morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-04-01
From: Russell Field Shelter 

To: Cades Cove Park Ranger Office
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

This is a tough entry to write and by no means is it an April Fool's joke. I'm currently off trail as of Saturday, April 1 due to a chronic medical condition. A few friends and family know that I was diagnosed with a form of rheumatoid arthritis 12 years ago. It's an auto-immune disease process that flares up without warning. In my case, it has only attacked my knees and ankles. The most frustrating thing for RA patients like me is that we're otherwise very healthy and well conditioned outside of these flare ups. My preparation over the past 9 months included several section hikes on the AT, a section hike on the PCT, a lot of leg work in the gym, core work, yoga and stretching. I've done everything in my power to be physically ready for this thru hike. This makes my current circumstance very frustrating to say the least. I was cruising along at nearly 15 miles per day with no problems at all. Then came Saturday morning... I woke up early in Russell Fields Shelter and quickly noticed my severely swollen and immobile right knee. I knew right away what was going on from previous flare ups. I couldn't put weight on the leg and knew that I had to get off the mountain ASAP for treatment. I spoke to Elly and Justin (trail family) about the situation and they quickly figured out a plan. We had 2 options to reach a road access point. The first was to hike 19 miles to Clingmon's Dome which would be impossible. The other option was a 5.1 mile side trail right next to the Shelter. It was straight down hill, but would lead us directly to help at the Cade's Cove Ranger Station. I called my wife to let her know what was going on and asked her to call my cousin Gail in nearby Greenville, TN. He was going to meet us at Cade's Cove and take me back to his house for the night. Cindy and my son Dan would drive down on Sunday to pick me up. I was so thankful to have a plan in place, but now I had to figure out how to hike down the mountainside. Then my "tramily" trail angels came to the rescue.Elly and Justin volunteered to help me down the trail. My right leg was pretty useless so they positioned themselves right in front and behind me. The downhill terrain was steep and rocky which made this the toughest 5.1 miles of my life. Thankfully we made it down without incident and were able to meet Gail and his friend Fred at the Ranger Station. They too are such wonderful trail angels and provided great conversation and entertainment for all. I was so happy to get off that mountain and get some help. On the way back to Gail's house we stopped in Gatlinburg for lunch and a resupply at the NOC Outfitter for Justin. We arranged a shuttle to get Elly and Justin back to the trail. They were selfless in their support and concern for me. I will never forget this. We hugged it out and said our goodbyes with hopes of meeting up the trail. I'll miss my trail family a lot and thank the good Lord for sending them my way. I'm heading back to Cincinnati to see my Rheumatologist and get treatment underway. The best case scenerio is to be back on the AT in month.
Date: 2017-04-04
From: Greenville, TN

To: Cincinnati
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Made it back to Cincinnati last night thanks to my wife Cindy and son Dan. My cousins Karen and Gail down in in Greenville, TN were the ultimate trail angels in providing great meals, a warm bed, shower and laundry. I love you guys!I got in to see my Rheumatologist at 7:30 this morning. He got out the big needle and drained my knee joint followed by a steroid injection. I know it sounds bad, but it really gave me some relief. I'll also be giving myself 2 injections per week to help block the RA and further reduce the swelling in my right knee. We're hitting this flare up hard from all angles and hope to be back on the trail in a month. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. In the meantime, many of you have asked about my gear choices, what is working, what's not working and so on. I'll add updates this week to cover some of those items. Keep the questions and comments coming. I'm down for a bit, but certainly not out.TTFNTigger
Date: 2017-04-11
From: Springer Mountain Georgia

To: Katahdin Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I've been off the trail now for 9 days and can't wait to get back out there. The swelling and pain in my right knee is gone and I'm close to my return. I just have to figure out the logistics in getting the RA medications out to the trail moving forward. I require two injections per week and the Enbrel has to be refrigerated. I will not let this minor issue hold me back!Even though I miss the trail, it was nice to be home and celebrate my 34th wedding anniversary with Cindy. We had a great brunch at the Cozy Cottage on Sunday which was so enjoyable. I truly married up big time and for some reason she has stayed so young while I have gotten old. I'm a lucky man! We also had the chance to enjoy dinner with our Cincinnati/Dayton hiking friends and had a great cookout/dinner with our son, daughter and daughter-in-law. They have all been following my journey closely on trailjournals and have been so supportive and encouraging. In a way, I feel like I'm on this journey not only for myself, but for many friends, family and total strangers who have been following along. I love this relationship that we have through trailjournals and take the responsibility very seriously. As I described in my early journal entries, I want to bring the trail to life for people. Sometimes that means I need to share the raw emotions of it all. The journey has been like nothing I've ever experienced before because the Appalachian Trail has its own unique culture. It's far removed from what we experience in everyday life, work and family dynamics. There is a common bond of support, love and understanding that doesn't exit in normal life. There are no titles, no hoops to jump through, no corporate BS, no judgement...we are all the equals on the trail. How refreshing is that?Thanks again for all the love and support! I'll get to my gear review tomorrow with a focus on clothing. Have a great folks! You are the best!TTFN
Date: 2017-04-12
From: Springer Mountain Georgia

To: Katahdin Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Today's Pic: Thanks to my brother Kel for his creative graphics with the knee brace and AT tag. Love it!As promised, I wanted to finish my gear review with a focus on clothing choices. I admit that these decisions were a bit easier as compared to backpack, tent, etc. because I had more real life/trail experience wearing these products over the past couple of years. My choices had to meet the following criteria....lightweight, breathable, moisture wicking and odor control. The days of polyester are out and Merino wool is in!Shirts: Icebreaker brand Merino wool> Super lightweight, breathable, moisture wicking and naturally odor reducing. You can wash them on the trail and they dry within a couple hours. They don't hold the odor like polyester/nylon!Pants: Kuhl brand Renegade Convertible (can zip off to shorts)> Kuhl has become a favorite brand of mine over the past 3 years. It's made of a lightweight, moisture wicking, stretchy material that flexes with you on the trail. Multiple pockets for storage and easily converts to shorts on warm days. Underwear: Exofficio has been the best brand for serious hikers the past few years. Lightweight, moisture wicking, odor control material that dries extremely fast. You can wash these on the trail and they'll be dry within a couple of hours. I rotate these in camp with the Tommy John sports brief which is also moisture wicking with odor control. These have the best comfort level while hiking due to it's unique U-shape....no ride up boys!Sleep Wear: Patagonia Capilene mid weight thermals bottoms/tops. Top is 1/4 zip and can be worn around camp at night over merino wool shirt.Base Layer: Patagonia R1 Pullover Hoody> Polartec® Power Grid¢¢ fabric with Polygiene® permanent odor control is light and breathable with outstanding stretch and durability. This is my FAVORITE and MOST VERSATILE clothing item. I wear this 75% of the time over my Icebreaker shirt and nothing else. You can zip it all the way down or up on the fly while you hike based upon temps. It's a must have product for any serious hiker!Socks: Darn Tough socks> Merino wool, moisture wicking with a lifetime guarantee. These are the most popular socks on the trail.Puffy Coat: Patagonia Down Hoody Sweater Jacket> lightweight, very warm and comfortable. I wear this around camp at night and early mornings before hiking. It's a must have for March/April hiking in high elevations.Rain Coat: Marmot Mica> ultralight rain and wind jacket. I switched from the heavier Patagonia Torrentshell just before hitting the trail.Like everything else, trail clothes are a very personal choice based upon fit, comfort, price, etc. With that in mind, I would still recommend the switch to Merino wool vs. synthetics and higher quality undergarments like Exofficio. You won't regret it!Let me know if you have any questions or further comments. I'm happy to help in any way. TTFN
Date: 2017-04-16
From: Roan Mountain, TN

To: Black Bear Resort Hostel: Hampton, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Happy Easter Everyone!Today's a very special day on my AT journey! I'm back to the trail after a 2 week layoff with my rheumatoid knee. The pain and swelling are gone and I'm anxious to get going again. I'm very thankful for the quick healing, but know that my knee is only at 75% strength. My doctor would have preferred 2 more weeks of rest at home, but I just can't wait that long. In order to prevent future flare ups, I'll have to give myself two injections per week on the trail with Enbrel and Methotrexate. The toughest part is keeping the meds cool which could be a challenge. Cindy will send the meds ahead each week to a local hostel or outfitter. I'm confident that this plan will work out. I've been going at bit stir crazy at home and really missing my trail family. I decided to jump ahead from where I left off in order to rejoin them on the trail. After I summit Katahdin, I'll have to come back and finish the 200+ miles that I missed. I'm meeting Elly and Justin tonight at Black Bear Resort Hostel in Hampton, TN....really looking forward to seeing them. Cindy dropped me off mid-day today after spending a great night at the nearby Roan Mountain B&B. What an awesome place! The customer service and well appointed room were certainly above average. I highly recommend this place. I drove Cindy up to Carver Gap, near the top of Roan Mountain this morning. The views are endless with an elevation near 6000 feet. The balds are absolutely beautiful and some of the most popular spots on the trail. We ran into several thru hikers, including the two German boys who I last saw in Franklin, NC. We all enjoyed catching up and I was happy to see that they're both doing very well. We may see them again in Damascus later this week. It's amazing how easy it is to reconnect with fellow thru-hikers even after a few weeks. My plan for the next several days is to slow down. I can manage 15-18 mile days, but I can't maintain the same pace that I was hiking at prior to my knee problems. One of the popular sayings on the trail is "hike your own hike" (HYOH). I won't be able to hike at the same pace as Elly and Justin, but will instead plan on meeting them each afternoon at our desired shelter, hostel or trail town. That way I won't slow them down or negatively affect their journey. I should be at full strength again in a couple of weeks.Thanks for following along and I look forward to sharing all the cool things coming up as we get closer to Virginia.TTFN
Date: 2017-04-17
From: Black Bear Resort Hostel: Hampton, TN

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

It was great to be back hiking on the AT today and reunited with my trail family. We had a chance to catch up at the hostel last night and hear the stories of the trail from the past two weeks. They have hiked nearly 240 miles while I was recuperating. This is quite impressive! It's obvious that Elly and Justin have gotten their "trail legs" and have been able to kick it into another gear. They have also lost a lot of weight even though they were fit to begin with. It's just impossible to eat enough calories each day in order to match your calorie burn.Because this was my first day back to the trail since the knee problems, I knew I would not be able to keep up with Justin and Elly. I want them to hike their own hike and not worry about me. I told them that I would take it slow and meet them at Vandeventer Shelter late in the afternoon. This would be the first day that I hiked alone since I started, but was the best plan for everyone. I had to complete 17.7 miles today with a lot of climbing and steep downhills. It was my toughest day on the trail so far. My knee is still weak and wobbly along with the fact that I lost some fitness the past two weeks. I took more frequent breaks and tried to stretch throughout the day. It was just a long day and I was so thankful to make it to our camping spot for the night. I'm sure I overdid it, but I want to keep pace with our group even if takes me two extra hours per day. It will take me several days to get back ito full strength. I'll just have to leave earlier in the morning and hike longer into the afternoon. As long as there is no swelling I my knee, I should be good to go. Even though it was a tough day, I'm thrilled to be back on the trail. The AT is truly a magical place! TTFN
Date: 2017-04-18
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Campsite
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

Somehow I hit a new high today for daily mileage on the trail...19.8. We had planned on doing 14 miles after a big day yesterday, but the trail and the clock had different plans. Our trail family is also super motivated to get into Damascus, Va. tomorrow for rest and some good town food. The thought at getting into a trail town most often alters the daily hiking plan. This is what happened today. We were hiking in rain most of the day with temps in the high 50's. Thankfully the terrain was not as difficult as yesterday. This allowed us to move at a good pace over the first 14 miles. We were done by 2:15 and Justin wanted to press on. I continued on for 6 more miles, while Justin and Elly hiked 9 more. This sets us up for an easy hike into Damascus on Wednesday. I'm camping tonight with another trail family member by the name of Eclipse. I met her the same day I met Elly back in Hiawassee, Ga. She lives in Nashville now after leaving her Museum job in Missouri. She hikes at my current pace, while Justin and Elly have found their rocket trail legs. I met several other hikers on the trail for the first time today. Songbird, Patch and Monarch are lifelong friends from Oklahoma City who adopted Salty from the UK into their trail family. As the father of two grown daughters, it's great to see so many fearless and strong women on the trail. We all made plans to Meetup in Damascus for some good food and beverage. All in all it's been a good two days back on the trail. Fellow hikers really make this journey so much more enjoyable. There are so many really awesome people out here. My only worry is that I'm doing to many miles after returning from my knee problems. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I'm thankful for everyone's support and good wishes.TTFN
Date: 2017-04-19
From: Double Spring Gap Campsite

To: Damascus, Va.
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: broken clouds

We finished another state today as we hiked out of Tennessee and into Damascus, Virginia. We had rain all night and most of this morning. It's never fun to setup or take down your tent in the rain.. we did both, but got thru it with no issues. Elly and Justin hiked 33 miles yesterday into Damascus just to avoid the rain. This is a crazy number of miles to hike with a full pack. They used their youth and newly developed trail legs to their advantage. Eclipse and I tented in the same area and hiked into Damascus together. Thankfully it was a shorter mileage day after completing a total of 50 miles in three days. The trail was much easier overall with minimal climbs and no steep downhills. We hit town by 1:00 PM. The AT comes out into a sleepy street on the edge of Damascus. It's like your taking a walk in your neighborhood after dinner. The trail goes right thru town leading to a number of hostels and outfitters. The town is much less impressive than Franlklin or even Hot Springs. Most stores and restaurants close by 5:00 which makes it tough to find a place to eat. We settled on a local Taco place that had good food, but was overwhelmed by the number of Thru hikers. We enjoyed each other's company and shared stories from the trail. It was also good to catch up with a couple hikers I had not seen for a few weeks including Ross from Australia. I'm staying at Dancing Bear B&B tonight which is right on the main drag . I wanted a quieter setting than the bunkhouses offered in order to get a better nights sleep. I have a private room with a queen bed that feels like the greatest thing ever. I need to rest knee and entire body after 3 hard days. I'll zero (no hiking) in Damascus tomorrow and plan to head back out on Friday. Looking forward to some good southern cooking and sweet tea for sure. TTFN
Date: 2017-04-20
From: Damascus, Va.

To: Damascus, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a great day for rest, refueling and relaxation today in Damascus. I was awake and ready to go by 5:30 this morning and couldn't fall back to sleep. My mind and body are always on trail time. Breakfast was served at 9:00 and it was certainly worth the wait. The property owner started with fruit and yogurt, followed by eggs, turkey bacon, sausage gravy and homemade biscuits. It was so filling and delicious. We were joined by a family from Raleigh, NC who were spending spring break in the area. We had a delightful conversation and was able to share some of our experiences from the trail. They were headed over to Grayson Highlands today for a day hike and I was able to recommend some trails and highlights for them to see. I have hiked this area a couple of times with Cindy, my son Dan and other friends. We're only two days away from there now and look forward to seeing the wild ponies again.Zero days in trail towns are not just about resting, but it's a time to resupply, eat a lot of wholesome food and gear prep for the hike out. I got laundry done yesterday which made things a bit easier. I had to stop at the outfitter for new shoe inserts. The old ones were worn out causing some foot discomfort. Super Feet are the most popular inserts on the trail and I was able to find a pair with extra cushioning. Taking care of our feet is always a top priority. I also picked up a pair of sparkplug gaiters to keep rocks and debris out of my shoes. Hopefully this new system works out.After finishing another great lunch at Mojo's (highly recommend), Eclipse and I walked one mile to Food City grocery for resupply of trail food. The store was well equipped for hikers and I was able to find enough food for the next few days. Our next trail town is 63 miles away which will take four days. I'm finally getting faster and more efficient with the resupply process. I was in and out in record time. Cindy would be proud!We head out in the morning with thunderstorms in the forecast the next couple of days. Keep your fingers crossed that we catch a break. Thanks again to everyone for following along on this journey. I couldn't do it without you!TTFN
Date: 2017-04-21
From: Damascus, Va.

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Sorry for the delay in posting....no cell reception the past 3 days!After a great stay at the Dancing Bear in Damascus, we hit the trail by 9:15. The owner had made another huge country breakfast and we fueled up for the hike today. It's always hard to leave a nice trail town, especially the food and comfortable bed. It had rained most of the night and the forecast called for thunderstorms throughout the day. We were well prepared, but certainly not looking forward to it. The hike out of town began with the typical uphill. Since we had just finished a big breakfast, it was a little harder than usual. The trail quickly flattened out and we were able to make quick miles in the morning. Our zero day yesterday along with all the great meals gave us a lot of energy today. The AT joins part of the Virginia Creeper biking trail as well with smooth trail and views of roaring rivers. Thankfully the thunderstorms held off and we only had to deal with a light rain. It was so warm and muggy that I didn't even put on a rain jacket. You sweat so much with a rain coat that sometimes it's more comfortable to leave it off in the rain. Most of the hikers who were in town hiked out this morning with us. We kept passing each other throughout the day and we all ended up at Lost Mountain Shelter tonight. The mood is light and hikers are enjoying each other's company. They even started a fishbowl game with lots of laughter and fun. We have the four hikers from the U.K., the lifelong friends from Oklahoma City, Bear Bait from Nashville, Dori from Rochester, NY, Waldo and Giggles, Feathers and a few more. The best part of this Shelter is that it has the best tenting spots that we've seen on the trail. We're headed to Grayson Highlands on Saturday with all the great views and wild ponies. Can't wait to get back there. TTFN
Date: 2017-04-22
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Wise Shelter Camping Area
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light snow

Please say it with me..."no rain, no pain, no Maine". I've heard this saying the last couple of years and now I really get it! Today was my 4th consecutive hiking day with rain. It actually rained sideways at times today with wind gusts up to 40 mph as we entered Grayson Highlands. The trail became a river as water flowed down the mountains. My feet look like prunes from all the moisture along with a couple small blisters. These are just normal challenges for AT thru hikers and we have learned to accept it as part of the experience. I'm just thankful that I can be out here to begin with. I was really looking forward to today's hike because it was taking us through one of my favorite hiking spots; Grayson Highlands, Virginia. I have brought family and friends here two of the past three years over Memorial Day weekend for hiking and sightseeing. Mt. Rogers is the highest peak in the state of Virginia at over 5700 ft. It is also home to the wild ponies that roam the area and often come right up to you on the trail (see photos on left). I love the huge rock outcroppings along the trail that make for a fun scramble with incredible views at the top. Unfortunately today's weather made these technical trails quite difficult and dangerous. The trail consists of rocks and boulders that are like ice when the rain is pouring down. We were all very thankful to make it thru this tough section without incident. We experienced some great trail magic about 8 miles in today. The family of a 17 y/o thru hiker from Maryland set up a tent and tables filled with sodas, chips, homemade chocolate chip cookies, ice cream sandwiches and watermelon. It was awesome and we all could not say thank you enough. It gave us a big boost today! Thanks to all the trail angels out there. Well, it's past hikers midnight and I have a 20 mile day tomorrow. I hope everyone is doing well wherever you are!TTFN...still bouncing down the trail with joy and positivity!