morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-10-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Exciting news, I have bought my train ticket to Georgia! The ride is going to be 12 hours long (cue music: Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight & the Pips) but I hate planes and it is cheaper. I pushed my start date back to March 7th to accommodate the cheaper train ticket. My overnight accommodations and shuttle to the trail will be confirmed later this month.I decided I am going to do the approach trail through Amicalola SP after a long deliberation. I have read other journals where hikers have said not to do it, they didn¢t enjoy it, etc. I do not know if I will enjoy the approach trail but I do know I will regret not trying and never knowing if I would have liked it. I have to hike my own hike. If nothing else, I will have a good leg workout. I typed out a grocery list to aid in the buying of food in towns and finalized my gear list. There are still a few items I need to pick up over the next few months. REI is having a great sale right that I may try to take advantage of. I decided I am going to use a pump water filter because I do not like the taste of chemicals. I used a pump on a recent trip and enjoyed having instant purified water. I will have a backup just in case the filter breaks or fails. I still need to buy some clothes, a tent footprint, an UL pocket knife, a waterproof compression sack for my sleeping bag and a thru-hiker companion however Christmas is just around the corner so I will hold off on buying everything. I am still looking into where to do mail drops but I am not going to rely on them heavily, in fact I only want four maybe five total. I know I will do one in NC, VA, and ME each. I have been strength training for the past month and am going to start running regularly. My job right now has me sitting for most of the day which is counterproductive to getting into shape for this hike. Of course I will continue hiking and backpacking through the winter to prep me for those cold nights on the trail. I went on a weekend backpacking trip last weekend and it ended up snowing a half inch on my friend and I. It was unexpected but made us giddy. It is little events like the unexpected snow that makes me believe I am going to be able to make it through my thru-hike. Instead of getting stressed or upset about things like that I shrug it off and make it into an enjoyable experience. The trip is starting to become real. I have to take care of real world responsibilities in preparation for my hike such as taxes, car insurance, the cell phone bill, etc. Only 149 days until Georgia, I can¢t wait to show off my awesome bear bagging skills!
Date: 2011-11-05
To: 121 days left and counting...
Miles today: 0.0

I can¢t believe how quickly time is flying. It seems like it was just last weekend that I was camping out and now Halloween has come and gone. Every day I get a rush of excitement when I cross another day off the calendar but between all the anticipation I felt something new. I finally felt my first twinge of anxiety related to the trip. Will I actually hike the 2000+ miles to Katahdin or peter out on the approach trail? I have more faith in myself than that but those seeds of doubt have been planted. I tried to think of my main motivation behind this hike and what I came up with was simple. If I can do this, I can do anything. If I can solo hike 2000 miles planning everything on my own and pushing myself every step of the way, I know I will feel invincible when I summit Katahdin.I have the motivation to start the hike but what will motivate me when I am feeling the blues on the trail? The enjoyment I get from hiking won¢t last me the entire trip, there will definitely be moments I will not enjoy. A friendly word of encouragement from a fellow hiker or some trail magic from a stranger will be good moral boosters and the thrill of ridge walking or coming to an excellent vista are great motivators. I will simply have to grit my teeth and believe that if I stick it out, it will get better and the sun will come out again and before I know it I will be enjoying the sunshine. Whenever doubt starts to creep back into my head before my trip I simply put on my backpack and think of how it will feel to summit my final mountain on the A.T. and without fail I tear up from all the anticipation. In other news I confirmed my shuttle to the trail and Hiker Hostel reservation. This is all becoming so real!
Date: 2011-11-25
To: 100 days and counting!
Miles today: 0.0

I'm trying to update from my phone but still need to get the hang of using this keyboard. Please forgive my typos. I am in New Jersey for a little Thanksgiving family reunion. My first thought was "how close to the AT will I be?" but after realizing a) I'm not going to be near it and b) I wouldn't have time to visit even if I were, I have settle on going for an 18 mile walk on Sunday after I get back home. 18 miles may seem like a lot but it's all flat and well established trails so it will be fairly easy.November is quickly passing and I know it will soon be over. I have been discreetly participating in "No Shave November" by not shaving my legs just to get a feel for the trail life. I wear pants everyday for work so no one knows. Besides, why should guys get to have all the fun with their beards? After a few weeks there's not really much hair and it's light so I think the  lack of shaving on the trail won't be an issue. I don't know if i could go the whole time without shaving but a few months will be easy. I have been reading the Whiteblaze forums for advice, mainly on hygiene. I'm trying to let my hair (on my head) grow out so I can braid it on the trail and not worry about it being in the way. Deodorant? I may opt for some unscented or forgo the weight and just stink it up. I'm sure my visiting friends and family will appreciate that. I purchased some Patagonia capilene 3 top and bottoms. I like them but wish I could have found them on sale. I am waiting for the Holiday sales and winter clearances to buy my remaining gear- mostly clothes. I've been researching fleece jackets but just can't make a decision. I don't want to purchase one without trying it on first and the reviews I read online aren't very helpful. Oh, and boots, I have no idea what to buy for my first pair on the hike. I am also searching for a new rain jacket as my Marmot jacket decided it no longer wanted to be waterproof. This decision was made on Tuesday as I was walking on my lunch break in a downpour. I am going to email Marmot first to see if there is a different solution to this dilemma, otherwise a new jacket is being added to my list of things to buy.I decided that I am going to do my shakedown hike along the C&O Canal. It's flat terrain which isn't ideal but given that this hike will most likely happen somewhere in January or February, I don't want to risk being caught in a major snow storm at high elevations. Plus it will be easier to drag a friend or two along for the trip if it's less hardcore.One final note to everyone who signed my guestbook, thank you! You don't know how excited I am when I get an email saying there's a new entry. I read them all (even if I don't respond to them). It makes me all the more excited to hike when I know there are people who will be following along.
Date: 2012-02-08
To: Another day closer
Miles today: 0.0

Last week, while driving to work among the thousands of other commuters, I refilled a prescription, called my vet, called my mom, checked and sent an email, and updated twitter. This was after stopping by the bank and gas station and all before 10 am. I am ready to trade in this life for a much simpler one if only for a few months. I officially have all of my gear for my trip. My new rain coat and boots came in the mail two weeks ago so now it is just a matter of double, triple, and quadruple checking to make sure everything works and packs properly. I¢m scanning forums looking for ways to cut out some gear for simplicity¢s sake and less so for reducing ounces. A preliminary weigh in of my pack had it coming in around 22 pounds. I can¢t remember if I had food and water included, regardless I am thrilled with that number. I bought a pair of Keen Targhee II midheight boots for the colder months. They are waterproof which will help to keep my feet dry and warmer if there is snow on the ground. Once the temperature warms up I will switch to a lighter trail runner that isn¢t waterproof. After attempting to waterproof my rain coat I decided to ditch it and buy a new one. I liked my older Marmot Precip but the seams started leaking and there were a few holes in the inner lining from rough use. I went with a Marmot Minimalist women¢s jacket which has a Gortex coating in addition to the inner lining. So far I love it. The fit is a bit slimmer than the Precip so I went with a large to make sure my fleece could be worn underneath and I have received several compliments on it. I also managed to snag a North Face fleece for almost a third less than they sell for at retail. Huzzah! I ditched my trowel and picked up a spare tent stake to use instead, multi-use! I met with another hopeful class of 2012 hiker in my area the weekend before last and talked a bit about gear and expectations. We also decided to start out hiking together for some support. While I'm not keen on have a set hiking partner for the entire trip, it is comforting to know I will at least have a (somewhat) familiar face out there when starting out. Not to mention it will make it a bit less intimidating figuring out the logistics of town stops during the first few weeks. This past weekend I went down to southwest Virginia to visit some of my college friends. I definitely miss that town and the people down there. Everyone is so much more polite, friendly and laid back. I saw my best friend and satisfied my geeky side for a bit, too, by watching some friends play Dungeons and Dragons (don't judge). It was an overall very enjoyable weekend and I received a lot of support for my trip. While driving along the interstate home I came to realize that there really isn¢t an option to not finish this hike. After over two years of planning, I am thoroughly prepared for this and it is just a matter of enjoying it to the fullest. That¢s the fun thing about driving long distances; it allows you to plenty of time for reflecting on life and yourself. I imagine hiking will be much the same.Only 14 work days left and two paychecks to look forward to.
Date: 2012-02-24
To: Freeeeeeeedom!
Miles today: 0.0

Just a quick update-Today was my last day of work, woohoo! I spent all morning getting ready and doing my happy dance in my room. Next week will be spent getting the remaining "real world" errands done and saying goodbye to friends and family. Already my weeks is filling up with appointments, volunteer work, cleaning, and a few last minute trips. I am awkward when it comes to goodbyes but I am proud of myself for enduring the numerous farewell, good luck, and have fun's on my way out the door. My co-workers gave me a lot of moral support this last week which I appreciate.I'm off to bed now so I can get up early and do laundry. Bonne nuit. *happy dance*
Date: 2012-03-06
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It's just about bed time here at the HIker Hostel.My train arrived at 7:00 am in Gainesville, Georgia. I was promptly picked up by Willy, who helps out at the Hostel. We grabbed Josh and ran an errand at Home Depot then came back to the Hostel. There was a group of hikers headed out as we arrived. I hug around until noon when I went to Walmart with August, T-Bone, and a young German man to buy some veggie chicken nuggets and a Dr. Pepper. Leigh and Josh are both very nice people and the hostel is wonderful.We whe got back, August and I played a game of Scrabble where I won. As more and more people arrived we chatted and hung out. Brook, Stephanie, August and I all played hearts, which I didn't win, then another game of Scrabble where I kicked butt. We also watched a variety of movies including Aladdin, Shawshank Redemption, Postman and Green Mile. I also met Logan, Kim, and a few others but I can't remember names. It has been a long relaxing day but I am ready to go.I have been a lot more outgoing since arriving here at the Hostel. It's almost a night and day change. The reason is because we are all out here for the same reason. Tomorrow we will all strap on our heavy packs and amble northwards following that white blazed trail. I'm not nervous or anxious or overly excited about this hike, I'm just ready. I'm ready to go, I'm ready to walk.On a side note, I have A LOT of food. Probably more than I can eat before my first planned resupply. But there is a learning curve associated with this hike and I will definitely have some learning to do. Now I'm off to say my good nights and dream sweet dreams of the trail. Tomorrow I tackle the approach trail. Dun dun DUN.
Date: 2012-03-07
From: Hiker Hostel

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: overcast clouds

We did the approach trail today and truthfully it wasn't that bad. I think everyone is just a bunch of whiners. Well, the stairs weren't that bad. The 8 miles after them were a bit tough.Hike today with Stephanie, Blue, and August the 8.8 of the approach trail and 2.8 to Stover Creek Shelter. We had originally planned to stay at Springer Mountain Shelter but August promised it was all downhill after Springer. On the way up the mountain I managed to trip over a root. No, the root jumpe up and grabbed my foot, that's the only explination for why I didn't see it. Well I took a dive, feet left the ground, and landed on my knee, side, and shoulder. The leg was a bit scrapped up but nothing hurts. We have a lot more momentum with a 35 pound pack which means you hit the ground harder. No one was around to see it either, shucks. There were a few more at Stover Creek Shelter; Pheonix, Hats, a father and son out for a few days, and Asian couple, and another young guy thru-hiking. I ate dinner of mashed potatoes and gravy but couldn't finish it. Eventually I will have that hiker appetite, but obviously not the first day. I was also hoping to get up early and head out but since we're only planning on doing 5.3 to Hawk Mountain Shelter I was convinced to wait until 9:00 and leave with the others staying there.I'm so happy to be out here.
Date: 2012-03-08
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Hawk Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at 6:00 this morning and managed to doze for about 40 more minutes before I got up and got ready. Had poptarts for breakfast, yum. We rolled out of the shelter around 9:30 and did an easy 5 miles to Hawk Mountain. About a half hour in to the hike I shouted "I'm SO happy!" and had the biggest grin on my face. This is fantastic.We came across some waterfalls which were fantastic. If only it were warmer we would have gone swimming. Lot of green along the trail between a section of pines and the rhododendron thickets. We made it to the shelter by 11:30 so the rest of the day was spent relaxing, eating, and chatting with new faces. The sun finally came out around noon. August gave us the rundown on zodiac psychoanalysis. It was interesting to hear. The shelter is full tonight and there are lots of tenters as well. Here tonight (that I met) are Emma, Paul, Bogey (formerly Staphanie), Pheonix, August, Blue, Nina, and three spring break hikers from Florida. One of them SOBO thru-hiked in 2009 - Jukebox. I believe she has a trail journal.Another guy showed up later and was handing out first aid supplies to everyone, we dubbed him Medicine Man. We played some cards and used headlamps in Nalgenes for moodlighting. It was cool. Doesn't look like tonight will be a quiet night but that's okay, I'll just use my ear plugs.
Date: 2012-03-09
From: Hawk Mtn Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn Shetler
Miles today: 7.7

Woke up around 3:00 this morning to rain, yuck, and I really needed to use the privy. As quietly as possible I took out my rain gear and put it on. Didn't bother putting on my boots which meant my feet got really wet. Came back to the shelter and couldn't fall asleep. Around 4:00 my stomach started growling, I think out of hunger. How could I be hungry? Around 5:00 I still couldn't sleep then another hiker came to the shelter to pack up. He was extremely noisy and didn't leave until 6:00. I managed another hour of sleep until I woke up at 7:00 and packed up. I was the first one out of the shelter this morning.The mountains today weren't that bad, I was booking it. Had a few good views before the mist rolled in. Came across a bloodroot flower that was getting ready to bloom, I hope no one stepped on it. Turns out a few people saw it. It was next to a rocky stair, a single flower and leaf, I was surprised to notice it. Coming down Justus Mtn the trail was lined with Mountain Laurel that arched over and made a tunnel. Gorgeous. Mom would love it since she loves Mountain Laurel. I played with the idea of uprooting a huge one and hauling it down the trail to mail home but that wouldn't be following Leave No Trace ethics. I hiked by myself today. Made it the 7.7 miles to the shelter by 12:30 and saw Hats there. He was just finishing lunch. Had lunch and the rest showed up. Upon their arrival I exlaimed "Good games, guys, good game" a phrase that I usually utter at the top of every steep climb we go over. There's a lot of people at the shelter again tonight, should be warm at least. I kinda melted my croc in the fire tonight. Oops. But now it has character. Most of my gear is starting to get dirty, it doesn't look new anymore. I like it, it means I'm actually using it.
Date: 2012-03-10
From: Gooch Mtn Shetler

To: Blood Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

What a long day! Holy $h!t. This morning my alarm clock was a pair of barred owls calling to eachother. "Who-Cooks-For-You" How awesome is that? We packed up and Blue, Bogey, and I headed out a few minutes before the rest. But the others caught up pretty quick. We made it up to Big Cedar Mtn and there were rose petals (and day hikers) everywhere. Someone must have had a romantic night. I picked up one up to press and put in my journal. Blue was talking about "slutty brownies" how they're really easy and just a little bit dirty. Mmmm, I wanted brownies then. A lot of our conversations have been about food. All I want is an apple, and one of those glazed fruit pies with 400 calories that you can get at a gas station. Mmmm. I was in a bit of a bad mood today. I think it was from not eating enough. We hit Blood Mtn at the end of the day and it was all I could do to keep moving forward up the hill. Just one foot in front of the other. But the thought of seeing the sunset and stars and heading into Neels Gap the next day motivated me to keep going. Once I got to the top and had some food I felt a lot better.The shelter on top of Blood Mountain is made of stone and was really cool. 10 of us crammed into the back room and we put up tarps in the windows to keep the wind out. I was against the wall and was constantly worried that my sleeping bag would catch on the side and tear. But luckily that didn't happen.The sunset was spectacular and the stars were beautiful. I was pointing out the constellations to everyone. There were two planets out and some sattelites were visible as well. I even saw a shooting star. It was a good night to a long day.
Date: 2012-03-11
From: Blood Mtn Shelter

To: Walasiyi-Inn
Miles today: 2.4

Here we are at Neels Gap! Woke up this morning and everyone ran out to catch the sunset. I headed out after a few others from the shelter. Quickly caught the three spring break Floridians and passed them. I was hiking downhill and hit this bare rock surface that was really steep. All I could think was "Really? You're going to make us go down this?" So I started hiking down and down and down and then the trail disappeared. When I looked back there were no white blaze. Damn! I had made a wrong turn. The worst part was the three girls from Florida had followed me. Oops. We headed back up, found the trail and kept going. I ran into Pheonix on the way down and then we both ended up getting confused about where the trail was. Just the AT testing out skills. We finally got to the bottom and in to Neels Gap. It's a nice little hostel and outfitter. And guess what they had. FRUIT PIES! I was so happy I bought the only two they had left. 410 calories in each- so worth it. Along with most of the others I got a bunk at the hostel and set my stuff down. Then Jukebox, one of the girls from Florida, offered us a ride to the Dollar General 8 miles away. Magic! We had to be in and out in 20 minutes but it was totally worth it for the ride. THANKS JUKEBOX.After the resupply I showered and went to take a nap. I wasn't feeling well. After a some water and a quick dash to the privy I felt a lot better. Had a shakedown of my gear and they said everything was good and that I could probably stand to grab another midwight longsleeve layer with a half zip and should probably get a repair kit for my bag, pack, etc.Played a game of scrabble against August, Pheonix & Blue, and Bogey and won by 50 points. I am the Scrabble champion! Pirate made us dinner of veggie chili, sloppy joes and salad. Fresh vegetables! Oh man I had thirds on that salad. The hostel is full tonight so the ear plugs are coming out again.
Date: 2012-03-12
From: Walasiyi-Inn

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a good day.Woke up early despite the time change. Decided to skip the pancake breakfast and headed out at 7:00. I made it a few yards and then realized I had left my hiking poles behind. Oops. The sun wasn't up yet so I had to use my headlamp but it didn't do much to improve the visibility due to heavy fog. Passed a lot of tentors on the way out and even came across a girl peeing right next to the trail. D'oh. I guess she didn't expect anyone to be hiking that early.It was raining, misty, and wet all day. All the views were fogged in so it made for a quick hiking day. Made it the 7 miles to Whitley Shelter by 10:00 and then to Low Gap Shelter around 12:30. Saw Headin' Out and Tagin' Along on the way and a ridge runner named Razor.I stopped at the shelter but probably could have done the next 7 to Blue Mountain Shelter. It was wet so I used it as an excuse to stop though I didn't really feel like I had earned my spot in the shelter. The others showed up not too long after and everyone stayed around and dried out as best as possible. In the shelter is Steve, a young couple, Me, Blue, Bogey, Pheonix, and August. Medicine man is camped right behind the shelter and Craftsman is under it... UNDER IT! Hope he stays dry.A spring is flowing right through the middle of camp, not even 20 feet away from the shelter. But we're all so lazy that one person filled up a 5 gallon water tote and we have all been filtering from that. Amusing that we will walk 12 miles to get to shelter but once we're there everything is too far.The privy didn't have a roof on it some some of the guys took a scrap piece of tin that was under the shelter and put it over top so that we could do our business without being rained on. Creature comforts. Blue is reading her Glamor magazine that she brought from Neels Gap. It's amusing to see everyone's luxury item. August is carrying a chess board, Blue has her magazine. Some carry mini bottles with them. I don't really have one- unless you include a book. But most everyone has one with them so I'd almost consider it a staple, even thought I haven't read anything yet.I'm hoping to make it to the Cheese Factory site tomorrow but we'll see how well I do.