morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-03
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 33.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Once again this will have to be a two day report, sorry.4/2 NewFound Gap to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter - 15.6 milesOur shuttle driver went in the wrong direction from Gatlinburg, and I kept asking where we were going, but he thought we were kidding him. So instead of getting to NewFound Gap at 9 am it was 10 am. It was a beautiful day, and I would have to say it was the best day so far on the trail. Sunshine, easy walking for the first few miles, then back into the snow. Lots of day hikers out too. My butt was dragging my tracks out by the time COB and myself reached the shelter. Mt Chapman at the end of the day was a bear!!! Made it to the shelter just in time to claim the last space in the shelter. Ate, and went to bed. Very tired.4/3 Tri-Corner Knob Shelter to Standing Bear Farm - 18.1 milesGot up very early today and was walking at 08:07am. There were a few climbs today, like Mt Guyot, but mostly down hill. And by the end of the day both knees were feeling it. That is a lot of down hill. When I reached I-40 there was a lady there in a SUV, and she asked me if I was a Thru-Hiker and I said yes, then she gave me a goody-bag. So cool, trail-majic!!! She then ask if she could give ,me a lift to the Standing Bear Farm. I had already decided if someone did when I got to the interstate I would accept. Devine intervention I suppose. I guess I can add that 1.5 miles to the old make up list. Cool!I plan to stay here tonight and head out in the morning, hopefully make Hot Springs in three days. So maybe then there will be some phone service and data survice too.My spirit felt lifted up somehow yesterday, as though something I had been carrying had been taken away. Hard to explain, but so real to me as I walked.God Bless,
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Hot Springs,NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 33.4

This will be the 4th time I have tried to update in the past 24 hours. The web site keeps going off line right at the end of my entry. So, lets keep it short!4/4 Standing Bear Farm to Max Patch Bald 13.6 miles.4/5 Max Patch Bald to Deer Park Mtn Shelter 16.6 miles.4/6 Deer Park PMT Shelter to Hot Springs, NC 3.2 miles. 4/7 Zero in Hot Springs.I forgot forgot to say that I made it through the Smokies! That was a great moment to have the snow and ice behind me for a while. Roan Mtn still lies ahead for more snow! But that is 8 days away.Max Patch Bald was beautiful. So nice that when I arrived there I decided to tent on top. Not a cloud in the sky. Beautiful sunset and sunrise. All the pain was worth watching that and realizing how awesome and powerful our God is. Cool.The hiking is getting easier, and the trail grade seems more gradual as I move north. Your mind becomes freer to ponder your thoughts when the trail is smoother. Walking along with a million things going through your mind, or at times with only your own breath and the sounds of your footsteps. I have felt footsteps beside me as I walk and somehow knew they were His. I have sent most of my winter gear home, and bought a new pack. My foot has grown a half size in length and width, so new shoes as well. I have some blisters that are healing but are still looking pretty bad. With the storms moving in tomorrow and the blisters I may be here one more day. All my effort to increase my miles probably caused the foot problems. I feel good, getting stronger, and developing more stamina for that push at the end of the day. After the storms tomorrow they are forecasting 9 days of sunshine. Waiting another day will be fine if need be.Sunshine, you always make me smile. Thanks for checking in.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Hot Springs

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I took another zero day because of the feet. The blister on my right heal looks the worse, the one on the left heal looks pretty good. My pinky toes are still bruised and the nails are turning dark. Both will probably fall off. Also I have been breaking in a new pair of shoes there past 2 days. My foot has grown by a half a size and explains why my feet went to pieces so quickly. It rained all day today, so wet new shoes and blisters would not have been a good combo either.I was able to load some picture today at the library off my camera but the web site went down again before I could edit them. I will be in Erwin in 5 days so I will try and fix that then. Some of the new pictures are great. Really shows the suffering in vivid detail. Smile!!!I have all my gear packed in my new pack and will be heading out at first light in the am. Base weight with no food or water is 17.5 lbs. So I figure with 5 days food and water I'll be close to 30ish lbs when I leave. Not bad. I do hope I have relieved the burden on the old footsies! Time will tell. As I continue to search for new things along the way I have found some things that I had forgotten that seem to have a renewed sense of importance now. Some things we simply take for granite because they are there right in front of us all the time. I have been reminded of these things at other times in my life as well. I need to work on remembering them when they are present and not when I am not! The journey continues to be a hard one, but the rewards are so far worth the pain. I can only hope that my heart and spirit will be open, and teachable, when the next reward comes. Everyone pretends they are just adventures walking the trail. No one has really shared their struggles or what they are searching for, because everyone here is searching for something. I suppose it is all still new and most of us simply haven't figured it out yet ourselves. This is so awesome, to have a chance to do some real soul searching with plenty of life left to make the changes we find along the way. I am so glad to be here and have a chance to listen to those ever so quiet words as I walk along in the silence of the woods where ones soul is free to listen. No distraction!God bless, and continue to pray for all the hikers.
Date: 2010-04-09
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 16.3

I'm actually 0.7 miles off the AT at a Hostel. So 17.0 miles today. I'm staying for the night at the Hemlock Hollow Farm. Very nice, and so out in the middle of no where, trust me. There are no cell phone signals here. Mrs. Haddie simple said, "its a DEAD ZONE". Spooky, like the Bates Hotel!Today's walk was great, and the climb out of Hot Springs was the tuffest part of the day. Stopped at Spring Mountain Shelter for lunch and met 8 guys from Greenville, SC out for a day hike. We talked for a while and then they were on their way north. I stayed and took a long lunch. I had hiked 11 miles in 5 hours which is the first time I have averaged over 2 miles an hour. The trail was in good shape, with only a few trees down that I had to climb over. I left around 1 pm, and arrived at Log Cabin Drive at 4 pm. Walked down the gravel road to the hostel and checked in. Some of the loosers I have been hiking with just walked in, Dr. Evil and Soujouro. Should make for a good time this evening. They are talking about a beer run right now! Hope I get some sleep tonight!!!The new boots are really good, and the new pack, with everything in it, has never felt lighter!!! Yea!!! I will be in Erwin in 3 more days, so I will post an equipment/medical update then.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Erwin, TN

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It has been a very relaxing day here in Erwin. Hitch hiking here is tuff. Ring Leader and Lightening, both beautiful young women, said it was easy to get around here. Right! So I have walked another 5 or 6 miles in the last 24 hours to get around. Maybe its my scruffy looks?I have resupplied, made one gear change, and the blisters are dry today. So I will be heading out in the morning. I am starting out with 7 days supply and hope to puch through to Hampton in 6 or 7 days. They say it is still cold on Roan Mtn, but I have heard nothing about the snow, if any, left up thar. I expect it to be cold, but do hope that the snow is gone. I am staring to enjoy this spring time thing. The weather report looks great for the next week so I need to put in some miles. The new boots are working well, and the blisters are all from the old boots. I really like the new pack by ULA, the Catalyst. Packs up great, and it feels very comfortable on the back. I traded in the Z-lite pad for another inflateable, as I just need some cousion for the old bones. Yes, I am getting soft, but no sleep means a grumpy tired Sleeper. Not good for long days. I will miss the Holliday Inn Express. So sad!I have really just been worthless today, and am ready to get back on the trail. These zeros are driving me nuts, but I have to take care of the feet. Hopefully they will tuffen-up soon. I will try and do better on the updates, so Jennifer get ready. I'll be calling.I have started missing everyone, and everything about my life.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Erwin, Tn.

To: Roan Mtn, Tn.
Miles today: 48.5

Three day report, again.Erwin, Tn to Cherry Gap Shelter - 16.6 miles.Cherry Gap Shelter to Roan High Knob Shelter - 15.5 miles.Roan High Knob Shelter to Roan Mtn, TN - 15.9 miles.Okay, lets see, the up hills still hurt, the down hills hurt, and the flat spots are not long enough. So not much has changed. The trail has been really great for the most part but there were some tuff spots. Number one on my mind tonight is the north-bound hike up Roan Mtn, at the end of the day. There have also been several rock scrambles that tested the ankles. Spring has come to the low lands but the high ground is still locked in winter. There is still some snow on the north side of Roan, not much, but enough to bring back bad memories.The best story to tell is one that happened today. As much as I have prayer for no bear encounters, today it happened. Not just one bear but three. A sow and two cubs. Yes it scared to poo out of me. I saw one cub jump over the trail about 40 yards in front of me and just behind it was the sow and another cub. I froze dead in my tracks, hoping not to be noticed. No such luck, the first cub started running right at me. More POO! All I could come up with was sing loudly. So I cut loose with Dixie as loud as I could sing. Dixie? I know, but it was all I could come up with at that unstable moment! The cub darted off away from me and when I looked back to see where Moma was I couldn't find her or the other cub. This is really when I was the most afraid. It was thick on both sides of the trail so I just kept singing and walking backwards. Funny now, but not so at the time. Panther and Wrigley came up the trail and I was so happy to see someone. They said they could hear me singing way back down the mountian. Fine, that was my plan, to sound human. As fast as it all happened it ended. God and have had several conversations today about all this. I just wanted to clarify some things. I'm sure He understands, and also had a great laugh.Another great day on the AT.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Mountian Harbor Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 42.2
Weather: clear sky

Good afternoon everyone. What a beautiful day. Nice and cool this morning and never really got hot. There were a couple climbs but mostly good trail. So, the three days stats are:4/17 Mountian Harbor Hostel to Tenting site - 11.6 miles4/18 Tenting Site to Dennis Cove Rd - 12.8 miles4/19 Kincora Hostel to Vandeventer Shelter 17.8 milesThe Mountian Harbor B&B/Hostel was the best. Mrs Mary cooked us the best breakfast ever. The main house was really cool, but the hikers stay in the loft about e the barn. Which was really rustic and social. We all sat around and talked till late, and drank lots of sodas!The Kincora Hostel, very famous, was well an older house with the log cabin hostel attached. There were probably 25 hikers there total, including the tenters. Again, we sat up till late just sitting around the heater cheating. So many people from so many different places. Great stories too.Got a really early start today because I knew it was going to be a long one. Planning my first 20+ miler tomorrow so wish me luck. It is also suppose to rain so that usually means fewer beaks. So my butt will be dragging my tracks out at the end of the day. I hope to be in Damascus, VA on Wednesday about noonish. Well see. RI have lots of pictures on the camera to load but need a computer so hopefully I can get that done in Damascus. I have added a couple pics from the Droid. The last one is where I am sitting as I type, some 2000 feet above the valley below. The view is incredible over liking Lake Watuga.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 32.9
Weather: light rain

I made it to Virginia!!! I can't believe it. Boy did I need that for the old morale. It was a long day getting here to Damascus. Two day stats are:4/20 Vandevender Shelter to Double Springs Shelter - 14.4 miles.4/21 Double Springs Shelter to Damascus, VA - 18.5 miles.Leaving to Vandevender Shelter was hard because it was by far the best shelter view of all. Overmountain Shelter was pretty awesome too. Yesterday I just didn't have any energy so when I beat the rain into Double Springs I knew I was done. The rain started slowly but it rained all night, and at times it rained really hard for hours. I was so happy to be in the shelter. I decided to double my normal dinner to see if it would help my energy level. It did!!! Got up this morning, it was still raining, and got started by 8 am. I felt really good. I was determined to make Damascus today, for several reasons. One, my sleeping bag got wet last night from a leak in the shelter roof, secondly, I so wanted to be in another state, and lastly, I really wanted a soda! Today's walk was a wonderful walk that was mostly down hill and graded well with a wide well maintained trail. So I managed to complete the 18.5 miles in 6 hours 15 minutes. A new record for the old Sleeper! That proves it was an easy walk. But hay, you need a few easy days every now and then.So now I'm showered, full, and indoors. What a life!!! See y'all in the morning at the Damascus library.
Date: 2009-08-10
From: Huntsville, Alabama

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

I figured that there was no better place than my hotel room to get started on my trail journal for Spring 2010.I am here in Huntsville, Alabama for my work.There is so much trash on television, so I have been devoting my evenings to painting and preparing for my upcoming walk through Southwest and South Central Virginia.
Date: 2009-08-11
From: Huntsville, Alabama

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

I went out and bought new maps of Virginia and I have the guidebook on back order. I have AWOLs version of the thru hikers companion. In addition, I think Bryson really wants to go with me this time.We are about three to four years out before he can endure a 100 mile walk.Bless his heart.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: Huntsville, Alabama

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

I am going to loose twenty to twenty five pounds for this upcoming walk. I can do it because I have stopped drinking caffeine drinks and soon, Sprites are going to go as well.I have ten percent grade roads in my Gainesville, Georgia neighborhood and look forward to getting in shape!!
Date: 2009-08-13
From: Huntsville, Alabama

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

We got home from vacation around one week ago.We camped at Standing Indian Campground for the second time in less than two years. Not only did we hike this year with Siler on foot, we swam in the Nantahala River almost everyday. We celebrated my 40th birthday in Bryson City. Went to the train musuem and swan in Deep Creek inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Day time highs in the Standing Indian Area were just under seventy degrees and evening lows were right at fifty degrees.We had a great tarp system over our tent and endured some pretty hard core rain fall. (maybe three inches the first hour.)We bought a cheap raft at K Mart and I re-configured some of the big rocks in the Nantahala. That water sure was ice cold but I loved every minute of tubing and swimming in the water.Bryson and Siler must have thrown one thousand rocks and we must have chased Siler away from the fire pit one hundred times.The highlight of the trip: A hand made "real-estate type" sign posted on the side of 441 in Franklin. "This way for Siler Family" (Siler Family reunion.)We named Siler after Siler Bald. You know the peak with the lone tree on top.At least that is how Baltimore Jack reminded me of the signifigance of it.The Mountains are always calling.
Date: 2009-08-14
From: Huntsville, Alabama

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

By the way, Bryson actually climbed Albert Mountain twice in about a five week period. (This summer.)The second hike allowed all four of us to pick blue berries!!In fact, Siler was covered in black berry and blue berry juice from his head to his hands to his toes!!Upcoming walk in May 2010---154.5 Milesprojected weight of pack--35 pounds.Nine days of walking= average of 17.1 Miles per day.*re-supplyre-supply#1: Blandre-supply#2: Pearisburgre-supply #3: Catawba*food drop (concealed in woods): drop #1 Va.613drop #2 Va.42 near Huffman*Shuttle dropShuttle drop #1: USFS 222 Poor Valley hike north bound to Pearisburg. (The word Pearisburg stings sometimes because of my bail out in February.) Hike to Rendevous Motel.Shuttle drop#2: leave my vehicle in Pearisburg @ Rendevous and be dropped in Troutville and walk south to Pearisburg.
Date: 2009-12-09
From: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

December 09th, 2009I am about five months out from my 153 mile section hike from Poor Mountain Road to Troutville.Earlier this year my section in Virginia was a disappointment. I was not physically or mentally ready for a one hundred plus mile section in February with sixty plus pounds. I made up my mind on November 01 of this year that if I am going to continue section hiking; I am going to have to physically get ready for the time spent out on the trail.Over the past four years, I have gained about fifty pounds. Except for a hike here and there, no exercise has been on my agenda. The only thing that has been on my agenda has been working a tremendous amount of extra hours and denying myself from time with my family.Our small group did a study called ¢One Month to Live.¢ The entire premise was what would you do if you had one month to live? How would you act towards others and what type of legacy what you want to leave behind?Part of the discussion was on doing some of those things that you would like to do but cannot seem to find the time to do. For me, some of the important things are spending more time with my family and exercising. I have been taking the extra time that I would usually be at work and getting out and walking in my neighborhood. (Twenty five percent grade hills by the way) and or running four miles at Central Park in Cumming, Georgia early in the morning.Winzer is twelve years old now and he hangs tough on all of the exercising. I just pray that I can keep it up. My pants are getting a little bit looser and I feel a lot better.I have yet to stand on a scale.I am on a forty day fast and part of that fast is to refrain from soft drinks. This can only help with my health improvement. I had become a big fan of power drinks and Diet Mountain Dew. My next entry will go into a little more depth about the upcoming logistics.Finally, this section hike will be dedicated to my causes for Social Justice throughout the world.With this section hike, I pray to raise awareness of global poverty and what we can do to eliminate extreme global poverty by the year 2015.Thank you for reading my journal.
Date: 2009-12-16
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser Fir- Appalachian Trail Section HikerDecember 17, 2009May 2010 ¢Target Time Period"Very Rough Itinerary¢Detailed ininerary to come.Start:USFS 222, Virginia to Troutville, Virginia. End: Troutville, Virginia or somewhere there abouts.162 Miles.   162/10=16.2 per day.
Date: 2009-12-17
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

December 17, 2009Fraser Fir Northbound Section HikerAppalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineI suppose that I am kinda serious about doing this section hike. I will start on a Sunday and leave after Church. I plan to get on the trail and do fifteen or so miles on Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening.The total trip will encompass about ten hiking days and average around sixteen miles per day.If I see that I need to cut a day short because of work, etc; I will revisit my itinerary from yesterday and get out in Catawba instead of Troutville.I have been running four to five times per week. My exercise program has been going strong for about six weeks now and I really do feel better. I just pray that I can stick with it.Merry Christmas to all,Fraser Fir
Date: 2010-01-04
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia(Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

January 04, 2010Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to MainePreparation for May, 2010It is hard to believe that I have only around eighteen weeks or so until I start my next section in Virginia.As I have alluded to before, last year many mistakes were made. In many ways, I am a recluse, so I like to hike when the trail is empty. So last year, I shot for February with no preparation. You know, kinda like jumpin into the deep end of the swimming pool without checking the water.Well, back in November (early) I started running. I have continued to run four or five or even six days per week. For Christmas, I got an mp3. Totally awesome.Most likely within the next 30 days, I will shift to only two runs per day and three hard walks. My runs are around a flat track. My walks are tough 25% increase/decrease grade. As previous journal entries for 2010 have stated, I am shooting for around 150-165 miles in May. I am very spontaneous in some aspects, so it could be early May or it could be middle May. It depends on other circumstances like things going on around the house, work, etc..Am I getting excited? You bet I am. And hey, my pants are fitting better than ever!Happy 2010!
Date: 2010-01-20
From: Troutville, Virginia(Spring 2010)

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

I continue to get ready for my section hike in May of this year.There are many things going on right now but I continue to exercise four to five mornings per week.Winzer is twelve plus years old and walks/runs with me constantly.I wonder if I could not just take him on this next trip because he appears to be in better shape than ever!!Last night, I got home from work very late and found the latest copy of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Quarterly Magazine on the kitchen counter. There is an incredible story about a man and his five year old son that started an eighteen year journey toward Katahdin.I hope that Bryson can join me soon. And then Siler, to follow.
Date: 2010-01-25
From: Home (Gainesville, Georgia)

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

I continue to walk and get ready for my section hike in May.I do not have a set series of dates in May because I am waiting on a couple of things to play out at work.I had grappled with possibly going in April, but I am going to stick with my original plan for a May section of Southwest and West Central Virginia.My exercise regiment has been fairly good. I have lost some weight and I feel like I am eating better.I have taken Jeff Alt's advice in "A Walk for Sunshine" and I am walking five times per week. I checked out the Thru Hiker's Handbook from the library. (2001 Edition-outdated I know, but still a ton of great stuff!) and I have David Miller's book on Long Distance Hiking.You can never have enough good information!!