morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-02-29
To: Training for a 2000 mile hike
Miles today: 0.0

I must admit beforehand that I'm a training junkie. One is never enough. I choose to try new things just so I can train for them. My brother, Byron, is even worse than I so it must be a gene thing.I read a thousand of these journals to see what others did. Whiteblaze.net is another storehouse of hiker wisdom containing many and varied opinions about training. Throw a heavy pack on your shoulders and go for a long hike, many say. No, no, no, just start hiking the trail. In 30 days you'll be as accomplished a hiker as any seasoned veteran. The latter is some wishful thinking, I think.If you have the twin gifts of youth and good health, then go ahead and start the hike without a lot of physical preparation. Those gifts will carry you a long way on the trail. I'm sure. For us older folks and friends who have never done a long distance hike some preparation is valuable. Here is mine.I know how to train for a Marathon. A 26.2 mile run. I have half a dozen books that tell me how. They are all pretty much the same. The process is well established and has four stages.1) Build a good base2) Add a weekly long run3) Overload your body with some speedwork4) TaperI adapted each of these over a six month period prior to the hike, about the same as marathon training.1) Base building. I hiked everyday for several months. Easy hikes with a light pack. Often just a long walk around the neighborhoods. Two to three hours long. I bought a 50-pound sack of sand and distributed the sand among numerous plastic bags. Throw some in an old backpack with clothes, water, and some munchies and keep it handy by the door. Go out that door often. Vary the weight you carry. I averaged about 20, then 30, and peaked at 40 miles a week.2) The weekly long run. After several months of routine hikes, once a week or every other week I hiked all day with a not-too-full pack complete with overnight gear. Spend one night on a mountain and come home early the next morning. A great way to do gear testing.3) Overloading with speedwork. In marathon training, about three months in, you push your body to go faster once a week by doing a routine of fast intervals. Your body has adapted well and will benefit from an additional training load. Say, run 800 yards faster than you usually run, jog, and repeat. You get faster and stronger. Well, hiking isn't a speed sport (to most) so I overloaded my body with weight training. Three months before the hike I pushed weights around in the gym for 20 minutes a day, eventually 30, then 40. A lot of squats, crunches, curls, and grunts. Not too heavy. Emphasis on the legs and the core. To some, I look good naked. Others would certainly disagree.4) Taper. Gradually stop doing all this nonsense two weeks before your hike. Everything heals. You will become nervous, jittery, and irritable. We call it taper madness. That is where I am at now. For crying-out-loud, is it absolutely necessary that February have 29 days in it this year? Somebody get me a xanax.I am so ready to start.
Date: 2008-03-06
To: Trail Food
Miles today: 0.0

What's for dinner? Noodles and Li'l Debbie cakes, of course.I've always enjoyed cooking. It's a creative and pleasant chore. You will have many friends if you can cook. Michael watched his Daddy having so much fun and picked right up on it. He liked to eat so he cooked.I borrowed a Chinese cookbook from the public library when Michael was a toddler. When my back was turned he colored most of the pages with a crayon. That's when he began to be a cook. I had to buy that book from the Library and I still have it.For Christmas a few years ago I surprised him with his very own copy of that cookbook. That's him in the picture proudly displaying it. "Thanks, Dad."I learned from that Chinese cookbook that the poorest of the Chinese poor have an old saying that loosely translates as "I'll kill a chicken for you." It means a special guest deserves a special meal.Appalachian thruhikers tackle the food problem in a variety of ways. One of my 2008 classmates has ordered 17 cases of meals-ready-to-eat (MREs). The marines love 'em, yum. Six months of T.V. dinners. Others are busy now dehydrating zucchinis, beef, chicken, carrots; everything immaginable has the water squeezed out of it and put in an airtight bag. These are packaged into a do-it-yourself MRE of some kind.The difficult part is how to get all this food to the trail where it's needed. Blessed are those that stay at home. They become postmasters. Bundling up food every week into care packages and mailing them to John "Stickkicker" Doe, care of General Delivery, SmallTown, Georgia. "Please hold for A.T. thruhiker, E.T.A. sometime in June", is printed on the label. These packages are mailed at least two weeks in advance of the hiker's arrival. I wonder what I will be hungry for in two weeks? I sure hope I don't show up at the postoffice after 3:00PM on Saturday!I'm taking another road. I'm a scavenger. My Appalachian Thruhiker's Companion data book tells me where every smalltown grocery is located, every outfitter, and best of all: The All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) restaurants. Gather up some noodles, some rice, instant mash potatoes; throw in some chopped summer sausage, veggies if you can get them, stir fry. Do some cookin'. Even Spam now comes in individual slices. Supplement your diet with AYCE.My new young friend Brendan "Odie Green" Curry, class of '05, advised that you can harvest serious nutrition from the vending machines of local gas stations.Well, if you stumble into my camp late some day, tired and hungry, stop and sit a spell. I'll kill a chicken for you.
Date: 2008-03-13
From: Springer Mountain

To: Sassafras Mountain
Miles today: 11.2

The wonderful owner-operators of the Hikerhostel, Josh and Leigh, drove 9 of us to within a mile of the summit of Springer Mountain. Along the way Josh presented us with the brutal math. Only one of our nine can expect to get to Maine. Two of us will not get past Neel's Gap, 30 miles up the trail. We all looked at one another. There was Eric, Corkscrew, Tyler, Frank (dirtpatch) and Katie (pinecone), Mr. Lei and Chen-tsu, BlackCat Lucky and myself. We arrived at the summit of Springer about 10AM and took many pictures of one another. Black Cat had read my journal so he chose a nice pebble to carry to Maine. I told him it was a dried piece of chewin' gum, so he chose another. That's a picture of me next to the heritage plaque. Let's get walkin' and the young kids in our group, Frank, Katie, and BlackCat took off at a furious pace. I don't think I'll see them again. It was 55 degrees when we started and warmed up to 74. Much too warm for March. The first several miles reminded me of the trail back in Jersey. Lots of rhododendrums and Mountain Laurel except the bushes were over twenty feet tall and the leaves on the rhodies were the size of a farmer's hand. I hiked mostly alone all day and made camp on the top of Sassafras Mountain at 4:30PM. Asleep by 8:00.
Date: 2008-03-14
From: Sassafras Mountain

To: Dan Gap
Miles today: 12.1

I was up at 5:50 and on the trail by 7:00AM. Had some frosted mini-wheats and coffee mocha in my belly so I hiked fast. At 8:30 I came across a site with about 5 tents. It was all the 'kids'. Dirtpatch, Katie, BlackCat, and others. They were pleased to see that I was still with 'em. About 9-ish they passed me again, I don't think I'll see them again. About 10:30 it began to rain and is still raining (3 days later). I saw noone all day hiking but came across Wes "Shiloh" Riley trying to start a damp campfire during a lull in the rain. It was about 3:30 so I called it a day and joined him. We got the fire going. I sure enjoyed talking to him. He's thruhiking, too. Shiloh lost his wife of 30 years recently. A long battle with ALS. We shared a few tears. I'm still awake at 8:30 but not for much longer.
Date: 2008-03-15
From: Dan Gap

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

The word up and down the trail is severe weather moving in so I awoke at 4:30, had breakfast and was on the trail at 5:30. The rain was paused while I broke camp in the dark so it was easy. I hiked in the dark for two hours. About 6:30AM the lightning and wind began, then heavy rain. The rain chased me up and over Blood Mountain, Georgia's tallest on the AT. At 10:30 I was the first hiker into the hostel at Neel's gap. Many others sought shelter there throughout the day. A rare tornado was reported in the Atlanta area. The kids (BlackCat, DirtPatch, and PineCone) arrived noonish. They weren't planning on stopping here but the weather has forced everyone off the trail for a while. I, for one, am looking forward to a little rest.
Date: 2008-03-16
From: Neel's Gap

To: Poplar Stamp Gap
Miles today: 12.2

We all departed Neel's Gap happy. The severe storms gave way to cool dry air blowing briskly. I was the first one out the door at 6:30AM into 30mph winds and 30 degree air. By 10AM it was sunny, windless and a warm 50, beautiful hiking weather. At noon during lunch the kids, Frank, Katie, and Mr. Lucky, passed by at a furious pace. I don't think I'll see them again. My feet and I had a disagreement today. They think the accomodations I provided them have grown inadequate. Too small they say; it's you that have grown I say. I promised them a long soak in a cool mountain stream and some TLC. Afterwards I hiked an additional three miles in my around-the-camp crocs (plastic pseudo-shoes) instead of shoes. The feet enjoyed the new accomodations.Happy feet make a happy hiker.
Date: 2008-03-17
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Wolfpen Gap
Miles today: 14.3

I hiked all day in my plastic 4-ounce crocs. My feet loved it. No rain of course so they may change their mind in a few days. We'll see. I don't think I'll look for new 'real' shoes until my feet heal. Some people, afterall, have hiked the entire trail barefoot (the barefoot sisters come to mind)Tomorrow. I should be at the Cloud 9 hostel for some RnR. They have a jacuzzi! Ahhhhhh in advance.I passed by BlackCat Lucky today. His knee is in so much pain that he is leaving the trail for a few days to mend at Cloud 9. I look forward to spending some time with him.
Date: 2008-03-18
From: Wolfpen Gap

To: Cloud 9, Hiawasse
Miles today: 10.0

I was up before daybreak again. This is prime wild hog country and I'd hope to see some before sunrise. Beady little eyes glowing in the dark. No luck, thankfully.I met Becky, Dolores and their dog justice today. I'd like to hike with a dog. Justice is gorgeous but refuses to carry or eat his own kibbles. Prefers honeynut cheerios, just like me. Becky gave me a camp-coffee lesson. Tasty.I passed Rachel, "the Newt", and said hello.Arrived at the Cloud 9 hostel and trout farm and spent 60 minutes in the jacuzzi. Mr. Lucky joined me. Later Frank "DirtPatch" and Katie "Pinesol" showed up! I thought they were way uptrail. We're having a homecoming of sorts.James was here, too, fishing with his dad. He caught about 150 steelhead trout during his week of recuperation. That's a lot of fish. The biggest was 8 pounds.I plan on leaving before sunrise tomorrow. There is a huge storm coming and I want to see what it is like to hike in such weather.Bring it on.P.S. I have Cloud 9's phone number if it gets too rough.
Date: 2008-03-19
From: Cloud 9, Hiawasse

To: Muskrat Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.2

The forecast included drizzle, rain, then heavy rain and wind followed by snow. It was correct. I left the Cloud 9 Hostel at 6:00AM in the dark and hiked up the highway to the trailhead. Got there about 7 and started heading south, the wrongway. Two other hikers, waiting out the morning drizzle got me pointed in the right direction. Thank you.Now I know what it is like to hike all day in a soaking rain. You get soaked. But it was still relatively warm so I was happy.Along the way I met Route66, SlowBarb and my favorite, Grateful GreenPeace Guy. He reminds me of Jimmy Buffet and has a wonderful laugh.I joined Tag and PunchLine for a bit on the trail. Set up my tarp by the Georgia/North Carolina so we could all get out of the rain for a bit and take pictures of each other.I hammocked near the shelter around 4ish. It was packed. Half the occupants hadn't moved all day because of the weather. There was Becki, Delores, and their dog Justice and others I can't recall.About midnight the rain stopped because the snow began. An inch or two by morning. 25 degrees it was in the early AM. I was toasty.
Date: 2008-03-20
From: Muskrat Creek Gap

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

Packing up in the cold and snow is not fun. I'm so thankful I brought down booties and a spare pair of (dry) gloves. Everything else is wet.I was first out again and although it was cold it was dry. The sun eventually gave us a beautiful warm day (say, 45ish), good to hang all your wet clothes off the pack to dry.I passed many others drying clothes in sunny meadows. Sometimes it resembled a yard sale. Every branch on every tree had a wet something-or-other hanging from it."Cricket" was last to arrive at a shelter last night that was so crowded he crawled underneath it to get out of the rain. It didn't work. His wet gear occupied an acre of sunny meadow.A sign at Deep Gap warned of an aggressive bear challenging hikers for their packs. It was reported that he seemed unafraid of humans. Yogi? I kept my eyes open. Later I saw a small sign on a tree: North Carolina Wildlife refuge and BEAR SANCTUARY. Great, slather me with peanut butter and put a "free lunch" sign on my back.Immediately therafter the spacious hardwood forest gave way to a dense bramble of tangle Mountain Laurel and Rhododendruns. My shoulders rubbed the bushes on both sides of the trail. I'm walking through a dark alley on the bad side of town. I wish I could wistle.
Date: 2008-03-21
From: Carter Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin, NC)
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

It's a long way from Carter Gap to Winding Stair Gap but the promise of a hot shower, warm bed, and all-you-can-eat restaurants powered my legs.I hiked 16 miles and rode 9 miles in the bed of a pickup truck with 6 other hungry hikers.The ride was provided by trail legend and angel Ron Haven. He is shuttling us all around Franklin, NC, to outfitters, motels, laundry and grocery stores. He does it just for a "Thank You". I gave him several. It occurs to me that I have gone over 100 miles! Only several thousand miles to go. Piece-o-cake.I'm going to rest up in my room, catch up on the NCAA madness, catch up on my journal and email, clean my gear and then head back to the trail around noon tomorrow.I've lost the 'kids' I hiked with from Springer but gathered a new group of friends. I enjoy the company of a threesome, "Yukon, "Pilot", and Pilot's brother "DirtyGirl". DirtyGirl wears a hiking skirt. These are becoming common among young male hikers. I don't have the legs for 'em.
Date: 2008-03-22
From: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin, NC)

To: Wine Spring - Franklin, N.C.
Miles today: 8.2

I had a wonderful and restful time at the Sapphire Motel, one of two owned by Ron Haven. Ron drove me and many others about town to take care of our many needs. He doesn't appear to sleep. At some point he inquired where I was from. I was surprised that he knew so much about Bergen County, NJ: Hackensack, Fairlawn, Rtes 4 and 17...he rattled off a list.As a young man Ron was a professional wrestler touring much of the northeast on the junior circuit. He wrestled as "Chubby Carlisle" and later, throughout southwest Texas and Mexico, as "Lel Grande Apollo". In the red corner--Ellllll Grrrrrrande Apoooooollo!Ron drove a bunch of us in his old yellow school bus to the trailhead around noon. That's a pic of Ron and his bus.
Date: 2008-03-23
From: Wine Spring - Franklin, N.C.

To: Nanatahal outdoor center (Noc)
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

I had replenished my supplies in Franklin including extra Snickers' candy bars. The consensus among long distance hikers concludes that Snickers is the perfect candy bar. No improvement is possible.If a hiker offers another $5 for a few days supply of foot powder he is likely to be rejected. Money has little value on the trail. But offer a snickers and the deal is made. They are the gold standard against which all value is measured.Along the way today I had my first 'Tral magic' encounter provided by "Apple".   That's him in the photo next to his big orange tent. unfortunately, I was too late for bacon and eggs and too early for hamburgers and beans, but the hot cocoa and cookies were a great snack on a chilly mornimg.I passed and chatted with twin sisters V8 and Auntie Mame; They're from a magical place called Maine. I also said hello to Bananas, the Railroad King, Sprite and Moses, and was passed by Yukon, Pilot and Dirty Girl. The latter three were hiking at a furious pace, i don't think i'll see them again-------
Date: 2008-03-24
From: Nanatahal outdoor center (Noc)

To: Sassafras Gap, NC 
Miles today: 7.0

I left the NOC around noon fully resupplied with clean clothes and renewed vigor.   The place was crawling with college kids on spring break. They have beer there.I climbed 7 miles uphill out of the Nantahala Valley and spent the night near the Sassafras Gap shelter. This is my third night at a place called Sassafras.I ate dinner with Felix, Jack Frost, Indy Girl, Betty and her nieces.
Date: 2008-03-25
From: Sassafras Gap, NC 

To: Cable Gap shelter 
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

A beautiful day for a long hike. The night produced a little snow that quickly melted as the sun appeared. I spent the night alone at the shelter so I tried sleeping on the wood platform. Too hard. Back to the hamock.Tomorrow I have a short hike to Fontana Dam and the entry to the Smoky Mountains. I'M startimg to have food fantasies as the photo suggests.
Date: 2008-03-26
From: Cable Gap shelter 

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

Nancy of the Hike Inn picked me up at 11 near the Fontana Dam visitor center and drove me to her 5-Room Hiker-Only motel. She even did my laundry!I gathered 6 days of supplies for a long push through the Smokies starting tomorrow. I understand it is still winter up there.This next section contains the highest peak on the entire trail, Clingmans Dome at 6643 feet.
Date: 2008-03-27
From: Fontana Dam 

To: Russel field shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept in a cage shelter to keep the hungry bears out. A tarp was hung over the chain link fence barrier which did keep the wind out but made the shelter very dark.I shared the shelter with Jack Frost, Puppy (she has five dogs), and fellow hammock hanger Cannibal (He's a direct descendant of the Donner Party). He hung his hammock inside the shelter from the rafters.Except for high winds tonight the Smokies have been tame. It was sunny and 65 degrees throughout the afternoon. The word on the trail is that bad weather is moving in.----------Sent from my Verizon Wireless LGVX9900 device.
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Icewater shelter, NC

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: overcast clouds

There was a large group of Saturday night partiers at the Icewater shelter. How can they carry that much beer in a backpack? It's only 3 miles from the large parking lot at Newfound gap, that's how. They kept me and the other tired thruhikers awake well passed hiker's midnight (9PM). I got even by making a lot of noise at 5AM.By 6:00AM I was on the trail in the rain. It rained until 4 and that was a shame. Those familiar with the Smokies say that this last 30 miles is the most beautiful but all I saw was fog. So I hiked very long.Around noon I refueled with the best lunch ever. A 3-day old smashed croissant lingering in the bottom of my food bag, some cheddar cheese and ingenuity provided a crispy chewy grilled cheese sandwich with a big bowl of Lipton's chicken noodle soup. Hmmm good.Daddy-o and his son Peacock caught up with me and we have leapfrogged one another for several days. They hike very fast but I hike early and often. Tonight will be my last in the Smokies and after four nights I'm looking forward to the hostel at Standing Bear Farm. Shower time.
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm hostel
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The Cosby Knob shelter was wonderful. Not crowded like the others in the Smokies, just me Daddy-o and Peacock, and a few others heading south. I was hiking by 7AM and was soon overtaken by Daddy-o and son. Cool sunshine.The trail left the Smokies steeply and at the Interstate 40 interchange Daddy-o and Peacock got a ride from a friend into Knoxville while I headed for the hostel. I'll be a day ahead for a while but those two hike real fast.The hostel is both rustic and cozy. Hot shower, internet, drier, kitchen, but you have to wash your clothes in a tub with a scrubboard and wringer. I just did my socks.The hostel roustabout will drive us into town tonight on the daily beer run. Like I said, rustic but cozy. We'll build a bonfire tonight if it stops raining.Saw my first trillium blossom today at the lower elevation. Spring is on the way.Next stop: Hot Springs, N.C., where I'm contemplating my first day off from hiking. For ten bucks you can soak in the hot mineral water for an hour. Now why wouldn't I do that? Waiter, another cabernet, if you please.
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Standing Bear Farm hostel

To: Brown Gap, N.C.
Miles today: 10.1

I snuck out of the mostly empty hostel before sunrise and again missed the trailhead. I'm becoming a space case?It was a very hard climb out of the valley in a warm drizzle. I climbed from 1800 feet to 4300, back down (depressing) to 2300 and up again to 3500. The sun came out and warmed the spring air to an uncomfortable 80+. Why not 65 I asked? I wore shorts for the first time this trip. About 2:00 I lay down for an hour and a half nap in the shade of a rhododendrum bush. Ahhhhh. When I awoke I found that my water bag was empty followed by a little panic. My guidebook mentioned a small spring two miles ahead so I trudged on. I found the place where the spring was suppose to be but no water. I sat down to complicate. The next water source was four more miles up a steep climb. No way. I looked some more and spied a mudhole about the size of a bathtub. Bingo. A small but clear and cool stream flowed from all that mud.It took all day to go 10.1 miles to this spring and I wasn't budging any further. About 6ish my quiet camp by the spring looked like a hobo camp. First to join me were Applicator and Respect, followed by Dr. Zoom and family, and lastly by Miles Munson (an Aggie, whoop-whoop) and an unnamed friend. We all crammed into a very small space.At 7:00 a brief thunderstorm made it all very interesting for the others as I sat in my hammock swing eating dinner while they scrambled to put up tents.Life is good.
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Brown Gap, N.C.

To: Deer Park Mountain shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: few clouds

I put the hammer down today, didn't I? That's what the promise of a warm bed, hot shower, and civilization does for you. Hot Springs, N.C., is on the horizon and I can smell the beer.At 7 O'Clock I was still 3 miles away and wouldn't be able to make the town before the only pub closed for the night (9 P.M. is very late in these small towns.) So I shared the shelter site with about ten U. of Delaware undergrads getting out in the woods for spring break. They were amazingly quiet. I declined their offer of toasted marshmallows.