morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-02-20
To: About Me
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Hello!My name is Ryan Brown, but I've been called "The Wanderer" by my closest friends since high school. Even then I had a tendency to wander, though I doubt my friends could have imagined I would become the gypsy I am today. At the time, I was an extremely shy youth afraid of the world. Anxiety and depression controlled my life and kept me from accomplishing my dreams. Then, one day I decided not be afraid anymore. I began facing every fear I had leaving no shadow in darkness. Adventuring became a natural extension of this fear-facing desire so when I left home for the first time on my first big adventure -- a weeklong 300 mile bike tour on the Great Allegheny Passage in 2012 -- I was instantly addicted. The people I met on that journey inspired me to quit my job and spend the next two months cycling to Bar Harbor, Maine. I had less than $100 in my pocket.I hate to use the phrase "changed my life," but the Maine Lobster Mission (when people asked why I was riding a bicycle to Maine I would answer, "For a lobster of course!!!) really did change my life. I returned with an inner confidence I had never before known. I also had a better understanding of who I am in a world that wasn't so big and scary anymore.The Maine Lobster Mission only fueled my desire to travel. And to travel further for longer. In 2013, I managed to cycle to Chicago while saving money for a trip from the Canada border to Panama. That journey began in 2014 but not before: a 70 mile thru-hike of the Laurel Highlands Trail; a bike tour with my younger brother along the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath to Washington D.C.; and a float-trip down the Youghiogheny River with a close friend. I called it my ¢summer of adventure.¢Canada to Panama became Canada to El Salvador when I flew home short of my goal. I have a list of excuses why I stopped when I did, not the least being a parasite, but that trip was never about the destination nor is it over. In the fall, after spending the summer thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, I¢ll fly to Argentina where I¢ll ride my bicycle from the southern tip of the world ¢ Tierra Del Fuego ¢ to at least as far north as Colombia. I may even continue on to the El Salvador International Airport where I last left off.Check out my Blog Tales of WanderingAnd my Instagram
Date: 2016-02-21
To: Packlist
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My 2016 Appalachian Trail Pack-list:Backpack and SticksOsprey Exos 58 size mediumREI Peak Ul carbon trekking polesSleepTent: Tarptent Moment DW (Stored in garbage bag. Stuff sack blew off volcano in Guatemala)Sleeping Bag: REI Igneo LongSleeping Pad: Foam + Klymit Inertia x-lite torso length iflatable pad (best of both worlds!)Bag Liner: Sea to Summit Reactor +7degreesPillow: Clothes and Puffy Jacket in stuff sackCookStove: Trangia Spirit BurnerPot: Vargo Ti 1.3LPot Stand/Windscreen: Clickstand TiSpoon: Sea-to-Summit Aluminum sporkFuel Igniter: Light my Fire flint with added military can openerSmall rag to stop rattle and clean/dry potFuel Bottle: 4oz flip-top bottle stored in pot2nd Fuel Bottle: Water bottle wrapped in tape to prevent drinkingBlue Enamel MugGSI collapsable drip coffee makerWater2x Poweraid bottles2L Platypus water bladderWater treatment: Bleach in Visine bottle (taped to not mistake for contact solution. Also stored separately)ElectronicsMacbook Air 11" with charger and case. Wrapped in puffy jacket for added protection. Doubles as backup battery for phoneExternal HD with cord stored in hard caseSamsung Galaxy s6 with charging cordSD card readerCameraFujifilm X-Pro1Fujinon 35mm f/2 WR lensRokinon 12mm f/2 lens3x batterisClothingPrana non-zipoff long pants1x exofficio "pro" underwear1x Underarmour Compression underwear2x lightweight synthetic socks1x heavy hiking socks1x synthetic long sleeve top1x heavy synthetic top1x Endura Rain Jacket (mtb jacket)1x Marmot Puffy Jacket1x buff (cut in half to make 2x smaller ones)1x bandanaHeavy waterproof gloves for start of trailCheap pair of cycling tightsToiletriesToothbrush with handle for lidToilet Paper in ziplockSm. Bottle Peppermint Dr. Bronners (add few drops to ziplock with water and use bandana for sponge bath. Doubles as toothpasteContact caseSm. Bottle Contact solution Dental FlossNail ClippersEar Plugsscissors for beard trimmingMiscellaneousSafety pinsNeedle and thread (needle stored through piece of cardboardkeychain thermometer (Thanks Uncle Bill!)Headlamp with red lightfirst aid kit (gorilla tape, super glue, non-stick gauze pads, tweezers, tick twister)Extra pair contacts2mm climbing cord 50ft?Small Headphone bag with couple days of extra cashHeadphonesGear Carried in Pockets (at all times)CompassMoney clip with cash and fake card (easy to give away if robbed)ChapstickPhone (Mentioned under electronicsSm. knife on keychain with military can openerpassport (Canada anyone??!!!)Debit card (stored in ziplock with passport)Lighter with 3ft electrical tape
Date: 2016-02-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

In two weeks, I board a bus to Atlanta, Georgia to begin my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Hiking the AT is among my oldest dreams and one I hope I am able to complete. I feel prepared and ready to begin. I have a lot of experience bike touring which I feel will translate well to life on the trail. It will be different for sure but only in subtle ways. I do worry I will tire of walking. I think I'll be begging for my bike back after a week on the trail. The first week is always the worst! I also worry about my pack weight. I'll be carrying a computer and a heavy camera with two lenses. It will be worth the weight though. And if it isn't, I can always send it home. My hope is to capture the essence of the trail and share it with as many people as I can. I feel lucky to have the freedom to travel the way that I do and I hope to inspire others that would like to do the same.I also enjoy carrying my computer for another reason, it feels like home. There is nothing better on a cold, rainy day than curling up on a foreign couch and watching a movie to keep the blues at bay. The computer slows me down in more ways than added weight. It makes the journey more of a lifestyle as I stop and spend time in places to edit and upload photos along with writing for my blog and journals. Another thing: if I don't carry the computer, I'll have thousands of images to deal with when the trek is over. Not fun. I've made sacrifices to carry the extra weight of the computer, camera, and accessories. I will carry no extra clothing than what I absolutely need. This means one pair of pants and one shirt. Laundry day means I'll be wrapping myself in a sleeping bag liner as a kilt and wearing a rain jacket as a top. I'll make due. I have a feeling I'll be washing clothes in rivers, sinks, and showers more than washing machines anyway. At least this is how it went on my bike tours.Ok, so I guess I'm not making that many sacrifices. By sacrifice, I mean things I would normally carry while bike touring as this is how I'm used to living anyway. I'm practically a gypsy these days though my friends and coworkers call me a hippy. Am I a hippy? I don't wear deodorant and haven't for three or four years. I lived in a squat with a composting toilet for a year before the big bike tour. I lived in a tool trailer for a while after the tour. I've never had lice but, while common amongst communal hippies, certainly isn't a criteria for admission. I don't know. Don't really care either ;-) Anyway, I'm not carrying my little spatula. There's a sacrifice! What will I do on egg day?!! In reality, this will slow down the cleaning and scraping process of my pot, but will have little impact otherwise. Really am gonna miss it on egg days though. Oh well. I doubt my new pot will cook eggs well enough for a spatula anyway. That's about all I have to say on carrying a computer. A few will probably hate me for it. Some will benefit from a movie on a rainy day. Others will get photos out of it. Everyone following along at home gets to experience the trail with me.
Date: 2016-02-25
To: T-13 days: Testing Gear and Journal
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I loaded my green and black backpack with the gear I¢ll carry for the next six months. I added extra stuff to simulate the weight of food and water. It felt heavy as I slung it onto my shoulder and walked out the door but not terribly so. I needed to return a book to library. Why not test my gear and body in the process? Besides, I required fresh air. I¢ve been feeling trapped lately with a lot of rainy days and computer work. I¢ve been organizing and editing photos from previous trips. I also created an Instagram account, this trail journal, a 500px account, and have been busy updating my blog. Its all too easy to get lost in the cyber world especially in the photo heavy sites. There are a lot of beautiful photos out there! Anyway, I¢m really looking forward to getting lost in the world of trails and trees as I live outside once again. Living outside really is the best. Being indoors these last few months, I find myself getting sinus infections from the stale air. My senses are also dull, my sense of smell most of all.Tomorrow morning, I take a train to New York City with my Great Aunt and Uncle. We¢re visiting their son and his family who live in Manhattan. I look forward to seeing everyone. I have not seen my cousin since I was a kid and I don¢t think I¢ve ever met his family. I also want to stop in a huge camera store in the city, B&H Photo, to pick up a few last items for my hike. I hope I¢m not boring anyone with this quick post. My main purpose here is a test of my journaling capabilities. I¢ll be carrying a computer which I¢ll use to transcribe my handwritten journal, among others things. I¢ll send the text file to my smart phone and upload it to this trail journal from there. In a few minutes, I find out if this works.I¢ll also be continuing my blog, Tales of Wandering. I¢m not entirely sure yet about how this is all going to work. Right now, I¢m thinking I¢ll host my daily journal here at Trail Journals. I always keep a journal on my travels. I¢ll just type it this time and post to the world. My blog will continue as a condensed version of the journal with only the highlights. The blog also uses photos to tell the story. I will use Instagram as well to post pictures as I go. Blog entries wait for towns, wifi, and coffee. Not that I won¢t have coffee as I¢m walking. I¢m kind of addicted to the stuff. Just coffee in a cafe with tables and chairs and nice porcelain mugs. I¢m longing for towns already! What am I getting myself into¢¦ Anyway, what do you think? Anyone have any tips / ideas / suggestions for how to organize my journal, blog, and photos?
Date: 2016-03-04
To: T-4 Excitement, Anticipation, and No Sleep 
Miles today: 0.0

It¢s 1:30am in Glen Burnie, Md and I cannot sleep. In four more days, I board a bus to Georgia to begin my thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. My bag is packed and ready. Everything else I own is gathering dust in my mother¢s attic in Pittsburgh.Yesterday, I returned to my Aunt and Uncles house here in Glen Burnie after six days in New York City. I¢ve never felt so out of place. Like a chestnut mustang amidst a herd of zebra. With the hike so close, all I cared to do was walk the city. I tried to take photos but was not very successful. I¢m lost in big cities. I did find one subject that captivated my attention: a raccoon in central park eating bread under a tree. I watched it for nearly an hour taking more photos than of anything else.I am glad I went though. I saw family I have not seen in many years and met other family for the first time. I found a bag for my camera in the photography super center, B&H Photo. And I had an epiphany. Sitting in a crowded bar, a flamboyant man played a piano while an eccentric red-haired woman sang a sing-a-long song. When she came to the chorus, she stuck the microphone in the face of the woman sitting next to me. Well, this outgoing woman pulled the mic closer ecstatic for her 15 seconds of fame. I on the other hand, was appalled. I don¢t want to sing in public! And public doesn¢t want to hear me sing! I crossed my arms displaying my best ¢don¢t even think about it¢ attitude. Then, I tilted my head back, closed my eyes, and visualized the peace and tranquility I¢ll find on the trail.In that moment, I realized something important. I hate crowds. To think I managed to convince myself otherwise! Then again, I had no choice. It was the only way to overcome the social anxiety and panic attacks that plagued my life for years. But, that¢s another story.I¢m surprised at my inability to sleep. I¢m not nervous. I¢ve traveled a lot in the last few years including a ten month bike tour from the Canada border to El Salvador. That prepared me for anything. I know how to pack and my bag is ready ¢ a first as I¢m usually packing the night before. I know what to expect. I¢ll experience new lows that rival the depths of hell and just when I think I can¢t take anymore, a beam of light will will transport me Star Trek style to heavenly heights. So I guess it¢s excitement and anticipation. I do feel trapped in purgatory. My brain compensates for the endless waiting by obsessing over things I¢m not going to change anyway. Mainly gear. I¢m a recovering gear junky at risk of falling off the wagon. Oh well. It¢s four days. I survived that long being held by a family of narco trafficantes. I can certainly survive this. It is ironic though. I didn¢t sleep much worse then and I thought they might kill me. Maybe I¢m more nervous than I think...
Date: 2016-04-25
From: Watauga Lake

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone! It is too much work posting to this site and my blog so I've decided to post only to the blog. WordPress is an easier platform to use and photos are much easier to upload. My blog is photo heavy. Anyway, check it out if ya want: www.talesofwandering.wordpress.com. it also covers my 2014/2015 bike tour from the Canada border to El Salvador.At some point, I'll try and post everything here as well. It's just too complicated from the trail with so much else to do and soo little tome. Hope to hear from you on the blog! See you on the trail,Kodak
Date: 2016-07-01
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground

To: Explanation and Milage Correction
Miles today: 852.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hi!I've found a way to maintain a daily journal and will post the remaining half of my hike here. I'll continue updating my wordpress acount as well using it as a weekly summary and place to share my photos. Perhaps I'll even post a daily journal there as well.Suggestions are welcome! So please, leave any advice or comments in my register. Thanks and Happy Trails!!!!By the way, this entry corrects my milage since I am beginning the journal in the middle of the trail. The milage also corrects for a 175 mile section that I must return and finish. I went home for a few weeks and skipped ahead to continue hiking with a friend.For pictures, check out my blog: www.talesofwandering.wordpress.com
Date: 2016-07-07
From: ~Weverton Cliffs

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

¢Oh my god!¢ I exclaim, water dripping from my hair and running down my chest; mostly from the shower but some because I am already sweating. ¢That was the best shower I have ever had.¢ In hindsight, the shower was good. Not the best. I say that all the time. Out here, lost in the moment, it¢s an easy expression to over use. When your deprived, everything feels like the ¢best thing ever.¢We set our alarms last night for 6am. We still didn¢t get up and going. The fact that we both set alarms, however, is a notable move in the right direction. We seem to be getting serious. And we have to if we¢re to make it to Katahdin before the park closes for the winter.We overheard another couples plan. They worked out the numbers and found that, until the Whites, they have to average six 18 miles days per week with one zero. Through the Whites, they must do 11¢s or 12¢s still able to take one zero a week. I¢m not sure if those numbers hold all the way to Katahdin though or if they must hike more after leaving the Whites. Their numbers also allow for ten random zereos. So we woke at 9am on our stealth campsite heading up the hill off the C&O Canal Towpath. We quickly packed and ate some snacks. We started hiking making slow progress. Firecracker wasn¢t ¢in the zone.¢ She managed a slow, steady pace throughout the day but we took long breaks.By the time we arrived at this campsite, it was nearly 7pm. With free showers and flat ground to pitch a tent (in grass!), the opportunity was to good to pass up. By this point, my butt was chaffing pretty bad anyway. All the hurry up and stop really gets me. I sweat profusely in this heat then dry out when we stop for long periods. When I resume hiking, I¢m sticky leading to chafing. The long days don¢t help either.
Date: 2016-07-08
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground

To: Warner Gap Hollow, Stream
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was a long day, at least by our recent standards. We need to pick up our daily milage if we are to make it to Katahdin before they close Baxter state Park on October 15th. The date changes every year based on weather conditions, but the 15th is a good deadline. We also need to rush because we have a package waiting in Waynesboro. The Post Office closes at 11:30am.We woke early today. Well, I woke early. I was up at 5am unable to go back to sleep because of a burning desire to write a book. It¢s time for me to get serious out here. This trip was supposed to be more about fun and games. This was intended to be a working trip as well. That¢s one of the main reasons I¢m carrying a laptop.Anyway, I woke up and wrote for a while before we packed up and left. I¢m proud of us! We left at 8am, almost a record for us. We usually aren¢t leaving until 10am and sometimes even later. We¢re nearly always the last out of camp.The miles disappeared behind us as we trudged along, sweat streaming down my shirtless torso. The day was hot, real hot. We stopped for water and lunch at Annapolis Rocks. AWOL has it listed as an outstanding overlook and, while it was a nice view, I would not classify it as outstanding. Not after everything else we¢ve seen out here. Our lunch break went way too long nearly negating our early start. We started talking and and we¢re very good at enabling each other both keeping busy since the other doesnt¢ seem to be moving. It is interesting and challenging hiking with a partner. We left the rocks and came to the Washington Monument. Now here is a view! 360 degrees above the trees on a stone tower from the 1800¢s. Too bad we weren¢t here for sunrise or sunset. The Don shouted down from the top of the tower as we approached. We took some photos together and chatted for a while before heading out. The rest of the day was somewhat of a blur. I wasn¢t eating enough and nearly bonked multiple times. I would notice the tell tale wooziness stopping to eat before it was too late. We intended to make it to the Raven Rock shelter tonight. We didn¢t. At dark we came to this stream and I made the decision to camp here. It was too beautiful not too and a stealth site was already cleared. We are definitely not the first people to camp here. We filtered enough water for dinner then ate. I had mac n¢ cheese with tuna. I found the meal, and many others, in a hiker box in Harpers Ferry. After we ate, we stripped down and jumped in the stream washing away the sweat and grime of a long days hike. What could be better! The gurgling of the stream while we sleep? Close.
Date: 2016-07-09
From: Warner Gap Hollow, Stream

To: Pen Mar State Park
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: moderate rain

We woke early and tore the tent down before first light. We were camped next to a police shooting range and DID NOT want to be caught. We still hung around for two hours after packing away the tent. We were so tired from our late arrival and early morning that we were incapable of making ourselves move. As a result, I didn¢t make it to the Post Office in time to transfer the package from my Mom. Oh well. I¢ll call on Monday. Hopefully Kool-Aid mailed my headphones priority so I can have them shipped ahead as well.We passed by a blue-blaze loop trail to High Rock Overlook. Of course we took it. It is very rare for us to skip an overlook. It was certainly worth missing a few white blazes for. The rocks were crazy looking too, all covered in every color spray paint. The graffiti went all the way down the rock face as well. Sad, but different and kinda cool.We made it into Pen Mar State Park just before 11:30am when the Post Office was closing. I had to poop so bad though, that it was closed before my business was concluded. No big deal. Like I said, I¢ll just call Monday morning. And older man approached us and asked if we wanted a ride into town. He told us to jump in the back of his old blue pickup. The bed was full of car parts and randomness. The driver side leaf spring (?) was broken so the truck sagged real bad to this side. We hopped in, barely fitting and trying not to cut ourselves on jagged steel, and hung on for the ride. It felt like a roller coaster! All rides in vehicles do after walking for so long but this one was different still. With the truck sagging as it was and with no suspension, every bend felt like we were going to be thrown out of the truck. Fun times though!We sat at the now closed Post Office (where he dropped us off afraid of going further with us in the back. It¢s illegal in PA) going through our food bags and making a shopping list. Then, we walked to Walmart and purchased a little bit of food. We found a bunch of dinners in a shelter mailbox for the register so we didn¢t need much. I was going to bounce the package from my mom for this reason. We hung out charging our phones and making calls.We walked to Goodwill after. We both bought running shorts and I bought a baby blanket. I mailed my sleeping bag home after Shenandoah, but nights have been a little cold still for just my sleeping bag liner. The blanket barely covers my torso but will suffice. Everything is a compromise between weight and comfort out here. Hitchhiking out of town was, once again, super easy. It helps having a cute girl with me. The woman who picked us up drove us to the top of High Rock, the overlook we passed earlier, where we sat talking and taking in the view. We spent nearly an hour up there with her. People are so wonderful.She told us the fourth of July fireworks show would be tonight. It was cancelled last week due to weather. We ate dinner watching the sunset from Pen Mar SP then watched the firework display. When everyone left, we walked onto the stage of the pavilion and cowboy camped.