morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-18
From: Stratton, ME

To: THE END
Miles today: 0.0

A last note from "Dad"Traction called today to say he was in Stratton and was on schedule! Milarky!!!We picked up a rental car today and his brother starts summer camp Sunday at 0700!Now, here's the deal......he says he is going to knock out a 70 miler to meet me in Monson on Wednesday at 0900 for a monster breakfast and retreive his maildrop at the US Post office! he's already pulled a 25 this morning to get to Stratton, and plans to knock off another 25 or thirty this afternoon - post 1300!Then the Monson story at this juncture is to meet me at the Abol Stream camp site on Friday morning at 0700 ready to summit Katahdin! He plans to run thru the 100 mile wilderness and meet us on the other side! 100+ miles in 2 days - Wednesday 0900 (post breakfast) to 0700 Friday to begin the final ascent of Maines tallest hunk of rock. Then, we have to be at Surry Ruritan Club on Sunday at o700 to meet Thomas's Boy Scout Troop prior to them heading to Camp Shenandoah ....can this happen????? We'll see..........Traction has hauled in 50 milers before, can he pull a bunch together to end this thing???? We'll see! I wish my son would just pick a reasonable day to sumit and go for it. He has set unbelieveable goals here at the finish - but he has amazed me before and proved me totally wrong! Please......All pray that Traction's body holds on long enough for him to pull off these crazy mileage goals he has set for himself! Thanks to all the trail angels that have helped Traction during his adventure. Thanks also to all the awesome hikers he has met and shared life experiences with! Those that have taken him to their homes and trusted him as we do! I know for a fact how bad he smells, especially since we grabbed him and Diesel for a night at Crabtree meadows.....Man they stunk bad.....!!!! I know he was impressed with Chino and the Hiker Guys and Diesel as well as many more I am unable to name. I know he'll thank all of you when he gets home! What a great bunch of people! And Many thanks to "Day Tripper" for sticking by him even when he was very sick! You guys made great miles together. I am impressed that both of you maintained your love for your partners at home yet found that traveling together was the right thing to do! Finding a hiking partner that moves at your rate is difficult to do. Thanks to the parents of Bayley for feeding my son and leaving a note online that reassured me that he was safe and well fed! Wish us well.... we are heading to Maine in a few hours to support Traction in his completion of a dream.....excited to the MAX!!!!! Be in Monson Wednesday ar 0900 with a White Van ready to haul hikers.....Goodnight ALL!!!! "Tractions Dad"
Date: 2005-07-19
From: 100 MILE WOODS

To: The end
Miles today: 72.0

Momma Traction here, exciting times for Kenny aka Traction. He is trying to summit this thursday July 21st, and it sounds as though he is going to make it. He called me yesterday from Monson Maine post office. He recieved his last package and a little cash and was entering the 100 mile woods. He hiked 72 miles in a 24 hour period to Monson. He did'nt even sound winded. He says he is just ready to come home and seemed to enjoy the challenging pace he has set for himself. He left his worn out hiking shoes with a note attached, requesting them to be mailed to his house from some kind soul. Took pictures of them just in case he never sees them again. What is he wearing you ask in place of these treasured shoes brace yourselves, his croakes (his camp clogges). I as a Mom I am going HHHMMM are these the shoes he should be wearing summiting Katadin? I did send along with his father his old hiking shoes should he decide he needed them, I told Kenny this and he said he liked his croakes,or what ever there called, they were light weight. As we all know by now he is all about weight or the lack of it. I believe he could write a book on the art of Uberlight. Anyway, Traction plans on hiking thru the night to meet with his Father at Able Campground Thursday. He did share a little story with me; He said he was hiking in the dark and he no longer uses his headlamp when hiking at night, I guess he has evolved into a creature of the night and now has night vision. He came across a group of boys who were all running around with flashlights freaking out because they were trying to find the shelter. He said he scared the crap out of them when he came walking up out of the dark with no flashlight. They all were asking him why he was walking like that at night, he kindly explained he was a "thru hiker". He took out his guide book and told them the next shelter was a mile up, he said they were gratefull and thought he was crazy. Meanwhile: his Father (my husband), Brother and Matt are in Maine and excited as can be. Tom calls constantly to share a moose sighting or cool area. He says it is beautiful and we have to go back sometime. According to Tom, Maine looks like Alaska only without the breathtaking Mountains. It is giving him the desire to move to Alaska again. Tom is hoping to find Kenny in the 100 mile wilderness and feed him. I don't think thats likely, Kenny is hiking, hiking , hiking north to the end of this awsome journey and home. I will post a entry when he has summited and let all you Tracion followers know. Thankyou for all your prayers and support for our wonderful son. It has been an adventure for all of us, one we will never forget. Back to cleaning the house,Lisa Seals, aka Momma Traction
Date: 2005-07-20
From: 100 MILE WILDERNESS

To: THE SUMMIT KATADIN
Miles today: 364.3

Momma Traction here, reporting word from Traction. Yes he is still alive! He has pushed himself right on thru the 100 mile wilderness and according to the ATC Trail companion for that section Traction has broken the record for the wilderness section. The average hike for the wilderness is 12 days, the record was for six day by a hiker who had assistance and ran it. Traction has done it in 3 1/2 days. He arrived out of the 100 mile wilderness around 9:30 this morning. Tom, Matt, Thomas aka Zap took him out for breakfast. They gave him a choice of where he wanted to go, he chose McDonalds. Big mistake, they fed him and dropped him off to hike the 9 miles to the base of the Summit. A fellow hiker came and told Tom (DAD) that Traction was laying on the trail sick as all get out. Tom immediately was going in for a rescue but if I understand them correctly Kenny did manage to hike the section, sick. He said it was the worst he had felt yet. When I talked to him he had finished this section and was at the hotel with his Dad, Matt, and Thomas. He had just gotten a shower and they were preparing to go get a good dinner. I suggested a salad, steak, and Baked Potatoes. So tomorrow is the day of the Summit. Traction and Zap will hike 5.2 miles up to the Summit and Tom and Matt are approaching it from the back side from Cathedrel Trail which is 1.6 miles. They hopefully will be back on time for Thomas to leave with his boy scout troop to summer camp, if not I will be driving him to the mountains to join them. I have to say these last few days have been really hard waiting to hear from them. I knew Kenny was really pushing himself. His dad says he looks like a toothpick and he sounds weak on the phone. I had better hit the grocery store and stock up, I have some homestyle cooking to do!
Date: 2005-07-21
From: THE SUMMIT KATADIN

To: View Entry
Miles today: 5.2

WOOHOO, AWESOME, YEA!!!!!!!Thats right its celebration time I (Mom) just got off the phone with Traction and he completed his summit around 1:00 and has officially hiked the Appalachian Trail. From March 13th in Georgia 4 months 10 days later he is successful. He sounded very excited, and tired. I asked him if he remembered to leave his peeble that he picked up at the beginning of the hike. They are suppose to carry this peeble (his of corse was a tiny tiny uber light peeble) and leave it in Maine at the summit. He said he lost it somewhere in Pennsylvania,(probably because it was so microscopic). Oh well so much for tradition. He may have lost his rock but he still has his wit. So he is crusin at neck breaking pace south, in this wonderful contraption called a Van, amazing you don't have to walk everywhere you just sit in it and watch the world go by. But I say thank God that Kenny felt a burning desire to embrace Mother Earth. Who wants to bet he will be embracing his lap top, couch and remote control for a few days, in the A/C, and eating constantly? I will be glad to get some meat on the Boy. I again thank God for watching out for my son and not letting a bear eat him or a snake bite him. Thankfully he did'nt get that close to nature. And for bringing him home safetly. I also thank all the wonderful Trail Angels, thank God for you. All the trail majic that was left on the trail for him to find. His favorite was a cold Mt Dew in the stream, left by some wonderful person. For the Hostels that gave such comfort when he needed it. The support of the many towns that the trail goes thru. The individuals who reached out and helped him often when he needed it the most. Most of all, the other Thru hikers who at one time or another got to know Traction, I'm sure some life time bonds have been made. Okay I'm done, I think? Please feel free to sign his guest book as he really loves to hear from you, it gave him much motivation, and I am sure when he returns he will be reading it. So as this chapter in Tractions life comes to a close, I will relax now and not run to the post office hopeing that his mail drop gets to him on time. Next week I will be going across country to Arizona to bring our Daughter home from her Engineering job with Phelps Dodge. So for three weeks the Seals family will be all together. It will be heaven! Then off to Virginia Tech she goes. Kenny since he has hiked this hike has depleted his funds is unable to afford to go to fall semester at James Madison U. so he will be working to save up money to return to college in the fall. The bright side is he will be home till January. God Bless you all and thanks again for your support and prayer for Kenny aka Traction.
Date: 2005-09-28
To: This.. is a followup
Miles today: 0.0

This is what is called a follow-up journal entry.. I'm posting it because it'll get me a few more visits to my site.. and we all know that visits to a trailjournalers site are like wood for a fire.. it's fuel baby.. fuel!.. But, it's generally only fuel if the journaler is on the trail.. because the visits to the site help push him/her on.. to complete his/her journey. In this case, it's simply a way to rack up my hits counter.. because, you see there is another trailjournaler by the name of bayley.. and she has more hits than I do. And, I'm a Virginian.. and she's a Vermonter and we know that Virginia has more people than Vermont, way more.. We also all know that there are way more Virginians reading trailjournals than they're are Vermonters.. So, show a little Virginia pride and help a Traction out by clicking refresh a few times. And, of course.. I know that you're going to go read "Bayleys" journal now.. so I'll be nice and provide the link to it.. here:Bayley's TrailjournalBut, if you decide you must venture to the dark side.. click refresh here a few more times before proceeding. Your cooperation is very much appreciated.. indeed.Ok, since I have you here.. I might as well let you know what I've been up to. .. so here it goes. I'm back at school.. at James Madison University.. studying graphic design. Everyday I think of the trail.. and I tell lots of stories.. it's really quite fun. But, everytime I think of the trail I get kind of sad.. and sometimes I get a little choked up.. I miss the trail, alot. I've been trying to fulfill what I'm missing from the trail by running insane amounts.. like 25 miles a day multiple times a week.. and, it's not working.. though, it in itself is an awesome and rewarding experience.. it's almost like summiting Katahdin after every run... except not quite. It's really cool though, because I'm getting to be in some kind of ridiculous shape.. and the idea of going out and running some trails is really intriguing me.. so much so, that I've set my sites on one in particular.. but I won't reveal that yet.. so until I do that.. later on folks.. and remember.. click refresh.. at least once.. but, a few extra times would be nice. haha.-Traction
Date: 2005-02-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello everyone, I¢m Marvin Mason, I¢m 48 years old and I¢ve been in the planning process since 2000. My trail name is Train. I was first introduced to the AT about 12 years ago, by my wife (then my girlfriend) Crystal. After reading about thru hikers for about 6 years, I have decided maybe I should give this a try. 6 years later and I¢m getting ready on February 25th to head for Georgia and begin hiking on the 27th. I will be telling you more about myself as this journal goes on. Happy Trails. Train.
Date: 2005-02-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It is Saturday Feb 12 & I plan on leaving in two weeks for the Appalachian Trail! My wife Crystal & oldest sister Linda will be my transportation to Springer Mountain, Georgia which is the southern terminus of the trail. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I live in Middlesex County, VA, which is about 40 minutes East of Williamsburg. I grew up in the small town of Urbanna. Population: about 600. I currently live 4 miles North of Urbanna in the little village of Remilk. Fortunatley, I have a job that I am able to put on hold. I have been in real estate for around 25 years. Well, there are lots of things that I could tell you about myself & my family that I plan to mention in the next 2 weeks prior to leaving. But, for now I'll give some info about the picture attached to this page. I'm working on my "trail legs". I've been walking on the treadmill at the highest incline possible, with my backpack (40lbs) for 1 hour a day, 3 days a week. During 1 hour, the climb is about 1600 vertical feet. I have to do uphill on the treadmill because of the flatness of this area. Even the road I live on is called Flats Road. The treadmill seems to be working ok. My legs are getting stronger. Hopefully strong enough for the hard climbs in GA. I got the idea of using the treadmill for training by reading the book "A Walk For Sunshine" by Jeff Alt. It is a good read, even for people not interested in hiking.   Until the next entry, happy trails.
Date: 2005-02-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

TRAIL NAMES- I guess some of you are wondering why my trail name is Train & some are wondering what a trail name is. A trail name is basically a nickname to use while hiking. Some people start hiking with their own trail names (like me). Some people aquire trail names along the way. And, some people start hiking with their own trail names, but get re-named along the way (usually for something unique or funny about themselves or some unique, funny, or stupid actions that they may make). Hopefully, the name Train will stick with me. I got my trail name in the year of 2000 during my first major backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. I went with my wife, her sister, brother-in-law & another friend from Hatteras Island. We hiked to the bottom & back up for a 3 night trip. On that particular hike, I took a wooden train whistle along, & every so often I would give it a little toot & everyone would laugh & have a good time. Sometimes while hiking, some of us would be further up the mountain or down a ways. I would blow the whistle and everyone would wave. During that time everybody started to call me Train. I'm taking the whistle with me & I'm gonna try not to bother other people with it. However, it is kinda cool sometimes to see families with kids hiking & to toot the whistle. They always get a kick out of it. Even the adults. It really does sound like a train & everybody loves a train!!!!!This past December, the week after Christmas, I went for a practice hike in the Shenendoah to test out my cold weather gear. That time of year is very quiet & I went all day without seeing anyone. One day I heard a train going through the valley blowing its whistle. I reached in my pocket & got my whistle & gave it a toot back. Being all alone I felt a little foolish, but then that was the only entertainment I had. One train responding to the other. Well, that's what trail names are all about, & like I said, I hpoe mine stays with me all the way to Katahdin. Maine. Happy trails.
Date: 2005-02-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!Todays picture consists of my through hikers handbook that I'm using to guide me along the trail. I would like to take the opportunity to give you some of the Appalachian Trail glossary terms that I will be using in my journal. Some of these definitions & others are in the Handbook. You may want to print this page and set it aside for future reference. Here goes:A.T. = Appalachian TrailAYCE = The abbreviation for ALL YOU CAN EAT. (hopefully I will be visiting         these when I get into trail towns).BOUNCE BOX = box containing seldom used items, such as repair kits,         batteries, excess quanities of such stuff as coffee, that you "bounce" ahead by sending it to yourself from one town to the next by mail.HALF GALLON CLUB = membership is granted when a hiker consumes an entire 1/2 gallon of ice cream (not bourban) at a single sitting. This feat is most often, although not always, attempted at a campstore near the Iron Master's Mansion Hostel to celebrate reaching the halfway point of the AT.HIKER BOX = A cabinet, or box in a shelter, hostel, or outfitter. Hikers leave what they don't want & take what they do. Usually consists of food products.MAIL DROPS = This is anything that anyone wants to send me via us postal system to towns along the way. (Send brownies with nuts Contact Crystal for mailing locations.PUDS = Pointless Ups & Downs. (hills on the trals that is, not my moods.)SECTION HIKER = A hiker who is hiking the entire trail over a period of years.SLACKPACKING = Hiking the trail without your pack, which is transported ahead for pickup. So come visit me!SWITCHBACK = A zigzag trail, built as an aid in climbing a steep area,THRU-HIKER = A hiker attempting to hike the entire AT in 1 year.TRAIL MAGIC = The term used to describe random acts of kindness given to thru-hikers by strangers during their hike. We refer to these peaple as "TRAIL ANGELS". TRAIL HEAD = The point at which a trail begins. Also the point at which a trail meets a road or road crossing. YOGI-ING = The good-natured art of (letting) food being offered cheerfuly by strangers without actually asking them directly. (if you ask, its begging!)WHITE BLAZE = White colored blaze/paint used to indicate the AT.ZERO DAY = A day during which 0 miles of the AT are hiked, usually a day spent in a trail town re-supplying and resting but can be a day in the woods as well.Thats it for now. good night.
Date: 2005-02-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Oh my gosh! How am I going to carry all of this stuff to Maine? The things in the picture to the left are not real clear, but all of it is going in my back pack. I'm going to be like a turtle for six months, with my house on my back. Hopefully, I can go a little faster than one though. I need to prioritize. Everything was put into my pack this morning. It weighs in at 44 lbs and there is still more food to buy. I have to cut back somewhere but not sure where. (Well, I am getting a haircut next week.) Ok, but seriously, I will probably be able to cut back on the amount of food at some point. Right now, I just want to make sure that I have enough. Also, when the weather warms up I will have less clothes and a lighter sleeping bag. And during the first couple of weeks I can always send items back home. But for now, this is my gear and it's sticking with me.  Weather here in VA was beautiful yesterday & today. In the 60's. I am itching to get on the trail. Only 11 more days.
Date: 2005-02-17
To: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Miles today: 0.0

Most thru-hikers with past experience say that the main things that stay on the mind while hiking is the weather, trail conditions, & "what am I going to eat next?" The thought of food never quite goes away. It is always there tugging at you. This will be interesting for me because food occupies much of my thoughts now as it is. Crystal & I can be eating breakfast & already thinking about what we will be having for lunch & dinner that day & the following days meals also. So, this will be nothing new for me. However, I am concerned about being satisfied after a couple of measley backpacker meals. And of course, Crystal is worried about nutrition. (she is making me take multi vitamins along.) I will probably have to get my fill of fresh fruits and veggies when I stop in trail towns. Not to mention the milk withdrawals that I will be having . Boy, how I love a cold glass of milk at night with something chocolate. Powdered milk just won't do! So, what to pack in the food bag? (By the way, this is my heaviest item.) For starters, I know I will have pop tarts or instant oatmeal for breakfast. I'll also take along the little coffee packets that look like tea bags (senseo). Just pour in hot water a you have a nice hot cup of eye opener. Lunch could be trail mix(dried pinnapple & banana & chocolate), bread, cheeze, cup-a-soup (if I feel like getting the stove out),peanut butter(Squeeze peanut butter, what an invention!) & crackers, a tuna kit, or just a snickers bar. Dinner, well the options are completely open, but, one of my old easy standbys is Mountain House Brand Spaghetti or Lasagna (these are the best freeze dried meals in my opinion. just add boiling water. they actually taste pretty good & are filling). Also another easy meal is ramen noodles or mac & cheeze with a packet of chicken or tuna. I can see this getting old quick. Hopefully I can get some tips from other hikers on the trail. Well, gotta go now. There are chicken enchiladas in the oven that are calling my name. Bon appetite.
Date: 2005-02-24
To: Tis the night before Georgia...
Miles today: 0.0

Tis the night before Georgia & all thru the house, not a creature was was stirring, not even a mouse. They are all probably waiting for me & my food bag in the first shelter. If this sounds like Christmas, it feels like it to me. I'm very excited about going & I don't have to even think about work for a long time. It's like a load has been taken off my shoulders. Crystal took over my desk today & for the first time in 15 years, it is clean. She will also be the editor of this web site while I'm gone. I will send my film & my daily journal entries to her by mail. So, there will be about a 2 week lag time on information unless someone visits me & relays the new happenings to her.   When we get to Georgia, Crystal & I will do a day hike to get familiar with the area. My pack & I will get weighed in & I will register on Saturday. Then Sunday is the big day. I have been watching the weather closely. It looks like rain for the first couple of days of the hike, but it should be fairly warm (50's?). Sunday Feb 27 is the first day & Neels gap will be my first stop on Wednesday (hopefully).   When crystal gets home form GA, she will have some pics of Springer Mountain trailhead & will give the weather report. Until my next journal entry, Farewell!
Date: 2005-02-26
To: Amicalola Falls State Park
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sat 02/26/2005 Today is the day before I start the trail. Linda Crystal & I went to Amicalola Falls State Park. THe weather was beautiful, in the 50's & sunny. We were surprised to see so many visitors there in February. It was a nice park with a lodge, visitors center, camp store, campground, a a beautiful water fall. I wanted to strech my legs so Crystal & I hiked to the falls. Afterwards, we went to the nearby town of Dahlonega for a nice dinner & spent the night in a hotel.