morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-11-19
To: Hope for the Best
Miles today: 0.0

A quiet 45 degree cloudy Sunday in southeast Pennsylvania and we are still working out the details. We are writing our own hiking song and will post the lyrics when its finished. The date for launch is still Mid-March via A-train to Gainesville, GA. We will then try to find a store there to purchase subs for the first day out on the Trail. There is a taxi to take us to Amicalola...so cool. The weater was nice enough here for a 5 mile hike on the local rail trail for a clothing layering and foot testing. Slim's foot is still tender from the surgery in October. The doctor wants her to avoid hiking and walking until January. I don't think he understands how addicted she is to hiking. Today we wore a MW Patagonia shirt, fleece hoody, Puffball vest, fleece gloves and fleece headband. We worked up a light sweat but were very comfortable. We feel that if we are prepared for the Smokies, they can be the biggest chill factor problem since the elevation is so great, we will be fine everywhere else. In mid-May of 1997 we hiked the Smokies and it was in the high 20's in the AM and the low 50's in the afternoon and we expect that it can be a lot colder in March or April. When we did the trail before we had a lot of heavy gear such as 4 lb. parkas, 2 lb. Polartec Fleece jackets and wool sweaters and now we are into capilene, silnylon and micro-fleece ... so much lighter than the old stuff. "It's all about the weight". Ounces make pounds, pounds make achy feet, achy feet make heavy-hearted hikers. Our tent [above] is 29 ounces and roomy. It is 4 lb. 10 oz. less than the old REI tent we carried. It is a single wall tent with a sewn-in floor and netting all around for ventilation and with storm flaps on the sides. We've had condensation only a few times when we pitched it in the open. The condensation was not enough to make anything wet. So long for now. Hope for the Best - Prepare for the Worst - Take what you get.... and make the Best of It.
Date: 2006-12-07
To: To work every day
Miles today: 0.0

Hi there. Remember when we said we would not take a Pocketmail machine? Changed our minds. We thought our dear transcriber who has two small children, Lil' Bumpkin and Will, and a husband, Sasquatch, to care for might not have the time to devote to typing our journal entries and posting them to this site so the pocket mail will help in that she'll only have to edit the errors. So it's 8.5 ounces more for Slim. Slim and Bogey have both landed jobs under the condition that we are going on a hike in March. The employers agreed to this. How sweet! Now we can stash some cash for the time when we won't have any $ coming in. Its so liberating to know that we will be totally on our own having not much more than a 25 lb backpack. Slim's foot is healing nicely and is not giving her pain anymore. She will finally walk the trail this time painless, well at least the left foot should be painless. Our Song (to the tune of our favorite Mamas and Papas song, California Dreamin' All the plans are made and the time is near.We've been out hiking for awhile. Our direction's clear.We are goin' northbound and we'll be travelin' light. Appalachian Dreamin' fills ev'ry lonely night.Appalachian Dreamin' somehow it just feels right.Appalachian Dreamin' follow every blaze that's whiteFirst verse. If you have any ideas for the second please send to our site.Thanks. So-o-o-o-o-on!
Date: 2006-12-24
To: Restless @ Home
Miles today: 0.0

Three years ago we hiked on Christmas Day after the rush of the holidays. What a beautiful day it was. We are going to do the same tomorrow. Oh how we long to get away from all the choking threads of the work-a-day world, Phones, Computers, Automobiles, Television, Radio, copy Machines, insurance, bills, Mowing, shoveling, cleaning, vacuuming, laundry, and problems of all kinds from all directions. All the things we think we own actually "own us": Update the computers, Windows, virus programs, charge the cell phone, replace the batteries in the camera and in the wireless mouse, change the oil, tune-up the cars, rotate the tires! It seems the closer March gets the more restless we become. Get us outta here! We miss the simplicity of the Trail, the harmony with Nature where we drink from creeks, sleep on the ground, eat things we wouldn't touch at home and all we think about is where we'll camp, what we'll eat, where we will place the next footstep and how our loved ones are doing back home. And the best thing is that we're healthier for it all, both mentally and physically. Look out Springer, here we come. God Bless America and those who had the foresight to set aside land for us commoners to enjoy. Slim
Date: 2006-12-29
To: Pole Steeple
Miles today: 0.0

Its Dec 29th @ 11pm and we are camped near Pole Steeple in the tent. Right now its 32 degrees and we are snug in our tent. Reminds me of the first time we hiked with Sweet Violet and Sasquatch. It was colder then. This has been our New Year's ritual, to welcome in the new year on the Trail. Like last year there is moonlight but last year it was a lot warmer. Bogey perspired on the way up here. He hung his clothes on a branch to dry. I think he believes me now that I do not sweat in cold weather under exertion. We brought a Coca-Cola and hope it doesn't freeze overnight,,,,hmmm... a coke slushy sounds kinda good. Love to our best friends and grandchildren.
Date: 2006-12-30
To: Tom's Run Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Here we are after a 6 mi hike. After sitting at home waiting for this foot to heal then sitting more in the office earning money to fund this dream I finally feel free. Last night in the tent as I got into my sleeping bag and laid my head on my makeshift pillow I said to Bogey "I am so happy here." Do you know how often I say that at home? Never! Now we are at Tom's Run Shelter and are staying for the night. The clouds that we woke up to are now gone and warm, beautiful sunshine is bathing us in light and warmth. This is good since it was 32 degrees when we went to sleep last night and was 40 in the fog at 7am. Warm sunlight on a cold winter day. YES ! It really doesn't get any better than this. Tomorrow night's weather prediction is for heavy rain. So far the cell phone cannot find a signal to send these emails. There's always the pay phone.Gotta see if this pocketmail works.
Date: 2006-12-31
To: Goodbye 2006
Miles today: 0.0

Last day of 2006 and looking ahead to a great new year of hiking. According to my thermometer it was 34 degrees last night and we woke up to a red sky, then cloudy and cold. Wore our silnylon mittens. We've decided to take our old Gore-tex raincoats for 16 oz on the thru-hike since they've never leaked, unlike the Marmot Pre-cips that we loved for being lighter @ 13oz. We figure a raincoat should keep the rain "OUT" and they don't. Over and over again we got wet and thought it was from perspiration but finally admitted that they leak or as Sasquatch says, "wet out".We were in the lower shelter and the other was empty all night. We met Chris who is attending PSU and is going to Harley on a co-op before graduating. His buddy Kyle and he pushed on to Birch Run Shelter. There were lots of dayhikers passing through yesterday including a couple from York, PA who work at York Hospital. They do a lot of biking. I don't remember their names. Bogey nearly toppled Slim out of the shelter this morning. He was still in his bag and Slim stepped over him to get the soap and when she stepped back he grabbed her ankle thinking she was going to step on his flashlight. She fought to keep her balance and managed to stay on her feet. Is that cool for an old lady? Its so good to be out here again. Last time was Sept 29 just before the operation on my foot. Bogey went to drop the kids off at the pool or should I say the woods? Soon a new year full of excitement on the Trail. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Date: 2007-01-06
To: Day Hike 
Miles today: 0.0

Today we took off for the hills and were rewarded with sunshine, a warm breeze, occasional clouds and temps in the 60's, very unusual temps for Pennsylvania in January. We passed no other hikers but met with three bicyclists at the junction of the Rocky Knob Trail and the A.T. who were trying to find the bike trail. The map they were using was thread-bare and almost unreadable so they struck out to find Ridge Road and hopefully a junction with the bike trail. Bogey and I agree that the Trail is the only place we feel free of stress. Bogey said "Remember way back in 1998 the sign we saw when we entered Maine that said "Maine State Line, The Way Life Should Be"? Oh yes! I remember the sign but did not identify with it until now. The Trail is "life as it should be". We stopped at Birch Run Shelter and many other day-hikers stopped by. A large group of men doing an eleven-miler stopped to rest. We met a very interesting couple from Shippensburg, PA, Ken and Lynne who had a most beautiful dog with them, a German Leonberger, named Jake. He was only 8 months old but was as large as a full grown German Shepherd and very affectionate and well-behaved. We told them we would be hiking the Trail this spring and they were interested so we gave them one of our cards with this website for them to follow along on our hike. We're chomping at the bit..only 78 days to go.
Date: 2007-01-13
To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We're on the trail again at Birch Run Shelter. The temperature is 55 degrees. On a January weekend? They say this warm weather pattern is caused by Mr. El Nino who lives somewhere in the Pacific ocean. Or is it global warming? Whatever it is we'll probably wait until the poles melt and the oceans rise and the earth is altered beyond repair as we humans usually do. I hope they've planted trees on Mars cause I really do like osmosis and the oxygen and shade the trees provide. So sweet out here. Its so quiet I can hear my heart beating. Or is it the the sound of water running over rocks in the nearby stream. Don't care, it's just heavenly. We're going to camp in the woods tonight and hear the raindrops on the tent, another sweet sound. Bogey is resting and Slim is typing. All is well. Later: Arrived here at 4pm, setup the tent, took a few pictures, had pita bread pepperoni pizzas, hot cocoa and potato chips and went to the tent to keep warm and to read our books that we brought (American Indian stories). There is gunfire in the woods and we believe it is antlerless deer season for musket and archery ? ? Its now 5:30 pm and darkness has crept into the forest and along with it a light rain. Faint shadows dot the landscape where just few minutes ago the fallen leaves gave off a pink-ish glow. The sandman has visited Bogey. He is on his way to sleep as he put down his book and pulled his sleeeping bag over his head. He said he's just taking a nap. We shall see. The sound of light rain on the tent is as soothing as being rocked to sleep. I think I'll pull my sleeping bag over my head. Good night all. Slim Oh my! just as I wrote "goodnight", I heard the sound of a train whistle in the distance, a good omen. When I was a little child there were train tracks near our house and the forlorn sound of their whistles would lull me to sleep on many cold, lonely nights. Even now as an old adult whenever I feel lonely, discouraged or afraid and a train whistle blows in the distance a rush of peace comes over me. I don't understand why but I love it. Now....goodnight and peace be with you. Slim Add the days to go: 70
Date: 2007-01-18
To: Plans In Motion 
Miles today: 0.0

Still working. Still dreaming. Just twenty-five more days of work for Slim, thirty for Bogey and then 30 days more to Springer. We made reservations on the A-train. Our good friend Woodensticks (photo) who hiked the Trail last year offered to take us to the local train station. When we arrive in GA we made reservations for a shuttle to Amicalola Falls SP. People ask how we can give up so much to live such a sparse life on the Trail and I think how can I go my whole life just existing in a man-made, tecnological, suffocating rat race? Give me trees and streams, dirt and rocks, rain and wind and even snow. Allow me to hear the birds in the morming instead of an alarm clock; the sound of rushing water instead of automobile engines; the bustle of happy hikers at a shelter area instead of the noise of television. Here we dream, there we Live.Peace to all,Slim
Date: 2007-01-21
To: Amtrak Train Station
Miles today: 0.0

We made a trial run down to the train station in Baltimore. Wanted to be sure just how to get there. While we were there we picked up our tickets and checked out where we needed to go. Now we are good to go. So, we are literally going to take the midnight train to Georgia. Here's proof that we made it there. We are training our transcriber on how to attach photos to our entries and seems she will do alright.
Date: 2007-01-28
To: Pennsylvania Ruck 
Miles today: 0.0

We have our mail-pickups planned. See MAIL DROPS link on left. We are not bounce boxing. We will call family and friends if we need something left at home. We plan to access Post Offices only where the Trail goes through the town and there will check for goodie packages sent by family and friends. Hint! Hint! Jan 26: After work on Friday I thought I'd walk the rail trail and get rid of all the baggage I'd aquired today such as irate customers and lack of time to do all that is required in this customer relations job. I got home at 4:30 pm and Bogey is till asleep after coming home from his night job. I hoped we could walk together but thought I'd better let him sleep. Here at the Train station it is very quiet. I hear the faint noise of far away traffic and farther the honking of a gaggle of domestic geese I had passed earlier making their way to the water for the night. Funny, how geese feel safe on the water and I feel safe on the trail. Home Sweet Trail Home is just 58 days away. Jan 28, 2007 We attended the RUCK on Saturday and made the announcement of our intentioned take-off on March 26 at Amicalola Falls SP. It was wonderful to recapture memories with Grey Owl. For me seeing good friends from the Trail is what the RUCK is all about. The food weren't bad either. Slide show was superific. Thanks Jim and Ginny. You are the greatest! Laurie Potteiger of the ATC gave a slide show on Trail Volunteerism. So necessary. If we love the AT and other trails we must have folks who are willing give time and muscle to maintain and protect them. TheTuckerizing (minimizing pack weight)was a hit with all the folks. Two 07 hikers opened their packs for tuckerization and we all learned a lot. Bogey and Slim's favorite quote grammatically funky: as we sit on a log under a big oak tree and stare at the rocks his arm around me and my hand on his leg. "IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THIS" 56 Days.
Date: 2007-02-03
To: Rail Trail 
Miles today: 0.0

Bogey and I went for a walk Saturday, Feb 3rd on the local rail-trail. Just 5 miles round trip. It was in the low twenties and windy but after 20 minutes we were warm enough to start removing clothing. Both of us wore our "at home" outer wear and were toasty. We sat at one of the pavilions and hoped someone would come by but no one at all was walking or riding. Maybe it was the 1" of snow. So we made hand prints and I made barefoot prints in the snow. Then we made a little snowman on the table. He was so cute we hated to leave him there to melt in the sun. Sunday we returned to find the little guy still waiting there for some human companionship. He had melted a little and we had to do some major surgery on his face, arms and belly. He had a new broad smile on his frigid little face as we left him there all alone. I sure hope someone would stop by and visit him. He has no name just now but I don't think he cares. That smile tells me he's happy just being there....kinda like we feel just being out under the trees. We're keeping in shape, getting ready and waitng for March 26. 49 days 17 hours, and too many minutes to go. Love & peace to all. Enjoy the photo{s}.
Date: 2007-02-10
To: snow walk
Miles today: 0.0

Our little snowman kinda disolved after a week on the trail. I suppose his cold little heart was broken. Loneliness finally took its toll. We are very busy at our jobs right now putting as much moolah away as possible for the time we will have no income. Work is fine. It just takes too much of our time. So we apologize for having no posts for quite awhile. The snow and ice has kept us down, not able to walk or ride our bikes. This winter is colder, wetter, icier and boringer than many in the recent past. Soon we hit the trail. Ahhhh. 43 days.
Date: 2007-03-01
To: Jobless! Hooray!
Miles today: 0.0

Hi there. What a week! Today was Slim's last day at her job and now we have intense hiking preparations for the next few weeks. Yesterday I, Slim, passed the mountains on my way to Chambersburg, PA. It was hard to stay away from the Trail but I had a job to do for my employer, Window World. Its been months since we've been out on the trail so I stopped at Caledonia for a few minutes and walked in the snow. What a relief to again touch the real world. The photo is from our previous section hike in 1998 when we stopped at Big Niagara just a few hours from Katahdin and swam in the stream and shared snacks with fellow hiker, Duster. We hope it won't take all 2165 miles to get as thin as we are in this photo.Enjoy.
Date: 2007-03-11
To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It's 5pm and we're on another 'get in hiking shape' hike at Quarry Gap Shelter. There are lots of folks out here day hiking, jogging etc even though there is snow and ice on the trails. A guy with two labrador dogs jogged by in shorts and a tee shirt. Braver than us, for sure. No he was not yet the Blueman but he' working on it. Right now according to my thermometer its 41 degrees. Tonight it will probably be in the 20's. It is a sunny day in Pennsylvania and the snow is beginning to melt. We hope we can make about 80 miles this week. We are packed just like we will be in Georgia two weeks from now, Bogey has 20 lb and Slim has 19. Lightweight packing is the way to go. Ah yes! Now to eat and then to sleep. We are so happy to be here. Thanks to our transcriber, Sweet Violet, we get to share our hike with you. Please sign our guestbook and we will respond when we have internet service. Our friends are sending stuff to our maildrops and that is scary..the guys at the garage said we have to use whatever it is they send and take a picture..???? We just wonder what they might come up with. Hmmmm?
Date: 2007-03-12
To: Birch Run Again
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

There was at least 5 inches of hardened snow on the ground. The sun melted it during the day and then at night it would freeze hard again. We postholed most of the day making for slow progress. Nonetheless we made Birch Run shelters a distance of 7.1 miles in 4 hours and stopped twice for a total of 1 hour for snacks and rest. Our normal pace here is 2 1/2 mph. The springs and streams are running full, clear and cold. Bogey had a snowball made from snow topped with Crystal lite drink mix. We saw Just Bob who was hiking on the Rocky Knob trail. Another hiker passed the shelter but did not stop to say hello. We are inside and Bogey is reading a book. We are watching a squirrel trying to find a way to capitalize on our food bags that are hanging on the porch area. It was almost 60 degrees today. Last night it got down to 28. I think it will be warmer tonight. The forecast for tomorrow is sunny and in the 60's and Wednesday is supposed to be in the 70's. It may rain Wednesday night into Thursday. Physically and mentally we are both doing well. In with the pocket mail machine are the train tickets just taunting us to ride the midnight train to Georgia. In just 13 days it begins. . . Our hike to Maine. Yowza! At Last!
Date: 2007-03-23
To: Forty Hours and counting
Miles today: 0.0

Just 5 months ago we started the Trail Journals and it seemed so far away and now in just 40 hours we're off. This is it. The big Midnight A-train to Georgia. Still excited. Much work has been done at home to ready it for family members who will stay here. Took a twenty mile bike ride on the local rail trail to get the kinks out. We also went over our albums of our section hike, refreshing our memories of where we will be on Monday. Our Transcriber, Sweet Violet is ready to take our journals off the Preparation mode and put them in the Hiking mode. I cut Bogey's hair last night, shorter than it's ever been and he looks so sexy. Tomorrow we have a Vernal Equinox / Birthday party to attend with Sweet Violet, her hubby and birthday boy, Sasquatch and other friends at a local cemetery. I made fudge to take along on the train and some ham & cheese sandwiches. Also some for the first lunch on the trail. Gettin' restless. Soon..... Dman will go southbound from Harpers Ferry in May and we will look for him then. We hope to hookup with Solitary Man and hike a short distance with him when we get close to PA. We look forward to meeting up with many friends and making new friends all along the way. Happy Trails. Keep watching our progress and don't forget to sign our Guestbook.
Date: 2007-03-26
To: Springer Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

The trip to Baltimore's Penn station on the 25th started at 3pm with Woodensticks dropping us off. He said goodbye at 4:30pm and it was so very difficult for him as he remembered his 2006 hike. He would've gone with us if he could. We boarded the train at 5:20pm and nearly 14 hours later we departed in Gainsville, GA and got in the truck with our shuttle provider, Fred Woodward, who took us to Amicalola Falls State park. The 8.8 mile approach trail which was a tough introduction. We made it to Springer Mt summit at 2pm after 5hrs of hiking, snacking and resting. We met a couple from Oregon who started right after us, Lynx and Touch My Stuff. They and we are tenting near Springer Mountain shelter. We hope to see Bacco come in soon. He left before us and we passed him at 10am. When we reached the plaque at Springer summit a caretaker, Many Sleeps of 98, was there. He took our picture and told us about Leave-no-trace ethics. Good thing! The gnats (black flies) were out with a blood-thirsty vengeance today. We had at least fifty bites. It was cloudy until about 2pm and then full sun. Temps were 65 and now more like 75. We will not be fooled by this weather though 'cause we know it will get cold again before it stays warm. Bogey carries 24 lb and Slim is carrying 23 both with three days food. We will take it easy until we get our legs. Tomorrow more Trail.
Date: 2007-03-27
From: Springer Mt. Campsite

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 10.0

Warm day. We started at 65 degrees and it went to 85 in the afternoon. We have been wearing shorts and tees for the past two days. We walked to the forest service road #42 and had our first trail magic from Mountain Squid, a former thru-hiker. He had little drink bottles. So good and cold. He told us of a hiker who not only had a full backpack but left there at the parking lot a hand truck complete with hip belt and two boxes of canned foods and other foods, a pile of cotton clothing including jeans. He pulled his stuff to Springer the day before and turned around and gave up the aforementioned stuff. Later in the day we found another pile of his stuff discarded on a rock; i.e. pot, food, towel, tarp, etc. When we got to Hawk Mt. shelter more of his stuff was left there. At the shelter we got water and then Slim went to set up the tent to dry it out and found that one of the poles was broken. Now here comes magical part....... Green Hornet just walked in and overheard the conversation and he had a repair tube which he gave to us. We thanked him as best we could with some fudge we brought from home. We will try to replace his tube when we get to Neel Gap. We met Touch My Stuff and Lynx a middle-aged couple from Oregon, Tom from Maine, Dirty Dozen, No name yet, Jungle Jim and Green Hornet. We walked 2 miles past the shelter and camped in the woods. This 10 miles was our goal for the day and we "we hit it" and it was so much fun. Laughing hysterically now (LHN). Good night and God Bless.