morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

"That tastes like it came out of the southbound end of a northbound moose" - Georgia Boy, GA-ME '04There was a struggle to get out of bed this morning. Leki was up and gone by 8:30 this morning. Heather, Arwen and I didn't even rise until 9:30.Today was tough for me. Not the terrain really but more my cold is knocking me about - finding it hard to catch my breath, especially on the uphills.I had another emotional meltdown this morning and Heather and Arwen were there to pick up the pieces. I am not sure but again, I think it was down to my cold. Thanks guys, for dealing with the emotional basket-case.Heather insisted on walking with me today, even though I hike a lot slower than her. Bless her. Her blood is worth bottling. She saw that I needed some company and she provided it. Legend.Our original plan this morning was to get to the shelter, eat, go to bed, then get up early and start hiking (by early I mean 3am) and do the 16 miles into Erwin. Then comes the spanner in the works - me. I did the 10 miles in just over 7 hours...very poor. Just about everyone else in the shelter (who got here a lot earlier) are planning to night hike tonight. We are just going to do the 16 miles tomorrow, but get an earlier start than today!So, it is off to bed for me. Need my beauty sleep. Ha!
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin, Tennessee
Miles today: 16.9

"Life means progress and progress means suffering" Hendrik Van Loon, Dutch-born journalist and lecturerOur original plan of leaving the shelter at 5am was thwarted by a mis- timed alarm. We didn't wake up until 6:30! On the Trail by 7:10, we had nearly 17 miles to do. Our longest day with a full pack.We finally left the snow today, on our way down to Erwin. Our next few days don't seem to go over 4000ft so hopefully we won't get much more, or at least not too often.The feet are still causing me problems. I have bruising above the outside of my right ankle bone and swelling and brusing on the top of my right foot. I finished up the day hiking in my Crocs (my extremely lightweight camp shoes) for the last 2 miles downhill into town. I really hope this is just a breaking in stage that will pass soon!Unfortunately, Miss Janet's House, an extremely popular place to stay on the Trail was full, so we are staying elsewhere. We did join the gang who are staying there for dinner though - there ended up being 29 of us!I am off to bed now as we have stuff to do before we leave town and do 9 miles tomorrow...make that today. Bloody electricity!
Date: 2004-04-08
From: Erwin, Tennessee

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

" It is easier to do a job right than to have to explain it"After all our faffing about this morning doing 'the town stuff' we headed back to the hostel to collect our packs and head out. Suddenly, Arwen has a brainwave - why don't we slack pack backwards from Indian Grave Gap back to the hostel in Erwin? The best part of this plan was that just about the whole day's hike was downhill.What a gorgeous day for a hike. The temperature was getting up a bit and it got a bit humid but it was possibly one of the best day's hiking yet. The second part of the hike, down from the shelter, followed a creek most of the way. The water looked so inviting but we all knew damned well it would have been freezing!The three of us are sitting here now, stuffed to the gills on pizza, watching 'City Slickers'and contemplating packing up the gear ready for tomorrow. Unfortunately, it isn't all downhill tomorrow!
Date: 2004-04-13
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Hughes Gap
Miles today: 19.9

"Your personal satisfaction has to be self-generated, it can't rest on other people's praise or recognition. It's how you view yourself and your achievements that's important rather than what other people think." Matthew Reilly, Australian authorWell, it's now Tuesday and I am still here at Kincora. How did I get here? Well, today is officially my third zero day in a row. On Saturday I bailed from the Trail at Hughes Gap around lunchtime, called Bob Peoples (he and his wife Pat run Kincora - a 'must stay' place on the Trail) and he came and picked me up. I had had enough...again.We had Easter lunch here on Sunday which was awesome. About 20 or so of us gathered for a beautiful lunch that Pat prepared - ham, yams, mashed potatoes, bean casserole and several other delicious dishes. Some news. Yes, my head is in 'that place' again. I have been here at Kincora for 3 days to try and sort out the things going through my head, and to get myself physically fit. Right foot is still swollen and sore, things are weird in the belly, still don't have much of an appetite.Bob told me that once you stay here 3 nights, you automatically become the Assistant Hostel Manager. Sounds good to me.So, here we are again. This time it's for real. This little black duck has ended her tour of duty on the Appalachian Trail in 2004. No sorrow this time around, except for the sadness I will feel for not seeing all my new friends.I am not going home immediately. I have to go to Damascus to pick up my packages and try to forward other stuff back home etc.Again, to everyone who has supported me through this whole thing, I thank you. I am sorry I wasn't able to come through with the goods, but I am happy with what I have done so far (at this stage I am anyway!). Not sure what the plans are at the moment, but I will keep you posted.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Hughes Gap

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Another day another...you know how it goes.Well, I have been Side Tracked. An official term for people who get waylaid in Damascus.Bob brought me here last Thursday so I could find domething to occupy myself for a little while (there is only so long one can work as the Assistant Hostel Manager). It was fun at Kincora and very hard to leave but it was time to move on.We arrived in town around 10am and I had something to occupy me until Trail Days by 2pm. 'Side Track Cafe' is what it is known as and I spend my days helping out Mountain Man with the cafe. I am having more fun now than I have had on the whole Trail. He is even letting me organise an Australian themed day on Sunday for ANZAC Day (Australia's equivalent to Memorial Day). Music for the day is being organised by Death By Cotton (who I call Cotton Candy Boy) and I have been sourcing out some recipes for food to cook during the day. Should be good.The posse of hikers that I have been hiking with on and off are currently heading through town (I got ahead of them by 4 or 5 days when I was driven to Damascus) so it has been good catching up with everyone as they pass through.Not sure what the plans are at this stage for the rest of the hike. I am on a hiatus for now. No need to make any decisions at this stage.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Damascus, VA

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

Yes, I am still here. I am having too much fun at the moment to leave.Yesterday was ANZAC Day and Mountain Man let me have an Australian themed day. We had Australian music,I cooked 'our' food, it was great. For breakfast we had a few changes to the normal menu - added grilled tomatoes and cheese and we had normal sausages, instead of the little patties that seem to be the norm in the US, with toast and Vegemite for those that were game enough. I also cooked up some ANZAC biscuits (cookies over here) and chocolate crackles (Cactus, I have saved some for you. Hurry up and get your backside here!)Lunch wasn't really a big event as we haven't been getting many in for lunch. Dinner was a different story though. We had sausage rolls and potato cakes for appetisers, followed by roast lamb with cauliflower au gratin, roast potato, sweet potato and carrots, broccoli and asparagus. Vegetables are always appreciated by hikers as they are so heavy to carry on the Trail. Dessert was pavlova (first time I have made it). All went over very well. Plus, I didn't have to do the dishes which is always good!I got some sad news from home on Saturday evening when I rang home, so the boys decided I needed alcohol. Mountain Man decided that vodka was what I needed so Krispy took me for a drive to the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) but they had closed by the time we had arrived. Next stop, the grocery store to buy mixes for margaritas. We drank with Jose and Jim (Cuervo and Beam). Jose and Jim are no longer my friends. When will I learn??? Never, no doubt.It has been raining here quite a bit of late, rather glad I am not on the Trail right now. Don't panic, there is still the chance that I will get back on after Trail Days. I will explain Trail Days to the uninitiated at a later date. It looks to be a mad, mad time. I can't wait.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Damascus, VA

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

Life is never dull in Damascus...not for me anyway.It all started on Wednesday morning when I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a bus. My back was killing me - I figured it was the old complaint flaring up again. Off to the cafe for the daily grind. First trip to the loo showed that I was pissing blood. Not a good sign in anyone's books.Mountain Man took me back to the cabin so I could lie down. I did and I slept. And slept, and slept and slept, on and off for nearly 48 hours. Construction work going on around me at the house and I slept through it all.I came in with the boys on Thursday morning so I could try and see a doctor...of course all the doctors in Damascus were at a meeting that day and weren't seeing patients until the next day. Mountain Man was going to Abington so took me along to see if we could get me in anywhere there. No luck. I said to forget it until the next day and I would go back to the cabin and sleep.8:30 Thursday night, he comes back to the cabin and tells me he has got me in to see a doctor. One of the locals who knows someone who knows someone (Dad's old adage "It's not what you know it's who you know" proves to be right again) and I am off to the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Abington. Thank goodness for travel insurance.A pee sample later of my radioactive coloured urine (I had taken something from the chemist earlier) and a diagnoses was had - a raging UTI. No shit. I had been drinking gallons of water and cranberry juice all day to try and get things moved along, to no avail.So, the doctor says to me "Do you want something for pain?" I ummed and ahhed and she says "Go on, what can it hurt?" Fair enough argument for me. Glad I did, that stuff was fantastic. No idea what it was. Then she gave me some extra heavy duty antibiotics with a refill prescription incase things flared up again.So, here it is Friday and I am feeling 99% better. Not wanting to repeat the experience again in a hurry. I think I had the boys a bit worried. They started picking on me at one stage and when I didn't bite back they knew something was up. The main concern in the beginning was a kidney stone but that was knocked on the head by the doctor fairly quickly. "If you had a kidney stone you wouldn't be lying there calmly on the bed, you would be writhing in pain all over the room". She knows her stuff. Thanks to Dr Kegley and her fabulous staff who had me in and out in under and hour.Like I said, life in Damascus is never dull.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Damascus, VA

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

It's raining here again today...big rain. Makes me kinda glad I am not camping in my tent somewhere. Which brings me to this decision...(did you like the link there???) - you will be pleased to know that this little black duck is getting back on Trail. Yes, she will attempt to escape the vortex that is Damascus after Trail Days is over, which will be mid to end of May. Trail Days is the 14th and 15th of May, will be staying for a little while after to help with some stuff, then, in the words of Takoma Tedd (www.takomatedd.com), "I am back on the Trail again".I have managed to score a ride to Harper's Ferry, which is a little ahead of where I would have been had I stayed on Trail and kept hiking north. Cotton Candy Boy is heading there to start hiking north and I am tagging along. He is planning low mileage days which, after my 4 or 5 weeks off will be a nice way to ease back into things. It means I miss about 600 miles or so, but the AT is not going anywhere. I can always come back and do it another time. Gives me an excuse to come back to the States again! Katahdin in August is the goal still.The posse will be behind us a little ways, but as they are planning 15 mile minimum days, I don't think it will be long before they catch up.I had my first podiatary casualty the other night. My first toenail to fall off. Looks a lot better than I expected it too. Now if only the other bruised ones would follow suit I would be OK.I have even taken myself to the stage of wearing my boots (the ones that caused me to hike barefoot and in my Crocs) at the Cafe - this is serious hiking preparation. 3.5 hours, flat floor, no pain. A good start. Still have to get up the mountain to the cabin tonight. Hmmm.Xena and Bloody Cactus arrived here yesterday. It was so good to see them both. I have missed them so much. I had a little more support on the Australian front from the barrage of sledging from the Yanks that goes on in this cafe. Unfortunately they are heading out again tomorrow, but will be back again for Trail Days. The gang will be back together again!Feeling a lot better after the whole unwellness thing. Those antibiotics were great (are still, I should say). Don't want to go down that path again!Toodles for now. Will write about Trails Days soon, I promise...
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So, Trail Days is here.What is Trail Days I hear you ask? Trail Days is THE festival of the year for hikers. Damascus has the reputation as the "Friendliest Town on the Appalachian Trail" and put on this festival each year to celebrate hiking.It started back in the late 80's to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Appalachian Trail Conference and has grown bigger each year since. Damascus has a usual population of around 1000 or so people. During the final weekend of Trail Days the population grows to around 35,000 people.Events that are happening in the coming week include: The Miss Appalachian Pageant on this afternoon, a town wide yard sale (Mountain Man has already been out buying crap), a street dance, various concerts (the main draw card was to be Steppenwolf this year but apparently it is a no go), duck races, trout rodeos(all I can say is ???), craft displays, a Hiker Talent Show, plus a lot of the gear manufacturers set up their stalls and give away gear and repair your gear if it needs it. It is a great time to catch up with people you may have hiked with and have since separated. I am looking forward to The Posse arriving back in town.Needless to say, this coming week is going to be busy here at the Cafe. In past years, there have been queues of people around the block wanting food. At all hours of the night too. Should be an interesting time!On a different note, I have officially lost my second toenail. Just the big one to go now. I think I may have solved the blisters problems that I was having. As I mentioned before, I have been wearing my boots at the Cafe each day (upwards of 15 hours a day) to keep breaking them in. I haven't been wearing sock liners and things seem to be fine without them. I think it may have been them that are causing the blisters. Bye-bye sock liners! The boots that I bought are actually quite comfortable now (if a bit smelly) so things are looking up for the rest of the hike.The weather is starting to warm up of late. We are hoping it is going to cool down in the next week otherwise the Cafe is going to be like a sauna. With ovens and pizza ovens going non-stop it gets a bit warm in the kitchen! Mountain Man has bought several box fans to try and shift the air around and out, and has also put in an airconditioner to try and get some cool air in. It is 10:15am now and it is bloody warm inside!Candy Boy and I were interviewed for a local newspaper yesterday, they were in town looking for hikers to do a story on Trails Days. The reporter did a double take when Candy Boy yold him that he had already thru-hiked in 1980 when he was 6 years old, and that this was his second time. It will be interesting to see what he remembers of the Trail when we are hiking.Back to the stove it is for me - there are pancakes to be made.
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, Trail Days is over. Don't ask me what it was like, I didn't get to see much of the weekend at all. Candy Boy and I were in charge of the Cafe during the night shift hours (just like being at home and back at work) so slept through the days' entertainments. Oh well. I can always come back another year.So many people in town for the weekend! Not sure what the final totals were but I do know that the cafe was busy all day and night. It was great to see all the gang back in town. Now they have moved on again and it will soon be time for me to get back on the Trail. Candy Boy and I are heading to Harper's Ferry on the 30th of this month, hitting the Trail on the 31st. I can't wait to get back out there.Re-starting at Harper's Ferry means I will have skipped 600-odd miles of the Trail. It's not bothering me as it gives me an excuse to come back here another time and do the bits I have missed. Sounds like a good option to me.I have a parcel to wait for which is coming from home, plus I am waiting on a replacement rain jacket that I had sent back to Marmot (I bought it in Neel's Gap, washed it according to manufacturer's instructions in Franklin and it hasn't been waterproof since). Will have to go through my pack and decide what is necessary and what isn't. I have splurged while being in Damascus and bought myself a small CD player and some CD's to listen to on the Trail. The tiny radio I had just wasn't cutting it for me. Classical or Country were my only options. Now, I like classical music but it is no good for hiking to. Country...well, let's just leave that alone right now before I offend someone. The guys in the Cafe like to put Country music on just to see the look on my face.So, there you have it. Oh, and have a look at my first two sets of photos- more to come soon. I will be back on Trail in less than two weeks. Orright!!!
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

And I thought yesterday was going to be the same as every other day here in Damascus. It started when Otto mentioned going rappelling (abseiling) that afternoon with Dennis, one of the locals. I said I would like to do that but was required here at the cafe. Fast forward a few hours and Dennis comes in and asks if I want to go rappelling. Again, I say I have to stay at the shop. Candy Boy pipes up and tells me that I am not required (thanks a lot!) and to nick off and go jump off a cliff. "See you next 'fall'" he says as I leave the shop.Well, I don't remember my last time abseiling being so much fun. I remember ti was at the Moorooduc quarry with the Girl Guides. This time it was Backbone Rock which is 100ft. Dennis is involved with the search and rescue operation here so is extremely encouraging, helpful and confidence boosting. Otto and Jeff were on belay at different times and I could not have felt safer. If we could have I would have stayed there all night. Awesome!Jeff suggested that I have a bash at rock climbing in the same area. He had his ropes set up already. I started up with Dennis on belay, but the rocks were too slick for my boots after all the rain we have had over the past several days. Nevermind, I think I prefer going down to up anyway.A possible new developement with the whole heading back into the woods thing. We have the option of 'Aqua Blazing' a section of the Trail. That is, doing either 40 or 111 miles in a canoe. We just have to look into a few things first and see how it works out, but it is very appealing to the both of us.Will keep you posted.I am just waiting for my parcel to arrive and then it will be time to pack up stumps and head out of Damascus. Candy Boy and I have decided it is time to leave town when you are on waving terms with the local police. That time has arrived. I would love to stay here but it is time to move on. Greener pastures and all that.Until next time...
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

"Missed it by that much." - Maxwell Smart in Get Smart.I tried to leave Damascus. I tried really hard. I failed.The plan was to head out tomorrow (Wednesday) and drive to northern West Virginia, hook up with a river/canoe company and do the Aqua Blaze thing. Fast forward to this morning when we were researching the prices etc. Found out the whole Aqua Blaze thing didn't really fit into the budget, nor the time frame.Enter Trey. He suggested we stay until after the weekend, which would give us a chance to save some more cash, then he would come canoeing with us for the week. Another bonus, he knows someone who can get us a canoe. Trey already has his own so this works out nicely. We can paddle along at our own pace, not be restricted by the canoe company's timeframes, plus it won't cost nearly as much. And it gets Trey out and away from the cafe for a while.So, we have been Side Tracked again. Trey said he knew we wouldn't leave. Not this week anyway. Damn him being right!!! The last few days off have been good though. The packs were packed, food bought, gear replaced/repaired, bounce box sent forward, all my unnecessary clothing sent back to Australia (which I could really use now - I am back to my hiking shirt) - that's how close we came to leaving Damascus...it just wasn't to be.Only another week though. Definitely only another week (I sound like Rainman).
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Damascus, VA

To: Port Republic
Miles today: 0.0

"In calm waters, every ship has a good captain"Day 1 of River TripWell, who'd have thought it. We actually managed to escape the vortex that is Damascus. It took all day to do it, but we did leave.The original plan was to depart around 4pm. Hmmm. More like11:30pm. Of course it was a 6 hour drive to Waynesboro (with a stop at Wal-Mart on the way) so we didn't end up arriving until nearly 6am.Our plan of attack was to drop the canoes off at the 'put in point' at Port Republic, then 2 cars would drive to Harper's Ferry, leaving Trey's car there and driving back to the 'put in point'. The guys left at 9:30 this morning and aren't back yet. It's only 2:30pm but after being up all day and all night, it feels like it is 6pm. We still have to paddle to our first campsite tonight.Our canoe has become the flagship of the fleet - the 'SS Side Track Cafe', complete with flag and an anchor that Candy Boy found on one of the shores.The weather is hopefully going to hold off and we should have a great time. With us on this trip are Grass, Uncle Ben, Wilson, Backdraft, WAD, Dig Dug and Wonder Boy. Good bunch of people so it looks to be a good way to get back into the hiking thing.I want to take this opportunity to thank the people who have been sending me stuff in my mail drops. You guys have no idea what a boost it gives to me when I get into town. Thankyou.