morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-26
From:  Whitehouse Landing.

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

A fun day, the end is near and we are all glad. Seneca Ican and myself got a fairly early start after a great breakfast. Since we stayed the night and spent money we got dropped off at the point closest to the trail so that cut some of the bonus hiking. We caught up with Little Feet (Jory) around lunch. She had passed us up because of the short day yesterday and took pleasure in the fact..After some pretty steady miles we set up camp and went swimming for one of the few times of the hike. The water was still pretty cold.. 26 miles to go and we plan to summit on the 28th.. The emotion still hasn't hit me yet. It almost doesn't feel real at this point?   The Paladin
Date: 2005-07-27
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: The Birches(Thruhiker campsite)
Miles today: 21.1

What a day, early start, hiking with great friends and views of the big K to drive us on!!! Jory,Ican, Seneca and myself were driven the first half of the day to sign in in time to get a slot in the thruhiker campsite. only the first 12 gets to stay there and we did not have reservations anywhere else. We made it and were about 6 7 8 and nine. no sweat.. even after we stopped for a big lunch at Abol Bridge. The excitement level is unbelieveable. So many smiles as we sign up for the assault and get our day packs from the ranger station. We are 45 46 and 47 for the year of thruhikers. not bad for 3 old guys huh. Jory is finishing up a hike she started over 20 years ago More smiles.. Tomorrow the climb, we are a little nervous Katadin looks tough but we will drag each other up there if we have to. What a great group I am finishing with.
Date: 2005-07-28
From: The Birches(Thruhiker campsite)

To: Katadin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: few clouds

The DAY.   Breakfast does not matter, pack up like it doesn't matter, it doesn't. We leave early and are not hiking fast, The climb is not easy but it is fun. above treeline the views are already fantastic. The day hikers treat us like rock stars and we try to be humble and gracious but we are loving it really. All the grinding days, numb feet, bruises, can't feel any of that. the first view of " THE SIGN" still seems unreal. we are here lots of pics, the beer we brought from abol bridge, the unlit cigar, more pics and hugs. Its over and now what??? We start down almost carelessly? giddy and sad at the same time. A CLASS ONE DAY WITH CLASS ONE COMPANIONS as Wingfoot says
Date: 2005-01-18
To: Ramping Up
Miles today: 0.0

It's finally starting to sink in that I'm really going to do this hike. This is something that's been written on the back pages of my mind for a few years. But now it's finally transforming from a distant dream to reality. I'm taking a seven month leave of absence from work, my lease runs out in February, and there's a pile of backpacking gear staring me down from across the room.Eleven more weeks to go. No - make that six. My roomate, Nirav, is getting married in India during March. My last day of work will be February 26th, and I'll leave for India on March 2nd. I'll return March 26th - exactly one week before my projected start date of April 2nd.A lot of people have asked me why I'm hiking this trail. As the date draws nearer, the reason grows vaguer. There's a part of me that likes a challenge. I've done some adventure races, I finished a 24-hour orienteering competition, and I've walked 100 kilometers in a single day. I'm feeling restless. There's another part of me that longs to trade in the bustle of DC for a more leisurely lifestyle that reduces my worries to food, shelter, and blisters. Or maybe this is a search for connection. Who knows? Not me. I'm just a guy who's going to spend six months hiking.The next weeks will be hectic, especially for a world class procrastinator like myself. I'm not going to worry about setting an exact schedule for the trail - I know I won't follow it anyway. But I still need to figure out rough timetables, maildrops, and so on. It would be slightly disappointing to discover that my plan to resupply in a town without a grocery store is slightly flawed.But first, I think I'll take a nap.
Date: 2005-01-26
To:  The Documentary
Miles today: 0.0

In 1987, Lynne Whelden released 5 Million Steps, the first documentary on the AT thru-hiking experience. It was shot on super 8mm film and cost $20,000. Film was expensive and equipment was heavy. In 1998, the advent of mini DV revolutionized low budget video productions, allowing broadcast quality films to be made for previously unheard of budgets. AT film enthusiasts took note - cameras didn't just get cheaper, they also got lighter. Since 2000, at least 5 full length AT documentaries have been released (North to Katahdin, 2000 Miles to Main, Trek, Appalachian Impressions, and Walking with Freedom) and countless other shorts have appeared on the web. Rumor holds that there may be a few more currently in post production.I'm planning to add yet another entry to this ever expanding list. All of these films have their merits, but I don't think the definitive documentary has been shot. I've never felt like I've hiked the trail after watching an AT film. I haven't felt the grime under my fingernails; I haven't felt that I truly understood trail magic or the bonds that exist within the hiking community. There's still plenty of cinematic territory to explore. I'm not claiming that I'm going to succeed and make the first film accessible to mass markets, but I'm certainly going to give it a shot.I'm not trying to bash the existing AT films. I think they all have their merits. Some of them are very good, and all of the directors should be extremely proud of their works. It's just that I have a different vision. That's the beauty of film - there's room for all points of view.I'm not kidding myself; this isn't going to be easy. I'm confident in my abilities, but recognize that I've got a lot to learn. My documentary experience is limited. The logistics of shooting are daunting - maildrops for fresh DV tapes, battery recharging, and protecting equipment from inclement weather are a few challenges that come to mind. "Lightweight" camera equipment is still heavy. I'm using the lightest 3 CCD chip camera I could find, but by the time I add in batteries, tapes, a microphone, and a miniature tripod, I'm still looking at an extra 4.5 pounds of weight in my pack. If I decide to use an actual tripod, add another pound. Ouch.Editing it won't be easy, either. If I shoot an average of half an hour per day I'll have eighty hours of footage to edit down to two hours. Factor in a fulltime job to pay the bills, and the real challenge begins to present itself. Shooting this documentary will just be the start of a long odyssey.But it's one I look forward to. In Lawrence of Arabia, Dryden warns TE Lawrence that only two creatues have fun in the desert: "Bedouins and gods, and you're neither." Lawrence looks him in the eye and smiles. "No, Dryden, it's going to be fun." Dryden shakes his head. "It is recognized that you have a funny sense of fun."
Date: 2005-02-28
To: Maybe all I need is a shot in the arm
Miles today: 0.0

It's been a hectic week, and there's no sign of stopping. Since last Wednesday evening, last night was the only one in which I managed to grab more than six hours of sleep. In a matter of days I've taken leave of my job, packed everything I own, helped my housemate move out, moved 350 miles, stored all my worldly possessions, updated tons of information (addresses, insurance, etc) and packed for a trip to India.Last week was full of final actions. I competed in my last orienteering meet for seven months. I handed my project at work off to a new technical lead. I even hosted the last annual SXSW Chili Cookoff for the year. But this week is different. Everything will be fresh; everything will be new. I have no clue what's going to happen when Ben Funk and I finally get to Darjeeling. We've decided to wing it and follow whatever course presents itself to us. I'm entering uncharted waters, and I love it.Tomorrow I get up at 5 AM to fly to DC. I'll spend the afternoon and also Wednesday morning tying up some loose ends and picking up some last minute items.   Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with some close friends - there's some I'd really like to see before leaving. By Wednesday evening I'll be airborne and on my way toward Amsterdam, Delhi, Siliguri, and finally Darjeeling.Let the adventure begin.
Date: 2005-03-31
To: The Long Goodbye
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I'm back from India safe, sound, and hopefully malaria free. It was a wonderful trip, and perhaps someday I'll get around to posting the details. But not today.Right now, I'm wrapping up my last minute preparations. With my mom's help, my sleeping quilt is almost finished. I've put together a plausible fiction for my schedule. I don't intend to keep to it at all, but it forced me to think through a lot of logistics for certain areas and identify where I need to send maildrops. My tarp is seam-sealed and I've assembled a list of important information that my parents may need to know while I'm hiking (equipment specs, people that may be contacting them to get a message to me, etc). All that remains is some final shopping, maildrop packaging, packing, taxes, submission of some healthcare forms to my insurance company... okay, so it'll be a busy afternoon and evening.Tomorrow morning I fly to Atlanta where I'll be staying with the Pennocks, some old friends from college. On Saturday they'll take me to Amicola Falls and dayhike part of the approach trail with me. And then - the AT.See you on the trail!
Date: 2005-03-31
To: Editor's Note
Miles today: 0.0

This is James Tsai, Dave's old college buddy. I just wanted to let the wary readers know that no, Dave does not have frequent internet access while on the AT. I'm typing up his entries as he sends them to me through mid-May. I'm going to do minimal editing for Dave -- just his straight words.Congrats Dave! I'm jealous of you -- you're doing my dream now ... may it be a good hike.
Date: 2005-04-02
To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

8:07 pm - The BeginningWell, it's started! I came, as planned, to Amicalola Falls State Park this morning with the Pennocks and also their dog Rummy, who has taken quite a shine to me since yesterday. After registering in the visitor¢s center and adding my picture to the wall of thru-hiker's we started up the Approach Trail. The skies had just stopped raining, but they were preparing for the oncoming snowstorm.After an hour or so of flurries, and some stick-wrestling with the dog, the Pennocks turned around. They left with a story of how they drove somebody to the middle of nowhere and left them in the woods during a blizzard. I continued on to Springer Mountain, arriving mid-afternoon. After wandering the summit for a while, I headed for the shelter just down the trail. To my surprise, it was open.I met Matt, a Louisville native and Gene, an older gentleman. Neither had trailnames; both were thru-hikers. Dave also populated the shelter ¢ but he didn¢t look too happy. He had come up yesterday, woefully unprepared. Everything was wrapped up in a blue tarp which he also used as a shelter. He didn¢t have a pack. Everything had gotten wet, so he was drying and warming up in a corner. Kevin was also warming up in a corner, though he was just cold from the snow.Before long, a thru-hiker from last year named Deeds showed up, along with his dog. In an unsuspected act of trail magic, he distributed beers to all the shelter residents. He became popular quickly.I eventually went through the usual evening rigamarole before retiring to the shelter¢s loft. It¢s crowded, but nowhere near as bad as I feared. There¢s even open spots downstairs. Go figure.So how do I feel? It¢s hard to say. Nothing¢s really sunk in yet. There¢s been no shift in perspective, no sudden revelations. I just feel like a guy who finished day one of a backpacking trip. But that¢s what I am.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Blood Mountain
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

8:55 pm - Angels and DemonsMatt, Andy and I were the last ones out of Gooch shelter this morning, leaving around 10:00. But it was a pleasant day, and we changed into shorts almost immediately. Five miles or so down the trail, we ran into some serious trail magic. Craig Miles of Appalachian Trail Servant (www.atservants.org) was there ready with a 40 gallon container of snacks, a cooler of sodas, denatured alcohol, and water. He and Jeanne Fisher were there as part of an organization Craig started a few years back. Basically, churches donate supplies and he hands them out to hikers. He promised I¢ll see him at Trail Days for sure and maybe a few more times on the trail between here and Roanoke. He¢s a great guy with a great organization, attempting to give a little direction and purpose to people¢s wanderings.Soon after this angel, we encountered evidence of a ¢trail demon.¢ We walked across an old campsite with trash strewn everywhere ¢ old tarps, food wrappers and even a pair of underwear. Luckily, they also left a trash bag. We were so angry, we packed it all up and Matt rigged it to to his pack. He called it his trail baby since it was so large and bulky. Plus, he wanted to ¢give birth¢ at the nearest trash can. Unfortunately, that didn¢t happen and he hauled it all the way up Blood Mountain ¢ not an easy climb even without an extra load. I suggested that Matt adopt the trail name Baby Back in honor of his new charge, a name that Andy also likes. We¢ll see if it sticks. (Also, Andy may take on Puddlejumper, a name he chose back home. He¢s afraid if he waits too long we¢ll get saddled with something undesirable. I¢m still waiting. If we keep hiking together, we may become known as the Three Amigos ¢ a name independently offered by both Craig and a woman we met this afternoon.)Blood Mountain is surprisingly empty. It¢s just us and a group of four high schoolers out on spring break that we¢ve been passing back and forth since Springer Mountain. We¢re all tent camping and the shelter is entirely deserted. I guess the hard climb combined with a lack of a water source have scared most folks off. Their loss, our gain. ¢ our campsite is fantastic and we had a gorgeous sunset all to ourselves.Random story of the day: the women who suggested calling ourselves the Three Amigos told us of a pregnant woman who thru-hiked many years ago. After a month on the trail, she found out she was expecting. The doctor said she could hike as long as she felt fine. They modified her pack to fit around her belly and went to Maine. Her husband carried the heavy stuff, she carried the fluff. Two weeks after summiting Katahdin, Georgia Maine was born.
Date: 2005-04-05
From: Blood Mountain

To: Boggs Creek Gap
Miles today: 6.6

9:24pm ¢ Hello, GoodbyeThe three amigos have split, But I¢m ahead of myself.Sunrise was gorgeous from Blood Montain. We finally got moving at a reasonable hour and made it down to the Walasi-Yi Center in Neels Gap with a minimum of wrong turns. The three of us spent time taking care of business. I took a shower, did my laundry, bought a few supplies (nail clippers, better toothbrush) and fixed a broken pullcord on my pack. I overpacked my food for the first stretch of this trip and also moved faster than expected, so I only needed a single dinner. Luckily, the kids from Blood Mountain last night finished their trip and put their food up for grabs, so I left the gap fully loaded without buying any food. I did get a hat, though ¢ the sun¢s really been beating down on me lately.Matt delivered the baby at long last to a trash bin.After making some phone calls (Spring, insurance company, and Dad ¢ busy for the last one), we hit the trail. We stopped for a breather and Matt suddenly started cursing loudly. His fuel had spilled. Luckily it only affected his sleeping pad, but it still left him quite shy for the next few days.A few miles later, we reached a nice campsite near a spring. It was getting late and it was another five miles to the shelter. Andy and I stayed; Matt was feeling good and continued. Hopefully, we¢ll meet up again, but we¢ll see. The three amigos have split for now.The campsite soon filled up ¢ Little John and Little Steps (who we met at the crossing with Craig Miles the other day) were right behind us. Jay, who we¢ve seen on and off since Gooch gap is camped next to me in a really cool tent held up by his trekking poles. Jeff and the Professor arrived, as did Doc (an easy going fellow who gave up section hiking in favor of one big hike) and his posse, including Olivia and Megan. Then there¢s a bunch more who escape me. Basically we¢ve got a full house.We cooked and chatted, then I broke out the camera, interviewing Jeff and the Professor. People are always amazed that I'm carrying a camera, and frankly, sometimes I am. We built a campfire which is currently outlasting me. Off to bed in hopes that the night doesn¢t cool down too much.
Date: 2005-04-06
From: Boggs Creek Gap

To:  Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Five days on the trail and I feel like a seasoned vet. I finally got an early start and took off solo this morning just after nine. I passed Little Steps and Little John before too long. They stopped at an earlier shelter than me, so I¢m afraid it might be the last I see of them (John at least ¢ Little Steps is just section hiking to Dicks Gap). It¢s a shame ¢ they were fun.Before too long, I found a familiar face. Matt is hiking with a girl named UPS and her dog named Wookie (real name is Kenny). She was wearing rabbit ears, which matched her husky well. They too were heading to Blue Mountain Shelter as was the whole campsite from last night. It sounded like it would be a full house.A hard-core trio soon flew by me. Mad Cow, Pyro and Kung-fu. They¢re doing 18 today and 20 and change tomorrow. Oddly, they only met at Springer. Talk about a good match up, but their 3 12 mile per hour pace was far too much for my tastes.The afternoon taunted me with a nice fire road. At Chatthoocee Gap, a sign informed me it was 2.2. more miles to the shelter. No problem ¢ I figured I¢d cruise on in. Nope. Someone decided the trail needed rocks. It was a very tiring end to an otherwise relaxing day. Filled up on water at the spring just before coming into camp, and was passed by Jeff who then proceeded to take the last shelter spot. Since it¢s threatening rains, I was half hoping for a spot, but I¢ll survive, assuming my seam-sealing holds. After experimenting with rice/curry/lentil/beef jerky dinner, I mingled more with last night¢s crowd. It seems everyone is planning to hold at Trey Mountain tomorrow and arrive at Hinassee Saturday morning. I¢m tempted to stretch my food and join them. I¢ll decide for sure tomorrow. They¢re a fun group and it would be nice to stick with them a bit.Well, the sun¢s gone and the winds are picking up. Time to fully test this tarp in the approaching storm¢¦.
Date: 2005-04-07
From:  Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: moderate rain

6:46 pm ¢ Raining in the StreetsThe tarp weathered the storm ¢ barely. All was clear until midnight, then the winds picked up and the heavens let loose. I couldn¢t get back to sleep for an hour or two, probably due to nervousness about the tarp. In the end, my bed did get a little damp, but that¢s largely because fog rolled in. You can¢t escape that without walls. An hour before dawn, one corner stake popped out, but it wasn¢t raining so, I let it stay until I got up.When I did get up, I found a sluggish camp. Today¢s hike was shorter than normal, around 8 miles, but with some pretty decent climbs. Combined with the rain, many opted for a late start. Not me. I told myself, I¢d make an exception and get involved in the shelter race just this once. I hiked like mad, past some views that I¢m sure would have been spectacular if not for the rain and fog. I reached Trey Mountain around 1:30 ¢ I found many people populating the shelter. The Professor got up before dawn to hike here, being tired of his soggy hammock. The speed trio (Mad Cow, Pyro, Kung-Fu) arrived here early and thought it sounded better than pitching tents later. Slim left just before me this morning and arrived just before me. Finally, a new guy named Arizona and his girlfriend came here directly from Unicos Gap. Still I was in luck. There were two more spots, one of which I claimed. Jeff arrived five minutes later and snagged the other. Doc and Andy showed just after, but were relegated to tents underneath the rear overhang.The afternoon was pretty dull. I changed, warmed up and ate lunch. The main entertainment was watching everyone drift in and cook up their dinner., though Pyro and Jeff¢s ultimately successful attempts to start a fire with wet wood was captivating. Town plans finally crystallized ¢ ten of us are splitting two rooms at the Holiday Inn tomorrow in Hiawassee. I can feel the hot tub already¢¦Two other items of note. First a trail name was suggested. The Professor, thinks the Director would be fitting. It¢s something to ponder. Second, when I got out my water bottle to take a swig on top of Rocky Mountain, I saw a salamander floating in the bottle. Rarely have I emptied a bottle so quickly. I think I¢ll be checking my bottles a bit more carefully before adding iodine.
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Plumorchard Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

7:01 pm ¢ Across the BorderNorth Carolina at last! One state down; thirteen more to go. We took a fairly easy 12.3 miles today, but there were certainly some rough climbs right across the border to welcome hikers to the Carolinas. I¢m sure the Smokies will shame these climbs though. I got an early start (8:45) and caught the Professor at the border. We chilled for a bit 1/10th of a mile later at a huge tree in Bly Gap, along with Andy and Crazy Legs. Lunch was at Muskrat Creek Shelter, where I met Striker and Shooter, an older couple that regaled us with tales of the Peace Corps. Afterwards it was a quick five mile jaunt to Standing Indian Shelter, where I waited around for quite some time before everyone started showing up. A lot of people continued through in the meantime. The top of Standing Indian Mountain may be just as crowded as the base tonight.All in all, it¢s been a very calm day. Nothing too exciting ¢ just some hiking on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. It looks to be a nice night, so I¢ve set up the tarp. I¢m using my hiking stick as an end pole tonight; it seems stable so far. I hope this weather holds, but the forecast is rumored to differ. We might be in for some rainy days, possibly as early as tomorrow or Tuesday.Tonight no rapture ¢ just dying embers in a campfire.