morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-12-07
To: Rockin' the Roller Coaster
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Would someone please tell me who thought it would be a good idea to tackle the AT's infamous Roller Coaster wearing a 50-pound pack? Whoever it is has clearly lost touch with reality and fails to grasp the deep hurting inflicted by 1) a 50-pound pack, and 2) miles of Pointless Ups and Downs (PUDs). I'd like to have words with that person. Oh wait...I joined Brett and Kevin yesterday for a SOBO hike of the Roller Coaster. We met at the Route 17 trailhead and, after learning my Prius lacks the clearance for anything that's not flat and well paved, carpooled up to Route 7 and began our hike. I carried my Osprey Aether 85+ stuffed to the gills with a 40-pound weight vest and at least five pounds of various and sundry equipment, for a total pack weight of somewhere around 50 pounds. For conditioning, you see.For those unfamiliar with it, the Roller Coaster is a notoriously challenging stretch of the Appalachian Trail located in the roughly 13 miles between the Route 17 and Route 7 road crossings. Hike the Roller Coaster and you'll find yourself yearning for a flat stretch of trail! I swear, whoever decided the AT should run through this seemingly endless procession of PUDs must have loathed hikers.It's unsurprising then that It didn't take me long to realize the hike was going to be brutal with my overloaded pack! I felt it immediately in my upper quads, glutes, and hip flexors. We made good progress in the early going, until I realized there was no way I would make it to Route 17 without pacing myself. So I slowed down and dropped back, rest stepping on the ascents and trying to descend as efficiently as possible. In the end we completed the hike in about 7 hours, for a pace of roughly 2 MPH. Not terrible, considering the terrain and the pack weight!Still, struggling through those PUDs prompted no small amount of soul searching. Why am I subjecting myself to this? How can I possibly hike 2,180 miles, when 14 miles kicked my butt? Sure, I'll carry about half that weight on the AT come March and the Roller Coaster is famously difficult, but will I have what it takes--physically and mentally--to complete the trail? Will I disappoint myself, my friends and family, and my donors? I don't think so, but I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge the fear. It is what it is. In the end there's only one choice: to take that first step onto the AT at Springer and not give up until I'm standing atop Katahdin.
Date: 2013-12-14
To: Bestill My Beating Heart
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Literally, this conditioning workout threatened to bestill my heart. If you've been following my trail journal, you know I've been doing a lot of stair running to strengthen my legs and reduce the risk of an overuse injury while on the AT. As you read in an earlier entry, I¢m doing most of my training at a set of staircases in Alexandria, Virginia. They¢re great stairs with a variety of depths, widths, and heights, and they¢re situated along the Potomac River. Couldn¢t be better, right?Wrong! Shortly after arriving in Minnesota following 17 hours in the car and 30 hours without sleep (I¢m nothing if not determined), I threw on some cold weather clothing, grabbed my weight vest, and headed downtown Stillwater to take a shot at the (in)famous Stillwater Stairs. The Stillwater Stairs rise 115 vertical feet from Stillwater¢s main drag to the top of a bluff overlooking the St. Croix. There are 157 stairs in all, interrupted at odd intervals by small landings. The view from the top is fabulous; the athletic butt kicking the stairs deliver is less so!Take it from me, this staircase is a beast. I dialed back the weight in my weight vest to 36 pounds, and the stairs still managed to smoke me. My watch wouldn¢t register my heart rate monitor under all those layers of clothing (it was around 15 degrees Fahrenheit), but judging from the way my heart was trying to escape the confines of my person I¢d say it was redlining. I ran the first set, briskly walked four, and sidestepped two for a total of seven sets, or 1,099 steps and 805 vertical feet. Not my best showing. I blame travel-induced exhaustion!All things considered, my Alexandria stairs have nothing on the Stillwater Stairs. I¢ll be here in Minnesota through December 28, and you can be sure I¢ll be spending some quality time on this monstrosity. Sure, it will hurt. But to quote erstwhile Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, pain is weakness leaving the body!
Date: 2013-12-17
To: AT-3 Months!
Miles today: 0.0

It¢s difficult to believe another month has slipped by, bringing me that much closer to Georgia¢s Springer Mountain and my first steps onto the Appalachian Trail. Three months from today I¢ll reach the crux of a journey whose seeds were planted years ago and blossomed during the past eight months into 2,000 Miles From Home, an effort to raise much-needed funds for People Serving People and Minnesota¢s homeless families.November was a banner month for us! Our community proved its commitment to ending family and youth homelessness by contributing generously, enabling us to surpass 25% of our goal of $21,800. In fact, at the time of writing we¢re only $510 shy of reaching the 30% mark! The fact our donors have given over $6,000 to help their neighbors in need is awesome in the fullest sense of the word and a source of inspiration and encouragement for me and all those actively involved in our endeavor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.I write this post from Minnesota. I¢ll return to Virginia briefly in late December to wrap up loose ends at work and prepare my belongings for my mid-February move home. Leaving my job and the people I¢ve served alongside will be more difficult than I imagined. I¢m proud of my accomplishments in over a decade of federal service, but it¢s time to serve in a different capacity. I¢m certain I¢m doing the right thing, but that certainty doesn¢t mean I¢m not anxious about the trail and especially about what will follow.Leaving a secure and upwardly mobile career and a comfortable home for the unknown is unquestionably the hardest thing I¢ve ever done. But do you know what? It pales in comparison to the trials facing Minnesota¢s homeless parents and kids on a daily basis. Their courage and tenacity in the face of such overwhelming adversity is humbling, and they deserve all the support we can muster. If your finances allow, please donate today by visiting http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome. If not, please consider volunteering your time to People Serving People. Each and every dollar and minute contributed will make a lasing difference in the lives of some very deserving families. Together we¢re changing lives. Join us.
Date: 2013-12-19
To: Hiking in a Winter Wonderland
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Minnesota¢s healthy snowpack rules out hiking, right? Wrong! In an effort to diversify my current AT training regimen and avoid burnout on the Stillwater Stairs (a very real possibility), I swaddled myself in cold weather clothing, heaved on my weight vest, and stepped into my beloved but severely underused snowshoes for a refreshing conditioning hike at Afton State Park. Sure, it was a bit brisk (19 Fahrenheit) but it was just what the doctor ordered.The thing I love most about hiking in the winter is perhaps the silence. The snow provides amazing sound attenuation, and often the only thing that can be heard is the wind in the trees or snowflakes falling on one¢s hood. Cars, planes, and other sound polluters are largely drowned out leaving one to one¢s thoughts. So it was for me on this three-mile hike along groomed ski trails and ungroomed snowshoe paths overlooking the frozen St Croix River. I had the trail completely to myself, and save for the crunch of my snowshoes heard nary a sound on my hike. It was wonderful.So how did I feel afterward, considering this was a conditioning hike? Solid. It was a short hike with few stretches of arduous elevation gain, and my legs were definitely up to the task. I only had 36 pounds in my weight vest, but I did feel it the next day given the slightly different gait necessitated by the snowshoes. All things considered it provided welcome validation that the stair running is working. But more importantly, it gave me the opportunity to do something I love: hike through a winter wonderland!
Date: 2013-12-26
To: Cross (Country) Conditioning!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

How is it that I grew up in Minnesota, a land people by transplanted Scandinavians, yet somehow never learned to cross-country ski? You tell me. I've wanted to pick it up for years, and finally had the opportunity to do so while home for the holidays. Anything in the name of training for the AT, right?After picking up a pair of skis and boots at Midwest Mountaineering, an outstanding independent outfitter based in Minneapolis, Britta and I headed north to Lake Superior to try our luck at Tettegouche State Park. We were blessed with a warm day (high teens, it's all relative), a beautiful light snowfall, and inches of fine powder. The first leg of the trip was spectacular as we glided through the snow-shrouded boreal forest, silent but for our passing as only a wood in winter can be, and along the shores of frozen lakes. The second leg of the trip was a little more...adventurous. We elected to follow an ungroomed snowshoe trail to create a loop rather than backtrack. To make a long story short, the snowshoe trail proved impassible on classic skis and forced us to posthole through hip-deep snow for over a mile to regain a groomed trail. The trip back to the car, much of it downhill in the dark without a headlamp, was memorable!Several days later, after recovering from our North Shore death march, we grabbed our skis and checked out the trails at Lake Maria State Park. We had a blast! The weather again cooperated, and we spent the better part of the day skiing through Minnesota's big woods and skirting some scenic little lakes. Given that no training activity would be complete without my injuring myself, I pulled a back muscle trying to emulate a technique used by elite nordic skiers competing in the grueling Vasaloppet. It was initially so painful I thought I'd vomit, but it faded rather rapidly to a minor irritation.So the inevitable question: was cross-country skiing effective training for the AT? Sure was! It forced me to recruit some muscles that don't come heavily into play during stair running, which can only help me when it comes time to begin my hike. Also, it was good fun and helped me avoid burnout (however narrowly) on the stairs. My only regret is that Virginia is utterly without snow, so I'll have to hold out hope that the trails are still passable when I return to Minnesota in mid-February!
Date: 2014-01-10
To: Doldrums
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I've been more or less incommunicado for the past week, and not because I lack ready access to the Internet. Since returning to Virginia I've felt like I'm stuck in the doldrums, treading water between two lives. I submitted my official notice at work and began the process of concluding my career with the Defense Department. I notified my landlord that I'm moving and I've spent considerable time packing. I'm continuing to train near daily, whether stair running or climbing. I'm plugging away at my planning for the AT and, first things first, for my relocation to Minnesota. But as busy as I've been, I don't feel as though I've had anything interesting to say!I suspect waiting ranks among the hardest parts of any journey. While I'm dreading saying goodbye to those I've served alongside for more than a decade, I'm absolutely ready to rejoin my loved ones in Minnesota. I'm ready to settle in back in the Twin Cities, to put the finishing touches on my AT planning, and hopefully make some solid progress on 2,000 Miles From Home prior to hitting the trail. Yet I'm acutely aware that I can't begin most of these efforts in earnest until I leave Virginia, and that's just over a month away. So while I may be making progress in certain areas (packing, training, preparing for the move), I have my eyes fixed on February and my return home.I guess I just need to adjust my attitude. Irrespective of whether one wants to be someplace, one should inhabit that place while there. February will arrive in no time, and March and the AT soon after, even if it currently feels like the days are passing at a snail's pace, and there are things to occupy me here in the interim. Oh, for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change!
Date: 2014-01-11
To: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Over the past month my AT training has included snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, stair running, climbing, and weight lifting. What's missing from this list, you ask? Hiking! Faced with rapidly dwindling time in Virginia, I struck out on Saturday with Kevin and Brett for a ten-mile conditioning hike at Signal Knob near Strasburg. I was also joined by a misery-inducing 55 pound pack, a pair of mountaineering boots badly in need of breaking in, and torrential rain. As you might imagine, it was a sufferfest.Don't get me wrong, the company was fantastic and the view from Signal Knob was spectacular, thanks to a low-lying fog bank that gave the impression we stood above the clouds. Let's just say the combination of a heavy pack, stiff boots, and cold rain made for some miserable hiking! The experience underscored the importance of minimizing my AT pack weight and offered a taste of the kind of adverse weather I'll experience regularly on the trail. The only difference is that I had a hot shower and Chipotle burrito bowl waiting for me afterward. I'll enjoy no such luxury come March.All things considered we had a great time. We maintained a respectable two mile per hour pace despite the pack weight and some pretty grueling climbs. My hip flexors and calves were wrecked afterward and are still sore a couple days later, which I attribute more to the boots than the pack. As for my bruised shoulders, hips, and lower back, well, that can only be the pack!
Date: 2014-01-17
To: AT-2 Months!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

It¢s difficult to believe only two months remain before I set foot on the AT at Springer Mountain. For months March 17 has seemed like some distant, hypothetical date with little tangible reality. That¢s changing, and rapidly. In less than three weeks I¢ll leave the profession to which I¢ve devoted the whole of my adult life. I¢ll depart Virginia and return home to Minnesota. The spaces in which I live my life are currently filled with boxes and piles of belongings to keep, discard, or donate. This is very much a time of transition.The coming month will prove the culmination of a decision I made last year, which itself was years in the making. It took a personal crucible and seemingly endless reflection and prayer to summon the courage to take this step, and I don¢t feel particularly courageous in doing so. I¢m as anxious as I¢ve ever been. People ask me whether I¢m nervous about hiking the AT. The answer is no. I¢d like to think I respect and appreciate the mental and physical challenges the trail will throw at me, but I¢m not nervous. What terrifies me is leaving behind a secure career for the unknown. It¢s the greatest risk I¢ve ever taken, and that includes two voluntary deployments to combat zones!John Muir famously wrote ¢the mountains are calling and I must go.¢ And so will I, despite my trepidation and anxiety about life after the trail and being so far removed for so long from those I love. I suspect I share this in common with most in the AT¢s Class of 2014. There will always be reasons to not do something, and some things are worth doing even if those reasons are powerful. This is a prime example. When I start worrying about whether I can do this¢leave my job, move halfway across the country, and hike 2,180 miles from Georgia to Maine¢I think about those supporting me as well as those this endeavor will benefit. If I¢m successful in my thru-hike bid and reach my fundraising goal, 22 families and 66 kids will have been transitioned from homelessness to housing of their own. Think about those numbers for a moment. Think about what it would mean to you and your family. How can I NOT do this?
Date: 2014-01-25
To: Practice Makes Perfect!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

Those who know me know I'm a passionate climber. There's just something about rock, ice, snow, and elevation that speaks to me. Which is why I spend an immoderate amount of time and treasure on mountaineering! Given this, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I've decided to tackle Mount Washington next week with my climbing partner Brett. While Mount Washington isn't as tall as many of the mountains I've climbed, it has the worst weather by far. In fact the apocalyptic conditions are precisely why we've decided to climb it in February. It'll undoubtedly be a sufferfest, but it'll offer fantastic training value! Being fully cognizant of the mountain's famously brutal conditions, we decided to do a quick gear shakedown on Saturday night at Signal Knob near Strasburg, Virginia to ensure our equipment and systems were fully dialed. We met at the trailhead at about 9 PM, shouldered our packs, and headed down the trail for about two miles until we reached a nice spot to pitch Brett's new 4-season mountaineering tent. After some creative guying the tent was bomb proof and we turned our attention to melting snow for drinking water and some late-night apple cider. My new expedition stove worked like a charm! It was on the cold side with the temperature hovering in the low teens, but all things considered our layering systems did the trick. We snuck in a couple hours of shuteye then rose at 5 AM to break camp and return to the trailhead so I could get back to Alexandria and pack for the move. No rest for the weary!Overall it was a great experience. I identified several issues I intend to address prior to the climb (e.g., avalanche gear accessibility, clothing, foot warmers, etc), so the shakedown definitely fulfilled its purpose. This will by my last mountain adventure until I set foot on the AT on March 17, and I'm pretty psyched. I'm also excited by the fact that the next time I climb Mount Washington I'll be carrying considerably less equipment and nearing the end of my thru-hike!
Date: 2014-02-02
To: 40% and Counting!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I'm thrilled to announce that our effort to support Minnesota's homeless families has hit another milestone by surpassing 40% of our goal of $21,800! Thanks to the generosity of people like you, we've raised nearly $8,900 and are well on our way to helping a ninth family find its way home from homelessness. We're aiming to reach the 50% mark by the time I set foot on the AT on March 17, and while that's an ambitious goal I'm confident your generosity and compassion will get us there. Donations convey wholly to People Serving People, a 501(c)(3) charity, and each and every tax-deductible dollar will help change the lives of the most vulnerable parents and kids in our community. If you feel called to give, please navigate to http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome and make a difference today!
Date: 2014-02-17
To: AT-1 Month!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It's hard to believe four weeks from today will find me at Springer Mountain, poised to take my first of several million steps on the AT. The past month was a blur as I packed up my belongings in Virginia, walked away from my career in federal service, said goodbye to longtime colleagues and good friends, and made the move back to Minnesota where I'm writing this entry on a cold and beautiful winter morning. It was an emotional and challenging month, but I have no regrets about what I'm doing and I haven't entertained a single second thought. I interpret my lack of doubt as evidence I've made the right decision, notwithstanding the uncertainty it will entail both during and following the trail.Given the logistics of my relocation are more or less behind me, I can turn to planning in earnest for the trail. I'm inventorying my gear and filling gaps where necessary, studying mileage tables, creating mail drop schedules, and formulating meal plans. I'm about to purchase airfare to Atlanta, and will be making transportation and lodging arrangements shortly. Things are proceeding smoothly, and now that I'm without a "day job" I can focus on planning for the AT and administering 2,000 Miles From Home full-time. I'm confident I'll be squared away when I depart for Georgia on March 14.This confidence doesn't necessarily translate into peace of mind. I'm anxious about how my four-to-six months away will impact my relationships here in the ¢real world.¢ The AT will be an incredible experience, but I'll miss my family and loved ones dearly. When I first settled on thru-hiking the AT for charity my personal barrier to entry was substantially lower. That has changed, and while an absolute blessing it will also make the journey a greater mental challenge as I have strong reason to want to return to Minnesota before too much time elapses. I also continue to worry about what life after the trail will hold, but I have faith that will work itself out in due time. First things first.As of this morning we're standing just shy of 50% of our fundraising goal in support of People Serving People and Minnesota's homeless families. The amount we've raised to date--$10,323--translates into ten families receiving the services needed to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. This represents an awesome triumph of compassion over indifference, and I'm confident we'll reach our ultimate goal of $21,800 by the time I summit Mount Katahdin in Maine. This is why I'm hiking. After stripping away all the anxieties and uncertainties, after accounting for the logistics and planning, what remains is my commitment--and the commitment of all who have donated to People Serving People via 2,000 Miles From Home--to see this journey through and make a lasting difference in the lives of the most vulnerable parents and kids in our community. If you support what we're doing, please consider contributing at http://www.razoo.com/story/2000mileshome. YOU can make a real and lasting difference for those in need. Join us today.