morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Campsite near Big Bald

To: Erwin, Tennessee
Miles today: 18.9

Another LONG day on the trail. I actually consisted of three sections, which is one more that I'd normally do. Remember when I started this hike? I kept my miles low in order to hike myself into shape. My first two days were 7 milers, followed by a 12, and then a three. Then I upped it to 12-14 miles, with an occasional 16 miler. Now a 13 miler seems like a short day! Progress.On most of my longer days, I try to think of it like my mid-August football practices in high school. They were "two a days" -- a morning and an afternoon session. The morning was usually the harder one, and that meant the afternoons wer NOT so hard. I try to plan my hikes that way. Today, I did the hard early morning climb over Big Bald, and then ento Sams Gap. My lunch break came at Spivy Gap, and then began the afternoon "practice". However, the climb out of that particular gap seemed to go on forever. It was tough. Which left me feeling a bit weak as I approached No Business Knob Shelter. After a second lunch, however, and after downing two liters of water -- not that I was dehydrated or anything -- I took a quick nap. Then - decision time. Stay and set up my tent, or hike another 6.3 miles? I studied the map and the elevation gains and losses. I also remembered that much of it was flat and level terrain where you could zone out/set the speed control button, and fly along the trail. I figured I could do it in uder 3 hours, possibly close to 2.5. It was 3:30 pm. HmmmmSo I did the first three miles in 1:08 -- a new personal best! The next mile was essentially uphill -- at 2 mph. Long story short -- I'm typing this from the Holiday Inn Express in Erwin after doing the 6.3 miles in 2 hours and 33 minutes. My left knee is complaining a bit, but nothing serious, and I can't really blame it. I'm happy. Pass the pizza, please...
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Erwin, Tennessee

To: home
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Friends:My apologies for not updating my journal recently. Coming out of Erwin, I ran into a blowdown that had taken out the trail. Trying to get around it, I slipped on loose rock, and injured my knee. I am home now, dealing with the injuries -- a stress fracture to the tibia and a miniscus tear in my knee. I'll be seeing my orthopedic surgeon at noon today, and will let you know the outcome shortly. My plan is to get back to the trail and resume my hike ASAP. Stay tuned, and thanks for your words of concern.Cheers,Longhaul
Date: 2010-05-09
From: home

To: Florida
Miles today: 0.0

Update:Had my knee operated on Wednesday, and it seems to be doing well. Still a bit sore, but that's to be expected. In order not to go absolutely stir crazy while waiting for the stress fracture to heal, I will be visiting my brother in Florida for a week, leaving out today, and then my son in Atlanta on the way back home. The current plan is to resume my hike on Monday, May 24 -- starting at Waynesboro, Virginia, the southern end of the Shenandoahs. That will put me about where I'd planned to be at that point in time. Then, if all goes well, I should be able to summit by end-August, early September. Thanks to all who have inquired about my status and sent words and cards of good wishes. My spirits are good and I can't wait to resume my hike.
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Waynesboro / SNP

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

Restarted my hike today after being off for 6 weeks w/ knee surgery and waiting for stress fracture to heal. All systems "go".More than 15 hikers at the shelter tonight - mostly thru-hikers. Rain threatened all day but never did much that got me wet so that was good. A couple of hills today but no mountains.It feels great to be back out here. Now if I can just get to Maine without any more injuries...Again, thanks to all for your words of support and encouragement.
Date: 2010-06-01
From: Skyland Lodge/SNP

To: Pass Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.0

This journal should probably be retitled "Trailus Interuptus". As noted in my last entry, I restarted my hike on May 24 at the southern end of the Shenandoahs with the objective of hiking up to Bears Den over the next ten days, then taking a day off with my family, before heading north for Katahdin. Well, I made it five days perfectly well, and all systems were working wonderfully...until. I developed some intestinal issues that once again took me off the trail. I caught a shuttle home and did the ER thing (I got home last Friday afternoon, just after my Dr.'s office closed for the long holiday weekend!) Fortunately, most tests were negative, but they gave me anti-biotics and told me to see my regular Dr. today. Which I've done. He gave his blessing for me to restart my hike, and in two minutes, my lovely wife will once again drive me south to restart my hike where I left off -- at the Skyland Lodge in the SNP. I expect to reach Bears Den in five more days, and will then visit my Dr. once last time for a follow up visit before heading north from Harpers Ferry. I plan to skip the 20 miles from Snickers Gap to Harpers Ferry as that is my training hike territory and I've been over it way too many times. Assuming my June 7 Drs. visit is anti-climatic, I will be heading out that very same day -- after signing in at the ATC center in Harpers Ferry. I was already seeing hiker friends from this year in the SNP, so many of them I know are in this area. All is good. Wish me luck!
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Duncannon, Pa
Miles today: 125.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ok, guys, here's the update on my hike. And no, I didn't just do 125 miles today, thats the milage since my last update.I left Harpers Ferry on Tuesday morning-- a day later than originally planned, due to a longer list of home chores to tend to than I'd thought. My plan was to do seven days into Duncannon, averaging about 18 miles a day. Long story short: I did it in six days -- averaging over 20 miles a day and setting two personal best milage days. Day one in to Dalgren Campground was good-- sunny weather and all systems were working well. Had a prime rib dinner at the nearby South Mountain Inn, to end a great first day back on the trail.Day two was not so good. Rained torrentially all day, and my back was acting up. Badly. Not a happy camper. Had to cook my own dinner too!!Day three was great. All systems a go, thanks to those little pink pills and a good nights sleep. Made it 24 miles, a new personal best, into Caladonia State Park. Another throughhiker (BOSTON) gave me two big sausages he and a friend had cooked, along with grilled onions and peppers. They were wonderful, and saved me slaving over a hot stove. Day four was another good day, over 20 miles into Pine Grove Furnace State park where I did the half-way -point half-gallon ice cream challenge and had a cheeseburger for dinner at the campstore. No cooking for me!Day five was even better. I heard from two Southbounders about a new place open to hikers in Boiling Springs -- a dinner theater place call Allenberry's playhouse. $25 per room, and a $15 all you can eat buffet dinner - with prime rib and shrimp, etc. Plus a hot shower and laundry!I left out yesterday morning planning on a 21 mile day to a shelter four miles south of Duncannon, but got there at 4:30 in the afternoon. I figured for another four miles of mostly downhill, I could have the benefits of a town stop, so off I went. My first ever 25+ mile day! Stayed at the Doyle, as usual. Had pizza and beer and wings. Today I hike out for my next stop - Port Clinton. About five days. Don't know if I can update from there, but i'll try. Onward!
Date: 2010-07-09
To: End of the Trail...
Miles today: 0.0

Dear Trail Friends and loyal Longhaul followers:It is with no little regret that I must announce the end of this year's quest to reach Katahdin. This was my third attempt, as many of you know, and I doubt it will be my last. But alas, while the spirit was willing, the flesh was simply not up to it. I was doing well through Maryland and Pennsylvania, with several new personal bests -- including a 23, a 24, and a 25 mile day -- and was generally have a very good time. Unfortunately, the rocks of Pennsylvania did me in. Or rather, they did in my back, which was not up to the challenge of rock hopping with a 35 pound pack. After several days of considerable pain, I concluded that I could not continue. I left the trail thinking I might just give it a rest and then perhaps resume my journey. On returning home, however, I once again encountered "lower digestive system issues". I am currently on an anti-biotic regimin, which I hope will finally resolve those issues, but I have basically decided not to try to carry on. Much as I would have liked to reach Katahdin a second time, I am satisfied that I did my best. And I completed somewhere around 800 miles, which is no mean feat. I also lost about 35 pounds, which is good! I will spend the rest of the summer recovering, visiting family and friends, and preparing to return to work. I have also decided to begin preparations for running (ok, more accurately, speed walking!) a marathon -- something that has been "on my list" for some years. I have also agreed with my son, Mathew, to do a bike ride with him on the C&O Canal from Cumberland, Md. to Washington, some 164 miles. Hmmm. If I could get my swimming muscles back in shape, maybe I could try one of those Tri-athelons... Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know the outcome of my adventure, and to thank you, once again, for all your support, encouragement, and love. I shall be forever in your debt!Until the next time (2014?)
Date: 2011-12-07
To: Testing, Testing...
Miles today: 0.0

Well, now I'm not sure what's going to happen come March. As noted in the previous entry, my first steroid shot was incredible. The pain was GONE! I felt great. Did a couple of backpacking trips on the AT -- Snickers Gap north to the Blackburn Trail Center (14 miles round trip)and Harpers Ferry south to the Blackburn Trail Center (26 miles round trip), and in both cases the back was fine. But that was in July and August while the first shot was still operational. That wore off after a few weeks, and six weeks in I could feel the pain coming back. Unfortunately, I got really busy at the office and put off getting a second shot until late October, by which time it was really painful. The second shot helped, but did not offer nearly as complete a feeling of relief as the first one. Hmmm. Declining marginal impact phenomena? So now, having finished essentially all of my work assignments, I'm turning my attention full time to getting in shape -- five miles a day plus weight training and now starting additional miles with the treadmill with a 10% grade. What I don't know is whether I am getting in shape to hike the AT come March, or to have the back operation. Meanwhile, it being a full six weeks since the second shot, I am more than ready for another one, and have scheduled it for tomorrow morning. I may have the good Dr. Davies try it a bit higher this time, closer to where the pain is worse, just to see if that helps. He's already agreed to give me shots every six weeks during my hike, so the question is simply whether or not that will be enough to get me to Katahdin. My current plan is to do enough backpacking over the next six to 10 weeks to know whether or not the hike is "on'. Meanwhile, I have decided not to start a new journal until the outcome is clear. In fact, I'm not even sure if I will bother with a journal again this time. I really don't want to get my hopes up, only to have them dashed again. You'd think that after three hike attempts, only one of which was "completed", it would not be quite so painful to face defeat, but it is. In fact, I think in some ways, it's actually worse. Peace/Out
Date: 2013-01-01
To: Do I REALLY want to do this?
Miles today: 0.0

I have really mixed feelings about this thing. Oh, not the hike. The journal thing. I like to journal, but I really don't have a lot of free time right now. See, I'm still only "semi-retired", and right now I'm in that part of the year where I'm going to work every day. When I'm done working for the year, then I get to go hiking. So I should be working, not journaling. But I made the mistake of reading a bunch of the other 2013 journals and...well...shoot. Here we go again.
Date: 2013-01-02
From: Fourth Time's a Charm

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I wish I were more optimistic about making it all the way to Katahdin this year. Trouble is, I've just had too many experiences with injuries stopping me from that goal to be able to have the kind of confidence I had that first time out that I was going to make it. I DID make it, but it was not exactly pretty. And then my next two attempts were stopped short. Even last year, when I tried to resume my 2010 hike, I only got in a couple hundred miles before my left knee gave out. Like totally. I knew when I started that it was bad. Even had a steroid shot just before I left for Delaware Water Gap to see if that would help. It did, but not enough. Made it to Kent, Connecticut and was done. So, as with my right knee, which was shot when I finished my first through-hike, I just had it replaced. Been working on the "rehab" thing pretty consistently, and it's now back as good as new. Better even -- bionic knees don't get meniscus tears! So at least I don't have to worry about my knees. And, I'm actually going to the gym a lot, trying to be in better shape at the start of my hike, instead of my earlier approach of hiking myself into hiking shape each time out.I guess I just know too much about the bad things that can happen out there on the trail. I should probably try to be more optimistic. The power of positive thinking thing, right? Yeah. Ooooooh Kaaaaay. We'll work on that.
Date: 2013-01-04
From: Still need to figure out a way to type...

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

On my first several AT adventures, I had the use of a "pocketmail" device. It was an electronic keyboard that stored email messages. Then when you could get to a phone, you'd dial an 800 number, wait for it to answer, then hold the device up to the phone, press a button on the back, and it would transmit the email. If I got a cell phone signal, I could even do it from my tent at night. It was cool. Too cool to last, of course. With the advent of cell phones, pocketmail's days were numbered, and it finally went out of business. Subsequently, I bought a blackberry, 'cause it has a decent keyboard, at least for texting, and it COULD work for doing these journal entries as well. But I really hate trying to type an entire journal entry with my thumbs. Pain in the butt, if ya know what I mean. So in 2009, I bought one of those flexible, roll-up style keyboards that I understood I could just plug into my Blackberry and then have a full-size keyboard to type with. Being, ahem, of a certain generation, I am, admittedly, technologically challenged. So I neglected to check whether it would work with my particular blackberry. Seems it worked only with an older operating system than what I had. Great idea -- not gonna happen! I was totally bummed. Still haven't figured out what I'm going to do. Anyone got any good ideas? Hello? Hello? [OK, that's three. Let's get this thing UP!]
Date: 2010-03-20
From: S. Highland Road NY

To: Davenport Gap NC
Miles today: 1172.2

Hi! My husband and I are section hiking the AT. So far we've completed over the last several years a total of 1170.6 miles from southern NY (S.Highland Rd) down to Davenport Gap at the Great Smokey Mountains. When we hike, each day we meet a shuttler at the end of our day's hike and they shuttle us to the beginning of the day's hike. We hike to our car and then drive back to our cabin for the night. We're hiking from Springer Mountain beginning 4/11/10 and finishing at Fontana Dam 4/28/10. We're staying in vacation rental cabins along the way--Suches 4/10-13, Hiawasee 4/14-19, Otto/Franklin 4/20-24, and Robbinsville 25-28.Let us know if you're hiking this time period. We haven't figured out how to email another person in the Trail Journals. If you know how, could you please let us know? Thanks.Love and Peace
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Home

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

We're excited to be leaving this Saturday so we can begin our hike from Springer Mountain on 4/11/10 and section hike to Fontana Dam. Our schedule is as follows:4/10 Drive to GA - Overnight Suches 4/10, 11, 12, and 13;   4/11 Shuttle from Hightower Gap to Springer Mt; (8.3+1 to summit & 1 back = 10.3mi hike S to N) (GA Sec. 17); 4/12 Shuttle from Woody Gap to Hightower Gap (11.8mi hike S to N) (GA Sec. 16); 4/13 Shuttle from Woody Gap to Neels Gap (10.6mi hike N to S (GA Sec. 15);4/14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Overnight Hiawasee, GA:4/14 Shuttle from Neels Gap to 348 N road block toward Tesnatee Gap (3mi 348N at road block to Tesnatee gap) + (6.4mi hike N to S) (GA Sec.14); 4/15 Shuttle from 348N Road Block to 180/Jacks Gap. Hike from Jacks Gap to Chatahoochee Gap on JacksKnobTrail (2.5mi), to Tesnatee Gap (10mi), to 348N Rd Blk. (3mi) Total 15.5 mi? (N to S);4/16 Shuttle from 180/Jacks Gap to Tray Gap: Hike N to S Tray Gap to Chatahoochee Gap, then JacksKnobTrail (2.5mi) to 180/Jacks Gap; 4/17 Shuttle frm Dicks Creek Gap to Tray Gap (12.7mi hike S to N)(GA Sec.12-A);4/18 Shuttle from Dicks Creek Gap to Blue Ridge Gap (6.5mi? hike N to S); 4/19 Shuttle from Blue Ridge Gap to Deep Gap (11.5mi? N to S) (NC Sec.10 & 11);4/20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Overnight Franklin, NC:4/20 Day of Rest (Dave and Bill join us for 4/20-28 hiking);4/21 Shuttle from Deep Gap to Mooney Gap (13.1mi hike N to S) (NC Sec.9-B); 4/22 Shuttle from Wallace Gap to Mooney Gap (8.2mi hike S to N) (NC Sec.9-A); 4/23 Shuttle from Wallace Gap to Wayah Gap (9mi hike N to S) (NC Sec.8);4/24 Shuttle from Wayah Gap to Tellico Gap (13.5mi hike N to S) (NC Sec.7); 4/25, 26, 27, 28 Overnight Robbinsville, NC:4/25 Shuttle from Natahala OutCtr to Tellico Gap (7.9mi hike S to N)(NC Sec.6);4/26 Shuttle from Natahala Out Ctr to Stecoah (13.6mi hike N to S) (NC Sec.5);4/27 Shuttle from Stecoah to Yellow Creek (7.6mi hike N to S) (NC Sec.4);4/28 Shuttle from Fontana to Yellow Creek (8.2mi hike S to N) (NC Sec.3);4/29 Drive home
Date: 2010-04-15
From: Tesnatee Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: few clouds

Thursday, 4/15/10This morning before 6am I went out on the upper deck to look at the stars before it started getting light. I heard an animal moan. Wes had told me yesterday that bears moan when they smell the scent of a human or other animal. So I figured I heard a bear. I flipped the outside lights but couldn't see a sign of any animal. I had also noticed yesterday that there was a bear bell on the railing of the upper deck. I assume it is meant to scare away bears if they should come too near the cabin.We met Wes Wisson for the last time he would shuttle us this trip at Unicoi Gap and he drove us to Tesnatee Gap to pick up where we left off yesterday. We hiked 14.9 miles today, lots of ups and downs but not as high as we'd expected. We also had some easy ridge walking. We maintained 30 minute miles or better even with stops to chat with hikers along the way. I was startled by a grouse flying away as we passed. David wasn't sure what was happening when I let our my normal startle scream response. When we got back to Hiawassee, we bought groceries, ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant, and had Dairy Queen for dessert. We shuttled a hiker, Norbert, from Austria, from Dicks Creek Gap into Hiawassee. He declined our offer to stay with us, opting instead to stay at Mull's Motel which was closer to the Post Office for pickup of his mail drop for resupply. He started at Amicalola Falls approach trail last Thursday, is taking an off day tomorrow, and will get back on the trail on Saturday. We let the other hikers along the way today know to leave a message on my cell when they get to Dicks Creek Gap. We'll check our cell between 4-5pm each day to see if they want us to pick them up and bring them back to our place or shuttle them to Hiawassee town center. We don't have cell coverage or phone in the cabin.We're getting ready to hop in the hot tub for a long soak before watching our Thursday night show and hitting the sack for the night. We're just a little tired and looking forward to a short hike tomorrow.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Tray Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: few clouds

Friday, 4/16/10We met our shuttler Joyce at Unicoi Gap and drove a very long way over a gravel road to Tray Gap. Seemed like a long drive for just hiking 4.3 miles, but it knocked tomorrow's hike down from 16.6 to 12.3. Thank you, Joyce! We started with a down hill hike, climbed a steep mountain, and climbed back down again. We met 501 who's journal on www.trailjournals.com I had just read last night and ran into Blaze and Lady Hawk and Robin and his friends. After our hike, we drove to Anna Ruby Falls to see the waterfalls and had the lunch buffet at the Unicoi State Lodge. While we were eating I suddenly heard and felt spray go into my eyes and felt serious stinging. I wondered if Dave had bit into a lemon but then remembered seeing a jalepeno pepper on his plate and realized that's what got me. A waitress came over and asked if I was okay when I could finally open my eyes again. I asked Dave to never bite a hot pepper near me again!We then drove to Tallulah Gorge and Falls. We changed into our swim suits and walked down a long set of stairs to see the falls and try rock hopping to go down the Sliding Rock. We decided it was too risky to rock hop and just enjoyed the view. We stopped by Dicks Creek Gap but no one was there who needed a ride. Of course, then I realized no one can get cell coverage from that location and wouldn't be able to call me without reclimbing the hill.After dinner we played scrabble on the outside deck and enjoyed listening to the spring peepers, birds, and feeling the gentle breeze while the sun lowered over the surrounding mountains. We'll be in the hot tub soon and getting ready to hike tomorrow from Tray Gap to Dicks Creek Gap. Gee, this is so much better than work.Love and Peace
Date: 2010-04-17
From: Tray Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

Saturday, 4/17/10Well, this morning when I looked outside at the stars I heard a "moo", so I'm guessing I heard one of the cows in the distant pasture and not a bear. Joyce set us up at Tray Gap again and we hiked north to Dicks Creek Gap. Some nice views after the haze cleared up. The 12.2 miles seemed harder than the 14.9 miles we did the other day, even though we just had a short day yesterday. We passed Christine/Nuts who said she might take us up on the offer to stay with us. She said she'd call me from a higher elevation where she could get cell coverage once she made a decision and could give me an estimated time to pick her up. But we never heard from her. Lady Hawk, Blaze, Robin, Tristan, and Ben were waiting at Dicks Creek for us. We fit three in the back two seats, two in the middle and Dave and I in the front with everyone holding their huge packs on their laps. We drove to the cabin where we unloaded, then went into town for a late All You Can Eat Buffet lunch at David's Steak House. We got groceries at Ingle's, dessert at Dairy Queen (even though everyone ate dessert at the buffet--I was holding out for DQ's sundae with peanut butter, marshmallow, and caramel toppings), and back to the cabin for showers and hot tub. We enjoyed visiting with everyone.Love and Peace