morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-13
To: The day before I leave
Miles today: 0.0

Hey everyone! I am so pumped! Today is Friday, May 13th and so far this morning I have paid bills, picked up my awesome shirts that I had made, and got a 1 hr deep tissue massage. Now I am waiting on the parents to arrive so we can get a bite to eat and get ready to go to MY COLLEGE GRADUATION!!!!! Yup, you read right, I am graduating today. I will have my B.S. in Psychology which is pretty much worth B.S. So off to graduate school I go. But not before my hike this summer. My time to myself, time to relax, chill out, and Imagine my way into my dreams. To everyone who is supporting this hike in one way or another (God,mom,dad,Jen,everyone who is giving me money for graduation ,all my friends at M.A.'s who will hopefully be wishing me well even though I quit em,and all you trail angels out there that I am yet to meet), thank you. Couldn't do it without your support, guidance, love. This is my final entry before I leave for this journey, this challenge, this escape. I want to leave you all with some amazing words of encouragement for your lives:"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." -Confucious"Keep company with those who make you better." -English Proverb"You must act as if it is impossible to fail." -Ashanti Proverb"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you have imagined." -Henry David ThoreauAnd a final prayer for this trip, my life, and the lives of all of you:"Lord, grant that I might always desire more than I can accomplish."-MichelangeloUntil next time!
Date: 2005-05-17
From: enter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is Craig (Babyboys)dad. I talked to him today. He left out Sunday morning. Got sick as a dog Sunday night. Threw up all night Sunday and most of Monday. He got the number for a trail angel out of his Appalachian trail book Monday afternoon and called him. The trail angel was there in about 10 minutes, took Craig into town so he could get some sprite and medicine. Craig told me this afternoon he feels great and is ready to go. He's made 30.5 miles so far and is staying tonight at a hostel. (check spelling)Im not sure if the trail angel who helped Craig ever reads these things but just in case. Thank you for helping my son. You guys truely are angels.I'll write more as Craig checks in along the way. When he can get to a computer he will be writing himself.
Date: 2005-05-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey guys, this is Jennifer (craig's fiance'). I received two letters from him today. He says he is doing well and everything is beautiful. It's been kinda of chilly the past few nights, but luckily his equipment is working well to keep him warm. He has already begun to weed out the things that are not necessary and mail them home to me. He says they will be in town in a couple of days and will probably write himself.                                                          Jennifer
Date: 2005-05-25
To: North
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hi again folks,This is Craig (babyboy's) dad. Got a letter today. Mailed from Franklin, North Carolina. Written in his tent at Betty's creek North carolina. If everything goes according to planned he will be in the Great Smokey Mountains, Saturday the 28th. A special place for Craig. His grandparents took him there every year as a child. Lots of wonderfull memories for him I'm sure will be rekindled. He says to tell you he's having the time of his life. Seeing a lot of beautifull sights and meeting a lot of cool people. (Craig has never met a stranger)He says he's looking pretty rugged. Sore feet, knees, thighs, hips and shoulders. Speaking of which this would be a good place to insert a quote he wrote in the letter "If you want a place in the sun, you've got to put up with a few blisters" - Abigail Van BurenCraig says he stays hungry all the time. It's impossible to eat as many calories as he's burning off. He met a couple from St.Louis. He gave them a pot he realized he didn't need. They are gonna mail it home for him. Did I mention he's a trusting soul? I wouldn't have him any other way. Anyway he 's all excited because his pack got lighter. Hopefully They will reach a town soon where he can get on the internet and write you himself. Either way Jen, Craig or myself will try to keep you as informed as possible. But for now this is it!Quote of the day:"The purpose of life is to believe, to hope, to strive." - Indira Gandhi
Date: 2005-05-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello everyone! This is Craig again! I am now at Fontana Village resort, N.C. Got here this morning and this is gonna be a good break for both of us. Will be here all day tomorrow too. We are having a great time still and are happy to be heading into the Smokies soon. Speaking of:When I sarted planning this trip so long ago, I told everyone it was for me and my future family. I hoped this trip would make me a better man for myself, my future wife, and for my future children. I hoped to find myself becoming the kind of man that my dad is and that my Papa always was. I wanted this for Jennifer. To let her know that I am the man that deserves someone as wonderful as she is. I wanted this for my future children. I wanted them to know that there is a man out there and there always will be a man out there that can take care of them. A man that they can believe in, be proud of the way that I have always been of my dad and Papa. These things run through my mind daily out here on the trail and are a huge part of what I think about. Yet, recently there has been something more.A few days ago, Paul and I started discussing when we would arrive in Fontana Dam, N.C. We looked in the handbook and realized that this is the beginning of the Smoky Mountains National Park. Boy have I been on some wonderful trips there! When I was a child, Papa and Mama used to take us there often. Mostly to Cherokee. Suddenly I realized that I was dying to get to the Smokies. I now have another reason to do my best on this trip: I know that in some way beyond my understanding, I am now walking into the Smokies with my Mama and Papa watching over me, taking every step with me. I know that they loved being here and that they loved bringing the grandkids here, and now I am happy to be bringing them here with me. I know that I will make them proud of me in this and in my future, just the way that I now see how proud I am to have known them. As I walk through the Smokies, I will dedicate every step to their lives and the way that they touched me and those around them. Papa, Mama, when you read this, know that I love you and that I am in the Smokies almost and I know I will find you both there with me. I hope and pray that I can make you proud daily. I love you! "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe"It is not from ourselves that we will learn to be better than ourselves."-Wendell Berry
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Tri-corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey everyone! I am at my first free internet spot of my whole trip, very exciting! Me and Paul made it to Standing Bear Hostel today, an 18.1 mile day, and we are gonna stay the night here and buy a little food until we can get to Hot Springs on Friday the 3rd. We are still having a great time. We left the Smokies this morning and I feel very good about my time there. It was supposed to rain the whole time, but today was the only day it did. I think maybe my Papa and Mama had a talk with the Big Guy to help me out...Well, life is good. Hot Springs Friday for a zero day, some resupply, letters, and a little r&r."Losers visualize the penalties of failure. Winners visualize the rewards of success." -Dr. Rob Gilbert
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Hot Springs NC

To: north
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey everyone! I am at Hot Springs, NC and am having a great time still! We have now hiked 270.5 miles and are feeling in tip, top shape. We were gonna stay 2 nights here, but are feeling so good, we are gonna hit the hot springs today and then head North. Today is National Trails Day so we may as well be on the trail to celebrate it. It is beautiful here! We will be in Erwin,TN by Wednesday most likely and from there NORTH NORTH NORTH as far as we can go by July. Well, not a lot more to say except the Elmer's Sunnybank Inn here in Hot Springs is AWESOME! It's a big, Victorian mansion on a hill and is very close to everything in town...Cheap too! Well, more later. Maybe in Erwin."Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you're alive, it isn't." -Richard Bach
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Miss Janet's House Erwin,TN
Miles today: 296.0

Hi everyone! We are in Erwin,TN already! A day earlier than expected cuz we decided to take the easy road into town today instead of the hard trail. Will be back on the trail tomorrow (Wed) afternoon though. Miss Janet's House is awesome in Erwin! Showers,laundry,internet,close McDonalds/Sonic/Mexican food/etc,bunk beds,free breakfast!!!!! Awesome! We are gonna take advantage of it all of course....Have hiked over 300 miles as of yesterday with around 300 or so to go to Pearisburg,VA. We have spent 24 days out on the trail and have about 23 or 24 left. Hopefully when I get home I will have much good news of graduate school, a girl that still loves me, and parents that still accept me even though I may have a nice trail stench for a little while..HA HA! Well, might write more later! Might not. Definitely will further up the trail. Keep lookin' out! "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Date: 2005-06-16
From: Damascus,VA Dave's Place

To: Damascus,VA Dave's Place
Miles today: 145.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hey everyone! It's Craig again. I am now in Damascus,VA, the Friendliest Trail town on the AT! It's true so far. We got in yesterday(Wed) and are gonna hangout here til Saturday morning probably. Why such a long break you ask? Well, it's not b/c we are not having a GREAT time! We are having a blast! The problem is that we have 14 days as of Saturday left on our little journey and only ~160 miles to go til Pearisburg,VA (where we are being picked up). That means we only need to hike a little over 11 miles per day even if we don't start til Saturday! We have not hiked that few days since the beginning of our trip (we have been hiking at least 15 miles per day since about a month or more ago). June 21st is also the summer solstice (longest day of the year/national hike naked day)and we plan to do a LOOOONNNGGG hike that day to see how many miles we can burn out. Look for 30+....So, you see our predicament? So, why not use up some of that time in the "Friendliest town on the trail?" Brilliant!!! Might go on a bike ride tomorrow even up the Virginia Creeper Trail...Supposed to be some beautiful views. A little something different. Maybe I can come up with some more good ideas for things for me and Jen to do in the future...Already thought of: 1)bike ride from Canada south to MS 2)bike ride across the US(coast to coast) 3)backpacking in Europe 4)bike ride through EuropeCrazy huh? Well, just a few of the things I hope to accomplish in life. You can never dream enough, right? Well, I guess I will go now and pull a little more sweet indulgence from this beautiful town....May write again between here and Pearisburg, may not. Depends on what kind of towns we come across and how laid back we really are out there...p.s.- Coming out of Damascus with a few less unused items in my pack and a lot more food than usual. Gotta fatten back up before I come home to my girl...    "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." -Ralph Waldo Emerson (prov.by B.Young)
Date: 2005-06-22
From: Partnership shelter

To: Relax Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey everyone! At the Rrelax Inn on the trail~!! Staying here tonight for showers, food, rest with Cornelius, Manfire, and Cool Breeze. Hiked our longest day yesterday, 30.6 miles!!!!!! It was our way of celebrating the summer solstice and plus we could order pizza from last night's shelter...Awesome!!! Word is, that is the best shelter on the whole trail, I AGREE!!! Anyway, had a great time hanging with everyone, got to use the phone (Jen, Mom, Dad), and had an easy 11.6 miles today with Manfire and Cornelius with us. Heading north tomorrow morning to reach Pearisburg,VA by June 30th. Also saw lots of wild ponies and a bear over the last few days!!!!! So cool!!!! More later!!!!!
Date: 2005-07-01
To: I'm Home!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Hey everyone! I am at home, tis true, but some of me is still out there, still walking, still waking up every day with nothing to do but hike, eat, and sleep. Some of "out there" is here with me as well. Giving me the strength that I have found in myself on the trail these last 6+ weeks, the peace that I was looking for when I set out on this journey. We made it close to 600 miles, saw 4 states, 3 snakes, 2 of the largest worms ever, 1 bear cub, and a partridge in a pear tree...Ok maybe we didn't see the last thing. Georgia was the hardest/rockiest state, Virginia was the most beautiful, Tennessee was the state with the worst trail maintaining/shelters, and North Carolina (the Smokies) was the one that meant the most to me. I had an amazing time out there just trusting myself to get me through, praying to God to give me that extra strength, and thinking of all the things that I hope for for Jen and myself. I took time daily to think about myself up until this point, my relationships both past and present, my God, school, accomplishment and what that means to me, my Papa and Mama up in Heaven, among other things. No, I didn't write my first book (just wait) or invent a Nobel Prize winner, but I did as much for my own being as those things could have done for me. I learned. I learned about me, my life, where I want my life to lead me, and how I want to get there (avec vous mon amour Jennifer). I had an amazing adventure, loved some of it, hated some of it, cried a little, hurt some, but came through just the way I hoped I would in the end. I met some awesome people (my boys Manfire and Cornelius, Ah...Youth, Miss Janet, everyone in Damascus, Rocky and Moose, etc.). I missed my home, Mississippi, for the first time in my life. I missed my family, my friends, and most of all, My Girl. Coming home from Virginia on the bus, I saw Greenville,SC (a beautiful city) and couldn't wait to get home to show Jen pictures of it on the internet...South Carolina may be our home one day...When I got home Tuesday morning, I got dropped off at Jen's work, pack and all. Called her up, crept up on her and told her she was beautiful. She had no idea I was home early. She looked up and SURPRISE! I was there. With that first hug I felt I was home again, where I belong. Thank you everyone for your support by reading this, writing me emails, signing my guestbook, and just letting me know that you believe in me. I hope that you enjoyed some part of my scribbling here in this journal and I pray that you all will look inside yourselves, see where your happiness lies, and GO FOR IT!!! as I have learned to do more through this journey. I hope you enjoy the pictures, they were taken with you all in mind. Signing out...
Date: 2005-07-01
To: Top 20 Questions answered
Miles today: 0.0

1. Almost 600 miles2. 4 states3. Yes, all on foot4. Lost about 8-10 lbs5. 27 lbs with food and water for 5 days6. One pair shorts, 2 shirts(1 short, 1 long), 1 pair pants, 2 socks7. Ramen, mac-n-chz, rice, freeze-dried meals, snickers, paydays, cracker jacks, beef jerky, cereal w/powdered milk, precooked chicken breast, chz-n- crackers, instant potatoes, a few other things...8. Resupplied in towns every 3-7 days9. Very sore, very very sore...10. Met a lot of great people11. Met a few sucky people12. Jen is just amazing, that's why she put up with this!13. Yes, glad to be home14. Yes, I will miss the mountains15. Yes, someday I will finish it16. Saw some snakes, 1 bear cub17. In shelters, tent, or "cowboy camped"18. 6-8 hours per day on average...19. 15+ miles per day average20. Yes, Jen made me shave when I got home (ha ha!)
Date: 2005-03-18
To: prep #1
Miles today: 0.0

Well here I am. I can't believe my days in civilization are numbered. I am flying to GA next Tuesday, March 22 to begin my hike of the Appalachian Trail. This has been a dream/goal of mine for many years. I have this internal checklist of things I want to see and do during my lifetime and quite honestly I wasn't sure I would be placing a checkmark next to this one. Just a side note, seeing the Red Sox win a World Series was on there as well...nice. Is it wrong to have enjoyed them beating the Yankees more?I guess some background information would help those of you who don't know me. My name is Jason(hopefully I will inherit a cool trailname, I've got some good ideas), I'm 33 and have a good life going...a nice family, a great girlfriend, lots of friends and good health. However, like many of us, I found myself in a job that I didn't enjoy and finally decided one day that I couldn't do it any longer. I spent 10 years in sales with the same company, of which I enjoyed all but the last 2 years or so. I knew I had to leave and was fortunate to be in a financial position where I could take some time to figure out my next move and decided that now was the time to hit the trail.These past couple of months of preparation have been interesting. I think I have purchased gear from every outfitter I know exists: EMS, REI, LL Bean, Campmor, Campsaver, and the Mountain Goat. I have spent far too much time weighing the pros and cons of 30 denier fabric tents v. 70 denier, single wall v. double wall. I crippled myself with indecision and spent too many nights lying in bed trying to decide whether or not an extra pound was too much weight. Thankfully, I completed my gear prep today(the EMS guys must just shake their heads when I walk out the door saying he's never gonna make it to North Carolina). I just weighed my pack and it came in at 39 pounds...not as light as I would have liked, but not too bad. I've got a few more food items to add.I guess that's enough for now. I can't wait to get started.Take care.Jason
Date: 2005-03-21
To: prep #3
Miles today: 0.0

Tomorrow's the day. I fly out in the morning and I'll be spending the night at the Hiker Hostel run by Josh and Leigh Saint, AT 2000 alums. I just checked the 10 day weather for Northern GA beginning Wednesday and the forecast looks good..chance of rain on a couple of days, but relatively warm especially considering it's snowing right now in Massachusetts. I weighed my food bag last night...12 pounds. I'm afraid to weigh the whole pack again...I guess I'll find out real quick what is essential. I've had a chance to see and talk with a lot of family and friends over the last couple of weeks and it is going to be tough to leave them and the comfort of familiar surroundings behind, but I am ready for the journey. I'll talk to you soon. Jason
Date: 2005-03-22
From: prep #4

To: prep #4
Miles today: 0.0

Just thought I would check in and give everyone an update. Most of you thought I was starting last Wednesday, however last Monday night before my Tuesday flight I came down with the flu. Go figure..I can't tell you the last time I was sick(knock on wood) besides a cold. Anyway, I decided to take it easy for the rest of last week. My revised travel date is tomorrow and I will be hitting the trail on Wednesday, March 30. My pack weight is still lingering around 45 pounds...oh well. I can't tell you how ready I am to get started.I'll talk to you soon.Jason
Date: 2005-03-30
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

It's hard to believe I finally started my hike. It was a beautiful day in GA, mid 60's and only a few clouds in the sky. I started on the approach trail to Springer Mountain(the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail). It was 8.8 miles to Springer, most of which was uphill. A tough way to start, but well worth it when I got there. Just to be at the start was an amazing feeling. I signed in on the log book as the 19th hiker of the day, took some pictures and just savored the moment. Only 2100+ miles to go!I continued on to the Stover Creek Shelter for the night. I met Sten and Mike, a couple of young guys who had just started their thru hike from Amicalola Falls and a mom and her daughters who were just out for a few days on the trail. I taught them all to play pitch and then we attempted(without much success) to start a fire with damp wood. It was a clear night and you could see all the stars.I was exhausted and in the tent by 10pm. A great first day!
Date: 2005-03-31
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: heavy intensity rain

What a difference a day makes?! I awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of thunder and incredible lightning. It rained hard all night and didn't end until around noon. When I got up I realized that my tent was in a giant puddle of water, kind of like sleeping on a water bed. The good news is that the tent held up well and there was only a small pool of water inside. We all huddled in the shelter to pack up our gear. Sten, Mike and I hit the trail just before 9 and hiked all morning in the rain. Call me crazy, but I loved it! We were in some dense woods and the rain, fog, thunder and lightning created a very surreal experience. We made it to the Gooch Mountain Shelter around 5:30. I was beat and in my tent for the night by 8. I felt strong today, except for a couple of blisters. We hiked 12.4 miles.
Date: 2005-04-01
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: moderate rain

April Fools Day..I think Mother Nature is playing me for a fool. A second night of solid rain, however this time I didn't wake up in pool of water. I learned my lesson the first night...never lay your tent at a low flat point. I met some nice folks at the shelter. The trail community is a great group of people. I am enjoying meeting so many interesting hikers from all ages and backgrounds. I keep hearing stories about some guy named Baltimore Jim? I guess he is quite a character. I also heard about a guy out on the trail carrying his bike that he rode to the start. Today was my biggest day yet. I hiked 16 miles which took me up and over Blood Mountain, the highest peak on the AT in GA. I was rewarded for the big day by reaching Neels Gap and the famous Walasi Yi Center. This outfitter/hostel was just what I needed. The weather was taking a turn for the worse and a warm bed(okay it is a hard bunk), a hot shower, laundry and a shuttle in to town for an all you can eat buffet hit the spot. On the ride to town for dinner, we heard Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles and Going To Carolina by James Taylor on the radio one after the other...very appropriate don't you think. We even had a five person, one dollar buy in game of No Limit Texas Hold 'Em and I won. Another great day, except I also realized that my tent fell off my backpack sometime during the day. I lashed it to the outside of my pack in the morning because it was soaked and I figured I would air it out. Hopefully someone will find it and bring it down to Neels on their way North. I've got my fingers crossed. At least it happened on a day that I was heading to an outfitter...they are few and far between on the actual trail.Jason