morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-10-10
From: Mollies ridge shelter

To: Fontana Dam, The Hike Inn
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

Out as soon as the sun came up. Hiked with two section hikers but I forget their names. Went up shuckstack mtn to the firetower. Excellent views from up here. Could see Fontana Lake and the huge dam. Passed a guy on the way down who was painting the white blazes on the trees. Got to the dam and took some pics. People from the hike inn are suppose to come pick me up but they wernt home so we had to hitch hike there. Took a really long shower then went to this really good mexican place, then to the grocery store. Bought a new book called Jarhead, Its actually a new movie coming out in November. Its about a marine in the gulf War. I was glad to be done with the smokies, it rained pretty much the whole time I was there.
Date: 2005-10-11
From: Fontana Dam, The Hike Inn

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

Wohoo my 150th day on the trail and I only have 150 miles left. Ate 6 huge cinnamon rolls, 6 cups of coffee and 1 liter of chocolate milk.   I was ready to run up the hills. The hostel owners told me that it starts getting harder and that the hike up out of fontana dam is straight up, well I got to the top of that hill and wasnt sweating that much. Got to cable gap shelter and ate lunch. Then moved onto the top of this high ridge. then down to the shelter where I met Mr French, A section hiker from Atlanta, Only drank 1/2 liter of water today while hiking. I didnt do a short day cause I was tired but because the next shelter is 9 miles further, and didnt really wanna camp alone.
Date: 2005-10-12
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Rufus Morgan shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: moderate rain

Hiking by 7:30, saw 4 older ladies camping in the middle of the trail. They were overprepared and their packs were way too heavy. started the 2000 ft climb up cheoah bald. Not really a bald anymore but got a few decent views and a nice log to have lunch on. Then to sassafras shelter for a quick break, Then started my 6 mile decent to the Nantahala outdoor center. I told all the people coming up the hill that they were going the wrong way, Im glad I wasnt coming up that hill. The Nantahala outdoor center offers rafting trips, bike rentals a nice outfitter shop, and a very nice restaurant. I had chilli cheese fries, salad, and a chicken sandwhich with a mr pibb, then bought a pint of ben + jerrys from the outfitter. Talked to a guy from Alaska about kayaking for about an hour then talked to him about hiking some. Hiked 1 mile to a shelter and slept great in my hammock besides when a tree fell down and almost hit me. This guy in the shelter told me about some bird flu over in Asia, He made it sound like its the end of the world, still havnt seen anyone going sobo. Just keep passing people going north, Ive hiked alone now for like a week and a half, it kinda sucks.
Date: 2005-10-13
From: Rufus Morgan shelter

To: Wine Spring campsite
Miles today: 18.3

Started the day out with a nice 2300 ft climb. Got to what they call the Jumpup and took a break, it gives some nice views of the Nantahala valley that I had just came out of. Hiked up to Wesser Bald which isnt a bald anymore either. There is a firetower up there, It has a huge observation platform on it. You could probably set up 4 or 5 tents up there. Went down through Tellico gap and met some guy driving his new Jeep up all the back roads to see how it handles. Went through this area where there have been a lot of people riding Dirt bikes on the trail, Was kinda hoping I would see one so I could play Joust with him, It is illegal to ride bikes on the trail and I do believe they would have got like a $250-$500 fine for doing it. Ran out of water and hiked about 3 miles to this spring before wayah bald, dipped my bottle in and noticed fish living in it so I discarded the water and went further up the hill where I found another spring that was much better. Wayah bald has this huge stone observation tower on it. As soon as I got there, there were a handfull of tourists there cause there is a road that goes up there. Chatted with them a bit then 2 guys and a girl around my age came up and I talked with them for awhile. It was getting late and the next shelter was 12 miles further, I knew I couldnt make it so I started looking for a campsite. Walked 2 miles and found a nice campsite with a spring. Four guys out for a few days came in later and joined me at the campsite. Im glad I didnt have to stay bymyself tonight.
Date: 2005-10-14
From: Wine Spring campsite

To: Franklin
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up early and wanted to get to town early so I could get out early the next day. Hiked really fast this morning, was a pretty easy hike. Downhill for 6 miles of it and only had to go up about 1000 ft, went up silers bald before I went down to Winding stair gap to try to hitch into Franklin. Fron the gap it was 10 miles into town. I planned on staying at the Haven Budget Inn, I tried hitching for 25 mins then I called the people at the hotel and they came and got me. I didnt know it was going to be such a hard hitch or I would have called earlier to tell them to come pick me up. Got into franklin and went directly to my room and got a shower then went to get some lunch. Couldnt decide wether to go to subway or Hardees, I chose Hardees. I wish I wouldnt have cause I didnt really like it, and spent pretty much just as much money. Went down to the laundray mat and washed my clothes, in the mean time I walked down to the post office to see if anyone had sent me anything. Dried my clothes then went back to the hotel. I ordered a pizza for supper and then Ronnie the owner of the hotel took me to the grocery store. I dont really like staying in hotels cause I stay up too late watching TV. Im glad I don't have a TV at home or I wouldnt get any work done.
Date: 2005-10-16
From: Timber Ridge Trail cutoff

To: Plumorchard Gap shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

Slept in till 9:30 cause I was up late from the Search and Rescue the night before. got out of camp about 11 and knew I had 20 miles to do, I had faith in myself that I could do it so I just didnt take that many breaks. Started hiking up Standing Indian Mtn and saw 2 section hikers and they asked me if ive seen a little boy lost. At first I thought Oh my god not another kid lost, then I quickly asked if they meant robert, they replied yes so I told them that I had found him. Nice views from the top of standing Indian mtn. Got to Deep Gap and took a break and had lunch. All through North Carolina there have been trash cans. Saw a trail called the Chunky Gal trail, thought the sign was kinda funny so I took a pic of it. Got to Bly gap, I had heard about this gap but there isnt even a road here. It is because of this huge old oak tree that looks really weird, you will see from the pics. Then it happened, I crossed into Georgia, I no longer had any more states to get to. This was it I only had 75 miles to go, I knew that in 4 days I would be atop Springer Mtn feeling sad and happy at the same time because I am done with my trip. I set my camera up on a rock to take my pic cause I havnt hiked with anyone for a really long time. Pic turned out ok I guess. Hiked another 5 miles and got to the shelter. camped alone tonight, huge shelter with 3 levels.
Date: 2005-10-17
From: Plumorchard Gap shelter

To: Blue Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: clear sky

Woke and found out that bears or mice had not gotten into my food bag so I was happy and having a wonderful day already. I knew I had a 23 mile day but I was not scared of not getting there. Hiked 5 miles of really nice trail not too steep and very nicely taking care of. I got to Dicks Creek Gap, All the NOBO's stop here and go into Hiawassee, well I didnt need food but I decided that if I could get a ride within 15 mins I would go to subway and get lunch. Well 5 mins after I was standing there a man pulls up and got out and was looking at the kiosk, looking at maps of the trail and info about it. I quickly started talking to him and asked where he was from and all those types of questions to try and get a ride. He gave me one into town, he was from florida and was here on vacation looking for land to build a cabin up in the mtns. He dropped me off at subway, I ate a nice 12" sub then walked over to Dairy Queen and had a milkshake. Took me 20 mins to get a ride back out of town, all in all I was only off the trail 2 1/2 hours. I still had plenty of time to do the rest of the miles. There were 2 shelter before I got to blue shelter but they were .2 off the trail so I didnt stop at them cause I was kinda in a hurry. Hiked up Tray Mtn and got some nice views on the way down the mtn. Saw a guy riding his dirt bike on a gravel road, he almost hit me. Climbed up and over Rocky Mtn then down to Unicoi gap. Hiked 1000 ft up to blue mtn shelter and was all alone again tonight. I don't really mind hiking alone but man I just didn't really wanna sleep alone.
Date: 2005-10-18
From: Blue Mtn Shelter

To: Neels Gap, Walasi-Yi center
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

Heard some really weird noises last night. Got woken up a couple times throughout the night, I don't mind hiking alone but I just hate sleeping alone. Stopped at the spring 100 yards down the trail and filled up water again, havnt been treating my water lately if it looks good. A lot of people don't treat their water on the whole trail. I had a nice 7 mile of flat to start the day off, then a couple 500 ft climbs to get the blood pumping. Passed a couple youth groups heading the other way. I ran out of water, first time ive done that for a long time. Saw a lady that was out for a month, she is planning on thru-hiking in 2010. Got to the top of Cowrock mtn and sat with a gentleman who had thruhiked before, talked about his hike and my hike. He was going to neels gap tonight so I knew I wouldnt be alone tonight at least. The miles just kept passing by and before I knew it I had climbed the last hill before I had a nice mile downhill to neels gap. Got to neels gap by 3, looked around the outfitter shop for 30 mins. Talked with one guy who worked there, he told me that they give free pints of ben and jerrys to southbounders so I got my free one and bought another. I also bought 2 frozen pizzas and some resupply food for the next couple of days. I got a shower and just relaxed and watched Not Another Teen Movie, I had seen it before but I was laughing so hard from all the funny stuff in it. Above the hostel is an apartment and the guy from the outfitter lives there. I went upstairs and talked with him for a bit, then there was a knock at the door. Pinball had caught up to me, I don't know how many miles he did today but he did a lot to catch me. He got settled into the hostel and got his free pint of ice cream and some other stuff. We watched another movie and went to sleep. Im glad I wont be hiking alone anymore for the rest of the trip.
Date: 2005-10-19
From: Neels Gap, Walasi-Yi center

To: Gooch Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: clear sky

Up early and ate bagels with honey on them for breakfast. I left about an hour before pinball did because he had to wait to mail his bouncebox home. We had a nice 1500 ft climb up blood mtn to start the day, Beautiful views from up there, There is a really nice shelter up here made of rock from the early 1900's. It says in my book that you can see springer mtn from up here but springer mtn ive heard is not very big so I guess you would just have to know what your looking for to see it. Pinball never caught up to me all day, so I guess one more day of hiking alone didnt kill me. Got to woody gap and sat down on a picnic table to take a break and some lady came up to me and asked if I knew where the waterfalls were around here, I said I did not. Got to the shelter by 4 and talked with a bunch of section hikers, I told them I only got 1 day left on the trail so they can ask all the questions they want. Cooked a good supper and set up my hammock so some of the section hikers could try it out. The trees I picked were kinda far apart so it wasnt a really good set up but they got the idea of how comfortable it was.
Date: 2005-10-20
From: Gooch Mtn Shelter

To: Springer Mtn, Max Epperson Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Woke up and felt good for it being my last day on the trail, I was excited about getting home and seeing my parents, Rachel and the rest of my family. I was also dissapointed that it would be over within 15 miles. I walked with Pinball all day. Passed Justus mtn which is pinballs middle name, on the sign it was spelled wrong but spelled right in my book. Got to stover creek where there is a towering stand of evergreens called "cathedral hemlocks". These trees were too remote to cut when they were foresting this area. The trees were huge, You can see in one of the pics that I can't even get my arms halfway around it. Stopped at stover creek shelter just 2.5 miles from springer mtn, Pinball and I just sat in silence for a while, I was thinking of all the memories that I will be taking home with me. I don't quite know what he was thinking. Hiked 1.6 miles and saw some people from the local newspaper doing an article on the Benton Mackaye trail, they were happy for us that we only had .9 left to go on our thru-hike. The .9 to the top seemed like it took 2 hours, we finally got to the top. A big sigh, A big relief, A big ole grin on my face, I was finally done, I had hiked from Maine to Georgia. Something less than 1% of all americans will even think about doing. I had done it, at the time it hadnt really sunk in yet that I was finished. I hadnt figured out what I wanted to do with my life, I hadnt found the purpose of life, What I had done was living a dream that I had had for a long time. Now what to do? Pinball and I took probably 12 pics each and then started hiking again down the Appalachian Approach Trail towards the Amicalola Falls State Park. What sucked is that we had to hike 8.8 more miles, We didn't pass any more white blazes, we was on a blue blaze trail now. We got down to the lodge and pinball said he would treat me to a room for the night. The lodge was all booked up, So we went to the restaurant and sat down. The waitress took our drink orders then said, "ok ill be back with your drinks, go ahead and help yourselves" Our jaws dropped cause we had just walked in on a real nice buffet. We crammed ourselves full of food, Pinball and I ate way too much and then had to walk to a campsite. Well we got lost cause it was like 9 pm when we decided to walk to the campsite so we ended up at the visitors center. We debated what to do then we remembered that there was a shelter .1 up the trail so we went there and slept.
Date: 2005-10-21
From: Springer Mtn, Max Epperson Shelter

To: HOME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well Pinball and I waited at the visitors center for it to open. I ate poptarts for hopefully my last time in my life. Pinball got a list of shuttle drivers and called one and she agreed to come pick him up at around 10:30. My parents were spose to be there around 10 but didnt come till 10:30 cause the roads down here werent marked very well as I have heard so many times before. A lot of people said they got lost down here so I wasnt surprised to hear they did. My parents met pinball and then he left. we walked around the visitors center for a little while then took off. I drove and then I got lost, imagine that... Was planning on staying the night some where on the way home but we made really good time and got home by about 10 so I got to sleep in my own bed tonight. Rachel came over to see me. My journey is over but the memories will remain with me forever.
Date: 2005-11-17
From: HOME

To: HOME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Ok so almost a month has passed since I have been done with the AT. I lost 28 lbs during the 159 days of hiking. I have already gained 15 lbs back, I have been really busy with helping my dad at his woodshop and also doing another job, which has required me to stay out some nights out of town. I havent talked to hardly anyone that I met on the trail yet since I have been home, cuppa joe sent me an email and told me that some others plan on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2008, which caught my eye but I don't really know if I would go or could afford it by then. I will definately follow cuppa joes journal cause he has a really nice written journal. Where does time go?? I still havnt updated my pictures. It took me 2 weeks to update my journals, where before I could get it done in less than 2 hours. I have been spending as much time as I can with my family and friends. A lot of people have asked the same questions over and over, and I am still getting them to this day. One question though that I love to answer is if I would do it all over again. I tell people that I would leave tommorrow if I could. I love to hike but I love my family and friends too. I read an article today in the USA Today newspaper about a girl who went down to climb a 16,000 ft mtn in Antarctica and then ski down it, I would love to learn how to ski. Thats all im gonna write for now, but will write some more in the future
Date: 2004-12-28
To: WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!
Miles today: 0.0

I decided to hike the trail about three years ago. I don't recall ever hearing about it before then. I was a new Cub Scout Leader (without previous scouting experience), and was trying to get up to speed with this new concept of backpacking. Also was concerned about taking a group of boys into the backcountry safely, knowing that -- if anything went wrong -- help would be a long way away. Took a Wilderness First Aid class and my instructor, Cathie Cummins, turned out to be both an AT through-hiker and an overseer for the Potomac Appalacian Trail Club of a section of the AT in the Shenandoah National Park. After spending 30 some years working, with a lot of over-seas travel but mostly a desk job in Washington, I was ready both for some adventure and to get out into the woods. The AT just seemed like a great way to take a break when I retired, and acquire essentially a Phd in hiking, camping and backpacking. Of course, at the time, I did not even own a back pack, had never been hiking, was 58 years old, and had a wife and four kids, three of them (9, 11 and 14) still at home. WHAT WAS I THINKING!!! It turns out they were, and remain, highly supportive of my doing this thing. I've also told all my friends and my colleagues at the office I'm going to do it, so there's no backing out now. Actually, like everyone else out there who is thinking about it, it just looks like a super neat adventure -- a trip of a lifetime. I can't wait!
Date: 2004-12-28
To: Getting it together
Miles today: 0.0

As noted in my last/first entry, I was totally new to this backpacking thing when I heard of the AT three years ago. My first foray into the acquisition mode loaded me up with all kinds of totally unfamiliar gear, all of which the purveyors at MSR assured me were essential for a through-hike of the AT. And I bought it all, literally and figuratively. Not wisely, but what did I know. I was strictly an amateur! Ok, I still am, but I've been reading a lot, and I've hiked a bit now. Over 200 miles of the AT so far, and I'm a larnin' a few things. My first hike was 20 miles, Harper's Ferry to Snickers' Gap, south bound. My first day was 13 miles, and the first two miles were up the hill from the river, through the town of HF, across the Rt 340 bridge and then straight up 1000 feet of trail to Loudoun Heights. With a 54 pound pack. In the middle of a 90 degree August day. Fast forward to today. I've replaced just about every single item I bought that first trip to MRS. REI has become my new candy store, but I tend to shop more at Backpackerlight.com, and gossamer, etc. I'm down to about 35 pounds and still dropping. My first pack weighed 7 plus pounds (the biggest Gregory they make!) and my new one weighs 17 ounces. I'm a larnin'. Stay tuned!
Date: 2004-12-28
To: 76 Days to Springer
Miles today: 0.0

Well, the clock is tickin. I've got 76 days before I depart from the lodge at Amicolola Falls State Park and head up toward the trail head of the AT. My son, who lives in Atlanta, will drive me up to the lodge, and stay overnight with me to make sure I don't chicken out. I've got most of my gear, and it's down to a last minute sort of minor items -- in or out. I've also bought all the books and have begun the detailed hike plans. Haven't decided yet how much to rely on food packages, and how much to try to live off the land. But it's getting more real every day, and I am very much ready for the adventure to begin. I'll stop my consulting assignment at the end of February, and spend the last two weeks before the hike putting the final touches on the gear and the plans. It's hard to believe, after two years of talking about it, and planning for it, and dreaming about it, that it's finally going to happen. I am ready. Well, almost. Mentally, I'm ready. Let's get it ON!
Date: 2005-01-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

"The best is the enemy of the good."   That's me, alright!   You see, I'm basically a perfectionist. "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing RIGHT" -- that's what I always say. Which explains why I haven't been able to complete as many journal entries as I'd hoped to by now. One a day -- that was my goal. Get ready for the trail by doing one a day. Yeah, well, assembled eyes, you've probably noticed that THAT hasn't happened. What's the last entry -- something like January 13? And here it is the 20th? (Thanks, Dubbya, I needed a day off.)It's not just that I'm a perfectionist, either. There are all these other journals out there that set such a high standard. I've mentioned Liteshoes, already, but there's Stumpknocker and Gabby and LWOP and tons of others from earlier years, and then there's Mother Goose and Break a Leg from this year's class to name just a couple. Besides, writing is actually kind of fun for me. I enjoy it. And I really want to do it well. (More about that later.) But that takes time, which I don't have a whole lot of, given all my other activities (more about those later, too). Compounded by the fact that I am still working full time AND trying to get my stuff together for that little walk-in-the-woods thing coming up. I thought about trying to just throw some stuff up so I could meet my one-a-day goal. But, look, that's just not ME, ok. "Hike your own hike" they say. Well, I think that applies to writing as well. "Journal your own journal", that's what I always say.   (Ok, I don't "always" say that. I just made it up. But it works for me, and it is only a small rationalization for missing my one-a-day goal, and besides, where would YOU be without YOUR little rationalizations, HUH?)Don't get me wrong. I mean, I'm planning to use this hike to work on a couple of things about me that I don't like. LOTS more about THAT later ¢ especially if ¢she-who-knows-me-best¢ gets her way. (She¢s been threatening to hijack my web page and do some posts on her own, but so far hasn¢t been able to figure out my password.) But this little perfectionist thing -- at least when it comes to writing -- is part of who I am. So bear with me, assembled eyes, and do what I do: count your blessings. There's likely to be a lot fewer entries for you to have to read...stay tuned!