morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-01-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

A "user agreement" might be in order concerning this journal. For the next few months, I will be tired, cold, hot, sweaty, dirty, smelly, etc., and my journal entries may reflect my general mindset. There may be personal, work, religious, political, or other "controversial" topics touched upon. Therefore, if you are concerned about reading material which might put your relationship to me in jeopardy, then maybe you ought not to read further. My relationship to you probably will not change. If you agree to the following terms, please continue reading, and enjoy!
Date: 2005-02-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it's time to go and I am really nervous. Not about preparation, gear, or anything like that, but just stepping out the door seems a challenge. I'm telling you that it will be interesting come day 3 or so.On the bright side, I've got an mp3 player!!! It's an iRiver iFP-800, and holds 1GB of music. The best part is that is tiny, uses 1 AA battery, and is super-light! Anyway, I'm loading it up right now with all sorts of stuff that I would sorely miss.My next post will be officially on the trail!!
Date: 2005-02-20
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Springer Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 0.2
Weather: light rain

Morning Weather: Foggy/rainAfternoon Weather: Foggy/rainBreakfast: toast at homeLunch: beef tenderloin sammiches brought by my parentsDinner: Chicken Teriyaki Mtn. HouseMisc. Food:Trail Description: Up and away!People: Parents, John & Suz, AmyAnimals: Money: 0Complaints:Thoughts: I'm dedicating today to my parents. I didn't realize the leaving would be so hard. My parents were emotional and I was emotional for a few miles. I love my mom and seeing her cry was more than I could stand. That night at the shelter, I had this overwhelming feeling of not wanting to leave Amy. This feeling did not subside until a mile or so was between us the next day. However, I seem to have found a groove and feel good about everything.
Date: 2005-02-21
From: Springer Mtn Shelter

To: Gooch Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

Morning Weather: 4 hrs. of hard rain!!!Afternoon Weather: Sun break out then back to rain for the eveningBreakfast: Oatmeal with AmyLunch: Bars and gorpDinner: Mexican rice with tuna packetMisc. Food:Trail Description: Sassafras Mtn.!!! Need I say more?People: Tons...family and friends day hiking (they wanted me to pose with them for a picture), a father/daughter from Boston and a man from Maine...othersAnimals: squirrels and birds (pretty bluejays)Money: 0Complaints: Wet...feet were squish squash most of the way.Thoughts: Today was dedicated to Amy. It actually wasn't that tough separating from her, but that was mostly the hard rain making appropriate smooches impossible. Just for the record, she is the COOLEST wife and is my rock for this hike.Today was the longest one-day hike I've ever done. It was over familiar terrain, but that terrain is tough. Rain of course made it much worse, but i feel very good about pushing through. The Gooch shelter is nice...
Date: 2005-02-22
From: Gooch Mtn Shelter

To: Blood Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: broken clouds

Morning Weather: SunnyAfternoon Weather: Sunny and warmBreakfast: noneLunch: bars and gorpDinner: Mtn. HouseMisc. Food:Trail Description: tough day of mostly uphillPeople: "doo-hoood" who is finding the way to nirvana on top of Blood Animals: sweet hawks sailing around Money: 0 Complaints: feet hurt pretty bad..it's not blisters, really. It's more like "core pain" near the ball of the foot. I've been warned about this...now it is happening. Other complaints - a stupid mouse ate a hole in the side of my pack!!! OK, it's a small hole but this was my second night. I even saw the booger when he woke me up...Thoughts: Met up with two girls last night at the shelter. They are hiking my type of schedule...efficient and geared toward improving pace and mileage. It seems that I will hike with them for the next few days anyway. Mileage is working well for meeting Amy in Hiawassee.
Date: 2005-02-23
From: Blood Mtn Shelter

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Morning Weather: sunny, beautiful sunrise on blood Afternoon Weather: sunny, warm Breakfast: none Lunch: one balance bar (stupid) Dinner: Lipton chicken noodles and gorp Misc. Food:Trail Description: The section out of Neels Gap was GREAT. The first few miles are what backpacking is all about. Great campsites along the way, all the way to Cowrock Mtn. The climb out of Testnatee Gap was brutal - the worst climb yet. The remainder was still very challenging, but after that first climb everything seemed easy.People: Met several folks at Neels Gap store. Sheltering tonight with 3 new hikers, two of whom are from Marietta!Animals: still no cool (or scary) animal sightings. However, a possum did wander into the shelter last night and I was awoken by a girl shrieking at it. Money: $65 at Mountain Crossongs store (ultralite pack cover, Crocs camp shoes, TP, and a powerade.Complaints: Feet are still hurting from blisters between first and second toes on both feet. I was DUMB today and didn't resupply water when I had the chance. The terrain was then difficult, thus making tons of water necessary. Then, with no water, I didn't eat anything because I couln't wash it down. So, lesson learned.Thoughts: I really feel like I'm getting into the groove of this thing. Today a cool girl that I hiked with the past two days got off the trail...sad, especially since she had potential. I've met some new hikers and all are very cool...it got me thinking about what threshold I need to meet before I would even CONSIDER getting off. I think that to truly sample a long distance hike, I'll need to go a month before "checking in" with my thoughts on the issue. Now that's just my opinion for me, so we'll see how it shakes out. Anyway, Boomerang out.
Date: 2005-02-24
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Tray Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning Weather: foggy and rainyAfternoon Weather: foggyBreakfast: none...for some reason I have the jitters in the morning and don't want to eat.Lunch: bars and gorpDinner: 24oz of hot chocolate (yum!), Clif bar and some weird vegetarian dish Elise gave me.Misc. Food:Trail Description: Flat and fast in the beginning, then 4 (!) 1000 foot elevation changes from Unicoi gap north. I couldn't see farther than 50 yards all day due to fog, but I'm sure the views would have been great.People: Jack and Jill...Jack is a killer dog, Jill, a dude (and that's his trail name), is his owner.Animals: none, although I once saw a bear on this stretch (I'm just trying to make up for my lack of animal sightings).Money: 0Complaints: New fat blisters on the heels. And today pretty much wore me out. My hiking patner, Elise (no trail name yet), has the largest balloon-shaped blister on the side of her big toe that I've ever seen...I'm talking a blister that is as big as her big toe. Yikes!Thoughts: Let me fill you in on some of my hiking buddies. Elise is from Conn. and is taking a year off before going to college. She spent a few months in India, and now is hiking the AT. Meghan and her father Tim are from Marietta. Both are super-nice, although Tim is getting off at Hiawassee (he is just hiking GA with his daughter). Gung-Ho is a very cool woman from York, PA, where she does work with the Opera. She listens to opera as she hikes. Pretty cool. She also is only section hiking to Hiawassee, so I'll miss her. She's also hiking with two Welsh Corgies, whose trail names are Vicious and Fang. Awesome! Lastly, Alpine is an AT and PCT vet and I'm not sure what his plan is, but he dispensed great advice around the fire concerning long-distance hiking.Anyway, that's the cast of characters. I will be in Hiawasse tomorrow and am looking forward to multiple foot-long subs with everything on them!
Date: 2005-02-25
From: Tray Mtn Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap (Hiawassee)
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Morning Weather: sunny but cuh-hold...thermometer read 25 Afternoon Weather: sunny and 60 Breakfast: two power bars Lunch: gorpDinner: Foot-long sub (lots of peppers) from Subway and the Friday-night special at the Georgia Mountain Restaurant (Fried Chicken, Mac&Cheese, Mustard Greens, Taters, and Cake). That's right, TWO dinners!Misc. Food:Trail Description: Easy start, then challenging climb up Kelly Knob, nice downhill finish into DCG People: Nice hiker man on trail Animals: noneMoney:Complaints: New blister on inside of right pinky toe, other blisters still hurt...but they're getting washed and popped tonight!Thoughts: Spent a cold night in the shelter last night...wind sucked some of the heat out of my bag. Next time I think it's getting cold I'm getting in my tent to block the wind.First town and we're gonna take a zero tomorrow. I do not want to take many zeroes, but I think my body needs some time off after this first shock to the system.
Date: 2005-02-26
From: Dick's Creek Gap (Hiawassee)

To: Dick's Creek Gap (Hiawassee)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zeroed in Hiawasse today. Amy came up and we pigged out at Shoney's and a Chinese restaurant. We went to see Million Dollar Baby, then got involved with the police concerning a missing hiker...definately a depressing afternoon.
Date: 2005-02-27
From: Dick's Creek Gap (Hiawassee)

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

Morning Weather: cold and very windyAfternoon Weather: coldBreakfast: noneLunch: gorpDinner: Lipton & chickenMisc. Food:Trail Description: Up at first, then nice. First part of NC was brutalPeople: Selena and Mark Animals: Jack the dog Money: 0 Complaints: Right knee hurting a little bit Thoughts: Last week I walked away from my parents, brother, and wife. Today I walked away from Amy a second time, but this time with the confidence that I could make it. I was feeling great and trucked the 16.5 fairly easily. The shelter tonight is jam packed like sardines...6 adults and a dog. The rain that was supposed to hit us instead turned into snow, and it's still snowing right now. We have aggressive plans to attempt Fontana by Saturday, but that may need to push to Sunday. It's cold and snowing and everyone is a little nervous about going into multiple days of snow.
Date: 2005-02-28
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light snow

Morning Weather: SNOW!!!Afternoon Weather: SNOW!!!Breakfast: Lemon Poppyseed Clif BarLunch: GorpDinner: Mtn. House Beef StroganoffMisc. Food:Trail Description: Long, gradual up and down over Standing Indian, then easy grade until Albert Mtn., which was the most technical hill yet. All of this terrain was covered with 3 to 6 inches of snow, making everything more difficult. Unfortunately I couldn't see anything off of the top of Albert...the sky was muck. People:Animals: Grouse, tons of tracks in the snow (deer, rabbit, some sort of smal cat) Money: 0 Complaints: Knee still hurting, I'm calling Dr. Funk to see what I can do. It's cuh-hold. Snow is everywhere and there doesn't seem to be any temperature relief in sight. We're gonna go into Franklin tomorrow to get out of the snow for one night.Thoughts: I chose to do this trip. Furthermore, I chose to leave slightly early to beat the crowds. Now I am reaping some of the consequences of that decision. I hiked fourteen miles in the snow today. I've never hiked five feet in the snow before today. That, my friends, is pretty cool. Nighttime is harder because the temps drop so low. Tonight we rigged a tent fly and a footprint up as walls to block snowdrift. This morning we woke up with our bags pretty damp from that leaky shelter, so tonight we hope to stave some of that off. I'm enjoying the winter, but I'm coming to respect it as the risk that it is. The big worry of today is that Jack and Jill did not make it to the shelter tonight...we don't know if he holed up in an earlier shelter or what. We just hope he's alright. Going over Albert mtn. with that big dog of his will be very challenging.
Date: 2005-03-01
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin, NC)
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light snow

Morning Weather: Cold (15)Afternoon Weather: Cold and semi-sunnyBreakfast: Balance BarLunch: Shoney's AYCEDinner: PizzaMisc. Food: Trail Magic!!!Trail Description:People: Artemis, cool hitchhike driver ladyAnimals:Money: 8 at Shoney's, 16 for the room, 12 for new stuff sack Complaints: none Thoughts: A great day of hiking in the snow. We landed in Franklin to get out of the snow for one night. Last night, however, was cold (hence the desire to get out of it). We have more snowy and cold nights ahead of us...bummer. Franklin seems like a nice town, all the people we've encountered have been super-nice. Today we had our first trail magic! I climbed up out Wallace Gap, and after 15 minutes or so I came to a creek that looked like it was full of litter, but upon closer inspection it was full of Cokes and Capri Suns! Across the stream a fishing bucket was hanging in a tree that said "for hikers" - and it was FULL OF GOODIES! I signed the journal, but don't remember who left it (sorry, it was cold). However, the people who left it are fans of trailjournals.com, so hopefully they will get in contact with me and I can post their info. I definitely enjoyed the Snickers, pudding, and lemonade I had. Thanks Trail Angels!
Date: 2005-03-02
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Morning Weather: Clear and coldAfternoon Weather: Clear and cold...beautiful Breakfast: Muffin at hotel Lunch: Bars and gorp...gorp, by the way, is "Good Ole Raisins and Peanuts," in case you didn't know Dinner: Lipton side with chicken Misc. Food:Trail Description: Hiked in the snow all day. Going up Wayah Bald was brutal when the snow drifts were almost two feet. I cut the trail for three hours or so, and was pretty much demoralized. Wayah Bald summit was beautiful though, and one i intend to come back to see in better weather. Snow makes for slow hiking, so it was a long and tough day.People: Jeremy, The Great Wazoo and Headlamp (from Texas), Heidi, Feather, Mark Animals: none Money: 0 Complaints: Snow is slow Thoughts: We got a ride from Woody Sapp of the Nantahala Hiking Club...how cool of a name is that?!? He was super-nice and reminded me of my uncle Dennis.Not many thoughts tonight...just heard a real sad story about The Great Wazoo's trail name...basically he is hiking for a best friend who died. I'm now pulling for the Wazoo to make it. Signing off for a coooold night.
Date: 2005-03-03
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

Morning Weather: Cold and clearAfternoon Weather: Warm(!) and sunny...coming down into NOC was the first time it had been above freezing in 4 days Breakfast: BB Lunch: Salad, cheeseburger, pecan pie a la mode Dinner: Mac and cheese Misc. Food:Trail Description: Finally long stretches with NO SNOW! Great hiking early on...coming down into NOC wasn't that fun (or that pretty, really) People: Feather, Heidi, The Great Wazoo, Headlamp, Mark, Jeremy Animals: none Money: 30 (hostel, lunch, Jetboil fuel) Complaints: Mileage is a little short of what I want it to be over the next few days, but it will pick up soon. Thoughts: Thankful to be warm for a night...
Date: 2005-03-04
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Morning Weather: Sunny and 35-ishAfternoon Weather: Sunny and 40-ishBreakfast: River's Best Breakfast (oj, two scrambled eggs, two sausage patties, biscuit, gravy, hashbrowns...all around yumminess) Lunch: Gorp and bb First Dinner: Lipton noodles Second Dinner: Oatmeal Trail Description: up and up and up. Great workout before doing the same (and harder) going into the Smokies in a few days.People: Heidi, Feather, The Great Wazoo, Headlamp Animals: Flushed a pheasant off the top of some mtn Money: 10 for breakfast Complaints: not a lot of miles today, but i guess I'm ok with it Thoughts: Can't wait to see Amy in Fontana!Heidi and Feather are beginning their planning for the Smokies. We will probably split up somewhere in the Smokies, and that's a little sad...they're very cool hiking buddies. But I've got to start bookin' up the trail in order to allow Amy to join me in NH, and they have plans with friends, etc. that will delay them in Gatlinburg. Hopefully I can catch up with Mark and Jeremy since they are flying towards Maine.
Date: 2005-03-05
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

Morning Weather: cold, rain, hailAfternoon Weather: alternating sun/cloud, 40's to low 50's Breakfast: bb Lunch: bb and gorp Dinner: miso soup (thanks Feather), lipton rice, tuna, liter of poweradeTrail Description: Really tough climb out of Stecoah Gap, but mostly downhill with scattered "stairmaster" moments People: Brett and Evi, two southbounders who are almost done!Animals: Bandit the dog (who bites)Money: 0Complaints: Bonked all day...just a)didn't eat enough and b)didn't eat enough carbs Thoughts: Today was a hard day considering we had two relatively short days prior. I need to get used to "the grind" again and be able to crank out the miles. Seeing the two southbound thru-hikers was a big boost of confidence, while at the same time reminding me how long this trip is gonna be. These guys started hiking in September...I was travelling to CA for work back then. Tomorrow is Fontana and Amy and my good friend Steve. I'll need their energy for the Smokies.
Date: 2005-03-06
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning Weather: 40's and sunnyAfternoon Weather: 50's and sunnyBreakfast: oatmealLunch: Mexican #6Dinner: Chinese BuffetTrail Description: Pretty easy...frustrated that the last mile was up and down. People: Amy(!), Steve(!), Heidi, Feather, Wazoo, Headlamp, Jeff and Nancy at The Hike Inn Animals: none Money: 40 for groceries and food Complaints:none...seein' my baby!Thoughts: Meeting Steve at the dam was very cool. It turns out that he had come up the night before, stayed at The Hike Inn, met and hung out with Mark and Jeremy (as only Steve can do), then was at the dam 5 minutes after I arrived. Steve rocks. I found out the next morning that he had paid for my room! He's a town angel! Thanks Steve!
Date: 2005-03-07
From: Fontana Dam

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Morning Weather: warm and sunny/cloudyAfternoon Weather: rain and getting colder Breakfast: blueberry muffins and OJ Lunch: bb and ritz bits Dinner: flatbread and onion & chive cream cheese (thanks for the tip Feather!), lipton noodles and chicken Trail Description: Lots of up. I tore up the mountain and made Mollie's Ridge by 12:20. People: Lots of people at shelter....3 thruhikers from Ohio.Animals: It's like God said "Let there be animals." I saw three large white-tailed deer (right off the trail), five or so woodpeckers, a ton of these cool looking birds that were neon blue with a red/orange breast, a pheasant, awesome crows, but no bears.Money: 0Complaints: none, other than separating from Amy Thoughts: I was (maybe still am) spooked about the Smokies. Weather is the biggest thing, but altitude, bears, and the whole shelter thing make it worse. The weather is acting like I thought it would...miserable rain and getting colder. The "shelter thing" refers to the fact that thru-hikers are the low man on the totem pole in the Smokies, meaning that we must vacate a shelter if a person who paid for a permit shows up. I don't really have a problem with this other than the fact that the weather is terrible and I don't want to tent.Having been spooked for several days about this week, I am now glad that I am 16.4 miles into them, and I plan on burning through here and getting out as fast as I can...we'll see how well my body holds up. Amy is like a shot of adrenaline for me...I always have a great day of hiking after seeing her. On the other hand, it's rained every day that I've left her as well.
Date: 2005-03-08
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Morning Weather: snow, wind, and 20 degAfternoon Weather: snow finally stopped, but still cold Breakfast: bb & ritz bits Lunch: bb and pb crackers Dinner: bread and cream cheese, stove top stuffing and chicken Trail Description:People: Christine and Auggie (section), Matt (thru), and a ton of spring breakers at Derrick's Knob Shelter...speaking of these guys, when I got to the Derrick Knob shelter it looked like a bomb had gone off. Packs and clothes and stuff was everwhere. It turns out that these guys were from the NC State cross-country team (or track, can't remember), and they were woefully unprepared for the snow and temps we were having. One of the guys was suffering from hypothermia, so three guys were all around him trying to warm him up. Problem was, I think the other guys were pretty cold too. I told them to heat water, get it into nalgenes, and shove the bottles down his sleeping bag. I also reminded the other guys to pound carbs and to use hot water bottles in their own bags tonight. Anyway, scary situation. Two guys went down the mountain to the ranger station, so hopefully things work out for them.Animals: none...only hikers are dumb enough to be out in this weather Money: 0 Complaints: Snow is excruciatingly slow Thoughts: I'm cold and going to bed...I had a hard day that tested my physical and psychological well being.
Date: 2005-03-09
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg)
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Morning Weather: sunny and super-coldAfternoon Weather: sunny and maybe 35Breakfast: barsLunch: barsDinner: too much food at The Smoky Mountain BreweryTrail Description: Up and up to Clingman's Dome (beautiful weather and views). Then mixed up and down to Newfound. Snow all over the place, snow drifts in places were halfway up my thigh.People: Matt, Auggie, Christine, the Stevensons (gave me a ride to Gatlinburg)Animals: none Money: 60 Complaints: I absolutely hate hiking in the snow. It's like trying to walk in the ocean...for 8 hours!Thoughts: The Smokies are living up to their hype...the snow pretty much kicked me off the moutain today. I'm glad I came into Gatlinburg, though...it was a safe play and a smart play given that my bag was wet from the night before.It turns out that the hypothermic hiker was airlifted off the mountain. The guys are being interviewed on the local news at 10...crazy.I'm going back into the Smokies tomorrow morning. The Stevensons have been so kind as to offer me a ride back to the gap! Hopefully two and a half days until I am out of this torturous place.