morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Clingman's Dome
Miles today: 10.0

Spectacular climb up Clingman¢s Dome. The woods changed from oaks and cedars to thick pines, with lots of blowdowns and a mossy floor. Everything looked different, smelled different and felt different. Stayed that way all the way up Clingman¢s which has some unbelievable views. The wind from the NC side was really whipping up and being exposed up there on the mountain was really something else. Finally got up there to the top (highest point on the trail!) and got to see all of the mountains we¢ve climbed over the past week or so. Had a great view.Went down the hill and met my aunt for a few days off in town, which are much needed. Getting some real food and a bed! Check this out ¢ on the way down there we passed through Pigeon Forge where Dollywood is, and check this out ¢ the Dollywood parade was going on and we got to see Ms. Dolly herself!
Date: 2006-04-09
From: Aunt's House

To: Ice Water Springs Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

Sunny today - guess I missed all the rain yesterday - perfect timing! Must have been very cold, too - ice was falling from everywhere and most of the mud was frozen. Supposed to be cold again tonight - low 20's. Can't wait till spring! Boots that are frozen solid are hell to put on.Sheltering again tonight because of the rules in the Smokys.. hate these shelters! Only a few more nights in the Smokeys.Lonely today - don't know anyone here but they all know eachother.
Date: 2006-04-10
From: Ice Water Springs Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: clear sky

20 miles today! Tired, but still (mostly) in one peice. The Smokys actually *are* flat, but not until you get north of Newfound Gap. It was a cool, sunny day, got an early start, and the terrain was flat, so I decided to get for it. Definitely sleeping well tonight! The long day also helped me catch some familiar faces, which is always a nice thing.Ran into some airplane fusilage that only I seemed to see - it was scattered down the mountainside. Very odd ---Going to be a pretty big gap between journal updates, I think.. less and less internet access. Might be 2 weeks or so until my next one..Sorry to all the people that have emailed or signed my guestbook who I haven't written back to! Just have very little time out in town, especially with all of the folks wanting to do the same as I am. But it's always good to hear from everyone even if I don't write back, and I *hugely* appreciate it.
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

Lazy 11 miles today, downhill from the Smokys. Got a hitch to Mtn Momma's for a huge cheeseburger which tasted fantastic. It was the first time so far on this trip that we've been anywhere really in the country. A few local guys struck up a conversation but I had a tough time understanding what they were saying. Tried to hide my cityboy-ness as best I could but that ain¢t easy.Decided to stay at Standing Bear while everyone else but Tyson went on (oh yeah, forgot to mention that I caught up with the crew after that 20 miler). Had a nice, relaxed night there, talking, drinking beer, playing some guitar and harmonica w/ some of the guys there.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 13.7

So word got out that there¢s going to be a party @ Max Patch and a *lot* of people were planning on heading up there. Mala, Tyson and I went to town last night and bought some wine and some whiskey, and Mala drove up to the patch early to set up. I got up there late (bitch of a climb with very raw feet) but there were 20+ people sitting up on the bald chilling out. Max Patch might be one of the coolest things I¢ve seen out here yet.. it¢s a *huge* bald on a mountain top that stretches for 34 of a mile I¢d say ¢ all grass. The view was unreal. The idea was that we¢d watch the sunset, moonrise, moonset, and sunrise from up there, with everyone cowboy camping @ the top. I actually snuck off a bit on to a lower bald to sleep, and it was really very strange. The moon was out, and I was in my bad with nothing, and I mean nothing, anywhere near me. The sky was beautiful and the wind was blowing, and everything in sight was was blue/grey in the light. Very surreal and very peaceful. Slept awfully, though ¢ mind still racing (probably form the vino).
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Max Patch

To: Deer Park Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Uugh, long day. Poor feet, got more new blisters. Maybe it's time for new boots in Hot Springs. Started grumpy today because of lack of sleep but it ended well - got to spend some time with Dangerzone and the 3/18 crew. I'm really, really glad I've been able to keep those guys no more than a day away. Got the shelter to myself so I think I'll sleep under the stars again tonight. Sore and stiff after a 17 miler but feeling good.Hot Springs tomorrow!Switched my platypus with a boxed wine bag ¢ now all my water tastes like Merlot.
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Deer Park Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs (Elmer's Place)
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Hot Springs! What a great little town. The AT runs right up main street, past the pub and the outfitters. Stayed at Elmer's B&B which was a nice change - it's an old Victorian home that's now a hostel. It's beautiful inside, with a library, music room, old formal dining room, etc. Elmer and his staff cook a vegetarian dinner for just a few bucks and it's unbelievably good. Was great to have a peaceful respite from the trail.Dangerzone¢s parents took us out to lunch (thanks guys!) E-Rock played a video of Dangerzone singing for her mom and she was appalled.
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Hot Springs (Elmer's Place)

To: Hot Springs (Elmer's Place)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Planned zero day at Hot Springs. Pretty quiet and uneventful except for the evening - it was Karaoke night at the local bar. Now you'd think, being that this is a small mountain town in NC that Karaoke Night would be a pathetic showing involving lots of steel guitar and bad whisky. But oh no, not in Hot Springs! The place was rockin! Most of the hikers sang a song or two ¢ Knock Knock and Hawkeye did some Lean on Me, the Aussies did a local Australian song about planes and Sydney (and of course the obligatory ¢Land Down Under¢ by Men At Work). ERock did ¢Bad to the Bone¢ ¢ whole bunch more that I¢m too drunk to recall. I did Love Shack with some local backup singers and a David Allen Coe song that turned out pretty good, I must say, for a New Yorker. Sneeked (Snuck?) back to Elmer¢s at 1am.Funny story that I learned today ¢ Knock Knock and I started the trail the same day and he hiked the approach trail with a friend of his that had done the trail in ¢03. And of course on the first day everyone¢s saying ¢I wonder if I¢ll make it, I wonder if these people are better cut out for it¢ blahblahblah. And Knock Knock¢s friend says ¢You¢ll make it. It¢s guys like THAT that don¢t make it¢ and he pointed to me. I¢ll admit that I looked pretty green when I started, but, anyone who¢s made it this far is carved out of wood by now.
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Hot Springs (Elmer's Place)

To: Hot Springs Campground
Miles today: 0.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Yup, a .2 mile day, from Elmer's place in Hot Springs to the campground in Hot Springs. I didn't want to do such a short day, but I couldn't get my ass in gear. This place sucks you in. All of my friends were staying at the campground and were planning a huge BBQ, so I stuck around. I'd like to say it was to let my feet heal but that would be a lie - it was to avoid hiking through a hangover.Was a beautiful day, though.. went for a swim in the French Broad and ended up upending in my new 'kilt', giving everyone (especially poor Vege) a show. It actually wasn't too great of a show due to how cold the water was.BBQ was damn good - must have been 40+ hikers that got wind of it. Let's see if I can remember who was there - Hawkeye, Knock Knock, the Aussie girls, Crazy and Armsleeve, Mala, Cheeto and Puffy, the Wanderers, Bravefriend, Tater and Sundance, Feng-shui.. I know there were more.. Was Rasta Leg's entourage there?Back to the trail tomorrow but I gotta tell ya - with these foot problems I'm not feeling it. At all.About that 'kilt'.. bought it at the outfitter today. They call it a kilt but it's not plaid, which essentially makes it a skirt. Hopefully it will solve some chafing problems.
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Hot Springs Campground

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Kilt experiment is a FAILURE! Awful, awful chafing that I cannot begin to describe. By the end of the day I could hardly walk. On top of that, the backs of my feet are ripped to pieces. I have to walk flatfooted everywhere. The heels of my socks are soaked with blood. AND I don¢t have my trail legs from our party weekend and it¢s getting cold again ¢¦¢¦..Hiking with the Aussie girls, Hawkeye and Tyson.. they¢re good at keeping my spirit¢s up.
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: White Rock Cliffs - campsite
Miles today: 11.7

Wanted to hike far today but my crew didn't want to go too far, which is a damn good thing because of the condition of my feet. Camping tonight on what looks like a popular local spot - we've had some high-school-aged visitors already, surprised to see us. More and more body problems. Actually borrowing Hawkeye's extra underwear for tomorrow - how nice is that?? Only on the AT would someone lend their drawers out.Oh yeah - best / worst Trail Magic today. Best because the couple (former hikers, don't remember their names) invite all the day¢s hikers into their home and cooked us an unbelievable meal. Stew, waffles, ice cream sundaes ¢ it was really something else. But it wasn¢t trail magic at all, it was a way to herd us all in to be Saved. Check this out ¢ they handed out a poem called ¢My Friend¢ written by a person, from Hell, explaining how during life his friend didn¢t work hard enough on him to Save him, so he wasn¢t a real friend at all, and now he¢s burning in Hell. Ain¢t that some shit? Ruined what on the surface was a kind deed between human beings, but was really just a ploy to get us to listen to their spiel. Made me feel tricked.
Date: 2006-04-19
From: White Rock Cliffs - campsite

To: Campsite
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Whoa, rough day. Feet are shredded. Might hike to Erwin in Crocs. But let us begin with last night ¢Tented last night, and a thunderstorm came through at about midnight. Nothing too awful, some wet spots but, on the whole, ok. Stopped at about 9, so we all got up and started packing. I had all of my gear strewn about and went to look for Knock Knock (who was camping about 14 mile away). Couldn¢t find him through the fog, so I went back. As I was coming back the sky opened and everything got soaked. It hailed marble sized hail for about 5 minutes and then just pouring, pouring rain. I packed up as fast as I could and walked about 4 miles, drenched to the bone. We took the blue blaze around the White Cliffs because the lighting and thunder was booming directly overhead. Boots were completely waterlogged. At last the sun came out, so we all spread our gear out in an old, sunny graveyard and watched it steam. Was an interesting test of what it¢s like, in the rain. It¢s no fun, but we might not always be so lucky as we have been.Not sure how I can possibly hike tomorrow with these bloody feet. When I say ¢bloody feet¢ I don¢t mean ¢gosh darn feet¢, I mean literally bloody. If I don¢t get boots in that fit me when I¢m in Erwin, I¢m done. I can¢t walk like this anymore.Some dogs are barking non-stop as I¢m writing this ¢ if they don¢t knock it off we¢re gonna have some dog stew with Lipton rice for dinner tomorrow.
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 230.0
Weather: scattered clouds

!! Sorry, this journal is really out of date. At some point I'll have to fill it in with all of the crazy things that have been going on, but internet access and time is really sparse. Just a quick update then until I can really update this thing (which might not be till I'm done!) :Made it to Virginia!Got new boots in Erwin TN, and the feet have been great. Old boots ripped my feet to peices and almost kicked me off the trail. They're in a garbage pail in a Holiday Inn.Got giardia or something and lost a lot of weight (not that I had much to loose!) and it kicked me off for a few days. Managed to catch back up and now I'm resting and trying to get fat.Hiking with Knock Knock, Hawkeye, Vegemite on Toast, Bluey, and Waltzing Matilda.Hiking in a kilt, which is basically a skirt. Sent my underwear home thinking I wouldn't need them with the kilt.. BAD idea, for (what are now) obvious reasons.It's getting hot.
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Route 70

To: Ensign Cowell Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: haze

Back to the woods today after 2ish days in Baltimore with my cousins. Was really nice and relaxing.. great to see family, esp family that I don't get to see too often. They spoiled a bit with good food and modern amenities which made coming back out here tough, but after a few miles on the trail I'm always (well, usually) glad to be back.Hiked in with my cousin David and his son Jackson, who wanted to have a trailname right away . We gave him one that I liked, but, he wasn't too fond of (don't worry Jackson I won't say what it was!) David snuck in a few beers the whole 9 miles.. those went down niice.Huge crowd here tonight.. getting to see a lot of folks that I haven't seen in a while and met yet more thruhikers.. one of the nice things about having a sporadic hiking schedule. 2 different boy scout troops here as well.. we thought about spreading rumors to get them to fight, but, we're nicer than that, unfortunately.
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Another quick entry .. sorry!* I finally got pocketmail, so I'll be able to update this *much* more often.* The miles listed as my total are kinda messed up.. Today I'm in Waynesboro VA which is at about the 848 mile mark.* Doing well.. check in soon for some real journal entries now that I have the mailer.Thanks to everyone that's been egging me on It does help!Only 250 miles left in VA then I'll be north of the Mason-Dixon line!
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Nice zero day today. It was Waynesboro's Trail Fest which was pretty low key. Watched 'Walking with Freedom', an AT documentary made by an 03'er. Had a few spoilers in it for the later miles, but, it definitely got me excited to keep going.After the movie they had an awesome spaghetti dinner and then shuttled us to a local town to watch Xmen 3.. Very nice! The folks here have been really great to us.. they take a lot of time out for the hikers.Back into the woods tomorrow.. hopefully will sleep tonight cause I'm wiped out.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Blackrock Gap

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: light rain

Today started off very badly, for absolutely no reason. I got a ride back to the gap at 7am by a very nice trail angel (Bob), and hiked to the first shelter and lost it. Just sat there with my head in my hands for over an hour. I just didn't want to hike anymore. Not another foot.. I wanted to go home. I didn't know why, either.. it was such a perfect day. I was completely deflated, and it felt awful. This is becoming more and more common.. I feel like I just don't enjoy the woods anymore. I see beatiful things and they're wasted on me. And if you don't enjoy the woods then you definitely can't enjoy busting your ass to hike 20+ miles in them every day.I did feel better after about an hour or so of hiking, but these down times are really tough to deal with. I have to sit and remember why I'm out here, and remember that these tough times are tests, and I either let them win or I pull myself up and keep going. It's getting harder and harder though.I did come out of today with a nice story, however. The deer here are very tame, and they're all over the place (there's actually one behind my tent eating right now). So as I was hiking I passed a doe and a fawn eating. I spooked them a bit but they just sort of ambled away. The mom went down a steep hill but the baby was too afraid to go down and starting baying at it's mom. Poor thing was scared to death of both me and that hill but finally decided to go for it, and he ended up falling and rolling down to the bottom. It was pretty damn cute. He was ok after that.. found mom and bounded off.Well, off to bed. 24 miles tomorrow, just because of the way these shelters are spaced. Sucks to have to speed through this section. 900 mile marker tomorrow too.. rediculous.
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Hightop Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow, long day today.. The shelters in SNP are badly spaced so you either do too short of a day or too long. For the past few days its been too long. 55ish miles in 2 days.Finally saw my first bear! Big one too. He was about 40 ft away and not very afraid of me; I couldn't get him to leave. Finally he moved back into the woods a bit and I snuck by. After that every black object in the woods became a bear.. every shadow, rock, stump..Saw more deer today than people, no joke. As I write this there is one right outside my tent sniffin around. When I was eating dinner a mom and her baby walked right by me, maybe 25 ft away. The fawn was brand-spankin new.. still wobbly and spotted. After that there were 5 more in the next 30 mins or so. Maybe there was a parade and I set my tent up in it.Felt better today.. finishing 900 helped, as did the perfect weather. In a week or so it'll be 1000.. that's insane.Also almost got bit by what started out as a very cute dog, and then became a little bastard.Eating breakfast at the Skyland Resturant tomorrow.. That's gonna rock!
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

Today was a nice day, very nice. Saw 5 (5!) bears today. Saw bear #2 this morning about 100 yds from my tent.. little cub. Sounded like a little baby crying. Booked it to Skyland for some breakfast and spent a good 2 hours on the phone workin out some stuff. At about 12:30 I was on my way back to the trail and I saw K'ache and Pi.. they were coming in for lunch and I figured I might as well stick around for lunch too! Didn't get on the trail until 2:30 and still had 11 miles to do.. stupid.On my way up I saw bear #3 running away from me up a tree. About a mile from that I ran into a tricky situation.. Momma bear and baby bear to my left, about 15 ft away, and another baby bear on the right up a tree, and I was between them. Momma bear ran away but only a few feet.. she didn't want to leave the one baby behind, but I couldn't pass them. Then momma started walking right at me through the brush but I didn't wait around.. I shuffled past the babies so that mom could get to both of them. After I was clear of them I made a huge racket and they all took off. Phew! That's enough bear sightings for now.Went up to Mary's Rock on a side trip, which was perfect.. 3 hawks swooping directly overhead, and the sky was orange from the setting sun and the storms in the west. Turned everything an unbelievable color.. one of those magic moments that can make up for a week of bad days. Beautiful.Sheltering with a good bunch.. Birkenstock and his girlfriend, mousecatcher, k'ache, and pi.
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Pass Mtn Shelter

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 22.7

Slept awful.. tried to stay in the shelter so I could get moving early, but once again, and I keep making the same mistake: sleeping in shelters NEVER works. Must have slept about 4 or 5 hours and then had to hike 23 miles on it.. that sucks. Mice, and snoring, and trying not to make noise, and bugs, all combine to equal the worst sleep you've ever had.Pretty uneventful day, just long. Worked out the logistics with my cousin for a stay in Baltimore so I'm *definitely* looking forward to that.Upped my bear count to 7 today.. 7 in 3 days. Is that a record? Got 2 feet away from a hiding fawn tucked away in the weeds and curled into a little ball. Poor guy was scared to death of me..Staying at the Terrapin Station hostel with Lebowski, Bofus and Doubleshot.. really nice place. Should sleep good tonight (I hope..)
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Stayed at Terrapin last night.. really nice place. Didn't sleep too well but then again I never do. Meant to do a 15 today but Mike the Grateful (sic) Greenpeace Guy and the other 3 guys convinced me to stick around for Pizza Hut buffet, which was a great idea.On my way down I bumped into Rematch yet again.. he, I and Salt & Pepper are the only ones in this awesome shelter. It's a perfect summer night.. nice breeze, pretty bugless.Lost my Nalgene.. I really liked that one too. Dumbass.In two more days I'll be out of VA and at the 1000 mile mark.
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Roy Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Really nice day today.. just good flat hiking with perfect weather. Did 19 miles and it was a breeze. For the first time ever I slept well in a shelter. It was just Rematch and I and I knew Rematch wasn't a snorer so I went for it. Slept great. Rematch has rediculous miles to do to make it on time so I probably won't be seeing him again, but it was nice hiking with him.Had some awesome trail magic today from a guy named Tim.. had 4 hot dogs, 2 beers and a kit kat. Becca (who I hadn't seen since Kincora) and Salt showed up and we stuck around and talked for about 2 hours.. really nice.Had a beautiful sunset hike to the shelter and it was packed with Boy Scouts so I'm banished off into the woods tonight. Ate 1/2 lb of tortellini after those 4 hot dogs.. where does it go?? Wait until I post some pictures and you can all see how skinny I am.. nothing left of me.
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Roy Hollow Shelter

To: David Wesser Shelter
Miles today: 21.0

Oof, long day but who cares.. I'm out of VA and I've walked 1000 miles! Did the 'Rollercoaster' today which was probably the roughest terrain we've had for about 500 miles.. Just uuup and dooown all day until the last 3 miles or so. Not used to that and I was trying to maintain my usual Virginia speed and it kicked my ass. As soon as I slowed down and stopped trying to fit 3 miles in an hour I did much better.Weather is still unbelievably perfect.. mother nature is just doing this to make us take down our guard and then BLAMO - 3 weeks of rain.Little baby bird flew into me today.. maybe he was just learning how to fly. Crashing into a human is probably an automatic failure from bird flight school.Really looking forward to Harpers Ferry tomorrow.. it's one of those towns that you read about in AT books and think "It'll take 3 full months of walking to make it there.." and here I am! Almost everyone who's going to drop of does it at or before Harpers Ferry.. it's just us long haulers left now. I've only seen 4 other thruhikers for days.. very quiet.Still not sleeping.. bearanoid. What's the matter with me??