morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-11-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We took today as a day of rest and slept in a little. A very little. Lee showered and went to the laundromat early and I made breakfast for myself and WE and did some housekeeping. Then WE and I started a video of what it's like to live in a 17' camper with 3 adults and 2 dogs. It's humorous and we posted it on Facebook and YouTube. The rest of the day was nothing notable. It's different from being on trail and sleeping in shelters or my tent and a hostel or hotel every few days. When I was living like that I'd have lots of chores on a day off and I would be very busy. But coming back to the camper every day means I get a shower, food and laundry done during the week making a day off filled with "nothing". WE did need a new day pack so we took a ride to Johnson City and Dick's. Much to our disappointment they had only 3. Nothing that would be of consideration. So we located Mahoney's an outfitter just a mile away and shopped there instead. I had all I could do not to buy anything for myself. It's really dangerous for a hiker to go into a gear shop. Its so hard to stop myself when I always see things I need or want. Really, I could use a down skirt and down hoodie and don't I need that really pretty Buff? I shoved my hands in my pockets and did a nervous dance by the front door waiting for WE to cash out with her new cool day pack. Ugh, that was so hard walking away with nothing! But WAIT! Could it be? Outside was a ranger with a cool display and educational material and he had a Roan Mountain State Park patch...which he gave me for free, so I walked away feeling better.  We'd planned to go to Lonestar Steakhouse for dinner and I'd been drooling about it all week. But as we arrived at the darkened building there was a note on the door that they were closed. I think permanently. So we scrambled to find another steakhouse in Elizabethton and stumbled into Fatz Cafe. Dinner was good and I had my first beer in months along with a steak, baked potato and broccoli. It was delicious and I texted River who knew exactly what I'd order. She's down below Fontana right now and I'm hoping to see her soon. Tomorrow is our last hike in Tennessee and then we go to Fontana on Monday to hike to Springer. I'll have less than 200 miles left to hike with WE. I'm not sure if I'll be able to fill in some of the miles in the Smokies or VA that I'm missing but we'll see. Romeo will be hiking the 13 miles with us tomorrow so I hope he rests well!
Date: 2018-11-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We got to sleep in a little, a very little because the dogs always need to go out to the bathroom first thing in the morning. Lee got up and did dog duty and then made us breakfast. We packed up the camper and around 10 we rolled out of Elizabethton TN and headed toward Fontana Dam and the town of Bryson City North Carolina. The drive was about 3 hours and we stopped for gas and a quick snack on the way. When we arrived in Bryson City at the campground there was no one around and the bath house was locked, but we pulled into the site that was assigned to us and set up camp. With the nights being so cold we can't leave the water line connected to the camper all night so when it's below freezing the freshwater tank gets filled and then we brings the hose in for the night and we run off the stored water with the pump. but actually all works very well it's just inconvenient to have to take the water hose off. WE finally spoke with the campground manager and they explained that the bath houses are winterized and locked for the season and that there is no Wi-Fi. At least our cell phones get a decent signal here. The campground is unique in that all the sites pull directly off the main road there's no campground road and across the street is somewhat of a gravel pit except it's more of a rock pit with large equipment kind of dangling off the side of this big hill and I can imagine how loud it is when they're up there with that ginormous jackhammer! At least I sleep in the back of the camper where a little creek flows by and I'm hiking all day. The weather doesn't look all that wonderful in the near future we're going to experience some below record cold some snow some ice and of course rain. But today was a good day off and a good day of rest.
Date: 2018-11-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Franklin, wildlife, cafe with the gang, river's ear buds. Gazebo and Domino's trekking poles in WEs car. Met Christine, signed banner at Cafe. My Uncle Ted in ICU. Day off. Paid for 2 more nights at motel after working out slack packing Sunday and Monday. Hugged and cried with WE when she dropped me off. Kissed the pups goodbye. My sister Catie is excited I'm almost to Springer Mt where she'll meet me. I'm looking forward to seeing her. Talked into hiking in the rain tomorrow. Hotel has laundry so that helps. I can dry my boots on the heater. When I woke up at 4 it was pouring rain and I could hear it on the camper roof. It rained off and on for the next couple of hours. At 6 my alarm went off and I checked the weather. It was socked in up at Wayah shelter. I couldn't see WE driving me up that mountain road socked in with fog. Too stressful. We all went back to bed for a bit and then had breakfast and packed up the camper. I packed up my backpack. Around 9:30 we headed out camper in tow for Franklin. River, Galaxy and Songbird were there staying with River's friend Christine. I could stay there but I might have to sleep on my sleeping pad and honestly I'm feeling like I want my own space right now so I called the Budget Inn after learning the Hostel in town is closed and WE and Lee dropped me off there before 11am. WE and I grabbed my bags from the camper and I checked in. We cried and hugged goodbye then I hugged Lee and each one of the pups. I'll miss everyone. In my room I settled in and thought about what my plans might be but I really needed to see what River, Songbird and Galaxy were doing and they were out hiking a short day in the rain. At lunch time I looked outside thinking I might go for a walk and get lunch but it was pouring again so I ordered delivery from Gazebo Cafe which took almost an hour to arrive. I ate the corn chowder and half the roast beef sandwich along with chips and pickle and stored the rest in the fridge. I watched TV and posted on Instagram. Just a few minutes after my post I received a request for messaging on Instagram. It was Wildlife. I knew she was planning to be in town and was planning to stay at the hostel too. As it turns out she was right next door to me! River texted and the gang was all coming to town to the coffee shop for WiFi and so she picked us up and we all enjoyed a couple of hours together. Christine brought Wildlife to Ingles grocery store and River dropped me off at the motel. We decided to hike in the rain tomorrow so River will drive everyone to Deep Gap where Wildlife and I will hike 21 miles north to Rock Gap and everyone else will hike south. This means that Sunday I'll fill in the section from Wayah Bald to Rock Gap and Christine has agreed to drop me at Wayah Bald Sunday morning. So I'll need to get rest! I watched TV for a while and fell asleep.
Date: 2018-12-02
From: Wayah Bald

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

I ate a pastry from the convenience store for breakfast and was ready to go when Christine arrived at 7am. She drove up the foggy mountain road and dropped me off before taking Wildlife to Deep Gap. I gave her a donation for gas and took pictures with her and Wildlife. It was drizzling so I put on my rain gear and set out. No lingering on the bald today because there was nothing that could be seen thru the fog and clouds. For most of the morning it was foggy and damp but before noon the sun burned thru and I was able to peel away my outer layers. It felt great to hike in just my double layer of shirts and feel the warmth of the sun. I saw plenty of my rhododendron tunnels today and passed thru Snowbird Gap and Swinging Lick Gap (the sign has been edited by a hikers pocket knife and I'll just leave that to your imagination). Brian was at brunch with a couple of friends but I couldn't help laughing when I saw the sign and sending him a picture. I'm hiking all alone from here to Springer Mt. I saw only a couple walking puppies toward the end of my hike today, no one else. I've been arranging my shuttles and nightly accommodations a day in advance. Mike the shuttle driver picked me up at Rock Gap and dropped me off at the hotel. I showered and had lunch at the Diner on Main St and it was excellent. I took a brownie to go and walked to Ingles grocery to see about a fresh muffin for breakfast. I was disappointed to learn there was no bakery or deli there so I walked back to the hotel. Later I ventured to the bank nearby to use the ATM and I discovered a breakfast restaurant Country Kitchen. They open at 6am and Mike's picking me up at 7:30 so you bet I'll be there! Now I'm glad that Ingles doesn't have a bakery! And I got to see Santa driving the Habitat for humanity van! It's Sunday and not much is open today so I ordered pasta and chicken wings delivered from Pizza hut. I saved the wings for tomorrow on the trail.
Date: 2018-12-04
From: Dick's Creek gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 16.7

Miraculously I slept and no one tried to enter my room. When I closed the mini blinds last night a piece fell off and one was bent so you could clearly see into my room, but I took some of the packing tape that I purchased at the post office and did a little repair. I had my raspberry filled Bismark my protein shake and my bagel for breakfast along with a cup of decaf that I made in the microwave. Gene picked me up at 7:30 a few minutes early as usual, and I was at the trailhead by 7:50. I had 1.8, 2 and 1.2 miles of climbing with several smaller climbs in between. Sometimes the small 500-700' elevation climbing gets me the most because the grade is steeper. At this point it feels harder mentally and physically. I'm just getting tired of climbing. I was ready for the day to be over as soon as it started.Gene picked me up at Dick's Creek gap at 3:30 and drove me into Helen. It's a Bavarian themed town and all the signs are small and externally lit and we were looking for the Super 8. After 2 trips down Main St and the inability to locate it despite GPS telling us we're there we couldn't find it. We stopped and I grabbed my AWOL guide out of my backpack and called the number that I had used to make the reservation. As soon as I dialed the caller ID on my phone popped up as sure stay by Best Western. Will that answers the question, because my guidebook is from 2017 and the motel was purchased and renamed after the book was printed. So Gene brought me to the Sure Stay and I checked in with a very nice guest relations host named Linda. she's a fan of hikers and felt badly because it took her a while to find my reservation even though she was the woman that I spoke with on the phone yesterday, so she upgraded my room free of charge to a king-size suite with a jacuzzi for which I paid a high crime rate of $55. Absolutely delighted, I went up and took a shower and delightfuly blow dried my hair. I know that sounds like such a simple thing but it's huge because it's cold outside and I need to walk to to dinner and it very cold out. I had a nice steak dinner with a beer at Paul's restaurant which Gene suggested and I took a dessert to go. Back at my room I filled the jacuzzi tub and turned on the Jets and stepped into it with a fresh cup of decaf coffee to enjoy. I soaked for almost half an hour. It was time to enjoy the chocolate cake now and it was decadent! Feeling like I'd sleep well I set my alarm for 5:15 so I could have breakfast in the lobby and be ready for Gene at 6:30. .
Date: 2018-12-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with my sister. We've never had alone bonding time. She's 38 and she moved to GA 2 years ago and I'm so proud of the woman she's become. She's the GM of a hotel and she's transformed herself in so many ways since moving to GA. She's amazing and I'm so thankful for the time we shared going out to breakfast, grocery shopping, cooking and watching a marathon of Hallmark movies before watching the Patriots lose a game in the final few seconds on Sunday. After watching weather cameras and weather reports and seeing my cousin Eileen's Facebook posts I spoke with River and I made the only logical decision I could. To go home tomorrow and finish my 400 miles in March and April. I'll still be a thru hiker if I finish by April 30 which is my goal. My body is tired and it would be foolish to try to get another 100-200 miles hiked in snow and ice with tons of storm damage this year, if I could even get myself thru the storm and into VA. So I purchased a ticket to fly to Boston and a bus ticket from Logan to NH. I'll be in my husband's arms and our bed tomorrow night. I'm excited to go home and looking forward to Christmas with my family. And I know I will be back on trail as soon as it's safe and practical. I will finish this journey. The trail has really taught me new coping skills. It's a necessity because things happen and on trail there's nothing I can do about it. I have had to learn to think differently, to listen and talk to myself differently. I'm grateful for all the trail had given me and it will help me to finish in the spring. I'm already excited about seeing by rhododendron!!
Date: 2018-12-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I've been home for 2 weeks and in some ways it feels longer. It's wonderful to be with my husband, family and friends and to see the joy of Christmas around me. I love to cook and entertain so there's enjoyment there also. But....I miss the trail. I wanted to hike today but life was in the way and that doesn't happen on trail. Two social commitments today left me short on time for what I felt would be a fulfilling hike. But I know those days will come if I'm patient. I've walked the mall to keep exercised and I'm stretching and nursing a tender right knee. Maybe I'm not meant to be hiking at this moment. I ran into my yoga instructor Rebecca out shopping and I'm looking forward to returning to class after Christmas. I find myself researching and looking at web cams in VA and TN when I'm bored so I can see winter's impact in the mountains. I'm planning to return to the trail in early March giving me a large non stressful window to complete my remaining miles by April 30th. And when I'm finished Brian and I will celebrate with a vacation in our new fifth wheel! Now....is it March yet? I'm looking for a fast forward button but I've only come across the "easy" button at Staples and I know that doesn't really work!
Date: 2019-03-11
To: Glasgow VA
Miles today: 0.0

I've been home for 3 months. 3 long winter months in NH. When I first got home on December 10th I busied myself with getting ready for the holidays and being with family. I walked the mall several times a week to stay fit. But after the holidays the dark grey of January and February took over and I spent my time in the kitchen instead of the mall baking and eating cupcakes. Needless to say I am bringing some of them back to the trail with me in the form of body fat. I'm not concerned, since I'd lost a total of 54 pounds in the 1700+ miles I've hiked. I'm sure I'll burn through this. I've missed the trail. The freedom from distraction it offers, the connection with self and nature. I'm looking forward to finishing the stroll for my soul. I know myself more now than ever and I have an acceptance and comfort with myself like never before. I love myself, finally. I wonder now what else I'll discover in these next few weeks. I have less fear of the unknown, less anxiety and I have a realistic expectation of what it is to hike the Appalachian Trail. I'm in the bus to Logan airport as I write this. Having just hugged and kissed my loving husband and son at the station before boarding. They're so proud of me and it fills my heart with love and confidence. It was a short night of sleep for me last night and at 2 am I was awake. That's common for me. I felt Brian awake next to me when suddenly the realization that I didn't pack my sleeping pad struck me. He got right up and went into the gear room to grab it, not wanting me to fall back asleep and forgot in the morning. But sleep didn't come regardless of how badly I wanted it and despite that fact I still jolted when the alarm sounded at 4:22. After stuffing my sleeping pad into my day bag and grabbing a coffee for the ride to the bus station I wandered into the dark garage and walked around to the driver's side when at the back of the vehicle I was struck in the leg and left crouching and cussing. The dog step which is connected to the hitch was down and I walked right into it. As the pain eased I saw the humor in it. It's simply a reminder of what it feels like to fall on trail. Nothing like being prepared! Today should be smooth and I'm comforted by the fact that I'm familiar with my accommodations tonight. I'm checked into a hostel where I've stayed before and I'll be comfortable there. I can walk to the store and restaurant, take a nap and a shower and hopefully catch the season finale of The Bachelor. Tomorrow morning I'll be dropped of at the James River footbridge for a 13 mile slackpack. And I'll be hiking the first week alone, meeting up with River in Catawba VA for the 135 miles we have left in common. I'm excited about hiking with her again and she's bringing her car so it's 135 miles of slackpacking and showers and clean clothes! What more can a hiker want!
Date: 2019-03-14
To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Well, he snores. All night long I was in and out of sleep to the rythmn of Packmules snoring. I can say this, he doesn't have sleep apnea. At least I wasn't eaten by a bear! I got up around 7 and made my oatmeal and coffee before packing up to head out. Packmule carries a katadin filter like I used to and offered to fill my bottle so we went to the creek together and it became clear that his filter needed maintenance. I watched his face turn red with the strain of pumping and then showed him how to take it apart and lubricate the o ring on the handle and clean the strainer that goes into the water source. I'm hoping tonight he's sitting in a shelter doing that. I made my way down the trail after saying goodbye and about a half hour into my day spotted 2 deer. We were equally curious about each other and watched each other until finally I started hiking again and they bounced off with their tails waving goodbye. Not long after that I stopped to observe 3 woodpeckers for a moment. I climbed a lot today. Several climbs, stopping often to let my heart calm down an octave. I could hear it constantly pounding in my ears. I felt like it was never going to end! And even though my bag's at least a pound lighter because I've been eating it somehow felt heavier. I came upon an older man on one of the few downs of the day, just before bearwallow gap. He was sitting on a rock wearing a pack as big as Packmule's looking depleted. I chatted with him and learned he's 66 and out for 12 days to see how it would be to attempt a thru hike in 2021. His trail name is Major Disaster. It seemed fitting based on my brief observation. I grabbed water at the gap, having just emptied my water bladder and took a 10 minute break before my next and last climb. I was 3 miles from the shelter and when I reached the top I could without a doubt tell the predicted storm was blowing in. It was scary windy and made me anxious to get to the shelter. As I crossed the blue ridge parkway at the peaks of otter lookout the wind caught me and pushed me back a step. On the other side the trail tipped slightly down off the ridge and protected me enough from the wind that I stopped and seeing I had cell service texted Brian a quick update and reminded him he's loved. When I finally reached the shelter it seemed really protected from the wind. 2 hikers were at the picnic table. Twice who is a thru hiker from Germany and a section hiker from Ohio named Sand Bag. I set up in the shelter and we all had dinner and conversation together before hanging our food bags. Twice chose to tent and Sandbag claimed the opposite end of the shelter. I might actually be able to sleep tonight and not worry about bears!
Date: 2019-03-18
From: Lambert's Meadow shelter

To: Route 311
Miles today: 10.4

Well I slept like crap. I'm frustrated by my inability to get a good night's sleep at a shelter. I sleep well in my tent, it's my sanctuary. But in the shelter I'm conscious of my tossing and turning all night and it's colder in the shelter and unprotected from the wind. I think I kept everyone slept poorly based on the conversation in the morning and I think I was the culprit. The moon was bright all night also, and I got up to use the privy twice but didn't need a headlamp. We were all up just after 7am. Chief and Wonderhuven left around 8 having planned a 20 mile day. I had breakfast and finished packing up along with Wrong Way. My heels are so tender to the touch I had to take my sleeping socks off last night. They were causing my heels to throb. I can't stand the thought of wearing my hiking boots and I was mentioning to Wrong Way that I was tempted to hike in my Crocs and he mentioned he's seen several people do that temporarily because of blisters. So I put my boots in my pack and hiked out in Crocs thinking I'd try it the 1.5 miles to Tinker Cliffs. While hiking in Crocs is slower I was pain free and able to 100% enjoy todays hike. I wore them for the entire 10.4 miles. I was alone at Tinker Cliffs and the views were splendid. I felt very emotional as I've been looking forward to this section of the trail for so long. I took my time at the cliffs thoroughly soaking it in before moving forward. Just a few steps up the trail I heard a little rustling in the dry leaves and looked to see 5 deer foraging for acorns among them. They were conscious of me and I took several photos before I proceeded past them. They continued their business. I stopped at the shelter just .7 from McAfee knob and had a snack and used the privy before continuing my climb. At the knob there were a handful of people and a woman was kind enough to take my photo. There were surprisingly many section and day hikers out on this section and I spoke with several. River would be proud of me, she's usually the social one and I generally greet but move on. Even though the climax of today's hike was now behind me I still enjoyed every bit of it pain and stress free. It's been nice hiking shorter days and enjoying more but I'm also looking forward to hiking and sharing time with River over the next week. About a half mile from route 311 I spoke with a couple having a snack on the side of the trail. Just before I departed he noticed I was hiking in Crocs. I explained why and he said he ended a 400 mile section hike because of heel blisters and he had Crocs with him but regrets not thinking about hiking in them. I continued down toward the road where River met me with a whoop and a cold beer that we shared in the parking lot. It's so good to see her and I'm looking forward to the week ahead. We went back to the Super 8 where I showered and then we went to the 3 Little Pigs for dinner and discussed our plans for the week of hiking. With everything carved out I soaked my feet, said goodnight to Brian before journaling and sinking into bed.