morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-01
To: The Outhouse Again
Miles today: 0.0

Awoke in Peekskill and made the short hike back to the metro station and was on my way to NYC within the hour. Last Stop is Grand Central Terminal (GCT) (Like most people, I thought it was Grand Central Station). I then shouldered my pack and headed across NYC on foot as a scraggly backpacker. It was very funny to watch everyone avoid me - even the people handing out flyers to who knows what. Cool, I'm invisible in the Concrete Jungle! Jumped back on Metro-North at Penn Station for my trip to Middletown, where I was warmly welcomed back by both Butch and Dick waiting for me. I feel like a VIP :-) Okay, here is the Outhouse update. When Dick was the Mayor, it was the Mayor's place, but now that he is no longer the Mayor, it is "The Outhouse". It's his house and Bill lives with him. Butch lives across town, but might as well have a room there! Bill cooks and serves up meals and attitude :-) meanwhile Dick and Butch run hikers around and do everything else that needs doing that isn't being done. He has 8 bunks downstairs plus another room down there for floor sleeping (ping-pong and airhockey otherwise). He also opens up the living room and dining room if needed. AND he still has a large yard for those who want to tent or just cowboy on the back deck.They also provide dinner if you come in early enough and breakfast in the morning - made as soon as you get up! Great for those hiking out early (I, for one, hated waiting around until 9 AM to get started on the trail). He doesn't require any payment, but donations are accepted. He also requires you to follow some simple rules of the house, watch 2 videos (not a church sermon!), and have your photo taken for the guestbook.This place feels like home and I really mean that on more than one level. They are a big factor in how I plan next summers hike.
Date: 2009-08-02
To: Trail Clean Up
Miles today: 0.0

A tornado came past Unionville a few days ago. It didn't do a lot of town damage, but it wipe out a section of trail. Two Trail Maintainers (BoB and Jim) were in to work on it and I joined them. We went north on Quarry road clearing as we went and then south of the road through some easier areas until it was raining too hard to work.
Date: 2009-08-03
To: More Trail Clean Up
Miles today: 0.0

I just have not had enough with the AT. Bob and I, with Gnarrly, Blue-eyes, Dah Wah He & Cartoon, waded into the heavy damage. A north bounder would see it as a wall of leaves and branches with no trace of the trail to be seen. I estimate 100 yards of trail just covered in downed trees. Sometimes we would send someone forward just to scout the trail so we knew we were cutting in the right direction. In spots, multiple trees would be piled on the trail and we'd have to solve a puzzle to remove them. Bob used the chainsaw as a certified ATC Sawyer and we provided manpower to hand cut smaller limbs and "loper" branches out of the way. We ended up in 2 teams with saws and lopers ahead clearing the way and leaving a trail of trunks behind. It was safer and efficient use of the tools to not be next to the chainsaw.Bob thought it would take 2 days to clear, but we were a bunch of hyped up working machines. We did take a short break to eat sandwiches, potato salad and water that Dick brought up (Thanks for thinking of us out there!)
Date: 2009-08-21
To: Final thoughts
Miles today: 0.0

So I'm taking a ten month zero. I'll be back to finish up next summer.I want to thank these hikers: Otter, Ned-the-Fed, Transition and Bow. You each played a huge part in my enjoyment (and hiking) of the trail. I would hike with you anytime!I (and Flicka) met many other grand people as we hiked and I take those memories of the trail as meaning more to me than getting a scenic view. After all, I could just drive to a view.I will be hiking even lighter than when I left as I drop my propane and use an alcohol can stove. I'll be giving myself another month of hiking to get in shape before hitting the wild north. So About New York to Vermont, why that's just where I left off {wink}.Best wishes to The Phoenix as you head south and another special shout out to Stewball/Hannah - that was some fun writing/reading :-). I still have a batch of pictures to upload but I don't feel a rush and they aren't that noteworthy so don't worry about coming back here to see them. I'll start a 2010 journal when things firm up.
Date: 2009-04-05
To: GEORGIA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

WEIGHED MY PACK!...WEIGHED MYSELF!...I WEIGH ABOUT 155 POUNDS. MY PACK WEIGHS ABOUT 40 POUNDS, AND THATS WITHOUT WATER OR FUEL. HMMM...GOT PLENTY OF ROOM. THATS JUST TOO HEAVY BY THE TIME I ADD WATER. I WANT TO KEEP IT UNDER 43 POUNDS. I WEIGHED 162 POUNDS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. LAST YEAR, AFTER PUSHING A LARGE 4X4 AND DOUBLE INGUINAL HERNIA SURGERY, I HAD TO GET SOME NEW LEVIS SIZE 34. MY PANTS FELT A LITTLE TIGHTER AT THE WAIST AT MY USUAL SIZE OF 33. NOW IVE NOTICED THE 34'S ARE TOO LOOSE SO IM DOWN TO 33's AGAIN. YESTERDAY, I WEIGHED MYSELF AT 152 POUNDS WHICH KINDA SURPRISED ME. I BETTER TRY A DIGITAL SCALE. CURRENTLY THE SECOND SCALE I BORROWED SAYS I WEIGH 155 POUNDS SO IM GONNA SAY GIVE OR TAKE A POUND OR TWO. I BETTER GET BACK TO 162 BEFORE THE TRAIL. WITH ALL THIS INCONSISTENCY ITS HARD TELLING WHAT THE ACCURATE WEIGHT IS OF MYSELF OR MY PACK. IF RUMORS ARE TRUE ABOUT THE 8.8 MILE APPROACH TRAIL BEING LITTERED WITH UNWANTED AND DISCARDED ITEMS, I COULD SEE WHY. TIME TO RESERVE MY RESERVATION AT THE HIKERS HOSTEL. I SURE HOPE THEY CAN COME GET ME AND TAKE ME TO THE TRAIL THE NEXT DAY. FLETCH OUT
Date: 2009-04-06
To: GEORGIA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

BUS TICKET HAS BEEN PURCHASED. RIDE HAS BEEN ARRANGED DOWN TO THE BIG CITY OUT OF DENVER TO AVOID THE FIVE HOUR LAYOVER. THE HOSTEL;HOWEVER, HASN'T NOTIFIED ME YET. THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM. MY SMART MEDIA CARDS HAVE ARRIVED FOR MY CAMERA. THAT IS A GOOD THING. MY PACK COVER AND BLADDER HASN'T. TOO MUCH TO DO AND TOO LITTLE TIME. GUESS I'LL JUST WING IT FOR NOW. FLETCH OUT
Date: 2009-04-07
To: HIKER HOSTEL
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

MY BUS TICKET ARRIVED IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY. RESERVED A SPOT AT THE HIKER HOSTEL WHO FINALLY CAME THROUGH. MY FUEL BOTTLE HAS ARRIVED BUT MY PACK COVER AND MSR BLADDER HAS NOT. MY PACK IS STILL TOO HEAVY SO IM WORKING ON THAT. FLETCH OUT
Date: 2009-04-19
To: GREYHOUND
Miles today: 0.0

WELL; I CANT SLEEP, SO IM DOING MY FINAL PREPERATION BEFORE I DEPART AROUND MIDNIGHT THE 19TH. MY PACK IS WAY TOO HEAVY BUT WE'RE GONNA LIVE WITH IT! GONNA START OUT HEAVY AND LIGHTEN THE LOAD AS I GO. TENT IS A MSR MICROZOID WITH FOOTPRINTSLEEPING BAG IS A LEDGE FEATHERLITE 0 DEGREE BAGCOOKSET IS A ULTRALITE BACKPACK STOVE (POP CAN)PLUS ASSORTED PANSFUEL WILL BE DENATURED ALCOHOL AND WHITE GAS, Q-TIPS + COTTON BALLS + LIGHTERSTREKING POLES CHEAP COLEMANSBLADDER 2 LITER MSR DROMLITEFLEECE JACKET, WIND JACKET, BACLAVATHERMAL UNDERWEARCOTTON AND WOOL SOCKSRAIN GEARLEDGE THUNDERLIGHT X LARGE MENS PANTS AND X LARGE BOYS TOPFOOD MOUNTAIN HOUSE, KNORR NOODLE PACKS, POUCHED TUNA, BEEF JERKYGRANOLA BARS, TRAIL MIX BARS, ASSORTED FREEZE DRIED SOUPSTONS OF OATMEAL, SPAM, DRIED CRANBERRIES,ASSORTED CHOCOLATE, BUTTERSCOTCH, WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS COFFEE, TANG, HOT CHOCOLATE,FM DIGITAL RADIO WITH EARBUDSFM/AM ANALOG RADIO WITH EARBUDS AND SPEAKERTWO PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES, SANDALS, SLIPPERSCOUPLE PAIRS OF BOXERBRIEFSCOTTON T SHIRTSYNTHETIC SHORTSMANY BACKPACK REPAIR ITEMS, SOAP, TOOTHBRUSH, EMERGENCY GEARCAMARA IS A CLICKSMART 510 WITH SMART MEDIA CARDS2 ROLLS OF TPMOUSETRAPAPPALACHIAN THRU HIKE 2008 HANDBOOKWHAT EVER ELSE I FORGOT TO MENTION
Date: 2009-04-20
To: AT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I MADE IT! THE HOSTEL IS QUITE AMAZING. THE BUS DRIVE WAS A ADVENTURE. MET SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY. IN TOPEKA THE BUS WAS OVERUN BY A SHERIFF AND POLICE IN WHAT LOOKED TO BE A BUNCH OF BULLETPROOF CLOTHING. THEY BROUGHT THE DOG IN AND SNIFFED THE LUGGAGE AND THEN CAME ON BOARD TO SEARCH THE BUS. NOTHING WAS FOUND AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY ONCE AGAIN. I GUESS WHEN I LEFT ON 4/20 IT WAS DRUG AWARENESS DAY. GO FIGURE. THE POLICE PRESENCE ALONG THE WAY WAS QUITE MASSIVE. ARRIVED AT THE HOSTEL ON TIME. IT LOOKS TO BE QUITE AN AMAZING PLACE IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A WONDERFUL LOCATION. ANIMALS ARE ALL AROUND AND IM HAPPY ABOUT THAT. CANT WAIT TO GO EXPLORE THIS FACILITY.MY PACK WEIGHED 57 POUNDS WITHOUT 3 LITERS OF WATER AND FUEL. WHEN I STARTED IT WAS 40 POUNDS BUT SOMEHOW I MANAGED TO SQUEEZE WAY TOO MUCH STUFF IN IT. I WILL BE LIGHTENING UP THE LOAD BEFORE I DEPART. DONT COUNT ON IT THO. ALREADY I HAVE BROKEN ALL THE RULES ON GEAR AND PACK WEIGHT. OH WELL LIVE AND LEARN. I WILL LEARN ALONG THE WAY. SHOWER TIME AND SOME MUCH NEEDED REST. SOUNDS LIKE I MIGHT BE IN A FULL HOUSE TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE. UNTIL NEXT TIME. FLETCH OUT
Date: 2009-04-21
To: APPROACH TRAIL
Miles today: 0.0

AND SO IT GOES! TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ADVENTURE AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING JUST ME AND THE COMPUTER MOUSE. CHECKED OUT THE HIKER BOXES. GOT ME SOME MULTI VITAMINS, THE REMAINING SUGAR, SOME SUNFLOWER SEEDS, COUPLE TOWELETTES AND ONE TRASH BAG TO LINE THE INSIDE OF MY BACKPACK. AFTER TALKING TO CAST AWAY, IT SOUNDED LIKE GOOD ADVICE. CAST AWAY AND PEPPER ARE MY ROOMMATES TONIGHT AND I COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER COMPANY. WENT FOR A STROLL AND CHECKED OUT MY NEW RADIO AND MY HEADLAMP. JUST THE BUS TRIP ALONE I RUINED TWO SETS OF EAR BUDS AND TWO RADIOS. HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER RADIO AND ANOTHER SET OF EAR BUDS. LOADED UP ON MORE FOOD AND WILL FILL UP WITH WHITE GAS, DENATURED ALCOHOL AND ONE MORE LITER OF WATER. ONE OF MY CAMERAS LENS FELL OFF SO I'M CERTAINLY GLAD I BROUGHT ALONG ANOTHER.IT WAS COLD TONIGHT AND THE WIND WAS BLOWING PRETTY GOOD. THE WEATHER WILL BE REALLY NICE TOMORROW, IN THE 70'S. NIGHT TIME LOWS WILL BE IN THE 50'S. I WILL BE HIKING UP THE APPROACH TRAIL TO BLACK GAP SHELTER TOMORROW 7.3 MILES. OR STARTING THE AT AND HIKING UP TO SPRINGER MOUNTAIN SHELTER 9 MILES FOR THE NIGHT. ANYTHING PAST THAT WILL BE UNCIVILIZED!I WILL NOT BE TREATING ANY WATER AND I'M NOT PREPARING TO STOP ANYTIME SOON. I HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES FOR WEEKS SO I MAY NOT STOP FOR QUITE AWHILE. ILL BE STARTING OUT ON A COOL MORNING ABOUT 9AM OR SO. I'M HIKING IN SNEAKERS AND JEANS IN A COTTON T SHIRT, WEARING LONG UNDERWEAR AND CARRYING WAY TOO MUCH STUFF (OVER 60 POUNDS). I MAY JETTISON MY JACKET FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THEN AGAIN... HIKING MY OWN HIKE! FLETCH OUT
Date: 2009-04-22
From: APPROACH TRAIL

To: BLACK GAP SHELTER
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

TODAY IS THE DAY. WOKE UP EARLY. TOOK A SHOWER. A NICE BREAKFAST IS SERVED UPSTAIRS AS THE DAY COULDN'T START OUT ANY NICER. ITS REALLY HAPPENING. WE LOAD UP THE BACKPACKS AND CASTAWAY AND I ARE OFF TO AMICOLA STATE PARK. ITS WEDNESDAY AND CASTAWAY ASKS IF I NEED HELP LIFTING MY PACK ONTO THE HOOK ON THE SCALE. YEP, I SURE DO. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IT READS 68 POUNDS. I SIGN IN WITH MY BACKPACK WEIGHT AND CASTAWAY AND I PART WAYS AS HE DISAPPEARS THRU THE ARCH. I ASK SOMEONE TO SNAP A COUPLE OF PICTURES AND I THEN BEGIN HIKING UP THE APPROACH TRAIL. WITHIN A QUARTER MILE I COME TO A SERVICE ROAD AND A RESTROOM WITH A SODA MACHINE RIGHT BEFORE ENTERING THE WOODS UP THAT STRENUOUS APPROACH TRAIL. SO WHAT DO I DO? I TAKE MY FIRST BREAK. A COLD SODA FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THE HIKE WAS TOUGH AND THE SUN CAME OUT AND WARMED THE DAY UP. THE APPROACH TRAIL WAS BRUTAL AND I FOUND MYSELF SPREAD EAGLE ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES ON THE WAY UP. I TOOK MANY BREAKS ALONG THE WAY AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HIKING UP WOULD SEE ME LAYING FLAT ON MY BACK WITH MY BACKPACK OFF TO THE SIDE AND I WOULD JUST TELL THEM TO STEP OVER ME. FINALLY AFTER MANY HOURS I REACHED THE FIRST SHELTER. IT WAS STILL EARLY AND I COULD OF GONE ON BUT I WAS THE ONLY ONE HERE AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE AND A NICE PLACE SO I STAYED AT THE BLACK GAP SHELTER THE FIRST NIGHT BY MYSELF. I FELT THAT STARTING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WOULD BE A NICER START. TONIGHT JUST BEING ALL ALONE BY MYSELF WITH MY THOUGHTS AND A CRACKLING FIRE SEEMED PEACEFUL. SO LIKE A TRANSIENT I MOVED IN TO THE SHELTER. I SPREAD MY THINGS OUT AND HUNG MY FOOD UP ON THE BEAR BAGS LINES UP HIGH. I STARTED A NICE FIRE AND JUST RELAXED. AFTER A LONG NIGHT OF JUST SITTING ALONE BY THE CAMPFIRE I TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT. SNAP! THE FIRST TRAP WENT OFF BY MY HEAD AND I FOUND MYSELF ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THE ROOF OF MY TENT. I WONT DO THAT AGAIN. I HAD NOTICED MICE IN THE SHELTER, BUT I HAD A SECRET WEAPON. I HEARD RUMORS OF MICE PROBLEMS IN SHELTERS SO I PUT TO DEATH AND CREMATED 6 MICE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. A TOOTH ACTED UP ALL NIGHT SO I DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEP. I STARTED THE TRAIL HAVING MY VERY FIRST TOOTH REMOVED AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ROOT CANALS ON IT. WHY NOW DO I FIND I HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE ON MY FIRST HIKING DAY. I WILL BE HIKING UP TO THE SUMMIT OF SPRINGER MOUNTAIN FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. TODAY WAS JUST A TASTE OF WHATS TO COME.
Date: 2009-04-23
From: BLACK GAP SHELTER

To: HAWK MOUNTAIN SHELTER
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: clear sky

SPRINGER MOUNTAIN HERE I COME. I GOT TO THE TOP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THEN TOOK A FEW PICTURES. THIS MARKS THE START OF MY FIRST DAY ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL. WHILE TAKING PICTURES SEVERAL PEOPLE SHOWED UP FROM THE SHORTER AND EASIER WAY UP TO SPRINGER MOUNTAIN. IT TOOK ME ALL DAY TO GET THERE GOING UP THE APPROACH TRAIL. I CHATTED WITH THEM AND THEN STARTED ON MY FIRST STEPS OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL. I THEN PASSED THE SPRINGER MOUNTAIN SHELTER AND I THEN REALIZED I DIDN'T SIGN THE REGISTER SO BACK UP I WENT. I MET SMOKING LOON AND HUMMINGBIRD ON MY WAY BACK UP AND THEY REALIZED THEY DIDNT SIGN IT EITHER SO WE WENT UP AND SIGNED IT. I MET SIMBA EARLIER AT THE ENTRANCE TO BLACK GAP SHELTER AND HE CRUISED ON BY. HE SEEMS TO BE A NICE GUY, AND SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GONNA DO SOME BIG MILES. I SPOTTED WHO I BELIEVE TO BE SIMBA JUST SHY OF THE HAWK MOUNTAIN SHELTER IN THE WOODS CAMPED OUT. HIS TENT WAS SET UP AND HE APPEARED TO BE SLEEPING THO I COULDN'T SEE HIM I COULD TELL BY THE BOOTS NEXT TO THE TENT. I STOPPED JUST PAST AT A LOG WITHIN SITE OF HIS TENT AND TOOK A BREAK. THE TRAIL CIRCLES AROUND AND I'M STILL IN SEARCH FOR THE SHELTER. NOT TOO FAR ALONG I COME ACROSS THE SIGN TO THE SHELTER. I TURN LEFT AND HIKE DOWN THE BLUE BLAZE TRAIL TO THE SHELTER. I STAYED AT THE HAWK MOUNTAIN SHELTER WITH A LOT OF OTHERS WHO ARE TENTING AND HANGING OUT BY THE SHELTER. ANYONE THRU HIKING I ASK. THIS IS WHERE I MEET ROCKY FOR THE FIRST TIME. ROCKY IS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY WHO HAS TWO LONG PONY TAILS AND A FLOPPY HAT. SHE POKED HER HEAD OUT OF HER TENT AND WAIVED. WOW. SHE SEEMS REAL FRIENDLY AND CUTE TOO. I SMILED THEN FELL TO THE GROUND IN AGONY. FOR QUITE AWHILE I JUST LIED THERE. I ARRIVED ILL, DEHYDRATED, AND STARVING. HIKER DOWN. I WAS A HIKER ON THE GROUND FOR AN HOUR AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE. A NICE GUY WHO WAS CAMPING OUT AT THE SHELTER SAID I GOT TO FIX THIS GUY SOME FOOD, HE LOOKS LIKE HE NEEDS IT. I GOT UP OFF THE GROUND AND SAID I HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD, JUST DON'T KNOW IF I COULD EAT IT. I FEEL HORRIBLE. SOUNDS LIKE I SHOULD TRY TO EAT SOMETHING. I'LL MAKE SOMETHING EASY. I BOIL WATER FOR MY MOUNTAIN HOUSE MEAL. PREPARE IT AND I EAT ABOUT TWO BITES CLOSE IT AND FALL BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND. IT STARTS TO GET DARK AND NO ONE IS SLEEPING IN THE SHELTER EXCEPT FOR UPSTAIRS SO I SET MY TENT UP IN IT AND GO TO SLEEP. I SURE HOPE I FEEL BETTER TOMORROW.
Date: 2009-04-25
From: GOOCH MOUNTAIN SHELTER

To: BLOOD MOUNTAIN SHELTER
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: clear sky

WOOD HOLE SHELTER HELL! I'M TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ICEMAN, TARZAN, SIMBA, ROCKY, CATTYWAMPUS AND CHANDLER. I THOUGHT THEY WOULD STAY AT THE WOODS HOLE SHELTER. AT THE SHELTER TURN OFF I HIKE DOWN THE BLUE BLAZE TRAIL TO THE SHELTER. THERE IS A GROUP OF BACKPACKERS TENTING AT THIS JUNCTION AND I SAY HI AND HIKE ON BY. I FOUND MYSELF WALKING RIGHT BY THE WATER SOURCE. ITS A SMALL TRICKLE AS YOU HIKE TO THE WOODS HOLE SHELTER. I GET THERE ONLY TO FIND THAT EVERYONE HAS HIKED UP TO THE BLOOD MOUNTAIN SHELTER. A FATHER AND SON WHO PASSED ME BY EARLIER IN THE DAY AS I WAS TAKING A BREAK WAS HERE AT THE SHELTER FOR THE NIGHT. THERE IS NO WATER HERE, I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE TRICKLE OF WATER JUST BACK AWAYS. I'M TOLD IF I HIKE UP THE HILL SOME ITS EASIER TO GET TO THE WATER. I HIKE BACK AND FILL UP WITH THREE LITERS OF WATER AND I HAVE DECIDED TO GO CLIMB BLOOD MOUNTAIN. I RUN INTO ANOTHER HIKER FOR THE FIRST TIME NAMED MILES JUST PAST THE WATER SOURCE. I TOLD HIM TO GET WATER AT THAT TRICKLE JUST UP THE TRAIL AND NOT HIKE PAST IT. HE THANKED ME FOR THE INFO AS HE WOULD SPEND THE NIGHT AT THAT SHELTER. I HIKED ON AND I GOT TO THE STREAM JUST BELOW THE SLAUGHTER CREEK CAMPSITE FEELING EXHAUSTED, SO I DECIDE TO COOK SOME SPAM FOR SOME QUICK ENERGY BEFORE I HIKE UP THAT LAST 650 FOOT CLIMB TO THE TOP OF BLOOD MOUNTAIN. I NEEDED SOME ENERGY TO ATTEMPT THE LAST CLIMB OF THE DAY. I DUNK MY HEAD IN THE STREAM AS IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE. THE SPAM COULDNT COOK FAST ENOUGH. I EAT AND BEGIN TO HIKE ON. I WAS SO OUT OF IT WHEN I GOT TO THE TOP OF BLOOD MOUNTAIN, I FOUND STUFF JUST DANGLING OFF MY PACK, ZIPPERS OPEN. OH MY! EVERYONE WAS HAPPY TO SEE ME AS I ARRIVED JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUNSET. ICEMAN AND TARZAN BOTH HIKED ON TO THE HOSTEL AT NEAL'S GAP. I STAYED THE NIGHT IN THE BLOOD MOUNTAIN SHELTER WHICH I HAD TO MYSELF. EVERYONE ELSE HAD SET UP THEIR TENTS OUTSIDE. I MOVED IN TO THE SHELTER AND SET UP MY TENT! THERE WAS A LOT OF SPIDERS AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT BIT BY MY FIRST WOOD SPIDER. I DID SOME SURGERY ON MY RIGHT FOOT DURING THE NIGHT. THAT WAS QUITE THE CLIMB AND THIS IS QUITE THE ADVENTURE SO FAR. I HAVE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BEARS. THERE IS A COOL BREEZE DURING THE NIGHT BUT ITS SUCH A PLEASANT EVENING. THE COOL BREEZE WOULD BLOW THRU THE WINDOWS AND I WOULD BE UP LATE STUDYING MY THRU HIKERS HANDBOOK.
Date: 2009-04-28
From: CHEESE FACTORY SITE

To: BLUEBERRY PATCH
Miles today: 8.9

MOUNTAINS ARE LIKE HILLS TO ME! I LEFT THE CHEESE FACTORY SITE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND HEADED OFF TOWARDS THE NEXT CLIMB. 840 FT UP TO THE 4430 FT TRAY MOUNTAIN. TRAY MOUNTAIN HAD A MARK ON TOP PAINTED WHITE. I FELT LIKE I WAS ON JUST A PEAK HOWEVER IT WAS SO FOGGY AND CLOUDY I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I WENT OVER IT LIKE IT WAS A HILL TO ME. I GOT TO THE TOP EARLY AND IT WAS A FOGGY, KIND OF CLOUDY DAY. I STRIPPED DOWN ON TOP AND CHANGED OUT OF ALL MY CLOTHES. NOW I'M FEELING REFRESHED AND I HIKE DOWN TRAY MOUNTAIN, I WOULD TAKE A BREAK AT THE BLUE RIDGE SWAG. I WOULD HIKE ON PAST SASSAFRAS GAP AND ADDIS GAP ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY. KELLY'S KNOB WAS A MONSTER! UP AND OVER I WENT. UP 1000 FT. I CLIMB THESE MOUNTAINS NOW LIKE I'M WALKING ON FLAT GROUND. NON STOP UP AND OVER. I PASSED BY THE MCCLURE GAP CAMPSITE AND THAT LOOKED LIKE A COOL SPOT TO CAMP. BUT ALL MY HIKER BUDDIES TALKED AS IF THE BLUEBERRY PATCH WAS THE PLACE TO GO SO THAT'S WHERE I FELT I NEEDED TO GO. I RAN INTO A GUY NAMED KRAWL TAKING A BREAK UP THERE. THE DROP FROM POWELL MOUNTAIN TO DICKS CREEK GAP AND US 76 WAS A LONG STEEP DESCENT. THEY SAY IT'S WORSE GOING DOWN THEN IT IS TO GO UP. I MADE IT IN A DECENT TIME AND HITCHED A RIDE TO THE BLUEBERRY PATCH IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK. THE HOSTEL OWNER SHOWED UP IN HIS JEEP AFTER TAKING ALL THE HIKERS INTO TOWN FOR DINNER. I WAS A LITTLE LATE. HE SHOWED ME AROUND TOLD ME TO GATHER MY LAUNDRY AND HE WOULD HAVE HIS WIFE DO IT FOR ME. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS EXTRA BURRITO FIXINGS IN THE FRIDGE THEY JUST HAD TO HELP MYSELF. I WAS AFTER THE SODAS. THERE WAS A GUY BY THE TRAIL NAME MCGYVER WHO GAVE ME SOME OF HIS PIZZA HE JUST HAD DELIVERED. I LATER WENT TO TAKE A HOT SHOWER AND UPON NOTICING HOW BAD I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR AFTER 7 DAYS OUT IN THE WOODS I SHAVED. I SPENT THE NIGHT HERE AT THE HOSTEL WITH KRAWL, MCGYVER, TARZAN, ICEMAN, AND CATTYWAMPUS. SUCCESS! 76.3 MILES TRAVELED! HAVEN'T RESUPPLIED YET. NEXT RESUPPLY POINT IS FRANKLIN NC. LOVING IT. GREAT FRIENDS! GREAT COMPANY! WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. SIMBA, I HEARD YOU GOT OFF THE TRAIL. CATCH UP. I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN REAL SOON!
Date: 2009-04-30
From: BLY GAP

To: CARTER GAP SHELTER
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I'M HEARING ABOUT RAIN IN THE FORECAST SO BEING IN THE SHELTER IS WHAT I'M SEEKING. EVERYONE LEAVES PRETTY EARLY. I CHAT WITH CATTYWAMPUS SOME AS SHE SAYS SHE IS GONNA WAIT FOR CHANDLER TO CATCH UP WHO IS ABOUT 5 MILES BACK. I BEGIN HIKING AND PASS BY THE MUSKRAT CREEK SHELTER PRETTY EARLY AND SEE SEVERAL HIKERS. THEY MIGHT MATCH THE PEOPLE I READ ABOUT IN THE REGISTERS. I HIKE ON BY. AFTER A LITTLE BIT I SLIP INTO THE WOODS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. I EMERGE FROM THE WOODS AND RUN INTO SARGE AND HIS DOG JADE, YOU, HERB AND THE ANGRY HIPPY. THEY SAID DOES THE TRAIL GO THAT WAY. I SAID NO. I DONT KNOW IF A BEAR SHITS IN THE WOODS BUT I KNOW I DO. I WOULD HIKE BEHIND THEM FOR AWHILE EVENTUALLY CATCHING UP AND CHATTING WITH SARGE AND PASSING THEM ALL UP. I WOULD RUN INTO POSEIDON AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY ALL DECIDE TO HIKE UP TO THE SUMMIT OF STANDING INDIAN MOUNTAIN. I HIKE ON AND OVER AND FINALLY REACH MY DESTINATION. I WOULD SEE OTHER HIKERS CAMPED OUT. I SPOT THE SHELTER WHICH IS THE RUN DOWN OLD ONE TO MY LEFT. I HIKE FURTHER AND SEE THE NEW SHELTER UP AHEAD AS WELL AS ROCKY, ICEMAN, TARZAN, AND MILES. I DECIDE TO START A FIRE AND RELAX. A HOMELESS LOOKING OLD GUY HIKES UP, SITS DOWN NEXT TO ME AND USES THE FIRE I JUST STARTED AND COOKED SOME RAMEN NOODLES AND THEN HIKED ON EVEN AFTER I WARNED HIM ABOUT THE RAIN FORECAST. I GOT A REACTION WHEN I BURNED MY TRASH IN THE FIRE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRONT OF MY FELLOW HIKERS. WITH THE TOPIC OF GLOBAL WARMING IN THE NEWS I REALIZED MY FELLOW HIKERS CONCERNS EVEN THO I DISAGREED WITH THEM. I WOULD REALIZE I NEEDED TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS AROUND THE OTHER HIKERS IN THE FUTURE. LATER ICEMAN WOULD FAIL AT HANGING HIS BEAR BAG AND TARZAN GETS HIS TRAIL NAME. I HELP BOTH OF THEM AS WE SUCCESSFULLY RETRIEVE ICEMAN'S FAILED BEAR BAG HANGING ATTEMPT. I HEADED OFF FOR FRESH WATER AT THE WATER HOLE TO FIND A NEW WAY OF FILLING MY WATER BOTTLES WITH RHODODENDRUM LEAVES. EVERYONE IS ADJUSTING TO THEIR GEAR AND THE FOOT PAIN. WE WOULD SOON START TO LEARN WHAT ROLE RAIN WOULD PLAY IN OUR HIKE. IT WOULD SPRINKLE LATE IN THE EVENING WHILE I WAS SLEEPING IN THE SHELTER.