morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-02-04
To: Likes a Fox
Miles today: 0.0

Now that I am walking daily again I have seen so much wildlife! I know I keep mentioning this, but I have seen three foxes last week and each one gave me a better look than I have ever had of a fox before. Two things have changed. First: I have seldom walked in the open areas when there is snow on the road and fields. The foxes contrast well in the snow. (And during winter there's no leafy weeds for cover.) Second: I am making an effort to SEE. I MUST concentrate on NOT watching the ground when I'm walking. There's a reasonable compromise between insuring good footing and enjoying the scenery. I've noticed that one quick glance at the ground is all that's needed for 5 or sometimes many more steps. In rougher territory I will have to re-evaluate, but I hope I can find a way to see more than the path where-e'er I roam. I am still ticking off "to do" items and many remain still. The "big-ticket" items are the ones I've been procrastinating on. (Vehicle repairs and inspections and such.) But I'm getting closer. One thing is certain and that's my departure date. "Ready or not... here I come!"
Date: 2004-02-06
To: Unexpected Support
Miles today: 0.0

I visited my doctor for a check-up. He surprised me because he already knew I was planning to hike the A.T. I had a nice visit with him, and he was interested to know details of my plans. He suggested several ideas for contingencies on the trip and he updated my shots. THANKS to my doctor!After my visit with him I went on a walk and hiked just a bit over 15 miles. It was a beautiful day although cold. The sun shone on the newly fallen snow and the snowflakes sparkled like glitter. Just beautiful!!I paused near the halfway point of my walk to listen to the blackbirds. Wow, they, were amazing... Seems they were all singing a different song and it all added up to a great concert.Yep. It was a great day.
Date: 2004-02-07
To: Someone I'll miss
Miles today: 0.0

Meet Katie. She is a happy Brittany/Border Collie mix that knows how to heel very well. She loves our almost daily walks. She knows that when another person is approaching on the sidewalk she must heel and so I rarely have to say "Heel". Otherwise she is free to explore and smell the bushes and stuff freely.When Katie first joined our family and I began to think it was time for my walk, I would say to Katie, "Hey, wanna go for a walk?" Woof! She almost exploded with enthusiasm! She would begin hopping and spinning and tearing through the house, jumping against the door, huffing and puffing. It seemed like I was torturing her as I slowly prepared myself for the planned adventure and she waited impatiently for me to get ready."Walk" became a key word. Any conversation that included the word "walk" would bring her to her feet. Now, any conversation that includes spelling... like "W - A - L - K" makes her perk-up her ears and raise her eyebrows and make her look longingly with those cute brown eyes. So I stopped asking her before I was ready to actually leave the house.   Instead I tried to get ready first, and then ask her if she wanted to go for a walk. Always the same reaction though, jumping, spinning and tearing through the house until finally we were out the door.Soon though, she discovered that certain actions on my part meant we MIGHT be going for a walk. It became a sort of game for me to see how much walk preparation I could accomplish before Katie would discover that we were going walking. Katie likes to sleep in the cool basement in the summer, while upstairs I would quietly open my sock drawer, and gently sit on the bed to put on my socks. Generally this is as far as I got before Katie was beside me expressing her interest in "our" plans. I'm never fast enough though. Before I can get my socks on she is yawning and looking disgusted because we should be outside already, not fooling around with socks and stuff. Her excitement progresses as I don more and more hiking clothes. My socks... she expresses interest, but maybe it's a false alarm.My pants... no big deal, he always wears pants. But I'll start breathing hard and yawning frequently just to show I'm onto him.My shoes, boots. Hey! This could BE something! She begins pacing and panting.My hat! "YEEEE-HAWWWW"! She jumps and spins and tears through the house and scratches at the door cause... "WE'RE GOING FOR A WALK!"
Date: 2004-02-22
To: Hiking the Appalachians
Miles today: 0.0

This is likely my last entry before I leave the warmth and comfort of home for the wide open world of the great outdoors. I've been dreaming of this adventure for years and years, but I am realizing I could have used a lot more prep time. No matter, I'm going to do this. It isn't rocket science. Several people think I can't go the distance... My advice is. "Don't bet against me." The farthest I've hiked on a "hike" was about 18 miles.   My pack weight is about 50 pounds and the load is a challenge that I welcome. 2000 plus miles, wow. I'm so excited. Pain WILL be a factor. I'm not looking forward to steep descents, but I will not give up. I'm not looking forward to the rocks of Pennsylvania, and I will decide later if I will traverse them or go around them. I don't intend to be a "purist" on this hike, meaning that I will follow the AT trail where it suits me; and where it doesn't suit me it doesn't matter. "I am flexible".....hmmm maybe I'll change my trail name.The first time I heard of the Appalachian Trail, it was a story of ideallic paths through meadows and foothills, farms and towns, country roads and sunshine. Reading some of the material now, I have learned that sometimes out of necessity and sometimes for other reasons, the trail has been routed over terrain that is far from my ideal. In the last two months I have vacillated on whether it's important for me to follow THE trail as I journey from GA tew ME. *wink* Some comments that I've heard have made me realize that if I blue-blaze or dare to "Hike-My-Own-Hike" - then nay-sayers will be able to point and say I didn't conform. I agree!If you have read the literature and journals, you learn that there are a group of vocal hikers that consider themselves "Purists" because they claim that they have passed EACH WHITE BLAZE on the APPALACHIAN TRAIL. It's important to them. My goal is to walk all the way from Georgia to Maine, starting at the Southern Terminus atop Springer Mountain and ending someplace in Maine - maybe at the Northern Terminus on Katahdin. I will walk to Maine. Something to this effect has been said, "Success isn't the destination, but the Journey." For me - It's not where my feet tread, but where my heart soars. Next time I post an entry I'll be "Hiking the Appalachians."Oh! I'm arriving in Atlanta March 2 and hiking March 3. GAdewME a.k.a. Flex
Date: 2004-02-24
To: Breaking in my shoes.
Miles today: 0.0

I had to write again dear journal because today was fabulous. I decided I'd leave my boots at home because now after putting at least two hundred miles in them, I realize they are just not good enough.   My "camp/water" shoes, New Balance 850 are clearly better for comfort. So I went to get a new pair of the same NB shoe and the supplier said it would be several weeks before they could have a pair of 850s for me. (Seems odd, huh?) Anyway I tried on a less expensive NB 746. They are very comfortable and lighter than the 850 model. So here I am breaking in my new shoes.It was a cold day, but the sun was shining. On areas where the snow has melted from the fields, a warm cloud of steam was rising from the black fertile soil and floating across the ground at knee level. Very surreal. I decided to hike through some fields that I had discovered in the summer where a rutted dirt road follows along the riverbank. Little did I know that the road was still mostly covered in deep snow. "Great!" I thought. All the better to ready myself for NEXT WEEK. (More about conditioning later.) As I plowed through the snow, slipping and sliding I looked ahead about 30 yards and saw a dark form moving slowly away. I stopped and watched to see a fox re-appear from behind a sagebrush bush. It looked at me and then in a sudden spurt of speed ran across the snow-covered field. I had heard that they were very fast but to witness this speed was awesome. About a quarter mile further on I spotted a deer in the distance, I stopped to stare and soon discovered she was with 6 others! I rarely see deer in this area - so close to the city and far from the mountains. It was a great day for wildlife.About conditioning: I would have scoffed at the need for conditioning for a mere "walk through the Appalachians" 30 years ago. What a concept. But after years of office work and relative inactivity I'm now aware that I can no longer expect to be able to walk mile after mile, day after day as easily as I once could. I have improved significantly since I started working to "train" in September. I started slow, but improvement came quickly and I was very pleased with my progress. Then when we got a heavy blanket of snow that stood to cover sidewalks and paths and even the shoulders of the roads, there was no safe place to walk - so I laid off training for a few weeks. Huge mistake, because I felt I had lost all my previous gains. But no, not lost but just a setback. I am back to a point where I can walk further than before and with more comfort.So... today as I was walking, breaking in my new shoes a song got stuck in my head. It's goes like this:Breaking in my shoes,Breaking in my shoes,We are all rejoicing....Breaking in my shoes!On and on ad nauseum
Date: 2004-02-29
To: The rare bird
Miles today: 0.0

My journey begins on Tuesday when the Great GAdewME (Guh doo mee - a rare bird) flies to Denver then to Atlanta. Flying some 3000 plus miles in one day just to arrive at the start of another journey that could take six months.   The GAdewME is usually spotted near the shores of the Great Salt Lake, but reports of rare sightings have occurred all across the USA and around the globe in such places as Beijing, Minsk, Naples, Halifax, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Austria, Cuba, Athens, the Virgin Islands and Mexico. You can identify this species by the scruffy new growth on its cheeks and chin plus a generally disheveled countenance usually sporting a bewildered expression.   It has a little reddish grey plumage on it's head and a rotund mid-section.Experts believe the GAdewME will follow a narrow migration path from Georgia to Maine in the spring of the leap year. Likely sightings will occur in the mountainous regions along the eastern seaboard. The GAdewME has a ravenous appetite and will eat almost anything. Offerings of brownies and chocolate chip cookies have been known to excite the GAdewME into a feeding frenzy. Take care when feeding the GAdewME that you keep your hands and fingers away from its sharp teeth.His nest has been blanketed in a covering of snow. In fact, observers note that it is snowing outside the GAdewME's window at the current time. (7:10 AM on countdown day zero minus two) a.k.a. Sunday morning. The GAdewME is not a snowbird and he prefers cool, dry, sunny days during migration!The GAdewME comes from a large family, which gathered last night to wish him farewell on his journey.   Thanks everyone for a fantastic send off!   It's great to have your support.
Date: 2004-03-05
From: Justus Creek

To: Burnett Field Mountain
Miles today: 11.2

I am finding it dificult to deal with the signs on the trail, andlack thereof, and the data book. Both leave a lot out so Ionly know half of my coordinates.The trail. Today was extremely humid and foggy: add to that, my glasses were dripping with both perspiration and vapor. I gave up trying to dry them when both my bandanas became soaked. I was so wet that my fingers pruned. So in order too see, I turned on my intermittent wipers. Every time my optical sensors detected moisture on the lenses, I simply raised a pruned finger to squeegy off the excess.I met a fellow called Shadowman. He was really moving fast so Istepped off the trail to let him pass. Instead of forging aheadhe began conversation. We walked together for several miles.We arrived at Woody Gap and the Preacher was there SHOUTING hissermons to a Fed Ex driver in the trail head parking lot. Itseems the driver took him into Suches for a zero.GAdewME - Hereinafter Whetstone------------------------------<
Date: 2004-03-06
From: Burnett Field Mountain

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: broken clouds

Thanks to everyone at Trailjournals.com for psyching me up forBlood Mountain. My adrenalin was flowing and I cruised to thetop. On top I met a wonderful family who was so supportive. Itmade my day. The decent was hellacious and lived up to the hype. By the time I arrived at Neels Gap I was so tired and full ofself pity I couldn't think about anything else.--In different sortof fog.Whetstone------------------------------<
Date: 2004-03-07
From: Neels Gap

To: Sheep Rock Top
Miles today: 10.0

I climbed out of Neels Gap late, 9:30 am. After a few feet I knew somethng was wrong. I felt very sluggish. All day I was huffing and puffing at the slightest grade. Just after I summited that first awful hill I met a southbound day hiker. She was wearing a tee shirt with a LOW plunging neck line. Mmm Nice. She stopped to chat a while and told me she had been removing layers all morning. I tried to NOT appear too pleased.I hoped to make it to Low Gap Shelter, but a fierce, cold wind brought rain. While I was puting on my rain gear, a group of 10 students passed me by, heading to Low Gap Shelter so I knew that if any spots were free before, they would definitely be gone when I got there. I started looking for a campsite along the trail. I set up my tarp on a steep site against a log so I wouldn't slide too much. The rain waited for this moment to become heavy, so I dove into my cover ASAP and slept quite well. When I woke, ice had formed on my tarp from the condensation caused by my breathing. I guess I need to learn to quit doing that.------------------------------<
Date: 2004-03-08
From: Sheep Rock Top

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.6
Weather: clear sky

Awful day. I climbed out of my nifty tarp and it took forever to get packed and moving. By the time I arrived at Low Gap Shelter my energy was gone. I felt should stop and try to recuperate.Three trail angels walked in about an hour later. Hercules handed me a banana. WOW! It tasted excelent. THEN a woman named Fall gave me a Apple Fried Pie. The sugar hit really helped me feel better. THANKS to Hercules, Fall, and Cape Town Jenny.I met a couple Canadian fellows, Sanford O'Donnell and Dan on my second day. Great guys. Since my day two, we have shared brief conversation and humor. I told Sanford I have been thinking he should be called Freight Train because of his slow, steady chug up the inclines. When he left this shelter earlier, he signed the register ... Freight Train. Cool huh! I had company almost all day because the trail angels visited and Frieght Train and Dan arrived. Shortly after they left, Harrison from Alabama arrived. Later Brother Nature (tj.c) came along and at sunset Quincy Girl (tj.c) arrived. So there were four sharing this nice shelter--my first shelter experience. After reading a lot of trail books and journals, plus some trail forum posts I knew someone would eventually ask if I snore. I expected it to come from a prissy co-ed during spring break. But suddenly out of the blue, Brother Nature asks POINTEDLY. Do you snore? As if it's a disease. Of course I had to say yes just to see what more he had to say. So funny. But I awoke aboutmidnight and I distinctly heard Harrison's heavy sleep breathing, and Quincy Girls pleasant sleep noise, but BN seemed to be awake. I went outside for a few minutes and when I came back it was the same, I hadn't disturbed the sleepers. I heard BN apparently turning over and soon the most awful snore I have ever heard. It reminded me of an old Husquevarna Dirt bike in need of repairs. In the morning I asked, "Do you snore?" HaHa!! I told him what I heard, but I think he didn't believe it.All the people I meet are unique and full of life. I love beingout here.
Date: 2004-03-09
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Helen, GA/Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: broken clouds

I was the last person out of the shelter per usual. After an hour I passed Quincy Girl from New Hampshire. What a nice lady. I had to stop MANY times to take pics add and remove layers and because of the dark clouds. I intended to put on my pack cover to protect from SNOW. Finally, the storm hit and I realized I had forgotten again. So I stopped again and installed the cover. Somehow, Quincey Girl walked up silently and stood there for I don't know how long. Great smile! We walked and chatted until I couldn't keep up and had to take a breather.As I continued alone now, I began to hear road noise from Unicoi Gap, GA 75. When I got to the Gap I was spent and wondering what I shoulddo... Stay on the trail and show up late at Tray Mountain where I would surely have to make camp in the snow and dark or hitch a ride to Helen, GA. I decided to hitch, then I saw Quincy Girl walking toward me waving from across the highway. She had met Stump Knocker (who has hiked the AT twice and just finished his southbound trip. He brought us to the Helendorf Hotel where several of hikers are staying. We are meeting later to go get some TOWN food. Sigh... I'm doing my laundry as I type. This is good. Thanks for reading.WHETSTONE
Date: 2004-03-10
From: Helen, GA/Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: clear sky

It's freezing here now. The sun has set and I'm typing inside mysleeping bag holding my tiny flashlight in my teeth. Today wasboth wonderful and awful. It was challenging and inspiring, yetat a few times I had to ask myself what am I doing here.I watched the sunset from the shelter, sitting on my tarp. A hiker named Honeypie just arrived in the dark saying he justsaw 8 hogs just down the trail.Also at the shelter are Shawn, fromFlorida University, Breeze and Eric. All are in their early twenties or late teens. They want to make a fire. I didn't object, but I hopedthey wouldn't.I had breakfast in Helen with Stumpknocker, Quincy Girl,Tonguetied and Weebles It was so fun, lots of laughs. I got on the trail about noon. I hiked only 5.5 miles and itwas painful because the vitamin I (Ibuprofen) didn't want to kickin. In my limited experience the climbs out of gaps after townvisits are pure hell. My data book lists only some of thefeatures along the trail. Gaps, mountains, gaps, mountains..PUDS.. pointless ups and downs. Each climb is long and slows meto a near crawl. Each descent tests my ankles tortuously. But Ilove it anyway.
Date: 2004-03-11
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: The Blueberry Patch
Miles today: 10.6

I have had a second bad day with my blisters. Ouch!I am taking a zero here tomorrow if the place doesn't fill-up. Ifit does, I will have to find other accomodations in Hiawassee. Gary is taking great care of me, by giving me a special blisterbandage. It is great here.I ran out of water over a long stretch, so when I came to abeautiful little spring flowing out of the hillside I was eagerto get water. It was nice and cold. As I stood there I noticeda deep, green plant that I thought was very pretty. Leaves ofthree. Yes, my first sighting of poison ivy in the wilds. Here at the hostel are 5 others, that I've met before, FreightTrain, Dan (now Midas), Eric, Honeypie, and Hoss. It's a goodfriendly group.
Date: 2004-03-12
From: The Blueberry Patch

To: The Blueberry Patch
Miles today: 0.0

I woke in this cozy hostel from a nice sleep. It's a very niceplace to stay. The owners, Gary and Lennie speak volumes aboutgood Christian living, more by example than with words. Excellentpeople.I sewed a button on my pants using a piece of floss.Stumpknocker suggested this, so I now have no need for my sewingkit. I'll send it home - minus one needle. Stumpknocker was so helpful when I was in Helen. I felt socomfortable hanging around with him. It was like hanging outwith one of my brothers. This trail attracts some of the finestpeople.-more laterNow it's evening and the new hikers have checked in here. I gota ride into town to visit the grocery store for fruit, halfgallon of milk that I practically inhaled, peanut buter andhoney and some hard candy and buy a huge mushroom burger. ThenI came back here and found a few things to send home with thesewing kit. I think I'm down to about 42 lbs and I think the onlyway I can take off more pack weight is to buy lightweightequipment.My blister is still tender, but I think Im going to hiketomorrow. With any luck I will be in NORTH CAROLINA by tomorrowafternoon.Im smiling.
Date: 2004-03-13
From: The Blueberry Patch

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The blisters are still quite sore, but I felt I should try tocontinue.Breakfast at The Blueberry Patch was great and after breakfast,Gary brought me back to the trail. We talked about the poison ivyI saw and he pointed out some vines of poison ivy in his yard. Irealized that when I slept near Slaughter Gap, I had pulled somepoison ivy vines to make my tarp lay flat. So apparently, Ihave some resistance to the rash. Of course the leaves insummer have more potency... I live and learn.The climb out of Dicks Gap was easy and the hike was NICE. Butthe blisters prevented enjoyment. As I was blue blazing to getto the shelter two day hikers over-took me and I enjoyed theircompany here at the shelter. They both offered me remedies tohelp with my blister. Thanks to Wayne Miller and Chuck Marsh, Ihope your pics turn out well.Now its 3:30 P.M. and the shelter is full. There is considerable over flowing because of a group of scouts out for a spring hike. The thru hikers are Luke, Amanda, Shaun, James and another that I didn't talk to.
Date: 2004-03-14
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

As I write, I'm sitting atop some unlisted mountain overlooking hazy vista. It's beautiful. Far below are green farm land with afew buildings snaking through a large valley. Beyond that areblue mountains beyond blue mountains and on and on; each furthermountain is a slightly lighter shade of blue. The wind is cooland the sun is trying to warm me. It is a wonderful time to sitand admire the landscape below. James, a student just out ofhigh school was here when I arrived. We traded cameras and tookour pics here, then he moved on.I was late getting out of the shelter this morning as has becomemy habit. I am not in a rush, and my blisters prefer a slowerpace anyway. They are improving.SO, NOW I AM IN NORTH CAROLINA! Only about a mile more to gotoday before I arrive at the Muskrat Creek Shelter. I may write more... but for now I'm going to just enjoy the view.I saw a huge red headed woodpecker today. He had a very brightred head and black body with distinct white markings. When heflew, his wings were white underneath with a black border. Heseemed to want to play because he would fly to a tree, thenscoot to the side opposite me and then stick his head out frombehind the tree and watch me. When I got close enough he flewfurther, in the same direction the trail was taking me and do thesame antics again and again. When the trail finally turned, Isuppose he thought I was spoilsport....
Date: 2004-03-15
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter 

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Late arrivals again last night PACKED the Shelter. So I hereby name the crew Muskrat Creek Sardine Company. The rain that fell made the atmosphere even more inhospitable as I considered tarping until the rain started.--SardinesLittle fishies packed in tight,Couldn't sleep a wink all night.Shoulder to shoulder, what a sight!Waiting for the morning light. Its still raining and my radio said (Yes, it spoke) that it's going to rain all day and tommorow too. I feel a little guilty taking a zero, but I reason that the worst thing I can do is get my sore feet wet. I saw my first mammal today! A red squirrel was playing around the shelter. Big event on my zero day. As I write its raining hard outside the shelter. I'm sure glad to be dry.