morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Curly Maple Gap Shelter

To: Un-Named Woods Road
Miles today: 14.1

Greetings! I write after a day of walking and sleep. I awoke early and left camp before most of the hikers, when my stomach went crazy! It forced me to bound down a steep cliff where I almost killed myself. Luckily I survived, and a 6-inch hole, 2 pieces of T.P., and 5 Rhododendron leaves later I was able to climb back up the slope. After 6 miles I was atop ¢Beauty Spot¢, a gorgeous bald where Miss Janet took us 6 nights earlier. I took off my pack and read the Hobbit for 2 hours. I finished it and it was great. Tinker, Blaze, and Gimpy hiked past after shorter breaks. It was beautiful and I was in no hurry. ¢Beast¢ also took a nap. By 2:30 I hiked another mile to the campsite where I had said goodbye to ¢Walk Softly.¢ My body decided it was not done resting, so I curled up on a rock in the fetal position and passed out. By 4:30 I awoke as Krispy went by. Apparently every hiker I know had passed while I was asleep.Krispy was doing 16 miles along with Bonnie so that they could catch the pack. Today is Pegasus¢ birthday. They made brownies and wanted to surprise her. After waking I was half out of it. I hiked Unicoi Mountain with Krispy and we took our time. His ankle was swollen pretty badly. It was beautiful and there was an awesome grove of pines atop the mountain. By around 7:00 p.m. we made it to Cherry Gap Shelter. I had done 12.1 , my leg felt good, and I set up camp. Our whole pack was at the shelter with a new member, Francois, a section hiker from Louisiana.The shelter was really short and someone joked that it was made for hobbits. I love the camaraderie and joking among hikers. We threw Pegasus her birthday party and she was thrilled. Tinker built a fire and we all joked around. We sang country songs and they had me beatbox, it was really fun. As night dawned we saw a meteor or 2 and the sky seemed to be clearing. Pegasus, Francois, and I decided to try to night hike and find a clearing. By 10:30 p.m. we were night hiking together. We could hear coyotes, owls, and the sound of us tripping on rocks and roots. We took on a steep climb to a ¢bald¢ but it was not ¢bald¢ at all. With no clearing we hiked on. Finally we gave up at an overgrown road 2 miles past the shelter. It was not perfect, but there was a clearing and we set camp.We went to watch meteors at around midnight, but clouds kept invading and trees blocked the view. I only saw 2 or 3 and then went to fall asleep. It was disappointing, but I guess there are a lot of people in the real world who would love to see 3 meteors. There is another big shower in August too, called the Perseids. On the whole today: I had fun, rested a lot, saw beauty all around me, went to a ¢birthday party¢, covered 14.1 miles, night-hiked, and saw 3 meteors. Not too shabby! Tomorrow I will climb Roan Mountain, the last 6,000 footer until New England. I need to take more time to pray as well. Right now it¢s late and I¢m way tired. I love y¢all and will be praying for you.Goodnight,Beatbox
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

* AS A NOTE: I UPDATED 4/25 - 4/30, CARLA WILL UPDATE MY 4/13-4/24 JOURNALS WITHIN THE WEEK. PLEASE CHECK FOR THEM...THEY EXPLAIN WHY I"M TAKING SO LONG.I took a zero day today to go to church adn boy did I need it. Yesterday I found out that a hiker stole 3 beers that were left for me as a gift. By this morning I was pretty sure I knew who it was : One was an 18-year old miniature alcoholic whom I will leave nameless for sake of not spreading rumors. He annoys me and I was quietly wishing many forms of death on him as I arrived at church for the following message: "Dealing with Difficult People". (haha)   While church hit me over the head, it rocked! Sunday School was laid back and full of friendly young adults. One guy Ray seemed cool and I sat with him church.The pastor's words were straight from the bible and all about the correct way to deal with difficult people. I was stunned but I let go of my bitterness. I also loved singing hymns (I actually knew them) and I really felt at home. Ray sat next to a sweet girl (fiance?) named Tiffany. They were nothing but nice. Ray even gave me a ride home with a stop at Mc D's for coke and a double cheesseburger.    At home I made Tinker, Smodestack, and myself spicy sausage pasta with red sauce and hotpepper cheese as a 2nd lunch...YUM! Throughout the day my friends arrived: Krispy, Gaia, Bonnie, Clyde, Beast, Boo-boo, Pegasus, Fire Marshall, Mad Scientist, and Francois. Francois went home . I chilled, played a never-ending game of Trivial Pursuit, and went on a trip to Johnson City TN to the outfitters. I bought Dill Potato Chips and Coke and Smokestack made some awesome steaks for dinner.    The overall story of the day is really that I rested. The owners here are sweet and only charge 4 dollars a night. I feel comfortable and have friends around me, plus I am resting. I like it here and I feel blessed yet again. I would write more but I'm going to go eat Peppermint Ice Cream right now. Thank you all for your prayers. Goodnight: BEATBOX   ttt.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

One might wonder: Does Beatbox (Shaun) ever hike? The answer is yes, but it was raining cats and dogs today and I found out that if I wait I can work maintaining the trail tomorrow (another zero). Because I really want to work on the trail tomorrow I was "forced" to not hike out in the soaking wet.    I chilled with friends, drank more coke, and played more games of trivial pursuit today (I lost ). 6 guys and a girl came in with the name the Offensive Six (plus Sunshine...the girl). They were not that offensive but they were funny as heck. One of the six, "Vocal" would say off teh wall things (none can be quoted in this journal ). Vocal was not only funny, but he looked like "Gimli" son of Gloin from the Lord of the Rings. I mentioned his similarity to Gimli son of Gloin and he told me he was "Son of Groin".....I didn't ask.   Tomorrow myself, Bear Tracks, Boo-boo, Krispy, and Gaia are going to work on the trail. Even though it will be a third zero day I am excited: we are going to open a new section of trail to replace a littered and less attractive section. Not only are we going to work on teh new section, we may even get to paint new blazes to mark teh trail.   Tonight I chilled with "Tinker" and "Chigger" ( a 24 yr. old girl from VA), Gaia and others. I told them that I rearrange the letters in names (i.e. my name Shaun Bardell can be rearranged to spell "Near Bald Lush" using the same letters). After a few minutes I figured out that Chigger's real name, Diana Spartis, can be rearranged to spell "Is Sad In a Tarp". This is particularly funny since she sleeps under a tarp on the trail and hates the rain. Her name could also spell "Is an AIDS trap" but she did not like that one very much . I felt like a HUGE DORK, but Tinker soon bested me. Tinker is hillarious and very mechanically minded. The stove had no temperature knob, slo Tinker bought a thermometer and made a knob. He proceeded to calculate each notch temperature. After 2 hours he was successful and I felt like far less of a dork for my habits . It's 1AM now and I'm beat. I guess I wasted too much time rearranging letters of people's names and I need to go to bed. Until tomorrow, Goodnight: BEATBOX   ttt.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Whoa, I'm tired! Today we opened a new section of the Appalachain Trail. I used a Pulaski?, Sledge hammer, Shovel, and other tools today. We all worked for 8 hours. I worked with Krispy and Bob (the hostel owner). We spent most of the day joking and working at the same time. It was a blast!   Together we made a ramp, opened 30 yards of new trail, blocked the old trail, and painted new white blazes. I'm sore tonight but it was well worth it. We spent all day laboring hard to finish in time. For those who do not know, the trail is marked by white paint stripes called blazes. What we worked on today was actually blazing new trail. When I painted my own white blaze to mark the trail I was stoked! I can't explain how awesome doing trail work was. The trail relocation brings the trail through a beautiful section of farmland instead of a littered ravine. I know I will see "my section" of the trail in about 2 days. If anyone reading this is going to hike the trail: Take a day to maintain it, its worth the time!   Anyhow, I'm done preaching for the moment. I had a great day of work and Krispy and Bob together had me rolling all day with witty comments...we made a hillarious trio. One maintainer John who joined us also had me laughing. He was 89 years old and talked about not wanting to hit on the ladies (hehe). He also told me about his first camera. He bought it in 1927, when he was 12, for 2 dollars. He rocked! When I arrived at home tonight I did not play Trivial Pursuit ...YAY! We did play Scategories though.   I'm over-rested and more than ready to hit the trail. I'm beat from the day working and I'm itching to be outside again. MORE FLOWERS...WooHoo! I will be hiking with Fire Marshall, Pegasus, Boo-boo, and maybe Krispy (hurt leg). Tomorrow will be a 10 mile day with one big climb. I should pass a waterfall and a large lake. I'm going to read my bible and go to sleep now. Tomorrow I will write from the trail.   God Bless, BEATBOX   ttt.
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Damascus

To: lost mountain shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

I finally left Damascus! By 7:45 am I was awake and I was fully packed by 7:50 am. I chilled at Side Tracks Cafe and ate my breakfast and put in yesterday's journal. By 9:30 a mildy hung over Bear Tracks was ready adn we left for the day.The walk was mostly uphill but mild. Bear Tracks, a nice 22 year old from Syracuse, and I talked about a variety of topics as we walked. We talked about religion, primarily Christianity and Rastafarianism. While we did not always agree, but the conversation was good and it was nice to be able to openly express my beliefs. My biggest reason for believing in Jesus is experiencing him firsthand and seeing an apparent design to the world around me. We also talked about midgets or "little people" as Bear Tracks called them, about hiking, and about trading out our summer gear.Now its 7:15pm and Im going to sleep early. "The less offensive five" is here as well as Bear Tracks and 2 nice old men who thru-hiked southbound in 99". They are starting a fire and talking but I am being asocial. I have a good reason though, I plan on nighthiking around midnight. If I can cover 17 miles in 8 hours I should catch up with Krispy, of course I would then take a nap and catach up again tomorrow night.If I do night hike tonight, I will cover Mt. Rogers and Mt. Whitetop, the highest two mountains in Va. It will be tiring, but I really want to catch up. If I am successful I will hike over 30 hours tomorrow. Gulp! We will see what happes and I will be careful.As for flowers today I saw more Fire Pink, Gaywings (pink and purple), stonecrop, wild geranium, and Varsey's Trillium. While the flowers were nice, more of the surroundings were covered in greenery than in flowers. I'm sure I will see far more in the near future. Much of the trip today ran alongside a creek and the trail kept crossing over "The Creeeper Trail", a bike trail out of Damascus. Some hikers I know took the far flatter bike trail, but for me I feel it would be cheating.I'm excited to hike tonight, but I'm afraid I wont get up. I have no watch/alarm so I'm using the natural method: lemonade. Hopefully no wolves or bears will get me. It's supposed to be a full moon tonight and I think it will be fun to hike. I look forward to praying and walking beneath the stars. I need to nap now though. As long as I don't get eaten tonight, I will write about tonight's adventures tomorrow. God Bless, BEATBOX   ttt
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Atkins, Va

To: Atkins, Va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I run over mountains, drink like a fish, and eat like a goat. I take at least one shower a week. I pray for an hour everyday. My closest friend is over twice my age and I don't know his middle name. My female friends ae few and far between and they have hairy legs. I know what Giardia is and am slowly building up a collection of iodine in my liver. My leg muscles are rocks and my butt is firm. I go to a different church every week. I pine for coke and vanilla shakes. I believe Dairy Queen to be fine dining. I have used duct tape in a dozen ways in the last month. My sexiness grows on my face. I carry my life on my back and my water in a jug in my left hand. I buy everything I see in grocery stores and have to be dragged out. When I'm tired I push harder, when I'm ored I think about prime numbers. My favorite hobby is looking at flowers and I talk to birds in their language. I don't recognize my own reflection. I fart in public but no one cares. I have an intimate relationship with Sil Nylon. The only music I listen to is in my head. I have male friends named BooBoo and Tinker and no one thinks it is odd. I poop in holes, vehicles scare me, and my sense of smell is amazing. I wash my own mouth out with soap. I walk more in a day than most do in a month. I take pride in my sock tan. I build stoves using only a thumb tack. I'm unemployed; so are my friends. I have a mild obsession with weighing things. I distinguish my friends by their snores. Everyday my confidence grows; so do my feet. I sleep on the floor in a building that's missing a wall. I love rope swings and I don't bat an eye at the possibility of being naked. I don't watch TV. I can stare at stars for hours though. Sometimes I forget what my name is. I eat fudge rounds with a passion and have an affinity for candy bars; still I gain no weight. To me "nero" has nothing to do with Rome, "grade" is more than a score in school, and "the triple crown" has nothing to do with baseball. I know the meaning of the word chaffing and I have an inkling to visit Maine, I'm Beatbox.Today was a zero day so I can go to church tomorrow. I spent most of the day between the hotel and walmart (woohoo). This morning BooBoo walked into the restraunt with Blaze and her daughter Gimpy. He was wearing her TriDelt shirt. I was speechless. Tonight I won a 5 dollar bet by eating the "dinner for 2" meal at the mexican restraunt. Ashville Danny paid up I took care of my bills and checked email, then I wrote the beginning of this journal. In general I feel more relaxed. Cotton, Booboo, Gimpy, Blaze, Vagrant, and Fire Marshall headed out today. Sox, sanguine, Scholar, Ashville Danny, Jester, Tree Frog, Rooster, BearTrax, Riva Queen (and husband), Krispy 9and wife) and Franco and benny (look like twins but are not) are all here tonight. In addition Willy Wallace, Zack and other hikers passed through... There are hikers everywhere... I love all the names. I have church tomorrow so I'm hitting the sack. Goodnight,Beatobx ttt
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Troutville, VA

To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I'm a frickin' bum! I awoke at 9 AM and ate the continental breakfast. By 11 AM, Krispy, Beartracks, Amms, K-less, Booboo, Rooster, and Quest were leaving. Navigator (I met him at TrailDays) hurt his knees and is here with vehicle. He drove myself and others to the outfitters, post office, and library. Salt Lick, Coyote, Scholar and I all rode and joked. I was dropped off at the library before noon...at that point I still planned on hiking. Checking e-mail was great. I received messages from home as well as other hikers. WalkSoftly, Skippy, and HappyTrails all left me messages...I was thrilled! Skippy sounded down, so I sent her a retarded poem. I hope it makes her smile :-) I wrote my sister, pastor, and many others. I love feeling connected to my friends. It is so hard out here. The only part of e-mail I don't like is financial...I need to be careful :-(I went to hitch home at 2:30 PM...I failed :-( Finally I went to a local Putt-Putt. I played well and had "alone time" but hiking plans were slowly fading. This cool town couple gave me a ride home from the golf course. They were loud and told me how they are having a baby. He informed me how he used to deal drugs, but is a McDonald's manager now. They jokingly bickered the whole time, but it was all in fun. I had felt somewhat in a zone when they picked me up...but they woke me up and made me smile. I love town people!I hid in Waffle House and did journals until 8 PM...then I met Navigator, Spiderweb, SaltLick, and Coyote to go to town. The car conversation was low-brow and after an afternoon of reflection I remained quiet rather than joining a conversation I did not care for. When we arrived, Navigator, Spiderweb and myself went to see "Troy." A movie with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom - who could ask for anything more? Oh, wait...I'm a man...I could. I liked the movie, but it was long and tiring. I thought it was pretty good, but had far more potential.As we finally left the movie, all mildly disappointed, we could find SaltLick and Coyote nowhere. Then we checked the bar: 2 buzzed friends accounted for. SaltLick is a loud funny drunk! I watched and laughed (a lot) as we travelled home. By the time we arrived I was gone. Even now I want to sleep so badly!It is about that time now. Here is a closing poem: Goodnight!Zero'sTV, Shoney's, showers, and restAre part of why zero days are the best.Injuries heal, and bad memories fadeThough exorbitant sums of money are paid. You chill with friends, no chance of rainSlowly you feel a little less insane.Contact with home and food that's realAnd it won't take long and soon you'll feelThe desire for just one zero day moreAnd that is why I now have 24 :-)[The above poem is dedicated to Miss Janet for causing me to embrace zeroes]Peace,Beatbox
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Skyline Drive Mile 92.4

To: BlackrockHut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This journal will be short: I¢m beat. It¢s 5 p.m. and I¢m about to go to sleep. I awoke at 8 a.m. and joined Jester, Powder Finger, Up and Down for Weasies. This time I did not glut myself. It was nice, but I am the only one who hiked today so I won¢t see them for a while :-( . I finished up at the library and tried to call home, but found no new e-mail and no answer on the phone. At noon a trail angel named Len picked me up for the trail.Len was nice and let me try to all home at the gas station. I finally reached my dad. He seemed stressed, but I found out some work is being done on the house. All I could do was offer to pray and call in a few days, I did not want to keep my ride waiting. As we headed into the park I reached the highlight of my day. At the park entrance I saw Skippy and Poppins (the ones I write poems to). Len was nice enough to stop and I gave them hugs. I could not talk for long, but it seems they are only 13 miles behind me. I couldn¢t help but beam upon seeing them. Despite this joy my body was dead as Len dropped me off to hike. Why did I go to the gym? I walked a slow 6.6 miles to the shelter in my shower shoes. It let my feet heal (my toe is bruised). Though beat, I was blessed to see a wild turkey with its pullets along with 4 deer. As I walked I sang worship songs to God. The terrain was easy and I saw Columbine and Partridgeberry. I think the beauty of the Shennies is in the animals and its gentleness.I hit the shelter at 4 and I enjoyed a dinner of Beef Ramen. I was the only one here until very recently. A section hiker, Kevin, arrived along with Moo Juice and Beagle. Now I¢m about to drop out¢¦I don¢t know why I am so tired. Tomorrow I will keep it easy and hike 12 miles to the next shelter. I¢m sorry this journal is so dry. Good Night, BEATBOX   ttt
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Maryland

To: Maryland
Miles today: 0.0

Greetings, this is Beatbox. I am home for a 4 day break. I am doing well and have hiked to Harper's Ferry so far. All of my journals to date have been written, but it will take Carla a while to update them. Please be patient. None the less, God has continuously blessed me out here. Eventually my entire trip will be posted and next fall I will even add pics. Thank you for following my journey. I will hike out tomorrow Saturday to continue my path to Maine.
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Baltimore

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I was going to return to the trail today. Instead I realized my mail drop was not at home, but at the post office. This means A)I zeroed today, B)I will zero tomorrow, C)I will lose Skippy, Poppins, & Friar (so sad), D) I will not attempt to do all of Maryland in a day...Why hurt myself? Be bck Saturday.Goodnight,Beatbox   ttt
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Baltimore

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day #31...WHOHOO! Tonight 2 of my trail friends, Coyote and Gaia, are crashing at my apartment. Zero days at home are great, they're also free! Tomorrow my Dad will return us to Harper's Ferry...then I'll stop being a bum. Until then- God Bless, Beatbox   ttt
Date: 2004-07-04
From: Baltimore

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day #33 ¢ YAY! I went to church at home¢¦it rocked. I also ate a peanut butter ¢n mustard hot dog, went on a slip n¢ slide, played volleyball, and saw fireworks. I swear, I really am going back to the trail though.   PEACE ¢ BEATBOX   ttt