morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-09
From: Fontana Dam

To: Heading to the Smokies
Miles today: 0.0

Gertie Here - Update on Karensioux - spoke to her this weekend - she stayed at Hike Inn Fontana Village, Fontana NC. (167 mi. so far)! Arrived there Sat. 5/8 2:00pm. Owners Jeff and Nanch Hoch were wonderful hosts - Karen had a "wonderful bath" and the AYCE (all you can eat) buffet, a good night's sleep and ANOTHER bath this morning. Being shuttled 6 mi. back up to trail and expects to be out five days before coming to Hot Springs NC. Light weight treats can be mailed to KAREN ANDERSON, HOLD FOR THRU HIKER Hot Springs NC, 28743. Make sure package gets there BEFORE May 15th.Karen sounds great, says she is getting stonger and better able to sustain longer mile days - still having tender feet, got some new in soles for boots and they are working out well. As usual she is very happy! I am getting very excited about my trip to see K in Damascus Virgina over the Memorial Day week end.Thanks for all your loving support!Gert
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Heading to the Smokies

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hello Everyone - Today is Tuesday 5/11, I posted some new pix of Karen and some of her hiking buddies. If Shoe's wife is reading the journals, please sign in on the guestbook and help me identify these guys, the only one I know on site is Karen! ThanksGertie
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Fontana Dam

To: Birch Spring
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: scattered clouds

5/106.2 miles. Fontana dam to birch spring campsites. We got a late start out of the hike inn. I think I really like to hike earlier in the day. We left the dam at 10:30. I met shoe there......what a gentleman to wait. Love ya shoe! Mary and Terry and Carl left too. Carl seemed a litle apprehensive. I know the feeling. He had that deer in the headlight stare that I know I had my first day. But this is his very first time backpacking. He's whipped tonight but he made it! You go Carl!It was a long up.....about 3,000 feet but oh was it worth it. There was a side trail up to the firetower and I had just run out of water and my pack feels 10 lbs. heavier because of the extra food. I took my pack off and walked the .01 miles and there was an old fire tower. And I mean old. It was maybe 100 feet tall.....I am not....oops....had to stop cause it started to rain. Which reminds me.....thundering in the distance all day....it was soooo cool.So, anyway....this fire tower was old. I initially didn't want to do the extra hike up but I kept hearing bigfoot tell me that the view was worth it so I did it. Thanks big foot! (by the way we met a kid with size 16's) The wood on these steps was old and grey and split and a few of them even moved. I climbed up this thing and held on with both hands. Not that it would have helped had something broke. It goes inside a little tower with windows maybe 5x5 and there were batteries that went up to a solar panel on the roof. I even started to climb to the roof but once my head was up there and I saw a hole I decided I was high enough. You could see everywhere. You could see the dam where we had just came from.....it's impressive to see how far you have climbed. You could see storm clouds off in the distance....incredible. I took lots of pictures and then decided to climb down. That was scarier than the climb up. I held on for dear life!Only about a mile left and I met a ridgerunner. He's a paid guy from the ATC who does trail maintenance and took down my name and where I was from. He thru-hiked in 99 and his name was greybeard. I got a picture of him and thanked him for doing such a nice job and headed into camp.Shoe was there and another retired guy from Texas named oinker was there. Oinker because his last name is hog. tired of typing with my thumbs.....maybe I will write later.
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Birch Spring

To: Spence field shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

5/1110.8 miles. Birch spring campsite to spence field shelter. I was up early. By the way Harriette, the mice love your cookies. I had my food bag hung up on bear cables and it was in a waterproof stuff sack that rolls down and some smart mouse got in and the only thing he ate was some cookie crumbs. They were great cookies though.It looks like a full house toight. Me and shoe and whittler and sea legs and aug from maryland and she is helping out an older guy from new jersey.....and a guy just came in who works for the government who kills wild boar because they are not native to here and they harm the bears.....competing for food. So, he hikes at night with a shotgun for boar. He was full of all kinds of stats about the animals in the park. as he was leaving....I yelled.....hey pigman stop! he said..."yes mam?" and I got a great picture of him with all his gear and his shotgun.more on this day tomorrow.maybe notspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-12
From: Silers Bald shelter

To: Clingmans' Dome
Miles today: 12.0

5/1212.something today.I slept really crappy last night. Woke up around 6:00 a.m. I went behind the shelter to change my clothes and right when I pulled my pants down I heard noise and a great big young buck was standing about 20 ft from me. I was afraid to pull up my pants cause I didn:t.....yikes, a mouse just ran by....,aybe I will finish this in the morning.ok, it's morning.....last night I got to silers bald shelter. I was going to go 1.9 more miles to the next shelter and meet shoe there but the sky was black and lots of thunder and i decided to call it a night. I got water and cooked and kaboom! I was never so thankful for a shelter.....it rained really really hard for about a half an hour and hailed too. I stayed nice and dry and warm. Dave, underfoot, from austraila came in next and then kiwi from new zealand and messy garage from....hmmmmm....I can't quite remember from where. His wife told him to either clean the garage or take a hike....so guess what he did? Oh, he's from maryland....retired fda guy. The talk was interesting last night. Underfoot has been around the world like six times and had some great stories. And Kiwi was at hawk mountain shelter the night the bear tore down the privy. That privy had a great view too! I slept good last night and stayed nice and toasty but when I woke up it was foggy and windy and I just stayed in bed. My watch battery went dead yesterday and not having a watch drove me bonkers yesterday.....I had no clue how fast or slow I was going or where I was. I thought maybe I needed a lesson from the higherpowers about time keeping and living by a clock but I decided that's all too complicated and I just like having a watch!So, it's almost noon and I am STILL at the shelter. LOL. A bunch of section hikers have been through and all nice people.....are there mean people who hike? I sure haven't met any yet. A few republicans but even they were nice! LOL....sorry, } couldn't resist!Anyway, the mice were active last night but I find them more entertaining than anything. And as it was getting dark to deer stopped in front of the shelter to eat. Still haven't seen a bear yet though. Lots of bear scat around but no bear. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.I am kindof waiting on clogger and oinker to see if they are heading to clingmans dome today. That's another reason I am hanging back.....I REALLY want to see clingmans dome on a clear sunny day. And the rest feels good today. There was a lot of climbing yesterday.....it was great but I am slow. So, shoe is ahead again.....which is cool.....just don't worry shoe.....I am just hiking my own hike.over and outsparepocket
Date: 2004-05-13
From: Shelter

To: Clingman's Done
Miles today: 1.9

5/131.9 miles. Big day today! And I feel great! Sparks, the old guy from jersey sowed up first....and then oinker and clogger. we talked clogger into going the next 1.9 miles. The weather finally cleared up and the little walk was great. I felt like I did it in 20 minutes....I am sure it was more but it sure was easy. 11 miles tomorrow and clogger may pick us up at newfound gap and take us into Gatlinburg. I wasn't going to go into |atlinburg but if I get a shuttle from the trail to there.....why not? And clogger loves the place and kiwi was headed there as well....maybe I'll see what the fuss is all about.and I may send this with oinkers cell phone!nope, his battery died.we got the tv going and two more guys came in. Jim and Bob......both great guys.....jim had this huge pot! And let me tell you, whatever they were cooking smelled great. butter and garlic! And Bob, your pants were a great addition to our fire! But of course it had to rain. I love shelters! As soon as I can get back to staying in my tent I will but I will try to stay closer to shelters cause the people are too much fun. I hope the rain stops for tomorow.Once again.....the minute I drop my pants the deer start coming out. two of them, right when I went to take a pee. I guess I should be happy it/s not a bear....but I WAnt to see a bear so bad I feel like whining!
Date: 2004-05-13
From: Clingmans' Dome

To: Gaitlinburg TN
Miles today: 0.0

5/13The best laid plans.....of mice and men. OK, so I didn't walk 11 miles today. First of all......it rained last night. we got a little tv in and then the rain came. It was rainy and foggy and we were all in our sleping bags and out of the fog and up to our chain link fence in front of the shelter walked another man with a rifle. RangerRick was his name. It looked so spooky with him standing there. He was one of the permanent boar hunters in the park. He has been doing it for 17 years. Can you imagine? 5 days a week they spend outside living and eating and hunting and only getting paid 8 hours a day and then home on the weekends. He answered all of our questions and was off. And contrary to what we were told....rangerrick told us not to bark at the bears. So, I won't. I still havn't seen a bear though! I have been seeing lots of deer though so that's cool.It was rainy and cloudy this morning. We had about three miles altogether today. The hike was lots of climbing but it seemed so easy to me. It was sooo windy and beautiful but absolutly no views. We got to clingmans dome and didn't even walk up because there was NOTHING to see. I was dissapointed but it was awesome being there and I will just have to go back. Clogger was getting picked up and shuttled back to the hike inn and the weather was so miserable that we hopped on board. So, here I am in Gatlinburg. I was going to pass on it but Clogger kept talking about it and dry clothes and a cheeseburger made up my mind. Lots of chores tomorrow and then I can't wait to get back on the trail.more on last night.....Clogger can't sing real well! =nd not showtunes....one minute he is singing memories and the next minute he is clogging.....he makes me laugh. And Oinker is making me think not all republicans are evil.....LOL. But like Keisha and Annie said.....avoid talking politics and religion.....and I am sticking to that also. Now, let's see if I can find where Shoe is. oh shoeeeeeeee! where are you???? Betty, tell him I'm fine....the weather held me up.sooooooo......happy days are here....over and out sparepocket
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Gaitlinburg TN

To: Gaitlinburg TN
Miles today: 0.0

5/140 miles in GatlinburgI had a great day.....Clogger gave oinker and I the grand tour of the smokies and Gatlinburg. He has mised his calling. He would make a great park ranger!We are leaving tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. I am so anxious to be back on the trail. Gatlinburg is great but it is overstimulating. happy trailssparepocket
Date: 2004-05-15
From: UPDATE

To: UPDATE
Miles today: 30.5

5/15This is the Editor in Chief = Gertie in OhioAfter looking over the Appalachina Trail Workbook, Karensioux left me for reference, I have decided that somewhere along the way K's total miles walked is not correct. So with this entry I have added 30.5 miles which will bring total miles to 206.5 which is how far Gatlinburg TN is from Springer Mountain, Georgia.Hey Shoe and Betty I sent you an email today with the info you requested.Karen has sent 3 rolls of film and I should be posting new pix mid-week.Gertie
Date: 2004-05-15
From: Newfound Gap

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

5/15/04 10.something.NewFound Gap to Peck's corner shelter. Clogger dropped Oinker.....okay, before I go on I am officially changing oinkers name to piggy. He seems to like that better. So anyway....Clogger dropped piggy and I off at NewFound gap at 7:30....this morning.....inthe clouds of course. When I got to Charlies Bunion it started to clear up though and I took a ton of pictures. I hiked really strong today....although the last couple of miles, as usual, seem to go on and on and on. This shelter is a half mile off the trail and I got here at 2:30. I thought of going to the next shelter but it was five miles and lots of climbing and I needed water. So, here I am. There is a young tall kid from Indiana that I don't know his name yet.....sparks, the old guy from Jersey is here.....and two guys from New Hampshire. I have to get there names again too.Sparks is sitting right in front of me in the shelter purifying water....which I don't really appreciate cause he is spilling water and worse than that he keeps farting right in my face. Maybe his hearing is bad? It is driving me whacky today. You're not supposed to cook right in the shelter. There are signs posted......I don't understand why people just can't follow the rules. It's not like they are hard rules. Maybe I am a tad irritable today but I had a great day......just cook in the dammed cooking area!later
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: TriCorner Shelter
Miles today: 5.7

5/165.7 milesPecks Corner shelter to Tricorner shelter.rain, rain rain......I had planned on going the extra 7.8 miles to cosby knob. I got here about 11:30 and was reading the trail register. A few of the guys from camp came in and the sky was getting dark. It started to sprinkle and then rain.....and rain...and my boots were dry and I decided to stay here. Piggy came in and thought about going on if the rain stopped by a certain time. I decided to stay and so did piggy and sparks. A young couple from Michigan came in and Bellows decided to stay because of the rain and his hurting feet. Last night was a trip. We turned the tv on and the two guys from New Hampshire.....peakclimber and....ughhhh I forgot his name again....anyhow, it was like a blazing saddles scene with the two of them. The hiking was great today, even though it was much shorter than I had anticipated. I am ready to be out of the Smokies. It's beautiful here but the weather is so unpredictable and I hate it that you can't tent here. You can only stay in the shelters. Don't get me wrong.....I am sooooo happy that there are shelters....but sometimes they are too close together and sometimes they are too far apart. The sun looks like it is trying to poke it's head out again but I don't think we will be watching t v tonight.And I hate to admit this but I am not sure if I am eating enough. And I need to start a multi vitamin again.ok, have to get warm!over and outsparepocket
Date: 2004-05-17
From: SEND SMALL TREATS

To: SEND COOKIES
Miles today: 0.0

Hi this is Gert - today is Monday May17, 2004 - and I wanted to give you all some info - I think Karen's next town stop will be Hot Springs NC - I sent her a package there, then the next stop for mail drops will beMiss Janet's House220 N. Elm Street (look at Miss Janet's web page)Erwin TN 37650Any home baked treat is treasured, best to wrap them in saran wrap, foil or strong zip lock bag, put them is a tight fitting container. ThanksGert
Date: 2004-05-17
From: TriCorner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

5/1714.8 miles. Woohoooooo! Suprised, aren't you? Me too. Tricorner shelter to Davenport gap shelter. This is my best day yet. And it wasn't flat either. In fact, there were a couple of big climbs. Piggy got out first at 6:41....I wasn't too far behind him. It was sooo cloudy.....what I mean to say is we were right in the clouds....I put on my damp clothes and took off. A few cool things happened today. I saw a couple of salamanders.....about 8 inches long and orange. They were very cool. But what was really wild was seeing the site of an old plane crash. Piggy and I were the only ones to se it but I got pictures to prove it. It looked like maybe it was an old military helicopter. I found a piece with some writing on it but it was just instructions for a piece of equipment on the craft. I need to find out what it was and when. It was definatly not a survivable crash. I can't believe everyone else missed it. About one oclock it started to thunder and I put my pack cover on right away. I was smart too because it rained for probably 3 hours. I was soaking wet but at least I wasn't hot. I got to Davenport gap shelter around three fifteen so my time is getting so much better too.I have been dizzy off and on for the last couple days though....I don't know what that is about.....either my sinuses or maybe too much salt.....I need to figure it out though cause it is NOT pleasant!Tomorrow we will be out of the smokies! woohooooo......another goal met. Onto Standingbear hostel....for a shower and clean clothes and resupply for the trip to hot springs. I don't think I will spend the night though.....I need to start moving. If I can get everything done by noon I will move on. But if it is going to rain all day I may spend the night.over and outsparepocket
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: scattered clouds

5/18/043. something today. I am at standingbear hostel. 15 bucks gets me a bed in a cabin with a stream running underneath....laundry, shower, telephone and internet. Plus they have enough to resupply me to hotsprings. I am out of the smokies.....woohoo! Tomorrow there is some climbing.....thought about leaving today but once the laundry is done and I am resupplyed.....I might as well spend the night. I smell and feel soooooooo dirty. My spirits are high though and legs and feet feel great. There is a great big rottweiler here named spit......he will not come up to me but loves to run in and out of the bunkhouse. jim and I got the cabin for the same price with two big double beds.....a double bed is better than a bunk and it was the same price.....first come first served. I need to start picking up my miles now that I am able. And I am not dizzy today either.....woohooooo!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Brown Fork
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

5/19/0410.6 miles. Standing Bear hostel to Brown Fork. We finally get to tent again! We got an early start....6:30 a.m. I really like early starts.....it's so much cooler. Uphill for about the first 4 miles. I ate some wild strawberrys today. They were about the size of a small marble.....not much flavor and a whole lot of seeds.....but I ate a handful and was quite pleased with mysel. Then I heard a bear. I never saw him but he must have pushed an old dead tree over.....it made one hell of a racket.....and I heard him but never saw him. I suppose that's a good thing but I really want to see a bear. On a more dangerous note....I did something really really stupid today. Now, I know it was stupid and I will never do it again.....so no lectures from anyone ok? I saw a snake. Not a big snake....maybe two foot long and the thicknes was a tad more than my thumb. At first glance I thought it was dead. I stood there for a while just watching him.....hoping someone would come along and tell me what it was. It was definatel!y not a rattler. Well, he didn't move and I was getting bored....so, you know what I HAD to do? yep, I had to touch it. Not with my hand....I'm not THAT stupid! With my treking pole. I touched him once......didn't move......touched him twice....didn't move. Now I am getting braver. I decide to actually move him and see if he is dead or alive. He was alive...he turned his head and I swear to you that snake glared at me....honest injun he glared....and then he hissed at me. And fool that I am I played with him another five minutes, until I got bored. Well, from everyone I talked to today...including some oldtimer forest guys, it was a copperhead. I would have been in deep deep doodoo had he decided to bite me. I guess the only reason he didn't was because it was cold. The forest guys told me that had it been warmer he would have biten me. Dumb huh? No more playing with snakes.....I promise.I stopped at Brown gap, out of water, and waiting on Piggy and a couple of forest service guys talked to me and gave me ice. That ice was like a gift from god. That had a few sodas but my yogi'ing technique isn't quite perfected. But the ice was great!piggy and I made a great tv tonight. I don't know if we could do it without fuel but we have plenty of fuel so who cares.It's awesome to be in my tent again and not HAVE to get from shelter to shelter.And suprise suprise....no rain!Kudos to Curtis and Maria for a fabulous hostel. Everything was perfect and Curtis even let Smack and I watch the end of american idol.Just heard a big crash....must go investigate.The big bang was nothing.It's approaching hikers midnight. 9:00 p.m. I love going to bed when it's dark and waking up to birds chirping. What an awesome way to live! Life is good!over and outsparepocket
Date: 2004-05-20
From: Brown Fork

To: Walnut Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

5/20/0411.00 milesBrown's gap to Walnut shelter.The first 45 minues this morning was just torture. It felt like my first day hiking. Ughhhhhh.Don't feel much like writing tonight....I am pooped and the tv is on.Real quik though.Hoot owls woke us up and then we heard what we think was a coyote....and let me tell you.....he was close!Lots of new people today. I met k-bear from austraila and doosie from germany. They were both great.Tomorrow we are in hot springs...and will be staying at elmers.....and I get a maildrop....woohoooo!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Walnut Shelter

To: Hot Springs TN
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

5/21/0413.something miles today.Walnut shelter to Hot SpringsHot, Hot, Hot!!and hot!Hiking was good. The miles were goofy though. One direction said 2.9 miles and then when you got to the other end it said 3.4 for the sme distance. Somebody is wrong.....that's all there is to it!I am itching so bad it is unbelievable. Something is eating me alive and they don't seem to be biting anyone else. I have welts all over my legs and arms.....some are dime size....all are swollen and red and oozing and even black and blue. So, it's off to the dr. in the morning before I leave. I don't know what a dr. can do but this is potentially a bad thing so I am going to take care of it as soon as possible. Saw lots of people in Hot Springs who have been on the trail. And they all look so different when they are clean.Saw a big black snake slither in front of me while hiking. He was at least 4 ft. long and I've decided that what I don't like is when the snakes move. They don't scare me when they are still.....even if I should be scared. But when they move.......holy mackeral andy!I may have seen the head of a bear at a distance too but not sure.cutting this short tonight....tired and lots stuf to do.over and outsparepocket.