morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Atlanta, GA

To: Springer-Neels Gap, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Skywalker called yesterday from Neels, Gap, GA. Neels Gap is the only place where the AT goes through the hostel. He is having perfect weather in the 80's with cool nights. Yesterday was a 12 mile day and he consumed 1.5 gal of water climbing uphill most of the day. He had to refill his water supply 3 times along the way! Checking for dehydration by peeing every 2 hours. Only a small blister so far. Using his hiking poles for his wobbly knees and his sunblock as the foliage isn't out yet.   He has hitched up witha 67 yr old guy from Ohio. A retired teamster who also spent 4 yrs in the Air Force. His trail name is Two Dogs and Immo reminds me about that joke with the Indian naming his son. And to think I was worried about him meeting people like himself. Immo says he is the perfect hiking partner.   A group of 6-8 people including honeymooners and a guy with his dog are meeting at shelters most nights. Of course, that will change as they spread out on the trail.   He has found his new whisper-lite stove (EMS) not as efficient so is ending it home. Spent $15 for an alcohol stove that is able to simmer..also saved 1 1/2 pounds! Thru hikers have first choice in the shelters at night. He has camped out using his tent only 1 night, so far. That was also the night he noted in the shelter log that he had his first massive dump at 3AM. He even signed his trail name. Somethings never change!   He was so happy to be in the latest style with his new Crocs. He says everyone is wearing them in camp after hiking. Much lighter than Teva's.So onto Dick's CreekHappy trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Springer-Neels Gap, GA

To: Hiawassee Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Email from Skywalker from the local library. Skywalker and Two Dogs were met at the trail head and driven into town to the Inn. Another hiker had made the arrangements for them as he was a little ahead of them. First laundry stop..showers and food shopping. Also a rummage thru the hikers box of things left behind or donated. Then walked to the Chinese Buffet and all you can eat for $5.95. Skywalker ewas surprised at how much he could eat! In the evening, they ate big salads and lots of fresh fruits.1st thunderstorm at 4500 feet and they were able to pop into a shelter to wait it out. The plan is for Two Dogs to hike with him until Franklin, where they wiil both rest and Two Dogs will leave to head South. Two Dogs told him once he makes it to Fontana Dam on his own, he might as well hike all the way to Maine!. Skywalker says they share water, meals and swap stories. People actually believe some of the tall tales they tell!Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Hiawassee Inn

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

Having a Safety Day. After they headed out, they turned back due to the weather prediction of a severe storm coming thru with golf size hail and severe thunder and lightening. Since they were going toward an open bald area, they returned. Trail Magic - This is when someone leaves food or drinks along the trail as a surprise. Word passes quickly if it is a special trail magic. Sure enough 2 Southbounders reported that Preacher Dude was doing trail magic at Addis Gap. Skywalker feasted on cold cokes, stew, a banana and coffee sitting in a lounge chair. What a life! He also blesses the hikers as they pass. Bonzo and his dog, Rio, an Austrailian Sheepdog have joined the group as well as Red Sox and Eye Forgot They will leave the Chattahouchee Mountains and enter the Nanthahalla National Forest. Only 8 miles from the NC border.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The story of the crash on Blood Mt. While doing the "sherpa shuffle" downhill to save his knees, he forgot to put out his poles and the weight from the pack flipped him. Moral: Do not jog downhill! The wound was cleaned out with a toothbrush by Eye Forgot, an EMT. Wonder whose toothbrush?? I didn't find out about the crash till the photos came thru. And he didn't want to worry me!...like I didn't freak our when I saw his face! So, his friend Two Dogs is leaving the trail today. He is a section hiker which means hiking a bit of the trail when life allows it. Some do it over many years like my cousins, Ralph and Raymond but it all counts in the end. For those who have the time and stay healthy (Thru Hikers) its all about completing the trail in 1 year. He continues to hike with Bonzo and Rio (the dog who carries his own pack), Red sox or Socks and Eye Forgot. Both young guys in their 20's from Worchester, MA.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Franklin, NC

To: Natahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Natahala Outdoor Center 35 miles from Fontana Dam. Lots of white water rafting in this area. Next big test is going from 1700 feet to 5100 feet...6 miles up hill for a total of 8 miles. GA, NC and TN sections as well as VT and NH and beginning of ME are the most vertical with real challenging ups and downs. About 30% of the hikers have dropped out according to the stats and for those of you who know Skywalker, he loves his stats! More Trail Magic: A fairy left a pile of Capri Suns in a bubbling brook. At first they thought it was litter so it was a nice surprise! I sent along Skywalker's first mail drop to Fontana Dam. He says he has been doing more camping out than using the shelters. Less listening to the snoring and more private. He has to use the cables at the shelters to hang his food as bear prevention. All food stuff should be 10 feet above the ground including toothpaste and soap.
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Natahala Outdoor Center

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

1/2 hour after arriving at The Hike Inn, the first food package arrived with 7 days worth of food and goodies. I even included some Cognac as a treat! Skywalker is reminded of hiking in the Black Forest in Germany as a child. The Spring Flowers are poking out making the hiking more enjoyable. Tomorrow hw enters the Great Smoky National Park. Because dogs aren't allowed in the park, Bonzo has left the trail to board Rio and hopefully will hitch up with the guys agian.   You have to get a permit to enter the park. Anyone without a permit is fined $125. Immo is looking forward to seeing some bears along this stretch Immo says he is holding his own weight wise (?) and eats like crazy when he has the chance. Hot Springs is the next stop.   The guys usually arrange by phone to be picked up at a trail head by someone from the hostel or hope a good samaritian will pick them up.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-05-07
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Davensport Gap, TN
Miles today: 0.0

   The Smokies are now complete..not a pleasant experience Skywalker reports. 75 miles in 5 days. Four days in the rain with zero visibility. He could barely see the white blazes. At Clingman's Dome, which is the highest peak on the AT at 6,643 feet evevation, there was no view at all. A disappointment so I am sure there will be no pictures from there! He also said the trails were in poor shape and very worn down. This is due to the fact that they allow horses on the trails. Funny..no dogs but horses allowed. Combine the rain, mud and dodging gobs of horse shit..no fun! Lots of pointless ups and downs and of course you have to follow thw white blazes.    He was staying tonight at the Standing Bear Farm, doing laundry and they have cooking facilities for hikers. Still no sign of Bonzo and the guys from MA. Traveling now with a couple with trail names of Bed Bugs and Big.   The AT follows the border of NC and TN so it is back to NC tomorrow. Entering the Cherokee National Forest with Hot Springs as the next destination. I think he will take a day off there. Thanks to all for there support and emails.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-05-10
From: Davensport Gap, TN

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

270.7 miles done with 1,903.9 to go.   By the time you all read this Skywalker will have been gone 1 month and have finished almost 3 states. He is feeling great and figures he has lost about 5 pounds. Not that he can afford to loose any weight! He is averaging15 miles a day. This last stretch had rhododendrons as big as trees with Mt Laurel in full bloom. Lots of trillium and lady slippers. It smelled like walking in a garden all day. The AT goes right through the center of Hot Springs with the white blazes even marked on the manholes covers. Immo took a side hike to the Springs where President Roosevelt came for polio treatments. Lots of Germans settled here after WW1 as there was a detention camp here and they stayed on and settled.   Coming out of a restaurant he bumped into his old pal, Bonzo who had rejoined the hike after picking up the dog, Rio. Bonzo has been plagued with a knee problem so has his van handy. The 2nd food drop was picked up.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Hiked 15 miles South from Hot Springs before turning East and gradually North again. This was to go around a chunk of private property. It felt weird going South when he wanted to head North by instinct. Going over some big Bald's, as they are called, with spectacular views. The Bald's are so named for their lack of trees way below the timberline. No one knows why this happened...ice age? Skywalker says it is just like fields of big boulders and you ahve to use your hands to climb. Hips are aching going up hil..taking Aleve daily. No bear sightings but lots of deer and pheasants seeing daily. Skywalker has run into a bunch of hikers that started at Springer with him. Dogwood from NJ and Shaman Warrior shared the past 2 days with him. Skywalker has hiked his first 21 mile day hike into Erwin and is staying at Miss Janet's, a popular spot to stay. He is awaitin a call and pickup from Bonzo, Red Sox and Eye Forgot to head to Damascus, VA for Trails Days Festival. If they don't connect, he will head out in the AM to do a few more miles before Damascus.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Erwin, TN

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

After 2 missed phone calls, Skywalker and I finally connected to catch up on all of our news. I filled him in on our NH flooding and he caught me up on the weeks hiking.   He left Erwin, NC on Tues. and never connected with Bonzo and the guys so figured to do a few more miles before heading to Damascus for trail Days.   On Roan MT. at 6200 feet, he ran into driving rain and sleet at 40MPH. He was so cold at the shelter, which was no more than an open barn, he had a warm drink and headed on. After 10 hrs on his feet, he spent the night at Over Mt Shelter dressed in everything he had and hunkered down in his sleeping bag. It was a restless night. The next morning, the sun came out but the wind continued. He hiked over another Bald Mt with no protection. Ran into a herd of long horn cattle and finally into the trees to Apple Shelter. 75 miles short of Damascus, he came out to the trail head hoping for a hitch. There written on the pavement was a big notice...."Skywalker..wait here." About 10 minutes later, Miss Janet, from Erwin, came along in a packed van of hikers heading to Damascus. Complete with a warm sandwich for him! He was amazed!   Every Yr, Damascus, known as the friendliest town on the trail, hosts a festival in May for all hikers past and present. The town balloons from 2000 to 20,000 souls. Anyone Thru Hiking makes a point to get there for the weekend in they are nearby. Hikers pitch their tents at The Place. Immo estimates 1000 tents and lots of reunions going on. He has seen lots of people he met along the way and finally found Bonzo, Red Sox and Eye Forgot to hang with. Lots of free food, horses, medical checkups and fun. The highlight was the Thru Hikers parade through the twon with everyone pelting them with water hoses, buckets of water and squirt guns. The hikers also were given squirt guns to retaliate. Hope he took lots of photos.   Today he was hitching a ride 75 miles south to pick up the trail again and will return to Damascus at the end of the week. The sun is out!Happy trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Damascus, VA

To: Again Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

459.5 miles with 3 States completed. 1/4 of the trail completed! Actually its a few more miles to complete the 1/4 but the hikers consider Damascus the milestone. Mt Roger's State Park. Damascus is a bit quieter than last weekend but I could hear the motorcycles roaring in the background as we talked. It is a holiday weekend after all! I asked if he had any more trail magic and he just laughed..not in TN. He said part of the trail had a lot of vandalism and signs torn down and trash littering. Still a lot of anger about the AT going thru one area. So the hikers just boogy on by as quickly as possible. His legs are holding up but he had a problem with a corn. He treated it with a corn pad and duct tape and it fell off yesterday. Skywalker is pleased how well his hammer toe repair is doing.   Hiking with Why Not, Pokey and Acceptance on this part.   He starts each conversation talking about food which is so unlike him. No cravings but eats everything he can get his hands on when he hits towns. He has found most of the towns have good trail supplies of food so I will wait a bit before sending the next food drop.Happy trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Again Damascus, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

534.8 milesHAPPY BIRTHDAY SKYWALKERHiked 5 miles to Atkins to check in at the realx Inn to celebrate his birthday in style. Very hot and stinky so good shower, drink a few beers ans sleep in a real bed! So, you ask..what is he eating on the trail? He starts the day with tea, 2 pkg of oatmeal (eaten right out of the package with pwd milk) and poptarts. He makes up his drinks for the day..gaterade and tang with a fresh lemon or lime if he has it. AM snacks are power bars, gorp and dried fruit. He loves dried apricots whcih he puts in a ziplock bag with a little water to rehydrate them. He also looks for the candy bars with the most calories,,butterfingers this week.Lunch is a big bagel (buys them by the 6-pack and they keep fresh for 5 dAYS)Must be the preservatives! He adds summer sausage and a hunk of hard cheese. I also send hard salami that keeps well.Dinner is pasta or a rice dish or mashed potatoes. Adds ramon noodles or Mac and Cheese. Never enough to eat so the hikers really do pig out when they hit the towns. It is one of those catch 22's. Haul a lot of food..use more energy to haul it. Thru hikers never can eat enough calories. One day he raided the hikers box at a shelter when he ran low on food. Most shelters have a box supplied by good fairies or hikers who carry too much and want to lighten their load. He got minute rice, noodles and mashed potatoes.   He has developed a heat rash, (called hiker's sores) on his back where the pack rubs. He is treating it with blistex 9?) and one day had brutal cramps in his legs. He was limping along when he was overtaken by an older couple from S. Africa. Turned out the guy was a Dr and his wife a nurse. Spindleshanks and Slowcoach. The Dr worked with Christian Barnard, the heart transplant guy. He assessed Immo'and felt he was lacking Magnesium and needed to increase his water intake. So banana's and rolaids have been added to the diet and he will buy some magnesium pills. He is feeling much better now and has been hiking with this couple. This part of the trail has been beautiful, he says. Losts of old growth trees and meadows mixed in with the rocky terrain. Trail magic was a cooler of beer on ice under a tree with a sign..please take only one."No pain..No rain..no Maine is the slogan.We talked for almost an hour and planned my visit to VA and the Shenandoah's to hike with him.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Atkins, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

   Guess who ate 14 slices of pizza and a salad for dinner tonight?The hungry munchies have finally hit! We had heard all these stories about how thru hikers eat and eat junk food but Skywalker seemed to be going for the healthy stuff. Whew, eat that fat, skinny man. Yesterday he did 2 McDonald's, lg fries and a quart of chocolate ice cream. Thru hikers burn over 6000 calories a day!   Today was his first official zero day not weather related. Lower Va continues to be beautiful. Good hiking hot in the valleys, cool on the ridges with rain most nights. He continues to use his tent with only an occasional shelter. The tent must be packed wet each AM and dried when he makes camp at night. He found one shelter fancy with solar heated showers, fresh water and a high tech composting toilet. Hiking this past week with Canman, Fire Starter and Playdoh. Solo hiking, doing your own thing then meeting for lunch and to camp. Canman got his name on the trail because he scrounges cans and makes holes in them and strings them on his pack to prevent the mice from climbing. Sort of like the bird feeder squirrel thing. Mice are always a problem at the shelters. Fire Starter is the first one up in the morning and the first into camp at night and has the fire going when the others arrive. Both guys are in their 20's from PA. They told Skywalker he does pretty good for an old fart!Playdoh is a nurse from MN. They have passed some hikers that started in March!Skywalker's leg continues to bug him so it was good he did a zero day. He thinks it is muscle but if he is booking to keep up with those young guys, he might be overdoing it! It does feel better today. The deer have been very friendly and come real close to the hikers. No bear yet. This week it is Baby ruth bars and ranch dressing with mash potatoes that he talks about. Too funny.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

92 miles from that last call. Skywalker says the last 2 days was the toughest stretch so far. Dragon's Tooth on Catawba mountain was a real challenge. Both Catawba and McAfee Mountains are bent into crescent shapes along a fault line. The crests are pure rock and climbing over them pure torture. Dragon's tooth erupts out of Catawba and when you leave it you must climb down with handholds and footholds. Try that with a big pack on! The whole area is double white blazed to make sure you stay on the trail. Skywalker said one slip and it would be all over. They were climbing as a group..The Dr and Lucy (Spindleshanks and Slowcoach, Can Man and Jericho (a barber from OH)   The next day Canman put his pole in a yellow jacket nest and Skywalker got stung 8 times. Poor Guy! He has now lost 10 pounds and weighs 155 pounds. Hunping along 14-15 miles a day. This weeks complaint is his baby toe right foot that is so black and blue that it looks to fall off. Trail magic: An old gut and his wife stiing in a pickup truck at a trail crossing. Coolers of OJ, apples, bananas and water. Delightful! I would like to do some trail magic when I visit the end of the month. Thinking...   Canman is going off the trail for 2 weeks to nurse his shin splints and replenish his gear whcih is falling apart. His Mom is picking him up tomorrow. Two Dogs, Skywalker's first trail buddy called this week and hopes to join him in Gorham, NH. Bonzo should be back on the trail next week, as well. And Skywalker trudges on...Happy trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Daleville, VA

To: Montebello, VA
Miles today: 0.0

809.1 miles done!Aw, the Summer Solstice arrives bringing the annual "Nude Hiking Day"..would he do it? Alas, it was not to be. Skywalker came off the trail in the AM to get to the PO for a maildrop I sent and decided to nurse his poor feet for the day. He said hiking nude must kill your shoulders and you would be a bug magnet! Speaking of bugs..they have been ferocious with the temp and himidity high. Water is a must and he drank 2 gal yesterday while huffing and puffing up Bald Mt. It was a 4 mile climb to the top and he was taking a well deserved rest and enjoying a snack, when he looked over and realized he was sharing the spot with a rattlesnake! He said it was as big as his arm. He couln'd resist taking a picture, though. Va is the longest of any of the States with 1/4 of the AT there. He is now 2/3 done VA having almost finished Jefferson National PK and Geo. Washington NP. The trail almost runs parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway ro Rockfish Gap. I will plan on meeting him at the nearest town Waynesboro on Sat. We will head into the Shenandoah's. I can hardly wait to see him. It has been 2 1/2 months!Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"
Date: 2006-06-24
From: SPRINGER MT, GA

To: WAYNESBORO, VA
Miles today: 848.4
Weather: moderate rain

After many miles of hiking and many phone calls, I have been talked into starting this journal for Skywalker. Skywalker has been on the AT for 2 1/2 months and our list of email contacts have grown and grown. So now you can follow the hike and even add a note if you want.   We are now in Waynesboro, Va at the Tree St Inn B&B. A wonderful Victorian Inn with gracious hosts who gave us their own room and bath as they were booked up.They picked Skywalker up at Rockfish Gap and were feeding him a late lunch when I arrived. They have a special rate for hikers and it actually is less expensive than the local Quality Inn and includes breakfast.    I was so eager to check out his weight (down 20 lbs) and his weary feet. He has no toenails left on his baby toes and his left middle toe was looking pretty bad. He had an infection from a blister so we will head to a clinic tomorrow for an antibiotic.   I had brought some more shorts for him and they were way too baggie so we headed to the local outfitters to buy a new pair.I spent the rest of the day watching Skywalker eat. Anything and everything I brought and more. Hikers really do have a bottomless pit. Skywalker describes his trip so far as happy about self,frustrating, exhilarating, depressing and sheer exhausting.Happy TrailsHimmelwanderer
Date: 2006-06-25
From: WAYNESBORO, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

   Today was a planned zero day. The clinic didn't open till 1PM so we do laundry. Bump into Hobo Joe and TBC. Hobo Joe awaiting to see a dentist.Rain Shower in AM and then sun. At the clinic, just as I had suspected...a good infection in that toe. The Dr thought it would be good to stay off his feet for a few days and wear sandals. Yeah right, I could hear Skywalker say to himself!! We get a 10 day antibiotic perscription filled at CVS. Bump into Grayhound and Bedroll.   We check out the beginning of the Shenandoah trail at Rockfish Gap and look for the Shenandoah register but it is more than a gimpy walk will take today.At Rockfish Gap, we meet Righty, Lefty and Buoy. Skywalker hadn't seen them for a long time and we hit it off right away. Meet for dinner and a few German beers later. Buoy is also from Germany.   The plan is for me to slack pack Skywalker throught the Doah's during my week with him. He will carry only a day pack with his lunch, snacks and water while I will carry the rest in the car. It will work as the AT crosses Skyline drive so many times.Happy Trails"Himmelwanderer"