morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

I got up, but decided to go back to sleep because it was cloudy, look like rainny day and plus, looking at other hikers sleeping, make me tempt to sleep more. So, I got up at 10am, get myself ready but thunderstorm moves in, gave it a good heavy rain. Luckily, I was about to get out but right before the storm. I waited and finally at 11:15am, I got out and did a fast hike. I made the 8 miles to Double Spring Gap Shelter at 1:30pm, made myself a lunch and drank a Kool Aid. Chatting with another thru hiker named Trail Dawg. I asked if he is planning to stay at Abingdon Gap. He said NO, all the way to Damascus. I said if he will do the night hiking, he said, he is doing a 40 miles challenge in 24 hours from Watagua Lake Shelter to Damascus, Virginia. I said to him, "your crazy" he said yes, but hes not the only hiker doing that today, he is accompanied by several hikers who try 40 miles challenge. I would have done 26 miles if I left Iron Mountain at 6am to get to Damascus but the weather had me waited. I cannot afford to have busted ankles on slippery rocks or roots. Its like walking on marbles on the road and resulted in banana-flip. I had several near banana flip during wet weather. Heavy pack is the reason. So, then I hiked up to Abingdon and encountered several boy scouts out on their adventure. They looked very nice to me. So, I made myself a meal and then went to shelter to sleep, and tried to fix the punctured therm rest pad, a soft air blown mattress pad to be put under sleeping bag. The air still escaped, so I cannot sleep good, plus more and more hikers coming to the shelter late. They have head lamp on, and make some vibration on the floor. I cannot sleep so I decided to sleep in the tent and then I made the right choice! It was a great sleep!
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

I got up at about 7am, but many hikers already are gone. So, I hiked most of the way downhill to Damascus. I stopped by The Place, the hostel known to many Appalachian Trail thru hikers and Transcontiental Bicycle Trail. It requested 4 dollars for the night. So, I had my therm rest pad problem shown to the outfitter, and they offered to fix it for free. WOW! So, I picked up the therm a rest then went to sidetrack cafe, to enjoy my beer and hot meals! I will hit the trail again tomorrow to Lost Mountain Shelter.
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Damascus, VA

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

Got up at about 9ish, decided to go back to sleep after seeing cloudy. Got up again at about 11 in the morning. That time, I was skeptical of hiking today but then decided to get zero day again because it rained for brief time. So, one hour after I decided to take zero day, the weather tricked me, and here came the beautiful sunshine and the blue sky with some clouds. I said to myself, playing game with me, Mother Nature?   Later on the day, I went to sidetrack cafe to spend time on the internet. I got in contact with Sarah Darling, one of my friend from Nebraska. She become interested in hiking with me for a short section from Pearisburg, VA to Troutdale, VA. So, Gordy, another thru hiker, came in, and we played Scrabble. I won the game!.   After that, I went back to The Place to sleep for the night.
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: light rain

I got up at about 7am but I decided to go back to sleep again and got up at 11am after seeing the sky got cleared up. Hiked only 6 easy miles to Lost Mountain Shelter, then made myself a kool aid and ramon noodle before hitting the sack earlier in the evening.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up and it was ugly weather again. I am not going back to sleep because of that. I start to be tolerant on wet weather days. So, It was rainning when I got to abandoned house, with 8 hikers in it, waiting for the rain to stop. When the sky got cleared up a little bit, but not raininng any longer, then I hiked up to White Top Mountain and Mt. Rogers. It was very fog and somewhat cold. When I was inside the Thomas Knob Shelter, I chatted with two other hikers. They were very nice. We chatted, and they alerted me to go out of the shelter and there was a nice deer eating on bushes. When I got back inside the shelter for a few minutes, and then it was rainning very hard.   I am very fortunate it rained during the night and when I am inside the shelter. I told mother nature, that I am glad she decided not to play game with me again in the late afternoon =)
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up, and quickly, I checked outside, hoping that it will be beautiful day. YES!!!! I thanked mother nature for this wonderful day, a blue sky, a beautiful scenery with Rhododendron blossomed out a beautiful pink flowers. I was so delighted for this hike. I hiked for several awesome miles of trail, and took several pictures. I saw some ponies. One of them, came to me and asked me to pet him. I petted him and I wish I could steal this pony! Very cute pony. I took pictures of them. Then I hiked up to Wise Shelter where I gave good farewell hugs to two hikers, Forrest and Peach. They left the trail after their short 100 mile section.   I hiked up to Old Orchard Shelter, and its the first time that I have this shelter to myself. I met two weekend hikers who camped not far from the shelter, we chatted by exchange notes. They are very nice. I started a very good fire. A big campfire. It burned all night.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

I hiked to the new Hurricane Shelter. It wasn't rainning. It was nice day but cloudy. The shelter is brand new shelter. I signed my name on the shelter because I didn't see any register book. So, I relaxed for a while, and then hiked down, and its my first time missing the turns. I hiked down about .02 to .03 miles until the road, and I became suspicious that I might missed white blazes.   So, I turned back and hiked up the hill. Indeed, I missed the turns and was pissed off because there wasn't any two white blazes to alert the hikers to turn. So, I hiked for a few miles before it started to rain. It was hard. I didn't grudge or stop because of that, instead I hiked further until I got to Trimpi Shelter. It wasn't rainning when I was about 5 miles from shelter.   I got in the shelter and was thrilled to see that it had fireplace. I collected some dead woods, and put them in the shelter to dry.   A few hours later, it started to rain. I started the fire and it was good fire. It dried up my hiking boots and socks.
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

I arrived this beautiful shelter. I quickly get in shower. Yes, this shelter have shower!! YAY! Then I quickly get hitched for a ride to town of Marion. I went to library to get on the internet. I called Social Security office after I receive an email from my dad regard a problem on old overpayment.   It turned out that Social Security Administration decided to withheld my 2 1/2 months of benefit checks, which I would go without checks until August but only 1/4 of them. I have two large postdated checks in the air. I sense big trouble and decided to take off the trail.   I called social security that they should do installment, which I wont know if it would be approved for several weeks. I feel danger of continuing so I decided to buy bus ticket and went home. It was very sad day for me.Only good news I can share with you is that I will definite going back on trail next year from Springer Mountain, GA to Mt. Katahdin. The date is March 1, 2005. I will probably hike with another deaf hiker from California. She is working on it. If so, then I will never be lonely. I will write journal again for next year hike. Keep eye for me next year.Flash Hand GA-VA 04         GA-ME 05
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Am now in Connecticut spending time witt my family. Am doing research and planning for 2005 thru hike attempt next year. Whoever you are in New England, and is doing a thru hike attempt in 2005, and is close to my home in Moosup, and please come and visit me. We can do some practice hike or even talk about it together. I want to wish my fellow thru hikers, Sal Paradise, Don't Mind & Don't matter,, Powerfinger, Mist, Swan, Trail Dawg, One Leg, Garland 5, Gordy, D-bone, Bones, Hippie, Wayah Bald, Digger, Regular Brian, Mark from England, Lonesome Dove, Smokestack & Mother Nature, Munchkin, Icebreak, Mr. T, and many more that I might forget to add, a big success. Please email me after you reached Mount Katahdin. I want to hear from you!
Date: 2004-03-01
To: Journal Status
Miles today: 0.0

I will be updating my journal in the next few weeks; I just wanted to put something up quickly for my friends. As many of you know, I dropped my camera early in the trip and it became quite temperamental, so I don't have a lot of pictures. Also most of my journal entries are missing thanks to the good ole post office.I would be eternally grateful to anyone reading this journal, which could help me reconstruct my adventure. If you remember seeing me along the way or have any pictures of us/me, please send me an email with the details.Thanks in advance!
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Plum Orchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Many people, especially up north, asked if I hiked the entire trail in sandals. Yes I really did hike the entire trail, even in snow, in Chaco sandals. Look closely for the blue sandal straps against my black seal socks.I finished my first state today & entered North Carolina, which reminds me of a funny story. I was so excited to have finished my first state and climbing out of Bly Gap, that when I near the top I wanted to take a picture. So I took my pack off, got my camera out, and then watched my pack fall 50-75 feet before finally snagging on a tree. I had no choice but to retrieve my pack, so I scrambled down and pack to get my pack. When I finally returned I was tired, frustrated, and just wanted to continue hiking. I hike down for a while until I reached another knarly oak tree. I remember thinking that there couldn't be two of these disfigured trees, and unfortunately I was correct. I had hiked down the wrong direction back to the Georgia state line. So I had to hike back up Bly Gap again! By the way I never got that picture.
Date: 2004-04-08
From: Fontana Hilton Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

One of first AYCE experiences at Fontana Village. We kept asking the manager to put out more sausage and bacon, but he kept stalling hoping we would fill up on pancakes. Finally they put out some meat and pictured is Big County eating sausage out of spite in his own words.
Date: 2004-04-10
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collins Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rushed to Clingman's dome because we heard of trail magic up there on Easter weekend, but there was no trail magic.Vocal met up with an elderly lady at the base of the tower on Clingman's dome who seemed quite disoriented.Norway & I hiked down to the parking lot, and scored a soda.
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Dragon's Tooth

To: Cambell Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Another beautiful sunset. Speedstick and I spent quite some time up on McAfee¢s Knob. The view was spectacular, we ate dinner and watched the sunset.At the shelter we met Wonderlost, an elderly man who recently fell and broke his ribs on Dragon¢s Tooth. What a tough person to be hiking with broken ribs!
Date: 2004-05-20
From: I-81 Interchange at Troutville

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

A very special day for me. We are leaving one of the sections I am most fond of that my brother and I hiked several years ago. Back then I sat nearby wanting to just continue hiking the AT and not go home, while my brother talked some sense back into me.Today the trail calls me to hike it to Maine!
Date: 2004-07-25
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: The Hiker's Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

An easy day today, filled with trail magic.Had quite a time trying to resupply for the Whites at the store, only canned meats (I don't have a can opener). Met Tank & Bonespur at the store, and Bonespur took my supplies back to the hostel where Pita Man and I will be staying tonight.Met a group of eight southbound hikers staying at the hostel. I do miss traveling with a group sometimes, as I haven¢t traveled with a group very long since the Shenandoahs. A great evening with a gorgeous sunset, wish every evening could be like this.Stayed up late watching movies, until after 2 a.m.
Date: 2004-08-19
From: Birches

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

What a conclusion to this amazing journey. The weather could have been better, but I had a great time on Katahdin with some new and old friends.Camel brought up strawberries, white chocolate, milk chocolate, & champagne. He fashioned a double boiler with his stove & we had chocolate dipped strawberries with champagne. Thanks Camel!A lot of people summitted today inspite of the weather. Delta, Camel, Bohemian, Wings & Feather, Dave & Miranda, Chris & Anna, Captain Hook, Lekiless, Camera Croo and a few more that I can't recall at this time.
Date: 2004-08-20
From: Birches

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Up early this morning, 3:45 am, and I am debating if I should summit again today. I enjoyed the company yesterday but I could barely see 10 yards out with all the fog. I didn't hike all the way from Georgia for no view on Mt Katahdin. The weather is supposed to be clear today, and I met up with some friends that will summit today.Summitted again today with Pita Man. Fuzzy, Stargazer, El Dude, Han & Weber, Deja Vu and the Rat Pack also summitted. Definitely worth the effort for my second summit day!
Date: 2004-08-20
To: Millinocket, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hitched into Millinocket with Pita Man. A nice couple gave us a ride to Millinocket and offered us money, I suppose for the stay in Millinocket.Hours ago in Baxter State Park we said our goodbyes to Fuzzy & Star Gaze, and ended up meeting them again at the Appalachian Trail Cafe. What a coincidence!Stayed at Appalachian Trail Lodge, a nice place for decompressing back into society. The town is small and truly the last trail town.
Date: 2004-08-21
To: Millinocket, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Spent the night at the Appalachian Trail Lodge again tonight.Pita Man left after we ate lunch at the Appalachian Cafe. His flight leaves from New York on the 24th, so he is going to start hitching. Another adventure as he said.I was sad to see Pita Man leave, as he was a good friend and would be the last thru-hiker I would see. The finality of the end of my hike is beginning to set in.I didn't know what to do with myself today, so I hiked around town about 10-12 miles hoping to see other thru-hikers. When I returned to the Appalachian Trail Lodge I was excited that other people were there, but was slightly depressed because they weren't any thru-hikers.I spoke with Vocal, a section-hiker that I met and hiked with from Springer Mtn, GA to Damascus, VA. He will meet me in Bangor tomorrow.
Date: 2004-08-22
To: Bangor, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Up early today, a beautiful day today! Ate breakfast at the Appalachian Trail Cafe, and got a ride into Medway.Bought a bus ticket in Medway to Bangor, and met up with Mailman.Checked into the Econo Lodge early, and took a nap.Vocal drove in from Bar Harbor, and treated me to a steak dinner. I didn't recognize Vocal at first, because he sure looks different.
Date: 2004-08-23
To: The Woodlands, TX
Miles today: 0.0

Home at last! My wife, kids and one of my best friends met me at the airport. It was a joyous reunion!As part of my welcoming back into society, I had the pleasure of driving home across Houston in evening traffic.My thru-hike may be over, but the AT holds a special place in my heart, and I will return to the AT soon.Take care & best wishes to my friends.
Date: 2004-02-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well Kyle and I decided to do separate pre-hike and post-hike entries, and I want to get the three entries in so the journal will be posted before we leave. It is my last day of work as an environmental geologist for the state of Kansas. It was nice to be able to spend time with all of my friends here over the last nine months, but the thought of not having to sit at a desk for eight hours every day in the same building is wonderful. Two weeks away from our start date,it is starting to feel more like reality instead of a dream. Kyle and I are still busy dehydrating food, but I think all of our equipment is under control. I'm still trying to decide if I want to get a silk sleeping bag liner to up the warmth of my bag, but other than that, I have everything I need. I'm really excited that our dad will be starting the trail with us and hiking the first 10 days. I'm looking forward to spending time with him, and he could definitely use a vacation. With this hike, I am most looking forward to having time to reflect on life, clear my mind and relax, and of course meet lots of great people. I'm leaving for Ensenada, Mexico for a week on Sunday to take a Spanish immersion course. I can't wait to be in warm weather again!
Date: 2004-03-06
From: Kansas City

To: Dahlonega
Miles today: 0.0

Today we flew into Atlanta from Kansas City. The flight was good, but there was a bit of a fiasco prior to boarding the plane. When we checked in, Delta told us that we could bring our hiking poles on board with us, however, when we went through security 15 minutes before our flight departed, we were told that the poles had to be checked because we might bludgeon someone with them. So Fauna (Kara) ran back to the Delta check in and argued with the check in lady but to no avail, she would not let us check the poles, but instead suggested we call mom to pick them up. Luckily though, the security lady let us check the poles at the gate and everything made it to Atlanta. We were welcomed by a scary/jerky 2 hour car ride to Dahlonega where we arrived at the nicest hostel any of us had seen - the Hiker Hostel, run by Josh and Leigh who thru hiked in 2001. They were very nice and helpful. After working up a rough itinerary for the first couple days, we settled in to sleep.
Date: 2004-03-07
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: few clouds

After a wonderful night at the hiker hostel and a delicious breakfast Josh and Leigh fixed for us, we headed for Amicalola State Park. We registered and Josh dropped at the top of the falls. The day was warm and sunney, a perfect day to begin a thru-hike. We crested Springer Mountain at about 3pm. After a few pictures and signing the log we headed for Stover Creek Shelter for the night.
Date: 2004-03-08
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Our second day on the trail. Dad let us sleep in -it's hard to ge tout of a warm sleeping bag. Another beautiful but chilly day on the trail. We hiked from Stover Creek to Gooch Gap Shelter, passing by Dead Man Walking & Love Bug, an older couple who had started hiking North of Key West, Florida in January.
Date: 2004-03-09
From: Gooch Gap

To: Woodshole Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today started out good but quickly turned hazardous and became wrought with peril. As we hiked it became cloudy, the temperature dropping rapidly. It began to snow and became heavier as we stopped for lunch. It began to thunder and the sky opened up and dumped flurries of snow. When we finally made it to Wood's hole shelter it was packed and there was 2 inches of snow on the ground. We pitched our tent, that night water froze in our Nalgene bottles. It was a cold, damp night.
Date: 2004-03-10
From: Woodshole Shelter

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: clear sky

What a cold morning! I had to use a pair of smart wools for gloves because my gloves were frozen. The sun came out soon enough though, and we were hiking in a sparkling winter wonderland and the snow started to melt. It was a dazzling ascent on to Blood Mountain. We made our way down to Neel's Gap where we treated ourselves to sandwiches while we laid our gear out in the sun to dry. We did laundry and took showers and hung out in the hostel for the rest of the night.
Date: 2004-03-12
From: Hog Pen Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

We hiked today from our camp over easy terrain to Blue Mountain Shelter. We met another father/daughter hiker pair -Melissa and her dad. We made it to the shelter early, so Flora led an impomptu Yoga stretch class in the shelter, and we had time to relax for a while before making dinner and heading to our tents for the night.
Date: 2004-03-14
From: Sassafrass Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today was Derek's last day with us. We hiked from Sassafrass Gap to Dick's Creek Gap where he caught a ride into Hiawassee. While at Dick's Creek, we realized that we had miscalculated the number of days we had to make it to Franklin, we only had 2 days instead of 3. We decided to continue on and do 3 -16 mile days, so we made it another nine miles after lunch to Bly Gap campsites. Bramble & Missouri were also camping here along with some section hikers. Also today out chances of finishing the trail went from 1 in 10 to 2 in 10 as we crossed the GA-NC border.
Date: 2004-03-15
From: Bly Gap

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

We woke up to rain this morning. We packed all the gear inside the tent and hit the trail. Our new friend Bramble helped us our by carrying some of Dad's pack weight. We hiked up and over Courthouse Knob, it seemed like an eternal climb. After that, we stopped for breakfast at the next shelter. We made it to the top of Standing Indian Mountain where we ate lunch with some spring breakers. It was all down hill from there to Carter Gap. As we hiked Dad dropped a digital camera memory card, he went back to look for it, but didn't find it. We left a note about it in the Carter Gap Shelter log. That night we slept under the sleeping platform on a second level. It poured rain.
Date: 2004-03-16
From: Carter Gap

To: Franklin
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Today we made it up the hard climb Mt. Albert and up the fire tower on top to see a huge could of white 360 degrees around. Rainy again this morning so it totally felt like we were walking in a rain forest/Gorillas in the Mist type setting. We made it on to Wallace Gap and walked to Rainbow Springs and caught a ride into Franklin from Jerry who worked at Mountain Crossing. We got settled in to our room at the Franklin Motel and picked up our mail drop. On our way to eat with Bramble, we met Night Owl and Breezer, a father-daughter pair who are trying to hike the triple crown in one year. The son was also there as close support for them. We all went to eat together, then we finished our laundry and went to sleep on the nice comfy beds.
Date: 2004-03-17
From: Wallace Gap

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today we got up and had breakfast with Bramble before hitting the grocery store to resupply. We also swung by the library to check email and send out notes. Darlene, who gave dad a ride to the Atlanta airport, dropped us at 3 Eagle Outfitters where we bought new insoles and sock liners. We got a few supplies from K-Mart and were shuttled back to Wallace Gap by Fred. We had a nice leisurely hike up to Siler Bald Shelter. That night it was just us and Bramble in the shelter. The stars were magnificent.