morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: I have no idea where he is
Miles today: 0.0

I feel terribly disconnected from Brian right now, I haven't spoken to him since last Friday morning. I don't even know when I can expect a call, maybe Daleville sometime this week when he picks up his mail drop. Anyway, I am having a hard time with this right now, It has been weeks since I have seen him, and now no word either. I feel very alone right now. I don't even have a clue where he is, how he is doing or anything else.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Catawba/Roanoke
Miles today: 72.0

Brian hiked into Catawba, a very small town in VA. Not much there, a small store, behind which he and a few others where planning camp for the night. Brian worked with a fella here in Myrtle Beach a few years ago, Matt, moved 2 years ago to Roanoke, the two had lost touch, until Brian looked in the phone book and luckily found him. Brian's intention was to have Matt come meet him near Daleville for maybe dinner since he is so close. But what he got was so much nicer, Matt and his wife jumped in their car and went out of their way to pick Brian up. So last night he was fed a good meal, had a nice long shower, and slept in a nice bed. Today he will to laundry, and they will take him back to the trail. Now to me thats trail magic. Completely unexpected and more so appreciated. Thank you Matt. On a more personal note about me. I write this journal for me more than anything. I have been married 10 months now and my husband will be gone on our first anniversary. I have dealt with all of this the best way I know how, which I think has been pretty supportive,and loving, but, it appears some think I should use this time to look into myself. Well thats what I have done. I have found I love my husband more than I thought possible, and everyday away from him is harder than the one before. If you don't care for the things I write, there is a simple solution, don't read it. I only hope that those who read this, are lucky enough to have someone at home who cares enough to be sad while your gone. If your lucky enough to be truly in love, well then your lucky enough!
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Catawba/Roanoke

To: VA 614/Middle Creek Campground
Miles today: 47.0

Brian called me from the Middle Creek Campground yesterday afternoon about 5:15. He left Daleville the day before around 5pm, so he hiked 28 miles in about 24 hours, and slept at least 10 of those. He is on a mission I guess. He is hiking with Barry Manilow. These two are making great time, they have been hiking off and on together since just before daleville, where this kind fellow caught up to Brian after chasing him for about 4 days to return the mapdanna that had fallen from Brian's pack. Now this would seem silly if you didn't know the history behind these map-dannas. The kids and I bought all 4 as Christmas gifts. We each decided to sponsor so to speak a section of the trip, Chase had the first map, Alex the second, Tyler the third, and I have the fourth and final map. On our maps we wrote in sharpie, personal messages to Brian, that he could read everyday to know we are behind him. So they are special to Brian, well he lost the second one, which was Alex's of all the ones to lose that was not the one, the boys would never care one way or the other they are boys, But Alex is so over sensitive about this whole Dad being gone thing, and if she were to find out he lost the map she would be heart-broken. When he realized he lost it, he started leaving notes in every register of every shelter, even when he didn't stay in them, that he had lost his map and it was special because his daughter had written special notes on it. Well someone found it, and that someone handed it off to another someone who was moving faster, and it made it back to Brian, who was so incredibly thankful, There are such wonderful people on the trail, there really are.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: VA 614/Middle Creek Campground

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This weekend couldn't have been worse. The kids were gone, and I was alone, that you would think is a good thing right? Well after I cleaned all that could be cleaned and did the laundry, all that was to be done, I kinda ran outta things to do. I was witness to an event that took place across the street from my house Saturday that was absolutely frightening. I did the right thing I yelled out and called 911. Now I only worry I may be a target for retribution. So sleep hasn't come the last few days. Got to speak with Brian Saturday also, he was nice enough to give me a few seconds after eating the free lunch offered to thru hikers by the Dutch House B & B. What a nice thing to do. For the first time since Brian has been gone I felt like an afterthought to him. Or maybe I just needed more than what I got. Either way It wasn't a good feeling. I leave to go see him Wednesday after work. So that ups my hiking time from 1 and a half days to 2 and a half.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Home
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Well I am back from a long visit with Brian. It was wonderful, the hiking not so much. I was not in any way prepared to hike, much less the very ambitious 40 miles in 2 and a half days Brian had planned. I hadn't hiked in 8 months or so, and I guess my body wasn't ready for the terrain. All the thru hikers I met were all under the impression the terrain was much easier, but at this point they had all hiked 800 or so miles, and to them I am sure it was easier than lets say hiking up Max Patch or McAfee Knob. But for me, who had only logged maybe 10 miles in a few months on office steps, in the course of a regular work day, it was tough, and I felt it. It got to a point that I wasn't enjoying myself, and that was not my intention when I left to go see my husband. My only goal was to spend a few days enjoying Brian's company, on the trail unhappy I decided that wasn't the ideal situation, so we decided to camp Thursday night and get off at Loft Mt Friday. So we did, I slept in my hammock for the first time and it was wonderful, I got a bit cold on the bottom, but an easy remedy for that is out there. I got to meet quite a few hikers this trip, Hangman, Barry Manilow, Tick, Calamity Jane, The Brit(not sure if thats his name, but thats what Jane called him, several others at the shelter, I didn't catch their names. And Catchup and Two Dogs, what a wonderful thing. We stayed a mile from Rockfish Gap, so we rode up there a few times a day to see if anyone coming through might need anything, and our last trip through, we found Catchup and Two Dogs, very wet, and tired. So we took them to their hotel, they showered and we picked them back up for dinner. It was a great trip, Brian was visibly happy to see me, I was tackled as I stood on the porch of Barry Manilow's friend. It was a great trip I missed Brian desperately and it was sooooo great to see him, though he looks very skinny from the waist up.
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Brian made it today to Bears Den Hostel, only just to drop in use the phone and get a soda. HE got lucky today the whole family was together at the State Park, he got to talk to everyone, his mom, dad, grandmother, me and all three kids. He seems ok, but is fighting some serious blisters that started first of the week, and have only gotten worse. My mom has been here visiting, and next Sunday, she will go home and take my kids with her, I will be alone for two weeks, not sure how I will deal with that, the kids keep me busy body and mind, without that I may very well go nuts. But this week has gone well, Brian has been able to call everyday this week, so again I have been spoiled. And this evening his final destination is the David Lesser memorial shelter, which takes him by The Blackburn Trail Center, and you guessed it another phone call. Tomorrow he expects to roll into Harpers Ferry and the ATC, where because of a mix up, I had to Express mail his 3rd mapdanna, so another phone call tomorrow. YAY.....He is such a wonderful man, I am so proud of him, and he just keeps on going, through the heat the pain the loneliness. Well I better go I have a house full of crispy people. We are all so burned we look like tourists, and we live here. But we had a great day, so a painful night is the price we pay I guess, goes to show the saying "nothing in this world is free" is true in all things, there is always a price.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 255.5
Weather: clear sky

Brian left the Blackburn Trail Center this morning, and is in Harpers Ferry where he will stay over night to wait for the fed ex package I sent today. He called last night in bad shape, his feet are not good, in fact very very bad would be a better way to put it. He asked that I ship him his old shoes, the news one seem to be the cause of some serious blisters. Brian is very good at covering up how bad he feels, so when I can tell by the sound of his voice how bad he feels, IT'S REALLY BAD! So I sent his shoes, and a few little treats. I am a bit concerned.well I am alot concerned, but I know he is safe right now, and getting off his feet. He has had his picture made at the ATC, so he has made it farther than most will, of the total who left Springer only half of them will make it as far as Harpers Ferry. I am so proud of you Brian. I love you, and I miss you. Be safe and take care of you!
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Boiling Springs, Pa
Miles today: 0.0

Well Brian left Harpers Ferry yesterday, he picked up his fed ex package, and bounced his new shoes forward to Boiling Springs,hoping his feet will have healed and he can return to wearing the new shoes. He spoke with a guy at the Outfitter in Harpers Ferry and they figured his blisters were not so much the shoes, but that Brian's feet weren't being kept dry enough, so there seems to be hope, he is taking steps to keep his feet dry. The kids are excited for Brian to pick up his next mail drop, we have named it "The Fathers day drop". They made cards instead of buying them, they wanted them to be more personal. They all turned out really nice. I am so proud of how they are dealing with this, better than I am I can tell you that. I should get Brian's journal pages in the mail, in the next day or two, and I will update his journal, so keep checking.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Boiling Springs, Pa

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well due to poor financial circumstances, I will not be able to make the trip to Katadin to meet Brian for the final steps of this journey, but to make sure Katadin IS where his final steps are, I have transfered the money I had saved for the trip into his account. With a bit of careful spending he should be able to finish with what has been added. Having been there for the beginning and all the way through, I am sad I can't be there for the end, but what can ya do. You do the best you can with what you have. I don't need to be there to know how proud of him I am, I don't need to be there to know what an amazing accomplishment it will be.I don't need to be there for him to know how much I love him, I do however need him to finish, and if me not being able to make the trip helps him finish, well then thats what it takes.
Date: 2007-06-18
From: Boiling Springs, Pa

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Well Brian made it to Boiling Springs, and this morning picked up The Fathers Day Box. He is planning to be in Duncannon tonight, but I am a bit worried with the heat the way it is, and the scarcity of water, added to the fact that the next 14 miles or so are in open fields. But I guess thats all part of it. Well yesterday I took the kids to my moms 4 and a half hours away, and when I got home, the house was way to quiet. Two weeks of this could be maddening. Anyway we shall see. Otherwise I am good, and Brian's feet are a bit better so he hikes and I continue to pack food boxes. The last few days Low Branch has been hiking with M&M, Driftwood, and Hyde. There were several more that stayed with him the last 2 nights, but I didn't get their names.
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Brian came home Wednesay, he will be home until Sunday. There was a horrible tragedy close to home. 9 firefighters were killed in the line of duty Monday. Brian has come home to attend the memorial services. This is a difficult thing to deal with as a firefighter, and as a firefighters wife. He will be back on trail Monday.
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Home

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I took Brian to the train station last night. He is headed back to the trail after a few days home to pay respects to the fallen firefighters. What a sad reason to come home. The service was beautiful, but so incredibly sad. I hope to never ever have to see one again. So much was lost in a single night. Brian should be back on the trail today sometime after noon. He is ready to finish. Hopefully this time off won't hold him behind for to long, he is hoping to make some really big mile days to catch himself up. I noticed this week, that it seems to take a tragedy of this magnitude for people to realize what firefighters and rescue personnel sacrifice for us as a community. These same caring souls never seem to care when their elected officials make decisions on their behalf to cut budgets and deny new money to public safety.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Brian text messaged me last night from someones phone to say he was in Port Clinton and would call today which he did. He left Duncannon Monday late afternoon, and made it to Port Clinton in 2 days. He said he did 10, 34, 24 miles to make it. He just bought a new pair of shoes, the newer ones he had been wearing were killing his feet. So today in Port Clinton guess who in runs into, Richard, Catchup's husband. How wonderful. catchup will flip when she realizes Brian passed her somehow and has now met up with Richard. Here at home things are the same, I will go pick up the kids Friday night and drive back Saturday Tyler is brining a friend home with him for two weeks, so there will be 4 instead of 3 kids. So more driving....I have decided I hate the car, I hate being in it and I hate driving period. I am not a very happy person lately. Not sure why, just can't seem to find anything to smile about lately. Not that I have time I have so much to do, run here run there, pick this one up, mail this package, go to work. Not a very fun summer for me. But this is the price of being a wife and mother. Maybe I will get to rest Sunday but with 4 kids in the house I won't get my hopes up.
Date: 2007-06-29
From: Home

To: Anderson, SC and back home
Miles today: 0.0

Well yesterday I was hoping to have an easy day at work, but NOOOOOOOOOO....the receptionist called in she didn't have a babysitter, so this is how my day started. I had to cover the phones (24 incoming lines), and do my job...GREAT...which also meant I had to work her hours, so, so much for leaving a bit early to get on the road, how bout lets work 30 minutes later than usual. SO needless to say I got a late start on my 5 hour drive. Luckily I was able to make it in 4 and a half hours anyway. Brian called as I was almost to my sisters he was in Palmerton, PA staying at the hostel there, and his plan for today was 20 miles to Wind Gap where his Uncle Cliff will pick him up and he will spend sometime with cliff and his family. Word is there is a very anxious cousin waitng not so quietly for his arrival, who has just graduated kindergarten, Congradulations Miss Brittney. Ok so thats his plan for today, not sure where he is with this plan as I haven't heard from him yet, So I can only guess all is going as hoped. So lets go back to last night, where I managed to piss off my sister, dissapoint my mother and get very little sleep on the blow up mattress. Now today all seems to be going well, got the kids packed, picked up Tyler and his friend Tommy sweet kid by the way. So all seems well until we were literally almost killed on the interstate just South of Columbia, SC where there seemed to be an accident which caused every nondrivin idiot to slam on their brakes almost causing another pile up behind the original 2, which we found out later after we sat in stopped traffic for an hour.I have NEVER been so terrifed in my life, it was all i could do to avoid the cars in front of me while watching the minivan behind me almost rearend us, I had to swerve off the road into the grass median as the car behind me did the same and came a hair of takin us out from the side. I had to sit there a few minutes to catch my breath, the kids were terrified, I shudder to think that we very easily could have all been killed. After I got my wits back we were moving again....until....we get on 501 into Myrtle Beach, it took us 2 hours to go a grand total of about 27 miles. There were no accidents just bumper to bumper traffic. I myself would not pay money to come here on vacation, 100's of 1000's do every year, and I think most of them came today. So in the end a trip that takes 4 and 1/2 hours took us almost 7 hours today. And it's like they never left the bickering started about 2 hours into the trip, and hasn't really stopped since. So if the begining of the week wasn't bad enough the last 2 days have made it hell. God I hope for a better day tomorrow, because if it turns out crappy too, it may just be more than I can handle. Goodnight.
Date: 2007-07-05
From: Home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well Brian was in Unionville today around 5pm, he used his credit card, but I don't know if he picked up his mail drop. At least I know he is still alive though I haven't heard from him, this is officially the very longest we have gone with out talking, and I see no phone call in sight, I expected one from Unionville and didn't get one, so now I will expect one in Stormville, NY, but expected arrival there isn't for another 6 days. If by chance you somehow read this Brian I hope you are ok, I miss you and I love you. The kids could really use a call if you get a chance.
Date: 2007-07-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well as it appears I have be misinformed about Brian's plans and schedule, I haven't spoken with him, but based on an email from his Aunt it looks as if he slack packed another day and didn't leave from their kindness until Wednesday morning and not Tuesday morning as I had been told. I guess he has decided his family at home really doesn't need to know whats going on. Sorry if I overly concerned anyone, I am sure he is fine. Thank you for the emails of encouragement.I spoke with the kindest lady Joanne at the Unionville PO, Brian was there Thursday just before they closed, she told him I was worried and had called. But I still haven't heard from him. At least I know he has food.
Date: 2007-07-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I have spoken to Brian, I called him at the church hostel. We had some miscommuncation, Brian knows me well and just didn't want to get yelled at today, can't say I blame him, but we are communicating correctly now and will try to forget the last few days ever happened. Wish I could say the same for that damn traffic ticket, since were turning back time and all..but no such luck. Brian this is for you...........I love you more than you know apparently, I miss you terribly, and I have unwavering faith in you and your ability to finish what you started. Be safe and know you are loved......
Date: 2007-07-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I haven't received Brian's latest journal entries via mail yet, but I think they may be there today, included should be the last round of photos. Last word was a text message Sunday night that he was doing well, enjoying NY so much more than PA, and that he was at Fitzgerald Falls for the night. He was at that time hiking with Grasshopper, M&M(male), Evil Eye, Tom B, and Kiwi. He enjoys the company of this group and plans to stick with them until some or all of them take a few days in the city, at that point he will move forward alone. That was the plan last I heard. We here at home are doing good, Tyler got a much needed free day today, I brought Alex to work with me, for some strange reason she loves to come here, and Chase has gone to the horse farm with his best friend Aiden. I figured Tyler needed a zero day of his own. He has kinda been cooped up with the twins the last few weeks, and rarely complains. So today was for him. I am pretty sure he slept for most of it, he is 13 after all. Hope to have more journal entries for Brian this evening.
Date: 2007-07-11
To: Ft. Montgomery, NY
Miles today: 0.0

Low Branch is with Two Dogs, Radar, M&M and Grasshopper. They have had a rough last few days the heat has really taken it's toll. They decided to get out of it for the night and ended up in West Point, NY. Low Branch, Radar and Two Dogs shared a room, and Brian plans to catch the bus back to the trail this morning. Two Dogs has a few errands to get done and then he will also return to the trail, not sure what the others have planned, but at least it won't be as hot today in NY. Brian carries a ziploc in the top of his back, it has his paper and journal entries, money, pictures of us, his pencil, his ibuprofen, his little emergency info card that I made him, and usually his Id, and credit cards, thankfully his ID and Credit card happened to be in his pocket because he lost the ziploc somehow. Sure hope if someone finds it they return it or send it home. The money in no great loss, but he really misses having the pictures.
Date: 2007-07-19
From: Ft. Montgomery, NY

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The last few days have been pretty intense. Last Friday Brian decided to come home. He struggled for the entire weekend as to what to do. He had reached a point where the trail was not fun and he was hating being out there. We talked on the phone several times long periods discussing what he should do. I found myself in a difficult position. Did I want him to come home? YES...Did I want him to quit? NO... Did I want to be the one to push him in either direction? NO...So I tried to make both sides make sense. I told him I could not and would not make the decision for him, but what ever he decided I would support him. He decided to quit, he was afraid to continue for fear he would hate backpacking all together in the end, and he was afraid to quit for fear of being a failure and possibly hating himself later. He dream has always been to hike the AT, but in that dream as in all dreams you enjoy it for the most part and he no longer enjoyed it. So Sunday he came home. I knew right away he had made the wrong decision, but couldn't say it to him.....I thought he needed to figure things out for himself. I saw quickly he was not happy, he was hiding out he wouldn't tell any one he was home, and wouldn't discuss the situation with anyone but me. Watching him suffer was breaking my heart and I really didn't know what to do or say,so Tuesday I came home from work and told him I thought he should go back an d finish, he still had time and though it would be tight financially he, we could do it. He fought it in his mind for a while and after some pushing made the decision to go back. He just needed to be with his family, he hadn't seen the kids since the last of April and it was wearing on him. The kids are not happy, but are starting to understand how he feels and are proud of him no matter what he does. If we cannot make ourselves happy it isn't very likely we can make anyone else happy. I do think if they hear me say one more time it won't seem that long, one of my kids may actually slap me.....But it should only take about 6 weeks to finish he only has 642 miles to go. I am so proud of him, for doing what he has already done, much less what he will do.