morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-02-18
To: Excited to start this adventure!!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm so excited to be a part of the "Walk Off the War" program! There are 13 of us. 11 guys, myself, and a Navy female. I'll be meeting up with them at Neels Gap on March 16th to get outfittted at Mountain Crossings. There are several equipment sponsors that have committed to providing all the gear and supplies that we will need for the trail. I have most of my gear but am eager to see if the available products are better than what I already have.   If so, I'll switch out what I need to.   I'll stay the night on the 16th to get to know everyone and then head to the trailhead to see them off in the morning. I'm unable to start til April 12th still so I will have to return home and continue to work They will be at an 8 mile an hour pace until they get to Damascus which will allow me to hike 33 days alone before I catch up to them on May 17th for Trail Days.    Then we will all head north together at a 16 mile per day pace until we get through Va. where the pace will then increase to an average of 18 miles per day. We will be stopping at several VFW's to talk about the project and participate in several activities to continue to raise money for WarriorHike.com.    This whole endeavor is so amazing! What an awesome way to help returning Veterans to clear their mind of negative experiences during war time. I'm very honored to have been accepted as a member of this project and look forward to going thru this adventure with my fellow veterans!!!!   In the meantime, I continue to work long hours and am on my 28th day straight of working! The picture above is of an "order" that Ally, a co-worker, wrote for me for this coming Saturday Not gonna happen til March 9th when I bring Addie Mae to meet my sisters pups. Again, it's all worth it!! 52 more days til I start from Springer!   Rash, a Nobo who started this past Saturday said it is super coooolllddd! He's still cold at night in a zero degree bag!!! This makes me very glad that I will be starting later...I hate to be THAT cold!!!! It sounds like he is really enjoying being out there though!    This is my first post from my Iphone with the Verbatim keyboard. It is soooooo much easier then texting with my fingers!!!!    Heading to BWW to meet a new friend for dinner It'll be nice to socialize a little!!
Date: 2013-02-26
To: The Count down has begun!!!!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Wow, so many things have happened in the last week or so! All for the good! I've continued to labor like a crazy person...I'm on my 36th straight day of working More importantly, I'm so excited about teaming up with my fellow veterans in WarriorHike's "Walk Off the War" program!!! We have a great group of 13 Veterans from all branches of the armed forces. They will be leaving March 17th. I will go to Neels Gap on March 16th to meet them, get to know them, and stay overnight in the cabins. Then, I'll head to the trail head with them on the morning of the 17th to see them off. I originally was not going to be able to leave until the second weekend in April. Now, with the awesome sponsorships that our leaders Mark and Sean have been able to procure...I'm able to leave earlier!!! Yay!!!!!!   I will now be hiking the approach trail on March 30th!!!!! 30 days from tomorrow!!!!!!! I'm so excited about this!!!! I'll catch up with the rest of the group just before HotSprings where we will hang out for the trail fest before heading north. I'm completely overwhelmed, as I know the rest of the group is, by the amazing support this project is receiving from amazing corporate sponsors (see warriorhike.com for the list), the VFW, the ATC, Operation Military Embrace, Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap, and so many others!!!!!! This is such an important endeavor; this flagship thru-hike that will mean so much to, not only our group, but to so many returning Veterans in the future!!!! We are the first class of so many more to come...I wish we were the only class. Unfortunately, this Country is and will continue to see an influx of returning war Veterans who need to process and clear their minds of the sights, sounds and emotions surrounding their wartime experience.   So the countdown has begun for me!!! My friend Rash has been out there since the 16th and is totally enjoying himself!!!! It's cold and wet but he has hooked up with a great group! Check out Mountain Crossings FB site for a video they put together of their hike thus far! It's awesome! I'm sorry to hear that Prayer Walker has had to leave the trail for a bit. I hope she will be back on the trail soon so that I can meet her. I've enjoyed reading her posts. Ground Pounder is going strong...I like reading his posts...they started out short and sweet but now he is kind of opening up; check it out.    My future after this hike is still "unwritten"...I cannot even tell you how freeing that is and how it fills me with so much hope and excitement!!! I have butterflies every moment of the day (when I'm not a zombie from working long hours that is ). While hiking with my group, I will still be able to take a lot of time for myself alone on the trail to think...That's what this walk is all about for each of us isn't it??? To find ourselves and happiness along the way? Not at the end when we arrive at Katahdin...but along the way, every single day! Now THAT's the way to travel... :0)
Date: 2013-03-16
To: finally met all of my fellow Warrior Hikers
Miles today: 0.0

wow!!!!!!! Today has been an incredible day!!!! I drove here to Neels Gap to meet the rest of the Warrior Hikers. When I walked in the store I immediatly saw Sean the founder of the Warrior hike. He said..."I know that smile"!! And we hugged hard and long, This man has done so much for me and the other hikers!! He and Mark are amazing!!!!We have had so much fun all day getting our gear and cooking out, gettting to know eachother and just relaxing a little! I'll hike tomorrow with everyone and spend the night on the trail with them. Then I will head back to my car on Monday and return to 6 more days of work. Ughhhhhhhh!   I will catch up to the rest of the group around April 13th. Jesse and cooper of K9 warrior are joining us! That is so cool cuz my sister and her kindergarten class have been following him!!!! He did a special shout out to the Wittner Warriors and had me and Cooper in the video. Soooo sweet of him! I really like this group!!! It is so much like when I was in the service.. Giving eachother crap and goofing around! I've missed this kind of commaraderie so much!!Anyway, I am so happy to be here and the Mountain Crossing peeps have been amazing!!!! Thank you Allen for showing us how to use the alcohol stove!!!! George (wrong spelling I'm sure) and Rachael you girls rock!!!! Rich with the ATC... Thank you so much for all of your support!. It really is almost overwhelming what kind of response and support we are getting!! This is awesome for us and all of the other returning Vets who need some time to heal!!! I'm sitting in this cabin getting ready to go to sleep... We have to be ready to hike by 8....   I am feeling many things. Mostly I'm feeling very comfortable and at "home" with this great group of people!
Date: 2013-03-17
From: Amicolola Falls State Park

To: Springer Mt.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We all met at Sean's cabin and had breakfast waiting for us from a bunch of supporters! Had a chicken biscuit and some OJ and then we all got shuttled to AFSP. We all signed the register I'm hiker #470!!. Even though I'm not starting from Springer on the 28th I'm not doing the Approach trail that day so I needed to sign it today.   We got a bunch of pictures in front of the Arch and then headed up the gazillion stairs past the falls. It was beautiful!!!! We all went at our own pace and I have to say... It was an ass kicker for me after doing nothing but work the last 12 weeks!!! . We stopped for lunch at black gap shelter and walked down that steeeeep path to get water. My Lord !!!! Then we headed up the last 1.5 miles to Get to the top of Springer.   Finally getting there was a bit emotional for me after all the work and planning I've been doing! We hung out there, took some pictures and then made our way down to Springer Mountain Shelter and set up our tents. Everyone is here now and has eaten dinner and are relaxing. There is trail magic of beer at the shelter in honor of St Patricks day.   It's been a fabulous day and I dread leaving the trail tomorrow to head back to work for 8 days.... Ughhhh! I will be worthless at work cuz my mind will be even more on the trail if that's possible!!! Lol!!! Weather looks badfor tomorrow .... Yikes!
Date: 2013-03-24
To: Leaving this week for the trail!!!!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I start the trail this Thursday the 28th!!! I won't lie...I'm scared that I haven't prepared enough or that I am forgetting something super important that should be in my backpack. It really is a daunting task to put all that you will need for 5.5 months into a sack that you sling over your shoulders!!! I'm nervous and anxious and haven't slept much the past few days!!! I miss my fellow Warrior Hikers but am having fun following them on facebook and the WarriorHike.com website. The weather has been pretty bad and will continue to be ugly the next couple of days so they took two zero's in Hiawassee.    I've struggled with the idea of having a bounce box and have decided that I will give my sister a big box of the things I will need along the trail. She's a very responsible gal and I can rely on her to send me the things that I need as I need them. Otherwise, I'm relying on the towns and the support that WarriorHike is providing for all of us. A few people have asked about mail drop locations to send goodies my way which I would completely appreciate!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Care packages when I was overseas with the military always brightened my day and picked up my spirits!! I know it will be the same case on the trail! I'm just so happy that people are interested in my and the WarriorHike's journey and are wanting to provide support along the way!    My first mail drop will be at the budget Inn in Hiawassee Georgia             Budget Inn. 193 South Main Street - Hiawassee, Georgia 30546 I will be there April 1st or 2nd. Any mail drops have to include my real name...because we have to give our ID to retrieve them. So address anything with Sharon Smith hiker #470    My Second mail drop will be at the NOC: Nantahala Outdoor Center             Nantahala Outdoor Center. 13077 W Hwy 19 Bryson City, NC 28713 I will be there April 5th or 6th.    I'm still working on the rest but just wanted to put these out there for now.   I want to thank Willie again for all of the powerbars, tuna packs, and marathon bars that he gave me!!! I really appreciate it!!!!!   My friend Kris Radish who is a very successful author wants to send me things along the way...and, knowing her, it will be a very colorful package indeed!!! Love her!!!    Well, I'm probably not going to journal again until my first night out on the trail. I have so much to do and won't have much time between now and then. But, I can promise that I will journal every evening while on the trail. If I don't have service I will post when I do.   I am so looking forward to this adventure and I really want to provide anyone who is following my journal with an entertaining, fun, introspective and realistic perspective of what thru hiking the AT really entails. I'm ready I think....Here we go! :0)
Date: 2013-03-28
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm finally hiking!!!! Lorne, my nephew, took me to Springer mt. Parking lot and dropped me off. What should have been a 2 hour drive ended up being almost 4 because I was a little lost and we needed gas. Thanks for being patient and laughing with me Lorne!;0). I hiked up the 1 mile to get to the top of Springer, signed the register and took s couple of pictures. It was a super sunny and clear day and it felt about 50 degrees. Couldn't have been more perfect! On my way up there I ran into Nachita who I met up at Springer mountain shelter 11 days ago when WarriorHike did the Approach trail. She was cleaning up a bunch of trash hikers had left behind! Not cool! I picked up a rock on top of Springer to carry and deposit on mt Katahdin in Sept. it's a tradition and has a lot of meaning behind it. I hiked down Springer and headed North! I was so happy and I felt great hiking the 8.1 miles to Hawk mt shelter. The trail was a little muddy but was otherwise in good condition so I did the 8.1 in 3 hours and 15 min. Not too bad considering I've not done much hiking at all in the last 13 weeks.There are about 15 tents and the shelter is full. So, to my friends and family who were concerned for me being alone these 2 wks til I meet up with my fellow warrior hikers?? No need.. The hiker season is in full gear:0). I set up my tent and made Mac n cheese (yay!!!! Gypsy sole and Sean....:0)...). I ate up by the shelter and everyone introduced themselves.   John (Dog Daddy) said "you're Hikergurl! I've been following your journal! It was a cool moment. Everyone was really nice but I was tired and wanted to get up early. So, I hit the sack.It's 6:30 am and I'm gonna pack up and see where the day takes me. I'm thinking Lance Creek camping area. There is no where to camp after that since woody hole and blood mountain shelters are off limits due to bear activity. So I either hike 16.2 miles to lance creek or make it all the way to Neels Gap 23.6 miles...we will see! The weather looks great!!!
Date: 2013-03-29
From: Hawk Mt. Shelter

To: Lance Creek camp area
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: broken clouds

Brrrr it was cold last night! I was pretty warm though. I woke up, packed everything and headed out by 8:09. I ate a marathon bar (thanks again Willie!) while hiking towards Sassafras mountain and got my legs warmed up pretty quick! About a half hour into the hike a huge barn owl swooped down in front of me and landed on a tree branch about 25 yards away. It was so cool! We just kinda looked at eachother (after I pulled my glasses out and could actually see him!!!) lol!   I hiked alone all day but passed people along the way. It was about 55 degrees and I felt great! Had some decent climbs out of Horse Gap and Woodys Gap. The views just past Woodys gap up on the cliffs were amazing!!!! I stood up there watching a hawk soar in front of me til he was out if sight. Another very cool moment for me. Just before hitting Woodys gap I ran into Data who has a TJ, his buddy Submarine who did the trail in 2003, and Their pup Pepper. They told me there was a hiker feed at the gap so I quickened my step!!! But, alas, I was too late.   I did split a left over brownie with a hiker and picked up a powerade and a water that were there. My first trail magic!   I had eaten some mashed potatoes that I cooked up for lunch so I was pretty good anyway as far as energy goes.I made it here to Lance creek camp area @ 5:20 and it is packed!!! Lots of people stopping here to push over Blood mt. Into Neels gap tomorrow. I set up my tent, ate some Mac n cheese (yayyyy!!!) by the fire and hopped in my tent. It's supposed to Rain tonight and we already had a sprinkle. I plan on putting earplugs in and drifting offIt's a 70 % chance of rain Sunday night so I'm going to resupply in Neels gap tomorrow and push on to Whitley gap shelter. That way I can hike to Hiawassee on Sunday and stay at the budget in where my resupply is and I can avoid the rain I still can't believe I have this wonderful opportunity to hike the trail! I couldn't be happier!!!!
Date: 2013-03-30
From: Lance Creek camp area

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

Wow what a day!!! I was kept awake all night by two guys in tents next to me snoring so loud it went right through my ear plugs!!! I decided just to get up at 6, pack up (which I did loudly!), and hit the trail. I ate a snickers and some peanut butter crackers on the climb out. I hiked up Blood Mountain and it was tough!!!! The view from there was spectacular! The sun was out and it was about 57 degrees. The trail then descended into Neels Gap where my resupply (thanks Sean and WarriorHike!!!) and my WarriorHike tshirts awaited me. Lumpy was so sweet! He heated me up some chicken, gave me an apple and an orange, a coke and talked to me about the trail while I sat outside. The folks at Mountain Crossings are amazing. George came up and took my picture for their website too.I spent an about 1.5 hours there and then headed out toward Whitley shelter. I met Greybeard 13 who is 80 years old and doing the trail after losing his wife. . I commended him for being out there and hiking! I also met a really nice woman and her daughter from NJ. They were very interested in my hike and we had a great chat about the outdoors, WarriorHike and how her daughter doesn't wanna sell her soul to the corporate world... Of course I agreedAfter arriving at Hogpen gap I ascended Wildcat mountain which was the toughest climb yet for me, maybe because Legs were so tired after blood mt. I reached Whitley shelter and decided to push on for low gap shelter....that decision made it one of the hardest hikes I've ever had. It ended up being 18.9 miles which is well within my normal distance but the ups and downs and overall elevation killed me! My legs and feet are fine, I'm just beat!!!!This shelter is full and it's like a little tent city. It's raining lightly and I'm sleeping next to a non snorer thank goodness!!!! Only had an apple for dinner since I was so full from lunch. Tomorrow I'm hiking to Unicoi gap and hitching to Hiawassee for a dry bed at the budget inn, a hot bath and good food. It's only 9 pretty easy miles so I can relax most of the day!!! Note to self: when your tired and trying to get yourself going by doing a little dance and singing loudly??? Make sure no one is around....that happened twice today *blush*... :0)
Date: 2013-03-31
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: light rain

Happy Easter everyone!!! I'm enjoying it by eating DQ and subway pizza in the Budget Inn in Hiawassee! Thank you Marine Core League member Walt for parting from his family gathering on such short notice to come pick me up at Unicoi Gap and to Bob for paying for my room! Awesome Marines!!!I had a very rough night! It rained non-stop and my tent leaked like crazy soaking my sleeping bag and me!!! I covered up with my rain jacket and pack cover but everything still got soaked! If we were having the temps that the thru hikers were having a couple of weeks ago, it not only would have been highly uncomfortable but could have been fatal!!! I was pretty mad to say the least! I went with my lighter tent instead of the Drifter 2 so I could put in bigger miles comfortably.... Mistake!I also made the mistake of only eating an apple for dinner last night because I was tired and not hungry. Remember that relaxing 9 mile hike I was talking about in my last journal entry?? Well.... Not so much! I was running on empty!!!! Lesson learned: eat a high calorie dinner even if I'm not hungry...or pay the price.Jesse and his service dog Cooper from WarriorHike will be meeting me tomorrow evening when I hike to Deep creek gap from where I Ieft off at Unicoi Gap. He had to stay back from the group to wait for boots to protect Coop's paws.   It will be great to have them to hike with!!! We are still on schedule to link up with everyone else around April 10-13. I'm getting another tent from 76 outfitters and Jesse will have it at Deep Gap for me :0). Sweet sleep in the wilderness.... Please come find me!!!I hiked with Jetlag today. His wife died 2 months ago from pancreatic CA. It was a pleasure hiking and talking with him. My heart aches for his loss.   When I came off trail to meet Walt a woman came running over saying she has been following my journal and wanted to meet me. Her name is Chrystal and she was playing the part of the Easter trail Angel!!. She had brought PB eggs for hikers! I was too late for those but it made me smile to know that there are people out there enjoying my TJ!. I hope to see her further up the trail!I also wanted to give a shout out to Mark who just got out of the ICU! It has been a dream of his to hike the trail but his health has made it impossible. He's a big tree hugger and he asked me to hug a couple for him. I'll hike the 13.1 miles for him tomorrow and add a tree hugging picture to my TJ tomorrow evening! Carpe Diem Mark!!!
Date: 2013-04-01
From: unicoi gap

To: deep gap shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I had such a restful day yesterday and slept like a baby from 9-6! I woke up very refreshed and any aches and pains that I had were gone :0).   I called mountain crossings since outfitter 76 wasn't open and asked them if they could deliver my tent to Tray Gap road... No problem!!! I love those guys!!! I went out to get a ride with the free shuttle that budget inn provides and had a few minutes so I grabbed a 6" BMT from subway....great breakfast for the tide .   I got dropped off at Unicoi gap and Solo was there. He had trail magic in the form of a bunch of Easter Candy, honey buns and beer. It was only 9:45 so I opted for the candy! Yum!!!! He was a super nice guy who has thru hiked the AT before. I think it's so awesome that people love the trail so much that they come back to offer support to current hikers! While I was standing there I heard "hikergurl"!! It was Zach now known as Jungle Juice that I was keep frogging with day before yesterday.   We hiked together til tray gap where I had to wait for my tent. He's a great guy, 25 yrs old, and is doing the trail on a very low budget. I'm sure ill run into him again.Will from mt crossings came speeding up the gravel rd about 35 min later and jumped out of his jeep holding my tent in the air and yelled "tadah"!!! I grabbed it, gave him a big hug and was on my way. The climbs today, especially Kelly's knob out of Addis gap were killer!!!! But, it was a beautiful sunny day and I felt great!!!!!I got to the shelter but Jesse and Cooper weren't here. I looked at my phone and he had texted me wondering where I was. I said I was at deep gap shelter and he said he was at deep gap.. .hmmmmm... Then he asked "are you in Ga.?" And I said yep. Ummmm, he was at the deep gap in NC!!!! We had a big laugh bout that! So he and Coop will continue on and now it looks like I will catch the group at Fontanna I. The 7th or 8th of April which is awesome cuz I want to do the Smokies with them!I love my new tent, big Agnes platinum 2! It's super light weight and has lots of room! I have to get used to putting it up though. The shelter is 2 stories here and it's full. There's about 12-15 tents too. I had lasagna for dinner and have some Reese's pieces in my tent for desert. No rain tonight but its cold and tomorrow looks fabulous! If I get an early start I'm going to try for 20.6 miles to standing Indian shelter otherwise ill just do 15.1 to Muskrat Shelter.I promised Mark I would hug a tree for him... This picture is of me with the Bly tree which is the most photographed tree on the trail. I took this pic on April 2nd but haven't had service for 3 days and just thought this tree would be great for Mark!!!:0)
Date: 2013-04-07
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero today. I've been putting in a lot of miles to catch up with the rest of the Warrior Hikers. They are at Fontanna taking a zero since Jeff sprained his ankle. I haven't had 4G to post for several days! AT&T is terrible as far as coverage goes here in the south. I'm headed out of NOC this morning and will be going up over Cheoah bald and hopefully making it to brown fork shelter tonight. I feel great as far as any aches and pains go. I'm going to dictate all my entries on my notepad and post when I have service. The Smokies are terrible for service:0(. A couple people asked about mail drops. My next mail drop is at the Hot Slrings NC post office. I'm not sure of the address right off hand. Well I better hit the trail! Oh.... Melissa and Barb brought my pup Ruby to see me on Friday!!!! I was so happy!!!!!