morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-02-05
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Winding Stairs Gap
Miles today: 40.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We are cleaned up...again. Thankfully. We hiked 16 miles today...12 yesterday (and in the rain). We made it to Winding Stairs Gap today...making good time. Today marked our highest mileage day. I am sitting in Andrews, NC for the night. We will head back out in the morning to hike another 16- going over Wayah Bald and etc. I think we will have a couple of guest hikers with us, which should be fun.Hiking in the rain was not too bad. In fact, I think it helped the day go by faster. Sounds strange, I know... It has made all of the streams in NC much bigger and wider- many of them we have had to pass over and try not to submerge our feet. We have already hiked 31.7 miles of NC. I really like this state. The welcome into the state, though, from the trail was harsh. We had to hike up a monster amount of log stairs.... BOY OH BOY! Today we hiked up another monster mountain- rugged and very rocky. It was fun, but hard. We ate lunch under a fire tower- beautiful view. My shoes began to rub the back of my ankles all of a sudden, so I had to duct tape both ankles. I am hoping that passes.I have notice that when I am in towns and cleaned up, the pads of my feet ache. When I am in the shelters, my feet don't bother me. When I walk on concrete, it irritates them. Another strange thing.Random thoughts. Our 'friend' Nick who was hiking with us disappeared on us two days ago. We were dropped off by a friend back to Dick's Creek Gap after our zero day. He walked in front of us...we were headed to Muskrat Creek Gap. Rach and I have not seen him since. VERY ODD. She has her two theories about him.. if you know her, you need to ask her in person about those theories. Goodness.Today was a great day. Great weather. Great walk. Good stuff. The sun came out- much of which I am thankful for because the ice and wind have an awful ability to drain you as you walk. The past two nights in the shelters have not been bad, either. The weather has been much warmer as a whole. I find myself praising God while I walk- very grateful for the pleasant weather.I am debating whether I should pack a warmer bag. Right now I have the 20 degree with a liner- works our great overall. There is the -25 degree bag option. It is a much bigger bag...worth the weight??? I have a few days to think about it.. Just thought I would mention it.I am going to check my email, make some phone calls, and eat dinner with my boss- Brody. I will be in and out of Andrews for the next week...making updates more frequently, I am assuming. THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING MY JOURNEY!! It is neat the work the Lord is doing on my mind and heart. I miss my family...
Date: 2008-02-09
From: Winding Stairs Gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 27.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Rach and I have been slack packing in the Nantahala area...from Franklin til the NOC so far. We have had some crazy weather- beautiful one day and RAINY the next. Yesterday we were supposed to hike the NOC to Stecoah Gap section, but did not due to tired bodies and minds. Today we were supposed to hike, but Racheal had an engagement in Robbinsville she felt strongly in attending....which puts us at 2 consecutive zero days. Tomorrow we are not hiking because of an engagement in Andrews for a friend of ours. All of that said, we will have taken 3 zero days in a row! OUCH!! I did do some hiking and wood stacking today so I wouldn't go soft... Taking 3 zero days scares me and helps me to recognize how people get sucked into 'normal' life and don't want to go back out on the trail. This time off of the trail has been good in one respect and a bummer in another. All I can do is remain positive through it and stay as focused as possible with the circumstances I have been given. As I once read, "FIGHT CIRCUMSTANCE; SECURITY IN CHRIST, ALONE!" God is much greater than these days off of the trail... perhaps this is exactly what I need to keep going. I was able to fill out 24 postcards today! CRAZY! I find myself having a hard time in the woods to write to people. I am big on writing letters, but at camp I am tired from walking all day. It has been cooler/cold outside so I typically just want to get into the sleeping bag. Therefore, today was good to just get some of the writing done. I think a lot about people as I walk. I just find myself not wanting to necessarily converse with these folks. There is a change occuring within me.. God is teaching me a great deal about myself...it is exhausting within itself, but I embrace it.The hike from NOC to Stecoah Gap appears to be a steep one. I have gained 4 pounds being in town...I have a horse-like appetite already. The back of my ankles have had issues where the skin was being rubbed the wrong way...hoping that heals and goes away. I am repacking my pack while here in Andrews...and I am going to try and use a smaller pack. The weather has been beautiful...I pray it continues to be beautiful. I hope to catch up with Dr. Pepper..another thru-hiker I head who is only a couple of days ahead of us (that is with the zero days factored in)... Apple, a trail maintainer, told me he was in his late 20's or so.. Anyone know Dr. Pepper (formerly known as Crazy Horse)?? We will see.. hope to meet some other thru hikers soon.Thanks, again, for your kind words..and for following us. We are still trekking... headed to Maine!! And we may have trail names now... Rach and I are the Odd Couple. We may go with Ms Felix (me) and Ms Oscar (Rach)... I am told it fits perfectly!! Enjoy your day, folks..
Date: 2008-02-11
From: NOC

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

We started hiking again. Whew.. Clinton, another thru-hiker, has caught up to us. I have not actually met him yet... but I was told he was at the NOC when I was there today. Perhaps we will see him soon... It is exciting to think about meeting up with another THRU-HIKER!!The time at SWO, in Andrews, was neat.. There has been a lot that has gone on, but but I am so happy we were able to stay for staff church tonight. God is teaching me SO much. Tonight we learned about exhortation..We head to Fontana Dam tomorrow.. Rain scheduled many of the days this week.. Comes with the territory, I suppose.I got a letter at the NOC from Hopeful.. THANK YOU!!! Trail name... Ms. Felix... and Racheal is Ms. Oscar... We are technically the Odd Couple. Ask anyone who meets us..and who knows us. I am off...I need to get going. I need to make it to Monte Alban before they close. Thanks for following us.. More to come in the near future.
Date: 2008-02-16
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 55.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We hit Clingman's dome today...hiked 18 miles. We are actually sitting in Knoxville now. The Mt Collins shelter was packed with a load of 15 year olds. The weather in the Smokies has been great. We are staying here tomorrow because it is supposed to storm hardcore... Monday should be better weather-wise. My achilles tendon on my left foot has been giving me problems. I have had to keep my shoe loose so it doesn't rub it too much. I also have two blisters..one on each foot. Other than that, I am holding up- physically. I just showered, so I am clean!! That is a NICE feeling.The first three weeks on the trail has been crazy tough, but good. I cannot believe today marks three weeks!! We met up with Vagus, Storming Norm, and Waterbear... God sent. It amazes me how quickly He provided Racheal and I with people, good food, and etc as soon as we got together, prayed, and started new. Thank you, folks, who have also prayed for us... means a lot.We will be in Andrews next weekend...wedding time. Rach and I thought we would be finished within 5 months..but I don't know if that will happen at this rate. Oh well... I am taking it all as it comes. I am trying to soak it all in as it is here. We have seen some INCREDIBLE sights... wow.Thanks, Hopeful, for the letter at the NOC!! Encouraging..Thank you for all of you encouraging messages....and I enjoy the verses included in many of them.Clinton's Mom...shoutout to you.. I have met your son. He is a nice guy. Thank you for that verse.. I shared it with Racheal.I love you, folks.. This journey is just that...a journey!! We are still learning a great deal, enjoying each other, and taking it one step (or shuffle) at a time!! I will update again in a week.. please keep the comments coming!!!!!!! I will put more pictures up this next weekend too.
Date: 2008-02-17
From: Newfound Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I miscalculated the mileage for the other journal...I am actually at 203.6 now.I just wanted to thank Storming Norm's family for their incredible hopsitality!! This zero day has allowed me to update some things online. I am not too big on this computer stuff anymore. I find it tedious in some regards. I have not been too interested in communicating with folks as much as I thought I would. I am trying my best to keep everyone updated. I think about so many people as I walk- it is crazy. I often pray for each person as they come to mind. I miss people...I miss hugs... It is just strange because it is hard for me to share what is on my mind with people, so I stray away from calling people... bear with me, please.The weather is moving in. Thank God I am in a house..in Knoxville..and not in the Smokies. God truly has poured out favor. It is unreal...and humbling. Keep posting on my guest book. I enjoy the entries..and I am encouraged greatly by each one!! THANK YOU!!
Date: 2008-03-08
From: Abingdon Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

I do not have much time to update this thing..and figure out mileage stuff. We are at mile 460, though, in Damascus, VIRGINIA!! YAY! The snow is falling like crazy right now and it is down-right COLD! We are staying in a Bed and Breakfast thanks to Racheal's fiancee... Corey. Thanks, man!! Much appreciated. We have had some tough miles.. LOTS of snow over Roan Mountain after we left Erwin. There was snow up to our knees in places- several places. It was very frustrating for me and I often time questioned what was going on with all of it, but God has worked some neat stuff out through it all. I am trying to be mindful that He is greater than my heart and He knows EVERYTHING!! That never changes.Vagus, Amazon, and myself have been travelling together, which I have truly enjoyed. We ran into Hopeful. He was sitting in a shelter as the rain poured down right on our way to Kincora hostel. It has been a pleasure being with him the past few days. He has been a true trail angel... THANK YOU!!TRULY enjoyed our time at Kincora Hostel... fun stuff.. GREAT people. YAY for Bob and Pat!!Ok, I must go. Perhaps pictures and more detailed entries to come if Rach and I take a zero here tomorrow.TRAIL NAME- Stride... thanks, Vagus. Enjoy the day folks. Love and miss many of you.
Date: 2008-03-09
From: Damascus

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey everyone. I just received a great gift from a friend.... my first massage. SWEET stuff. I am on cloud 9 right now... kind of in a daze. I am awaiting my photos to upload so I can load some on here. I have not had the opportunity to keep this thing as updated as I would like. BUT- I have two friends that have been better at it than me... Vagus and Amazon Woman have updated their journals. Check out their journals and pictures. I seem to always get the short end of the time schedule when it comes to computer time..so please forgive me.A few quick things.. Roan Mountain was a beast, climbing up in the SNOW. Unaka Mountain was BEAUTIFUL. We broke the snow as we climbed. It was a tough climb, but it was my favorite day of hiking. I have thoroughly enjoyed hiking with Amazon Woman and Vagus...we have had a great time together. I am still in awe that we are in VIRGINIA!!! The weather has made it tough for me to keep my morale up at times- so PLEASE keep me in prayer concerning that aspect of this trip. There has been up and down weather..hiking in knee deep snow one day and then shorts another- all in the same week. It is crazy stuff... Vagus has helped me out and offered me his pack, so I am going to try that out. I am switching to an alcohol stove for now...see how I like it. My left achilles is still somewhat swollen...and I had a blister under one of my toenails...I also fell and hit my chin on a root... I have a bruise to show for it. Well, pictures are uploaded... I must get running. I hope everyone is doing well...Love you guys. PLEASE keep us in your prayers!! CHECK OUT VAGUS and AMAZON WOMAN's entries for days, shelters, and pictures.
Date: 2008-03-29
From: Daleville, VA

To: Fish Hatchery Road, Dutch house B&B
Miles today: 96.0

Vagus and I have pumped out some miles in some tough sections of VA. It has been just the two of us. We have had some long days, tough climbs, sweet sunrays, etc... This stay at the B&B for the night is needed for rejuvenation. We shall be meeting up with Torchy in Waynesboro in a couple of days. Then we will be in the SNP..and out of VA within the next week and a half!! WOOHOO!! VA blues??? We haven't experienced this yet...thank God. So, right off the top of my head here are a few things we have encountered...   Warm days and warm nights   Boy Scouts, section hikers...free food...(THANK YOU Pokie and Jaybird)   Snack attacks at 3:47am in the shelter   Many day and section hikers...nice folks   Several 2-3 thousand foot climbs (VA is NOT flat!!)   Laughter galore and word games   Creek bathing due to new stenches (warm weather nastiness)   The Taj Mahal of shelters- Bryant Ridge Shelter...   Met Skittles- pleasant guy...hope to see him more on the trail (he is here at the B&B now.)   DJ Vagus has shown up a couple of times at night- good music   I am doing well. My contacts keep drying out at night..time to clean them. I just wanted to drop a few lines on here. Keep following me... (Vagus and I have a competion going on. Don't be afraid to check my site over his.. haha)Miss you folks, but I am honestly quite happy to be away from everything back "home". I may be able to put more on here later tomorrow. I am having a great time..and I have had a grand time hiking with Vagus this week. "Unravel me distant course..."
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Fish Hatchery Road, Dutch house B&B

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today has been lazy, which is good. I have managed to write a couple of letters to two of my friends, catch up on some meaningful journaling for myself, take a bath, eat a good breakfast...have some conversation. I could not sleep through the night last night. I had a 3am wake-up and walk around. Ugh...it is crazy to me how my body and mind become alert at 3am. It was good to sleep with a pillow, though. I plan on watching a movie and taking an afternoon nap once I complete this entry.There is no cell phone reception out here. I cannot manage to get in touch with Torchy- so I have no clue what it will look for us and reuniting in Waynesboro. (If you read this, Torchy, call me at the Dutch Haus..I emailed you the phone number.) In regards to my thoughts on the weather change...I keep thanking God for the sun, but the heat is killer when attempting to pump up these mountains. Vagus has seen me in rare form as I arrive to the top of some of these beastly mountains...after the mountains had attempted to "kick my ass"...giving me a run for my money as a hiker. They have not been victorious because I am still progressing forward, but those mountains have put me into check. haha.. The sun has allowed us to take hour long lunch breaks and soak in the sunrays. That is a positive aspect of SPRING. I am thankful that Torchy and I decided to leave as early as we did in January so I can be as far as I am now. The early start has allowed me to have more hiking time in cooler weather. It made for cold breaks and chillier nights of sleep, but the hiking was more pleasant. And in addition to the more pleasant weather, it has been good not having to battle for shelter or trail space. There are not as many people to interact with, but that has been okay because I am pleased with the people I have met and hiked with...you know who you are. Jolie and Jay, along with Skittles, were fun to hang out with last night and this early morning. I enjoyed looking at photos of flowers and hearing the different bird calls- thanks, y'all. Within the last week of hiking, I have become more in-tuned with my surroundings as I walk the trail. There have been some beautiful little flowers blooming. I am slowly learning how to ID the flowers and appreciate the new blooms... various forms of confirming Spring has arrived. I also met Dan, a section hiker from NJ. We had some very pleasant conversation about life, electronic age and anxiety, simplicity... If you read this, Dan, I certainly hope you continue to hike strong. Thanks for the conversation and snack foods. Ok...I am off to nap...soak in this time. Enjoy the day...and THIS moment you've been granted.
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Montebello, VA

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 179.0
Weather: broken clouds

I am sitting here at the Bear's Den Hostel- cleaned up and ready to journal. I think dinner is going to be ready soon....so we will see how much I can update before I am called upstairs.I considered doing a day-by-day update, but that just isn't my style. Granted, Vagus and I have this 'hits' competition and he may just win because he updates for the daily grind...and each time someone reads each one of his paragraph long entries and skips to the next one to see what he has been up to for the past 8 days, he gets a hit for each viewing....thus, he receives 7 more hits than I do automatically..oh well. (HA..goodness)So, I have done a lot since Montebello. We walked through the Shanendoah National Park. It was not my favorite- not at all. I am actually happy to be out of it. There were some pretty views on one day, but overall it wasn't too impressive on the whole. The climbs were not too strenous like folks said they wouldn't be. I feel as though I am coming off as negative... perhaps the three days of dreary, wet, cold weather put me in a 'mood'...haha it has been an interesting week, to say the least.I have hiked this past week in the company of Skittles and Vagus- MUCH enjoyed...Dinner time...update more later tonight.
Date: 2008-04-17
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 140.0
Weather: clear sky

I am currently sitting in the Doyle Hotel...and I am about to eat lunch. I wanted to drop a few lines while I had a quick minute.I did the Maryland Challenge...we (Vagus, Skittle, and Myself) walked 42.2 miles in about 18.5 hours on April 12. It was a neat experience... Thank you, Twiggi Light, for all of your help. We have reached the halfway mark (plus more) this week..We celebrated by tenting out on the trail. The weather has been very pleasant lately.. I enjoy sleeping out in my fly. We slept on the lawn on the Garmanhaus B&B in Boiling Springs... the best sleep for me yet... lots of 'condy' on the grass though.Met Smiles today- pleasant guy. I am switching shoes for a new pair. The Montrail HArdrock trailshoes have held up for the past 1134 miles. SWEET... looking forward to the new pair.UM.... pictures to come, I hope.. look at Vagus and Skittles' page for pictures. We are having a good time... Things are good. Thanks for the guestbook entries.. Hike Strong and Have Fun...and I am still trying to Take It All In,STRIDE
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Williamston, MA

To: Andrews, NC
Miles today: 0.0

I have made it to Andrews, NC... I am tired and I feel dirty, but I am happy to be here. It is strange to be off of the trail, but I am ready to take in what is in store for me. I want to live for TODAY and not fret about tomorrow. I sat in Daleville, VA for 6 hours this morning waiting to get picked up after road tripping with Sulu, The Brain, Rob Bird, and Dick- the mayor from Unionville, NY. It was a tight fit, but we made it. Strange enough, though, I ran into StormenNorm and Waterbear (along with Off Season) at the mayor's house. I hadn't seen them since Erwin- crazy surprise!! I did not make it to the mayor's house on my first time thru, but I eventually made it...and when I did, I was pleasantly surprised! It was good to see those two and to meet Off Season, a fellow Bulldog!! It was bizarre to be in Daleville for the second time. I had originally walked into that town the day after Easter. Here I was again...and memories from that time on the trail flooded my memory. That was the point when Torchie had to get off of the trail for a week due to her trenchfoot. Therefore, Vagus and I walked NOBO to Waynesboro and it was a tough week, but lots of fun and interesting moments. It was also the time frame when I first met Skittles. Daleville- ah...As we drove into TN and then into NC, the mountains of TN and NC melted my heart. I couldn't help but look at the ridges and think about the climbs I encountered back in Feb. I passed the Erwin exit and Sam's Gap- reminded I have that short section to come back and do... AH...it is weird to be here and not finished with the trail, but in due time. I will update more tomorrow- maybe even tonight. I need to sleep tonight, catch up on some girl talk, and apparently have 4 episodes of Survivor to watch as I hang out with some of these ladies. Should be interesting... I have no interest in Survivor. Please leave me some notes on my guestbook... My heart is not far from the AT. Everyone, keep it real.TAKING IT ALL IN!!!