morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-09
To: Day #4 at CPE Nationals
Miles today: 0.0

Final morning drill ditto. Today's runs were: Snooker, Colors, and Standard. If Bandit and I Q'ed in Standard we stood a chance at getting an award for all three combined Standard Q's. Of course it was the last run of the day and we ran almost last of everyone. No skipping out early to head for Virginia now! Q'ed Snooker. Colors was our outside-on-the-grass-in-full-sun run but it wasn't the heat this time. He stopped in the middle of the weave poles and started sniffing the ground putting us three seconds overtime and NQ'ed. Totally out of character for him but I was later told he wasn't the only dog to stop and sniff. Standard took forever to come. I started packing up, ordered final prints with the photographer, and organizing my truck. When we finally got to run we received one weave pole fault and I assumed we had just screwed up so ran the rest of the course in relaxed, silly mood manner, told Bandit "nice try" and returned to packing. Once my truck was fully prepared to head to Virginia, Sue told me not to forget my Standard Q ribbon! Wow! I'd forgotten we were running in Level 5 for our C-ATCH and you can have one fault in Level 5. We'd Q'ed after all!!!With great excitement and farewells, we loaded into the truck and headed south to Bland,VA. Once there, we dropped off a drop box at the Big Walker Motel before heading to Pearisburg. We checked into the Holiday Motor Lodge and collapsed into an excited sleep.I later learned from Sue that there was a big computer problem so no one knows yet as of June 15th who won all the big CPE Nationals awards yet. So the excitement continues to build!!!
Date: 2013-06-11
From: Davis Hollow Campsite - Blue-blazed Trail

To: Lynn Camp Creek
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: light rain

Around 12:30 a.m. It started raining, moderate at first, then very hard with lots of lightening and thunder. It was comforting to know all was safe and dry INSIDE the tent so no sleep was lost. For being so tired when we hit the rack, we woke early around 6:30 and started packing up the tent. The three guys rose about the same time and we all got busy in camp doing chores. Chop Shop had left camp before any of us had gotten up. Nice mostly sunny day in store. We were first out of camp at 9 am. Stopped at Davis Campsite to check it out. Not nice. Got phone signal so got and read all texts and then called and talked with Matt about work.Second breakfast was 4 miles down the trail at Crawfish campsite. It was a really nice campsite next to a river. We got water and lingered too long eating breakfast. Talked with a northbound Section hiker who after she finished the next six miles would have completed her nine year goal of hiking 2000 miles of the AT. She was 72 and said Maine was just too much for her at her age. Walker Mtn was tough taking a lot out of both of us. We stopped at Holston River Bridge for lunch at 3:30, soaked our feet in the cool water, and sadly didn't get more water here. We ran out of water a mile later and had to re-supply at a sketchy source. We stopped and chatted with a group of three northbound section hiking women. Got trail magic. Two miles later and many, many stiles and cattle later, we arrived at Knot Maul Branch shelter. The were two northbound Section hikers here, Zoo and Seeker. They were staying at the shelter. We ate our trail magic and headed for Lynn Camp creek. I was looking for solitude and was blessed with it here. Funny to want that so bad after last year looking so hard for company. Past Chop Shop at a campsite on the way to Lynn. She was already in for the night. Ate soup, did chores, hung food, passed out.
Date: 2013-06-12
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: broken clouds

We rose at 6:30 despite the morning sun being shaded by the canopy. I could hear jet engines off to the north as I preceded to take care of nature and drop my bear hang. As I started to go about morning chores the jet engine sounds had morphed into a random sound similar to thunder out in the distance. As I continued on with chores it was clear this was a thunder storm and it was headed toward us! So I started throwing all my gear into the tent. It was either that or I needed to hustle all that gear into two backpacks and get on the trail ASAP. It was clear those were my two options to keep all dry and the second option wasn't possible. After all was in the tent, Bandit and I climbed in just before the skies opened up and lit up! I cooked breakfast in the vestibule as it poured. Breakfast done, I started packing things into backpacks in anticipation of heading out. I was able to finally get onto the trail by 9:00 a.m.3.5 miles later, we stopped for second breakfast at the gravel road VA 625. Lynn Camp Mountain had been difficult and it was getting warm out. We had a 4+mile / 2000' climb up Chestnut Ridge ahead of us and this heat wasn't going to help. The climb didn't disappoint. My hopes had been to reach the summit and continue on for 7 more miles. But it was 5 p.m. when we reached Chestnut Knob Shelter and I was wiped. Also, this was a very beautiful location, an intriguingly awesome shelter, and way cool section hikers that would be fun to hang with. In addition, Angel and her boys were planning to stay also. So I caved and setup my tent. The shelter was a four sided stone structure with a door and separate wooden bunks. The wind really picked up as the sun made a beautiful sunset. All talked me into taking the last upper bunk inside, so I caved once again, dropped the tent, balled it up, and thru all my gear in the loft as the light faded. Angel's boy's lifted Bandit into the upper loft as darkness set in and all hikers began to silently pass out.
Date: 2013-06-14
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland,VA
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

We all got up by 6:00 a.m. And hurried to pack up and head out. It was 12 miles into Bland, our first town resupply and hotel stay on the trail. It is always wise to get into a town early to make sure you got a room and get to stores before they close. However, Bandit appeared to now be in trouble. He was no longer eating and he threw up what he drank even before we left camp. His stool was now all liquid.For the entire 12 miles into town, his condition steadily worsened. My cell phone was dead and I knew I needed to call Bandit's vet so I worked my solar charger with anxiety. I finally got 9% charge and two bars on the phone and immediately called the vet to find out what the name of the drug was that stops the dog from vomiting. I then texted Sue K. for advice. That's all my phone put out. Now, I knew there was no vet in Bland. Would their people doc have this med?As had become our custom, I'd headed out of the shelter ahead of Angel and the boys. As Bandit's liquid diarrhea and vomiting increased, somewhere along the trail Angel and crew passed us. When we arrived at the trailhead, they'd already called Bubba for our transport ride and told him about Bandit's condition. Bubba was already at the trailhead when we arrived. He offered to drive us the 15 miles south into the next county to the nearest vet. Wow! Bubba was my guardian Angel for the day!!!The vet's office was a first come first serve no appointment necessary place. There were so many poor people in there! Wow! The prices were ridiculously low and I could see why. Dr. Taylor was the sweetest old little lady doc I'd ever met. I burst into tears as she shut the exam room door. I was certain I'd hurt Bandit. Her exam showed he most likely had Viral Enteritis, otherwise known as the doggy flu. He'd most likely picked it up at the dog trial. She gave him several shots and some pills noting a diet that would calm his stomach. We left her office with orders for two days rest and then hiking could begin again. Really? He could still hike? And here I'd just assumed we'd be going home, I'd even been making plans to do so in my head. Ok then! New plan.Bubba brought us back to Big Walker Motel. We checked in and moved in. Bandit dropped to the floor and didn't move basically until mid-day the next day. I left him in the room, walked to the Dollar store for supplies, food the doc had recommended, and snacks. We were setting up camp in the remote local of Bland for three nights and trust me this was not the most hopping town in VA. I dropped past Subway on my way back to the motel. After dinner I passed out from exhaustion and relief.
Date: 2013-06-15
From: Bland,VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Tried to sleep in but that is hard once you are in full hiking mode. The sun comes up so you get up. I said good-bye to Seeker, Angel, Buddy, Chainsaw, and Duct Tape as they all climbed into the back of Bubba's truck on their way back to the trailhead. It was sad to see my new friends leaving. I grabbed the box from the office that I'd dropped there on Monday. It had all my goodies to freshen up and get ready for our next leg of the trip. Back at the room, I woofed down some of the cold cereal I'd bought at the Dollar Store for breakfast as I lingered in bed and watched sappy old movies. Late morning I figured it was finally time to get that well deserved shower I'd neglected to get last night. Bandit was feeling a bit better now that all fluids were staying inside him once he consumed them. Yippee! He was able to pee but it was going to be a while before he was able to poo.All cleaned up, I started organizing gear and figuring out what needed attention and what I might need to find before heading back out on the trail. First matter of business was laundry. I filled the tub full of all dirty laundry, covered it in shampoo, and let it soak for an hour. After a good rinse, I took the wet clothes and Bandit out to the back where there was a clothes line. Bandit laid in the sun while I hung my laundry. It was bright and sunny.We spent lazy hours checking the hiker's box (most hiker places keep a box where hiker's can drop good items that they no longer need but that another hiker might need), getting ice to keep our cheese/pepperoni cold, talking pics and doing journaling. Late in the afternoon after all the laundry was dry and folded, we walked down to the Dairy Queen and each had an ice cream cone. Bandit had NO complaints about that gift!After another sappy movie, I ordered too much pizza and bread sticks for dinner. While waiting for it, Bandit and I watched the next round of hikers roll into the Motel in Bubba's truck. Sleep came during the next movie.
Date: 2013-06-16
From: Bland, VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today was a rinse and repeat of yesterday. We rose early, watched Sunday morning TV programming followed by more sappy movies and more cold cereal for breakfast. Bandit was doing much better, no poo yet but he was peeing and had a much better appetite. I once again started going through all my gear to prepare for tomorrow departure for Pearisburg and remembered that I needed more fuel. My fuel canister was getting low and I doubted it would cover all meals between Bland and Trent's Grocery store two day's hiking away. So I took another wonderful shower and it was off for the 1.2 mile hike into the town of Bland. The only place listing canister fuel for sale was the Citgo station. We could have caught a ride to/from downtown but we had nothing but time and I thought it best to assess just how well Bandit really was feeling.Sadly, when we arrived the store owner informed me that he had been unable to find a carrier this year who was willing to deliver canister fuel to his store and thus he had none for sale this year. There was little else of interest to a hiker in shop so we headed back toward the motel. We stopped at the Dollar Store briefly for a few small items and returned to the motel. A quick double check of the hiker box showed no canisters in there either. I guess our only option is to chance getting to Trent's. Worse that could happen is we eat cold dinner or breakfast. Rats!We spent the rest of the day lounging around the motel. I journalled in the sun while Bandit pestered me to throw his Frisbee. Yep, he'd be ready to rock-n-roll tomorrow. So next time I caught Bubba in the parking lot, I signed us up for an 8 a.m. ride back to the trailhead.Itchy rolled into the motel just before dinner along with another elderly military section hiker who was finishing his section here in Bland. They hustled off to the Kangaroo Gas station for beer while Bandit and I warmed up the left over pizza in the office for dinner. After dinner, we gabbed with Itchy and his buddy and then headed off to Dairy Queen for one more ice cream cone. I spent the rest of the night going through all our gear with a fine tooth comb, packing stuff up, throwing stuff out, and deciding which items to toss into the hiker's box. Bandit became restless knowing things were getting packed up and kept following me around the motel room. I made sure this time that both my iPhone and solar phone batter were fully charged. Then it was off to bed early to the backdrop of an HLN murder mystery on TV.
Date: 2013-06-22
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke at a normal hiker hour of 6 a.m. with no ambition to pack anything back into that backpack. Laundry wasn't going to happen. Caught a shower and two more pancakes at the MacArthur dining hall. Then I spread out all my maps on the breakfast table and had a heart-to-heart with myself. Pros and cons were listed and the vote was to go home. With a heavy heart, I told the MacArther Inn caretaker, Don Raines, my husband, and finally Shawn, that I was packing it up for 2013. LOL Husband was happy I was coming home as things there were a bit dicey, he just hadn't wanted to be the reason I came home. It had been a great adventure for 2013, but adding the 5 day dog trial before heading out to hike had been a huge stretch in my resolve. I was one happy, tired hiker, ready to return to the home front.This year's Section Hike was unique and special for many reasons. First, I had to stop and wait out Bandit's illness for two days and watch the hiking world pass by while we rested. So cool to see the trail from a more relaxed viewpoint. Second, we took the days following that illness at a much slower rate than usual since Bandit was still recovering. It was awesome to take the trail slow and really enjoy things like Woods Hole without always rushing to make the miles. Third, we'd spent our first 48 hour period totally on our own and we'd done it without reservation or fear. This is something I was pretty proud of myself for mentally being able to manage. And finally, when we hit that spot north of Pearisburg that was pure hiker work and no scenery, I was proud of how we pushed to 'just do it'.I truly look forward to seeing Dragons Tooth and McAfee Knob next year with a renewed sense of adventure!!!
Date: 2009-03-22
To: home Salt Lake City, UT
Miles today: 0.0

It's official..I'm not going this year! Start date has come and gone. After a year of prep, I'm geared up and ready, except for bouts of Atrial Fibrillation.I need to straighten out and get off the heart meds before starting off for 5 or 6 month. Bummer, but here's the good partI've worked for the last 2 years to strengthen my artificial hips and they are ready to go. Last year was my first year in a long time to be able bodied enough to hike...and I really did a good job of catching up. Salt Lakers are spoiled to have the beautiful Wasatch Mountains right on our doorstep. This winter was my first in good long time to be able to ski. Should be able to do some river running too. My beatiful wife Eileen has been patient and extremely supportive of my plans. Nothing but encouragement and love. Not one complaint about how much $ for that 850 fill down bag. Missing her will be the hardest part of my hike.
Date: 2009-03-27
To: home
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise a few days ago. The beauty of the Wasatch softens the blow of delaying my thru hike for a year. Most of the time I take the Wastach for granted and ignor the views what a waste! I'll try to appreciate what is in front of my face. Appointment today with Electrophysiology Cardiologist to talk about having a catheter ablation to fix my Atrial Fibrillation problems. I want get my heart fixed and off all the heart meds before setting out. It would be a major pain to keep track of and supply the pills on the trail. I've been having AFib attacks every time I ski or work out hard at the gym so it's time to fix.I guess I should run the idea of hiking 2000 miles with a backpack by the surgeon who replaced both my Hips, though it should be ok since I got the Biomet heavy duty Magnum M2A Cobalt steel on Cobalt steel units. http://www.hipsforyou.com/biometmagnum.php Same as Mary Lou Retton the gymnast. My regular doc thinks I nuts to hike with a backpack due to degenerative arthritis in my neck and lower back, in part due to various injuries over the years. Maybe my neurologist will be more optimistic.I believe hiking helps...keep moving...get away from the desk and computer.Once my heart is steady, there is no reason not to be in great shape with all the mountain trails around me. Hopefully training at altitude will help. Can't wait to get out on some long shakedown multinights. I think it's been 30 years since backpacking more than one night! I hope doing the hike will set a good example form my son and daughter: Always go for it no matter what!Since it is a fully year of prep I will put in some detail about medical stuff.Skip over it bores you. Just want to share some of the medical modern marvels with anyone with similar issues wondering what their options are. I'm truly blessed to have a second chance at life and all the activities I love.
Date: 2009-04-18
To: capitol reef park
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Tryin out blackberry for first time. Just found out I have a stress fracture on my shin.So no hiking for 3 or 4 weeks. I am trying out blackberry storm to decide if is worth or just a pain to wired while on the trail. Maybe better for the spirit to cut off from the internet for a while. I got the stress fracture in my tibia 3 weeks ago while skiing. Not bad can ride trainer bike but need to avoid full weight bearing for a few weeks
Date: 2010-12-15
To: holiday parties, Wasatch Mountains
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

OK this year I'm going. After delaying a couple years, Retired last month after 25 years with ATK. Semi clean bill of health. Don't know how far I'll go. I've got the time. Taking it one day at a time.   Hope this will be a reflection and celebration of major life milestone with endless possibilities ahead.My approximate optimistic schedule can be found in"Mail Drops" on the left. Would love to have company on any sections."if you follow every DREAM....You might get lost""The Painter",Neil Young
Date: 2010-12-21
To: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

OUCH!!Went to the Mayo Clinic for second opinion on my heart and came home with this!Good news heart is strong Drs cleared me for thru hike with no restrictions on exertion level.Bad news: GoutI never had this before. It's scary to have my feet blowing up before even starting. Did walk at least 8 or 9 miles around Rochester each day...NOT ENOUGH TO DESERVE THIS. Attempted to distance myself from the other patients who are sick and enjoy the Minnesota winter! Got to find the positive message in this. Not a bad omen, instead a message to not be so full of myself. Take life as it comes and make the best of it.A little too much Minnesota winter hospitality may have precipitated the problem. Unlike Utah, when you order a shot of whiskey with meals, they usually served a large wine glass full!!!   Also had too much protein as I had huge servings of Walleye at every meal as well as testing protein bars and powders.   Hopefully I can avoid gout flare ups by just stopping Niacin and aspirin...... stuff I shouldn't need if hiking 10 -20 miles a day. Also need to concentrate on staying hydrated while hiking. I'm not willing to concede the whiskey yet! I think it is important to have some luxury items.....I'm trying to use my retirement time to learn how to not take life too seriously. That goes for thru hiking.   With all my health issues, it is ridiculous to think I can really do this on my own. But take things one day at time with an open spirit and who knows?"I'll get by with a little help from my friends" The Beatles, also done SOULFULLY by Joe Cocker
Date: 2011-01-05
To: home Salt Lake City, UT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail NamesI've decided to give my wife, Eileen, the trail name: EE. Even if she doesn't hike much she is completely necessary in this endeavor. Plus EE is easy to type and I suck at typing.EE wanted to call me POPEYE due to my love of spinach. I eat it by the COSTCO bag full.   Also I never tire of telling the story of my Italian grandfather, Noni, helping to weed our yard of dandelions circa 1968 in Virginia.   "Neva pulla de roots!" he advised, " it no grow back!" "geemi You eata the dandeeleon much better the spinache! It make you hunderda time stronga as Popeyeee!" Ever since, I always look for dandelions to supplement the mac-n-cheese rice etc on the trail. I remember my Noni every time I eat either spinach or dandelion greens.Jimdog is a more boring name not much different than just Jim.   People will mistakenly think I'm a big fan of the Georgia Gym Dogs. But I think I'll keep it anyway. Avery (Avery-pup) Sandack made up jimdog and it reminds me of the whole Sandack clan. So jimdog it is.Also preempts a less kind name being bestowed on the trail which could easily happen if fellow hikers notice some irritating personality traits which could become manifest in tight quarters of a shelter."ONE DAY AT A TIME" thought #57 from "56 Thoughts" by Bob Marley, updated by Henry Brown, C of R.
Date: 2011-01-20
To: foot Doctor
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Foot problems already. Big toe swelling again. Also getting similar but smaller red lumps on several other toe joints. Foot Doc is trying to figure out if it is some kind of systemic arthritis or just wear and tear. May need surgery to remove a bone chip which is breaking up.Even with size 15, my toes are squished and rub. I made shoe stretches out of 2 x4s to try and get more toe space. Carved to same shape as my foot without all the arthritis lumps. Then added plastic bumps from a commercial shoe stretcher at the hot spots. Heated the shoes with weather proofing grease to soften and stretch then cooled with stretchers in. Worked great on full leather boots. Not as well on synthetic boots. May put the stretchers in a jump box, as leather shrinks after wet dry cycles. Doc also gave me a bunch of gel devices to try and recommended seeing a dietician once we determine what type of arthritis it is. She thinks surgery to repair the toe would be minor and possible to still start in March."They say it'll kill me, but they won't say when" Cocaine blues, tradditional