morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-09-01
From: along the trail in Maine

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

As I was hking along, met Rosie, a gal from CA whom I'd last seen in TN; she was now southbound on a flip-flop, meaning she'd left the trl. somewhere down south, gotten to Katahdin, and was now going south to where she'd gotten off. I din't say anything to her, but felt sorry for her, as she had a couple months to complete the trl. and I had a couple days. There was a large cow moose on the trail; from the front it at first looked like a horse; it moved off pretty quickly. Had a lunch break at Rainbow Ledges, w/excellent view of Katahdin. Arrived at Abol Bridge, the 100-Mile Wilderness now beind me, at 5:45. There's a commercial campground and store here, so I overnighted and had a junk food dinner, and overnighted in their campground, which got me a nice, hot shower, plus bought some supplies. Met Hamburger, from Germany, whom Id last seen in NH; he's tenting in a Forestry campground across the road.
Date: 2007-09-02
From: along the trail in Maine

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Slept in and had a junk food breakfast while enoying the sunday paper with Hamburger. Reached the Katahdin Stream campground at 3 PM, on a sunny, gorgeous day. There Hamburger gave me two backpacking, freeze-dried meals and we lounged around in the sun. Meanwhile there was a group of Penobscot Indians who were doing an annual event which entails hiking, running, biking or paddling a hundred miles to reach this spot. At day's end they had a feast and gave us some cake; there was also some of the requisite questioning about a thru-hike. Then on to the Birches Shelter, which is set up for thru-hikers. Met Ken and Amanda, who were from ME and also completeing their hike. We all had day packs which we'd borrowed from the Rangers, so in the AM we could hike up the mountain w/just what we needed for the day. To bed early; the couple in their tent and HB and I each had a shelter to ourselves.
Date: 2007-09-03
To: Mt. Kathadin
Miles today: 0.0

Underway at 3:30 or so; had some difficulty locating the trail, but officially signed in at the bottom of the mountain at 3:45. Walked up under headlamp on a blusttery, lighlty-raining day. Took a breakfast break among the rocks and as I got higher, so did the winds. Was buffeted at times, so I tried to keep away from knife edges. Clear day and good visability. Summitted around 9 or 10, just behind Ken and Amanda who'd passed me. We took each other's photos. Ken then tore off his T-shirt, which he'd worn every day of the hike (apparently this is a traditon with some hikers).There were clouds just over head and it was quite breezy. We didn't tarry long, as it was a bit brisk. On the way back passed Hamburger who was asending, as he'd started later. As I got down to the lower elevations, the day got warmer. My knees were really hurting on the descent; I wondered if I could make it down the mountain, but realized, even if I needed to be carried off, I'd completed the trail!Thanks Joan, for all the support. The gal sent be some 26 boxes, each with home-baked bars and many necessities; what a trail angel! One would have to pretend or posture, indeed, if one were to think of such a hike as a solo, man-against nature sort of thing. I'm especially thankful to all those who work on the trail; theirs is an effort without much recognition, and the AT hikers owes them much.
Date: 2007-09-04
From: Mt. Kathadin

To: along the trail in Maine
Miles today: 20.0

Underway at 5:20 on an overcast day. Easy going, then up the ridge line. Was nearly over this, the end of the range, when I met "Gimp" an older gent who was flip-flopping. He sounded like he was from MN, and my ears perked up when he said it looked like snow. Finally down the mountain, and pretty much have it made 'til Katahdin. Late in the afternoon I saw a moose while I was negotiating some puncheons; thicket between me and it, which didn't allow for a very good photo. Camped on a nice, flat road. 20 mi.
Date: 2007-01-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My Thru-Hiker's Handbook came in the mail a few days ago, and I've been reading through it obsessively--during meals (very careful not to get food on it!), during the evening news, while the car is warming up, and so on. I originally intended to do a thru-hike in the year between high school and college, and got a Handbook then...now that I've pretty much memorized the names of every shelter from Georgia to Maine (not quite), I've been comparing the two editions. Clearly, it's time for me to get out in the woods. Before I start exhibiting even stranger behavior.I've decided to start my hike on the 17th of February. It depends on the weather, of course. I'll be quitting my part-time job about a week before that, but no sooner--got to pay for all those Ramen noodles somehow. I've taken to haunting the aisles of various grocery stores, looking for Lipton Cajun Red Beans and Rice, which is my favorite backpacking food and now almost impossible to find. Sighting have been reported, but I have yet to track any down...Because I'm vegetarian, I'm going to depend on mail-drops a little more than I otherwise might. I've started collecting boxes, and one corner of my room is completely occupied by an unsteady tower of them. I keep worrying that the cats will knock the stack over on themselves, but they probably have better sense than I credit them for. I hope.Right now I'm a trail overseer in Shenandoah, but I've got to hand off the trails before I leave...I'm going to miss them, but they're not too far off the AT, so maybe I'll stop by and visit on my way north. Now off to test stoves...
Date: 2007-01-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

For the last few days the house has smelled like a combination of drying tofu and peas...I'm keeping the dehydrator very busy, in addition to trying to sort the mountains of food in my bedroom into catagories or at least more organized piles. The cats don't like to step on grocery bags, and have to hop from clear spot to clear spot in order to get anywhere, but they do like scratching their chins on the mail drop boxes. I, on the other hand, always manage to trip over them or step on the sharp corners in bare feet. The stack of chocolate bars is proving difficult to resist, and I'm eating the chocolate as fast as I'm packing it.I'm currently annoying everyone at work and home by turning just about any conversation into a conversation about hiking: making the jump from talking about that frilled shark from CNN to talking about bears or porcupines (I've never seen one--a porcupine, that is--and would like to). The frilled shark is probably more interesting, but there aren't any frilled sharks in the mountains, and that's where my mind is right now.I have finished making a can stove from some online directions, and it boils water much faster than my other stoves, despite looking rather ugly and unprofessional. It also still smells faintly like cat food, but those lovely denatured alcohol fumes cover the scent up nicely (probably killing some brain cells in the process). Besides packing food etc., I'm trying to finish up the novel I've been writing for the last three years or so, since I find it difficult to pick up that sort of project after being away from it for a while. I'll switch over to poetry once I start hiking--it takes up much less paper.Back to tofu, peas, and planning...
Date: 2007-02-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Tomorrow is the big day! I'm staying overnight in Dahlonega tonight, but I'll be starting at Amicalola in the morning. The weather's supposed to be quite cold for the next few days; there's already some snow and ice visible on the mountains, and lots of long icicles hanging from rock cliffs along the highways. I'm hoping the water doesn't freeze in my water tube while I'm walking...last time that happened, I ended up crunching away like a beaver on the plastic, trying to break up the ice. One of the many times in the woods when I've ended up laughing at myself rather than getting irritable--annoyances seem to become amusements more often than not when I'm hiking.I'm not normally a huge Robert Frost fan, but here are a few lines from "Into My Own" that I often think of before heading out into the forest (or if I've been hiking for a while and don't feel like coming home!):"One of my wishes is that those dark trees,/so old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,/were not, as t'were, the merest mask of gloom,/but stretched away until the edge of doom."Sounds kind of gloomy, yes, but the woods in winter have always had a sort of gloomy appeal for me. After a few miles of brisk walking, I always realize that the gloom is really a deep quiet, and that deep quiet is what I've been looking for.
Date: 2007-02-17
From: Amicalola

To: Springer Mt Shelter
Miles today: 9.0

First day of my hike, and lots of interesting happenings already, esp. weather-wise. Cold turned to light ice and snow, which turned to howling winds and near white-out conditions after dark (couldn't see a thing with my headlamp on, and would never have found the privy during the night without the little metallic dots someone painted on trees along the path). Met Alleycat Alice for the first time in the evening, and the two of us ate dinner by a campfire a couple of GA guys made...they're just out for a few days. They corrected our pronunciation of Nantahala (we were WAY off) and Amicalola, and finished Alleycat's Lipton. Overall: the approach trail wasn't an easy hike, but I've done much worse. The view of the falls was great, and the photos I took ust don't do a good job conveying their height. My old meniscus tear is acting up, and the last mile or so of the day was fairly painful. Hoping things feel better tomorrow.
Date: 2007-02-18
From: Springer Mt Shelter

To: Gooch Mt Shelter
Miles today: 5.9

We originally planned to hike to Hawk Mt for the night, but felt good when we got there and decided to move on to Gooch instead. A nice hiking system: Alleycat leads in the morning and I lead in the afternoon, since I seem to be in slightly better shape at this point, esp. going uphill. My knee feels perfectly fine now, and my feet are only a little sore even after a long day of hiking. The trail was mostly gentle until Sassafras and Justus, and we walked up those in stages, stopping to take pictures along the way. Alleycat only has a disposible camera, so I'll be sending her some of mine later on. We also met several people from the GATC along the way, and I told them what a great job they were doing with the AT. The trail is in beautiful shape around here, with lots of recently-cleaned-out waterbars and signs of re-grading, and the snow was mostly gone by the afternoon, except in the most heavily shaded places. So, in the unlikely event that anyone from the GATC reads this: GREAT WORK! I really appreciate it. We took a brief side trip to Long Falls, which was definitely worth the walk...the branches hanging over the top of the falls had gathered ice from the spray and formed bizarre, animal-like shapes above the water. A nice day altogether.
Date: 2007-02-19
From: Gooch Mt Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: broken clouds

Arrived at Woods Hole to the sight of a purple-and-orange sunset that made the perfectly ordinary patch of forest really beautiful. A small but well-maintained shelter, but unfortunately almost half a mile off the AT (my blistered feet resent that!). I got a few pictures of the sunset and one of Alleycat's headlamp on in the dark shelter. Very quiet. I don't think we saw anyone all day, which after the crowds at Amicalola is something of a relief. Hiker hunger is starting to set in, and I've been thinking of all the things I'd like to eat at Walasi-Yi; Alleycat packed way too much food and has been giving me her leftovers, which is probably why I'm not as hungry as I usually am while hiking.Gooch Mt Shelter proved to be completely rodent-free last night, and we both slept extremely well. Maybe the Advil had something to do with it... The weather has warmed up a bit (I was very cold outside my sleeping bags at Gooch) and I actually hiked for a few hours in a tank-top and shorts. Blood Mt is the big uphill tomorrow, and it's visible from Woods Hole--it was even blood-red from the sunset for a while. Loving my Lipton Rice...
Date: 2007-02-20
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Walasi-Yi Center
Miles today: 3.7

After a climb over Blood Mt in sleet and wind, Alleycat and I arrived at Walasi-Yi shortly before noon. The trail was a muddy mess, so the showers were a welcome sight (as were the laundry machines). The fog was thick on the top of the mountain, and we ducked inside the shelter there for a few minutes to have a snack without getting any wetter than we already were. Three Rangers showed up, and Alleycat--her grandfather (I think) was a Ranger and trained near here--got her picture taken with two of them; I got a picture of the third Ranger taking their pictures.Walasi-Yi is a fairly large place, with store, hostel, showers etc. all in old stone buildings. The guys at the store were very friendly even though we were dripping water and mud all over their clean floors, and even loaned us their van to drive into Blairsville for food (that's where we are now--in the Blairsville Public Library). We went to the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet at Papa Joe's (I think that's what it's called), which was okay food but lots of it. An out-of-shape man doing a crossword puzzle asked us about our hike, and talked a little about his plans for getting under 300 lbs...it made me really grateful that my body is capable of doing a long day's hike, and determined not to overdo it too much on the pizza when this is all over.One of the Walasi-Yi employees pointed out the horrendous blister on my heel--I hadn't realized just how disgusting it had gotten--and now I can't stop thinking about it....it crinkles up when I'm driving and stings like crazy, but is way too big for any blister blocker I've ever seen. I'm just hoping the van gets us back to the hostel, since both brake and engine lights are on (we called from a gas station to make sure that the lights were usually on, but it still makes me a little nervous). Tomorrow we head to Low Gap Shelter; the next resupply point is Hiawassee--we'll either hitch in or get a ride from the Blueberry Patch. The Blueberry Patch sounds like a nice place, esp. the part about the blueberry pancakes...
Date: 2007-02-21
From: Walasi-Yi Center

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

The duo is now a trio--Salamander (Dan from the hostel at Neels) has joined me and Alleycat for a while. I may stay with him at the CLoud 9 hostel rather than going to The Blueberry Patch with Alleycat. Salamander put in a lot of miles today, since he lost his fuel bottle with pump attached somewhere between the hostel and Hog Camp Gap and went back to look for it (never found it). All three of us had sore feet at the end of the day, though... Beautiful weather! Even a little too warm mid-afternoon. Muddy trail, but I haven't fallen yet. We left the hostel late--12:15--because we had the staff go through our packs. They said we packed very well, so there wasn't much to send home, only a few things. I bought a replacement bear bag, smaller pot, new shoes...my boots were destroying my feet. New shoes=new feet! No blister pain, only achyness from Superfeet insoles.Low Gap is a pretty place, and I've set up my tent near a bubbling stream. A natural noise machine.
Date: 2007-02-22
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Tray Mt Shelter
Miles today: 14.9

Perfect hiking weather all morning. Sunny, cool, a little bit breezy. I covered the first 5 miles in 1 hr 40 min and caught up with Salamander and then Alleycat a short while later. The three of us took a long snack break at Blue Mt Shelter and lounged around in the sun. The terrain was gentle until around Unicoi Gap (about a 1000' descent and then 1000' ascent) and there were some fairly long climb after that. The wind got stronger and stronger (as we got colder and colder); it pushed me all over the trail and threw leaves in my face so hard it stung.Tray Mt Shelter has a pretty location, although the view through the trees involves a lot of city lights. The privy seat is actually visible from the shelter! Awkward, yes. Hoping for a mouse-free night...
Date: 2007-02-23
From: Tray Mt Shelter

To: Cloud9 Hostel--Hiawassee
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

Nice weather again. Got to Dicks Creek Gap at around 1 and hitched to the hostel with Salamander (Alleycat went to Blueberry Patch). Staying in the treehouse here for 15 dollars, which includes laundry, shower, shuttle into town, internet access, and a hot tub. We went to a Mexican restaurant--GOOD--and then the grocery store, but it was dark when we finished and we had no ride back. Alleycat (we met her in town) walked up to the nearest guy in the parking lot at the grocery store and asked for a ride, and he gave us one. A bit chilly in the back of the truck, but exhilarating too...
Date: 2007-02-24
From: Cloud9 Hostel--Hiawassee

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We originally planned to take an easy day, just 4.5 or so to Plumorchard; when we got there, however, we found a message from Osprey, Alleycat's online friend, saying that he had put in a thirty mile day trying to catch us (he had actually gone right past while we were staying in Hiawassee. In a slight fit of insanity, we decided to go after him--he'd written he was going to stay at Standing Indian--even though it was already afternoon. A long day...we reached the shelter at about 9:00, after four miles or so of hiking by headlamp in light snow (it sleeted a bit earlier). Osprey was asleep, but woke up pretty quickly when we got there. It was very chilly, but Salamander and I hung bear bags despite feeling tired and irritable. Damp.
Date: 2007-02-25
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

Atrocious weather last night: torrential rain, high winds, and later a low cloud that blew slowly through the woods. The rain blew into the shelter and left the feet of our sleeping bags soggy. My pack was soaked (it had been hanging from a string near the edge of the shelter) and Salamander found my pack cover down by the privy. I had a huge mac and cheese breakfast (caught the table on fire and burned pasta to the bottom of the pot) and found out that my blister had bled during the hike and stuck my foot to my sock. Ick.There are two shelters here, a rotting old one (Sal, Hawk, El-Train, and I thought it was the only one for a while) and a new one that we won't all fit in. Hawk and El-Train are staying at the old one; Alleycat, Salamander, Toesocks 1 and 2 (a couple in their sixties) and Osprey are staying here in the nicer one. But everyone is hanging out here now, talking gear and cooking. The noise is getting to me a little. My sleeping bag is still damp and sticky from yesterday. Here's my allotment of negativity for the day:Welcome to North Carolina!!You've arrived just in time to take part in our state sport: shoe-boarding!!! Just plant your soles on the trail, dig in with those LEKI poles, and off you go! To enhance your shoe-boarding experience, we've included a great variety of boulders and roots to challenge your joints and hone your patience. And it gets even better! We North Carolinians believe that YOU should be involved in the decision-making process...YOU should get to play a part in naming your route. Those mountains the Handbook forgets to mention are up for naming, so submit your ideas. Current frontrunners include Mt. Whats-a-Switchback and Mt. Pain-In-Both-Sides-Of-The-Ass. Think you can do better? Just drop us a line in the nearest trail register. While you're there, enjoy ones of our moldering privies--doorless to let in those cool breezes, and facing the shelter to allow your conversations to continue without impediment. So welcome to our state, and we hope you enjoy your stay. We know the mice will.Disclaimer: I actually love N.C., especially the people who build the trails and privies, and the Handbook probably does mention those mountains. I was just too tired to drag it out of my pack.
Date: 2007-02-26
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Siler Bald
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

A long day, but not as rushed as the hike into Standing Indian, and culminating in fabulous 360 degree views from Siler. I'm tenting here with Salamander, since there was some confusion about the side trail to the shelter (apparently someone stole the sign). I went a little way down the correct trail, changed my mind and went all the way to the top, where I had seen some people standing. That's how I met Otto (of Otto and Raven) and Backyard Boogie. The sunset was incredible--Backyard must have taken a hundred pics--and so I went ahead and set up my tent. No sign of Alleycat, who was ahead of us. Maybe she went into Franklin with Hawk?Albert was quite a climb, hand-over-hand sometimes, but the views from the fire tower were excellent. The plants on the mountain gave it an ornamental look, like someone's idea of a Japanese rock garden that got way out of control.Chilly now but fairly calm. A disasterous cooking experience done with. Camera battery is getting low.
Date: 2007-02-27
From: Siler Bald

To: Copper Ridge Bald
Miles today: 12.3

Here I am, watching another gorgeous sunset and stretching tired legs. Tonight, though, I'm alone--I walked ahead of the group and chose to go up past the shelter for a campsite with a view. Not as impressive as Siler, but the horizon is so bright it looks like it's on fire, and the only two sounds are the wind and my pen.Tired legs, but my left heel--not the blistered one!--was the main problem. Very tender to the touch. Not a terribly difficult hike today, and not too much mud. Just lots of mossy trees and rivulets. N.C. at its best. I did stop at Wayah Bald Observation Tower with Alleycat (Hawk, Backyard Boogie and co. were already there) for a second lunch. Yum. Took a lot of pics. Hoping the big animal crashing around in the bushes goes away soon! I saw a rabid raccoon lying on a branch by the trail earlier, but at least I did SEE it. Whatever this is, I can't. Maybe a coyote? Doesn't sound like a bear. Ah, well. Got to finish reading my book now.
Date: 2007-02-28
From: Copper Ridge Bald

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

A long downhill into NOC this morning...hard on the knees, but it sure went fast, esp. with my mind on food and showers (multiple showers needed!). The restaurant here serves delicious food, and that's not just hiker hunger talking. The black bean burger was particularly scrumptious. My feet are in very poor condition at this point, but hopefully they'll be a little better after some time out of the stinky socks tonight. Only a short hike planned tomorrow.