking poles on climbs- I wasn't planning on using them on the AT but this hike sold me on them!) Somewhere around the "3 miles from the rim" marker we were losing steam real quick. After a quick lunch break I thought my muscles were done for- I had frozen up in that 10 minutes of peanut butter and flatbread consumption. But we took it one switchback at a time (pausing to take in the view only, of course...) The day before we were stoked the whole way down and couldn't stop thinking "I CAN'T BELEIVE we are hiking the GRAND CANYON!" and today we were constantly reminded "yup, we're hiking the grand canyon. ouch." We started seeing the day hikers cruising along wearing Converse and shorts and carrying nothing but a bottle of water- and were terrifically jealous of their springy steps. Yet, we were The Hardcore, and that felt great. So we slowly but surely made it to the top, and were even singing again by the time we hit the trailhead. After our traditional celebratory Snickers bar and a few pics (and figuring out where the heck the trail had dropped us) we trudged our sore selves back to the car, returned the poles, and I convinced Sarah that a hot shower and a uber comfy hotel bed would be tremendously better than no shower and camping in a foot of snow. And oh, that bed was heavenly. (As was the tortellini we cooked in the hotel room coffee pot... I still can't beleive it actually worked)The summary- the Grand Canyon is truly Grand. No other name would suit it. Also, if you want to hike it, I highly reccomend the winter. Less people, less baking, more drastic beauty from the snow to the desert and back! (Just watch out for green snow- those mules sure do make a mess).
Date: 2008-02-13
From: Grand Canyon National Park

To: Zion National Park
Miles today: 0.0

We stopped in the visitor's center at the Glen Canyon Dam while driving from Grand Canyon to Zion, and this quote of Everett Reuss was on the wall (how fitting). It is exactly how I felt while hiking/ driving through this amazing country."Once more I am roaring drunk with the lust of life and adventure, and unbearable beauty... Adventure seems to beset me on all quarters without my even searching for it... Though not all my days are as wild as this, each one holds its surprises, and I have seen almost more beauty than I can bear."
Date: 2008-02-21
To: Nervous...
Miles today: 0.0

Just a planning update. Less than two weeks to go and I'm beginning to realize that yes, I actually am doing this. Sounds strange, but I guess it won't feel real until I hit the trail. With the arrival of my new trekking poles yesterday I think I officially have all my gear. I thought I was pretty well geared up months ago but there are SO MANY little things that I keep thinking about or changing. For example my thermarest sprung a leak on my last trip out, and although I repaired it yesterday I think I'm going to stop at REI and pick up a Z-lite so I don't have to worry about an air mattress leaking on the trail. Details, details. I think I'm also freaking myself out about food and mail drops- I am yet undecided about the frequency and contents of said drops. I like to eat good food, yet I also want to keep things simple...I finally decided on the train as means of transportation to GA- although its a long ride, I LOVE trains, and I've heard the 20-however many hour ride the bus is, is absolutely awful.A funny thing I realized today is- I forgot how cold winter is! I went for a short walk in a park this afternoon, and kept thinking about the fact that I haven't actually had winter in 3 years, and 26 degrees in the daytime is a far cry from the Southern California's lows of 40 degrees. Even in the desert, its only in the 20's for a few hours before the sun hits in the morning. Although I feel prepared for cold weather in Georgia, I am amused at myself for forgetting what 'wicked cold' is. I thought those winters in Massachusetts roughened me, but apparently the years in Florida and California have softened me!I will attempt to finish posting my gear list this weekend, but its not really a priority right now. Mail drops are next on my list!
Date: 2008-03-03
From: Hiker Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Wow- here I am in Georgia. It was a long train-ride down, and I'm super glad I am hanging out here at the Hiker Hostel for the day and night. Its a great place and I am very grateful for the time to just chill before hitting the trail. I am totally stoked to get going, but my body is begging for rest.I experienced a wild mix of emotions on the train. I was fine on the ride from NY to DC on Saturday because I was still just going to visit my brother. (And I got a free train ride from a very nice man on the LIRR- Amazing that at 5:45am on a snowy Saturday on Long Island I met with some "Trail Magic" (I think I can call it that because as soon as I slung on my pack and left the house I began my Epic Journey)- anyway, he had section hiked lots of the AT and was excited to talk about it: If you are reading this, thanks again!!!). Back on track here- I had a great visit with my bro and his fam, but when it came time to say goodbye I choked back tears- I was actually leaving all that was familiar. But- I was excited to be on the train and thrilled to be actually on my way! And here I am. We are supposed to get some weather tonight and tomorrow- I'm trying not to think about it but I may not be able to March Forth- we'll see how much of a wimp I am. Hopefully next entry will be from North of here!!
Date: 2008-03-14
From: Springer Mtn.

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 30.7
Weather: light rain

Well its been quite a week. Day one started out with a crazy rain storm. Luckily it was warm and I was so excited to be finally on the trail that the weather didn't bother me. That night however, since everything was wet and the temps dropped, everything froze. Frozen clothes are funny. Frozen boots are not so funny, but discovering that they became a storage unit for woodland creature's nut stores was definitely amusing. The weather has been pretty chilly in morning and evenings, but the days- apart from rain storms- are simply lovely. Perfect hiking weather, and the bare trees allow the observant hiker to enjoy some amazing views. The night before coming into Neels Gap I dreamt someone was rustling a plastic bag, and awoke to the sound of a large being trampling through leaves very near my tent. After a short time of hoping it was another hiker answering Nature's Call, I realized this was no human- indeed a bear was checking things out. But he just poked around and eventually wandered off. After that it took me just a FEW minutes for my pulse to slow and drift back off to sleep.Apart from fun and interesting things- I have some blisters- probably started when my boots got wet on day one. Thats a big problem that I'm trying to resolve, and the people here at Walasi-Yi are very helpful so hopefully I'll heal up soon. Those are the major events of the past few days. So much has happened, everyone I've met has just been awesome, and I am having a wonderful time!
Date: 2008-03-19
From: Neels Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap/ Cloud 9 Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 37.4
Weather: moderate rain

Well I mentioned those blisters in my last entry... They got a lot worse. I took a "zero" day at Neels gap to try to heal them up, but that didn't quite do it. Two days out I pulled the bandage off and all the skin came off with it. yuck. So- I took two more days off here at Cloud 9. This place is great. Jacuzzi, great people, superb meals, beautiful property- not a bad place to take some time off. I was really, really frustrated that I couldn't just hike, but the healing time was definitely needed and now I feel great. I got back out hiking yesterday and did 11.2 miles- my 2nd longest day so far, and although I was tired I felt sooo good to be out. Also- big milestone- I camped by myself for the first time. I don't know how often I'll do that, but at least I'm not afraid of it anymore!The next day was a huge storm, so after 6 miles I hit the next road crossing and got sucked back into what we lovingly call the Vortex that is Cloud 9. It is just so nice to be here and so hard to resist a warm bunk and a cold beer. Also I have met so many fun and interesting people that there is never a dull moment. I am very glad my blisters are better, and I just can't wait to get back out in the woods! North Carolina Here I Come!
Date: 2008-03-20
From: Dicks Creek Gap/ Cloud 9 Hiker Hostel

To: Green Corner Road, TN
Miles today: 170.8

Well its been a little while since I've been on the internet- So I'll cram the last couple weeks into one entry. After Cloud 9 I entered North Carolina- and finished Georgia, my first state! That was pretty exciting. I celebrated with my buddies I had been hiking with, but the next day I decided to push my mileage up because my blisters started to feel GREAT, and I haven't seen those folks since. (If Leaping Turtle or Brushstrokes or Cookie read this- where are you?) So I've been doing about 12-15 a day and feeling pretty tired by the last few miles but overall I feel good. Also, since the last entry I have hit 100 miles (well, now over 200, but that first big milestone was pretty exciting!) The Great Smokey Mountains were BEAUTIFUL. We had really great weather- saw some snow but not bad, and although the evenings were chilly the shelters have fireplaces inside and are just so cozy its hard to get out in the morning! I just left the smokies today and my new hiking buddies (Jarrod and Colin- 2 fun guys from Maine) and I are celebrating by camping wherever we want! (You're not allowed to camp in the smokies unless the shelter is full, and then you still have to be right next to the shelter). We have come to really enjoy the luxury of just crashing wherever. I mentioned to someone the other day that this lifestyle- though we are depriving ourselves of many common things- is actually luxurious in that we can do whatever we want whenever- within reason of course.   And I love it. I think my time is up on the computer, but I will try to update more often if I can and include stories about mice-capades on the roof and naps on mountaintops. On to HOT SPRINGS for a much needed Zero Day!
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Green Corner Road, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 222.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Again, Its been a while! We, the Pain Train (Jarrod, Colin- now "Zipper"- Cav, Avalanche and I) have been putting in a lot of miles. We are averaging 15-20 a day, and feeling pretty good! I had to get new boots in Hot Springs because blisters came back, and yes, as they say, my feet grew. But not just a size. more like 2 sizes. I am a little embarrassed that I can't fit into Women's shoes anymore... I'm catching up to my dad! But, the new boots are really comfortable and my feet are happy happy happy. Even after 18 miles!So I've finished North Carolina and Tennessee, and excited to be in Damascus, the "Friendliest town on the Trail." In the past couple of weeks the terrain has evened out and is actually pretty enjoyable. There are more switchbacks and the mountains are more rolling rather than straight ups and downs. Also it helps that the weather is warming up and flowers are coming out! It is pretty exciting to see green things popping up between the ground cover of dead, brown leaves. We did have a snow storm a few days ago... but hopefully that was the last of them. I have also noticed that I am much, much stronger. I have been building up some impressive muscles and just in the last week have started to notice that my pants don't fit anymore, and even the hiking skirt I bought in Hot Springs (which I LOVE) is pretty loose. So thats exciting! Also the Hiker Hunger is kicking in full swing... I am eating everything in sight- and loving it of course! Ice cream sundae here I come!Thanks to all the folks who have signed my guestbook, it is always so exciting and encouraging to hear from you!
Date: 2008-04-27
From: Damascus, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 163.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Spring was approaching- until the freezing temps the other night and snow flurries in the morning! We had a huge thunderstorm the night before where I woke up and was counting the time between the flash and the thunder to see how far away it was. it went something like this: "Flash: one-thousa: BANG!" Yep, that was close. But that passed, and I woke up at 6:45, and, while staring at the water droplets on my rain-fly realized they were frozen. That was a cold day for hiking, but today the SUN is out (imagine that! I can hardly beleive it!) and it will supposedly warm up later in the week. Oh I almost forgot: THANK YOU SCUBA DAD! We had some fantastic, impecably timed trail magic a few days ago provided by Craig Alexander. It was a really hot day- sun beating down, high humidity, highest temps we've seen yet, and we were up on a stretch of ridge overlooking a valley- and an ominous approaching thunderstorm. As the storm neared we began descending a hill to a road crossing. There appeared in sight a truck and a few people standing around. Then... are those hikers? Packs on the ground?... is that a cooler? And... could it be?!?! The aroma of juicy, tasty meat product wafting up the trail?! IT IS! As soon as I sat down, soda and chips in hand, the rain started. Craig whipped out a little canopy tent and soon enough about 10 hikers, Craig and the grill were huddled under the tent watching the rain... then the hail... then high winds and lightening... and the burgers cooking... and the STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM disappearing thanks to me... and finally the clouds clear and the sun peep back out. Oh it was lovely. So thanks again!
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 92.0

Well the Pain Train- currently consisting of myself, Jarrod and Zipper- has made it to Troutville for a much needed zero day. We realized that it has been 19 days since our last day off- so I think we earned it! Besides feeling pretty worn out and sore by the end of the days (and on big climbs), Virginia has been treating us pretty well.The weather this past week has been BEAUTIFUL. After having a week of rain I have come to appreciate waking up to sunshine and packing up a dry tent so much. A couple of nights ago I half cowboy camped- the shelter had an uncovered porch so I just laid out my bag on the platform and was lulled to sleep by the branches (with LEAVES on them- SO EXCITING!) gently swaying in the cool evening breeze. Waking up to the sunrise peering through the trees was also quite a treat. Virginia is not as easy as I hoped- although it could have been because I was just so worn down- but it consists of a big climb to a ridgeline, lots of Pointless Ups and Downs (PUDS) then a big descent to a valley, then up again to another ridgeline. It would be pretty redundant by now, but there have been some pretty neat sights in between. The Highlights include: Dragon's Tooth, this crazy big rock sticking straight up, which of course I climbed along with Zipper, with an amazing view of ridgelines and farmlands. Also McAfee Knob, a famous rock outcropping with another amazing view. We cooked and watched the sunset atop these cliffs, it was lovely. A very large oak tree, cool wildlife including deer and snakes, and pretty wildflowers and walks through sunny meadows and rushing streams were also exciting. I just remembered also that I forgot to mention the wild ponies we saw in Grayson Highlands state park! That place is BEAUTIFUL. Probably my favorite walk so far. And the ponies are just so neat. There were a bunch of them, and they just kind of hang out, watch you go by, and some even came over and let us pet them. What a neat experience!Again my time is up on the computer. We are expecting another wet week with lots of thunderstorms... Not my favorite but we will be well rested and ready for anything!