morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-06-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Thanks for visiting my journal. I want to welcome anyone interested in following my progress in thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. I am doing this journal as a kind diary and as a way to keep in touch with friends and family. Another reason for keeping it is I have been following the journals of several 2002 thru-hikers and have found them to be quite informative, interesting, and helpful. Hope mine is half as good. A special thanks to Big Red, Two Scoops, Blaze, Charlie Foxtrot, Yossarian, Horseradish, Funky Avocodo and M.G. I have picked up a lot by reading their entries. So here's the plan. Before I retire and do the thru-hike next spring, I have two weeks vacation coming June 29 thru July 14 this year. I am going to do about a 200 mile SOBO section hike from Fayetteville, Pa to Waynesboro, Va. Since I did basically day hikes in the Adirondacks, this will be my first real experience with extended backpacking. I have been working out 3 miles/5 days a week on the treadmill trying to stay in shape. This will also give me a chance to see how warm weather hiking goes, as the Adirondacks were fairly cool, even in the summer. My wife Julia will drop me off in Fayetteville Pa. Planned stops include Tumbling Run, Ensign Cowall, Rocky Run, Harpers Ferry, Blackburn AT Ctr, Bluemont, Sky Meadows, Pass Mtn, Bearface Mtn, Hightop Mtn, Blackrock Hut, Calf Mtn. and finsh up at Waynesboro. When I get back I'll do a report on the trip. I'll also do another entry on the preparation. After a few of these introductory type entries, I'll do some periodic updates on how the preparations are going for the big hike next spring. I haven't thought of a trail name yet. I'll probably come up with one on the trail. Next entry I'll go into some of my current gear and preparation. See you then.
Date: 2002-07-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, those of you who have read my previous entries know that I completed a two week 165 mile "shakedown" hike of the Trail from Pa to Big Meadows in the Shenandoah Park. I wasn't going to report again until I made more preparations for my 2003 thru-hike. That was until I realized there was another important part of my experience to report. I just returned home from the Hospital Med Express where I was diagnosed with the dreaded LYME DISEASE! I knew I had it when a small red place just below my waistline on my right hip began to grow into a "bullseye." And yesterday, I began to feel crummy with some minor aches and pains. Since I had read about another thru-hiker who had to drop out because of it, I pretty much recognized that I had it.So, I am on antibiotics for the next 3 weeks. I really don't know what I would have done differently. I took showers more frequently than most. But, there were seveeral days when I think I could have come into contace with a tick. I never felt it, as it was the smaller kind. I had a larger one on my thigh that I removed right away. The smaller ticks are the ones that carry the disease. It took the week to develope the red place which is what they tell you.I'm going to try and not let this discourage my thru-hiking plans. I'll keep you informed as things develope.Later,
Date: 2002-07-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Just a quick update for those who might be interested. Treatment for my Lyme Disease is Doxycline - 100mg - 2 capsules a day. It seems to be working well. I felt like I was back to normal the 2nd day and went back to work on Tuesday and to execising on Thursday. The "bullseye" rash is even starting to fade away. I visit my doctor for a follow-up this Thursday but it looks like we caught it early enough that I won't have any lasting effects. I am going to start to put together my hiking plan for the thru-hike...hiking distances, stops, that sort of thing. I am also going to research the Equinox Pound Plus backpack that J.C. was using. I might even buy a postal scale and begin to put together my "ideal pack." Later,
Date: 2002-08-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, my intention when I began the Journal was not do a large number of preparation entries, and when I did do an entry, it would be pretty much related to actual preparation for the thru-hike. Here I am on #9 and I'm not even into the gear.Today kind of has to do with mental preparation. I must have gotten rid of the Lyme Disease as I feel fine. I have had no ill effects as soon as I began taking the antibotics and my doctor, who saw me half way thru the medication, didn't even choose to do more follow-up. So, that's the good news.The bad news is last week we woke up in the middle of the night to find our pug, Ally, having seizures. We rushed her to an all-night emergency clinic where they stabilized her. At first they thought it was treatable, the kind that many dogs experience. We shuttled her to our vet where she got worse, lost her eye sight, and had trouble maintaining her balance. We then took her to the the Ohio State University Vet Clinic where she died last Saturday. It turns out it was Pug encephalitis which they say was most likely caused by a genetic defect. Anyway. she was such a pal and a very big part of our lives. I bring it up here because the plan was that she would be company for Julia while I would be out hiking the trail next year. We will get another puppy but wonder how it will work out. They require a lot of attention, especailly that first year. We'll just have to see how it goes. The plan is still to do the Trail in the spring.
Date: 2002-09-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The picture here is our new dog. Just brought her home today and she is a real sweetheart. I felt like I should introduce her to you since I did bring up our loss when Ally died unexpectedly. Casey's part in the plan will be to keep Julia company while I am away on the Trail. Okay, now on to progress on planning the hike. If you've been monitoring my gear lately you've seen things are starting to come together. My Wanderlust tent is supposed to be completed next week so I should be able to use it at the Gathering. I decided on the ULA P-1 light backpack which I am really looking forward to. (It was a tough decision between it and the Equinox Pound Plus) The manufacturer is really cool. Sounds like a sharp young man running the place. He's going to try to have it completed by the Gathering and bring it out to me. How's that for service? I also replaced the inflatable pad with the 3/4 fold-up ZREST. And I purchased the Pategonia silkweight T-shirt. I've got to read up on "base" layer clothing. I'm not sure exactly what I should want for the cooler weather. I've read some accounts of hikers that went to bed with every stitch of clothing they brought along and were still cold in a 20 degree bag.Some of you will get a laugh out of this, but I went out and bought a postal scale (handles up to 50#). It does seem like a bit too much since one usually knows what everything weighs when you buy it. I am determined to keep my load as low as possible. So if I have a bunch of niceties that add up to extra pounds I'll know it ahead of time. I don't want to be like Bryson's pal and litter the trail with extras I don't need.Just wanted to mention that I was following Blaze's '02 thru-hike. I sent him a note congratulating him upon his successful completion and the nice job he did on his journal. Well, he was nice enough to send an e-mail offering his assistance on my thru-hike. What a class act! If you haven't read his account you owe it to yourself to do so. I've picked up a lot from him already.Will add more as things start to go together. Later.
Date: 2004-03-14
To: Hiker Update
Miles today: 0.0

Well it was one year ago today that I took off from Springer on my thru-hike. I thought I'd do an update since I have some hiking plans. I'd love to be doing it all over again but just can't take off for 6 months at one time...maybe next year.I am going down to Springer this week to hike the Trail for 3 or 4 weeks. I'm taking my camper to Rainbow Springs Campground where I've made arrangements to leave it until Trail Days. I think Apple, the trail angel I met on the Trail last year, is nearby doing trail magic. I'll try to look him up and then do some hiking...meet some of the '04 class and do some trail magic myself before coming home the end of April.I will be at Trail Days in May and may move my camper to Grayson Highlands State Park if I can't find a better place that's closer. Mule is supposed to join me and a lot of the others like Liteshoe and Goldberry will be there.I've been talking to Charlie from Berea...he wants to go back at the end of June and finish up the last 500 miles or so. You may recall he had to get off at Manchester Center with a muscle tear behind a knee. He's doing fine now and back to his cycling. I love Maine and am anxious to join him to rehike this section. It should be a good time if it doesn't rain like last year.In September, I am planning to do the John Muir Trail. Liteshoe got a group of us interested. Mule & Driver want to do it and Charlie from Berea too...we might even get Leif from Trailjournals. We've had some problem agreeing on a start date that everyone can live with...here's hoping we can work it out.Am anxious to get back on the Trail...have been working out this winter and feel pretty good. Thanks to Trailjournals I made it thru the winter months.Take Care & Hike On!
Date: 2003-02-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello everybody! My name's Ian Rees and this is the beginning of a journal about my walk from Georgia towards Maine on the Appalachian trail. The physical aspect of the walk will hopefully begin early next month (March, 2003) and will be over whenever it ceases to be fun, I get to the other end of the trail, or I have to get off for some unexpected reason. In the next few journal entries, I'll try to explain more about the preparations and reasoning for my walk, a little about me, and probably some other stuff. Before all that, here's a quote to ponder:"I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It's seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It's seeing what other people don't see and pursuing that vision."                                -- Howard SchultzHoward Schultz is the guy who founded Starbucks corporation. Anyone who can get millions of people to pay $4 for a cup of coffee is a pretty wise guy in my book, so his words must mean something! Anyhow, it's 2:15am, time for bed.
Date: 2003-03-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hmmm, I thought this journal would only become visible after more than three entries....Anyhow, it's been a while since I wrote anything in my journal, been busy lately. Originally, I had planned to be on the AT by March 8th, but that day has come and gone and I'm still at home. Several things came up, and I ended up going to Florida for a week and a half to be with my grandparents - one of whom is very ill. I finally have all my gear together and ready to go, or at least everything except a windscreen for my stove. Most of my room is packed up and ready to be moved, all that's left is my computer and a couple changes of clothes. The current plan is to drive down to my dad's house in Georgia next Tuesday and hit the trail either Wednesday or Thursday. Dad is helping me out by being a 'home base.' He will mail stuff to me when needed and take care of downloading pictures from memory cards that I will send from the trail. I hope to be able to keep this journal updated while on the trail via public libraries and other computers that I happen to run across along the way, so entries may be a bit sporadic. This evening I took pictures of some of the gear that I will be taking, they should be online tomorrow. Well, that's all I can think of writing now, see you later!
Date: 2003-03-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I can't wait to get to Springer!! Most of today was spent tying up loose ends and getting ready to move. All my gear is now ready, I made a windscreen that seems to work pretty well this afternoon. It's made out of aluminum from an oven liner that I picked up at Wall-Mart for $0.97. Also got some gear pictures taken, touched up, uploaded, and added to this journal. It looks like tomorrow's going to be a very busy day so I might not have time to get photos of the rest of my gear online for a while. Over 140 people have already checked out my journal, and a few have even signed the guestbook! Thank you Leif and Zipdrive for running this site! The other journals, forums, and chat that you guys provide are a great resource for people planning a long hike. I can't wait to be able to meet some of the people keeping journals here on the trail!
Date: 2003-03-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Got a lot done towards the hike today, but I'm not going to type a lot because I'm on my brother's computer and can't stand his keyboard. First I went down to school and dropped off a textbook that had been at home (not sure if I mentioned that I am still a high school student officially, that's where the AWOL part comes in ;) After dropping off the book, I went over to the local Wall-Mart and picked up some goodies for the GSMNP drop box and some pills that were forgotten on the previous trip (Benedryl.) Went to the bank and changed my account from a 'student' type to a 'thrifty' account which is pretty much the same thing, but it has a 15 check/month limit on free checks and a fee after that. I intend to use my debit card to get cash and pay for things along the way, so the limit on free checks shouldn't be a problem. Anyhow, after the bank I dropped a few packages in the mail and headed up the road to Richmond (Richmond, KY) to pick up a cell phone. I know that there are a lot of people in the AT community that don't like the idea of cell phones on the trail, but it'll make my parents happy and will enable trailhead pizza delivery ;) On the road to Richmond, traffic is usually in the 60mph range but I got stuck behind a late 60s model Ford pickup truck going more like 40mph. This didn't really bother me, gave me some time to think about the next couple days and work out a couple little problems in my head. Eventually I got the phone and headed home to program in a few numbers and get it charged up. After lunch, I went to the barbershop to get a massive haircut (less maintenance, and saves weight) and listened to some old guys talking about trapping japanese beetles and putting them in a 55 gallon drum for a while, then they decided to leave. As they were pulling out, I realized that those were the same guys that I had followed to Richmond earlier, strange coincidence. Got the haircut, went back by the bank to cash a check that was forgotten in the earlier visit, then headed home to pack stuff into the truck. While waiting for a traffic light, I glanced in the rearview and noticed....the same truck with the same guys, probably still talking about protecting their corn from beetles with used motor oil and beetle. Weird. Got home, packed the truck, wrote a couple emails, then typed up this journal entry. Tomorrow I get to drive my little pickup about 3 times farther than it's been driven since I rebuilt the more complex half of it, hope it works!!
Date: 2003-03-11
From: Berea,KY

To: Sautee, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Started out the day by going to school and officially dropping out, returning books, saying goodbyes, etc. Until last night, I had thought that I would need to sit with my mom and the school counselor for an hour long meeting before dropping out (that's what the counselor told me.) Since mom is completely against my AT hike, I knew that wasn't going to happen, so I was planning to just go hiking and let the people in charge at school figure out what was going on, hence the trailname AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave.) It turns out that I just needed to talk to the superintendant for a few minutes, sign a paper, then return my books since I'm 18. Anyhow, after leaving school, I did a little last-minute packing and then hit the road. This was the first time that my truck ('85 Nissan 720 longbed) had been on the interstate in several years, but it handled the drive pretty well. I stopped twice on the way down; once in Sweetwater, TN to get gas and a drink, and Neels gap to puck up the new edition of the thru-hiker's guide. Eneded up arriving at dad's house near Helen, GA a little after 5:00. Dad and I got the truck unpacked and did a little bit of planning. We decided that it would be best to start Thursday so that we could go visit my grandfather who is in a nursing home and get a few errands done before going to Springer to begin the long walk north.
Date: 2003-03-12
From: Sautee, GA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Since I'm not exactly AWOL anymore, I took that trailname off the journal for now. Maybe later on, someone will give me a new trailname, maybe not. This morning I put my loaded pack on a scale for the first time, 25 pounds with a few days of food but no water in the bottles. Dad and I went to see grandad, he seems to be doing pretty well overall (has altzheimer's sp?) After we got back to the house, I cut up the new guidebook and made it into 4 roughly equal parts so there's less to carry at one time. Spent some time rearranging things in my pack and sorting out food. Dad learned how to copy pictures from the camera's memory card onto the computer and convert them to a lower resolution for use on the web. In about 5 days, I should be able to get some pics from the first bit of the hike online here at trailjournals.com. We're going to leave for Springer sometime around 9:00am tomorrow. I'm going to hike the 8.8 mile approach trail and dad's going to drive up the forest service road and meet me at the top sometime in the evening. It's hard to believe that I'm finally this close to being a thru-hiker, can't wait until tomorrow!
Date: 2003-03-13
From: Amicalola Visitor Center

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I ended up staying up late last night packing and repacking my backpack, trying to find the optimal arrangement of stuff. After getting everything packed up, food bag stuffed, and water bottles filled the pack came to about thirty pounds on the bathroom scale. I was pretty excited about the weight because it was the first time all my gear had been on a scale to see how much I'd be carrying to Maine, and it turned out to be less than expected.        This morning dad and I drove over to Amicalola Falls State Park and found the lodge, thinking it was where the approach trail to Springer Mountain (southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail) started. If we had checked the book first, we would have realized that the approach trail actually begins at the visitor center, but then we wouldn't have been able to drive up a long, very steep (22% grade according to a sign) road up the mountain that I would be hiking up in a few minutes. Eventually, we found the thru-hiker sign-in sheet and the famous (infamous?) backpack scales at the visitor center. The scales show 4 pounds even when there's nothing hanging on them, but they showed the same weight as our bathroom scale had for my pack. Dad and I arranged to meet on the summit of Springer Mountain later in the evening, but he would be driving up the forest service road and hiking a much shorter distance to get there. I hoisted my pack and headed uphill around 11:00.The approach trail is 8.8 miles long, mostly uphill. The trail wasn't as tough as I expected it to be, but I did have to take lots of rest/water breaks along the way. I stopped for lunch around noon and refilled my water bottles at a spring on Frosty mountain a while later. Eventually, I met dad on the summit and got some pictures. We chatted for a few minutes, and then he headed back home. Through the evening, a couple groups of college students on spring break came up, all of them continued on except for Conway and Josh, who I ended up camping out with. We made a campfire and stayed up joking and exchanging stories well after dark. It's been an awesome day!
Date: 2003-03-14
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I woke up at about the same time as Conway and Josh. We all had instant oatmeal for breakfast, which is pretty common on the trail. Josh gave me some food that he and Conway had leftover (a Lipton's dinner and coffee bags) from their hike since they would be leaving for home in a couple hours. Thanks guys! Soon after I got packed up, I met a thru-hiker named Skeemer (he also has a journal at this site) who was just beginning his hike. After chatting for a few minutes, I headed off and he took some pictures. The next few miles of trail were much smoother than the approach trail, and there was much more variety in scenery. I met Margie (another journalist) as she was preparing to climb Springer from the parking lot at Big Stamp Gap, and then continued on the trail to Maine. I stopped for lunch at Long Creek Falls on Josh and Conway's recommendation, very cool place. After a nice long lunch consisting of only the best junk food, I checked out my guidebook and decided to head towards Justus creek. After a couple miles, however, the sky darkened and it looked like rain was fast approaching. I decided to stop early and stay (dry) at Hawk Mountain Shelter rather than trying to make six more miles before getting soaked. When I arrived at the shelter, there were only three other people there, but by nightfall the shelter was filled to capacity and there were about a dozen tents set up nearby. We all visited for a while, cooked our dinners, updated journals, and then went to bed. Soon after dark, I heard the infamous shelter mice for first tim
Date: 2003-03-15
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Big Cedar Mountain
Miles today: 13.4

It's still really wet outside. Last night the mice ate part of a bootlace and a plastic bag (neither mine,) and pooped in a yogurt cup that I've been using for scooping water out of shallow water sources. Had oatmeal and part of a big apple muffin (very good) that LT, another trailjournalist, made for breakfast. Thanks LT! I scrubbed my yogurt cup clean, then mixed up some pretty strong bleach-like stuff in it to clean out the mouse germs with my Aqua Mira water purifier. Got packed up and headed out for a long climb up Sassafras Mountain. I stopped for lunch at Justus Creek along with a couple guys that I've been hiking with on-and-off for most of the morning. Soon, most of the hikers that slept at the shelter last night showed up and we took turns taking pictures of the crowd. When I got to Gooch Gap, I met my first trail-angel, Animal. Animal is a 2000 thru-hiker who came down to Georgia for a long weekend to help out new thru-hikers with hot drinks and food. Later down the trail, I heard that he gave another hiker a nice sleeping pad just because the hiker mentioned that he had a sore back! Awesome guy! I visited with Animal for a while and then walked to Woody Gap to make dinner (ramen noodles tonight.) Rather than camping near the road at Woody Gap, I walked another mile or so and camped on Big Cedar Mountain with Dave and Carole, two fellow thru-hiker
Date: 2003-03-16
From: Big Cedar Mountain

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up in the middle of another cloud, I'm starting to get used to this. I made oatmeal and coffee from the packet Josh and Conway gave me. I'm going to have to get some more of these coffee bags, very nice for mornings in the woods! We finally had some blue skies during the day, and some pretty nice views. I got to the Walasi Yi center at Neels gap in the afternoon, bought a Coke and some snacks, dried out my gear, and finally got a shower! I caled dad and arranged to meet him in a couple days at Unicoi gap for a 0 day and resupply. Rather than stay in the hostel, I camped out in a small campground a couple hundred yards up the trail. From what I've heard, about half the people who set out to be NOBO (northbound) thru-hikers end up quitting at or before Neels Gap, so I'm really glad to have made it here and still be looking forward to some more backpacking