morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So this being my first entry I am not really sure what I have to talk about here. I leave NH for Atlanta one week from today. Am I excited? More than I can express through this keyboard and screen. I have been "planning" for this journey for 2 1/2 years now. I put planning in quotations because the first two years were really a self-educating process. I read every book relating to the trail that I could get my hands on and talked to as many people as were willing to give out information. Since late September of last year I have been doing the detailed planning; drops, dehydrating, getting the gear in order, etc. I was unaware of what a monumental undertaking this planning process was going to be. I started with a list, and from that list came another, and another, and, ya, you get the point. I am glad that I gave myself the past five months to get everything situated, it took that long. Infact, I have what I believe to be my final list next to me now, still with a few miscelaneous items on it. I just want to get my feet on the trail and my body where it belongs...in the woods.
Date: 2005-03-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   I completed my final list today. I think. I'm sure that between now and my brief stay in Atlanta before I hike on the 19th another one will pop up without me even knowing it. Wait a minute, hold on, something is coming to mind. Duct tape and a lighter. You see, the lists just keep on going and going. I suppose it's all an integral part of the planning though.    I don't know if it just me of is this happens with a lot of people who intend to thru hike, but I am in sort of a weird time right now. All of planning is done, my drops have been sent, and I have been slowly saying my "see you laters" (i don't like to say goodbye) over the past two weeks. Right now I am just so curious about everything the trail has to offer. How is the South? Is it tough hiking? Will the rocks in PA destroy my feet? When will I get bored? Will I get injured? Who will I meet? What will I see? What will my mouse tally be? I am just so terribly curious, nervous, excited and a whole range of other emotins all at the same time right now.    I have been living vicariously through trailjournals.com for the past few weeks. I check to see if anyone who has already started their hike has posted new photos or journals. It's not that I "can't wait to start my hike", but I really can't wait to start my hike. I have done almost the entire section of trail through NH more than a few times over my lifetime here. So it's familiar and comforting to be on Franconia Ridge or in the Great Gulf. The thing that is most exciting to me about therest of the trail though is that it is new and different, and literally I have absolutely no idea what is going to be around the next corner.    I don't have any expectations of the trail at this time. It's purely one foot in front of the other and making the most of all that it has to offer. i am hopeful that if I am good to it, it will be good to me in return. See you in 9 days.
Date: 2005-03-14
To: Starting Stats
Miles today: 0.0

Date: 3/14/05Age: 25Weight: 258Favorite Recent Read: "You won't get to ME unless you walk in the rain"Favorite current CD: Jack Johnson "In Between Dreams"Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chubby HubbyFavorite TV show: The Weather ChannelLast good movie watched: Napolean DynamiteFavorite Drink: Magic Hat #9Favorite Color: BlueFavorite Spot: Top of West BondCurrent Quote: "gosh!"Most likely to be on a weekend: Portsmouth, NHFavorite Foods; Chicken Nuggest and tator tots, hamburger, chicken ceasar salad, club sandwichPet Peeve: cell phonesFavorite smell: linen spray"A place I'd like to go someday is...": Ireland and Dalton Highway in AlaskaHair Status: Shaved, shortFacial Hair Status: Goatee
Date: 2005-03-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Well, here I am in Atlanta. I suppose you could call it the first major leg of this journey...travel wise anyway. I arrived last night at 7 on a flight from NH. It's amazing how in three short hours I can go from my home, which is about a four hour drive from Katahdin, here to Atlanta, only an hour away from Amicalola, and yet now it is going to take me six months to walk home. You know what though? I'm glad that I get to walk back. I don't much care for flying, and just from my experience at the airport last night I can tell you that there are far too many people here in this city.    I pulled everything out of my pack this morning and opened the boxes that I had sent here to my brother and began to lay things out for the re-pack. I had sent the boxes a few weeks ago so I had somewhat forgotten what was in them all. It was good to see my gear again. Each piece of it will be it's own little lifeline to me over the course of this journey, so I was relieved to see it all intact and ready to go. I've always found it interesting that when you hike you come to love your gear. For me, it's one specific piece...my headlamp. I can't really explain why my headlamp, but every time I see it or take it out to use it, I get all these images of past hikes and adventures that I have been on. Maybe it's just me and the fact that I could be somewaht slightly crazy.   The next entry will come under currently hiking, which really blows my mind that it's actually here. I know that I have said in the past...one foot in front of the other and all that sort of stuff about this hike, and those philosophies are all still true. But in order to keep myself in check and to not let the big picture of 2100+ miles stand in my way I have developed a philosophy or mantra, if you will, that I will carry throughout this journey. I'm not hiking the A.T., or walking 2000 miles, or going from Georgia to Maine. All I am doing is simply "picking up some mail." See you on the trail.
Date: 2005-03-19
From: Amicalola approach trail

To: Springer Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 8.8

   It finally happened for me this morning. At about 8 am my brother Brian and I arrived at Amicalola Falls State Park and the begining of the approach trail to Springer Mt. It was very surreal for me to be here. My 2 1/2 year dream had finally become a reality. We did all of the classic things at the visitor center; weighing in the packs, taking pictures at the plaques, and taking some more photos at the stone arch, the official start of the approach trail.   It was a beautiful day all day. The sun was shining and the temperatures were perfect for hiking, even for and out of shape individual like myself. We arrived on the summit of Springer at about 2 pm, and I saw my frist white blaze, the official start of the A.T. I thought that there would be more of an overwhelming feeling for me at this point, but there really wasn't. I guess the best way I can explain it is that it just sort of felt normal. It felt right.    We met some great people that first day and the first night at the shelter. Pirate was hanging out on the summit for a few days waiting for some friends so that he could start his 15th consecutive northbound trek. He said that they go as far as they feel like each season and just see friends all along the way. That sounds pretty nice to me. I also met Zack, a thru hiker who was just out for the night to sum up his gear. He is scheduled to start on April 1. John and Sarah were there as well; a couple who were planning to thru hike. We also met Dr. Chickadee. She came in that night as Sarah, but left the next morning as Dr. Chickadee. It's funny to me how trail names just come about.    Tommorow I will start my journey north. I will head o9ne way and Brian will head back the other. I suppose that is when it may feel a little surreal. We shall have to see.
Date: 2005-03-23
To: Neels Gap @ The Walasi Yi Center
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

   First of all let me thank Heather very much for updating my journal and letting everyone know of my progress. I really appreciate it. I have made it to Neels Gap and the Walasi Yi Center. From Springer I went to Hawk Mt. shelter, Gooch Mt. shelter, Woods Hole shelter, and then over Blood Mt. this morning here to the hostel. I don't really know if it's the fact that it's the beginning of the hike, I'm out of shape, or that the trail in Georgia is hard. I think it's a combination of all of that, but I have found Georgia to be tough so far. Before I left home someone told me that the trail in Georgia goes up and over everything in its way, and they were not lying. If you see a hill or mountain in front of you on the trail, you can be guaranteed that you are going to climb it and then go down the other side of it. None of the climbs are terribly difficult or long, but they are climbs none-the-less.    So far on this juorney I have met many interesting people. There are so many different personalities out here, and I think that's what makes it all so interesting. I have not come across anyone yet that I haven't been able to get along with or who has sort of rubbed me the wrong way. I have found that since we are all out here for the same reason and we all have the same goal that despite personality differences we are sort of moving and thinking as one.    I had to get a new boots at Neels Gap. The Asoslo's that I left home with were just too much boot. I got blisters the first day out with them and they were incredibly hot. I picked up a pair of Garmont's from the outfitters at Walasi Yi, and they have done me very well so far. I hope that they stay that way.    I am off now to head back into the woods where I belong.
Date: 2005-03-26
To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Jay (Silent Bob) called from Blueberry Patch Hostel today. He is doing well and loves his journey so far.His new boots are good; making his feet sore, but no blisters! The sleep has been much better (and it helps that he is hiking much further distances!) He enjoyed sleeping in his tent rather than the shelters on the night of nice weather.He hiked 36 miles in the last 3 days! He has been walking with many of the same faces. (Mr. Clean, Dr. Chicadee, Amy, SpiceRack, and Popeye) He plans to take it easy today and tomorrow, taking tomorrow as a 0 mile day and just hanging out at the Hostel.It's 70 degrees down there in GA, and he got a sunburn! (don't we wish we all had that same problem in New England!)He's been taking pictures, but says that he doesn't always know what it is that he's taking pictures of.      Here I am. It's really me now. I stayed at the Blueberry Patch Hostel in Hiawasee for the past day and a half and have had a great time. Gary and Lennie Poteat, the owners, are incredible. They are true trail angels. I had a breakfast there like I have never had before. And the homemade blueberry syrup was the greatest thing I have ever tasted. Thank you very much to them for their hospitality and kindness.    The trail from Neels Gap to Dicks Creek Gap was pretty rough. As usual, there was a lot of up and down, but on top of that the switchbacks from before seemed to dissapear and the trail went straight up the hills and mountains. However, during this section I did receive my first few bits of trail magic. There was a couple set up in Hog Pen Gap with soda, fruit, cookies, candy, and water. I think I sat there for about an hour with them at lunch time that day and talked. It was tough to get back up and continue hiking after that. Then that same night when I stayed at Low Gap two past thru hikers, Boudan and Geek(the guy that carried the cat on his pack in 1990) were there spreading trail magic. They had all kinds of food and treats for us that night. It was great. The night before I arrived there they had hiked in two cases of beer and hot dogs for the hikers. Trail magic is wonderful. You never know when or how it is going to happen, but when it does it's great. Geek tought me how to "yogi" that night too, and I tried it the next day in Unicoi Gap, and it worked. I got some fresh green apples.
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's Heather updating Jay's journal again!The day off was a nice break, but he is really eager to get back onto the trail. The people that run the Hostel that he has been staying in the last 2 nights (the Blueberry Patch Hostel) were really nice... working off of donations they feed the hikers wonderful breakfast meals, and do laundry! (Smelly!!) The hostel is set on a small organic farm. They provide a bunk room and a common room for the hikers. After staying in the small bunk room the night before, he moved into the common room with the larger bed for tonight.They went into town and enjoyed Mexican food today! He was thrilled to get an Easter basket from Linda.Today held lots of thunderstorms, and it was still raining at 9pm.He may cross into North Carolina tomorrow (Monday), if not, Tuesday. The next stretch is a tough climb out of the Gap.He may be splitting from the group of hikers that he has been walking with. They plan to be at a town by Friday that took them much quicker than Jay had planned. Although he is disappointed to seperate from this group, he spoke with a former hiker who said that it is awkward with new groups at first, but by the time you get to Damascus, (about 400 miles in) it gets easy to connect with new people.Hair status - the hair on his head is now as long as the hair on his face. We'll see how long that lasts!
Date: 2005-03-28
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.1

Leaves Hostel to start hike today at 9:30am. The trip out of the Gap can be tough. Plan is to go 4 miles to closest shelter, or see how he's feeling and go a full 8 to the next one. Will be in NC today or tomorrow.   Well I did end up crossing the GA/NC border today. It was strange because once I did, the weather went straight downhill. It had been raining all day, but about a half mile after the border that rain turned to sleet and ice. Of course, accompanying that was a very cold wind and low temperatures. When I began to climb out of Bly Gap there were remnants of snow on the ground from an earlier storm that day. Basically that night consisted of getting to the shelter, setting up my tent, eating a hot meal, and then trying not to freeze all night long. It was great fun I tell you. Wagonwheel showed up at the shelter and had gone into the beginning stages of hypothermia. Cold + rain = bad.
Date: 2005-03-31
To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: moderate rain

Jay has made it to Franklin, NC. He will be staying for a night to allow himself to rest up his knee. (and I'm sure we're all glad he's taking care of himself enough to stop and rest!!)Thundershowers and heavy rain with flooding predicted... so he picked a good day for a break!   Taking a zero day here in Franklin and I'm currently at the library doing this trail joounal stuff. Last night was great. I think all 20 rooms of the Budget Inn were filled with hikers. Most of us ended up outside at around 8 with our six packs just hanging out and enjoying some beer. It was a good time.
Date: 2005-04-02
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Gap
Miles today: 0.0

   Well, today has defiantely been an interseting day. Louisville, Jeff, and myself caught the shuttle out of Franklin @ 9 this morning and headed back up to Winding Stair Gap where we left off the other day. As we drove out of town and began heading higher into the gap the rain quickly changed to snow and began accumulating on the trees. We started our hike and intended to head for Cold Spring shelter tonight. By the time we reached Siler Bald at about 11:15 am the snow had intensified and the wind was gusting upwards of 35 mph. At this point there was an inch on the ground. We continued on from Siler Bald and came into Wayah Gap. This whole time the conditions began to get even worse, and there was now two inches on the ground. It was @ Wayah Gap that we decided it best to head back here to Franklin for the night. I was able to get a ride in from a guy who was just coming down the road from Wayah Bald. He told me that they had about four inches up there and that it was falling at about an inch per hour. The conditions today were just plain old nasty. We did manage to get in six miles from Winding Stair over to Wayah Gap so hte day wasn't a total wash.       Over the years hiking in the Whites I have seen too many people who don't when enough is enough and when it is time to turn around. I think knowing your limits and respecting the weather is one of the most important lessons you can learn in hiking. The trail is not going anywhere. It will be there tommorow right where I left off today, and I will continue on my journey then.
Date: 2005-04-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.4

More trail names being assigned;(quoted from Troll, Oblivious, and Anchor's journals)"Now for some completely random items from Franklin. Troll and I gave someone a trail name. The guy next door had packages of dried squid that his brother sent him. You can only imagine the conversation that brought this information out. Of course, everyone wanted to see the dried squid product. As soon as I saw it, I said that it looked like squid jerky. Troll immediately decided that was a perfect trail name. So now Squid Jerky is traveling with Silent Bob and Louisville."
Date: 2005-04-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 4.5

Started the trail up into the Smokies, and went UP straight for about 4.5 miles. Started to feel dizzy and sick, so turned around and walked down 4.5 miles back to the hotel/hostel where he stayed the night before. Went into the room and passed out into a nap. Is taking a relaxing day to try to avoid feeling more sick tomorrow.
Date: 2005-04-07
From: Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Hey all,Jay is in Fontana Dam, NC. He's now 160 miles into the trail! He is taking a 0 mile day today to try to rest up and cure the little flu he has. He's feeling MUCH better than he was. He has enjoyed his resting days off, although is very sick of watching TV!Fontana is interesting, it is like a little town that is all together. He compared it to having a whole town all contained in a trailer park. When the operators answer the phone, they say "hello, Fontana!"He went to the post office, and the woman who worked there said she was glad to see him. He understood what that meant when she handed him 6 packages! (He is loving the cookies and brownies!) He has shared his treats with others as trail magic... He's a well liked guy right now I'm sure!Plans to return to the trail tomorrow and enjoy his trek through the Smokies. One of the first shelters he will be staying at over the next stretch will hit the mile marker of only 2,000 miles left to go!He has met back up with Louisville and Jeff.He has been eating a lot of food at the all you can eat buffets, (enough that he can rank the buffet quality!)
Date: 2005-04-08
From:  Shelter, Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Shelter, Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

Starts his walk up again this morning, up into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hopes to be in Gatlinburg, TN within the next 3 1/2 - 4 days. He plans to take it really nice, slow, and relaxing if the weather is nice because the Smokies are suppose to be beautiful. If the weather is 'not so nice' he will just keep on marchin'!
Date: 2005-04-10
From: Shelter, Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Jay has made it to TN! He called around 10:00pm. He is in Gatlinburg, TN. They arrived in town at around 5pm, and did some errands (shopping, laundry, etc.) He is sharing a hotel room in town with Troll, Anchor, Oblivious, and Lady Hawk. Because they arrived in town so late, and plan to leave early in the morning, he is going to have Gatlinburg forward his mail to the next stop.He is now 195 miles into the trail, and will cross the 200 mile mark tomorrow during a 10 mile hike to the next shelter. "So that means I'm 10% done!"He is now hiking in the Smokies, and says that it is beautiful with amazing views. The trail takes them up and over everything here. When you thru hike in the Smokies you have to get a backcountry permit. This allows the park to track the hikers, and make sure that everybody is where they are suppose to be! It also requires the hikers to stay in the shelters (where in other places, you can tent anywhere along the trail!)Today he went over the highest mountain in the Smokies; Clingsman Dome at 6,643 feet (that's about 200 feet taller than Mt. Washington for you New Englanders!) He says that he listens to music a lot when he's hiking by himself, and that the stations in the Smokies are really good!Everything on his body is "feelin' good, sore but good." His flu seems to have disappeared, and his knee is doing really well with the brace he uses. He has been officially voted as the 'sweatiest person on the trail.' One of his fellow hikers attempted to challenge the title, until he realized that the wetness on his boots was coming from the inside out... and he handed Jay the title!He plans to take his next 0 mile day when he hits Hot Springs (because he wants to pay a visit to the natural springs!) and he hopes to relax. As he has hiked he has realized how expensive it is to take a 0 mile day... so he plans to use them when he NEEDS them (mentally, physically, etc!) Jay was talking to a fellow hiker telling him that he feels stronger and much better as he hikes, but that his legs are not quite where he would want them to be. The hiker he was talking with said that he thru hiked southbound a few years ago, and that it took him until 400 miles to really get his trail legs. This made Jay feel MUCH better!He plans to hit Hot Springs in 6-7 days!
Date: 2005-04-11
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Shelter, Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

Today Jay hitched out of Gatlinburg to Clingman's Dome, off to walk some more!It was requested that we throw up a map so everybody can really 'picture' where he is! I put a blue dot on the spot where Jay is currently walking. Enjoy!
Date: 2005-04-16
From: Tent, midway New Roaring Fork Shelter & Footbridge

To: Shelter, Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

"Oh, today Oblivious hiked with Silent Bob for a while. Silent Bob doesn't have much 10 yr old experience. Somehow he didn't realize that unchecked a 10 yr old has the capacity to babble endlessly on an infinite number of random subjects. Padre said that Silent Bob was a little shell-shocked when he came into camp with Oblivious." ~ Anchor's Journal entry for today
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Shelter, Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Tent, Hot Springs Campground
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: broken clouds

Made it to Hot Springs!From all reports, Hot Springs is known as the most friendly town along the trail. Silent Bob reports that he hasn't found it any more gracious than previous towns, and that it seems as if they know their reputation, and up the prices on everything! Rather than stay in a hotel (too $$) he found a spot of a campground.They had a nice fire last night, stayed up just talking into the wee hours.Eating food, relaxing the legs, washing laundry...