morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-25
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

Long mileage day, but the terrain was very forgiving. But boy, it was a scorcher. We arrived at a road crossing and walked the .08 miles to a small store and ordered burgers. I drank a Yoo Hoo, a large Gatorade and Coke on top of the litre of water I had already consumed! Back on the trail we took a side trail to Dismall Falls where you can jump into the water. Seems to be the locals beach. Men and women (about 10) in bathing suits, with their coolers, enjoying the coolness of the water. (There is a road adjacent to the falls, so they didn't walk the A/T to get to the falls.)Back on the trail, you notice that the sound of locusts is quieting more every day, their brief lifespans on earth's surface coming to an end as the remains of hundreds litter the trail.Walked under a power transmission line today on top of a mountain that was making a loud hum, and it gave me pause to wonder where all thoese electrons are coming from and where they are ending up? Perhaps to you as you read this on your screen??
Date: 2003-06-26
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Woodshore Hostel
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: clear sky

Ok, that's it! I'm moving down here! Those small wax bottle things with the juice inside? Well Ropeyarn found some in town and gave them to me. YUM! Today was a short day in order to accommodate a stop at this renowned hostel. Tillie Wood, whose husband found this place in the 40's opens up the farmhouse and barn to hikers and serves breakfast. A rustic place, peaceful, old magazines, cards, dartboard if you like. All I did after taking an outside solar heated shower was stay off my feet and read back issues of Biography Magazine. Not to be cast as a slouch, I did sweep all the floors, hammered in a bunch of nails that were sticking up from the floors and tidied up. All in all, just a wonderfully relaxing day and Tillie, who was a biology teacher, is a sweetheart! And for $3.50 we get a home cooked breakfast in the morning!
Date: 2003-06-27
From: Woodshore Hostel

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Back into another town that the trail passes through, which meant another long down. Need to get more food to last the final 3-4 days of my hike that ends in Blacksburg. I was thinking of a story a young woman told us a ways back at one of the hostels I stayed at. She was recently finished college in New York and was a bicycle messenger in the city. Certainly a woman with no fear pedaling across America before she starts her graduate work in Arizona. Anyway, as she is pedaling south through the Appalachias she sees a sign posted on a tree and instead of "No Trespassing" it says "If the dog don't getcha, the shotgun will." I laugh to myself hiking, as I think of this young lady, who has fought the traffic of New York, seeing this sign and ever so slightly picking up her pace just a little upon seeing that sign.And in all the places in the world, Ropeyarn and I were sitting in a restaurant having dinner and what comes on the jukebox? Frank Zappa!! Couldn't believe it, in this dying little town that Zappa would have even been heard of! Can't judge a book by it's cover.......
Date: 2003-06-28
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My 2nd zero mile day of the entire trip! I am by myself again as my hiking partner, Rope yarn, had July 4th plans and wanted to get back to Florida. It was great having him hike with me, and represents a first for me, in having a hiking partner.I was going to head out today and was getting my pack ready, and then it started to rain. So here I stay, resting up for the final 40 miles. The book I carried and just completed on the trail this year is called ¢Into the Wild¢. A well written, researched biography about a young man, who, after finishing college, wants to see if he can survive outside our society. He doesn¢t, dying in the far reaches of Alaska from starvation. Making it more poignant was that he was from Arlington, VA., close to where I live. Upon finishing the book, I felt depressed, as this young man, put himself through this life of self-deprivation, to finally learn to appreciate the gift we have been given, to live in this country and do what we choose.Now I¢m on to a book found in the shelter called, ¢Of Mice & Men¢
Date: 2003-06-29
To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Ouch, do my feet heart! Towards the end of the day I was walking like Frankenstein, legs stiff, wobbling form side to side. This is one of those instances where water sources are not plentiful, so the option was 7 miles or 19. I did the 19, because I¢d like to finish up a little earlier than I originally planned. I¢m shooting to get to Blacksburg by Tuesday, but boy I couldn¢t do this kind of mileage day after day, as many of the through-hikers are now doing!At the 7 mile mark, (where the 1st shelter was), about 100 yards in front of it was a pasture, on top of the mountain with a wonderful view of the valley below. I¢ll bet a night spent at that shelter would be a treat, looking at the night-lights far below and the stars above.As you¢re no doubt aware, after hiking 12+ hours in the hot, muggy weather, a shower of course would be great. So off with the sweaty shirt, douse it in the stream, quick bath, rinse shirt, and back on it goes so it will dry out.Just me and another fellow at the shelter tonight. He is through hiking at a 20 mile a day pace, since leaving Georgia!
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

My last night on the trail. Of course there has to be a coincidence right?Remember those 2 traveling nurses I met at Kinicora Hostel the 1st night? Well, that¢s who is at this shelter on my last night! How happy am I that get to share my last night on the trail with these wonderful folks. We have seen each other on and off, and twice have said, ¢I guess this is it, won¢t be seeing you again¢, only to run in to one another again!It was another long day of hiking, and on top of that I confirmed Poison Ivy, on right arm and right leg. Many portions of the trail I traversed yesterday were overgrown, so I¢m sure I brushed against it along the way. So with no treatment, I decided the best way to keep it from spreading was to cut the sleeves from my short sleeve shirt and using rubber bands make bandages to cover up the Ivy infections! Used the stove alcohol to clean off the ivy oil first then put on the bandages. Worked pretty well!
Date: 2003-07-01
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Sinking Creek Valley - VA 42
Miles today: 8.2

Tented last night to allow the folks staying the shelter more room. I had a nice time last night (the nurses built a fire and had marshmallows, Yum!). After hiking about 4 miles, we all ended up at the next shelter on the trail (Laurel Creek Shelter) for lunch. As we are eating, it starts raining buckets. I have to go, I really need to get into Blacksburg. (Our travel agent at work (Thanks Jane with Garber Travel) has set me up with a hotel, P/U in Blacksburg to Roanoke and a rental car in Roanoke. All this done for me while I am out walking! So lucky am I!).So I say my final(?) goodbyes to my friends, (I think they are going to wait out the rain), and begin the final 4 miles of my for this year. After about 2 miles, off to my left is a big old farmhouse in the middle of the woods. There are no roads or any obvious ways in, so I¢m wondering how did people get to this house? Curiosity is a curse, and I walk down to the house, immediate see that it is not safe to go in, as parts of the floor have caved in and 1 wall is buckled. The only sign of a human touch is a piece of wallpaper, still attached, above a closet door. I can¢t define the remnants of a road to here. Maybe the trail path was the road? No signs of them having power. I see no signs of pipes, so this means no sink or bathroom in the house. So where is a well? Nothing. I notice a spring ¢ maybe that¢s where the water was fetched. No signs of an outhouse, although one had to be nearby. Behind the house the remains of a small shed, 3 of the walls constructed to be half buried in the earth, the front at one time had doors. I look further for more signs of what life was like back here. No cemetery, off to the right a clearing where crops were grown? Nothing more, but I wonder who these souls were, why they left, and what was their life like back here in the woods.Leaving with all these unanswered questions, I get back on the trail and discover why this particular area where I will be ending my hike is called Sinking Creek Valley. This last mile meanders through pastures dipping down into a small valley. With all the rain that has occurred, the valley has transformed into a bog. So I wade through muck mud and ¢¦ (this is a cow pasture). The rain begins to sprinkle once again as I come up to where the trail crosses highway 42. Looking across the highway I see the stile that I crawled over last year coming form the other direction and a feeling of contentment combined with sadness fills me body. My hike is over for this year, I leave the woods and the trail for another year, the felling of independence, of living off of your own wits at times coupled with the realization that I have such a wonderful life that once again let¢s me undertake and complete another segment of this dream. I cross the highway and touch the stile, symbolically ending 253-mile adventure, this year, on the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2003-01-31
To: Finalizing the Journey
Miles today: 0.0

I¢m cramped for time between wrapping up last minute details at work and packing up my apartment for my move. My mom is coming this weekend to help me take everything to South Carolina. What, you might ask has happened to drive me from DC? Well, a vision, a dream, a wild hair has got me on this kick to hike the Appalachian Trail. It¢s a 2000 mile journey from Georgia to Maine that I¢ll start on March 21. I should finish in late September or early October. I¢m backpacking it, so I¢ll be lucky if I average 12 miles/day. I¢m taking the bare necessities ¢ food, shelter, water, sleeping bag, and I¢ll stop off about once per week in towns along the way to restock my food supply and shower. Lots of people ask what on earth would make me want to do this. And why now? I guess the simple reason is that I¢ve wanted to hike it since I was in high school and doing lots of backpacking. Now, the dream has come back again, only now I¢m able to say ¢ok, I¢m going to do this.¢ It¢s a little harebrained to decide now with the economy and job market so shady that this is a good thing to do, and I realize that. But I also realize that if I don¢t start living my life in a way that I feel like I¢ve lived without regret, then I might kick myself for not going. Up until now I¢ve been working to settle down. I¢ve been working hard, advancing in my career, researching a home purchase. All those things you¢re ¢supposed¢ to do. And I started thinking ¢ what am I rushing for. There will be a time when I have my commitments, responsibilities, family, etc. that will have me tied down, so what¢s the need to create that now. The future after the trail is largely unknown. More than likely I¢ll have to stay with my folks for a while to save up some money (I intend to spend every penny I own on the trail). After that, who knows ¢ park service job, Montana, teaching English as a Second Language, school, NYC, Peace Corps, Boston, waitressing, more work in the communications field ¢ I just don¢t know. I wanted to share all this with you and hope that you¢re as excited for my trip as I am. I want to keep you as updated as possible while I¢m away on the trail too. I¢d love to receive letters or postcards along the way and hope to reciprocate. I've completed my maildrops list (towns where I¢ll definitely be stopping at the post office for my food or maps that are mailed to me) and you can see it by clicking the link on the left. I¢ve also got two stops planned along the way if you¢re in the SE and want to meet up. I¢m going to stop at a bluegrass festival, www.merlefest.org, in NC in late April and volunteer. Then I¢m going to stop in May in Damascus, VA for a huge festival they have every year, www.traildays.com. Maybe you¢ll be able to come for one of those.
Date: 2003-02-21
To: One month to go!
Miles today: 0.0

Whoa! Can you believe the snow we¢ve had? I¢m still floored that I¢ve managed to deal so well with the massive amounts of white stuff that¢s been dumped on us over the past week. In a small way it makes me scared for my hike because I recognize my resistance to cold stinks, and that more than not I¢m woefully ill equipped. I realize that there¢s a very high likelihood that I may have to hike and camp in weather like that in the Georgia and North Carolina mountains. In some other ways though it makes me feel more prepared ¢in that it¢s gotten me off my duff and on to planning more details of my journey.   Having been driven inside for the past several days, I finally did some much needed planning for my trip that will be exactly one month away from today. I finalized my mail drop list (see right) of towns that I know I¢ll be stopping in to get packages. I¢ve even estimated the approximate dates of my arrivals in towns along the way. As I round out preparations for my trip, I¢m visiting the gym more and will start throwing on the pack and huffing it up some inclines on the treadmill and stairs. I think I¢ve got all my necessary gear except a couple of items. And after a big trip to Costco I feel fairly secure in my food for mail drops. The only thing I can¢t seem to get enough of (and didn¢t see at Costco) is packets ¢ packets of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, honey (found at Starbucks), jelly packets, and artificial sweeteners. If, while you¢re out and about over the next month, you could pick these items up when you¢re dining at places, picking up a coffee somewhere or cleaning up after your office hosts a lunch, I would greatly appreciate it. Just package those little suckers up and pass those care packages along when you see me. Having tiny items like that will make the tuna salad more tasty, the peanut butter more delightful and the ham sandwich a little less bland.
Date: 2003-02-25
To: Promises
Miles today: 0.0

There's a lot of self doubt surrounding this monumental hike. I often wonder if I'll succeed mentally and physically in the challenge that I'm about to embark. I know in the past three years that I've learned more about being alone. As an extrovert I have always strived to surround myself with people and only recently have I learned to adapt to a more introverted way of life. This journey will put my own comfort level with myself to the test. Can I measure up? That¢s the biggest mental obstacle that I think I¢ll face. The other being, ¢oh gosh, can I make it up ANOTHER climb.¢ But my positive thinking has always taken me to exactly the places I need to go ¢ the later seems much easier to overcome.   The physical struggle is one I may have taken too lightly up until this point. I haven¢t been as dedicated my running or my gym routine as I could have been since I decided to take this trip in October. So, with you as my witness, I will use the rest of this month to the fullest in order to be as physically prepared as possible to tackle everything from GA to ME. I will prepare a journal entry each week until my departure that will also document my activity level for the week. (This is kind of like new years resolutions ¢ only in late Feb. ? ). I will also attempt to make some poignant remarks about the remainder of my preparation for the trail and what¢s to come next. Also with this entry - on promises, I wanted to give some thought to what promises I'll make myself along the way. Some hikers suggest making pacts with yourself that say "when I feel like quitting, I tell myself to go two more days" or "I will only take X number of zero days." I'm not positive that I'm ready to write out the rules to my hike yet. I'll write them up after I've given it more thought.
Date: 2003-03-18
To: Packed and Ready
Miles today: 0.0

It's been a busy five days since I left Washington DC. I traveled down through NC and stopped to visit family in Lexington and Concord. On Saturday I arrived in Charleston, the whole way I drove home I was jotting down to-dos. Check on health insurance, pay bills, pack mail drops, sew stuff sacks and rain cover for my pack. I have, FINALLY, gotten all those items on my list completed. I have actually worked non-stop since Saturday afternoon, literally 9 a.m. to midnight each day. Only today did I finally finish my duties - all the while thinking - how can taking so little mean so much work? I had fun during parts of it though. Learning to sew was definately a highlight. It's not like I couldn't hem a pair of pants or stitch a button back on; I've been able to do that since middle school. But I got to learn how to use the sewing machine. Yes! I've officially entered the realm of the twilight zone - I had a BLAST sewing my stuff sacks. Maybe it was just knowing that it was getting me closer to my goal; or maybe it was seeing something come together in my own hands. There is definately something about creating something with your hands that is so fulfilling. In deference to my timeline I had my mom sew my pack cover and some rain pants for me. The rain pants are so cool; they're made of sil-nylon material like the rest of the items that I sewed. She made them big like a pair of pajamas, with a draw string at the waist and slits with ties at the ankles to go over my boots easily. While I was thinking about them today, I envisioned them as the envy of the trail! I can't say that I've given my parents a full run down of all their responsibilities while I'm gone. I'll do that after I finish my journal entry. I also need to clean up my room here that will be used as Leanna's Trail Goodie Distribution Center. Right now it's a total disaster area. The agenda for the next three days is as follows. Tomorrow: visit with Ryan, Ian and my grandparents. Thursday: drive to Suches to drop off Caroline's car (she's hiking the first four days with me) and bunker down at the Econolodge in Dahlonga. I was lucky to get the room, too because most other hotels in Dahlonga couldn't accomodate us. Talk about me being a bit of a procrastinator. Friday we'll get up really early, eat our breakfast and hit the trail - hopefully by 8:30 or 9. I know that I'll have trouble sleeping tonight because I'm three days away from putting one foot in front of the other down a path lined with white blazes and green trees. -leanna
Date: 2003-03-21
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Springer Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I just finished my first day on the AT - well actually the approach trail. Some people consider it part of the trail, others don't. I figured that it might as well be, plus I could weigh my pack before I started. I weighed in at 42 poulds - GULP! I was apalled and shocked. I handed off some extra almonds, a pair of long john pants and a "spice wheel" to my mom - figuring that would take me down by at least two pounds, maybe. I later found out that the scale was three pounds off - to my benfit. Turns out I only had 39 - minus the one pound of stuff I pawned off on momma - I probably was only carrying 38 lbs. Not bad at all! When we arrived at Amacalola I also saw Pirate who I met at the Gathering last October and Thor who is hiking the AT for a second time with his frind Mark. Caroline and I set off up the approach trail around 8:45 or 9. We stopped off at the top of the falls for a look around. And to catch our breath. It was a steep climb. The day began perfect (the day before was totally foggy and cold ALL day) and heald out with super weather the remainder of the day. It must have been in the 50s or 60s. The rest of the approach trail wasn't as killer as we thought it would be. Along the way I also met Red, Sprout and Dan. We camped at the Springer Mountain Shelter - Lots of wind blowing made my tent super loud to sleep in. Actually, I don't think Caroline or I got any sleep that night - with Thor and Mark tented on our right and Pirate on our left. It was snoring in stereo! Plus, who can sleep outdoors on their first night out? My legs are definately tight. That's it. Gear Report: Six Moons Designs Europa Tent - Lots of Condensation, comfortable, sil-nylon bottom a little slick, but it slept two very easily.
Date: 2003-03-22
From: Springer Mtn. Shelter

To: Hawk Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The Chianti and all was just like being in Italy. Frankie joined Caroline and I today at the Hawk Mtn. shelter. We almost simultaniously arrived (well, within 15 minutes) and it was a joyous arrival. I had managed to keep Frankie's coming a surprise for Caroline. Within 100 ft. of the shelter, another hiker - Last Minute - asked if we were meeting a friend from Atlanta here - AH, he let the cat out of the bag just before we got there!!! Oh well, it was still funny to see the shock on Caroline's face. Today's hike was a moderate one - lots of flats with just a little bit of ups. Caroline ended up with blisters, so during the last part of the hike she wasn't a happy camper. I can't say I've met too many hikers today, but boy, I've seen a lot of boy scouts! They're all over this area. Maybe because it's sping break? My drama for today was my left hamstring was bothering me. I'm going to try to vary my pace / walking pattern and see if that doesn't help it out any. Gear Report: My Vasque boots that are like 10 years old burst a seam today. The seam on the inside of the right shoe. Ugh. What to do? Will get a quick fix in Neel's Gap, I assume. Then see a cobbler in Franklin.
Date: 2003-03-23
From: Hawk Mtn. Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Wow! Don't really know where to start with this journal entry. I just returned from a wonderfully fun gathering around the campfire. All total there were probably 15 of us. People were from all over - Indiana, Germany, NC, Alabama, DC...and all from so many different walks of life. It was a neat expereince to have people just open up and start talking, developing friendships and telling their stories. It seems like a lot of these are very fast hikers though, I may only see them today and not after. The hike today was nice. Caroline and her feet were in better spirits. Naturally, that uplifted me too. Having a companion sur has been nice. I'm not sure how I'll fee about it after she leaves. I saw my first flower today of spring. The flower was white with a yellow center and it had a shapely leaf - with kind of jagged edges. It was cool. I didn't take a picture, but will take one of the same kind the next time I see one. I would have walked right past it if it wasn't for the cabbage/tulip looking plant that was across the trail from it. Later, we saw Jack Jump Up flowers - little yellow ones - close to Justis Creek. Justus Creek was definately another highlight from the day. We dangled our feet in the water and met some neat section hikers from NY state ("pace" and Julia - I think). It was a day full of one beauty after another - beautiful vistas, hawks flying, flowers, nice shelter, good company and so much more! Now I'm off to sleep.