morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-04
From: South Stream Pond

To: Bennington, Vt
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

An almost zero day in Bennington, Vt., with Lee.The town is plastered with colorfully painted moose statues (see the previous day's photo) and lifelike people statues in everyday poses. It is fun to walk about a bit and discover them all.I had consumed every ounce of my consumables so Lee and I went up and down every isle at the supermarket. $80 of hiker food was bought. My pack is going to be very heavy on the way out of town.We had some great food at the Rattlesnake Cafe, swam in the pool, and enjoyed a great fireworks display and party at the Knotty Pine Motel. We didn't have to leave the motel to watch the town fireworks. Bennington ain't that big.Tomorrow late I'm back on the trail. I intend to squeeze every bit of rest out of my town visit.(PHOTO TO APPEAR)
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Bennington, Vt

To: Goddard shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Lee dropped me off at the trailhead after an enjoyable fourth of July break in Bennington, Vt. About noon I began a long climb out of the valley into the Green Mountains of Vermont.It is Saturday afternoon and there are many day hikers on the trails. The first hundred miles of this path are shared by the Appalachian and Long Trails.I hiked a bit with Buns and Roses, Tupperware, 'Cuda, and Spoc and Twiggy and met for the first time their friend Hearts. Hearts was diagnosed with Guardia (an intestinal parasite) back in Bennington but lab tests take a week or more so no one is certain. He hiked on none-the-less with a headache and mild fever. He ain't feeling too good.I hung my hammock behind the shelter which was crowded with Long Trail hikers just beginning their journeys. All the other A.T. hikers pitched tents up the trail a bit under an old fire tower.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: Goddard shelter

To: Stratton mountain
Miles today: 17.3

Phew, I climbed up two tall ones today, Glastenbury and Stratton Mountains, near 4000 feet tall. It's getting chilly again at night but the days remain July-like, hot and humid. Taller mountains are ahead.I learned from Spoc and Twiggy that Hearts' illness worsened last night. Buns and Roses and Tupperware divided the contents of his pack amongst themselves and escorted him south the 12 miles back to Bennington. We're in a designated wilderness area so no motorized rescue is permitted. Besides, no one has a cell phone signal to call for help. I wish them well.
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Stratton mountain

To: Mad Tom Notch
Miles today: 18.7

My daily mileage has begun to drop as the climbs are longer and the days are hotter. I sense some lingering fatigue, too. No more 20-mile days for a while.I was able to reach my friend Jim on the cell phone finally as I crossed Highway 11 near Manchester, Vt. He'll come and visit this weekend near Killington, Vt. My spirit has improved greatly.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Mad Tom Notch

To: Homer Stone Brook, then Rutland
Miles today: 16.2

The day began with two quick climbs over Styles and Peru Peaks. The rest of the day was one middle-sized hill after another. My legs are tired.I hiked a sidetrail to Dandy, Vt., and hitched a ride to a very nice hostel in Rutland. It's essentially a free hostel (an hours work is all they ask) run by the twelve tribes religious commune. Not much religiosity goes on. They also run the large newage cafe next door where everyone hangs out.The best news of the day is I ran into my old hiking friend Teargas. That's him in the picture. The bad news is he's on his way to NYC to visit a very sick DarkHorse who is convalescing in a city hospital. More on that tomorrow, my 30 minutes of library computer time have expired.
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Homer Stone Brook, then Rutland

To: Cold River
Miles today: 17.5

TearGas left for New York City to spend some time with DarkHorse. DarkHorse admitted himself to a NYC hospital near ChinaTown with symptons of Lyme disease but test results came back negative so he was released. He got sicker and subsequent tests came back positive for Lyme. He's still in the hospital weak as a baby. He will not return to the trail.I went up and down the mountains that make up many of the ski resorts in this part of Vermont, most notably Killington. At one of the trailhead bulletin boards I noticed some wildlife squeezed underneath the plexiglass. That's a bat in the photo. He was very much alive. I couldn't figure how he got in there.
Date: 2008-07-13
From: Hanover, N.H.

To: Moose Mountain shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I said goodbye to Hanover and Dartmouth College all on the same day. The placque in the photo lies in the sidewalk as the trail goes through Hanover. Note that the trail was only 2144 miles long then. It's 30 miles longer now. Can't they make it shorter?I hiked a while with Dennis from Boston. He's a big burly man whose New England accent is so thick it is almost unintelligible to my midwestern ear. He hikes in a very, very short kilt without benefit of underwear. Dennis, do not bend over that way, please.
Date: 2008-07-14
From: Moose Mountain shelter

To: Smarts Mountain
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I hiked past Trapper John's shelter and several short 3000 foot peaks. Bigger ones are on the horizon.The shelter last nice had a clear roof so we could watch the rain fall all night long. I was cozy in my hammock hung from the eave of the shelter and had a good night's sleep.
Date: 2008-07-15
From: Smarts Mountain

To: Mount Mist or there abouts.
Miles today: 18.2

Spent the day climbing up and then down many peaks that are getting taller as I approach the White Mountains. The first of the many tall peaks in the Whites is on tomorrow's agenda, Mount Moosilauke. It is one of 48 peaks over 4000 feet in the White Mountains. Fortunately I don't have to hike over all of them.I ran into Cricket again for the nth time. He scurried on ahead.
Date: 2008-07-16
From: Mount Mist or there abouts.

To: Kinsman Notch (N. Woodstock)
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: few clouds

A short day today as I stopped in Glencliff, N.H., to update this journal and make arrangements for a visit from my brother Byron. We'll hike the 100-mile wilderness together.Mount Moosilauke and the rest of the White mountains loom ahead. The photo is of Moosilauke from a distance. I'll hike over it this afternoon.
Date: 2008-07-17
From: Kinsman Notch (N. Woodstock)

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I crawled up and over Mount Moosilauke yesterday. It's summit (4800 feet) is above the timberline so you get some breath-taking views. The Whites are beautiful. I hitched a ride into yet another Woodstock. New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire all have at least one.My thru-hiker's guidebook says I have less than 400 miles to go. Now, ain't that somethin'?
Date: 2007-12-05
To: And so it begins...
Miles today: 0.0

Wow, this is exciting! I'm in full swing preparing for my 2008 AT thru-hike, a dream I've had for quite some time. Training hikes, assembling my gear and testing it out, dehydrating meals, and setting up my life to allow me to be absent for up to six months. I'm hoping it won't take the whole 6 months, and am tailoring my workout/training regime with that in mind. There are many beautiful, rugged, steep and rocky trails in the Pacific Northwest to hike in order to gain my hiker's legs BEFORE I begin on Springer Mountain in the spring. It should also help to prepare me for the cold, wet weather sure to exist in the beginning weeks (months?) of my trek. I have many aspirations for this journey, some of which I am already beginning to realize even in the preparation phase itself. Nature is my church and my surest connection to God, so first of all this is a spiritual pilgrimage and meditation for me. I intend to recognise and break up unexamined paradigms I have which are limiting me in life. I intend to achieve a much higher level of health and fitness in particular, to acquire new skills (too numerous to list!), and to develop a much higher level of awareness of the world around me, particularly in nature but also with other people and myself. I intend this whole process to be a catalyst in my relationship with my husband to further deepen our intimacy, to expand our creativity and to expose and break up unexamined paradigms we have which may be limiting us, our growth and our expression in our marriage and as individuals. Throughout this process, I intend that we both undergo tremendous personal growth and as a result experience a deeper sense of inner peace, satisfaction and joy. I intend to succeed in safely completing the entire journey from Georgia to Maine in this one hike, and to have an amazing time in the process. I intend to learn about and see as much as I can of the trail, nature, wildlife, communities, events and history along the trail, and to meet many interesting people & make many new friends along the way. I am afraid to list this one, as long-term projects that involve sitting still verses physical adventures(!) tend to be very challenging for me to follow through on. But I would like at least one book to come out of this adventure that is read by someone other than my husband and parents! In fact, I want this book to be so engaging as to be read by MANY others. We shall see about that... I want to return home energized, clear and focused on what's next for me in my life, and to begin it immediately and with gusto! Well, typically I can just go on and on about these things. Who was the poet who said something like, 'you see I want a lot. Perhaps I want everything...' Well, that's me in a nutshell. But now it's back to work! There's much to accomplish before I reach the trailhead in spring. BS
Date: 2007-12-11
To: The preparation continues
Miles today: 0.0

I have been doing lengthy trail walks every other day now with a commitment to continuing to increase my mileage, pack weight & degree of difficulty as I progress. A friend and I hiked the Ruckel Ridge Trail this past weekend. It was truly gorgeous up there. Personally, I don't subscribe to the get in shape once you get on the trail mentality. For me at least, it's important to arrive with my trail legs already up an running so to speak, as far as that's possible. Maybe I could've pulled that off in my 20's or even my 30's, but I want to have a fantastic hike, not be aching and so sore I need to take a bunch of rest days. Plus it's great incentive for increasing the vigorousness of my regular exercise program that I do anyway and is giving me confidence that I just might be able to go the distance!I've been paying attention to my "microclimate" while hiking so as to keep only enough clothes on me to maintain a comfortable temperature while minimizing sweating as per my mentor's coaching. I've always considered myself cold blooded, and have been surprised by how little I need to wear to maintain comfort. I've also been doing my walk/hikes in running shoes instead of boots and have noticed my feet, ankles and lower legs aren't sore the next day like they were when I first started despite my increasing distances. This indicates to me that the ligaments and muscles in these areas are getting stronger and are ready to increase my distance and/or pack weight again. I'm organizing a "NW mini-Ruck" here in Portland for February, and already have about ten people confirmed. A Ruck is a kind of hiking party/seminar where you gather to enjoy other hikers, hear their stories and see the pictures of their hikes, as well as to learn key information and skills to make you a better, more successful backpacker. I haven't even posted it locally yet, so it's very possible that this could become a well attended event! It's very exciting, and I'm looking forward to meeting people, hearing their stories and seeing their pictures. I know I'll learn many valuable bits of information from the experienced hikers who attend.Time to get started dehydrating food!
Date: 2008-02-16
To: Getting it all together
Miles today: 0.0

Well, the Mini-Ruck was a grand success! There were about 30 people there, with a delicious spread of hearty grub and libations. One person came from as far as Virginia! But most of us were from the three west coast states. There were amazing stories with accompanying photos shared. We had "The Honeymooners" who did an AT thru-hike together for their honeymoon (My God! If you're still together after going through THAT together, you're well on your way to your 50th anniversary together!) They had wonderful pictures of their adventure, and also shared tips and techniques for dehydrating meals for the trail, as well as what worked for their mail drops.We had a harrowing yet beautiful (scenery wise) story of a freak snowstorm turning a short overnight into a nearly five day ordeal that ended with a severe case of frost bitten feet! It could have been much worse, however. There were about five out there in the same area who were covered in avalanches and never made it home... Our Chris was lucky.And we got to see some of the most magnificent pictures of the Continental Divide Trail. Our benefactor swore he had no special photography skills, but his wild flower shots all the way to his panoramic landscape shots left us all in awe. What a gorgeous piece of the earth!It was only for an evening, but it was an unforgettable one for all, and hopefully will grow into a much more comprehensive annual event. Next year I'll get to make MY contribution!There's still SOOOOOOO much to get done before I leave that there's no more time for journaling. Gotta GET TO WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BS
Date: 2008-03-05
To: The pull of the vortex
Miles today: 0.0

Every day that passes feels like it's passing by more quickly than the previous one, as if I'm in a river being pulled ever more quickly towards a precipitous waterfall. The feeling is one of exhilarating terror. Resistance is futile in such a strong current, but I'm trying at least to maneuver into the best possible position for the moment I plunge over the falls. Better to go over the section that has the fewest rocks directly below if possible! I have been working feverishly to prepare myself and to get things properly shut down in my life to allow me to go on this pilgrimage. Closing down my medical practice, unsubscribing from e-mail lists, magazines, marketing materials, etc. Moving my office into storage and renting it out as an apartment. Working in 10 mile hikes every other day or so and now adding pack weight to that mix. Preparing and dehydrating the rest of my meals. Adding the finishing touches to my gear. Just plain stopping and shutting down everything I've been doing regularly for years, and trying to get everything ready for this journey in the next couple of weeks so I can (hopefully) be less frazzled and more present with my husband for that last week before I go...It's incredibly freeing what I'm doing in shutting down my life as I've known it for so long. When I get back it will take something to get it all restarted again. Will I even bother to revive certain things at all? Maybe I'll discover certain chapters of my life to be complete and new ones I wish to begin. I feel like a ship must when it's so covered with barnacles that it is dry docked to have them all removed to make it smooth again to allow it to slice through the water without all that drag. This process will give me the opportunity to be very selective about which barnacles I choose to allow to grow onto my sides when I return.For me this trip is about way more than completing a certain distance on foot, as if that weren't daunting enough. It's about totally reinventing myself. Is one EVER truly ready for such a journey? Perhaps like one is ready to be married I suppose. Ready as one can be, but with no true idea of what one will have to deal with along the way or what one will find at the end of it all. But it's more comforting at this point to believe that I can at least maneuver myself to the optimal position to go over the falls, than to just surrender to the current. So I continue on with all my "important" preparations to keep my mind from being overwhelmed by this whole endeavor. I leave for Georgia on the 30th of March, after spending our 16th anniversary weekend together. The last weekend together until Oz flies out to meet me just past the half-way point in late June. Not long now till I'm off...Like I said, it's terrifyingly exhilarating...to just let go!
Date: 2008-03-18
To: Reflections as my departure approaches
Miles today: 0.0

My God I'm feeling emotional right now. My feelings are SOOOO close to the surface. The simplest thing inspires me to tears in the middle of some mundane task. When I look at my husband I feel a little bit like I can't get a deep breath sometimes and get all choked up. I'll be perfectly serene and someone will honk at me or cut me off in traffic for no good reason and I'm absolutely furious and swearing at them like a sailor. I seem to change my mind completely about rather major things - even more than usual - from one moment to the next. I feel like I'm being buried in an overwhelming avalanch of insights. There is so much going on within me right now I can't process it all. It's a good thing I'm leaving soon and will have hours of walking and solitude to sort myself out, because I'm either starting menopause or just more affected by this upcoming journey that I imagined I would be (or perhaps both?). You're probably thinking I'm being a drama queen (I sure do...), but it's just bubbling up and impossible to suppress it all.On the positive side, suddenly "homeless" people seem completely different to me than they used to. I no longer feel threatened or repulsed or like they're just trying to get a handout for nothing. I don't feel sorry for them or avoid looking in their eyes. I don't ignore them either, but look into their eyes and see them, connect and smile. On several occasions I have picked up an extra meal when I go out to eat and someone is standing with their sign asking for help at the intersection close by. I give it to them on my way out with a grin and watch the wonder and appreciation spread over their face. I know they're travelers just like me, only they're on a rough patch of the trail right now. So it feels like getting to be a trail angel and giving out a little trail magic to a fellow traveler on their way. It's not charity. I know I'll be the recipient of such generosity on my journey...already have been, on this journey and on ones taken in the past. And I know they'll get as much from giving to me as I will receiving, because I do too.This journey is already shaping me so profoundly. More than I ever could have imagined. I sincerely hope I make it all the way to Katahdin this year and I'm committed to doing so. But no matter how far I get, I've already gotten my money, time, efforts' worth out of it and I haven't even gotten to the trailhead yet. I'm truly blessed to have the opportunity to go on this pilgrimage with the love and support of my family and friends. Blessed, blessed, blessed...BS (Barefoot Sage AND Blessed Sage!)
Date: 2008-03-31
To: The Journey Begins
Miles today: 0.0

March 31, 2008"And So my Journey Begins" 0.9 miles technically. Today isn't really my "official" start date, although technically I did officially start the trail today. After arriving In Atlanta, my best friend Julie, her husband Jeff and my godson Judah, and their dog Cookie picked me up and brought me to Springer Mountain for the start of my journey. We all decided to hike that first mile of the trail together, from forest service road 42 to the summit of Springer.I had been conversing with two sisters (Bone Lady and Oatmeal) via my Womenhikers Yahoo Group who were planning to arrive at the summit of Spinger on the 31st and start the official trail on April 1st too, so I was hoping to run into them up there and possibly to hike with them for the first few days.The walk up was surreal. It was cool and wet, with light sprinkling. The trail was peppered with rocks and in places we could see the very bones of the mountain as we walked.  As we passed a hiker here and there, we would introduced ourselves and ask of their journey. Close to the summit, we ran into a couple of very young women who looked to be straight out of the 60's. They were wearing long skirts and leggings with a hodgepodge of things strapped to their packs and a scrap of Tyvec and an old tent tied over them to attempt to keep some of the rain out. They'd just reached the summit, and felt they had the energy to push on to Stover Creek Shelter 2.8 miles down the trail. They had planned to meet someone at the summit the next day, but oh well...the trail was calling to them and they decided to hike on, but they were hoping get to see the person at Trail Days in Damascus, VA at least.   I asked their names which they gave, but the oldest then said "my trail name is Bond Lady and this is Oatmeal." WOW! When I introduced myself as Barefoot Sage, their faces lit up and Bone Lady threw her arms around me in a fierce hug. I was the very person they'd been hoping to meet!!! And so my AT journey begins...
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Gooch Shelter

To: Neels Gap, Walasi Yi Hostel
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

April 2nd, 2008Beautiful start in the morning. Foggy, clearing to sunny, mild and breezy. The trail is covered in dry leaves. Wild flowers are popping up all along the trail, a small white daisy-like flower, a tiny purple one, a variegated trillium. Numerous streams crossed the trail.I took a lunch break at Woody Gap and phoned my folks. It was good to connect with them.Blood Mountain is famous on the Appalachian Trail. It's very steep and rocky. The view from the top today was grand, and I lingered at the old stone shelter on the summit.Soon a fellow and his dog came along. He told me this was his prayer mountain where he came regularly to talk with God and express his gratitude. His story was one of miracles and redemption. After a devastating life threatening injury, he'd been told he was lucky to be alive and would never walk again! Yet there he was on his feet on his mountain...we hiked to the bottom together.The folks at the Walasi Yi center are quite a group of characters. Most notable is the fellow named "Pirate" who manages the hostel. He was obsessed with Spam of all things, and even played a video of a British comedy skit about Spam that was hilarious! I met a fine group of hikers there. Bluebell, Bulldog, Ohm and Joel from the shelter last night. We gave him the name Juggernaut! All of us were so beat, we slept like the dead.....
Date: 2008-04-03
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

April 3rd, 2008 We were all sound asleep at 7 am in the dark, windowless dungeon-like bunk room at Walasi yi, when suddenly the light came on and Ghostbusters came blaring out of a boombox at full volume! Pirate was in his glory and laughing with glee as everyone groaned and pulled their sleeping bags over their heads to dampen the sound. It was cold and raining when I started out and soon the wind picked up until it was a steady 15-20 mph with 35 mph wind gusts. The cold rain came at me sideways and it was a grueling day despite less mileage. What a relief to finally reach the shelter with, thank God, one space left for me! The ground was soaked, with water streamed across it on its way down hill, and it was pooled on literally every level tent spot in the vicinity. Today was definitely NOT the day I would've liked to have had to set up my tarp for the first time out there.Only 11 miles today after two 15 mile days, but my feet were ready to stop for sure! I found myself thinking of Oz today at one point when I was really cold. I was thinking about a hot shower and snuggling in our cozy flannel sheets together. A string of negative thoughts ensued, but I caught myself at it and stopped on a dime by making myself think positive thoughts and was at the shelter in no time.A great group of folks are here, some new some old. There's Burr Ass, Coleen, Hot Sauce, Thunder Thighs, Curly, Ohm, Bluebell, Bulldog, etc. Their company really brought up my spirits!