morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-01-14
To: Welcome!!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Well, I finally got around to setting this up! It's about time, huh? Welcome to my trail journal! I hope you enjoy reading it! In thinking about setting this up, I wasn't really sure how I wanted to start, but I guess I'll start in from the beginning. When did I first want to backpack the AT? Originally, I had read about it in magazines/newspapers, but didn't really know many details, and I didn't really feel called to hike it, although it sounded neat. Then, in the summer of '02 I was visiting my grandparents for a week in Vermont and spotted an intro. to backpacking type book and picked it up. In the first chapter or so they talked about the AT and I read the book cover to cover, taking notes. I had hiked and camped before, but had never been backpacking. For some reason, though, thru-hiking was very attractive to me. On the way home(Maryland) we stopped in New Jersey to visit some family and found out that my uncle and 2 cousins liked to backpack and I expressed interest. Later that year I was invited to join them on a weeklong backpacking trip on the AT from Kent, CT to Bear Mountain Bridge, NY. I borrowed a lot of gear and bought a few things, did a bunch of reading, and with the help of my uncle and cousins, was ready to go. Well, I had a blast!! I loved it...yes, I get really blistered up (and earned a trail name that suited) and yes, I was sore, but for the most part I just couldn't keep a smile off my face! It just felt right, and from that week on, I was hooked...I got the bug! Over the next few years I continued to backpack, mostly during summer with my uncle, Bandana Man, and cousin, Fivel, completing Maryland as well as a section in New York and Pennsylvania. We met people from all over, section hikers, thru-hikers, day hikers...and every time I talked to the thru-hikers, I felt more and more like I wanted to do it, too.    Then I decided I wanted to hike the Long Trail in Vermont, inspired by Bandana Man, because I love Vermont, and I thought that the length would give me an idea about whether I still might want to try thru-hiking the AT. Needless to say, it was difficult, but I loved it, and left it still loving backpacking and entertaining the idea of the AT, just not sure when it would be possible.   Well, I decided that '08 is my year...I'm not going to put it off and put it off. I don't know if I can wait, and I don't know if I'll be phyically, emotionally, or financially able to do it later in my life. I'm going for it now!    After I had decided and starting telling people, a friend emailed me this quote that I feel fits well.         "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed            by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you            did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the            safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.            Explore. Dream. Discover."                           -Mark TwainSo here I go!
Date: 2008-01-14
To: New Years
Miles today: 0.0

I had a blast this year, bringing in the new year with some friends! I couldn't help thinking after we counted down, that this is it, this is the year. It feels a lot more real and close, because it's "this year", not "next year." Wow! It wasn't much later that I went into an overwhelmed phase. I seem to be in and out of phases since I made the decision to do this. I started with the oh-my-gosh-am-I-really-going-to-do-this phase, then the really-excited phase, scared phase, and overwhelmed phase (cause I hadn't really done any planning yet). I have cycled through these phases a few times, not necessarily in this order, and not evenly represented. I am sure I will continue over the next 2 months (omigosh) as well as through my hike.       ¢You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.¢                                 -Mary Manin Morrissey quotes
Date: 2008-01-14
To: Preparing Family
Miles today: 0.0

My family is very supportive of me and although there is some concern, they are excited that I will be doing something that makes me happy and that I've been wanting to do for a while now, fulfilling a dream, if you will (if it doesn't sound too corny). Their support is very important to me and gives me strength. I was raised to research decisions, look at all sides, and to be prepared. They saw how this played out when I thru-hiked the Long Trail, which seems to ease their minds some. Answering questions and talking things through helps too, but I also decided to take my parents out and share my love of hiking with them and give them a picture of what things will look like. Neither of them had been on the AT before, and I showed them a shelter as well, so they might be able to picture what things might look like when I camp at night.       ¢If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams,and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.¢                                          -Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2008-01-18
To: Down jacket
Miles today: 0.0

Yeah!! My new down jacket arrived yesterday! How exciting!! I opened it up and put it right on...fits very well. No stores have it near me so I had to order it without trying it on and was a bit nervous about it. But it's fabulous! It is a Montbell Light Parka. It is a handful of ounces heavier than the jacket without the hood, but I decided I would deal with that in exchange for being warmer. I tend to get chilly easily. I have even been trying to get my body used to the cold a bit more and to toughen myself up. I don't use the heat in the car. I haven't pulled out my usual winter coat. I am not sleeping with my normal 6 blankets this winter . I'm not a big fan of being cold, but I think I've gotten much better since I've been doing this. I know I'm going to be cold a lot in the beginning, but at least I'll be a little tougher for it...I hope. So yeah for my new jacket!       ¢The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.¢                                       -Tom Bradley quotes
Date: 2008-01-31
To: FAQ
Miles today: 0.0

Thought I'd answer some FAQ for you about my hike -- might be helpful for some of you. Some are general questions about the AT/backpacking and some are specific to MY hike.   WHEN ARE YOU LEAVING AND WHEN WILL YOU RETURN? I'm leaving mid-March and not sure when I'll return. I'm thinking it'll take me about 5 1/2 months, but am flexible. We'll see how it goes.HOW MANY MILES WILL YOU DO EACH DAY? In a full day of hiking, I will do anywhere from 8-20something miles per day. Mileage will be lower in the beginning, and comparatively so in the Whites, I presume. After the first couple weeks I will be able to do more mileage, after I get my trail legs. There will also be days where I'm going into/out of town and I might only do a couple miles to/from the shelter. It will probably average to about 15 per day.HOW MUCH FOOD WILL YOU CARRY? I will probably carry an average of 4-5 days of food. It depends on how far it is until the next resupply point. It is said that you will carry about 2 lbs. of food for each day. HOW WILL YOU GET MORE FOOD? I will be doing a combination of things. I will be sending myself drop boxes of food to hostels or PO's (c/o General Delivery) along the way. Actually, I will only be sending the first 2, then my parents will take over sending them as I go. I will also be buying food from grocery stores along the way. -- Whichever is easier/cheaper in each instance.WHAT ABOUT WATER? Water will be retrieved via a filter from springs, creeks, etc. along the way.((Bug filtering in picture above) WHAT ABOUT WASHING? When I go into a town, along with food I will be washing my clothes (laundramat/hostel) and myself (hostel).
Date: 2008-01-31
To: FAQ2
Miles today: 0.0

WHERE WILL I SLEEP? I will be carrying a 1-person tent...MSR Hubba...that I just ordered--yeah!!...my last big gear purchase!! Anyway, I will be using those, but there are also shelters spaced out along the trail. Here is a picture of the James Fry Shelter in PA this past November. Picture a bunch of exhausted hikers stretched out on their sleeping bags. Sometimes this shelter are has a table, a fire ring, and a privy (outhouse). Sometimes they are right on the AT, sometimes you much use a blue-blazed trail to get there. WHAT WILL YOU EAT? Basically food that is worth its weight...dehydrated stuff especially. A typical breakfast for me in the past has been oatmeal, but I'm sure I'll get tired of it at some point and try poptarts, GORP (trail mix), or some type of granola bar. For lunch I like Peanut butter on a bagel. Dinner might be Mac-n-Cheese, Lipton side meals, instant mashed potatoes, stuffing, Couscous, Ramen, any kind of just-add-water meals (like Mountain House), with some kind of meat/protein. Things I will eat anytime of the day: Peanut Butter, GORP, cheese, and Cliff bars or the like.WHAT ABOUT BEARS??? No matter what I tell you, you'll still talk at lunch about how I'm going to be attacked, so why waste my time HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? It could cost me anywhere from $2000-$8000 or more, but, if you know me you'll know I will be trying to stay on the lower end, without sacrificing experiences important to me. This does not include gear expenses. It covers food, transportation, and shelter during the hike. Really, though, covering all my bills while I'm away will cost more than the trail expenses!ARE YOU CRAZY? Yes
Date: 2008-02-21
To: Getting Nervous!
Miles today: 0.0

WOW am I in the overwhelmed, scared, nervous phase. I'm starting in a few weeks and don't have my mail drops ready--and I haven't even gotten all my food bought yet. Mom and I got a bunch of food, mostly snacks, at Costco yesterday, but still have to buy dinners. I'll be doing a mix of maildrops and buying along the way and I'm trying to send myself dinners that I might not be getting along the way to give myself some variety. I know I'm going to get tired of a lot of things along the way, so variety is good. I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off and doing the emotional eating (binging really) from stress--lack of sleep very much affects my will power. Anyway, it's been a rough couple of days. Really, it's been the way life usually is...it's just that the little bumps seemed to have more of an affect on my ride than usual. Wow, what a rant! Thanks for letting me vent...I feel better now."Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.¢                                                    ¢ Gail Devers
Date: 2008-02-24
To: My new home
Miles today: 0.0

Today I set up my tent again, just one of the many times before I start out, so that it becomes easier/faster. I'll be looking for a rainy day, too, to practice setting it up without getting the inside wet. It's going to be cozy in there "Do not lose hold of your dreams or asprirations. For if you do, you may still exist but you have ceased to live." - Henry David Thoreau
Date: 2008-02-25
To: Resupply Prep
Miles today: 0.0

I've spent the last 2 days taking my groceries and organizing them into meals. I believe I have enough, although I haven't gotten to the dividing-them-into-boxes part yet...that will come tomorrow or so. I was getting so tired of looking at the food (I know, not good since I will be eating it for months) that I was just throwing stuff in ziplocks at the end, not really taking much time/care...or maybe I'd been doing it so long that I didn't really have to concentrate so hard on it, yeah, that's it. For real, though, the meals don't look too bad...Some people complain about the food they won't be able to eat on the trail, but I don't usually eat a lot of the trail food off the trail, and so it's a treat to have what I eat. I know, the novelty will wear off, and that's okay, but at least I'm starting off excited about the food. I'm also glad I will be buying food along the way, too, for more variety. Yeah for food!¢So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."                                       - Christopher Reeve
Date: 2008-02-29
To: More maildrop prep fun
Miles today: 0.0

I had off from work today and spent most of the day in my living room, a.k.a. the mess that is my maildrop content. I layed out all the boxes across the room and labeled them all with the name of the town they are being sent to. The paper labeling them also had the amount of each meal/snack the box would need. Starting with dinners, I started doling out each meal. I made about 5 of each recipe (when I calculated it out, that would give me the total dinners) and so I spread them out so it would be at least a week if not multiples weeks before I get that meal again. I also tried to make it so that I would spread out the different types, i.e. only one couscous meal in each box, only one ramen meal in each box, etc...I know I'll get tired of many of my meals, but I figure if I spread them out as much as possible, it won't be too bad. After I finished and double checked that each pile has the correct amount, and after I'm all proud of myself because even with forgetting to add in an extra just-in-case meal, each pile had all it needed, I realized that I completely skipped the last box because it was sitting on the ottoman and not on the floor with the rest of them. Whoops...oh well, no biggie. I'll just have the buy some more for it, as well as make a few extra so Mom doesn't have to make extra if they are needed. I also didn't buy enough snacks/bars--again, I forgot about the just-in-case food. Food is my last big project- I feel so much better having made such a dent in it!! Whooohoooo, we're so close now! "Each of us has an inner dream that we can unfold if we will just have the courage to admit what it is. And the faith to trust our own admission. The admitting is often very difficult."                                             - Julia Cameron
Date: 2008-03-04
To: Overwhelmed, with kindness
Miles today: 0.0

Wow!! My last work day is Friday! I can't wait...and I can't believe we're going to be loading up the car this time next week to head down to Georgia. It's been more of a dream still, even with all this work. I can't believe I'm actually going to do this! And I'm incredibly overwhelmed right now, but not with work that's left...this time it's with my friends and family. It's with the amount of support shown in various ways...gifts/money, offers of gifts/money, and cards/calling cards/gift cards. A surprise sending off party my 9 Ball league friends threw/attended (which included great food and a fabulously decorated cake). It's the offers to meet me to take me out or to a place for a shower/bed, or to bring me needed items/homemade/non-dehydrated items of food. It's my friends who take me out to eat at the Mongolian Grill and give me a Bass Pro Shop gift card and an evening of fun...my family, out for a great meal at Outback...friends who call, just to say good luck and be safe and have fun. Friends who want to just hang out before I go...a very thoughtful gift from a great coworker...Mom and Bandana Man helping out with this trail journal...and all the tons of words/actions of support from so so many people. I'm sorry if I left something/someone out, but know that all is very much appreciated. I am so extremely overwhelmed with your kindness/support. It makes my heart happy. Thank you!"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.¢ - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Date: 2008-03-07
To: Exams are over!
Miles today: 0.0

On my way to work (my last day, yeah!) I was thinking about things, really thinking about what my journey was going to be like...thinking about past backpacking trips, picturing myself out there. It occured to me that I haven't really had much time to do that. It sounds weird, since I've been preparing for this for so long, and that most waking hours were spent preparing for my hike...if I was at work, I was thinking about what I needed to do or weighing the pros/cons about some gear item. Maybe I was at the grocery store buying food for my mail drops, or ripping guidebooks, typing my itinerary, and reading about all sorts of aspects while at home. Now, though, most of my gear is bought and the last large project is officially completed (maildrop boxes)....and I can finally just think about being there, meeting people, getting water, or whatever. I was thinking...it's like when I was in high school or college and it was the end of the semester. Summer was so close I could smell it, but I couldn't get too exciting about it, couldn't really think about too much of what I was going to do because I was so distracted by the impending exams...so much studying, late nights, etc...And when they were finally through, it was this huge weight had lifted, and I was ready for the summer and everything it meant. Now, although I enjoy preparing maildrops and buying gear and stuff WAY more than taking exams, I think the feelings toward summer and starting the trail are similar. Yeah!! Exams are over!! Onward to Springer!"Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you."- Marsha Norman
Date: 2008-03-09
To: No room!!
Miles today: 0.0

Omigosh!! I just spend hours looking through my gear and gear list, making sure everything was there and packing my pack. I was packing early because tomorrow I'm going into my Mom's 2nd grade classroom to talk about my hike. They are going to follow me with the journal and a map, at least for as long as the school year goes, I think. It's a really good thing I did it, because I couldn't fit everything in the pack that I had planned on bringing. I was almost to the point of tears. I take so much time and put so much thought into researching items and trying to find items that can be for more than one purpose...I was upset and awestruck (well, maybe not that dramatic ) that it was busting at the seems. Then I weighed myself with and w/out the pack. Frankly, I was upset with both weights...hehe...I've been working out and watching what I eat, but the last month and a half I guess I've been emotional eating all over the place and have gained 5-10...upsetting. I already have too much weight in the pack, now I have to lug even more up those mountains. I went to bed, got some sleep, and feel better. Part of my reaction to things was because I was tired, and partially because I'm sure getting emotional about going/starting, etc... When I could think rationally about my pack, I thought about how my expected pack weight was w/out winter gear and that winter gear takes up about 4-5 pounds of it. My pack IS heavier than I was hoping, but I've backpacking for a week with my pack this heavy before, and I know I can do it, and will be fine going further, too. I though about the items that doesn't fit and have gone back and forth about whether I really need it or not (and thinking about other items that I could possibly ditch). Right now I'm planning on bringing it, attaching it to the outside of my pack, and sending it home if it's not really needed. I know I can handle the weight, and I would rather have it and want to send it home, than need it, and not be able to get it for a while or buy another one in town. Someone posted on whiteblaze, I think, that your pack weight reflects how afraid one is...hypothermia is the fear, and I'll overpack to start with until I'm comfortable that all the other clothing items are enough/assigned correctly to their respective jobs (i.e. dry pants, wet pants, dry shirt, wet shirt, etc...) Sorry, I rambled a bit there...I don't know if any of that even made sense to you, but the bottom line is: I was upset about my pack weight/fullness, but I have come to terms with it, and it's not as bad as it felt last night. It's all good.
Date: 2008-03-13
To: Almost there!
Miles today: 0.0

So, here we are in Dahlonega, GA. Mom, Dad, and I are at the Econo Lodge (see pix). We drove up yesterday--11 1/2 hours, checked in and headed to the Wagon Wheel restaurant, "where the locals go to eat", an ad said. There we got a flavor of the area and some home-style cookin'--a very friendly bunch.Today I slept in--yeah! Mom spent a lot of time reseaching/planning for our day (which was really appreciated since I am all planned out at the moment!). First we checked out the Smith Plantation, kinda near Atlanta. It was fun hearing about this family and learning about the times. Then we went to Stone Mountain (see pix)and hiked to the top. Yes, I hiked the day before starting the AT--what's a few extra miles, eh? It was pretty much a 360 degree view, with a view of Atlanta. We headed back to Dahlonega and had a phenominal meal at Caruso's. I had the chicken scampi! At the hotel I had a fun time talkig to Fivel and Bandana Man (my cousin and uncle) and then tried to go to sleep.
Date: 2008-03-14
From: Amicalola Falls State Park Office

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: light rain

Day 1 --Well, I didn't sleep well at all last night--woke up around 5 am and kept waking up. Although the shower had nice water pressure, my last shower before hitting the trail was a mix of being scalded and shivering. Had a random breakfast of a chocolate chip cookie (shhh...don't tell Mom), pound cake, leftover chicken, and cereal. I wasn't really hungry, but I knew I should eat something. We headed over to Amicalola Falls State Park and checked in. I am #204. We took pictures by the Approach Trail sign, said our good-byes, had a nice prayer, said our good-byes again, and I headed up the trail. It drizzled lightly for a time and became much more steady when I reached the Falls. Although the Approach Trail was marked "Strenuous", the first bit wasn't too bad. Then though, it started descending (I thought it was going to be all up) and I didn't see any blue blazes for a while. I asked some day hikers coming the opposite way and I felt better that I was on the correct trail. After a little rest, I was ascending and ran into Red and Aries and their husbands (Vern and ?). One of the guys I hike with at home knew them. It's been a bit of comfort to me to know we were starting on the same day and that I would probably run into them. As I was leaving them to move on, I remarked how the rain had felt good earlier. And, of course, as if on cue, the rain started up again and continued for a couple of hours. I was pretty hungry after a while but didn't feel like stopping and taking my pack off,plus it was still steadily raining. I decided to stop at Black Gap Shelter to eat. Red and Aries and crew came in a little bit later. They offered help when I get to the Boiling Springs/Pine Grove Furnace area--so nice of them! It was a quick 1.5 miles from there to the summit of Springer. Many Sleeps, the caretaker, took my picture and I headed to Springer Mountain Shelter. There were a bunch of guys there, but it looked like they were moving on. I decided to move on, too. I felt pretty good and knew from Many Sleeps that it would be mostly downhill to Stover Creek Shelter. Also, I was looking at doing 14.7 tomorrow and I know how I get on Day 2 of hikes. I'm not always at the top of my game on Day 2. I figured this would be 2.6 miles less I would have to do tomorrow. I arrived at Stover Creek Shelter around 4:15ish to three very friendly faces...2 male, 1 female, all late 20's early 30's. The 2 guys are together: Solo and Kong, from Charlotte, NC. Wing-It (Jennifer) is from Florida. A lady I passed earlier came in quite a bit later: Half Moon. She showed me how to use the bear cables.Video: