morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-08-28
From: The Birches

To: Baxter Peak
Miles today: 5.2

I'm up before the sun and begin packing by head lamp. Too excited to sleep any longer. Today I slack pack for the first time on the trail. No sense hauling a full pack up, only to come back down. I put most things in my pack liner bag to leave at the ranger station. My pack is almost weightless. So this is what slack packing is like. For me it would have felt like cheating during my hike. HYOH. Today it's a treat. It's just getting light as I head up the trail. Looks promising. The mountain is visible, at least as far up as the Gateway to The Tablelands. Clouds are low, but scattered. My best estimate is it's been 52 years since I climbed this trail to the summit. My memory has huge gaps. It was so long ago. But the moment is huge in importance to me. I was probably 14 last time I was here. It's not a real easy climb up the spur. But nothing shocking that we haven't seen before. The exposed ridge to the Gateway is windy and full of rock scrambles. And incredibly beautiful above the tree line. Maine is spread out below in a mosaic of lakes, mountains, streams, and forest. I am so blessed to be here. The Tablelands are relatively flat, before the final rise to the summit. Clouds begin, and blank the top. But through the fog I begin to make out the terminus sign. The sign that has been burned into my imagination. Now it's real. I'm the first of today's thru hikers to reach the summit. Because of my early start. Only a day hiker is there, off to the side. Perhaps respecting the look on my face. My heart is bursting. My skin crawls with goose bumps. I stand with my face in my hands, in a spasm of emotion. And then there's deep fulfilled jubilation. Timon is the next thru hiker. We do the photo op ritual at the sign, as day hikers begin to arrive. Then more thru hikers. The summit fills with people and elation. We get scattered cloud breaks and gaze at the world far below. It's unforgettable. And so I begin the slow hike back down, passing more day hikers coming up. My knees complain, but they've stood by me. I take my time down the difficult scrambles. It's over. I've drawn that big bold circle on the canvass of my life. I feel deeply satisfied. It begins to rain almost the minute I'm under a shelter at the bottom. The trail provided, right to the end. And then provides a ride into Millinocket. Time to return to the world, but different. I can call myself a hiker now...an AT thru hiker. I am honored to be part of that fellowship.
Date: 2014-09-12
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

I've been home a couple of weeks. My journey home unfolded with ease, despite my prior lack of planning. The bus system got me into Boston with not a single wait or hassle. I thought I was prepared for the transition from thru hiker to civilian. I was wrong. Completion of the AT left me staring at a huge void, where I had been focusing so much mental/physical energy. That, and the fact that there was nothing that I HAD to do. Retired. Single. But now it's over two weeks later. My knees are getting better and I don't hobble as much. My metabolism seems to be quieting down. My appetite is surprisingly tame. I'm beginning to feel balanced. My memory is rich. My future is opening up, as I look ahead. Honestly, I do believe I had post-AT depression. Meanwhile, nothing I own fits me. I like that! I had to get new, size 33 jeans. I could swim in my old 38s. As I stored my hiking gear I wondered when I'd next use the stuff. I'm not done. The Camino de Santiago is growing in my forward view. Were I younger it would be the PCT. Definitely. Now to decide which "way" to Santiago. Next week I fly to Winnipeg to discuss work. I look forward to seeing friends in Canada. Some more income will be good to supplement Social Security. To afford more adventures. I cannot thank the readers of this journal enough. Many of you comment that you were hiking "with" me. You were. Your interest and encouragement helped keep me going. I found myself hiking with both a trail family and a journal family. The AT turned out to be way more magical than I expected. Thank you. I really haven't a single negative thing to say about my experiences on the AT. And cannot do the positives justice. This amazing trail is a priceless treasure. I encourage anyone considering the AT to just do it. Day, section, or thru hike. Find your own style. Enjoy every moment...often it's a choice you make. I for one totally agree that "It's not about the miles. It's about the smiles."
Date: 2014-09-13
From: Home

Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Over three months later. It is shocking how much I miss the AT and my tramily. I guess I will never be the same, and that's one more blessing from thru hiking this incredible trail. A couple months ago I went to the ALDHA Gathering in Williamstown, MA. So much fun! Talking about hiking with hikers. Sessions to attend, about hiking. Gimping from venue to venue on tender knees. Sleeping in my tent, the five billion star motel. The camping area looked out to Mt Greylock, all dressed up in autumn glory. It was wonderful. It's taken over three months for my knees to get better. Just doing stairs was painful for a long while. X-rays show some arthritis and wear. But nothing alarming. Much to my surprise, the scale at my doctor's office declared that I lost 50 pounds during my hike. Wow. This Appalachian Diet really works. When I passed US customs the agent kept squinting at me, saying I didn't look like my passport photo. I also brought home giardia. The symptoms didn't show until I was home a couple of weeks. I got a little lax about filtering towards the end. Don't do that! It was uncomfortable. Worse was imagining flocks of Protozoa hanging from my intestinal walls like bats in a cave. Once the lab confirmed what I already knew the drug took care of the condition. I'm fairly certain I picked up the monsters at Rainbow Stream Lean-to. The next morning I went around the bend in the trail and saw the stream exiting Rainbow Pond over a beaver dam. Big oops. I'm back at work in Canada now. For an unknown period of time. Just earning some extra money for a while. And seeing some friends. I'm grateful for the opportunity to supplement my social security. Meanwhile I dream of the AT and possible future hikes. Life is good. And as my knees improve trail dreams become more vivid. I bounce my imagination over the Camino de Santiago, the PCT, and lately the Te Araroa in NZ. It's a madness. Who knew I had a latent thru hiker addiction. It makes no logical sense. The idea was to cross the AT off my bucket list, and get on with the rest of a long list. Not fall down the rabbit hole. Was that the blue pill or the red pill? Going back to "normal" is an oddity that's not going away. I got the first tattoo of my life. Brand me with the AT logo! It's that profound on who I've become. I'll say again how much I miss my tramily. And how deep the trail community has touched my heart. I still cannot talk about trail angels without choking up. The AT is magical. It has a majestic personality. And if you ask me, it brings out the very best in humanity. Bug bitten. Lyme ridden. Poison ivy from GA to NH. Giardia. Whacked knees from the Whites on. Lost toe nails. Blisters. Chaffing. Terrifying thunderstorm exposure. Falling on snow covered tread way. Endless rocks and roots. Drenching sweat. Freezing hands. Hunger. Fatigue. Thirst. Dirty and stinking. These all seem so very minor. They did then, and they do now. The adventure was that amazing. I am so, so very glad, I took the first step.
From: off the trail

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Quick summary--we spent the time off the trail to spend some time with Chuck and Kathy "Breezy" Gibson at their new home in Youngstown and at our daughter's house in Madison Wisconsin. Waiting for Tracy's ankle to heal. Plan on going out to Maine to hike Katahdin on the 5th or 6th of June. Our son Orrin is hiking with Tracy and Cassidy.Signing off---Foodwalker
From: mt wilcox south shelters

To: off the trail
Miles today: 0.0

Off the trail for now--quick summary; Tracy has a severe ankle injury, will need to be off of it for some time. Spent time at Chuck and Kathy "Breezy" Gibson's new house, which we really appreciated, and some time in Madison at our daughter's house. Got some things done while there. On 6/3, Tracy, Orrin and I will be meeting Cassidy and some of her family at Baxter State Park, where there will be the time to climb Katahdin.
Date: 2014-02-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi, this is Tracy McG. I am making my 2nd attempt at thru-hiking the AT this year. I am accompanying my sister, trail name Cassidy, who is making her first attempt. My husband, whose trail name is Foodwalker, will again be accompanying us as our "Mobil Trail Support Unit," meeting us at various trailheads to resupply us, etc. All three of us are pretty excited, as is everyone getting ready to start the trail, I know. Last year I hiked northbound from Springer to Pinkham Notch in the White Mountains in New Hampshire before I lost the mental game, and got so afraid of falling that I quit the trail. I've had several months now to evaluate my physical and mental responses to the trail and to hopefully plan for a successful hike this year, barring unforeseen problems. Cassidy and I are planning to start in Harpers Ferry, WV in early March and hike southbound to Springer Mountain. Then in early June we will flip to Mt Katahdin in Maine, where one of my sons will join us through Maine and the White Mountains. We then plan to continue the hike southbound back to Harpers Ferry. Another of our sisters, trail name Blondie, plans to join us for the great state of Vermont (Vermud), and perhaps others will also join us along the way. Foodwalker and I and my sister Breezy, who joined me for over 600 miles last year, had a terrific time last year and have many great memories of 2013. I am really looking forward to being part of the class of 2014, meeting our fellow hikers, and exploring this beautiful and challenging part of our country.
Date: 2014-02-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Foodwalker remains calm, and I (Tracy McG) remain jittery as we contemplate less than 2 weeks before our start date of March 10. Foodwalker will be traveling by mini-van this year, and we have been fixing it up as his living quarters as he follows Cassidy and myself on the trail. We actually have very little prep left to do, and are mostly just following the weather forecasts for Virginia, hoping for favorable conditions. I hike on the weekends with my sister Blondie. I read TJ daily and hope all goes well for those already on the trail and for the many who will soon be starting. Hope those who have been injured and have had to get off the trail are soon recovered and able to resume their hikes.
Date: 2014-02-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ten more days until we start out on the trail. Dianne(Tracy McG) will be starting out from Harpers Ferry with her sister Lois (trail name Cassidy). They will be heading southbound from Harper's Ferry and hope to finish in Georgia in the first part of June, and then go up to Katadhin and go southbound to Harpers Ferry. I will be there as trail support. Will be putting my experiences in the journal and any information to pass along to other trail angels. So will have to see how this goes. Am marking the trail guide for possible stopping places. More later Dave (foodwalker)
Date: 2014-03-09
To: Day 0
Miles today: 0.0

Hi, this is Tracy McG. We left my mother's place in Ohio this morning and made the journey to Harpers Ferry WV on a beautiful Sunday. Foodwalker and I wandered around the historic area and crossed the Shenandoah on the footbridge. What a beautiful area! I was very encouraged to see little snow on these mountains. Stopped at the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, talked for a while with Dave. They are always so encouraging and make you feel excited about your undertaking. My sister Cassidy and her family arrived, it was great to see everyone, and the anticipation mounts. Sometimes in the midst of difficult climbs last year I wondered why anyone would do this trail more than once, but here we are! It just gets in your blood! I am so thankful to God for this opportunity, to Foodwalker for all his support, for all the encouragement from family and friends (including fellow hikers from the class of 2013), and for the chance to spend extended time with my sister Cassidy. Last year my sister Breezy joined me for two months and over 600 miles (for a total of over 1500 miles for her), and I wouldn't have traded that for anything. So tomorrow we begin!
Date: 2014-03-10
From: Harpers Ferry WV

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter, VA
Miles today: 9.6

My trail name is foodwalker; I hiked around 170 miles last year, from amicalola state park to the Fontana dam crossing. Am trail support this year for my wife Tracy McG and my sister in law Lois (trail name of Cassidy). They started out a little after 10, heading southbound from near the ATC conservatory in Harper's Ferry on a beautiful hiking day. Hiked with them up to Jefferson rock, and then we parted ways. I went back and walked a portion of the C & O canal trail. There are a number of different things you can do or see while in Harper's Ferry, depending on your interests. Lot of older historical areas, especially towards the rivers. For you who are trail angels, there is a library in Harper's Ferry which has a section for free books that you can pick up. Best places for food resupply is going to be in Charles Town, about four miles north from Harper's Ferry. There is an aldi on the left and a Walmart on the right hand side. Charles Town is on Highway 340. More laterFoodwalker...........................Hi, this isTracy McG. What a beautiful first day we had! After leaving the family behind in Harpers Ferry we headed uphill. Not 15 minutes into the hike Cassidy had her first fall, slipping off a rock and careening down the steep side of the trail. Fortunately a tangle of bushes caught her before she got too far. The rest of the trail went pretty good, hiking through mud, snow, ice, rocks, and great trail. Pretty tired by the time we reached the shelter and set up our tents. Cooking supper and off to bed, getting cold!
Date: 2014-03-11
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter, VA

To: Bears Den Rock
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Foodwalker here--located the place to meet Tracy and Cassidy. It is a bit of a hole on the wall. I had gone to a larger parking area the night before under the mistaken impression that this larger parking area was the place. I was very foolish to assume that it would be so easy. There is, however, a blue blaze trail from that parking lot to the AT. But I digress. Went to see what was in Bluemont Virginia; there is a general store, pricey food, but a whole lot of used books for sale. So if you are a trail angel who likes to read, you might find quite a bit there to keep you going. Paperbacks were 50 cents, hardcovers were a dollar. Also had a homemade soup of the day there. No gas stations or regular grocery stores. There is a post office there as well. Also hiked up to the bear den rocks and the lodge area. Trail was mixed in condition;some mushy, icy stretches, lot of mud and rocks, and a few relatively dry spots (may their amounts increase). Was probably about right for this time of year.Also went to Pine Grove, about a mile right from the parking spot. Only thing that you may want to go to is the restaurant. I didn't stop. Right now am working on repacking the van.
Date: 2014-03-12
From: Bears Den Rock

To: Rod Hollow Shelter, VA
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

Well, we finished the dreaded roller coaster today, 13.5 miles of steep up and downs. Some of the streams were a little high, had to roll up our pants and switch to crocs for one of them. Pretty nice weather most of the day. Started to rain about 5, then the wind really picked up and the temperatures started to plummet. Supposed to get down to 17 tonight! We thought about stopping to camp, but decided to press on to Rod Hollow Shelter, where our friend Jake greated us. I set up my tent in the shelter, and Cassidy set up her bed between my tent and the back of the shelter wall, in the corner, so she is pretty sheltered from the wind. I hope she stays warm enough! The wind is howling right now and things are banging around outside. Should be an interesting night!
Date: 2014-03-13
From: Rod Hollow Shelter, VA

To: Dicks Dome Shelter, VA
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: clear sky

Foodwalker here with the daily update. Left the Snickers Gap area around 10 in the morning. Weather was starting to warm up once I started walking around the area. Picked up a bag of garbage from the large parking lot. Also found 16 cents, for what it's worth (16 cents, not allowing for inflation. Stopped at Berryville in Virginia and spent some time in the library there recharging my nook and I phone. It has a dollar general, some restaurants, and gas stations, I got reverse sticker shock when I saw the gas prices. They were 30 cents cheaper than the prices in West Virginia. Lowest price that I saw so far was 3.12 per gallon. So if you are a trail angel, you could do some resupply here if you needed to. I then stopped at the Virginia state arboretum just off of Highway 340. I spent about an hour there; a lot of it was dead looking, which I attribute to the time of year that I stopped at. It would probably look fantastic once all the plants and trees would be in growth and bloom.I then made it to Front Royal. This would be the place to stop for a major resupply. Also the gas is really cheap compared to other places that I have been. Lots of restuarants, fast food places, grocery stores, and a library towards the edge of town. I will be doing more exploring of the town tomorrow.See you later--foodwalker...................Hi, this is Tracy McG. We had a pretty tough day. Very cold all day, with a strong wind blowing, which definitely made things worse. It was a job keeping the water in the water bottles from freezing solid. I found it interesting that the water in my Nalgene stayed liquid much better than in my Smartwater bottle or Platypus bag. I finally put my Smartwater bottle inside my shirt to keep it from freezing! Today was the day of the blow downs. Large clumps of trees full of tangles of vines and brambles completely blocked the trail at several points, and we had to climb up the ridge to get around them. Many other times smaller trees and branches blocked the trail and we pushed our way through them. The trail maintainers (volunteers, mind you) have really got their work cut out for them, and we are very grateful for all the work they do. The large bald at Sky Meadows State Park was impressive, if very cold. Finally made it to Dicks Dome Shelter, a small hexagonal structure alongside a pretty stream. We used the same technique as last night--I set up my tent in the shelter and Cassidy set up behind me, and it worked quite well. We were the only ones at the shelter.
Date: 2014-03-14
From: Front Royal, Va

To: Front Royal, Va
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Foodwalker here for the trail entry. Tracy McG and Cassidy are now at Dick's Dome shelter, which means that they hiked over 8 miles in some very cold weather. It was sunshiny, but the wind was strong and chilly. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be around 50 degrees, so will see how they do as they travel on. Good for them that they made it so far in such chilly weather!I did not do a lot of outside stuff, as it was very cold, even from this Wisconsin boy. Older I get, the less wintertime is actually enjoyable for any length of time.Not a lot, but have been doing some thinking about the long term of the trail as we progress through Virginia. May be a lot of slack packing through the Shenandoah on the skyline parkway. Will have to see what we can come up with as we talk over future plans. Gas prices around town range from 3.12 to 3.19 per gallon, which is a welcome sight for eyes used to seeing a 50 cent or so difference in Wisconsin and Ohio. If it similar to last year, the prices will be lower the further that we head down south, along with cheaper lodging. The sticker shock will escalate when we go through the New England states. Will sign off for now.See you later on these pagesFoodwalker
Date: 2014-03-14
From: Front Royal, Va

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Foodwalker here. Well, Tracy and Cassidy, under the hope of pizza, hiked fifteen miles to get to highway 522, at the small AT lot. They made it in at dusk, wearing their head lamps but not needing them. Earlier in the day, I did some more exploration of the area, and hiked about a mile south toward the Tom Floyd shelter. That is where I got the text from Tracy saying they were going to make highway 522. So I had to go back to the motel to reschedule the room. Saw a deer as well. Some of the grass is starting to green up, so there is some hope of spring.So far the weather is inconsistent at best, nice day today, will be getting cold and miserable during this coming week, and then turn nice again. We'll see. Foodwalker--now signing off.
Date: 2014-03-15
To: luray, va
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Foodwalker here-- very pleasant day today, sort of the lull before another anticipated snowstorm tomorrow. By the way, did make it to Luray, Virginia, so hip, hip, Luray! I know it is a bad pun; those come every once in while. Left from the motel about 11 am, and then Tracy and Cassidy started down south from the 522 AT parking lot. Met them a little after 4:00 pm at Jenkins Gap, 12.3 miles on the skyline drive in Shenandoah national park. Good memories of Front Royal. Good church there called True Life Bible Church: very helpful and hospitable; they even let me hard boil some eggs in their kitchen. Shopping area and library also very good resources. The macdonalds did not have any plug ins for charging up the cell phones. The library had plenty of plug ins for that.On my way to pick up Tracy and Cassidy, I had to make a rest stop. In my haste to use it, I locked the car and then shut the door. One major problem with that; I locked the van keys inside of the van. This was not a good thing. After I finished banging my head against a tree(figuratively), I got a hold of AAA and got it unlocked. At no charge. Very , very thankful. Am in Luray right now typing up this day's adventures (or misadventures). Will see what tomorrow brings.Take careFoodwalker...............Tracy McG: Cassidy and I had a very nice day of hiking today. Entered Shenandoah National Park. Hiking with just a day pack felt great! The trail was pretty nice. Stopped for lunch at the Tom Floyd Shelter, bright and sunny day, warm temps. After we picked up our packs we hiked a ways south of the next peak after Jenkins Gap and set up tents for the night. Beautiful sunset and then a beautiful full moon rose behind the tents.