morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-03-03
To: Maildrop Central
Miles today: 0.0

Sam's Club. What a wonderful place. Went there this week and spent $188 on food for my resupply, then I went to Wal-Mart and spent about $250 more. I packed half my boxes last night. Oscar was going nuts watching me with all those Wheat Thins and Oreos. He picked up anything I dropped. I believe beef jerky was his favorite. This maildrop thing has been quite an experience. Took longer than I thought it would. I stood there looking at all this food and realized I don't buy any of it (except Wheat Thins) in real life. I only eat this stuff when I camp.The majority of my maildrop boxes consist of:wheat thinsLipton noodles and ricemac and cheese (of course)Ramen noodles (haven't had them since college)Oreos (imagine that)Peanut M&M'sSnickers (do you know what a box of 48 of these weighs?)OatmealGranola barspop tartsbeef jerkytrail mix (I made my own. It rocks!)dried fruit (I'm debating this. I don't think I can handle the sulfur taste.)It was quite an adventure to put all these boxes together in my small kitchen, but Oscar and I got the job done. He fell asleep halfway through though so I docked his pay. Putting these boxes together makes this journey seem very real. I know I didn't buy all this food so I could come home early and eat it! I did eat some mac and cheese last night though. I couldn't resist. This did teach me that no matter how well you plan, you will make mistakes and have to redo something. I will enter my maildrop list this week with estimated arrival dates. Just remember, anything you send has to be consumed or carried! Lots of people have told me they will send me stuff and I appreciate so much that people are sharing in my excitement. I sold my car. For the first time in 16 years I do not have a vehicle. For two weeks I will hitch a ride to work and borrow a friend's car to go run a few errands. I feel very free and my keychain is very light. I also feel like a mooch. I don't know how to spell that. Bumming rides isn't fun, but people have been very generous in offering to help. Big thanks to Rob and Adrienne for letting me bum rides to work. Mary
Date: 2003-03-04
To: Oscar's Bad Day
Miles today: 0.0

Look at this dog. Looks innocent enough doesn't he? Don't be fooled! I have to tell you what happened yesterday.My friend Adrienne drops me off at my apartment after work. I'm tired, have a lot to do, just want to get started on my afternoon chores, and what greets me when I walk in my apartment? A little brown dog who has gotten into my resupply boxes! He knocked two of them off by getting up in my lawn chair (I sold my couches too and have no where to sit). I was right yesterday when I said beef jerky was his favorite. Nothing else had been touched, but he tore open a ziploc bag of jerky and ate the whole thing! He only weighs 20 pounds! He had puked twice next to his bed and drank an entire bowl of water in one day.The first thing I did was yell at him and then I cleaned up. The whole time I'm cleaning up and putting the food back in the boxes I'm thinking how relieved I am he didn't eat all the chocolate. Then I took him outside in case of more negative reactions to the very dry, salty, jerky. He peed for days from all the water.When I came back inside, he drank more water. Big mistake. He puked three more times while I was at the DMV returning my license plate. Got home, cleaned up again, then I noticed my little rag doll that always sits in the floor is wadded up by the TV. "That's odd," I say to myself. Then I look behind my quilts that are hanging on a ladder in my living room because that's where my doll usually sits. There is a bag of beef jerky unopened and hiding baack there! How smart is my little Oscar? He hid some for later! If only I had the same willpower to save some for later.I was so mad at him and yet so proud at the same time. Now I will miss him even more.Mary
Date: 2003-03-06
To: Not again
Miles today: 0.0

Here's a little word scramble for you. You figure it out.Beef jerky, puked, Oscar, again, 6 times, ate, stinks, my apartment, He's in, big trouble, this time, NOT FUNNYI can't believe it. That dog is either way smarter than I ever gave him credit for, or way more stupid for doing it again when he already knew the results! If he can reach the boxes this time after I've moved them into the laundry room on the dryer behind a closed door, he deserves whatever is in them and I'll even cook it for him! Karla, thanks for the use of the Sam's club card. Oscar appreciates it too, obviously.I leave Tucson in 10 days to go home. I can't believe it. I have so much to do at work to prepare for a substitute for two nine weeks. My students keep asking about my trip and when I'm leaving. Either they want me out of here or they are going to miss me!Hopefully there will be no more Oscar incidents. He's never been in this much trouble in the 11 years I've had him. What a little booger!Mary
Date: 2003-03-16
To: The journey before the adventure
Miles today: 0.0

I leave Tucson tonight in a rental car with my pack, my resupply boxes, and my dog. I'm so ready for this logistical nightmare to be over and the journey to begin. My friends from work had a party for me on Friday night and I was so grateful they thought enough of me to have a party. Of course, it might have just been an excuse to have a party! Either way, I was thrilled and had a great time. Thanks Marty for organizing the party and for the ride to my rental car tonight! So many people gave me cards and wished me well. It was almost overwhelming. My hiking buddy Steve gave me some tangerine Altoids. They rock and are well worth the weight. Thanks Steve and I'm glad you came on Friday. Trena and Bob, thanks for the whistle. It was the one thing I still needed to buy. I knew we were friends for some reason. I'm so glad I got to see you before I left.Oscar has recovered fully from the beef jerky incidents and begrudgingly let me bathe him today. The movers put my stuff in storage this morning an I realized my entire life fit in a 10'x 10' storage unit. That's a good thing at this point. I'm looking forward to the drive home to KY and one last goodbye to my family before I take off. Feels good and it feels right.I lost 15 pounds, then gained 5 back these last few weeks. I call my reserves -kind of like a camel only I don't spit when I'm mad. I figured I would need it to start so I refused to worry about it. I'll probably write one more time before I actaully start the trail. To all my students, I will miss you too and am looking forward to seeing you in October. I'll keep my journal "G" rated just for all of you!MaryI can't wait to get a trail name.
Date: 2003-03-20
To: Cross Country
Miles today: 0.0

The drive across the country is done. I arrived at the Nashville airport in my rental car on Tuesday with all my crap and my dog only to realize they wouldn't lallow my sister to actually park near me and load my stuff. This was stressful to say the least. I had to load everything onto two carts and wait for her to park on level two then she came down with my neice who took Oscar while we pushed the carts into the elevator and loaded everything into garbage baags because she was in a truck and it was raining. Finally we were done I made it home. Oscar was by far the most exhausted of all of us after this adventure. But, he is also the oldest. You know, I never realized just how bad his breath is until I was in a car with him with all the windows up because it ws raining. Whoa doggies!New Mexico was uneventful, I got a warning for speeding in Texas (don't mess with Texas) and in Arkansas I was the only car on the road. The rest were all 18 wheelers! I felt very small. I had a lot of time to think while I was on the road. Funny how I didn't come to any great revelations while I was behind the wheel. Mostly I just hoped I hadn't forgotten anything. I listened to a lot of CD's. Texas may be big and proud but they need more radio stations! I didn't stop unless I needed gas, so there was one common phrase that ran through my head a lot. "I do not have to pee. I do not have to pee." It worked and kept me on the road for five hours at a time. Oscar didn't appreciate this since he only had the front seat to move around in. I wondered if we would be going to war. We are. This is a concern for me, but not a deterrent. I will find ways to keep updated. My brother in law may be deployed. I hope this is not the case. Five more days until I start. I can't believe it and neither can my family. I have to go show my sister the mystery of the resupply boxes. It's all very confusing because she didn't plan it. It occured to me after I transported 23 boxes of food and supplies across the country that I could have gone shopping and put them together after I got home. I also could have delivered the rental car to another Styrofoam coolers leak. Hmmm. Hindsight...Mary
Date: 2003-03-23
To: Almost there
Miles today: 0.0

I am a little closer to the trail than I was yesterday. I am now in Nashville taking care of last minute things. I leave tomorrow for GA and will begin on Tuesday. I can't believe I have two more nights in a comfy bed and then I'm off! This day has finally arrived - seven years after I began to dream of it. I wanted to tie up some loose ends here then I'll be on my way tomorrow. First, I will tell you about my pack. I keep forgetting to tell everyone who knows I got a new pack that is actually holds everything and I am going to use it! It is lightweight, sturdy, and very efficient. I like efficient. It is more comfortable than my other pack, but brought my Osprey to my sister's house in case something goes wrong with the ULA. My sister can ship my other one. ULA Equipment is run by Brian Frankle. He is a one man show practically and produces a great product. His website is www.ula-equipment.com I believe. Check it out.Yesterday we had a party for my grandmother's 60th, I mean 90th birthday. She is an amazing woman. In 90 years of life she has not one enemy. How many of us can say that? There were probably over 300 people at this party and I was so glad to see so many of my relatives before I leave. Many of these people I had not seen in years. Yesterday was truly a good day.I go 6 months at a time without seeing my sisters, my dad and Wilma, my grandmother, my niece. Yet, saying goodbye to them yesterday was more difficult than it has ever been. Saying goodbye to my dog was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I had to force myself to stand up and walk out of the house without looking back at him. He knew something was different and he was sad. I can't tell him I'll be back in six months. My family knows that, he doesn't. I hope my sister's dog and my brother-in-law with the "dots" will keep him busy while I'm gone. He will have a yard with grass and a female friend. I think there is no better place for him to be while I'm gone. Thanks Melinda and Rocky for taking him in. I am ready for this journey to begin. The planning has been endless! If I have forgotten something, too bad! That probably means less to carry for me. I have many emotions running through me right now - excitement, anxiety, nervousness, fear, joy, none of them negative and all of them needed! I will see you on the trail.Mary
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Springer Mtn. 3,730

To: Hawk Mtn. Shelter 3,260
Miles today: 7.6

Where to begin. What an amazing day to begin a thru-hike. Clear skies, 75 degrees or warmer,and met some fantastic people. We began the day at Amicalola Lodge where my partners, Stephen and Michelle, and I spent last night. Hacksaw picked us up to drive us to the trailhead and I said goodbye to Butch. We were dropped off .9miles from the trailhead and had to backtrack, so we actually did about 9 miles today. Took some pictures at Springer Mtn but missed signing the register. Hated that.We began hiking and had amazing weather all day. Hiked to Carter's Creek and had lunch,then took more pictures at Long Creek Falls. Beautiful! When we got to Hawk Mtn. Shelter there were a lot of people there. I met Dreamwalker and Sunshine Man who signed my guestbook. I was so excited! Both wonderful men. I will see a lot of them. Also camped with Moo(Mike) and Forty-two(Liz)who are married and very funny! Smokey is here and is a special ed teacher - just graduated! She sleeps in a hammock-very cool. Also met Sprout, Pete, and his buddy Dardin and an Iranian named Hassan or the Healer. Ken from Montana is here but may not continue. What a great day. I have had doubts today, but not about finishing. I have enjoyed myself and I have questioned myself. I realized I have two great hiking partners who want our partnership to last. So do I. God was very good to me my first day on the AT and I am grateful. Oh yes, I am also grateful for the Do Si Dos Ken brought. No trail name yet. I can't wait. Thunderstorms tomorrow I believe. I miss my dog. Melinda says he is doing fine and likes the yard. Mary
Date: 2003-03-26
From: Hawk Mtn. Shelter 3,260

To: Gooch Gap Shelter 2,730
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept okay last night in my GoLite Tarp. Well, under it anyway. No rain, even today,but will probably rain tonight. I'm sleeping in the shelter tonight so we will see how it goes. Hope nobody snores. I think Stephen snores so I'm going to throw things at him.This morning it was 50 degrees when I woke up and I was ecstatic! I was very warm last night and didn't get any visits from critters. This morning I saw a deer in the woods and it wasn't even afraid. That can be good or bad.I think a lot of people packed way too much food for the first few days. We are all trying to give it away so we don't have to carry it! Tonight I am sharing the shelter with The Healer, Smokey, Dreamwalker and Bill, Nancy from Wisconsin, Christie and Ben, Chuck, and a cool college group from Wisconsin. I wil miss our group from last night. They were hysterical and I have a great dirty joke to tell them! I think we will catch them tomorrow at Woods Hole Shelter. I hope so. They are a lot of fun.There were no great revelations today while hiking, but I had a good time. I would like to travel a little faster and stop less. Tomorrow we are planning on 12 miles and will be one day ahead of schedule. I didn't realize we only had 5 miles scheduled tomorrow and I think I can easily handle 12 tomorrow. The Healer worked his magic tonight. He put several of us on the table at the shelter and cracked our necks and backs. I felt so much better! He really knows a lot about homeopathic medicine. He has Multiple Sclorosis. Another guy, Bill, has scoliosis. He has section hiked the entire AT except for the White Mountains. If he can do that, I can thru-hike it.No trail name yet. Bummer.
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Gooch Gap Shelter 2,730

To: Woods Hole Shelter 3,590
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

I cannot believe the weather. Could my hike begin with three more perfect days of hiking? The thunderstorms never came. It was 50 degrees when I woke up and was very windy today, but got up to 80. Saw the best view yet today on Big Cedar Mountain. Smelled a skunk today. Picked up the pace a bit.Had no trouble with the 12 miles today, but my feet were hurting when I finished. I think I will try to find some cushy insoles.At the shelter tonight I am staying with Moo and 42, Sleepy Floyd and Michelle, Smmokey, Christie, Ben, and Chuck, Finch, Tom for Short, Sieniga,and Foreplay. I dont't know how he got that trail name. They are sitting around the campfire but I can't stand the smoke for some reason so I am listening from afar. The people I have met so far are amazing. I cannot believe I waited seven years to do this. I was thinking today about all the people I have met so far and how lucky I am to have this experience. Tomorrow we hike Blood Mountain first thing. It is the highest peak in Georgia and has a bad reputation. I've read some journals that say it wasn't as bad as they thought it would be. It is 4,461 feet tall. I'm up for it. I was really pushing myself today and I hiked from 8:00 to 4:00. I feel pretty good.Tomorrow we only do four miles,and we end at Neel's Gap Walasi-Yi Center where we can shower, do laundry, and pick up our resupply packages with more food! I have no shortage of appetite. Can't wait to sleep in a bed! No trail name yet. Maybe tomorrow. Goodnight Oscar.Mary
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap Walasi-Yi Hostel 3,140
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up around 7:00 and it was about 50 degrees again. It was very cloudy at Woods Hole and we had no view from the top of Blood Mountain. The climb wasn't bad. I've done a lot worse in AZ. We thought we would get rained on, but got lucky once again and only had clouds. I am sunburned from hiking in cloudy weather. There was a great shelter at the top of Blood Mountain but it looks like no one uses it anymore. The picture shows Sleepy Floyd (Stephen, my partner), Finch (Tom), Moo (Mike), The Healer (Hassan), and Michelle, my other partner. We all signed the register and took off again because it was cold and windy up there.We reached Neels Gap arund 11:30 and went into decision overload. So much food, where to stay, how to pick up our mail, take a shower, do laundry, organize our packs, and write in my journal. I did everything but write before 3:00. I got a frozen pizza, chips, a Reese's, and a pint of Ben and Jerry's! Tomorrow we do about 10 miles. I hiked alone for most of yesterday and I hiked with five others today. I think there will be days I need to be alone and other days I want to hike with other people. Sometimes I just need to be alone.I am grateful I am not hiking in cactus. Got my trail name today."Cookie"
Date: 2003-03-31
From: Hogpen Gap 3,450

To: Blue Mountain Shelter 3,970
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up in the Super 8 around 6:30 and stretched for a really long time-about 30 minutes! Felt great. We finally left the hotel at 10:00 and started hiking around 11:00 from Hogpen Gap where we left off the day before. The terrain was relatively easy today, a few hills. Ate at Low Gap shelter and moved on. I hiked alone a lot today and Sleepy Floyd and Healer and I were the first of our group at the shelter. I am not sore anymore and nothing really hurts. I think I need new shoes because the toe box of mine is too small.The shelter tonight was fun. Captain(Ben)and Tenille(Christie), Viking, Sleepy Floyd, Flatlander, Smokey and I all stood around the campfire and laughed until 9:00 and then it was bedtime. These people are so funny. It would be great to go the whole way with them but I doubt that will happen.It's really weird what you think about while hiking alone. I thought about several old boyfriends today and why I had lost touch with them. I also thought about my grandma and hoped she was okay. She just turned 90. Most of my time was spent trying not to slip in the mud leftover from melting snow. This took a lot of brainpower.Noodles and cheese for dinner. Traded some Oreos for some sharp cheddar this 8th grader had. He was pretty happy about it. Very cold tonight but I am in the shelter with 5 others and am toasty.Cooki
Date: 2003-04-01
From: Blue Mountain Shelter 3,970

To: Tray Mtn. Shelter 4,200
Miles today: 7.7

Woke up to a fabulous sunrise! I wanted to take a picture but it was too damn cold to get out of my sleeping bag at 6:30 AM! I finally got up at 7:00 and ate, packed up, and Healer, Sleepy Floyd, and I were the first to leave. Today was a climb! We had two steep downhills all day and about 4 good climbs. The last climb before the shelter kicked my butt! But I was the third to arrive and made it around 2:30. No one else showed up until 5:00 and we were starting to think we had been stood up. Tenille showed up and alieviated our fears.I set up my tarp tonight. Hope it blocks the wind. The ground is softer than the shelter floor. I'll get a 2nd opinion from Smokey since she is the wilderness expert. It was 70 degrees today we think but is getting cold now. I dread it. Healer must have gone on. He is not here to build a fire.Hiked most of today with Sleepy Floyd but he blows by me on the uphill so he lost me at the end. We talked about our plans after the trail and discovered mine probably won't change and he doesn't have any yet. I think his parents are reading this. Hope they aren't surprised! When I finish each state I will send my memory card home and my friend Debbie will download pictures, so come back to these entries and check them out. Cookie
Date: 2003-04-02
From: Tray Mtn. Shelter 4,200

To: Deep Gap Shelter 3,550
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

I am a claustophobic wuss! I got under the tarp last night to sleep and couldn't stand it! I had to tie it low to the ground on one side because of the wind and I couldn't breathe because it felt like it was too close to my face. So I slept in the shelter with Hank who snores like a bear. Tonight if he shows up I'm telling him there is no room at the inn.Today we got to the shelter around 2:30 and all my chores were done by 3:00. Other people started showing up around 3:30. Had to climb Kelly Knob today and it was tough. Nine hundred feet in just under a mile. I did okay though.This life really boils things down to the basics - shelter,food,water, and a privy if you are lucky. These are the foremost things on evveryone's mind. When you can't just get in a car to go get food or turn on a faucet to get water, you really learn to appreciate these things when you are in towns. I also really appreciate soda machines.Great shelter tonight. My luxury digs include a shelter with a porch, bench, shelf, loft, and table. There is also a privy, bear cables, and a clothesline. I do not know how to act.These damn flies or mosquitoes are going to drive me nuts! I thought it was too early for bugs! Temps were about 75 today though so I guess they are busting out!Cookie
Date: 2003-04-03
From: Deep Gap Shelter 3,550

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 3.5

Woke up to about 50 degree temps today at the shelter. Got packed up and ate in a hurry because Claude was giving us a ride to the Blueberry Patch Hostel. We hiked 3.5 miles to Dicks Creek Gap not knowing that Gary Poteet from the hostel shows up every day at 9:30 to transport anyone who is staying there. We were waiting in the parking lot when Paul and Cindy showed up with food in the back of their truck for thru-hikers. They are from Rome, GA and their son hiked the AT in 1997. Every year on this day they come to the parking lot with food and make a visit to the Blueberry because their son stayed here on 4-3. They gave us a ride into Hiawassee, GA. Great people and I am so appreciative of their trail magic today!Once we got to town we saw the rest of our gang while they were doing laundry. The Blueberry Patch did our laundry for us. I went to the store and went to eat at Daniel's Steakhouse AYCE buffet for some veggies. Then we hitched a ride back with Molly who is a high school teacher. Hitching is very common in this town. Now we are all packing our packs and getting ready for 12 miles tomorrow I hope.My pack is so heavy from all this food! I am trying to come up with some philosophical thought for today, but I am too tired. I can't go to bed until all these people leave because my bed is in the main room. The important thing is it is a bed! I took a Benadryl for the bug bites so maybe I can sleep tonight through the snoring. There's always at least one in every crowd!Goodnight Oscar. Hope you are enjoying your yard."Cookie"