morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-01-08
To: Fear and Gear
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Fear and GearFor most hikers- When you start your hike you want to carry the least amount of gear, especially if this is your first time hiking the AT. Your legs will be the weakest at the beginning because the muscles you use on the AT are not used in normal life. And yet almost every new hiker caries ten or more pounds, sometimes a lot more, of unnecessary gear on the first day of their hike. This extra gear without developed trail legs is a major contributor to injuries and/or hikers leaving the trail in the first thirty miles. Most of the time it¢s not knowledge that makes these new hikers carry the extra weight¢¦it¢s fear.It¢s scary for a first time hiker to leave the known for the unknown adventure of the trail. And it¢s normal to take a few things to make you feel better. Fear is an important emotion. Fear can keep you healthy and alive when danger is around. But, if there was ever a time to face some of your fears and do without the extra weight it is in the beginning of a long distance hike.Some of the common unnecessary fears- If you fear being alone you are in for a surprise when you start a north bound thru-hike, hike south if you want to be alone. Bears are not a problem and you are lucky if you see anything but a big furry butt running away from you¢¦if you even get to see that. Snakes are not that bad either. The biggest contributor of extra weight is the fear of being without. New hikers carry extra everything¢¦batteries, light, medical supplies, shoes, socks, clothes¢¦just a ton of stuff that they don¢t need. Try to remember that you are close to civilization and if you need anything you can take a side trip and be in a store or town almost any day on the trail.Some justified fears- If you hike in the cold weather have the correct gear to keep you alive even when wet. If you hike in the hot weather stay hydrated and carry extra water. Treat questionable water. Look for dead trees and limbs to avoid before setting up camp. Mice will destroy gear and eat your food if you let them¢¦the same goes for the diabolical Red Squirrels. Avoid/repel Ticks and treat bits right away. Always pay attention to your surroundings and possible dangers.If you are north bound- A good way to save weight in the beginning of your hike is to divide your gear in two piles. Everything you need, no extras, to survive for the first 30 miles in one pile. The rest is shipped to Neels Gap where, after 30 miles of AT hiking, you can better decide if you want to carry the extras.Another good idea is to find someone in your area, who has hiked the whole AT before, and ask them to shakedown your gear.What you ultimately take on your hike is your business. But if you can reduce your weight where it counts most, in the beginning, you reduce the chance of being injured and increase the chance of hiking far. Good luck.
Date: 2014-01-20
To: The Teacher
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The TeacherEvery day that you are alive you learn something new. Whatever you learn then becomes a part of you and changes you in some way¢¦mostly it¢s so subtle a change that you don¢t notice. Sometime the change is so powerful that it alters your perception so that you see life in a new way. The Appalachian Trail is the ultimate teacher."The ultimate knowledge is self-knowledge." Bruce Lee.I felt a pull, a tug, to go hike this long trail. It¢s a feeling like a compass must feel, if it had any feelings, to point north. I was searching for something but I didn¢t know what. I knew one goal that I could describe and focus on, was to test myself by hiking the whole Appalachian Trail in less than a year. Could I do what so many try and few succeed at? I thought I could but until you do it you never know.I don¢t know for sure that I can do it this year. There is an element of chance or luck that can stop your hike at any time. But I digress, for that concept is another discussion.Testing yourself, or challenging yourself, is a great way to discover your abilities and limitations. I can¢t think about a better place to teach you about yourself then the AT. You get plenty of time to reflect and to explore who you are. It¢s challenging hiking and the number of towns and roads along the way lets you regulate the difficulties you have. ¢you can spend a lot of money and spend almost all your nights in hotels/hostels, slack-pack most of the way, and carry very little food if you want to make the trip easier. Besides learning about yourself the AT can also teach you a lot about the world around you. There is goodness in people that the dog eat dog world of work and bills hides from us. This side of people is allowed to express itself on the trail. You can learn a lot from the people you meet while hiking if you let them teach you and tell their stories.You will travel thru historic towns and battlefields and even thru part of the trail of tears. There are numerous graves, monuments, and markers with their own stories to tell. There is a wealth of knowledge in the rocks and dust under your feet if you study geology. Unique trees and plants surround you. Wild animals will be close enough to touch. You may learn to feel and recognize weather patterns and cycles and their effect upon everything. ¢there is meaning in a single cloud.Insects, birds, animals, reptiles, amphibians¢¦the list goes on and on about the interesting things you will see and sometimes interact with. Sit down and study about one thing, up to all things, now (before you get to the trail) and then recognize what you see on the Appalachian Trail and the wonder of it all. It will make the experience more interesting and you will look at people in the strange way I do when they say ¢I¢m bored¢ on the trail.There is a world out there around you that is simply amazing the more you know about it. If you walk without recognizing your surroundings on the way to the next town, shelter, or water source you are missing an opportunity to learn from the ultimate teacher.
Date: 2014-01-29
To: Two Worlds
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Two WorldsDisclaimer: This is my opinion and it is as close as I will get to a political discussion. I hate politics.There is an appeal to trail life that is hard to explain. Well, this is my attempt-At first people get a romanticized impression of what the trail experience is like. There is a need to get away for a while and sort things out. Or maybe you have read a few trail journals and you have contracted white blaze fever¢¦with only one cure.On the trail reality sets in pretty quick. I won¢t go into the details here. Readjusting to a new world is always going to be a shock. If you make it thru this stage and stay on the trail all the way to the reliving childhood stage and something strange will happen to you. Let¢s see if we can figure out what it is.Some of the ¢stages¢ or "symptoms" you may experience on the trail when hiking alone-CravingsSongs playing in your headReliving memoriesTalking to yourselfExtreme emotionsIncrease in social bondingIncrease in appreciationExcessive mind wandering-there are more¢¦a lot more, and it¢s not just me. LOLI think it¢s safe to say that the psychological aspects can be attributed to deprivation and the way hiking frees the mind. But what I really want to talk about is that ¢something strange¢ that happens to you.The trail lifestyle soaks into you. You get used to it. It is like a breath of fresh air when you have never had fresh air. The only way for you to understand is for me to compare it to life off the trail-Life off the trail is completely backwards from the way it should be! The hardest workers get the smallest shares. The heroes are unknown while top criminals and actors are famous. There is always a dictation on how to live. Everything is about money, and you sacrifice to get it. The life on the trail is the opposite in many ways. Your goals are your own. You reap the benefits of what you do. You are not concerned with making money. Many of the burdens of normal life are not on your back¢¦just all your possessions and you want less instead of more. All hikers are equal no matter who they are and how much money they have. The Trail Angels are the recognized heroes. And HYOH¢s (Hike Your Own Hike) definition is that no one can tell you what to do or how to hike¢¦and that is freedom. You experience the freedom to be who you really are."I did absolutely nothing all day and it was everything I thought it could be." -Office SpaceI think adjusting to life off the trail when you finish a thru-hike is hard. Many people experience a depression and/or a longing for the trail without understanding why. Freedom is a hard thing to give up.
Date: 2014-02-02
To: Clothes
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

ClothesIt¢s all about regulating body temperature. Winter hiking- If you get to hot¢¦you sweat. If you sweat in the cold¢¦you may be in trouble. You only need to stay warm before and after your hike. During the hike you should stay cool, but not cold. Layers are the key.Base layer- Thin tights/underwear from wrists to ankles and thin shorts. Optional thin foot covering.Warm layer- Thermals, wool, or fleece over the same area as base. Also includes warm gloves and socks. This layer needs to be effective even when wet. ¢give it the wet test to be sure.Rain layer- Optional rainproof outer layer. Large enough to be worn over everything in wet conditions. Must breath or have ventilation to prevent sweating. ¢sweating under raingear makes rain gear worth nothing.Outer layer- Thick over your core and something thick on hands, feet, and head. If no rain gear then an optional something thin over legs. Miscellaneous- Bandana.With everything on you should be warm, sitting at zero degrees. -and you should be able to wear all the layers at the same time.Note- You notice I did not go into specifics on the clothes¢¦it is your own personal choice on what you get for each layer.Tip- You do not need any extra clothes.When hiking- Take off layers until you feel cool, then start hiking. When you feel warm stop and take off another layer. Some hikers get down to the base layer while hiking even in the snow. Remember stay cool¢¦not hot, or warm, or cold but comfortable cool. You may sweat even in your base layer but that is ok as long as you are comfortable and you put on warm layers right after you stop hiking.Sleeping in layers depends on your sleeping bag and you. Some bags are more effective with you only in your base layer. Experiment until you figure it out.Summer hiking- I hike in my winter base layer¢¦but I think I¢m the only one who does. lol Hike with whatever is comfortable. You may want to hold on to your warm layer for those cool nights before and after midsummer. Switch out your thick outer layer for a thin one. Try to stay cool.Tip- wetting your bandana on your head and the shirt on your back can give you some relief on hot days. -and maybe some dollar tips at the shelter.
Date: 2014-02-03
To: Miles or Smiles
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Miles or SmilesIt is nearly impossible to follow a schedule or know the miles you will travel every day, or even on one day, on the Appalachian Trail. You are entering a new world and it is bigger and stronger then you are. You can only do what it will let you do. The world of deadlines and rushing about is behind you. Flexibility is the key to safe and happy hiking.If you are limited on time then just see how far you can go. There is no shame in this. There is no big prize for thru-hiking. A section hiker is only different from a thru hiker in name. It¢s not about the miles at all. It¢s about the smiles along the way.The people you meet and the experiences along the trail are the true treasures of the journey. Don¢t pass them by in a rush to try to get to a piece of wood on a mountain. If you do then you may miss out on some of the experiences that will stick in your heart and make you cry or laugh when you think of them.I¢ve met many hikers in New Hampshire and Maine who needed to do 20+ mile days everyday to finish their thru hike. I felt so sorry for them. The most beautiful and difficult part of the whole trip and they were struggling without a chance to enjoy everything. Worse, I fear many got injured or gave up because they were asking too much of themselves.At some point you may need to decide¢¦because this is your hike and no one can tell you what to do¢¦are you going to race to a sign on top of a mountain (so you can say you are a thru hiker) or are you going to enjoy the journey? ¢however long it will last.It¢s like the question of how to live your life, no?Your body will tell you how far to go each day¢¦listen to it. The weather will tell you how far to go each day¢¦pay attention. The terrain will tell you how far you can go. ¢and these things all effect your speed.If you make a schedule then make it a flexible one. Underestimate rather than overestimate your abilities and mileage. Make mail drops flexible too.There was a real turtle and rabbit situation going on in 2012. I was going slow¢¦real slow. And a lot of hikers around me were in a rush. They were doing fifteen to twenty five mile days and I was doing ten to fifteen. It¢s strange that I was seeing the same, rushing, hikers for most of my trip. I think going to town a lot must have slowed them down. Hmm, something to think about.My last advice (on this subject)- Go slow in the beginning. Let your body adapt. Let your trail legs grow. Zeros in the beginning keep your body from breaking down to fast and make you stronger.Smiles not miles.
Date: 2014-02-06
To: The Mental Game
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The Mental Game-it is the struggle to overcome the mental obstacles you will face on the trail.On the trail you may feel overwhelmed, daunted, homesick, depressed, totally exhausted, and way beyond your comfort zone.Are you ready to do your mental pushups? Spar with your inner you? Develop those mental calluses? Meditate to be one with everything?Sorry, none of that here. Though, Woods Hole Hostel has an excellent meditation/yoga class and massage available to hikers!There are certain traits that can help you in the mental game. Determination, stubbornness, and a sense of humor are all helpful. But nothing will help you more than a positive attitude. A negative attitude will get you off the trail fast.Do you think there are negative and positive people? I think everything hinges on your focus and perspective. And I think you can, no matter who you are, change your focus and change what would be- ¢I want to go home¢ into ¢I want to hike¢.Focus on accomplishments rather then obstacles! ¢this alone can get you far. Think about the miles you have done rather then the miles you have to do. Think about the mountains you have climbed rather than the ones you haven¢t climbed. Reward yourself for your accomplishments. If you are going to look ahead then make it an easy goal.Keep friends and family in the loop. ¢look forward to telling friends and family about your adventure. Write letters and notes on postcards to mail home. Ask family to write letters before you even leave, to help cheer and motivate you, and then save these until you need a boost. ¢support is a wonderful thing.Focus on others and not on yourself. -Talking to other hikers boosts morale and keeps you positive. Hiking with another hiker can help the miles, and time, zip along. Trail Angels are such great people and really put a smile on your face even when you are struggling. Take the time to get to know and thank your Trail Angels.Look for solutions not problems. ¢Sometimes bad things happen¢¦like a major gear failure¢¦and you will find a solution if you stay positive. Don¢t be afraid to ask for help. There is a saying- ¢the trail will provide¢ and I have found it to be true.There are many good things about the trail to focus on. Even the worst- rain, high wind, extreme heat, thunder storms, and cold¢¦all that cause discomfort have a good side for you to find. On the trail they say ¢embrace the suck¢ or ¢no rain, no pain, no Maine¢ but I say ¢if it was easy it would be no fun¢.You can make this harder or easier¢¦what will it be?Read my two previous posts about "Pain" and "Two Worlds"¢¦they go with "The Mental Game".
Date: 2014-02-13
To: Gear Repair
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Gear RepairEveryone should already know, or be able to figure out, all the simple gear tricks and uses. Like, for example, how to set up your tent in different configurations¢¦right? Like how to maintain a level sleeping area even though your tent is pitched on the side of a hill or slope. Or how to set up your tent so that wind does not bother you. Or your alignment so the sun warms you in the morning. ¢there are over seventy of these simple tips that you should know about your tent, I know over ten for hammocks, almost twenty tricks to your backpack, etc.That stuff is easy physics and mathematics mixed with knowledge and imagination. Childs play. Not worth mentioning. What we should talk about is the truly difficult stuff like-Repairing your air mattress, shoes, tent, tent pole, hiking pole, backpack, backpack strap, sleeping bag, stove, etc. And replacing things that seem to just disappear, just when you need them, out of the things you see around you on the trail. ¢all can be done quickly, easily, and without cost or going into town. ¢now all of that takes some skill¢¦What? You want me to list everything? ¢tips and tricks with descriptions too? Do you have any idea how hard that would be? Now if I had illustrations you could just look at those and figure it out. But do you know how long it would take me to draw over two hundred illustrations? ¢Or to write long enough descriptions so that you can imagine exactly what I am talking about? This is all¢¦well, not impossible but extremely tedious. Maybe I should write a book or something.And then simple tool building becomes impossible to describe due to variations. Take making a level for example- It¢s hard to build level structures, or to check a slope, without using a level. One way to make a level is setting a half full clear water bottle on a surface known to be flat and then marking the level surface of the water. But there must be over a dozen ways to make a level and I would have to experiment with each level system, make graphs and spreadsheets to determine what level is the best to endorse. ¢and who has the time for all that?And then when chemistry gets involved¢¦like when making glue¢¦you need to insure the correct properties are used in the right situation- Do I need to tell you that those shoes will not stick back together again without glue? Most glues are made from plant and tree sap. But Pine tree sap makes much stronger glue then a latex based glue like what you get from the plant Milkweed. However there are times when you would need the Elmer¢s like latex glue.And then there is the easy to do but hard to describe method of making cordage. It may be easy to do but it is hard to describe. Then there is the extensive list of fibers and their sources that I would have to, well, list. Then comparisons would have to be made¢¦more graphs and spreadsheets¢¦more experiments. Breaking strengths will have to be explored. ¢it is just too much.I¢m not doing it. No!Sorry.Just wrap it in duct tape and limp into town like a normal hiker.
Date: 2014-03-01
To: Dreaming
Miles today: 0.0

DreamingI¢m dreaming of the trail. In 26 days I¢ll be there and then time will slow down. A thru hike can last a thousand years. ¢¦several lifetimes at the least. The memories that stick because they are extreme happen almost every day. Those memories fill my waking hours and spill into my dreams.Right now, I¢m busy. A lot of loose ends to tie in these last weeks. Instead of training, when I desperately need it, I¢m busy working until I collapse. Every evening, just before the collapse, I check the trail journals of my fellow hikers on the trail and their experiences become my experiences. I remember and I dream.I dream of the cold wind and the white snow, and the peace of winter. All around me she is sleeping. The crunching of my feet and the panting of my breath is a disturbing intrusion. So I stop, hold my breath and listen to the silence. I hear the call of a lone bird and I know soon she will be awake.When she wakes up her warm breath will put a smile on my face. The snow will turn to rain and everywhere life begins again. The first mountain flower is a beautiful sight. It is a promise of the coming party where new life is celebrated. I bend down low and smell the sweet fragrance.The party hits and there is much dancing and commotion. The howling whistle of wind now has a rattle sound. There is a thrumming in the air that vibrates in my chest. The dancing becomes a feast.This spills over to a magic time in the mountains. You can experience three seasons in under an hour as you climb up or down. This is the time I can be most comfortable while sleeping. To hot then I climb up¢¦to cold down. The layers come off then back on as I hike.Then comes the long season where everything becomes very green. My mind travels back in time as the trail becomes a tunnel. I seem to float over the miles and rocky terrain. The warmth of long days soaked into my bones. Drops of sweat paint white waves in my clothes.I stop and look from the top of a mountain.Still ahead of me is the cool wind and paint of autumn. The climbs that seem to be straight up and go on forever. I can look ahead and see the Martian landscape of the White Mountains and the granite of Maine. And beyond those that tall mountain that rises so majestically out of the flat land. And the weathered sign at the top.Soon, before I know it the dream will become real. The memories will begin to stick and I will be a hiker again....soon.
Date: 2014-03-18
To: Surprise
Miles today: 0.0

SurpriseI¢m leaving today. Yes, I¢m a week early but it¢s going to take almost a week to get to the trail. I need to help someone move far east and then I will be dropped off at the trail. This is all an unexpected good surprise to me. It¢s my first trail magic¢¦or you could call it work for service.This is going to cut my cost to get to the trail a lot. And it allowed me to get most of my gear now. All I have left is food and a few small items. Right now my pack weight is 27lbs and my bucket is at 3.3lbs without food and water. This may sound heavy to some of you but it is a vast improvement over 2012.Also, I managed to save some on gear by shopping the discount racks. I got a $60 sleeping bag for $15 +tax. What can I say¢¦I¢m a cheap man. I should be on the trail with transportation, gear, and food for under $300! Maybe I will get under $1,000 this time.I only have a few hours to go and I¢m so excited. I¢ve been trying to follow my fellow 2014 hikers on Trail Journals and so far the trail has been what I thought it would be this year¢¦difficult but doable. High respect to my fellow hikers that are ahead of me and good luck to the ones about to start¢¦I can¢t wait to hang out around the campfire.I will not be updating my journal often. If you do not here from me then I¢m hiking (or dead). If I have to get off the trail I will post what happened.Happy trails,
Date: 2014-03-19
From: Home

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 31.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Hi Everyone,I¢m staying at Blood mountain cabins at Neels Gap. I¢ve been on the trail for seven days¢¦it¢s been great. I¢ve been in all kinds of weather¢¦even snow last Tuesday. I started out slow but now I¢m going to pick up the pace.Thanks for the gust book messages!Spirit, I¢m so sorry I missed the chance to see you and please tell Sipsy I¢ll have to call him some other time.Hoping to have my trail legs soon.