morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-29
From: Deep Gap 4,100

To: Clyde Smith Shelter 4,400
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

This morning it was 56 degrees when I woke up at 6:20. That makes it a lot easier to get out of my bag, but 6:20 was early for me. I got up anyway because it looked like rain outside and I wanted my tent packed up before the downpour. It never did rain today though and we actually had great hiking weather. Cloudy and about 75 degrees suited me fine. If you look at the elevation of where I stayed last night and ended tonight, there is only 300 feet difference. But today was a very hard day for all of us. We had lots of PUDS - pointless ups and downs. The ups were short and steep and there were a lot of them. I was on the trail by 7:45 and over Unaka Mtn at 5,180 feet by 8:45. I thought that was the hard part of my day. I was wrong. The rest of the day felt so much harder and it was a difficult day mentally. I just didn't want to do it today. I didn't want to climb or hike or sit on a log and eat lunch. My other options wouldn't help me get to Maine though.We crossed a couple of roads today - TN highways. I will be glad when we get out of TN and NC because all roads lead to Nashville right now and I get a little homesick. We hit Damascus, VA pretty soon and I am pretty excited.I am camping tonight with Sniper, Gator, Gunner, EZ Does It, and Dottie. One third, Lightwalker, Granite, Scubaman, Carrot Slayer, and Dirty Frank are in the shelter. I was, but moved out because Granite snores. He looked like he would, so I asked him. I'm not much for tactfulness when it comes to snoring.We have only 13 miles tomorrow, but it will be a hard day as well. Another reason I moved out of the shelter. It is time to brush my teeth and hit the sack. I think I'll dig through my food bag for Sniper and Gunner. They are running low and have a 21 mile day tomorrow.I keep forgetting to write about this. I saw a wild turkey a few days ago. It wasn't alarmed by me, but just walked across the trail. Pretty cool. We also saw a spotted salamander at camp a few nights ago and I found a huge snail on the trail last time it rained. Its shell was about two inches in diameter and it was brown with a yellow swirl.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-04-30
From: Clyde Smith Shelter 4,400

To: Overmountain Shelter 4,682
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night was so warm I had to open my sleeping bag and just use it like a blanket. It was 58 degrees when I woke up and we had clear skies. I was in the mood to hike today, unlike yesterday. I was on the trail by 8:00. The first thing I did was climb, then the trail leveled off for 2.5 miles and I made great time. Then I had to climb Roan Mountain, but there was a bathroom at the top and I was motivated by indoor plumbing! I went from 3,100 to 6,100 feet in 6 miles. That was tough! The bathroom was technically closed when I got to the top, but the men working on it were sympathetic and let me use it. I started down the mountain and heard thunder. This was disturbing since the next section coming up was two balds. A bald is not where you want to be in a storm. I had a bagel at Carver's Gap in a hurry and started climbing again at 1:00. My short stocky legs have never gone uphill o fast! I made it to the next shelter 3.5 miles away in an hour and 15 minutes. EZ and Gator saw me on the bald and thought it wasn't me because I was moving too fast. I missed the rain and got to the shelter. It started raining right when we got inside.This is the coolest shelter so far, except maybe for the Fontana Dam Shelter. Overmountain shelter is an old barn. You can sleep downstairs or up and it is huge. It has the most amazing view of a valley filled with trees and open grassy areas. And there is a privy here! A real toilet and a privy all in one day!I am in the shelter with EZ, Gator, Slip and Trip, Dottie, Gunner, Sniper, Lightwalker, One Third, Mongoose, Greenman, and there will probably be more. I am not setting up my tent even though I think the rain has stopped. This was a good hiking day, even though I was sort of motivated by fear over the bald. I felt good and the Ace bandage is helping my ankle. I will get another one in Damascus.Hope the weather clears for tomorrow. I am missing Oscar a lot today.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Overmountain Shelter 4,682

To: Mooreland Gap Shelter 3,815
Miles today: 26.0

I woke up this morning in the loft of a barn. It was a bit drafty, but the coolest, roomiest shelter so far. I bet it would hold at least 50 people, but we had lots of room. I got on the trail by 7:45 and the skies were clear and it was promising to be a warm day. I started climbing and had great views of the valley that was our view from the shelter. As I am climbing this never ending bald, I have my head down while charging over the top. It occured to me that maybe I should look up at the view. I look to the left, nice view. I look to the right and holy cow! I see a herd of longhorn cattle about thirty yards away! That is a rare sight in the South. I took a picture, but they weren't very close. I hiked to the first shelter and had lunch around 11:30. The sky started to get dark and I thought to myself that there was going to be a repeat of yesterday's weather. I opted not to get a ride to Jay's market for a soda at Hwy 19E and decided to keep hiking to the campsite where I was supposed to meet EZ Does It and Gator. I thought they were in front of me because they left really early and went to Jay's for resupply. When I got to the campsite, it wasn't very nice and they weren't there, but the rain had stopped. I thought they kept going to the next one 2.4 miles away. I kept walking. They weren't there. I began to realize they were not ahead of me.I vowed never to go backwards on this trail. I wasn't going to now. I began to think I would have to camp alone for the first time in my life because the next shelter was too far away. I did not want to camp alone. Partly because I walk alone all day and like to be social at night, and partly because of my own insecurities. I started the trek to the next shelter and by 8:00 I was at the shelter 26 miles later with Rebob, Wizard, Blip, Big Red, and Starbuck. My feet were killing me, I was exhausted, but so glad to be with people. This cut off one entire day from my hike from Uncle Johnny's to Kincora hostel. I was fine with that.I guess I should have some really deep thoughts during my 12+ hours of walking today, but I didn't. My main concern was getting to the shelter once I decided to do it and I really wanted a soda, but missed the trail magic. Someone left a cooler of sodas along the trail, but I was too late.Saw some great views today, climbed a huge bald only I wasn't in a storm this time, and I camped warm and dry again with nice people. I had peanut M&M's and cookies for dinner. Overall, it was a good day."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-02
From: Mooreland Gap Shelter 3,815

To: Kincora Hiker's Hostel 2,500
Miles today: 5.8

I sort of got a late start today. I was in no real hurry and was tired from yesterday. It was 58 degrees when I got up around 7:00 so that made it easier to get out of my sleeping bag. I hit the trail by 8:45 and got to the hostel by 11:00. Granite and Scubaman were here as well as ReBob and Wizard. I got my maildrops, took a shower, and did laundry. Then we went to town to the store and I stopped at Arby's for lunch. I got a turkey ranch club something or another and a Mountain Dew and it was goooooood! We came back to the hostel and now we are just relaxing. On the way out of town, a thunderstorm hit and it hailed a little. I'm so glad we weren't in it.I weighed myself today at the hostel. If the scale is right, I have lost about 10 pounds. I don't feel like it, but I do feel like I have lost at least five. I also got some medicine for poison ivy. My shins have quite a few blisters, but they don't itch that much. I seem to keep getting it so I got some Caladryl Clear. At the hostel I am staying with Blip, ReBob and Wizard, Scubaman and Granite, and two other guys I don't know. Bob and Pat Peoples own the hostel and all they ask for is a $4.00 donation. That includes laundry and whatever food is in the fridge. They are great people and do a lot of trail maintenance and other charity work for the community. I will definitely send them a Christmas card of me on Katahdin. The walls of the hostel are covered in them.Great hike today and a great place to stay. Glad I'm not in the rain.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-03
From: US 321 Shook Branch Picnic Area 1,980

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 8.9

I decided to slackpack today and spend another night at the hostel. I had such a good time here last night and slept pretty well. Bob came to get everybody around 8:00. I had to mail my bump box to Damascus, VA, then he took me 9 miles north to the Shook Branch picnic area on Lake Watauga where I started hiking south this time back toward the hostel. Slackpacking means you only carry a day pack. I felt so different carrying only a few pounds and no walking stick.The first six miles or so was uneventful, then the trail started following Laurel Creek. There are some great campsites along the trail here. I sat at a bridge for a long time over Laurel Creek and watched the water. It was such a pretty spot and I was in no hurry today. Skies were clear and temps were warm. I reached Laurel Falls and was not disappointed. So far, this is the most beautiful place I have seen on the trail. The waterfall was amazing and so peaceful. I talked to two locals for a while and had a snack and relaxed. As I was hiking out of the gorge, I got caught between two snakes. They looked exactly alike but I didn't know if they were poisonous or not. I don't think they were. I finally just moved and the one in front of me moved far enough off the trail so I could get around.I saw a lot of day hikers today and really enjoyed the hike. This was a beautiful area and I would love to come back at some point and camp along Laurel Creek.When I returned to the hostel there was a whole new crew here. Undetermined and Sumac, DharmaBum and Suds, Greenman, Mongoose, One third and Lightwalker, Sniper and Gunner, and a few leftovers from last night make up my bunkmates for tonight. Most everyone is in town right now so I called my sister and am going to cook dinner while no one is here. My sister said Oscar is fine and goes in for surgery soon. That was good news."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-04
From: US HWY 321 1.980

To: Iron Mountain Shelter 4,125
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I got the best night's sleep since I've been on the trail last night at the hostel. I don't know why. There was a full house at the hostel, but I went to bed at 10:30 and never even heard Gunner come in a climb in the bunk above me. I woke up around 6:45 and started packing up. I hated to leave Kincora hostel. Bob Peoples is one of the nicest, most interesting people I have ever met and his is so sincere and caring about people. He is originally from Boston and hasn't lost the accent after 40 years in east TN. I could listen to him all day.Bob dropped a bunch of us off at HWY 321 this morning. Most people were slackpacking like I did yesterday, but Jim and I were headed north to the shelter. He is a CPA from Missouri and I just met him at the hostel. Very nice man who quit his job and here he is on the AT. We are the only two at the shelter so far and since neither of us snores we are not going to bother with tents. It is supposed to rain tonight anyway.The hike today was great. No really big climbs compared to the last week or so and sunshine and mid 70's all day. I took a really long lunch break at Vandeventer Shelter hoping to see some emus. A guy near there used to farm emus and jsut let them go when he didn't want them anymore. Bob doesn't know if they are reproducing, but they are thriving up there. I didn't see any thriving emus. I did see SWIFT (Shit, what did I forget today) though. He was slackpacking a big section and was heading south with Mountain Dew (who gave me one!) and his friend JOe who was visiting from Ashville. We talked for about an hour and he is going to try to catch up with me tomorrow. Seeing him was better than seeing emus.While I was hiking today, I started thinking about some things I've learned by being out here. I learned that we clothing, if it is thin enough, will dry overnight in your sleeping bag if you put it on the sides next to your body, but not if you put it down where your feet are. This has come in handy so many times! I learned I don't have to boil Lipton rice and noodles until they are done. I just bring them to a boil on my stove, then let it sit with the lid on until they absorb the water. I learned I will hike a long way not to camp alone. I am more social out here than I have ever been in my real life. I learned rain gear doesn't keep you dry - it keeps you warm. You will sweat underneath and get wet anyway, but not soaked. I love my rain gear ( Marmot Precip), especially in the Smokeys. I learned that after six weeks out here I am still no completely comfortable in the wilderness, but I am more confident. I've learned a lot about backpacking in general, things all the research in the world can't teach you.This was a good day to hike. Tonight is going to be cold. I can tell already an it is only 8:00. Almost time for bed. Goodnight Oscar."Tucson
Date: 2003-05-05
From: Iron Mountain Shelter 4,125

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter 3.785
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

It was raining this morning when I woke up, but not too cold - mid 50's probably. There was thunder and lightening too, so Jim and I took our time getting ready. I hit the trail aroun 9:00, it rained pretty much until noon when we stopped for lunch, then we hiked on to our destinationbut the rain had stopped. Overall, it was a very uneventful day. Jim and I are at the shelter with Doc and Virginia Creeper. Never met them before. They are an older couple from Winston Salem. He is a dentist and they are hiking sections of the trail they have both missed at one time or another.Since I don't have much to write about my day, I think I'll write about food. I don't crave any food in particular and I am not that hungry through the day. Most thru hikers are craving all sorts of junk food and are hungry all the time. I am not. Food is a chore out here. I eat out of necessity and am not a very creative camp cook at all. I look forward to dinner, but just because that means my work is done for the day and I can sit down.I miss a lot of things out here. Mostly, I miss having a soda in the morning and I miss indoor plumbing. I also miss the radio. I have watched a little TV out here since I started, but have not heard the radio except when Butch picked me up at Davenport Gap. I know all these new songs are coming out and I am missing them. I also miss my white chocolate mocha from Starbucks every Saturday. I do not miss fixing my hair every day, deciding what to wear (I literally wear the same thing every day!), wearing makeup, or showering every day. I do truly enjoy my showers when I get them though.I am contemplating trying to finish the trail on my birthday, August 26th. I will be 33 years old. I would have to average 16.7 miles a day if I took 10 zero days, which I probably wouldn't. I will let you know when I decide, but I am on track for this so far. I think I will consult with Wizard who has a similar goal.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter 3.785

To: Damscus, VA The Place Hostel
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning was warm at about 58 degrees. It rained quite a bit last night, but I was warm and dry in the shelter once again. Sleeping in the shelters is becoming much easier and I am getting used to my therma rest (Thanks Rob!) and my sleeping bag. There was no rain this morning but lots of clouds. I started out around 8:15 and hiked the very easy 10 miles to Damascus by 11:30. This town is very cool! Small and friendly, but there are places to see and hang out and have fun. I saw ReBob and Wizard as soon as I got here. They took a zero today which surprised me. We are all staying at The Place, a Methodist hostel run on donations. It is big and nice. It is an old house so their are lots of bunks, but only a few in each room. I saw SWIFT at the hostel too. He took me to lunch as soon as I got here. I was all muddy and stinky, but not turning down a free lunch! ReBob and Wizard joined us at In the Country for lunch and I had potato soup, a salad, and a bar-b-que pork sandwich. It was all good! After lunch I headed to the post office and went back to the hostel for a shower, then laundry. I saw Undetermined and Sumac when I got back to the hostel. They hiked two long days to get here! We went to the Side Track Cafe for dinner where I had a stromboli big enough for three people! The cafe has free Internet, so here I am typing my journal myself.I read my guestbook finally. Thanks to everyone who has signed it. I appreciate the words of encouragement and your enthusiasm. It helps keep me going. I am sorry there are no pictures yet. My friend Debbie is working on it and I hope we can figure out the problem soon. I am picking up my pace a bit so if anyone wants to send postcards, letters, notes, etc. you might move all my maildrop dates up by about 10 days. Letters, etc. would be great. Steve, thanks for the mango! That really hits the spot at lunch. The tangerine Altoids are a huge hit as well. Someone in my guestbook asked about my water purification system. I use AquaMira and that's it. I don't filter. I wonder how much dirt I have consumed in the last six weeks. I have had no problems so far. I read some other trailjournals today and am wondering what has happened to my original group. I read SleepyFloyd's and Flatlander's journals. No mention of Ben and Christie anymore. Where are they? I hope everyone is well and SleepyFloyd I hope you are back in business and your heel is healed. Take care all and keep in touch! Damascus is great so I may zero here tomorrow or slackpack again. I like this little town a lot!Goodnight Oscar."Tucson
Date: 2003-05-07
From: VA 601, Forest Rd 3,350

To: Damascus VA 1,928
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: light rain

I did another slack pack today. The outfitter in Damascus has a shuttle and they took Rocky, Delta Blues, and me to a forest service road and dropped us off to hike back to town. It was a very easy hike and I did it in 6.5 hours, after I stopped to talk to ReBob, Wizard, Haiku and Rubberband Man, and some people doing trail maintenance. I think this was the easiest stretch of trail so far and I actually ran a short section of it since I had only a day pack. This section of the trail follows the Virginia Creeper trail for a short distance along Laurel Creek. It was a beautiful section. The picture is a bridge that crosses the creek. I saw a northbounder on the bridge and gave him some cookies. I passed some beautiful campsites along the creek too in different places. Made me want to come back for a weekend sometime. I got back to Damascus around 4:30 and bought postcards, took a shower, and went back to In the Country for dinner. I had a chef's salad, potato soup, lemonade, and I bought a bunch of Jelly Bellies. Then I made a bunch of phone calls, organized my food box, went back to the Side Track Cafe to check trailjournals, then back to the hostel. I saw a skunk on the way back, but he ran the other way. Once I went to bed I read a couple of chapters of Gulliver's Travels. I am reading it and enjoying it, but it is challenging. I miss reading.The hostel is pretty crowded tonight, but I am really tired so I think I will sleep well. Pretty territory today, great hike, and sleep in a great little southern town. Damascus is fun and I would really like to stay and play here for a day, but I will move on.Debbie got my pictures on some of past journal entries, so go back to 3-25-03 or so and check out the pics. Many thanks to Debbie and I will send the next picture card when I get the other one. This picture thing is a lot of work and I really appreciate you downloading them Debbie!Goodnight Oscar"Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-08
From: VA 601 3,350

To: Wise Shelter 4,460
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up late this morning. My shuttle was leaving at 9:00 and I woke up at 8:00. I got ready in a hurry and Virginia Creeper gave me a ride to the post office so I didn't have to carry my boxes and my pack. She was my trail angel today and made my morning so much easier. Hiking today was a challenge. It started out uphill. We climbed Buzzard Rock at 5,120 feet. I saw Sniper slackpacking heading south and he was literally running! Then we had to climb Mt. Rogers, but the trail doesn't go over the summit. There were no views so I kept going. Mt. Rogers is 5,729 feet and is the highest peak in Virginia. We don't climb another 5,000 footer until New Hampshire after tomorrow's Pine Mtn at 5,000 feet. That doesn't mean anything though. We just drop further down in order to climb back up in some places.I saw lots of wild ponies today along the trail. They live on the balds and act as lawn mowers. We aren't supposed to feed them or touch them. I didn't. They were really close to the trail and some were on it, and it was obvious they were used to hikers. If we feed them, they get aggressive. They were beautiful and some had foals. I loved just standing there watching them and being close enough to smell them. I was thinking about change today. I have hiked most of these 492 miles in the forest. As humans, we become either very comfortable with sameness or very bored. After hiking through forests for so long, I want change. So when I come to a bald, I should enjoy the change. Instead, I feel vulnerable and alone and small. When the clouds on the bald drift by or the skies are dark, I want to be back in the forest surrounded by trees feeling protected. I think most humans welcome change - change that they control. Renovations on a home, vacation plans, new car, etc. are al changes we control. Out here, I don't control my surroundings, the weather, or the people I end my day with really. I am ending this day with great people. I am in the shelter with ReBob and Wizard and Delta Blues from Mississippi. I love his accent. He is a microbiology major at Mississippi State in Starkvile. SWIFT, Oopala, Haiku and Rubberband man are tenting. Oopala is from Fairbanks, Alaska. He worked for a brewing company and taught us all how beer is brewed tonight. He used a fancy word for settle - flockulate. I have to find a way to work this word into daily conversation. I hiked with SWIFT today for several miles until lunch, then met up with Oopala when we saw the ponies and we hiked to the shelter together. Hiking with someone makes time pass faster but did not make my feet hurt less. We went thrugh Fatman Squeeze today which is a rock tunnel that is quite tight. I noticed there was an alternate route. Great day today, even with all the rocks on the trail. Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"