morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-23
From: Stony Man Overrlook

To: Thornton Gap US 211
Miles today: 7.6

I felt a little better this morning so I decided to head back up the mountain.   Luray was completely socked in with fog but it started to clear as we headed up and then the sun came out. Yes!'The trail was a little rocky from Stony Man Overlook and then the graded climb began to the Pinnacles Picnic Area. Tagalong2 met me from the opposite direction and we hiked together to the parking area.She did not care to climb The Pinnacle so I continued on alone.   Shortly down the trail there was some fairly fresh bear scat so kept my eye peeled, but no luck. The trail soon began the steep climb.   On the way up I had another spell like yesterday and my legs were feeling heavy again.   Crap!Finally I summitted The Pinnacle and the views were stupendous. It was well worth the climb.  Soon I was at Byrds Nest #3 Hut and there sat VeryMerry. It was good to reconnect. After a short rest, I continued on north. Now I had been under the impression that it was all downhill from here. Haha! Up and up I went and then some more - all the way to Mary's Rock. The trail then sloped downhill and I was soon greeted by Tagalong2 and Tagalong3. They began to share their big snake story from their ascent up the mountain. So I was a little freaked out on the way down! Fortunately either I didn't see it or it had moved on.Tagalong2 and I finished up to US 211 just before Luray. I determined there that I needed to go home and get this health issue checked out. So long for now and I hope to return soon!
Date: 2012-05-30
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Good News and Bad News.....After doctoring and blood tests, which just came in this morning, the good news is that they have ruled out Lyme Disease. The bad news is that I still have all of my symptoms and then some that have recently developed and they still don't know what is wrong with me....I am sleeping 16-18 hours a day, am always tired, my joints ache, but all of the sores on my face have started to heal - yay!! Whatever got me out there got me pretty good. Who would have ever thought it would come to this? Here I was hiking 15-20 miles a day, and now I could not walk to the end of my driveway if I had to. Back to the doctor on Friday for more tests. Hopefully I can get a diagnosis soon, so I can start some form of treatment. Unless I have an amazingly quick recovery, it is going to take a long time to rebuild my strength.In the meantime, I am missing the trail and all of the people I have met out there. Let's just hope I can get back out there at some point this summer. I will post more once I get a diagnosis.
Date: 2012-06-02
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

After being poked, prodded, bled, and generally inspected from head to toe (twice), I have been diagnosed with a viral infection. Evidently one of epic proportions that pretty much took over my entire being. Hmmmm.....So, the prognosis. I have about 7 more days or so of fatigue, aches, and fever to look forward to - then I should start to feel better. I will say that yesterday, I did feel like I had turned a corner - did not sleep at all during the day, which was a milestone. I am very tired again today, but not as bad as it was earlier.Once the recovery begins, the doctor says if I want to return to the Trail, I have to first work on building myself back up, which will be a process. At this point the mind is far stronger than the body, so I am starting to look at the AT Guide again, and trying to put together a plan. Hopefully, the body will cooperate. Haha!!Thanks for all of the emails, calls, posts, etc. They have really helped me through the emotional portion of all of this. Happy hiking to all of my hiker friends out there!
Date: 2012-06-16
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It is going on a month now that I have been off the Trail. It feels like forever....So, as to the recovery - not going as well as I had hoped. I was feeling pretty well, and then had somewhat of a relapse this week. I will feel fine one day, and then am fatigued and sleeping the day away the next. In terms of hiking, I haven't even had my pack on since I left the trail.Friends and family will ask how I feel about not being on the AT - well, disappointed, frustrated, sad, angry. That pretty much sums it up. To think of all of the things that could have taken me off the Trail, and to be sidelined by a virus. Really??I had hoped that it would be a couple of weeks recovery time and to be back out there this coming week. Not happening. I have come to terms with it - don't like it - but have come to terms with it. The thru-hike will have to be a section hike, as there is not enough time left on the calendar.My hope is to be back on the Trail in the Fall (I do not quit easily and to even delay my hike until then is a huge compromise on my part) and to finish to the halfway point, and then do the remainder next year. Hiking in colder weather is not an issue - I'm from Michigan!! I am also having this nagging thought of starting anew next year in GA, and going for the whole thing again. I know I can hike the miles, and have learned much this year, so I would do some things differently. Aside from the unbelievable beauty of the trail and its surroundings, the best part has been the acquaintances and friendships made along the way.My feet will be back on the AT this year.......until then, one day at a time focused on getting strong again!!
Date: 2012-06-23
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I think the road to recovery has begun!!I have had 3 good days now. Completed a short walk yesterday even in the 90-degree heat. And today, I did a 7-mile hike with my pack half full with two of our grandsons. Even cooked them Mountain House meal on the trail. It sure felt good to be "back in the woods".Over time, I will add pack weight, miles, and tougher terrain. Today's was relatively flat, but at least I was out there again. Thinking of all of my trail buddies still out there..... Hike safe!
Date: 2012-06-27
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The road to recovery continues......today is Day 7 of feeling well again.I hiked the same trails as Saturday this morning, only with a full pack. I figured it was probably the most important aspect to work on first. There were no ill effects. In fact, I hiked at a rate of a little better than 3 miles per hour. I felt good about it, but remember this is still relatively flat terrain. I will working on adding more miles next. Saw some pics posted on TJ of other hikers' bulls eye tick bites. Hmmmmm....looks an awful lot like what mine looked like in the beginning before the dizzy spells and fatigue set in. Is it possible to register a false negative on the blood work? I am wondering if i should ask for the Rx anyway just to be sure, or is it too late? Gumpy - if you read this, can you let me know? Thanks.On another note, something really good happened yesterday. I finally decided to make a call to Kelty yesterday regarding my backpack failure in the first half of the Smokies. Well, I have to say that their customer service is nothing short of amazing! The rep, Jacqui, had me take pics of the pack (which I kept, thank goodness even though I had purchased a Gregory at the NOX in Gatlinburg) and email them to her for the warranty reps to review. The bottom line is that within 2 HOURS, I had an email from her, with the authorization to select any pack I wanted, and it would be shipped to me free of charge. Wow - thank you Kelty!! So, now will have 2 packs. A decision will have to be made before I return to the AT in the Fall!With all of this time on my hands, I have been enjoying the journals of those still on the Trail. It is especially exciting to follow the travels of those I have met along the way. Happy Hiking to all of you!
Date: 2012-08-09
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Well, it has certainly been a long time since I have posted on my journal. The road to recovery has been long as well, but I do believe I have finally arrived!I am hoping to return to the Trail the last week of August where I originally left it for a heel injury in VA. Tagalong will be with me, and we are looking forward to the return.This year's goal is to finish to the halfway mark, and then resume from there next year.People will ask me if I am disappointed that the thru-hike did not pan out. I guess the answer is yes and no. Yes, because I would have loved to continue with the people I had met on the trail who are now in Maine. No, because I am satisfied with what I have accomplished thus far, and for me, it is really about the journey. The people I have meet, both on and off the Trail, and the sights I have seen, are far more important than the destination, in my eyes.Happy Trails!
Date: 2012-08-18
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

What a difference a week can make! As Forrest Gump's mother said, "Life is like a box of chocolates......."This is the journal that no hiker wants to write. It is official - I am off the Trail for 2012. Whew! I have said it. Deep breath.Earlier this week, the Lyme's returned with a vengeance, and has had me pretty much bedridden for the week. Right now, my health is more important and I need to somehow get this under control. As one of my hiker friends continues to tell me, I need to listen to my body.And I guess that is the hard part. At first, the AT was just a dream. But once I started, I was bitten by the bug, and not of the tick variety that has landed me in this current medical state. For me, having experienced a taste of the AT, all I think about is getting back out there. But sometimes good things have to wait, or so I am telling myself at the present.Looking back, I walked nearly 27% of the Trail this year. Certainly not a thru-hike, but not shabby either, considering that it was nearly 600 miles. I hope to return as soon as my health permits. I probably will not announce my return in advance, as it seems to have somewhat jinxed me this time - haha!! But I am certain that I will return.Congrats to all who have finished, those who are about to finish, and to those like myself, who simply went for a "walk in the woods". Until next time......
Date: 2012-02-20
To: Again, anew, I hug the trail...
Miles today: 0.0

"There are many different answers to why someone would pick up and head off to the woods for weeks or months on end. ADHD of the soul, a spiritual quest, disenchantment, or a case of Springer fever are but a handful of the complex answers to this question"--Michelle Ray, from her book, How to Hike the A.T.I'm heading out on my 6th long distance hike on the AT in the past 12 years.  I've completed the trail twice: once all the way thru, and one other time as 2 section hikes.  I estimate I've logged over 8,000 miles on the AT in these last 12 years.  I guess I'm  going to add a few more this year.
Date: 2012-02-21
To: From Occupy Boston to Occupy the Trail
Miles today: 0.0

"I can connect nothing with nothing"-T.S. Eliot, "The Wasteland"I'm heading out on the trail... again!This time it's a bit different.  I've spent the last 5 months as an occupier at Occupy Boston, and if I told you that the experience has been transformative... well, that would be a gross understatement.  I joined the occupation on September 30, 2011 -- the night we took Dewey Square in the shadows of the Federal Reserve building in Boston.  The two and a half months we spent encamped at Dewey Square were intense and life affirming -- being engaged with thousands of other occupiers around the globe was intoxicating.  It still is. And we're still here:  we gain our resolve from the hundreds of millions of others around the globe who believe we need change now.There were weeks when I happily spent 80 hours doing the work of the occupation in Boston.  It has been one of the most profound experiences in my life.  I like to say: "I left a job and found an occupation."  What I really found was a redefined  approach toward living life and a resoluteness to change the status quo... but now it's time for a break: a brief pause in the work that will consume the rest of my life.  I will, without question, resume the work of the occupation upon my return.I started to think about heading out on my 6th long distance hike on the AT about 3 weeks ago.  The occupation in Boston, as most of the other global occupations, is experiencing some "growing pains."  I'd like to get away for a bit and come back recharged to continue this critical work.  I will miss my new occupier family.  But tempering that disappointment is the knowledge  that I will, again, find a new family on the trail.I originally thought that I'd  start around the same time I have traditionally started in the past, around April 5th, but after quick deliberation I decided to start a month earlier.  I decided yesterday that I'd leave next week and start on leap year day, February 29th.  I'm going to Occupy the Trail!  I even changed my trail name from "Excellent-Good" Half Moon, which was given to me by Groovy (GA-ME 2000) back on my first thru hike in 2000, to "Half Moon the Occupier" -- although as usual I don't expect anyone to call me anything but "Half  Moon."(If you're interested in how that name was given to me check out the "trail name" link in the "about" section)
Date: 2012-02-23
To: Surreal and Rote
Miles today: 0.0

"The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."-- Albert Camus, from "The Myth of Sisyphus"It's surreal and rote all at once, as I wait for the T here at Harvard station it dawns on me... I'm at this again!Five days from now I'll be on a train to Georgia and at this time six days from now I'll be halfway to Hawk Mountain. This is the 10th year anniversary of my third thru hike, and the first time I finished the trail in one season, after piecing it together in 2000-2001.Yet this year is different: I've done nothing to prepare -- not mentally or physically. I made this choice so abruptly, 4 days ago, that there has been no time to do either. In the last few days I've disengaged from my 40-80 hour weekly commitments to Occupy Boston, and I haven't stepped foot on a trail or in a gym since the occupation started on September 30, 2011. I'm out of it.This should make for a very physically challenging first few days and trail legs and lungs will definitely take longer to develop; despite this, I still feel a bit nonplussed. It'll be here soon enough.
Date: 2012-02-27
To: In a mind numbing sorta' way...
Miles today: 0.0

"I was fat and sassy -- for I have always done my conditioning on the trail." -- George L. Ziegenfuss, from Roland Mueser's book, Long Distance HikingI'm feeling the dislocation of being caught in between two important points in my life -- between disengaging from one obsession to undertake another.  At the very least I'm finally packed and ready to go, my pack weight is down to 27 lbs. That's not too bad, in my mind, for coldish weather gear, by summer (if I'm out here that long) my pack weight should be down to 18-20 lbs.A 22 hour train ride to Georgia awaits tomorrow... mind numbing in it's own special way...
Date: 2012-02-29
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

"so far no falls... "-- Bat, from Hawk Mountain Shelter registerThere was a fair amount of confusion on the part of my driver, so a 45 minute drive to the trail head at Springer Mountain  ended up being 2 hours long.  I got there eventually, and was astounded by a van from the Hiker Hostel unloading  dozen hikers at the Springer Mountain trail head. Welcome to the AT! At least this time there were plenty of people to snap a photograph of me. The hiking was, well... first day hiking: slow.  The unusual touch was spotting nearly two dozen turkey that I flushed out of the trail onto a forest service road.  All of this first day terrain north of Springer is fairly flat, but that nonetheless translates to burning hip flexors, calves and quadriceps.  A dense fog obscured all of the vistas today, and a light drizzle lasted the entire day.This is the beginning of the height of thru hiker season, so there are 18 people here tonight -- camping and in the shelter -- at Hawk Mountain.  Among those  here tonight are: Old Hiker, Paul 1, Birdman, Sean, Azalan, Paul 2, Eric, Sue, Victor, Matt, Nor'easter, Always Fine, Janis with an S, Victor, Peter, Papa Bear and Mama Bear, and there are others... but there are only so many hikers I want to meet on the first day.  I'll meet everyone else tomorrow.I can hear the Army Rangers from  Camp Merrill training a few miles away. The heavy weapons fire and helicopters off in the distance are audible here inside the shelter.  Maybe we'll have a visitor or two tonight.  Temps will drop into the 30's tonight.A fairly typical first day on the AT.
Date: 2012-03-01
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

"Up and down... why must we go up when we just have to go down again?"-- Animal, from Gooch Gap Shelter registerIt turned out to be a warm day for March 1st, temp hit 70 today.  It was clear and sunny that means it's the first day of sun burning the half moon shape in to the back of my shaved head. I'm generally overall feeling crispy now at the end of the day. I spent most of the day leap frogging Nor'easter, Vincent, Always Fine, Matt, Eric, Birdman and Azalan.  Today's walk also featured the first few climbs on the hike -- yesterday's ascents were very short and very well graded -- today's climbs over Sassafras, Justus and Ramrock Mountains were an indication of some of the more challenging climbs ahead. I spotted turkey vultures, rufous sides towhees, a grass snake, heard the distinctive call of the pileated woodpecker a couple of times, and finally nearing Woody Gap I caused a clutch of ruffed grouse to explode out of a thicket -- sending half a dozen startled birds in every direction. I also spotted fresh bear scat near Cooper Gap but no sign of the bear who left it.The second day out on the trail is muscle ache inducing stuff, every muscle in your lower body, including some you never knew you had, burns hot awash in lactic acid; sometimes it's slow going, but you get where you end up going.  I'm tenting at Woody Gap tonight near Nor'easter, Matt and Vincent.  I wanted to sleep under the stars (no tent) because it's an amazing star filled night, but the forecast calls for rain after midnight and a probably a wet start tomorrow.We're a few miles south of the restricted camping area here -- there is a 5 mile stretch of trail where a bear canister is required for camping (from Jarrard Gap to Neel's Gap) and it's a good thing the bears know their limits and are kept back from the invisible bear force field... whatever.  Seriously, there have been bear problems  in this area in recent years and it's a good precaution to take. Tomorrow: Blood Mountain  Neel's Gap and Walasi-yi... and maybe a bear?
Date: 2012-03-02
From: Woody Gap

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

"Crazy storms are coming & tornado warning... we decided to stay a night..."-- "Redbeard & Alex, from the Hike Hostel registerThunderstorms moved through last night on cue, they started at 12:09am.  Then around 5am two barred owls started a call and response from somewhere nearby sometimes devolving into a racket that sounded something akin to mad chimps. I also did one of my favorite things on the trail today -- pack a water logged tent.  Yay, fun! No drying out now for a couple of days minimum when this system moves through.One of the best views on the Georgia AT, from the top of Cedar Mountain, was totally socked in and most of the day was spent walking in dense fog. On the descent to Jarrard Gap I spooked a handful of white tail deer, the bucks snorted and stomped away below me and another two scampered away from above me as I slabbed the mountain.Then the rain and high winds commenced. Around 11 am I ran in to Nomad  who was listening to his weather band radio and he relayed to me that tornados were expected in the area in the afternoon, and at this point I still had to get over Blood Mountain -- the first 4,000 footer and  highest point in Georgia on the AT -- yet another good view socked in.  But the insides of these clouds look great!The descent down the rugged north side of Blood Mountain is adrenaline stoking as numerous pitched rock faces have to be navigated in the driving rain and the surface are slick.  The winds pick up and nearly blow a hiker who I startled off her feet: she said she heard the click of my hiking poles and I told her better the click of poles than bear claws. She seemed to get a kick out of that despite nearly being blown sideways.The rest of the descent down Blood Mountain (so called because the mountain ran red with blood after a battle between two native tribes) was absolutely jarring and mud splattered as I was trying to descend from exposed areas of the mountain quickly.  By the time I hit Neel's Gap the wind was howling and bringing all numbers of tree limbs down.  Now as I sit here in the relative calm of the early evening the descent seems like fun -- it wasn't! As one can imagine the Hiker Hostel at Mountain Crossings is filled to capacity, every hiker in the vicinity got themselves indoors if they could. Pirate, who seems to be playing hostel host at Walasi-yi this season, just cooked a big meal for a dozen of us staying at the hostel tonight.  Among us are Nor'easter, Redbeard and Alex, Animal, Sean, Matt, HT1, Yogi, Two Isles, Vincent, Victor, Peter and a few others whose names I've yet to learn.And the good news comes from Nor'easter who reports that the original forecast that called for continued heavy weather through tomorrow is actually incorrect -- tomorrow starts a trend of handful of sunny days, but the high  be 37 tomorrow and we'll finally come in to more seasonal late winter weather for this area.  I'll take sunny and cold any day.
Date: 2012-03-03
From: Neel's Gap

To: North of Poplar Stamp Gap
Miles today: 13.6

"Damned flying squirrels got in to my food bag..."-- Chia Pet, from Low Gap Shelter registerIt is so very cold right now that my fingers are getting numb as I type this (cold front came through) so it will be very brief:There were a number of ascents and a number of descents. There was rain and then sun shine.  There were mysterious ripped open packages of food strewn about the trail north of Neel's Gap as if a bear had gotten ahold of a hikers pack (?!) There were juncos, pileated woodpeckers, day hikers, weekend hikers, thru hikers... and views -- finally some views in Georgia -- mostly of the ridges northeast of the trail.There were "the height of hiker season crowds" out, especially with the better weather -- many people out about for a walk in the woods.  Good stuff.Matt, Aaron and I are tenting in a clearing on the slab side of a mountain north of Poplar Stamp Gap.  I convened our first Occupy the Trail General Assembly, noting we would take working group announcements, individual announcements, proposals, and individual stack.  Matt's announcement was about meeting his friend tomorrow at Unicoi Gap for a day hike, there were no proposals, I noted the temperature had dropped precipitously and the GA was adjourned. Modest, but our Direct Action group is going to cook something up.It's too cold for exposed fingers. That's it.