morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-01-16
To: Gear weighing
Miles today: 0.0

So this gear thing is crazy. If you want to see my current gear list go here:http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=5703Thats right I am weighing every piece of gear that I have. I will cut any weight possible.. Except for Henry the Rubber chicken! As many of you know I hike with a rubber chicken... why?? because I can! Here is the story behind Henry:Years ago in Seattle, Washington I bought this stupid rubber chicken. When I got home I hung it from the Emergency pull cord on the garage door. Well my mom replaced the Garage door opener and through the old one out to the curb. This was the same day as we were leaving for the ADK mountains. Joe and I pulled out of the driveway to leave when I noticed my rubber chicken getting thrown out. Naturally I did not like that idea so i retrieved it and brought it with us. On the way it was hung in the window and passing drivers laughed at it often. So heck, lets carry it up the mountain for some laughs. People were very curious and got a great laugh out of it. So since then it has become tradition that Henry hikes with us on all adventures. Henry has also gone caving, rock climbing, hiked Aconcagua, 20 high peaks, the white mountains, and many other places.
Date: 2012-01-18
To: Oh trail packing I a go...
Miles today: 0.0

Take a look... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbOMshI_v0A&feature=youtu.be... now i need to go find some food to throw in the pack and see if i can make it all fit... such a science to find out where and how everything fits. This is take one of most likely... 100... ha. And I still wont get it right. ugh back to the scale and planning!
Date: 2012-01-21
To: Reading... 
Miles today: 0.0

Well I just finished "Awol on the Appalachian Trail". What an amazing book. His book has my blood pumping and getting all psyched up! March 13th cant come soon enough! My 2012 AT guidebook also arrived today so I am staring over it trying to make sense of everything and become use to reading the guide. It seems to be very well written and has great detail to it. The time cant come soon enough!Thats all for now...
Date: 2012-01-29
To: Training Hike and misc thoughts
Miles today: 0.0

Howdy!So this past weekend was a nice training hike. Joe and I left on Thursday for New Hampshire with intentions of hiking Mt Washington. The weather report was saying a nasty storm was coming in and the forcast on their site was warning against "downright dangerous conditions". We stayed at a friends place two hours south of the trailhead. After a great dinner we hit the pillow and slept for a bit. Wake up was at 4am since we had a bit of a drive to the trailhead. We got on the Lion heads trail at 0730 after a very icy drive and I may have got my car stuck in the parking lot and had to shovel it out... The conditions were not all that bad, 250ft visual - 30mph sustained winds with 50mph gust - heavy wet rain. We hit the summit at 1330. Great hike overall we got down around 1630.Other than that nothing to new and exciting. Ordered a new ULA pack for my trip and refined my gear list a little bit. Check it out!http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=5703I could use the feedback. Still dont have a trail name... I am sure one will come soon...
Date: 2012-02-17
To: Next stage of life...
Miles today: 0.0

Good Evening Everyone! Sorry I have not posted any updates for a while, life has been kinda crazy. A few weeks ago I got a call from the USAF which I have been trying to join for sometime now. My paperwork was approved and I was being sent to the local base for some more paperwork. Surprisingly enough all my paperwork went through finally and they said I was ready to enlist. This put me in a major dilemma because as we know I am planning a AT trip in a few weeks. Yesterday I spent my day at the recruitment center and swore in. However, before swearing in I had a great talk with my recruiter and he agreed to set my ship date AFTER August 7th, 2012. PERFECT! So the trail plan is ON!!!!! WOOOHOOOOO!The plan is as this... I am planning on flying south early march and getting on the trail by march 16th at the latest. My gear is laid out, my pack is ready, my boots are broken in, my batteries are charged! Can't wait! I am so glad I will be able to do the trail after all, I was really worried for some time. I will be departing for bootcamp soon after I get back. Talk soon all!Eric
Date: 2012-02-25
To: Life
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Thirteen years ago I started working to make a few dollars. I started off my life as a proper member of society should. I started off mowing lawns and trying to make the most money that I could, and it worked. Ever since then I have worked very hard to make my money. For the past 6 years I have held at least 4 to 6 jobs at any one time. Some weeks I have worked over 100 working hours in a week. Its been great. But now it is time for all of that to change. In four days I will be leaving all my jobs and turning in my letters of resignation. I am going to keep my one full time job, but I have submitted a leave of absence. Thirteen days from 3/1/12 I will make my way to the airport and fly to Georgia. My new journey will have began. I will be dropped off at the trail head that following Friday and begin to make my way to Maine. What a epic adventure!And finally in around 130 days I will be standing at the summit of Mount Katadyn in Maine! I will have finished my hike and my journey. It will be an amazing feeling. Soon after I return I will be heading off for my new life in the Air Force, this hike marks the perfect transition. I will deploy for boot camp and go Active Duty. The Air force will become my only job, WOW! I am not sure if I can handle just one job.... strange thought! but now since I am still stuck in this busy crazy life... I must go get ready to go to work! I worked until 1am this morning on the ambulance and am back in at 1pm today. And so on that note... Talk later, thanks for reading!
Date: 2012-02-29
To: The End of One and Beginning of Another
Miles today: 0.0

Today my daily life in this crazy busy society came to a close... I worked my last official shift, I punched out for the last time. I love the work I do everyday. I have worked at least 60 hours a week for the past few years, and when I have a slow week I work 40 hours. Now I have none... I do not have to go to work tomorrow, I do not need to put on a uniform. Amazing. During the next thirteen days I will get my final gear preparations completed and pack my pack. I am going over my plans with my family and searching for what connections I will have along the trail. And starting on the 16th... well you know, I get walking. As others always say "Hike your own hike". I cant wait. The feeling of freedom will be so strange yet so amazing. Waking up and just simply living, no appt's, no work, no bosses, no phone calls, no meetings... nothing... just me and my adventure. Only Thirteen more days....
Date: 2012-02-29
To: Terms
Miles today: 0.0

For those not familiar with the AT here are some terms I will use in my journal in the coming months.AT :Appalachian Trail, National scenic corridor from Springer Mountain, Georgia to its northern terminus, Mount Katahdin, in Baxter State Park, Maine. Nearly 2,200 miles along the backbone of the Appalachian Mountain range.Trail Name:Alias name a hiker is known by on the trailNOBO:hiking northbound. Highest percentage of thru hike attempts are NOBO's.SOBO:hiking southbound. Thru hikers starting in Maine then south to Georgia.FlipFlop:hiking AT from different directions, ultimately hiking it all. Some hikers are NOBO's from Georgia to Harpers WV, then transported to Maine, to hike from Katahdin back south to Harpers Ferry, WV.Slack Packing:Hiking without full pack. Often a hiker can get a ride to and from trail and leave full pack behind for the day.White Blazing:hiking/following the white markers for the actual footpath of the Appalachian TrailBlue Blazing:hiking routes to other points of interest, sometimes taking an easier route around difficult terrain, then re-uniting with the AT again.Yellow Blazing:road walking, hitching to townPink Blazing:When one hiker is pursuing another hiker with romantic interestsThru Hiker:hiker trying to complete the entire AT in one hiking seasonSection Hiker:hiker doing a section of the AT. Some hikers have completed the entire AT by hiking sections of the AT over a period of years or decades.Day Hiker:hiker doing part of AT without spending night on trailNero Day:A day with very few milesZero Day:no miles hikedPUDS:pointless ups and downsAYCE:All You Can Eat establishments. A favorite stop in towns for hikers with insatiable appetitesShelters:Three sided structures located along the AT, for hikers to use. There are over 250 of these structures along the ATTrail Magic:unexpected magic, like some pop or candy left near a stream, or a ride into town, etc...Trail Angels:Folks who are friends of hikers, some who have completed thru hikes in the past. They might set up near the trail and make burgers, chips, and drinks, for thru hikers. Give shuttle rides, operate hostels specifically for thru hikers. Simply amazing individuals
Date: 2012-03-03
To: Enjoying it while I can
Miles today: 0.0

It is strange not to have to go to work. I woke up this morning... and realized that I did not have anything to do. Its kinda nice actually! My plan today was to get some packing done for my trip, I also decided I would do some shopping for some food for my first few days of my trip. I also needed to catch up on some weighing of gear and updating of my gear list to get things up to date. This project could not be done alone however, so I called up my buddy Joe and bribed him. I agreed that if he'd come help me pack, I would reward him with a big greasy Garbage Plate. That right, a Garbage Plate... If you dont know what it is... your missing out, Rochester is famous for it! Lets just say... Two hotdogs, 1/2lb of macoroni salad, 1/2lb of homefries - layered with hot sauce, mustard, and onions - all mixed together. Of coarse some are much larger than this. This incredible scrumptious delite tallies in at around 3,000 calories according to some. NOW THATS A HIKERS MEAL!!! Oh thats right we were planning on packing... back to that! We came home, ate our plates.... packing thats right... sorry garbage plates are really distracting! Ok so we updated the gear list and laid everything out and changed a few things. I got the smaller things we needed and checked my list twice. I then set up all my gear to make sure things were right. I set up my tent in my living room, inflated my neoair, and placed my sleeping bag in it... nap time after that garbage plate that was so darn great... man I got some serious A.D.D. (quick nap later) Time to tear down my living room camp and go back to packing. I must have unpacked and packed my gear nearly a dozen times or so. My pack weights at 27 lbs with food and water. Five days of food. Its very comfortable and I am getting psyched. I had a huge fight with myself about what kind of stuff sacks to use, I think I have settled with ultra sil dry sacks, and one compression sack for my sleeping bag. With that project being completed, I am onto the research and study part of things. I went through and highlighted my trail guide with all the towns, so I can easily tell where they are. The last debate I have is whether or not to do the Approach trail (8.8 miles)... Thoughts?Getting pumped!! Eric
Date: 2012-03-06
To: One week left!!! Misc thoughts... 
Miles today: 0.0

Only a week left, I am really getting pumped up for this hike now! I have my duffel bag ready with my pack in it, my plane ticket is all set, now I am just waiting.Yesterday I spent the day working on the ambulance, I know I said I was done... but hey what harm is some extra trail money! I am glad I am leaving. I work in the city of Rochester, and it just amazes me how crazy society has become. I spent my day rushing from one call to the next. Rushing, rushing, rushing... that is all we seem to do. And the violence and pain that has taken over our city is just sickening to me. We take nearly 200 calls for 911 a day, its crazy. I am not going back for another shift before I leave. I don't want to. I do miss the job that I love to do.. but I don't miss going to work. I was talking to some co-workers and they were just so wrapped up in the politics going on at work, and who did what, blah blah blah. I no longer want to be part of that. I want to just go and be free. I want to wake up and just be. This is not why I am going to hike the A.T. but it is one benefit of it. It is a break from the chaotic world that we live in. I know who I am, but I know that the trail will teach me a lot more about myself and what I am looking for. The trail will challenge me in ways I have never been challenged before, I can't wait. Next tues needs to come fast! People have asked me if I will miss home... of coarse I will. I will miss my family, friends, dog, and everyone else. But this trail is a opportunity for me to accomplish a dream of mine. It is worth the short term sacrifice. I will come back, they will be here. I will most definitely miss my Moms cooking, maybe she can ship me some dinners... hmmm (ponders)Well its off to get some more things done around the house before I leave. Talk to you all soon!
Date: 2012-03-09
To: Last minute packing and going over gear.
Miles today: 0.0

Hey all! Only four more days left. The next few days will be saying my goodbyes to friends and family and getting my stuff in order. Today I cleaned up my stuff around the house and went over my gear.. I am amazed at how many times I have packed and unpacked my pack trying to decide if everything is right. Take a look at my process which I seem to do daily... ha. http://youtu.be/6FGeaxhotoUWhat a great time. FOUR MORE DAYS!!! WOOHOO!!!!
Date: 2012-03-11
To: Great Friends 
Miles today: 0.0

Two more days until I begin my epic journey. The past few days and tonight I am making my rounds meeting up with friends, family, and neighbors. I am going to miss them all. Usually two or three times a week my friends and neighbors join for a nice drink and relax and just catch up on recent events. I will miss that greatly. But the trail will be the beginning of a new and exciting journey for me. I am sure they will have a drink for me while I am hiking in the rain and cold! Other than just making rounds and saying goodbye to everyone, I am just making sure I have everything. My mom posted a big map of the AT at home on the wall. She is going to track my journey as I go along the way. She is really excited for me as she is a big hiker and knows how cool of a journey it will be. I will miss the good home cooked meals, but I am sure they will be here when I get back. Time to go head off to another party, then another party.
Date: 2012-03-14
To: Relatives House
Miles today: 0.0

Today was just getting ready and going through my gear. I went through and made sure I had all the gear I needed. The airport was picky and took my lighters from my stove. What amazes me more is the effort they had to put into finding them, they were buried! I took a few mile walk and went to the local market to get some water bottles, fuel, food, and my new lighters. The weather was amazing today, it was nearly 80 degrees. We decided that due to poor weather possibly on friday that i would be better off starting tomorrow morning, so up a day it goes!! I will be driven to the approach trail first thing tomorrow to start my hike. I have gold fish to snack on, but after I just made a funny comment to my aunt, I now have crushed goldfish (I deserved it no worries). I am very glad to have the treat of staying here at their house, it is very comfortable and fun to hang out here. So tomorrow it begins... what I have been waiting for. I am very excited and cant wait to get hiking. I will update you from the trail from now on I suppose. Its been fun and I will talk to everyone soon!!! See you on the trail!
Date: 2012-03-15
From: Amicalola falls

To: Springer mountain
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: scattered clouds

The time has finally come! I am on the trail. Today I hiked the approach hike. Including all 600 stairs up the falls. Well worth it. My touch phone post will be short to save battery. Amazing weather today until now. In my tent in a loud thunder storm. O well. Going to take a nap then dinner. I am officially on the trail! Yea!
Date: 2012-03-16
From: Springer mountain

To: Gooch mountain shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Well lets start with last night. We settle in to bed in our tents and around 1130 a violent lighting storm blew in. Thunder shook the ground as the blinding light of the lightning filled my tent. Nobody really slept until two when it ended. We all got a little damp so it was a late start. I met up with Ryo at the start of my day and we hiked together for eight miles. I also got my first trail magic. I shared some goldfish with some guy waiting for a ride. When the ride got there I was given a great big piece of cake. YUM! The hike today was very long and there were miles where there was no water, this made it hard in the hot sun. I pushed onto touch shelter after going over many P.U.D.S. they were no fun. I burnt my dinner tonight so that was a bummer. Now I am relaxing in my tent. Need to stretch to get rid of sore body. Tomorrow I plan another long day including blood mountain which is hard. Today there were also war games going on in the valley by the military. It was cool to hear all the gunfire. Otherwise I am having fun. Another thunder storm right now but I get the feeling that is typical.
Date: 2012-03-17
From: Gooch mountain shelter

To: Neels gap
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Alright time to update this. So it was another night in the rain. Woke up and got a early start. Hiking in the rain. Started off with a guy from Scotland who came to see America. Very cool way to do that. At the first lot we got to a man was waiting with dunken donuts. How sweet! A hundred yards down the path a youth group was waiting with apples and bandanas. OnIii in the rain I went. the rain was pouring. After a few miles and wet hiking I came to a road. I was soaked. Lol. Suddenly a group in a tent waived me over in the parking lot. They were a church group and giving some trail magic. They cooked up hotdogs for us. Gave us chips, soda, water. AMAZING!!! Then it cleared up and got real hot and sunny. The day went quick and I got to Neels gap. I got a great shower and a free pasta dinner. And a bunk and laundry! Great day overall the overwhelming generosity for hikers is cool to see. Thats all for now.
Date: 2012-03-18
From: Neels gap

To: Blue mountain shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a miles day. Lots more PUDS and that is about it. I met up with Animal and hiked with him. He is really cool and we are on the same pace. We knocked out the miles and then finally I got my trail name. Bomber. Because I have been blowing away the miles and bombing through the hills. Animal also saw it fitting since I am joining the air force. So that was about the most exciting part of the day. Time for dinner. Finally a nice night. Tonight we gathered by the fire. Eric showed up along with Dogma Road and Wags and a few others. We made a great campfire and relaxed telling stories and laughing. New friendships formed. This is why I came here. Such amazing people from all over the country and world. Just sitting by laughing and enjoying being under a blanket of stars. No city lights to hide them. No sounds of cars, as barred owls call back and forth to either nearby..... just simply a great day. Goodnight.
Date: 2012-03-19
From: Blue mountain shelter

To: Hawaissee 
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: few clouds

Today was a beast. Three high mountains stood between us and the town. I needed to swing in for some food. The weather was great today but really hot at tines. My feet are feeling great with no blisters. The only hard thing is my knee acts up on the downhill. Otherwise I am just sitting in my room at Mulls and about to go to sleep. Had a amazing dinner at Daniels also. AYCE IS GREAT! Talk later!
Date: 2012-03-20
From: Hawaissee 

To: muskrat shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a short day. Woke up in a nice warm bed and took a shower. I stopped in for some food at ingles and headed back for the trail. of course I needed to work my hitch hiking skills again. Within minutes a lady pulled over for me. After being dropped off at the trail I got going. I was sore so I figured twelve miles would be fine. I met freefall who suprisingly lives all of one mile from me back home. We hiked for a while and officially made it out of Georgia. Now for North Carolina! Bring it on.
Date: 2012-03-21
From: muskrat shelter

To: Alfred mountain fire tower
Miles today: 18.7

Today was great! I did nearly 19 miles in under 7 hours! Feel amazing. Ran into some real nice trail angels today fixing up the trail. Two of them even knew me from here. Hi guys! I got to the fire tower, the view is incredible. I decided that I will stay here for the night and enjoy the quiet view. Hopefully it does not rain. It will be great to see the sunrise here. I also hit the first 100 miles today!!!!! Henry the chicken is doing well. He ran into a tick but we got it off. Time to go relax by the fire. Talk tomorrow!
Date: 2012-03-22
From: Alfred mountain fire tower

To: wayah shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: light rain

Lets start with a story to cheer you all up. Uncle Eric's story time: there once was this hiker named Bomber. He got to the top of Alfred Mountain and it was a great view. There was a fire tower which allowed you to see for miles. Bomber had been told by Wags that the sunset and sunrise is beautiful. So he stayed on top and pitched his tent. He sat by a small fire and enjoyed the view. The sunset stunk but bomber held hope for the morning. He went to bed and before he knew it, it was pouring! He rolled around all night and knew he was getting wet. In the morning He was in a two inch deep puddle and everything was soaked. Moral of the story: don't listen to wags!!!!! (Don't worry your still cool). Onto my day it started out wet. I wanted to haul today and I did. I made my first 20+ mile day!!! Feeling great still. Wayah bald mtn had a great view. Going to NOC Tomorrow . Time for bed. Oh and forgot a important part..... GINGERSNAP!!! Your amazing. Your brownie was the best ever. Sorry mom she has you beat!Thank you so much.
Date: 2012-03-23
From: wayah shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: light rain

Today has been the hardest day for me yet. Not physically but mentally . It poured all night but that was ok I stayed In the shelter . I got up and wanted to get to the NOC. My Achilles tendon has been bothering me a little from overload and I knew I needed to rest it. I headed to NOC and of coarse it rained all day. I would see the clouds break so I took off my rain gear and it start right back up. At times it just simply poured. My ankle was killing and the downhill became dangerous and hard on the knees. I was very frustrated and concerned. Near the end of my hike though I met up with another hiker and we were talking about the day and I felt a little better. Then Islipped and fell quite a few feet down a hill. I laughed and was a muddy mess. I got to NOC and got a nice meal in me and got cleaned up. I called some friends and iced ny ankle. This is just a challenge to overcome. As I was writing in my journal tonight I reread a card my mom put in my pack before I left. It told me to "Kick Ass". Thats what I plan to do. So tonight i will rest and ice it. Tomorrow the same. My first zero day. And Sunday I will attack the trail again. Talk later.