morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-07-31
To: Trail name or no trail name....
Miles today: 0.0

Trail name or no trail name, that was the question. When I first started to think about whether or not to start with a trail name, it just seemed right that I choose one for myself. Months ago I had it narrowed down to two names and made my decision based on their position in the alphabet. I surmised that the name that started with a ¢W¢ would have less of a chance of being read on Trail Journals than a name starting with a ¢J¢, so Journey it was! It felt good and seemed to fit comfortably. Today I went to Trail Journals, counted hits on journals whose trail names started with ¢Js¢ and trail names that started with ¢Ws¢ and found that it didn¢t make a difference. That shot my theory right out of the water! When I settled on Journey, I was not aware of Denise DeLisle, Journey, or her tragic story. I read and re-read her journals trying to decide what to do.71 days before Denise was due to start on her journey up the AT she wrote, ¢So for right now, Journey is it unless and until another name comes along that first (sic) better or is given spontaneously to me while on the trail.¢ She was happy with Journey but also content that at some point along the trail her name may change. Trail names are repeated from year to year and even duplicated in the same year. Not everyone with a trail name is listed on Trail Journals.So yes Ron, I am brave. And when I get to Katahdin with the trail name of Journey or whatever it may be by then, I¢ll say a prayer for Denise and I know that she¢ll be proud.
Date: 2002-08-04
To: First big purchase
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday we visited Exkursion Outfitters near Pittsburgh (exkursion.com) to look at Golite backpacks. I found them on Golite¢s website. Great store. I tried on numerous packs, each time pulling out the plastic and bricks used to simulate my gear (20-25 lbs.) and putting them into another. Thanks Shingo for being so patient! I really like the size and look of the Golite Speed, which they didn¢t have on hand but were more than happy to order for me. It should be in the end of next week. They also carry the Vasque Sundowner boots that I like plus clothes, sleeping bags, etc., etc., etc. I think I¢ll try out the Golite sleeping system. If anyone has any experience with the system, I¢d like to hear about it.When the pack arrives, I¢ll compare it with the Osprey Aether 36 that I tried and liked and I¢d also like to try several external frame packs. I had one on at Mount Rogers Outfitters in Damascas in June and it was very comfortable. When I return to Exkursion, I¢ll work with Fred Gunter who founded the store in 1974. He¢s the resident guru on backpacking. Shingo told me next time come for the day, we¢ll order pizza. It¢s a deal.I¢m really looking forward to being able to put my pack on and head into the hills around our cottage. Since backpacking is new to me, having weight on my back is not something that I¢m used to. I¢m going to have to work hard to keep that weight down. It will mean the difference between success and failure.
Date: 2002-08-10
To: Time Out
Miles today: 0.0

This week my backpacking obsession was put on hold due to coming home Wednesday evening to one of my dogs being bloated and having a severe allergic reaction to the peanut suet cake she had eaten earlier in the day. We knew it must have been the peanut one because she burped and passed gas all the way to the vet¢s office. Apparently the raccoon that frequents the yard at night had knocked the suet holder down, eating 2 of the cakes himself and leaving one for Sooner. Being a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, she couldn¢t pass up the delicacy. Aggie, our Lab would have eaten it too, but Sooner got to it first. Aggie has visited the spot every day since, just in case there is a piece of seed or dollop of fat that was missed. Those of you with retrievers can picture this clearly.Our night started at the vet¢s office where we saw a kind, patient intern who consulted with our vet by phone and administered several homeopathic remedies and acupressure. Within a half an hour she was again walking, but still bloated and stressed. It was decided that a trip to the 24-hour emergency hospital in Ohio was in order. Route 80 is dark and scary at 1:00 in the morning. I hit a ground hog on the way, which added to my feelings of despair. There¢s not much time to react when you¢re going 80 miles an hour. The trip took me 45 long minutes.At 3:45am we walked out of the hospital after having been examined, observed, x-rayed, tubed and needled. On the ride home I thought about a Simpson¢s episode, where Homer took the family dog to the vet for bloat. The vet looked at the dog and said, ¢The dog bloated. That¢ll be $750.00". I thought it was funny at the time.Thursday Sooner spent the day at Dr. Cindy Maro¢s office. Her friendly, capable staff ran blood work and an IV for the day. Yesterday she spent the day with me tagging closely behind her. She is still on chicken and rice but is walking normally and seems to be feeling like her old self again. This morning the catheter comes out.The same day our emergency began, I had gotten a call from Exkursion Outfitters telling me that my pack was in. Because my husband is away and I won¢t leave the dog yet, it will have to wait until next week. I can hear it calling my name. I¢m coming, I¢m coming¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦
Date: 2002-08-31
To: At Last, I Have Gear!
Miles today: 0.0

At Last, I Have Gear!Last week I made the one-hour ride down the Pa. Turnpike to Exkursion Outfitters in Monroeville. My Golite Speed Pack and Golite Flash Sleep System were waiting patiently for me. For the next 2-12 hours I was immersed in backpacker heaven. The fellows at Exkursion are a wealth of information. Thanks Shingo, Chris, Dave and Nathan for being so patient. They even shared their Manna bread with me.The Golite Speed is everything I wanted it to be except for the color. What looked gold and black in the catalog is really blaze orange and black. I will definitely be recognizable for miles! The pack is rated for 30 pounds but we filled it with my idea of a good weight for me¢22lbs. I was really impressed with how comfortable it was. The Golite Flash Sleep System weighed in at 4 lbs., entirely too heavy for me, so we went through every bag in the store and then some catalogs. It looks like I¢ll be switching my thinking from poly to down because of the weight issue. The fellows helping me recommended the Western Mountaineering Ultralite bag. After looking at the stats, I agreed that it would be the best bag for me and ordered it. The bag weighs in at 1lb.12 oz. Along with the blaze orange pack, I¢ll be carrying a brilliant blue sleeping bag. Where do the get these colors? I pictured myself in various shades of green, light green, medium green and dark green, with a little brown and navy thrown in for excitement. I wanted to blend in with the environment not look like a pair of gaudy earrings hanging on the lobes of the Appalachians.I¢ll be using a Nomad Lite tent that weighs less than 2 pounds.My base weight with my Speed pack, the Nomad Lite tent, and the Ultralite sleeping bag will be 5lbs. 6 oz. and I¢ll still need to add my tent stakes to that weight.I can now start to work on my Gear page on Trail Journals. Up until now all that I had was a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle, a lexan spoon, and a sierra cup. Now I have something to put them in!I¢ll be wearing my pack on my daily 2-mile walks at the park and also on my twice-daily walks with the dogs in our woods. I¢ll gradually add weight to it until 25 lbs. feels like it¢s a part of me. If you see a middle aged woman in a blaze orange backpack with a big smile on her face, wave, it¢s probably me.
Date: 2002-09-21
To: September Summary
Miles today: 0.0

September Summary9-21-02I was able to pick up my new sleeping bag, a Western Mountaineering Ultratite, at the outfitters the second week of the month. It is as light as a feather (pun intended) weighing in at 1lb. 12 oz. Since it is so warm, I have put it up until the weather changes. Then I¢ll start sleeping outside to find out what combination of bag, liner, and clothing will keep me warm on those cold mountain nights in Georgia and North Carolina. I also need to get used to the feeling of being ¢hog tied¢ in the bag. Having my feet together all night does not come naturally, it¢ll take some practice.I purchased a scale this month and have had fun weighing everything, absolutely everything that comes near it. My camera, an Olympus C3000 Zoom (which I love and wanted to take on my thru-hike) weighed in at 14.2 ounces. I knew it was going to be heavy but that may be a little over the line. I¢ll check into the Elph that everyone talks about. I¢ll also be carrying a Grundig eTraveller VII AM/FM world band Radio. This will be my entertainment when needed and also a way for me to get weather and news. It weighs 9 ounces.I have been in touch with Greenbean who is a big inspiration to me during this planning stage. Next year I will be carrying her Nomad tent with me to Katahdin--- my first trip, its second! I¢m excited about this purchase because of the good karma surrounding the tent and the fact that it already knows the way! If I¢m lost I¢ll count on it to show me where to go. Next year when my thru-hike is finished I¢ll pass the tent on to the next woman to carry it to Katahdin. The very best part of the month came when 4 of us from Trailjournals.com decided to start together on March 15th. Along with me will be Goldberry, Twofiddy and Toby Cheman. This union makes our families very happy and gives us a cushion of well being and support for the start of our journey. We¢ve committed to several weeks and at that time may go our own ways or continue on together depending on hiking styles and personalities. Spacewalker is also starting on the 15th so I¢m sure he¢ll join our happy, little group since personality wise he seems to fit right in. It¢s such a nice feeling knowing that I¢m going so far away only to meet up with people that I ¢know¢ from trailjournals.I¢d like to thank everyone that has taken the time and energy to sign my guest book and e-mail me with words of encouragement and wisdom. It means so much to me to know that I have the support of so many.
Date: 2002-10-20
To: Getting in Shape
Miles today: 0.0

Getting in Shape10-20-02 October has been a busy month for me. One of my responsibilities at work is visiting all 597 Main Street towns in the county and if the weather co-operates, I¢ll be finished by the 31st. We did find the time to take advantage of Exkursion Outfitter¢s 20-50% off sale last weekend. I won¢t go into everything that I bought since it¢s on my gear page; let¢s just say that it was an expensive trip. They didn¢t have the Vasque Sundowners in my size, so they are on order and due in soon. I¢m looking forward to wearing them on my training hikes as I¢m starting to have some problems with the ball of my right foot. I have worn custom orthodics for several years with a positive result and have just ordered a new pair of thick, heavy duty, hiking orthodics. Hopefully, the boots along with the orthodics will give me the results I need.I haven¢t yet talked about what I¢m doing to condition myself for next March so I¢ll do that now. In August of 2001, before I had even planned on a thru-hike, I began walking 2 miles every other day to help lower my cholesterol. My physician said that I couldn¢t do it on my own, but I talked him into giving me 3 months to try. Along with the walking, every morning I drink a protein shake with fruit, soymilk, lecithin and flax seed oil. I got the recipe from my local health food store. This too would help lower my cholesterol. My HDL and triglycerides were good, a testament to my healthy lifestyle but my LDL was 160, a gift from my Father¢s side of the family. Anyway, three months and a blood test later my total cholesterol had dropped from 260 to 205 and my LDL had gone from 160 to a respectful 128. Needless to say I was thrilled and continued to walk and drink my morning shake. If anyone is interested in the recipe just e-mail me and I¢ll send it your way.About 2 months ago I added the backpack to my walks and I increase the weight every couple of weeks. I¢m up to 13 pounds. Not much, but I¢m doing it gradually so I don¢t have any problems. I have also added a local hiking trail that starts with a very steep, long incline. The first time I took the trail, I had to stop 3 times on the way to the top. After the 2nd time I didn¢t have to stop at all, I just keep moving--¢slow and steady. So that¢s about 3.5 miles every other day. I also walk the dogs daily in the woods around the cottage where there are lots of ups and downs.In January I¢ll start lifting weights a couple of times a week. This should really help my shoulders and ready them for the 25 lbs. that I¢ll be carrying in March. I¢m the oldest one in our March 15th group so I feel like I need to be in great shape even before we leave. I don¢t want to have to get in shape on the trail.I slept out in my new (Greenbean¢s old) Nomad Lite last night for the first time, but that¢s another entry.........................................Journey
Date: 2002-10-27
To: Sleeping in my Nomad Lite
Miles today: 0.0

Sleeping in my Nomad Lite10-27-02Several weeks ago I slept in my Nomad Lite for the first time. I had purchased my hiking poles and was anxious to get the tent up and try it out. The temperature was expected to drop down to 35* that night and it was humid but I was ready with my new 25* Western Mountaineering Ultralite sleeping bag, z-rest pad, my regular bed pillow (I know, I know), long underwear, a fleece shirt and a fleece Steelers blanket (just in case). I headed out at 10 pm and quickly got settled in. I left the ¢beaks¢ of the Nomad open all the way so that condensation from my breath would not be a problem in this single walled tent. The night air smelled wonderful, something I¢ve enjoyed since I was a little girl. The sound of the water going over the pond overflow lulled me to sleep. Because I was using my bed pillow and couldn¢t pull the mummy bag over my head, I awakened with a brain freeze several hours later. I pulled my fleece shirt off and put it over my head and was back to sleep in no time. Several hours later I awakened again, quite chilled. When I pulled the blanket over my sleeping bag, I realized that the bag was wet, very wet. So were my pillow, head and the walls of the tent. It took quite a while to return to sleep this time. When I awakened in the morning, water was dripping on my head. Water and down bags don¢t make for a comfortable night, especially when you are on the trail and don¢t have a fleece blanket or a warm cottage to run to if you need them. I definitely have to work the snags out of this issue before March. I posted a question on TJ¢s Forum and e-mailed Greenbean for advice, but she had never had a condensation problem with the tent while she had it. I think the next time it is real humid I¢ll try sleeping with the flies down except for the area right over my head.My biggest obstacle to a peaceful night¢s sleep was the mummy bag. Because I can¢t pull one knee up, I can¢t get in a familiar position. I tossed and turned off and on all night. Also, I don¢t think the 25* bag will keep me warm enough starting out, so the next trip to the outfitters will find me looking at Western Mountaineering 0*-10* sleeping bags. I¢ll have my brother send me the 25* bag when warm weather comes to the AT.Last week I slept out again. This night was dry and 40*. I used the extra tab on the fly at my head and staked it way out so my breath wouldn¢t cause condensation to form inside the tent. I still got cold, but was dry in the morning when I awakened. I used a small pillow that fit inside my mummy bag and was able to bring the bag over my head and tighten the string until all that was left was a little breathing hole. I fell asleep with a smile on my face and slept well for most of the night. In the morning I was awakened by a voice saying, ¢Are you still on bivwacks¢? Jack went off to work and I to the kitchen to make my tea in the warmth of the cottage while I still can.
Date: 2002-11-16
To: Nobody Can Tell Me..............
Miles today: 0.0

Nobody Can Tell Me¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦Nobody can tell me that this AT thru-hike planning process is not an all-consuming process. I have turned into a living, breathing thru-hike planning machine. I think, eat, feel and live thru-hike every waking moment of the day; it has taken over my life like the fog takes over Springer Mountain on a cool, March morning. The trick is in keeping the semblance of a normal life by paying bills, taking out the trash, going to work and caring for the animals while in your mind, everything you do is related to the trail next year. ¢Don¢t complain about the cold¢, I tell myself. ¢Come March, you¢ll be out in it all day and night¢. I fell over a big downed tree today while walking the dogs in the woods. First my knees hit the wet ground, and then my left wrist, and then my forehead. I didn¢t let go of the leash though! Laughing, I thought to myself, ¢How will I get from Springer to Katahdin if I can¢t navigate the yard?¢ When I got back to the cottage I realized that I had a big brown mud spot on my forehead.Last weekend 2 of my March 15th hiking buddies (Toby- leapyear -Cheman and Aaron- twofiddy -Sworden) came to the cottage so we could get to know each other and get in a group hike before leaving next year. Unfortunately Clair- goldberry VonHandorf lived too far away to make it. We had a great weekend; talking, comparing gear, eating, hiking, eating, talking some more. I¢m so lucky to have 2 such great fellows to be able to start off with and I know that Jack feels much better about sending me out into the wild with these outdoorsy, capable guys. We¢re going to get together again the beginning of December to hike, plan mail drops and food preparation. Clair will join us in January for one more get together before we leave in March. In the meantime, I¢ll count on msn messaging to get us through. Thanks Toby, Aaron, Clair and !Bearkat for the time you spend online with me, it is really appreciated.Toby and I went to Exkursion Outfitters last Sunday before he left for home. I ordered a Western Mountaineering 0* Puma sleeping bag that is due in a few weeks. I¢m anxious to try it out now that the western Pennsylvania nights are getting cold. I also purchased a pair of Patagonia gloves and ordered a pair of rainproof mittens. I got a call on Monday that my Vasque Sundowners are in and they will get picked up today. I must have them broken in by the time my backpacking class starts in January. There will be four classes at the outfitters and a weekend backpacking trip to Laurel Highlands in southwestern Pa.The time seems to be flying by and I worry that I won¢t have everything ready for our March 15 departure date. Whatever doesn¢t get finished before I leave will have to wait until I get back, there¢s no stopping me now!
Date: 2002-12-14
To: Time Marches On
Miles today: 0.0

Time Marches OnActually, it¢s blasting on like a train in the night! I can¢t believe that the hike I have been planning for over a year will start in exactly 3 months. November is a blur and now December is half over and I¢m no closer to being ready for Christmas than I was a month ago. Focus Diane, focus.Thanksgiving found us in Jersey with family for the big feast. Thanks Kim and Rory for hosting a wonderful day. When the turkey juices spilled over in the oven setting off the smoke alarm, we knew Mom had joined us in spirit. It just isn¢t Thanksgiving in the Babnew household without the smoke alarm going off at least once!Last weekend Toby and Aaron (along with Aaron¢s wacky pup Nuptse),and Toby's friend Andrew joined us at the cottage for another weekend of thru-hiker preparation. Saturday we hiked 4.6 miles in 28* and snow. I was happy to find that my choice of clothes kept me comfortably warm except for when we stopped for an hour to eat lunch. Twice, snow got into my boots on steep down hills so I¢ve added gaiters to my list of ¢must haves¢.I used the Pepsi can stove that Toby made me for boiling water to add to my Mountain House meal. Both were put into a Ziploc bag, mixed and then, because I couldn¢t see wasting all that heat, put inside my jacket for cooking. In 10 minutes my meal was ready and I was warmer.It¢s so nice to have the fellows around and share trail ideas. Martin Luther King weekend will find the entire troop here, me, Toby, Aaron and Clair. We will finalize what plans we can and take several hikes. After reading the forum at whiteblaze.net on whether or not to carry maps, I¢ve caved in and bought the set. Several people talked about how irresponsible it is to go into the woods without a map and after much thought, I agree. I think I¢ll use a bounce box to get them up the trail to me.Yesterday found me at Exkursion Outfitters for their 20% off Christmas sale; music to my ears. I came home with an ultralite pack cover, a balacava, another Patagonia R1 shirt (I love these shirts and have lived in mine since I bought the 1st one), and a Marmot Precip jacket which will take the place of my Patagonia Liquid Sky on the trail due to color and weight. I just hope that Marmot stands behind their products as strongly as Patagonia. My Puma bag (ordered over a month ago) shipped the day before but wasn¢t in the store yet and the MSR tea pot ordered 2 months ago and held up on the west coast because of the longshoreman¢s strike will ship next week.While at the outfitter, I got the details on the winter backpacking class that I had signed up for on my last shopping trip. We¢ll meet at the store for 2 classes and then take a weekend hike in February on the Laurel Highlands Trail. This will be a good cold weather test of my gear, food and fortitude. Christmas will find the cottage full of family. Our sons Jeff and Justin will join us on the 24th for 5 days and my sister Karen and her son Jacob fly in on the 28th. I love a full house for the holidays.I¢d like to wish you all a happy, peaceful holiday season.
Date: 2004-12-22
To: The Art of Giving
Miles today: 0.0

We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the heart:Love, kindness, joy, understanding, sympathy, tolerance, forgiveness.We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the mind:Ideas, dreams, purposes, ideals, principles, plans, projects, poetry.We give gifts of ourselves when we give gifts of the spirit:Prayer, vision, beauty, aspiration, peace, faith.We give of ourselves when we give the gift of words:Encouragement, inspiration, guidance.From The Art of Living by Willfred A. PetersonThank you to all those in the trail community that give of their love, ideas, prayers, and encouragement. You help me to be the best that I can be¢¦..Peace on Earth~Journey
Date: 2003-04-27
From: Deep Gap

To: Town of Franklin - Rock Gap
Miles today: 20.7

Pulled a big mile day to get into town, eat some grub, do the grocery thing for the first time on my hike, and get a hotel room. Looking back I wish I would have stealth camped to save $$. I thought I needed a room but I really didn't. It was a routine I had to get out of.
Date: 2003-04-28
From: Town of Franklin - Rock Gap

To: campsite just north of Wayah bald
Miles today: 14.2

Since I didn't get out of town till almost afternoon and went down to see Wasalik Poplar, believed to be the oldest poplar tree in the states, I felt I did pretty good. Today was my first encounter with Goof, Scavenger and Gray Squrl.
Date: 2003-04-30
From: N.O.C. - US 19

To: Fontana Dam Shelter (the hilton)
Miles today: 28.7
Weather: few clouds

When I awoke this morning, I had NO intentions of going the distance I did and as the day passed quickly, so did the miles. The last mile into the hilton was long and I crashed hard when I got there. Almost of all of my big mile days are unplanned and this was no exception. I had a light pack, was in good shape before starting the trail and apparently am good at hiking. I was not happy nor sad for the distance I traveled today, it was just another day for me.