morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-19
From: Caratunk

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 27.7
Weather: overcast clouds

My stay at the resort was a blast,but now i'm back on the trail and going to be pulling off some big miles to finish on the 25th.Today's terrain was alot tougher then I had imagined.There was a group of South Bounders at the shelter,was hoping to have it to myself, but i guess the company is always welcomed.Monson tomorrow for a resupply.Victus 2011 NOBO
Date: 2011-06-20
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to

To: Monson
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The bugs are really bad here now that i'm out of the mountains and in lower elevations.They are starting to drive me crazy,now i know what the animals feel like during bug season,it's not pleasant that I can assure you.Going to be in Monson today,only a few more days of hiking left...still having mixed emotions about the finish being so close.Victus 2011 NOBO
Date: 2011-06-21
From: Monson

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Monson was awesome,met a group of South Bounders and enjoyed talking to them about what they should expect from this hike.I'm planning on doing some big days and get through the 100 mile wilderness in 4 days,I have a feeling the bugs are going to be thick in this section.Victus 2011 NOBO
Date: 2011-06-22
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
Miles today: 28.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great sunrise over White Cap Mtn.Had to cross a bunch of streams today,it's annoying having to take the time to take off your boots but it sure feels good on the feet when you get in that water.The climb over White Cap gave me my first view of my destination, the sight of Katahdin nearly made me cry.Victus 2011 NOBO
Date: 2011-06-23
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 29.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Yesterday wasn't easy, i'm really tired and don't feel like hiking 30 miles but I need to get to the base of Katahdin by Saturday to meet up with some family members. I guess i'll just have to suck it up and keep moving my legs like I have been doing since Georgia.Maine is so beautiful,I love all the lakes and wildlife that I have encountered on the way,but she is really rugged and not easy to get along with.Victus 2011 NOBO
Date: 2011-06-24
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: The Birches 
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: light rain

Finally made it,had a great view of Katahdin at Abol Bridge.This will be the last climb,I will climb to the top tomorrow morning.Both my sisters will climb to the top with me,this is going to be a great finish.Staying at a camp site tonight with the family,will enjoy some food and talk about the hike.Victus 2011 NOBO
Date: 2011-06-25
From: The Birches 

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: moderate rain

The weather isn't that great, but it won't stop me from getting to the summit.My sisters joined me today,the rocks going up were all wet and difficult to get around but we managed.When we got to the top the wind was blowing pretty hard so we took a quick picture and headed down the mountain.It was now starting to get dark.On the way down I met Little Rocket on his way up,this was a hiker I had met back in NH in the White Mtn,I was glad to see him finish.Now my journey is at an end and it's time to head back home.The PCT will be my next challenge,I can't wait to get back on the trail already!
From: Perisburg

To: pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0

We got a ride back from Narrows to Pearisburg and went to the Post office where we collected our summer sleeping bag and a box of food. We made the decision to zero in Pearisburg as we still need to resupply our food and I needed to try and get a birthday present for one of my granddies whilst I was near a 'real shop'.We booked into the Plaza Motel and then walked 2 miles out to Walmart without our packs. Why is it that 2 miles on the bitument in town makes your feet twice as sore as ten miles in the woods.We saw Shotgun and Roadie, they were going to Slackpack 23miles!!!! We also saw marktrail as he was heading back onto the trail. Later on we saw Velvet - with his lovely new kilt and mohican hairdo, and smiley, both heading back for the trail. Very Mary is also zeroing in town and splitting a room with Biscuit who is feeling unwell.We got a pressie for our granddie and did such a big resupply that we have forwarded on some to Troutville. You shouldn't resupply when you are hungry, we bought so much 'rubbish' food!We werent able to buy a new cannister for our stove, panic, how do we cook without gas - or more to the point - how do I make my coffee????? We saw Romeo and Juliet and they had also found the same problem, no gas, they were going to try and make an alcohol stove. So back to the shops we went, bought a tin of catfood and a hole punch and madeourselves a credible alcohol stove. It will test my patience waiting for the watger to boil for my morning coffee!It has forecast rain all week which is a bummer as I have just sent my wonderfully bleached tye died grotex coat back and now have just a very light showerproof jacket. Oh well, at least I won't sweat buckets.We are meeting Cog and Hopeful for tea at the chinese restaurant. It will be so good to hear all their news, we have really missed their company since they went back to trail days.My highlight today was sticking my thumb out on the highway outside Walmart, and the first car stopped and gave us a lift back to the motel. My first successfuly hitch!!! My Mum would die to know her elderly daughter is hitching in the USA! When we first arrived I didn't think we would ever hitch hike, so dangerous, but I soon discovered that if you are on the AT that is the only way to get around in towns.We had a great time with Hopeful and Cog at tea, and Very Mary and Biscuit also joined us. Hopeful teased us heaps about not speaking Tenessee as he handed us a gas cannister - he said we only had to say 'GAS' - he actually found it in the hikers box. Arranged to meet at a campsite back on the trail tomorrow
Date: 2010-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Finally, after years and years of wanting to hike the Appalacian Trail we have set things in motion to make it happen!!!Our house has been listed on the market for sale - we can't pay a huge mortgage and hike - lets get the priorities right!!!!We will work until the end of this year, and then resign. Ooh that is a bit scary, I have been working in high schools for 14 years and still have 7 years to retirement - but again - priorities! Allen is already 2.5 years past retirement age so is looking forward to finally joining those hallowed ranks.'Do we have the right gear? It is all for the good old Aussie climate, am thinking we will be hypothermic on day one. We start at Springer Mtn exactly 12 months from today. I am soooo excited.AllWen
Date: 2010-03-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Being Aussies, we are really confused as to what clothing we will need. We both have Paclite 2 layer gortex raingear. This is really lite weight - will it be sufficient. We would love some advice. We have Icebreaker Merino thermals, top and bottom, and icebreaker walking t shirts. Is this going to be warm enough in Georgia early March?
Date: 2010-03-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Went shopping today at the halfprice sale of when of our major outdoor stores.Got half price Icebreaker Merino's, yay I love a bargain. And I got Allen a new fleece marked down from $169 to $39. It seems impossible to think we will need to carry so many clothes to keep warm. Here in Perth I walk in shorts and t shirt in the middle of winter, and have a fleece and thermals for night time around camp. Having to carry more clothes is going to bump the weight up a bit, gosh I guess that means less chocolate bars to munch on - ouch!
Date: 2010-03-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I met Phatmandu at the Bibbulmun Track end to enders picnic in Perth, West Australia today. He completed the AT last September so I hung off his every word milking him for information. So - I'm not going to freeze to death, I am not going to starve to death, the mountains aint that bad - do I believe him - mmm I KNOW its gonna be cold and I am going to look like a telle tubby with all the layers of colthing I'll have on, I KNOW how hungry I get, and I REALLY DO KNOW those mountains are a LOT bigger than anything I have hiked here in Australia. But it was great to chat with him.
Date: 2010-03-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My new rainpants arrived today, Berghaus Paclites. I really hate wearing rainpants and prefer my ULA rainskirt. However, I have been following the journals of some of the early starters for 2010 and it has been enough to frighten me into purchasing pants!!!! It looks cold out there on the trail.I feel like the next 9 months will take forever, bit like pregnancy really! lol.I have just had four days of 'bush therapy' as my friend and I were support crew for our schools year 12 outdoor ed mountain bike camp. We had a great time and the 16 students aged between 16 and 17 were a delight to be with.Today I am going Rogaining with my friend, only a 6hr rogaine but heaps of fun will be had no doubt.....
Date: 2010-05-03
To: house sold!
Miles today: 0.0

Our house is sold, a much cheaper one bought for cash, and the countdown is on!!!!It seems like 2011 will never come, and yet I know the time will fly.So much to do...... our house to pack up and all our belongings going into storage at the end of this month. a quick visit to the new house in Tasmania, and a reality check that we have bought a 'renovators nightmare' that is 'off the grid' and needs solar power installing.......The zillion questions about the AT we are constantly asking - will our paclite raingear be sufficient, will our sleeping bags stop us from freezing, will we be able to buy the right foods there - we always dehydrate our own in Aussieland. We are buying a new tent - Big Agnes Copper3 as our tent has seen too much use to subject it to the snow. We were going to start on 1st Feb but after reading this years journals it seems that is too early. But if we don't start till March wil we finish by the time Baxter Park is closed? Can we get a visa for longer than 6months........ the questions just keep on coming..... All part of the excitement of a long distance hike.
Date: 2010-05-30
To: One step closer
Miles today: 0.0

Today the removalists come to pack up our home, and tomorrow it all goes into storage for 16mths!!!!!I have kept a few sets of clothes each for work and play for the next 7 months, all our hiking gear for the AT, and everything else will be stored. It is starting to seem more real now. We have bought the ultimate renovators nightmare in Tasmania so that will be our major project after the AT.We have also been buying more gear, both now have Berghaus paclite rainpants, Allen has a new pack - Osprey Aether 70 lt, I already have an Osprey Aerial that is 62 lt. Our new tent arrived, Big Agnes Copper Spur 3. We went for the 3 person for two reasons - 5-6mths together in a tent means close confinement! And the second reason is that we have decided to bring our Exped Down mats rather than our ProLite thermarests, and they are quite a bit bigger than thermarests. We thought long and hard about the extra weight of them, and then thought "Stuff it, 6 mths v comfort or 6mths v sore aching hips!" We are still unsure if our PacLite raincoats will be sufficient for Georgia at the beginning of March. They are great for our mild Aussie winter but not sure about AT! Any ideas folks?Oh well, back to the cleaning and sorting hey!
Date: 2010-06-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Wow! Our house is now settled in West Australia, and the one we have purchased in Tasmania will settle next week. This makes the AT that bit closer! Unfortunately, we will probably not be starting until mid-late March now though as we have a bit of stuff to finalise to let us go away for 6 months.I am so impatient to begin, I read the other hikers stories and I am sooooo envious!
Date: 2010-08-04
To: gear organised
Miles today: 0.0

We have gradually worked our way through changing some of our gear for stuff more suitable to the Georgia winter than our very mild West Australian winters.I have decided to be totally radical and try hiking in a kilt. My dearly beloved as told me I will look stupid and a bit of an idiot in it....... I hike in Skins, and I absoloutely hate wearing trousers over them but because I am a chubby checker I can't just wear them with nothing over them, so..... the kilt!I have also just ordered a steripen and that should be the end of the spending.I am going to book our tickets to USA tomorrow, it will make it seem like it is going to happen at last!See you all out there!
Date: 2010-08-10
To: Paid for our airfares!
Miles today: 0.0

We have handed over the cash for our airfares to and from USA. We ARE really committed now!!!!! We leave Aussie on 15th March 2011, fly to Los Angeles, and then to Atlanta where we arrive on 16th. We then have to get our food supplies and get to Springer Mountain. Any ideas where to go to get our food and how to get to Springer????I have just started the nightmarish process of applying for 6 month visas. Oh my goodness, the paperwork!   I have also received my kilt from sportkilt and I absoloutely love it, I will be wearing it on the trail for sure.We hope to have our solar system installed in January which will be one less hassle when we get back to Aussie.Excitement is rising!
Date: 2010-09-30
To: visas done!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Hooray, we have done the US Embassy stuff and now have visa documents stuck in our passport. Mind you, apparantly it is up to the immigration/customs mob in US how long we get granted! A bit confusing as we need to book our dates for the flights home.   I only have five more weeks to work and Allen 9 weeks, so, so exciting. And then we go to Tasmania to our new 'log cabin' for three months until we leave for the AT.
Date: 2010-10-15
To: Pre Trail Magic!
Miles today: 0.0

Oh my gosh, we are sooooo lucky. We have been contacted by this amazing couple, Daniel and Nanette, and they are going to keep our journal up to date once we start our through hike. All we have to do is send them our notes. We are blown away, we don't have 'trail magic' in Australia. It is the most amazing thing to have total strangers doing acts of kindness!!!!We are sooo impatient for the time to pass and for March to come around. I only have 4 weeks left to work, and Allen only has 9 weeks and then we can start our adventures!!!   Bring it on..............
Date: 2010-11-16
To: Wendy's retired
Miles today: 0.0

Hooray, I retired on Friday. This moves us closer to our AT dream. Allen has three and a half weeks to go before he too retires. Then we head to our new home in Tasmania, the renovators nightmare, haha.I received two maps from Appalachian Trail Conservacy today, one for my parents and one for us. My parents will be able to keep track of where we are, and we will be able to use ours to scare ourselves silly for the next couple of months! I am so excited.
Date: 2010-12-14
To: O the first part of our move
Miles today: 0.0

We left our family and friends in Perth West Australia and have started the first part of our journey. We have driven for four and half days to Adelaide, taking our time and just enjoying it. We are here until Sunday and then head off for Melbourne to catch the overnight ferry to Tasmania and start our new life of retirement. Not long until we leave for USA now!!!!
Date: 2010-12-27
To: moved to Tassie
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone,A million thankyou's to everyone who has sent us messages, we do hope we meet you all on the trail!We have made the big move to Tasmania and we are currently sleeping on our exped mats, in our sleeping bags, in the bedroom of the wood shack! Our furniture doesn't arrive until 12th Jan so we are camping with the benefit of a big wooden house around us!We went to Mt Wellington, Hobart today and it was snowing, so so cold, gave us a good taste of how cold Georgia is going to be in March!We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that all the 2011 hikers are well advanced with their plans.
Date: 2011-01-17
To: SOOOOOON
Miles today: 0.0

SOOOOON, NOT LONG NOW! LESS THAN 2 MONTHS UNTIL WE GET ON THE PLANE!!!! HOW INCREDIBLY EXCITING AND SCARY. i VISITED THE DR TODAY TO FIND I AM WAY OVERWEIGHT, IN FACT, PROB ABOUT 15KG AND THAT IS ABOUT 10KG MORE THAN MY HEAVIEST WEIGHT EVER, I WAS SHOCKED, BUT THEN THOUGHT, NAH, EVERY LONG DISTANCE WALK I HAVE EVER DONE, I HAVE STARTED OFF OVERWEIGHT, UNFIT AND STILL COMPLETED IT. I WILL WALK THE WEIGHT OFF AND THE FITNESSS IN!!!! ANYONE ELSE AGREE WITH THIS OR DO YOU ALL THINK I AM NUTS
Date: 2011-01-27
To: The waiting game
Miles today: 0.0

The waiting game has begun! Although in all honesty we have been so frantically busy on our house that we just havent had time to look at a calender. We have visitors from Saturday until third week of Feb and then we leave Tassie on 8th March to head to NSW and leave the car with Mum and Dad. Can we do it, can I walk off these excess kg (15) since I retired in Nov? Well, according to my husband, "We aren't going all that way not to finish it" so I guess you will see me crawling along behind him! Haha. I always seem to start every long distance hike overweight and out of condition and spend the first few weeks puffing and panting!
Date: 2011-02-24
To: less than three weeks now
Miles today: 0.0

My goodness, less than three weeks until we fly out from Australia! I am going to pack our packs this week as we actually leave home in just over a week to spend time with my parents before flying out. I don't know now if I am excited or scared!I have just done the Overland Track in Tasmania and it has made me realise just HOW unfit I am and HOW slow we will need to go to start with. Ah dear all that yummy food over the Christmas break will hurt up those hills.See you all out there soon!
Date: 2011-03-10
To: On the way
Miles today: 0.0

We are on the first leg of our journey to the AT!!! Our amazing, wonderful builder finished yesterday at 4pm and our home is just beautiful. We left there today at 3pm and we are presently driving to Devenport to catch the Ferry tomorrow morning to take us to Melbourne. The ferry takes 9 hours but we have a cabin so a few wines and a sleep will be on order. We will then drive about 100km's out of Melbourne and find a motel for the night. Saturday we will continue the other 500kms to my parents in NSW. We are staying there until Tuesday when we go by bus to the airport and fly out at 12.15pm. It is finally happening.The downside is that my Dad is currently in hospital, hopefully he will be home and on the mend by the time we get there. It is a worry leaving for 6months when one's parents are elderly. Fingers crossed and lots of prayers for their good health.My next entry should be from USA. We have some amazing track angels, Lou and Martha picking us up from the airport in Atlanta, and Dan and Nannette doing our journal updates once we start.Til next time!
Date: 2011-03-11
From: On the way

To: USA
Miles today: 0.0

Last day here today. The airport shuttle bus picks us up at 5.30am tomorrow morning and will have us at the International Airport in Sydney at 9.15am. I am very excited and starting to feel very nervous now. This has been a dream for so much of my life and it is really going to happen. I am sure that in the weeks ahead there will be many days when I am saturated, freezing cold and staggering up yet another hill that it will feel more like a nightmare! I hope I finally meet up with some of the many other hikers that have been sending us good wishes. Next entry should be from American soil and will be entered by Dan in New Hampshire.
Date: 2011-03-17
To: We have trail names!
Miles today: 0.0

We finally arrived in USA and after an incredibly long wait in LAX airport - 15hrs, we flew to Atlanta.We managed to get hopelessly confused trying to find the baggage claim area, when we finally found the right spot we stepped off the elevators this man was pointing a camera at us. Yes, it was our Trail Angels Louis and Martha. They had driven an hour to pick us up at 6am! We were driven to their beautiful home in Peachtree city. Lots of funny moments for two very tired Aussies, like riding on the wrong side of the road!!! The driver driving from the passanger side...... How big and clean and pretty this area is, so different from anything we imagined.A trip to Wallmart for our first week or two of food (with food drops) had us overwhelmed. we didn't recognise any of the brands of the foods!A trip today to REI, oh my gosh, everything is so cheap, I could fill a storage container here and still get change.Tonight Martha cooked the most divine dinner and had friends over to celebrate St Patricks Day. After the meal Lou informed us all that Bogey and Slim had suggested that we be called Roo and Tas and that as all of those gathered had been on the AT they would put it to the vote. We are now officially TAS & ROO!!!!! Wendy is Tas (Tassie Devil) and Allen is Roo (He always bounces back)Tomorrow we head to Springer Mountain and we should be walking by about 10am, it is finally going to happen. See you all out there, and thankyou for so many great messages, we really appreciate the encouragement.
Date: 2011-03-18
From: Springer Mtn.

To: Hawk Mtn.
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: clear sky

This was it - the big day!!! Up at 5am and Martha cooked sausages, gravy and biscuits to make sure we had food to stick to the sides! Driving (on the wrong side of the road) through Atlanta as all the traffic was going to work was an eye opener for us - so many cars!It was a very pretty drive to the visitors center and the excitement was almost too much to contain, so many years of dreaming of this.Visitor center and pack weigh ins, Tas 36pounds and Roo 37.5 pounds. Oh well, at least his is heavier than mine.We walked up to Springer Mountain and signed the journal and had the usual start photos taken.We were walking by 10am with Cast Iron and Iron6 accompanying us until lunch time. It was sad to farewell them, they have been the most amazing trail angels anyone could ever wish for.It was very different for us to walk through a decidious forest as our gum trees keep their leaves all year round. The Rhododendrums were lovely and green and will flower soon I suspect.Roo took a tumble and went down on his knee, lots of voltarin and Ibobruphin adminitered.We ran into so many hikers throughout the day, leapfrogging each other.   It was a real slog going up the hills, and I took lots of breathers.We arrived at Hawk Mountain at 3.30pm and there were lots of other hikers already there. Lots of laughter and shared stories. Jess made cupcakes in her jetboil!!!!Some trail angels arrived and collected everyones rubbish for us.Seeing all of the food bags strung up on the bear cable was hilarious!In bed by 7pm, tired but very happy.
Date: 2011-03-19
From: Hawk Mountain

To: Gooch Shelter
Miles today: 7.3

It was still dark when we got up at 6.45am and it took us till 8.30am to be packed and walking.It was, down up, down up, down up for the day. We met track angels on a mountain and they gave us a lovely fresh juicy apple each, a bandana each, a waterproof scripture and a prayer. The bandanas have become our most used piece of equipment to wipe the sweat of our faces. It was so hot and muggy you would have thought we were back in Australia in the middle of summer. Tas managed to face plant, too busy looking around and admiring the scenery to watch where her feet were going! Pleased to see the shelter at 3.15pm. Some of the hikers walked on further and we heard that a couple of hikers had pulled out. It would be tough to give up on a dream so soon. It was a hard days walk and we were again in bed by 7pm!