morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-11-11
Miles today: 0.0

With our hike now only five months away (April 1, 2003) our preparations are in high gear. As I type this (Montana), THEAT and Makoshika are in the kitchen vaccum sealing our dehydrated dinners. After tonight's load, we will have all six months of dinners sealed and put up waiting to be packed into our anticipated 19 mail drops. After exhaustive research, THEAT prepared a careful dinner menu, staggering meals of rice/beans/veggies, with pasta/veggies/tuna and Ramen/veggies/chicken. We have created variety in these through a number of seasoning combinations so that flavor will be different each evening with dinner. A great help for food preparation has been the new packaging of "canned" tuna and chicken into the vaccum sealed aluminum envelopes. This allows carrying meat in greater quanitity, less weight without cans and no concern of spoiling...we decided not to dehydrate and try to preserve meat. Now that dinner is completed, we will be moving on to breakfast. The menu here will be granola, fruit and oatmeal...all to be vaccum sealed. It is our goal to be as independent of "civilization" as possible, using restaurants only as an occaisional treat not as a primary source of sustenance. So, our busy food preparations are, we hope, preparing us for maximum self-sufficciency. We have tested our menu for the past year on various section hikes and here at home, so we are confident that our tastes and nutritional needs will be met by this food plan.Of course, the proof will be along the trail...needless to say, we will keep you all informed about our food...sounds like, from reading other journals, that discussions of food is a constant.Stay tuned.MONTANA
Date: 2002-12-05
Miles today: 0.0

Well, our preparation continues for our 2003 Thru-Hike.Our house is up for sale (anyone looking to move to Wallingford, PA) and one of our two cars is also up for sale. We continue to dehydrate food...dinners are done and we are on to fruit (bananas and apples).All three of us are on a final 16 week training schedule, which involves treadmill workouts carrying our packs (steadily increasing loads) with a steep incline program. THEAT and Montana are runners, so we are accustomed to regular workouts, but we thought it is important to begin to shift that workout from running to a more genuine preparation...walking with our packs on an increasing incline. Of course, we also plan to do some regular outdoor training as well. I was skeptical about the use of a treadmill for training until the last U.S. Olympic team included a female marathon runner from Alaska whose primary marathon training was on an indoor treadmill...I guess that is good enough for us.It is snowing today...expecting about 8-10 inches...a good day to realize the beauty of our natural world, as it once again shows us mortals that we are not, ultimately, in charge.That is it for the update, we continue to prepare and progressively simplify our lives as April 2003 approaches.
Date: 2002-12-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Still getting used to this site and no doubt Montana needs some technical advice in properly sizing and loading our photos..... can't imagine anyone needs to see a zoomed photo of green beans dehydrating! As I think about giving in my resignation at work, I find myself rehearsing a succint reason as to why we're doing the trail. I've never been good with brief one-liners that sound good. There are so many reasons that I'm drawn to this journey. I've come to learn that my body works best when it is well fueled, worked hard and well rested. I also seem most energized by being outdoors, keeping things simple and accomplishing goals. When Montana, THEAT and I are backpacking- we really mesh as a family. We obviously need to work a plan, support each other and respect each other. While we're all very different, being on a trail seems to allow us the freedom to be ourselves but really be a great team. So maybe I'm drawn to this journey because it signifies an independant and gutsy move by a family of three to give it a whirl in a simpler but challenging way. Guess I'll need to work a little more one rehearsing my reason for doing this.THEAT
Date: 2002-12-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The holidays are approaching so there is much time to think about family and contemplate the absence we will experience, being away from our family and friends for six months and then, of course, our family plan to move to Montana. After reading many books and journals it becomes obvious that six months of continuous hiking on the AT leaves most people changed, they are not who they were before their hike. Expecting that we as individuals and as a family will be no exception, we recognize that post-hike is the time for us to move to a place that is more in tune with the life we wish to lead...one that is more connected to outdoors, less hectic, a slower pace, and in a community that values land/wilderness more than we find in an overdeveloped metropolitan area here in the northeast. So, Montana is where we plan to settle. Why...well, just look at the photo above and you have your answer! That is what we value, that is what makes us feel whole and at peace...not traffic, not consumerism, not a hectic upwardly mobile system of values. That photo from Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana says it all. And, of course, that photo explains the choice of trailname for one member of our group..."Montana." So we continue to prepare for our 2003 thru-hike, preparing not only the logistical needs, but also preparing our psyches for the transformation we anticipate and the future we plan to build. Our AT thru-hike leads us not just to Maine, but onward to the natural wonder of the wilderness of Montana. And we hope that family and friends will follow that trail for regular visits.
Date: 2002-12-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

As April 1st approaches, we find ourselves reviewing lists and finalizing gear choices. One debate remains active between the 3 of us- to carry detailed AT maps vs. simply relying upon "The AT Thru Hikers Handbook". We've taken only the latter on all our extended hikes and it has always proven satisfactory in terms of directing us to water sources, shelters, etc. However, there are many areas of the AT we've yet to hike. Any strong feelings one way or the other from former thru hikers on this topic????THEAT
Date: 2002-12-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My head continues to spin with gear related questions. I'm sick of preparing however patience is a virtue I need to work on.Boots- We've gone with serious hi cut heavy duty boots. Montana & I chose Zamberlan Gore tex Civettas- advertised to go the distance but I certainly can't imagine getting 1800 miles in and having to break another pair of these babies in. If there are any former thru hikers reading this entry- what are your thoughts about breaking in another pair before we leave versus trusting that the traditional heavy duty boot can make the entire trip?THEAT
Date: 2002-12-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

As I find my mind filled with thoughts of beginning this journey, I often find myself going back to the earliest days of trail preparation.My huband (Montana), my then 13 year old daughter (Makoshika) and I convened our first "Planning Session". We joked that we were embarking upon a family planning session that wasn't anything about condoms or abstinence. Truly, our hope was to brainstorm and hopefully get onto paper, a plan that would guide us in the months ahead to become the team we thought we needed to be as we began to set our eyes toward our AT journey.Montana and I had been part of many organizational planning retreats. At 13, Makoshika wasn't sure what the heck she was getting herself into. Montana had put together a questionnaire of sorts that each of us agreed to complete before our planning session. On it, we each answered questions about things like: What is really imporant to me? What would I say are my core values? What is MY purpose in this world and in this family? What do I need to do to get there (maintain my core values and fulfill my purpose). Bringing our individual notes to our family meeting allowed us to really discuss the things we had in common and the things that seemed to be sources of conflict. It also gave Makoshika a taste of team planning that we felt would be important for our team and future teams she might be a part of.   While it might sound stilted or stiff- it really became a lively dialogue as we realized we never really took the time to force ourselves to honestly discuss things like this. It was pretty enlightening as I realized we were all taking a risk to be honest and it was possible we might discover this was a concept doomed to fail. But I think we all came away from our basement feeling it was pretty helpful. From this, over time we were able to put together a list of "Family Core Values", a vision statement and a simple family mission and purpose. This really helped us come together as individuals and be honest with what we wanted and to discuss what we thought could be some of the emotional challenges and gifts of a 6 month family journey. So- it was "A Go". For us, this family retreat was inspiring and key in allowing us to move forward with the detailed planning. We really needed to be sure we shared a common vision. While we recognize we are very different individuals with different wants and needs, I think we became a team through the process- and hope we will carry our vision with us from GA -> ME. THEAT
Date: 2004-01-16
From: Helena, Montana

Miles today: 0.0

After completing our "quest for the west" driving, camping and hiking our way from PA to Montana, we have decided to update our journal and add some of our trail photos. It is an odd experience to relive our 89 day hike through our photos and by reading the journal entries. We often miss the trail...its simplicity, the daily goals, and, honestly, the daily "living life full-up" that one does when daily survival is the focus of each day. Life in Helena, Montana is all that we hoped for and expected...the beauty of these mountains, the easy access to wilderness, and the deeper cultural appreciation for open space and nature. So, we are now home but we will always hold our AT hike very near and dear.....and, of course, plans are in the making to someday complete our thru-hike with a PA-->ME trek of the final 1135 miles. Please be sure to sign our guest book even if you have done so earlier. Signed...Montana.
Date: 2003-03-24
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Our first day on the trail, and it's not even really on the trail b/c it's the approach trail. But it was great! Our families saw us off from the Amicalola Falls (thanks for being there, we love you!), then we were out on our own. Just us and our 80+ lbs. of gear (Moo (Mike) with about 45-50 lbs, and 42 (Liz) with about 35).Amazing weather -- sunny, blue skies, perfect hiking weather. A good omen?! We had heard that the approach trail is really tough, so we (esp. 42) were nervous about it. The trail was challenging but doable, a big relief. We arrived on top of Springer Mountain about an hour or so before sunset, having hiked 7.8 miles from the Lodge. It was so beautiful we decided to pitch our tent and spend the night up there. While we did that, some other people came to check out the view (gorgeous) and watch the sunset. We went over to meet them and to cook our dinner as the sun set. We met Tom for Short, who was turning 60 the next day, Seneca Lou, and Fourplay. Moo was the cook for the night b/c he was the one who had used the stove before (a whopping one time). He showed 42 what to do and the stove worked wonderfully, but then he had to turn it off to get water. When he went to turn it on, it wouldn't work . . . Tom for Short & Fourplay came over to help . . . finally, after lots of stove shaking, it started working. Then it worked too well and boiled over . . . Not the most auspicious beginning to our outdoor cooking, but the Lipton dinner of broccoli & cheese turned out great (maybe b/c we were starving by then?). The sun setting over the mountains in the distance was beautiful. Then darkenss descended quickly -- faster than we thought, and by the time we had to string up our food (to prevent bears & other wildlife from getting it) it was pitch black, except for the sky filled with stars. No bear hooks, so Moo had to throw rope over a tree branch -- easier said than done b/c he hadn't perfected his technique yet. Took a few (OK, several) tries, finally worked. Then, after we strung up all the food, of course Moo found a bag of trail mix in his jacket! So he got a chance to try out his food hanging technique again. Our tent rocks (MSR Zoid 2) -- it is almost all mesh on top (w/o the fly) so we could see the sky filled with stars from it. Beautiful. Btw, it seems that Chapeau stowed away in our gear and made his first appearance on top of Springer Mtn.
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

We woke up atop Springer Mountain to a glorious, sunny day -- our first official day on the AT. We took our sweet ole time eating breakfast and packing up camp -- we were just so excited to be on Springer, enjoying our new way of life, ready to begin our hike to Maine. Moo prepared a delicious breakfast of cold, blueberry poptarts.As we were packing up camp, Darden and Pete arrived on Springer. We had met these twenty-something, long-time friends the previous day. Nice guys, who had "AT" shaved into the back of their heads -- we liked their spirit. Moo served as their photographer, taking a very special Springer Mtn. picture of the two that may one day appear in the pages of an adult magazine.Once we packed up, we hiked our first 0.2 miles to the Springer Mountain Shelter, where we resupplied on H2O and used a privy, or outhouse, for the first time. How luxurious -- we hadn't realized that we'd be treated to anything other than the opportunity to perform our own bathroom site selection. Moo enjoyed his first poop in the woods -- and what a view -- you see, there are no doors on the privy -- just terrific views out into the mountains.10:45 start from the shelter (hey, we're in no hurry) -- so we're officially hiking the AT -- yee haw! We enjoyed our hike & the accompanying 70 degree weather -- just taking in the scenery and sharing thoughts like "wow -- we're really here," "we're walking to Maine, this is wild," "look how beautiful this all is." After approx 5 miles, we reached Long Creek Falls, a stunning water fall just off the trail. Seemed like a great place to have lunch. PB&Js never tasted so great! Moo took an after-lunch cold water dip in the falls (1st unofficial shower on the trail). We hiked the remaining few miles to the Hawk Mtn Shelter, where we were greeted by a huge crowd of novice thru hikers, each just as excited as us to be on the trail. We set up our tent near the shelter and proceeded to give each other wonderful foot massages, the beginning of a short-lived, one-day tradition that we hope to continue at some point.Feedin' time -- cooked up some mac & cheese -- very easy, now that Moo has become proficient with the stove. Met Smokey (who sleeps in a hammock), Cookie, Sleepy Floyd, Flatlander, Clover & Sprout. Enjoyed some social time with the gang before hanging our food on the bear cables and hitting the hay -- we've been getting anywhere between 10 to 12 hours per night of sleep -- what a luxury, and a necessity for our tired bodies. Woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of what were later identified as screech owls -- crazy noises -- Moo thought they were coyotes.
Date: 2003-03-26
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap (old) Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Awoke @ approx 7 am, enjoyed some poptarts and cereal bars for breakfast and hit the trail @ approx 9:30 (note that we keep getting earlier and earlier starts).Tough hike today -- many, many hills -- but we are STRONG and we BELIEVE (hey GrayAnzo). After a number of miles, ran across TVD 42, which is Tennessee Valley Divide road 42 -- had to get a photo of the Lizzard with her own road. Many folks were planning to stay @ the Gooch Mtn Shelter that eve, so we decided to go a bit further. Stumbled upon the old Gooch Gap Shelter, where we pitched our tent for the night. Moo & 42 met Woody Woodpecker, a cute, little woodpecker who was undeterred by the likes of us from doing his thing on the tree next to the shelter. Cool to observe his process.Walked the 1/2 mile or so down the hill to get water -- very pretty stream with a wood-planked bridge over it. We soaked our feet in the icy water, which was very soothing. Started to drizzle, so we headed back for our seemingly romantic site for two for the night to discover that Tom for Short, Seneca Lou and Fourplay had joined us -- welcome guests for sure. We all relaxed, ate dinner, preceded and followed by Snickers bars and started a wonderful fire in the shelter fire ring -- thanks for the b-day candle, Tom for Short -- great way to get a fire going. Enjoyed the warmth and smell of our very 1st AT camp fire.Learned that Tom for Short and Fourplay call the process of hanging their food away from the bears and other creatures of the night "the bear olympics." Moo and 42 are now officially olympians.42 passed out in our tent with her fleece hat on her head, a sight which soon became nightly, while Moo did a little journal-writing to the rhythym of Tom for Short and Fourplay's snoring.OK -- now we got our crazy coyotes -- they had some kind of jamboree that night and it was wild -- Moo even woke up 42 to enjoy the show.
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Gooch Gap (old) Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

The day began way before dawn. During the night we heard coyotes and Moo also heard owls, which kept us up, as did the snoring from the shelter several feet away! Then at about 4 or 4:30 a.m., Moo started worrying that it was going to rain, and he woke 42 to suggest they pack up the tent before it got soaked. We decided to wait a bit, but Moo thought every noise he heard was rain, and finally by about 5:30 a.m. he convinced 42 to get up and pack up. 42 thought they were just going to move into the shelter, but Moo had other ideas and 42 was too tired to object. So we started the day hiking at 7:30ish (we keep getting earlier & earlier!). Tough hike, but great! Lots of great views, lots of weather changes -- broke out the gloves and fleece hats, but then took them off as the weather varied. First use of the first aid kit as 42 tended to Moo's feet to prevent blisters. We ran into Tom for Short, Seneca Lou, and Fourplay, as well as Uma, and the Aunt (her niece & nephew are going to hike the whole trail and she's accompanying them for the first week). For lunch had tuna sandwiches, and 42 gave Moo a mini-massage, advil, and another foot treatment, and reorganized Moo's pack, so he was good to go! Late in the afternoon we came to Turkey Stamp Mountain. We read in the book that it was a pretty high climb. We hiked up then it leveled off and we thought, that wasn't too bad. Then it started uphill again . . . tough, but then it leveled off and we thought, phew, we're at the top. Then it started going uphill again! Not fair, but nothing we could do but climb, climb, climb. Finally made it to the top -- the real top -- and were excited b/c the shelter was supposed to be right on the other side. We saw the blue blazes indicating that the shelter was near and started walking that way . . . and walking . . . and walking (see a theme here?) . . . after 1/2 mile (which does not count in our overall mileage) we finally got to the Woods Hole Shelter. It was worth the hike! Pretty new shelter, clean, in a gorgeous setting w/ great views. We were the only ones there and thought we'd give sleeping in a shelter a try. Thought we might have the place to ourselves that night, but we were soon proven wrong as about 15 others trickled in. Some we already knew, some were new, fun group. First Cookie & Sleepy Floyd arrived, then Finch. Tom for Short, Seneca Lou, and Fourplay joined us, as did Healer, Smokey, the Aunt, and her niece & nephew. Mac & cheese for dinner, then hung out by campfire as day turned to night, talking to others as Healer tended to his feet. Our first night in a shelter & 42 discovered why shelters aren't the greatest. It was a cool night so she was pretty much ensconced in the sleeping bag but her head, covered in a fleece had, was sticking out. During the night, she felt mice (hopefully just mice) scurry over her head 3 times! She got paranoid that they would try to come in the sleeping bag (they didn't) so it wasn't the most relaxing night ever. Aaaah, wilderness.
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked from Woods Hole Shelter to Neel Gap. Short hike, but had to go up Blood Mountain. Misty day and felt like we were in a cloud the whole time -- we didn't get any views from atop Blood Mtn., but it was really neat & kind of eerie being surrounded by mist the whole time. We made it to Neel Gap! Our first night off the trail. Stayed in a cabin w/ Smokey, Cookie, Sleepy Floyd & Flatlander (we had our own room though). Had showers & went to Jimmy's pizza for food -- fantastic! Also had a "shakedown" by Nathan at Mountain Crossing, and together Moo & 42 lost 15 lbs from our packs!
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

After resting up at the cabin, went back to Mountain Crossing, then got a late start on the trail. Long day of hiking, but good -- with some new weather, rain. Luckily we had bought some waterproof gloves at Mountain Crossing (neither of us is sure why we didn't have them already) and we broke them out. But not bad -- both of us were plenty warm, and it was more windy than rainy. We got to the shelter in time to set up our tent (the shelter was full) before the rain hit. Camped next to Tom for Short and Seneca Lou (Fourplay done w/ his hike), and they put up tarp. Had dinner w/ them and Peter Pan under tarp, which shielded us from the rain. Got colder and colder, and when Moo & 42 went to bed, they were wearing most of their clothing and had to cuddle together.
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

We woke up at Low Gap Shelter to 2 inches of snow! It was absolutely beautiful -- the woods were covered in the pristine snowfall. We had to clean the snow off the tent, which made it harder to pack up. And of course we had to build a snow man. Then we were ready to get on our way, only to discover that Moo's water bladder had opened in his pack -- water was everywhere!!! Fortunately most of his stuff was packed in a waterproof way, but still had to clean up so got a late start (what else is new?).Got on the trail. Beautiful -- cool but not freezing, with some sun and some snow. The last 2 miles to Blue Mountain were tough, but we made it.Just enough room at the shelter for us to squeeze in -- also at the shelter were Tom for Short, Seneca Lou, the niece & nephew (Sharon & Josh), Half Day Hank (soon renamed Clear Cut b/c of his snoring). Cold, cold, COLD! Decided to sleep in shelter b/c still snowing. So cold that after everyone ate, we went to bed, even though still daylight!