morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-05
To: Tip Top Tips!
Miles today: 0.0

I had the pleasure of dining with Skywalker and Sunflower (aka Immo and Anne Christoph) last night. Having invited myself over to pick Immo¢s brain about all things Thru-hike related after his successful Thru-Hike in 2006. Check out his journal Here it¢s a great read. I had a great time hearing all about the trail and getting loads of helpful hints about trail life- if you roll cans of beer up in a Thermarest they stay cold for hours! Thanks to Anne for volunteering to help keep this journal up to date.
Date: 2007-03-06
To: Sushi Extravaganza
Miles today: 0.0

My last meal in NH for what could be a long time. I went out for sushi with Dylan and Guz as a preemptive thank you for all the behind the scenes logistics they are doing while I¢m on the trail. We ended up getting the biggest plate of sushi on the menu- the Party Boat! The delicious sushi was followed by some bowling in Keene. I¢m setting off for Indiana tomorrow, it¢s a 16 hour drive so I¢m going half way finding a place to sleep then doing the rest on Thursday.
Date: 2007-03-08
To: Indiana here I come
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up early this morning for some reason. Loaded the car then went to leave, only to discoverer that if you accidentally leave the internal light on in your car it drains the battery and the car won¢t start- who would have thought it? So I found a helpful chap from the motel who jump started the car and off I went! It got warmer and warmer as I headed west through Ohio and south through Indiana the grass got greener, the snow got thinner, the sky got bluer and the country music stations grew more common. I arrived at Jesse¢s at 8 we went out to some bars in Bloomington where he lives
Date: 2007-03-09
To: Indiana
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up feeling a little worse for wear this morning. The weather outside is fantastic! The three of us headed out into Green County Indiana to a local diner where I tasted biscuits and gravy for the first time- it was good. Next we headed to Jesses parents¢ house and hung out with him mum and niece. Next stop was Green county¢s claim to fame- the 3rd largest Railroad Viaduct in the world!!!!! Yes that¢s right. After that Katri headed to work and Jesse, one of his good friends Jessica and I headed of to the local winery, ranked in the top 10 in the country. We tasted lots of wine and then bought a bottle and has ourselves a picnic in the park. Next we headed to Jesse¢s friends¢ place where we drank lots more wine and waited for Jesse¢s friend Weed to come home. Weed came home and we drank some more wine. We went out for Chinese food, came home drank some more, played poker then headed out to a bar in local Bloomington Indiana.
Date: 2007-03-11
To: Virgina bound
Miles today: 0.0

I left my motel in Zanesville and set off on my journey to Courtney¢s n Virginia. I arrived about 4:30 and found a lovely note from her mum letting me know Courtney was at work and would be home later. Courtney¢s parents are moving into their new home so Courtney is looking after the old house for a while. It¢s a really beautiful home in a great part of the country.
Date: 2007-03-12
To: Fun in Va
Miles today: 0.0

Courtney and I left at 9:30. she has to work today for 4 hours but i went with her becasuse she works at REI and I need some stuff for my trip. I bought the last few items for my trip- a pair of crocs, toilet paper and a Titanium cooking pot.I headed back to courtneys to play with my trip equiptment and pack up my bag for the last time. Courtney got home at 4 and we headed out for yummy vietnamese food. Next we headed 40 minutes into Washington DC for a trivia night at a bar (aka a pub quiz) we met a friend of hers and hung out at the bar. our team, "A Bit of Slap 'n Tickle" didn't win but got a free beer for most amusing answer.
Date: 2007-03-13
To: Big Drive
Miles today: 0.0

Courtney and I headed out for breakfast at a traditional diner and then I set off at 9:50 on my 635 mile drive to Dahlonega, Georgia, not before Courtney gave me a packed lunch that she had made for me complete with a bagel sandwich, a sweet bagel, chips, dried fruit, 2 sodas and a cup cake all kept cold with an ice pack sweet!I ate my packed lunch for lunch- duh! but when 5:30 rolled around it was time for more food so I stopped at some services. I rolled up to the Hostel at 7:30 and got my bunk in a room with 3 other guys. The first guy i met was British (typical) the second was an ex-marine who was hiking the at for a 2nd time called Eagal, he's from Texas
Date: 2007-03-14
To: Car Selling
Miles today: 0.0

We get woken up at 6:50 every morning in time for breakfast, we get woken so that people taking the shuttle bus to the trail are all ready on time. The hostel provided breakfast for 14 hikers, French toast and scrambled eggs all round, 2 of my least favorite breakfast items (after oatmeal) but I ate a little of each. The people heading out today did not eat as much as I though they would there was lots left over. I headed out to the local town to get the car washed and then headed to the local supermarket and cleaned out the interior. The car looks really good inside the outside has a lot of rust and scratches- I guess a lot of which used to be hidden by dirt. I drove to the next town over (about 40 miles) to meet the guy who is buying my car! We had agreed to meet at the local Burger King (sketchy) to make the exchange at 11:00. Well 12 o¢clock rolls around and I¢m freaking out, what the heck am I going to do with the car if I don¢t sell it! I head back to the hostel (1.5 hour drive) and find an email from the guy asking where I was- turns out he was at the towns other Burger King across town- oops. We will hopefully meet up tomorrow instead so that I can still start hiking on Friday.
Date: 2007-03-15
To: Car Sold
Miles today: 0.0

Got up at 7 again for breakfast with the departing hikers. i sold my car today which was sweet, I got a really good price for it too. i was waiting for my ride, in Burger king next door to the bus station, to take me back to the hostel. I'm wearing my hiker clothes now, a little old lady came up to me and offered me $5 to get something to eat because I "looked hungry". I guess she thought i was homeless or something which is odd because i was checking my email on my laptop at the time- but she was really sweet. I like Georgia a lot.Headed back to the hostel checked my gear for the last time, my pack weighs 37 pounds with 4 days food and 2 liters of water which is what i'd hoped it would weigh. i start tomorrow wish me luck.
Date: 2007-03-16
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mtn Shetler
Miles today: 7.6

It Begins:-Got up at 7 and ate breakfast with the other hopeful hikers. Got dropped off at the trail and at 9:41 set foot on the Appalachian Trail to begin my journey northI met up with 2 other hikers, Stinger and Swamp Dawg both thru hiked a year or two ago and they are out hiking for a month to meet the new hikers and teach us some tricks of the trade. I hiked with them until 2:30 when we arrived at a shelter. The weather was turning bad so they decided to stay here rather than push on. The weather got colder and colder so most of us retreated to out sleeping bags. By 7:00 there were 12 people in the shelter and numerous people camping. The temperature dropped below freezing 28 degrees F acording to my thermometer. My water bottle froze solid.
Date: 2007-03-17
From: Hawk Mtn Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

Stinger and Swamp Dawg were up before first light getting ready to move out, the rest of us hid from the cold in out bags. I got up to make hot coco for breakfast and was met with a brief flurry of snow outside the shelter. I packed up and headed out before the rest, I counted 14 tents on my way out. I caught up with Swamp Dawg and Stinger after about 2 hours and hiked with them, they told me great stories and tales from the trail both with thick Georgia accents. We reached Gooch Gap at 2:30 I'd done my planned miles for the day and I, wanting to take it easy for the first 3 weeks, opted to stay- Stinger and Swamp Dawg opted to hike another 6 miles bringing their day up to 13 miles. I hope to catch them in a few days. (Did i mention that Stinger and Swamp Dawg are aged 60 & 72?) They taught me loads about the trail I hope I see them again.Was alone at the campsite tonight which was odd considering the 26 people around me last night, tried my tent out and it worked great, temperature went sub zero again brrrr it was cold but I wore everything i had with me and was toasty.
Date: 2007-03-18
From: Gooch Gap

To: Slaughter Creek Campground
Miles today: 11.0

Met a few other people today, Chance and Jimmy Mac were great to chat too and I pushed on till 5 today to notch up 11 miles my greates distance yet. Alone at this campsite too, I can't believe it! Heading to Neels gap tomorrow and to a hostel for the night.
Date: 2007-03-21
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Cheese Factory Camp Site
Miles today: 11.6

Today was my best day on the trail yet. Bobcat and I hiked together for a while until he outpaced me. It was getting later in the day and I was getting tired. As I came round the corner nearing my campsite I saw 3 Cases of Budwieser and 4 people round a fire. Two of the poeple invited me to sit down and have a beer and some BBQ chicked hot off the grill- I didn't need to be asked twice. This is my first TRAIL MAGIC experience. Holly Trout and Slick B hiked the trail last year and have come to this campsite for 3 days to do trail magic for Thru-Hikers. They gave me and the other hikers who decided to camp there (10 of us) chicken, burgers, Bratwurst, fruit & veg, beer, wiskey and soda! We stayed up late and people played Guitar, Mandalin, Banjo and harmonica round the fire. They would not accept any money for doing all of this they just do it to help hikers and have a fun 3 days, they are TRAIL ANGEL's in the truest sense.
Date: 2007-03-22
From: Cheese Factory Camp Site

To: Moreland Gap
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Holly Trout and Slick B made us eggs, pancakes and sausage this morning for breakfast. I thanked them and set off on my way. Good day today full of energy after all the good food, a little dehydrated after all the beer- nothing Gatorade won't fix.
Date: 2007-03-23
To: Cloud 9 Hostel
Miles today: 1.2

Hi folks, today is my 1 week trail-aversiry I'm treating myself to a stay at the cloud 9 Hostel down from Dicks Creek gap, 66 miles into my journey and loving every minute of it. The hostel is great i just had a hot shower and did laundry for the first time in 7 days it felt great
Date: 2007-03-25
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

My longest day yet on the trail, hiked 9AM til 5PM clocking up 16.2 miles. Hiked at the same pace as 'One Day' today a nice chap from PA tented with 4 others at Betty Creek. One of the many motto's Thru-Hikers have adopted is "if the miles are easy, take 'em"
Date: 2007-03-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Came across some awesome trail magioc today, after a long day of climbs we found 'Bare Bear' and 'Jelly Bean' at a road crossing who provided us with an All You Can Eat (AYCE) spagetti dinner, soda, beer, a camp fire, fresh drinking water, fruit, candy and then AYCE pancake breakfast in the morning. Trail Magic at its best. Hung out (caught up with) with M&M, The Sauce Master, Swamp Foot, Scooby, Breadless Horseman, Beatbox, Kiwi, Sublime and Bowleggs.
Date: 2007-04-01
From: Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm here in Fontana Dam NC taking a zero day with Beat Box, Breadless, M&M, and Kiwi going to pick up my first mail drop here tomorrow, Thanks Guz for sending it out! Heading into the Smokey Mopuntains tomorrow which I'm really excited about. Wore my rain gear for the first time 2 days ago for 1 hour. Met up with Bluebell and Tree at NOC who I have not seen since the Hostel in Dalonega, thanks for the beer Bluebell! The Shelter I'm staying in is nicknamed the Fontana Hilton because there are free showers and bathrooms nearby, it sleeps 24 people and is only about 5 years old.I just popped into town to make a couple of calls, resupply on food, do some laundry and post this. See you all down the trail.
Date: 2007-04-05
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Gatlinburg (Ice Water Spring)
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: few clouds

We were wet at the only road crossing in the smokies with the welcome sight of some trail magic laid on by Papa Smurf and Big Red. 2 fresh hamburgers at 10am never tasted so good. Big red gave Beat Box and I a ride into Gatlinburg to resupply and my what a town! It's like a mini Las Vegas i.e every fast food chain imaginable and hundreds of tourists. we were back on the trail 4 hours later (after a huge pizza of course)2 Milestones passed today! Crossed the 200 mile mark and made it further than Bill Bryson ever did (he quit in Gatlinburg).
Date: 2007-04-07
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Hi all, My biggest day yet! Woke up this morning to find 2-3" of snow covering everything outside the shelter. The temperature dropped to 16F/-9C last night, I was wearing everything i own except my rain jacket and was just warm enough in my bag. I stayed in my sleeping bag for a while, poking my feet out the bottom to walk around. Beatbox and I left as quickly as we could so as to get warm by hiking. I boiled water and put some in my water bottle so it would not freeze for a while- my camel back is already frozen so good job i have a nalgeane. We started hiking and slowly warmed up the water in my bottle started turning icy after 3 hours so i finished it off.Beatbox and I decided to hike a big day to get out of the snow, pushing 18 miles taking us out of the Smokey's and into Tennesse to a hostel called Standing Bear Farm. My lowest point on the trip so far was arriving at the hostel to find it was full. All the other hikers in the bunk house made room for us to sleep on the floor rather than see us tent in the snow which was really nice of them.Standing Bear Farm was awesome, we got hot showers, did laundry ate junk food and cooked a Pizza that was yummy. One of the guys there bought $100 of beer to share with everyone so we all hung out in the bunk house around the wood stove.I was really proud of myself today, i feel that if i can hike in the snow and cold temeratures like i did today i have what it takes to make it all the way to Maine.
Date: 2007-04-08
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

Half day today, hung around the hostel and relaxed untiol Lunch time, ate another pizza then hiked to the next shelter. Quite the crowd here tonight, Me, Beatbox, M&M, Blubelle & Tree, EX-Duzit, Bocefuss, Dozer, Thunder, Sniper, Willing & Able, bag lady and The Breadless Horseman even showed up- i thought he'd be really far ahead by now.
Date: 2007-04-09
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Walked over Max Patch today, a huge bald on one of the mountains that the trail passed over. Got trail magic twice today- Bag-Lady, Able, Beatbox and I met a couple out day hiking who gave us easter candy yummy, 1 minute later we came to a stream full of sodas which quenched our thirst. Happy Easter to all.
Date: 2007-04-10
From: Walnut Mtn Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

The trail passes through its first town today, Hot Springs NC. Beatbox and I hiked to Elmers' Hostel to spend the night and were later joined by Breadless, M&M, Willing & Able, Bag Lady and a few more. This hostel is amazing! It is an old victorian house and all the decor is origonal with a music room and several original bathrooms with large claw-foot tubs. Every room in the house is filled with bookshelves. Every left-wing political or social commentary book ever written can be found at Elmer's, along with a huge collection on Zen Buddhism, the entire works of nature-writer Edward Abbey, and a large shelf of AT books.
Date: 2007-04-11
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Breadless and I left after a big lunch today, Beatbox is taking a zero and hoping to catch up later this week. at about 5 o'clock with 2 miles to go it started to rain really hard and the wind was gusting hard over the ridgeline we were walking. I put on my new gaitors, pack cover and rain jacket and headed on. It was a tough 2 mile climb to the shelter and we did it without stopping so as not to get cold. We got to the shelter to find Sniper already there huddled up in her sleeping bag eating dinner. The shelter was facing right into the wind so Breadless and I rigged up our tents over the open side of the shelter to protect us from the wind, we did a good job and stayed warm that night.
Date: 2007-04-12
From: Spring Mtn Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Up and out by 8:30 I left before Sniper and Breadless but the caught me and passed me after a 90 mins. At 10:30 we got to a road and found a note telling us about some trail magic 300 yards off the trail so we went to investigate. We were greeted by Hercules from his front porch who invited us into his home to eat some food. Hercules and his wife Fal (pronounced Fall) laid on a huge feast for us (even for breadless who can't eat gluton) Sniper and I started with a Belgian Waffle each + syrup, then had a plate of picadillo (a Cuban dish mainly consisting of ground beef, rasins, chopped apple and tomato served on a bed of rice)then finished off with a huge Banana Split. They talked to us for a little while about their religious beliefs and explained they are trying to help hikers find their own truth about religion (not necesarily christianity). It was interesting to listen too, they weren't trying to convert people or anything like that, just encouraging us to be sure about what we believe in.After 1 and a half hours there we decided it was time to hit the road. Breadless and I hiked togother most of the day and talked about lots of ramdom stuff, we ended up hiking over a rocky exposed ridgeline that gave us some amazing views. I got a bit ahead of Breadless but 10 minutes later heard him yell "F**K" really loud so i headed back down the trail half expecting to find him unconcious at the bottom of a clif or something but he came around the corner having just stepped awkwardly on a rock.Got to the shelter to find Sniper already there chatting with Chill Out who is tenting nearby, Snipers turn to hang the bear bag resulted in a cople of amusing atempts by her to get the line over a tree. Shelter had trash all over the place, half a bottle of Maple Syrup, Pringles tins, Coffee and candy wrappers not good if there are bears around Breadless and I cleaned up and hung the trash. PACK OUT YOUR TRASH PEOPLE!!!
Date: 2007-04-15
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: light rain

Made it to Erwin TN by 11AM, Checked into Uncle Johnnys Hostel, took a shower did some laundry then headed into town with BeatBox for All-you-Can-Eat Chinese buffet! Feeling full we headed back to the hostel and watched a coule of movies. Headed out for Hardey's burgers at 6:00 came back watched another movie (I sence a theme)
Date: 2007-04-16
From: Erwin TN

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 92.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Breadless and I are taking a well earned Zero Day! Went to Huddle House this morning for a (huge) (delicious) breakfast. Sitting in the Library getting my internet fix yey!I'm picking up mail in a couple of weeks, click Mail Drops on the left if you want the address.No I didn't hike 92.8 miles today but i'm trying to get my current milage to display correctly
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: light rain

Up early today what with the packed shelter and everyone getting ready to leave. Light rain in the morning. I headed into the rain and reached a road after 6.3 miles. My Thru-Hikers Companion book told me Trents grocery store/deli was 0.4 miles east so i headed there, only to find Dorothy and Toto enjoying large quantities of good southern food. I joined them at their table and ate a big burger and chips, i also got a sandwich made up to carry with me and eat for dinner. Toto paid for both my meals in thanks for me fetching his water last night which was very generous of him. As I looked out of the window it seemed to be raining harder and harder and i was dreading climbing another 16.3 miles in this rain but i really wanted to catch Beatbox and Breadless so i set off into the rain. For the first 10 miles i just wore a T-shirt, shorts, and gaitors but it started to get colder and rain harder so i put on my rain jacket. The trail had become a river is many places and is know as 'Whitewater Hiking' amongst some hikers.About 10 miles from the shelter i remember thinking "wow i couldn't get any wetter than i am right now" thats when my left shoe filled up with water. After another mile the water in my shoe heated up and i thought "gee this isn't too bad" thats when my right show filled up.By the time i arrived at the shelter i had walked 16 miles without stopping for a single break for fear of getting cold. The shelter was full but everyone made room for me and i fit in. We hung lots of drying lines in the shelter and ate hot food to warm us up.I've never hiked so far for so long in as aweful conditions as i did today, I was tired soaked to the skin but proud of myself
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Doc's Knob Shelter 

To: Pearisburg,VA
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

Got up late today, packed up and was on the trail at 9AM only an 8 mile hike to town. By 1 o¢clock I realized I had passed the road I should have gone down so had to back track for 1.5 miles- I was really mad at myself. I started to walk the 3 miles through town to the hostel but some magic struck when I was picked up by Footpump¢s mum (I¢ve never met Footpump he¢s a few days I front but his mum saw I was a hiker and gave me a ride to the hostel door!) Headed out to town, did laundry, ate Chinese buffet with Smiley, Chicken, Granite and Terrapin Flyer. Met Joseph Stalin, Tin Tin and Pythagoras at the hostel just five of us staying at this converted barn tonight run by a church. Headed to Wal-Mart to re-supply spent about $50 on 5 days food which seemed a bit more than usual.
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg,VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Time for a zero today. Had a hard week this week- I'll post about it later. Resting up today and feeling better Jesse Jackson came out to hike with me last weekend which was great. It's saturday so the library is closing so i have to go. I added a bunch of Pics check them out.Joseph Stalin, Tin Tin and Pythagoras here again plus McQueen, Beach Bum, The Crazy Train (ohm, 1/4 moon, jew Dog, and the Dude) and Beatbox all here tonight sharing a couple of drinks and some good food.
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Pearisburg,VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up at 7 o'clock cooked a massive omlette at the hostel for Beatbox and I. Packed up my stuff and was ready to go by 10:30 just in time to catch the church congragation leaving the service so getting a hitch 3 miles back to the trail was easy.Arrived at the shelter to find it had been hit by a tree, the tree was still lying on the shelter the top bunks were not really usable and it would definatly leak if it rained. We all squeezed in for the night as there was no place to pitch a tent. The Dude, Ohm, Pythagorus, Joseph Stalin, Beatbox and I spent the night.