morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Hiawassee

To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.8

well, the adventure continues. It seems that I've gone and done exactly what I said I wouldn't do: too much too fast. After leaving Neal's Gap Sunday afternoon I decided to do another mile or two so I wouldn't have to pay to stay at the hostel. I was feeling good, the weather was great, and there was plenty of daylight, so I just got into a groove and kept going. I didn't look at my guidebook, so I neglected to notice that the next reliable water source was 10 miles up the trail. To make a long story short, I ended up doing over 20 miles (too much for only my second full day on the trail), and on top of that I still had to hike a mile and a half off the trail just to get water. I arrived in camp with an upset stomach (perhaps the jumbo hot dog and entire tube of Pringles I ate at the gap contributed =), but otherwise, I felt okay. The next day, Monday was a tough one. Almost immediately upon starting I noticed a tightness and pain in my left leg, which got progressively worse throughout the day. By late afternoon I was practically hobbling down the trail [SIDE NOTE: Chaffing was becoming a significant issue at this point as well. If you're not familiar with this malady, then you're probably not a guy and/or haven't done much backpacking. Count your lucky stars.]Anyway, my hiking buddy, "Blaze," and I decided to take a Zero (rest day) and successfully hitched a ride into town. I pretty much haven't left the motel except to hit up the Chinese buffet and Dairy Queen (the Toffee Cheesequake blizzard is fabulous). Hoping and praying my leg heals quickly so I can get back on the trail (and catch back up with all the folks I passed a day or two ago =). I talked to a doctor friend back home (Pepper), and it looks like it's just a strained tendon that I can still hike on if I take it easy.So Dad, I took your suggestion and ended up in Hiawassee after all. I wasn't planning on a town day, at least not this early on, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. My spirit's still high. (relying today on Proverbs 18:14a and Psalms 18:29-33.)About this place: it's a cute little town nestled in the mountains of north Georgia (big one's too- four and five thousand feet). The Hiawassee Inn is filled with hikers, and the proprietors run it like a hostel. They come around and bang on the doors when breakfast is ready or the shuttle is leaving for downtown or the trail, and I got scolded for being so uptight as to lock my room ("whatchoo go¢n do that fer? Ain't nobody gonna do nuthin round heeyah..."). It's nice having Blaze here so we can split costs. He's 29, and did almost half the trail ten years ago so he has some experience and we have similar paces.Oh, and there are tubs filled with food and gear at the motel, called "hiker boxes" (oddly enough =). It's all stuff that other hikers wanted to get rid of, either because they were quitting or decided they didn't need it. It's all free for the taking, but think twice- the other guy left it behind for a reason...Okay, that's about it for now. Hoping to get back on the trail early in the morning.
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Hiawassee

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Still here at the library in Hiawassee. Just thought of a couple more things. I'm going to stop at the Rite Aid photo center on my walk back to the motel to see about maybe getting some pictures online. I've been taking a few, and I'm anxious to share them. So hopefully you'll see them soon.No trail name yet. It might be a while, if I get one at all, because so far it's seems that I only see other hikers for a day or so before there's too much distance between us to stay in touch. (Already lost touch with Kenny and Julia, John, Tinkle Toes, Rainbow Bright, etc.) I guess we'll see. "Sean" has worked for a good many years, so I'm not that worried about it :-)Still haven't seen any rain, but a system's supposed to be coming through in the next day or so, just in time for us getting back on the trail.One of the things that stinks about getting injured is that I carried five days worth of food, enough to get me into North Carolina, when I only needed one day's worth.Thanks Auntie Margie for passing my info along to some of the extended family, who I didn't have e-mail addresses for. I'm sorry I can't reply personally to everybody, but it sure is nice hearing from you!I know there were other things I was going to say, but now I can't think of them! I'll try to update again in Franklin, NC. That's another 56 or so miles, but don't know when that'll be, as I will take it easy starting out this time. I promise!
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm back in Hiawassee. After resting my leg for a day I tried to hike on it but couldn't without considerable pain. I hitched back into town at the road crossing 16 miles further north. So it looks like I'm stuck here for a few more rest days. I told the folks at the Hiawassee Inn that I do construction, and they're going to let me do a work for stay arrangement. Apparently the cleaning lady there just bought a house, and they're trying to help her fix it up a little since she's been such a good employee. Works for me! There's another hiker here, Honk Kong, who hurt his back and is doing the same thing. If I scavenge for food from the hiker boxes I can probably stay here a week if I have to and hardly spend any money. I feel like Abraham, who was pretty much a wanderer in the wilderness but occasionally hit it off with the locals and stayed in town for a while =). Today I was reading The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew six, and was encouraged by the passage about the lilies of the field and not worrying about what you'll eat or drink or wear, etc. (don't have my Bible with me at the moment, sorry). I know that God called me to do this hike, so I believe He'll give me what it takes to complete it.Yesterday we got our first rain on the trail. It was a powerful but relatively brief thunderstorm, lasting only an hour or two. It was amazing how quickly the weather deteriorated. From the time we decided it looked like it might rain we had just enough time to get our rain gear on before it hit us. I guess being up a few thousand feet makes the weather less predictable. It was like watching a sunset in fast forward, along with the wind, lightning and thunder. And the fact that we were climbing Tray Mountain, one of the highest in the southeast, made it all the more interesting!I'm doing great, guys. I'm thankful to be here, having fun, and learning a lot. (I'm getting pretty good at hitch-hiking too. I think it's my baby-face.) The library's only like two blocks from the motel, so I'll try to post again and upload the rest of my pictures in a day or two.
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Plum Orchard Gap shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hey everyone. Well, they've had me working hard, and when I wasn't working, the library was closed, so this has been my first chance to get in here and post an update. I'm happy to report that my leg's feeling about 90% better, and I'm returning to the trail this afternoon. Apparently nearly a week off was just the ticket! I'm going to force myself to walk slowly, and only do 4.5 miles today. I'll try to ease back into it slowly.Before I forget, I should say that I've discovered that I can access my regular e-mail, so if you need to send me a personal message, shoot me an e-mail to my AOL account. (you can still post to the guestbook here, but it's public).Ya know, I was really frustrated at first to have to stop here, because I had all sorts of expectations about how far and how fast I wanted to hike. But I've started to see how God has worked it for good in a variety of ways. The labor I volunteered was a huge blessing to the folks here; so much so that they don't want me to leave! And as I think about it, I'm seeing that 10 or 20 years from now, my memories of the days on the trail will likely all run together, but the stuff like this is what's going to stand out. Plus, I'm told I'll always have a home in Hiawassee, Georgia.And I still have plenty of time to get to Maine, barring long-term injuries. I woke up early this morning super excited to get back on the trail. As I lay in bed, I realized that this was different than the excitement I had pre-trip. I've been out there, and I know exactly what I'm getting into, because I've experienced it, and I'm still excited. It's encouraging to me because I know that this really is something that I enjoy.And I have to admit, it's sort of fun being able to just walk away from a big construction project with no worries or responsibility whatsoever. I'm not used to that. For the past few days I pretty much just did what I was told, even when I knew that there was a better way, etc. I think it was therapeutic =).Okay folks, that's all for now. be sure to check out my pics. I added a bunch more. Lotsa love,
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Plum Orchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

First full day back on the trail. Here are some random comments:It rained most of the day today. It was a cold steady rain. I had a nice hot lunch (ramen noodles). Usually I just do a bagel and PB, cheese and crackers, or snacks. This section hiker saw me reading my new testament in the shelter and asked if I was going to seminary! It was a good opportunity to explain that I'm a Christian who simply enjoys reading the Word.-I'm amazed at the number of pot-heads out here. The first group I met I thought was simply an aberration. (ended up sharing my motel room with them one night, too.) But apparently it's pretty normal out here. Sitting around the campfire somebody produced a joint and passed it around the circle. Out of six or seven of us, I was the only one who declined. I find it amusing: these guys take a long draw, wheeze and hack for a few minutes, and then proceed to comment on how this is the good stuff...So what's new back home, y'all? Somebody drop me an e-mail and fill me in! I really love hearing from you guys. It's the highlight of my town stops =)
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Glassmine Gap
Miles today: 17.2

Wow, what a cold morning! You could see your breath clearly. I finally got to dig out my thermals, hat and gloves. I used my tarp set-up last night because the shelter was full to capacity. I'm finding that the forest duff is softer than the hardwood planking of the shelters, anyway. Plus, I can go to sleep/get up when I want without worrying about disturbing anybody. And the greatest benefit of all, no mice, bees, or trash. The mice are a serious problem in the shelters. Last night I was awakened by the guy in the shelter loft making a "BLAGGHHH!" sound. I'm like, "dude, you alright?" His response. "yeah, a mouse just ran across my face." Yuck. I was the first one of the group to set off this morning, even though it was almost 8:00. I got about a hundred yards up the trail and suddenly realized I was missing my bear-hanging cord. Thank God I didn't have to backtrack much. A trail register entry I was reading yesterday had a post from a hiker who had to backtrack like 12 miles because he forgot his stove fuel at a hostel. Man, I think I'd just forego cooking 'till the next town!My ankle's hanging in there. Still sore, but no acute pain. Good enough for me!Tonight I chose a cute little camping spot right in between two mountains. It was my first night camping with absolutely no one else around, probably for miles. Kinda fun. Oh, and I cooked up this Lipton rice side dish. Wow, was it good or what. (yes, it was =).
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Wayah Gap

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 27.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hey, I'm at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, where US 19 crosses the AT near Bryson City, NC. It's a big kayaker's hangout. In fact, this whole area of the south is popular with kayakers, with the Nantahala River, French Broad River, and the Nolichucky river all nearby. After spending much of the day at and over five thousand feet, it was amazing witnessing the transition as I descended several thousand feet into the Nantahala River Gorge at 1,750'. I watched as walls of green went up on both sides of the trail. It was like watching spring to summer in fast forward.The NOC is supposed to be a hiker's haven, but I wasn't feeling it. I looked all around and couldn't find another thru-hiker. It was Sunday, so the place was chock full of bikers, kayakers, and tourists. Apparently I missed a whole crowd of northbounders by like a day. There was too much hustle and bustle, too many people, and too many food choices- several restaurants, each with their own distinct menus. Quite unlike choosing something from the food bag in my pack =). I did enjoy a pint of ben and jerry's ice cream and then pushed on.I'm proud of myself, I made it in and out of Franklin yesterday in less than a day and still managed to put away 13 miles. It's amazing how back in the real world you take for granted being able to run around town doing errands. Franklin's not a big town but it took me around 6 hours to visit the post office, library, grocery, and one or two other spots.The Hispanic guy who gave me a ride back to the trail from Franklin was hilarious. Didn't speak a lot of English- just enough to convey that he'll never do what I'm doing because of the tigers out there in the woods. Tigers! And when I thanked him for the ride, he explained that he does it because he knows one day it might be him. Like it was the day he walked off the job and his boss told him to find his own way home =)New theory of mine: shoes tied too tight = ankle pain??
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Fontanna Dam Shelter
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I met "the cool crew." That's what I call them, at least. It's two girls and four guys, all about my age, all single as far as I know. They all started solo but hooked up along the way. I caught up with them pretty early in the day and hiked with them most of the day. Lots of fun to hike and hang out with, but not necessarily compatible with my reasons for being out here. I had to chuckle to myself when I realized that there's no way those guys would be hiking together if the girls weren't there... The shelter at Fontana is called the Fontana Hilton because it sleeps like twenty, and has trash cans and bathrooms close by (at the visitor center on top of the dam). I was pretty tired when I rolled in to camp, and some other hikers were down by the fire ring trying to get a fire going. One of them had been to town earlier in the day and brought back hot dogs and Pringles to share, so I threw my pack in the shelter and joined them. When I came back an hour or so later, my food bag had a few new openings in it where a mouse or mice had chewed through to check it out. So far I've been really careful, but one lapse is all the opportunity those little suckers need.
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Fontanna Dam Shelter

To: Fontana Village resort
Miles today: 0.3

Happy May! Well, I was planning on hitting the trail again today, as soon as I had made it into Fontana Village, the local town, to resupply. But by the time I went to the post office and laundromat, grocery and outfitters, it was around 11 am. Then I realized I had a spot in one shoe where the seam was failing, and the shoe repair stuff I bought at the outfitters was supposed to cure overnight. Plus, "the cool crew" said I should stay and hang out and that I could crash on the floor in their room. Sooooo, I'm taking a zero today. Well, not quite a zero. Actually a "nero." I walked exactly 0.3 miles of trail from the fontana hilton shelter to the dam, where I was picked up and shuttled to town. It was kinda nice to just relax and not be pushing to make it to next shelter before dark.About Fontana. It's an Indian name or something. The visitor center on top of the dam had all kinds of displays and info about it, but I didn't really care. What got me excited was the free hot showers at the visitor center. Note keywords: FREE, and HOT. It was heaven. I woke up early, walked up there, and had it all to myself. The Fontana lake and dam was pretty neat though. My book says it's "480 feet high, cornerstone in the network of dams build by the Tennessee Valley Authority during the Great Depression in the last century and the highest dam east of the Mississippi." The lake itself is over 400 feet deep next to the dam, and the trail goes right across the top of the dam. I was told kids come and jump off the lake side in the summertime. With the water level where it was when I crossed, that had to be about 30 or 40 feet. On the other side it's over 400 feet down to the power plant, parking lot, and river below. Pretty cool.Another little tidbit. After eating a couple of oatmeal packets for breakfast this morning at the shelter, I went into town and consumed a whole family-size box of corn flakes, minus about one bowl's worth. (which I finished later dry =).
Date: 2006-05-02
From: Fontana Village resort

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

A bunch of us started out this morning from Fontana Village. They had to make several shuttle runs. I scored a free ride by moving a couple of boxes for the shuttle lady. I'm all about free! (No, I didn't ask for it- she offered.) And while I'm definitely frugal, I'm careful to give people their due: I slipped a note with $5 behind the registration desk at the Fontana Inn, because it was supposed to be five bucks more per person per room. There was an old fire tower just off the trail at Shukstack Mountain. I left my pack at the trail, ran up there, and climbed it. It was fairly old and rickety, and I thought I was brave because I went all the way to the top, until I found out later that a couple of others had actually climbed onto the roof of the thing!I had wanted to go farther today, but I pulled into the spence field shelter just after a cold steady rain had started. Nothing like a cold steady rain to sap your motivation. There were a couple of college kids from Knoxville there in the shelter. Neat guys- they say it's only about an hour's drive, and they're out in the Park all the time. It's like their playground. They're trying to do all 900+ miles of trail in the Great Smokies National Park, and plan on thru-hiking the AT next year. Generous fellows they were -- they too offered me some of their pot. I tell ya, pot smokers are an unselfish bunch. If I paid that much for the stuff, I think I'd keep it to myself.I had just about dozed off when Sara and Becca, the two girls from "the cool crew" pulled in. They had walked extra far that day because they said they needed a break from the other guys. I hadn't expected to see them again. It was nice to see familiar faces and chat around the fire.Oh, and something else- I found out that there were two bears at the shelter just a few hours before I was there! I was disappointed I missed them. However, I did see some deer tracks. woohoo! Oh, and I did see a turkey the other day, walking down into the NOC. (did I already mention that? can't remember).
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Icewater Springs Shelter
Miles today: 27.3
Weather: clear sky

Today dawned cold and rainy, but the two local guys assured us that this was a typical smokies morning and that it could burn off. I didn't have a whole lot of faith, but as a matter of fact, they were right. It turned out to be an absolutely clear day, sunny and cloudless. The temperature was perfect and not too much humidity. Perfect hiking weather. I decided to take advantage of it and summit Clingman's Dome. At 6,643 feet, it's the highest point on the AT, and one of the highest peaks in the East. The climb up to it was more beautiful and rewarding than the actual observation deck at the top (it seemed cheapened because there was a road and a bunch of fat tourists there =).Speaking of tourists, later in the afternoon I encountered the clueless camera couple. I call them that only because they had a camera and were, indeed, clueless. They were in the park celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. She was hiking in white canvas shoes. They treated me like I was some sort of freak and bombarded me with intelligent questions: "so, how do you sleep. do you have a sleeping bag?," and "has it rained on you?." To cap it off, they wanted a picture of me with my pack, probably to post in their wild smoky mountain adventure scrapbook. Oh, and he scoffed at the idea of the suggested 7-10 days to traverse the AT through the entire park, seeming to think my 3.5-day bid was more in line with his son's and his abilities (yeah, he wants to do it with his son- scary thought).Tourists aren't the only weird ones out here though. I encountered a hiker known as "crazy bear guy." He carries bear spray and pepper spray in special holsters on his pack's shoulder straps, has nalgene bottles attached to his waist, and has a special bayonet attachment for his trekking pole. Nice guy though =)Today I found out that a 20 oz pot is not big enough to cook an entire box of Kraft Mac n Cheese. There's not enough room for water to actually boil the noodles, so they just become sort of pasty. Not bad though, after you add the cheese powder! Just about anything tastes good after a 27 mile day.
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Icewater Springs Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: light rain

Wow, feeling discouraged. Had to stop and write about it (yes, I'm transcribing this later, but I did stop on the trail and jot this down on a scrap piece of paper). If my journal only covered the high points it wouldn't be complete, now would it? Funny thing is, if I was back home, I'd probably do anything to be where I am right now: backpacking in GSMNP. The weather's great, the scenery is fantastic (almost wish I could space out the views more: now what do I have to look forward too?). But right now, I'm missing my family and friends. Sure there are lots of people here, but I don't know them. I usually only see them for a day or two, and then I'm gone. I'm eating my last granola bar as consolation. I knew these times would come, but that doesn't necessarily make it easier when you're in one. Contributing factors: 27+ miles yesterday. And, my right contact lens is all blurry, and there's nothing I can do about it other than take them both out and keep hiking, or deal with it. It might be nice to get to church in Hot Springs, maybe. Recharge my batteries. Physically, I'm doing great- just a small mental struggle at the moment.[LATER] Feeling better. =) I actually ran a good bit of trail this afternoon to beat a heavy downpour. I had been hiking in light rain for a few hours, and as long as I'm working up some good body heat I can stay fairly dry, but once a light rain turns heavy, I can't keep up and get soaked. Random trail observation: eyelids not only serve to initiate the blink reflex. They also wick water away from your eyes when you're out in rain without a hood or hat. (I have a rain jacket but unless it's cold, prefer to just stay in my t-shirt and get wet.)There seem to be a fair number of foreigners out here. I've met folks from Cologne, Germany, three from The Netherlands, and England.Creamy Garlic Shells (Lipton pasta side) = a good thing. Instant mashed potatoes without salt, pepper, or butter = a bad thing.