morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-03-02
To: Gear Test #1...
Miles today: 0.0

Just came back from a little overnighter with my trusty dog JBird. The purpose was to test my gear and JBird's new pack. I've hiked a number of times before, but I have recently adjusted my gear with the purpose of lightening my load. I must say that the trip was successful since I will be adjusting my gear list again along with my strategy. I don't think my weight will change much from the 14lbs of base weight (no food or water), but I will be swapping somethings. Campmor and REI, here I come. I started at my house yesterday and hiked with snow shoes (that I just purchased earlier in the day) about 4 miles to Alex Kennedy shelter. It's really nice to have the AT nearby. Anyway, the forecast was for rain, freezing rain, and/or sleet with temperatures just above freezing. What better conditions to do a feild test! I almost forgot, we also have about 12+ inches of snow on the ground from the storms during the last two weeks. The weather did not disappoint, we got the precipatation. This trip just reconfirmed my theory that no matter what, when it rains and you intend to be mobile on foot, your gonna get wet! Either inside out or outside in. We got wet on the return trip this morning, but we were dry and warm last night.I am even more excited about the journey. I have my airline reservations booked for 3/31/03 from Dulles to Atanta and a room reserved at the Amicalola Falls Lodge. Less than a month to go!
Date: 2003-03-04
To: Mail Drops
Miles today: 0.0

I just entered my mail drop schedule. So in case anyone wants to send me something along my journey this could be useful information (hint, hint). Anyway, things are shaping up, only 3 weeks before I start. I finished my mail drops and gear selection. I put a lot of thought and energy in my gear list over the last two months in an attempt to bring only about 12lbs of base weight for the start of the trip. But I don't feel comfortable yet with this minimalist approach, so I am bringing most of what I normally take and will shed weight as I go (like most people). My base weight is still only around 15lbs. I hope to have my gear listed here soon. Later.
Date: 2003-03-16
To: Weight
Miles today: 0.0

This weekend I had intentions of finishing my gear list on-line. I didn't get to that, but I did have a chance to work on my weight training. For those of you that don't know me, I am a "slight" guy. I exercise a lot and have the fortune of being able to eat just about anything and not gain weight. But over the last few months I have reduced my running miles and increased my visits to Brewster's Ice-cream shop and Pizza Hut. By combining about 5 reps of Brewster's Ice cream per week along with a couple reps of stuffed crust pizza, I've been able to gain a whole 8 pounds. This brings me up to about 150 pounds on my 5 foot nine inch frame. Now why would I subject myself to this terrible diet with the purpose of gaining weight when everyone else puts so much energy into loosing weight? Well, I think you can guess. The average person looses more that 15 pounds on the trail. Think of me in the White Mountains on a windy day. I wouldn't take much to push me over. Well, off to do more training. Later.
Date: 2003-03-21
To: Friends
Miles today: 0.0

Today at work, a group of my friends had a lunch party for me to celebrate my upcoming journey. Please take note that I didn¢t call them my co-workers. I consider each my friend. Joan and Shelly have cubicles adjacent to my own in the sales/marketing area. Actually, we took some of the walls down to make a more ¢open¢ atmosphere. In turn I think we¢ve had more fun. What I intended to say is that we can communicate better which improves our productivity and understanding. Due to our job responsibilities and the fact that she was to be my replacement during the next 5 months, T and I have had to work closely together. She¢s been a pleasure to work with and I wish her well in her new job. Chris Milletics and I have spent much time running and riding together. Most of that time was with one or both of us in pain. Tom Henry, what can I say, he is my all purpose friend with ¢extra design margin¢. As Eric Dermota pointed out at the luncheon, Eric and I have experienced a lot together over the last six years. We¢ve had great times riding bikes, running speed workouts in the snow and hiking in all types of weather. I¢ve enjoyed them all and hope we have more ahead!   I want to give Dave Shaner a special thanks for organizing the lunch and being a strong supporter of my endeavor. I¢m looking forward to the time on the trail when I meet him and the other engineers. Dave V. please bring the big blue poncho on the hike¢¦.I¢ll have my camera ready. And if I do find the answer, I¢ll be sure to pass it along. I may not miss being at work during my time on the trail, but I will surely miss all of you.   Thanks again for the laughs, pizza, brownies, and the great titanium trekking poles!
Date: 2003-03-29
To: Bill's Revenge
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday was my last day of work and unfortunately, I took more home with me than I thought. I got home and just felt terrible. I have the chills, chest congestion, headache, and ache muscles. A couple of co-workers had this during the last few weeks. Most notably among them is Bill Dean. He is my direct boss and missed Thursday and Friday of work. This is quite unusual for him as you can probably count on one hand the number of workdays he missed in the last 10 years. Maybe my illness is Karma, since Bill will be covering my job responsibilities over the next 5 months and dreading it. You decide. I hope I am feeling better by Monday, when I fly to GA. If not, there is no way I can start hiking. Maybe I will be spending more time in the Amacolola Falls lodge than I expected. I will keep you updated...now back to bed.
Date: 2003-03-30
To: Ready to Go?
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it's the night before I leave for Atlanta and I'm all packed to go, my mail drops are either sent or ready to send, and I'm still feeling bad. As I mentioned a couple days ago, I came down with this achy, stuffy, chest congested, tired feeling illness. I feel slightly better than Friday evening, but not good enough to be too excited about my trip. Definitely not what I expected. But enough whining, I'm still going to leave tomorrow for Atlanta, but may spend a couple of extra days at the Amicalola Falls Lodge until I feel better. My next entry will be from the Trail. Take care and see you in a couple months.
Date: 2003-03-31
To: Amicollola Falls
Miles today: 0.0

March 31, 2003Mike, George and I arrived at Amicolola Falls lodge. The package of food and fuel was sent but was nowhere to be found. Nice Place, as Bill Bryson wrote, it is like a Holiday Inn with a nice lobby. Met a young girl named Spitfire from Ellicott City, MD. As I put my pack down to register at the front desk she asked me if that is all I¢m bringing. After a small discussion about her pack and the pains she went to cut weight, she asked me how much my pack weighed, I told her about 16 pounds without food or water. Well, you would have thought I stole her cookies, she seemed crushed. I think people take the pack weight thing all too serious. She is just one of a couple of examples I have of the competitive spirit. I will try not to get caught up in it. The next time someone asks me my pack weight, I will just say, ¢heavy enough.¢
Date: 2003-04-01
From: Amicolola Falls

To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

April 1, 2003Total miles: 9.0Miles on AT: 0.2I didn¢t sleep well due to my illness and wasn¢t sure that I would actually start today. I wasn¢t sure that I¢d even have food to take, but I called down to the visitor¢s center to see if they had it by mistake. And it was my luck that they did. So we headed down and by 10:22 am we were ready to start the 8.4 miles approach trail to Springer. With food and water, my pack was 30 pounds. Not bad and still comfortable to carry. We walked off and on until we reached Springer around 4 PM. It was a nice view and we were greeted by a ridge runner and ¢the girl next door.¢ We were told that about 17 hikers came through today heading North. We ended up cutting the miles short by 2 and staying at the Springer Mountain shelter, which was only about 0.2 miles from the summit. In the process of setting up camp we had an incident. Actually Mike and the ridge runner exchanged words (many four letter ones). Without going into too many details, I thought he might get kicked off the trail during the first day. The ridge runner even took a photo of Mike. Maybe we¢ll get a visit from a Ranger tomorrow. They both could have handled the situation much better. Mike reminds me a lot of Bruce Long.
Date: 2003-04-02
From: Springer Mountain Shelter

To: Justice Creek
Miles today: 13.0

April 2, 2003From Springer Mountain Shelter to Justice CreekMiles today: 13Miles from Springer: 13.2After a surprisingly good night¢s sleep in Springer Shelter, we hiked on to Justice Creek campsite. The weather was ideal, sunny and 65 degrees. We met a number of people including Baltimore Jack, who appeared to be carrying beer and Jim Beam. We camped with Scott from Tampa and Larry Elison (not the Oracle founder), who was also from Florida. I¢m starting to feel better; maybe by tomorrow I¢ll be 100%.
Date: 2003-04-03
From: Justice Creek

To: Woods Hole
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

April 3, 2003From Justice Creek to Woods Hole ShelterMiles today: 13.5Miles from Springer: 26.7The trails here in Georgia are terrific, very few rocks or roots. Nothing like the trails in PA. That doesn¢t mean that the hiking has been easy, the many climbs make sure it isn¢t. The 13 miles during each of the last 2 days have been enough. It¢s taken its toll on George. He is really suffering carrying his 52-pound pack! Mike¢s pack is only about 5 pounds lighter, but he is fairing much better. Tomorrow we will stop at the Walasi Center at Neel¢s Gap. That¢s only 4.4 miles away, but we will stay there tomorrow so that George (and the rest of us) can rest up. We¢ll get a bunk, food and shower. It¢s 8:00pm and time for bed.
Date: 2003-04-04
From: Woods Hole

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started early today and climbed Blood Mountain. This was our first real mountain. What a neat place! There's an old stone shelter at the very top that has two rooms and four walls, but open doors and windows. The fog and wind just blows right through. We reached the Walasi-Yi center (the trail literally goes right through it) around 8:45am, just after the stored opened. Being our first resupply of the. I loaded up with food and got a bunk for the night. For $16 you got a bunk, and shower. Boy did the shower feel great. The Ben and Jerry's also tasted great, Making Woopie Pie! We spent the rest of the day just hanging out and getting to know the various personalities around us. This IS the A.T.
Date: 2003-04-05
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

It rained most of the night, but we were comfy in the hostel bunk house. We didn't get to leaving until about 11:00am. These places have a lot of inertia. Many others decided to stay another night. Nothing much exciting happened today, we just hiked. I'm in my bag and it's only 7:00pm. We have our biggest day yet tomorrow of 15 miles. I heard that a Boy Scout troup is making hot dogs on the grill for the Thru-Hikers on Tray Mt., but I think we will miss it by a day.
Date: 2003-04-06
From: Low Gap

To: Tray Mountain
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke today to find my food sack vandelized by a mouse during the night. My sack was hanging from a 25 foot bear cable system that is a part of many of the shelters down here in the south. Bears are becoming a bigger problem. On guy got charged by one a few days ago, but the bear backed down, when he didn't. I will need a new food sack now, and I'm kinda upset that I lost a peanut butter bagel and some noodles. Mike Slept in the shelter last bight and had a new pair of Patagonia long underwear chewed through. The mice were trying to get to a banana chip that accidentally got into his clothing bag.Today's hike was tough. The climb out of Unicoi Gap was just unbelieveable! The climb up to 4000 foot Tray Mt. wasn't anything to sneeze at either. Tonight is to be cold with a chance (100%) of rain and thunder storms. I will sleep under my tarp since the shelter is full (of buttheads). This is my first time with this particular tarp, I hope it keeps me dry.I got my trail name today. It is "Fly-By". You can probably guess why I got that name.
Date: 2003-04-07
From: Tray Mountain

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained and thunderstormed all night last night. I did stay warm and mostly dry, but didn't sleep very well. It's not the smartest to be on the top of a mountain in a thunderstorm.The hike to Dick's Creek Gap was not too difficult, but I felt sore from yesterdays hike. My right knee (ITB) is bothering me a little. From the gap we got a ride to Hiawassee and will stay the next two nights at the Holiday Inn Express (don't laugh). I was free breakfast, a pool and hottub! Hiawassee is a nice little town, with a number of restaurants and hotels. It is slowing becoming a resort town for the weekenders from Atlanta.
Date: 2003-04-08
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

My first real day off since we started 75 miles ago. I need to let me knee recover. Mike and I hired a shuttle to take us to Helen, which is a town about 20 miles away. Helen is a very interesting town. Called the Gatlinburg of Georgia, it's very touristy and all the buildings look Swiss Bavarian (per the building codes). It does look very European, even the Wendy's! We went there since it has the only outfitters in the area and Mike needed a new tent and me a new dry bag for my food. The county library here has internet, so that is why you see that last couple days journal entries. I'm having a great experience, but I miss everyone. Talk to you soon.
Date: 2003-04-09
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Rained last night. Started hiking in drizzle and fog. We passed into North Carolina today. It is now colder than it has been in the last few days. my legs feel ok and today's hike seemed easy even with the multitude of climbs. The day off probably helped. George and Mike also hiked strong today.
Date: 2003-04-10
From: Muskrat Creek

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: moderate rain

If anything forces me off the trail it may be the buttheads. We sure had a group last night at the shelter. I can't believe the amount of drugs on the trail. It isn't all bad, we have met some very nice people like Scott, Vagabond, Lee and Marien.We woke this morning to 3 inches of snow. I was glad that we stayed in the shelter. We hiked nearly non-stop thru the snow and rain for 12.5 miles to Carter Gap shelter. Luckily there was room inside. The hike was actually very pretty with giant rhodies covered with snow. It reminded me of Eric and my hike around Black Moshanon. Tonight's stay in the shelter was with a much better group of people than last night.
Date: 2003-04-11
From: Carter Gap

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 12.8

Woke to 30F temperatures and snow on the ground again. I was quite comfortable last night and slept well. I am actually quite pleased with my selection of gear. One the other hand, another thru-hiker named Ben from England had some troubles. His only set of clothes were wet along with his down sleeping bag. He was going ultralight...almost too light. We offered him dry stuff, but he was determined to be self sufficient. I am not sure if he actually slept or not. The hike today was spectacular! We climbed up to Albert Mountain (5200 ft). The last 1000 feet of the climb was only over a 1/4 mile! It was the most technically and physically demanding climb of the trip so far, but it was quite a feeling to be at the top. Even though the snow and the fog blocked any view, it was still a kodak moment. Since we've been hiking in the rain and snow for the last 3 days, we decided to get a room at the Microtel in Franklin NC. Had pizza and McDonalds (twice) during our nights stay. I think I am doing a good job at keeping myself well fed.
Date: 2003-04-12
From: Wallace Gap

To: Licklog Gap
Miles today: 15.5

It was nice to hike today in near perfect weather after the last few days of ran and snow. For the last week we've been hiking with Scott, Vagabond, Lee and Marien. I think we comprise one of the more "normal" groups on the trail. Today's long day put a hurt'in on my right knee. I am really starting to get quite concerned about it. If I can make it to the Natahala Outdoor Center (NOC) tomorrow, I will take a day off and look at getting new shoes. I need to do something to help my knee.
Date: 2003-04-13
From: Licklog Gap

To: NOC
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

We had another nice day of hiking. My knee didn't feel too bad even with the 6 mile long down hill into the NOC. I got a new pair of shoes at the outfitters along with a knee brace. I think I should be ok for tomorrow's short 8 mile hike to Cheoah Bald. I am trying to stay on schedule and so far we are right on.The NOC is a very neat place with two restaurants, a hostel (which we stayed in), an outfitters with a white water rafting river that goes thru the complex. I took some good pictures.I've made a few observations about myself over the last two weeks. One is that I like to hike alone at my own pace and with my own thoughts. I enjoying being with Mike and George, but I like my alone time. The second, is that I had no idea how much I would miss Teri. It really hurts sometime. I am looking foward to seeing her and the Bird in Hotsprings.
Date: 2003-04-14
From: NOC

To: Cheoah Bald
Miles today: 8.1

Today's hike was short but quite difficult with the 3300 foot climb. My knee didn't bother me much. I think the new shoes along with the lack of downhills helped. We are staying on top of Cheoah Bad which is at 5060 feet above see level. The top of this mountain is just as the name suggests, bald of any trees. The views are spectacular. 15 of us watched the sun set over the Smokey Mountains. I will sleep under the stars...I hope it doesn't rain.
Date: 2003-04-15
From: Cheoah Bald

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Another short, but difficult day hiking. My knee is feeling progressively better. We've caught up with a big group that has a lot of character, especially a guy named Cuz. Tomorrow we will be in Fontana Dam after an 8 mile hike then we will take the next day off. After 8 staight days of hiking, I really need a rest day both for physical and mental recovery. I can't believe that it's been two weeks. In that two weeks I've experienced much and traveled 153.3 miles.
Date: 2003-04-16
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Dam Marina
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

A short hike mostly downhill. It agravated my knee but tomorrow will be a rest day. We got a room at the Fontana Village Resort Hotel. It was a bargain at $30 a night. The village is quite small with just a post office, general store, and outfitters. The year around population is only 30. The only restaurant has an AYCE breakfast, lunch and dinner. And if lunch was any indication, we will eat well.
Date: 2003-04-17
From: Fontana Dam Marina

To: Fontana Dam Visitors Center
Miles today: 1.7
Weather: light rain

To make tomorrows hike into the Smokey's easier, we decided to hike the 1.7 miles from the marina to the visitors center without our packs. We did laundry, picked up mail drops, napped and ate a few times during the day. It was a very leasurely day. Not much to do here but that is quite all right with me. For the next 8 days we don't plan on going into any other towns. Next town stop: Hot Springs NC on the 25th.
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Fontana Dam Visitors Center

To: Russell Feild Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Today's walk across the Fontana Dam into the Smokey's was a milestone. I took Many pictures as we walked across. According to the ATC, 1/2 of the thru-hikers drop out by this point. I actually have not met amny that have dropped out. The ranger at the start of the Smokey's indicated that about 25 to 50 hikers per day have entered the park during the last few weeks. I am looking forward to the point at which the number of hikers thin out. If you want solitude, this is not the place. We reached Russell Field Shelter after 2600 feet of climbing from the dam and were greated by two adults and 4 kids out for the weekend. They had reservations at the shelter, so only a few of us were lucky enough to get a spot inside. The kids were amusing and gave Mike the trail name of "Smartwool". I like it, but I am not sure that Mike does.
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Russell Feild Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: few clouds

Today was the best that my knee felt in the last two weeks. I think the new shoes, a days rest and the easy grades thru the Smokeys help. The Smokeys are really nice a scenic and just maybe less hard than the trail in Georgia and the Nantahalas. Since it was a nice day, Vagabond and I decided to puch on to Silers Bald Shelter. George, Smartwool and Scott stayed a couple miles back at the Derrick Knob Shelter. It was a warm day and I think the extra weight from the food is taking it's toll on George. This is the first night that we've been seperated. Vagabond and I are thinking about going into Gatlinburg tomorrow since we are slight a head of schedule. We will see...maybe Pizza is in my near future!
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today we did two notable things. The first was we hiked over 200 miles since we left Springer Mt. The second was we reached the highest peak on the AT which is Clingmans Dome (6644ft). The Dome is slightly higher than Mt. Washington and slightly lower then Mt. Mitchel which is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. At the top of Clingmans Dome is an observation tower that is accessable by a large spiral ramp. I got there about 10:00am just in time for what was possibly the last view of the day before the clouds rolled in. Vagabond and I hiked to Newfound Gap and got a ride into Gatlinburg. As anyone will tell you it is the tourist trap of all tourist traps and it did not dissappoint. But I loved it! I ate well and got a good nights sleep out of the rain.
Date: 2003-04-21
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: moderate rain

Vagabond and I waited out the rain and started hiking around 12:30. The hike was probably the easiest of the trip so far and the most rewarding. With mostly sunny skys we had some spectacular views. The most natable was Carlies Bunion. It was a great photo oppurtunity and you will enjoy them. I have to admit that some parts of the trail had me quite nervious. With steep 2 to 3 thousand foot dropoffs on one or both sides did not leave much room for error. If your afraid of heights this part of the trail is not for you. We reached the shelter around 5:30 and to our surprise, George, Mike, and Scott arrived about an hour later. I didn't think that we would see them until Hot Springs. I am glad we are together again.
Date: 2003-04-22
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Davenport Gap
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

After pulling into Cosby Knob shelter at 2:30, I decided to push on alone another 7.7 miles to Davenport Gap. I will try to get to Hot Springs either Thursday night or Friday morning. This was the longest day for me of the trip, but I didn't feel too bad considering I had an average pace of over 3 mph. When I arrived at the shelter I was surprised to find the shelter completely empty. I was quite nice. Only two other guys came in later, so it was a nice quiet evening. Only another mile and I will be out of the Smokeys.