morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-03-29
To: 5 Days to Go
Miles today: 0.0

It's five days to go and all the Doctor visits are done. I packed up Old Blue today and did a pratice pack. My goal is to restrict the amount of food I will carry for just the amount to get me to the next food source. Well at least i'm trying. Forcasting food drops are a challenge. Maybe I will get lucky and plan it just rigft. I'm crashing so here it goes.. Oh, who is my new friend you ask? Why that's Superman.. See Ya! Mark
Date: 2011-03-30
To: The Most Important Thing
Miles today: 0.0

I decided that it might be a good idea to get into shape since I start in four days. Maybe a hike down the stairs to the refrigerator will do. Did I say I was thinking of food? I think a hike on the beach would be better. Now there is soft sand and there is hard sand. The soft sand will help my lets get hard and the hard sand will allow my legs to stay soft. While I was struggling in the soft sand my mind would drift to the excitement of hiking. Meeting people from different places, beautiful overviews. The sound of the waves would bring me back into the present and I would be hiking on the easy path, the hard sand. Back into the soft sand I trugged. In the distance I saw a familiar sight I hadn't seen since before Christmas. Willis! Yes its Willis! Willis lives on the beach. Oh you think Willis lives in an oceanfront home on the beach. No, he lives ON the beach. He's not homeless. His home is the beach. The first time I saw Willis, he was dancing in the ocean. He had garbage bags filled with his possessions marking his spot. I avoided Willis like most homeless people. One cold morning as I looked at Willis, sleeping, wrapped in blankets with one bare foot sticking out, "Hey are you ok?" I asked. " Yea Yea, I'm good". Later I took Willis a pair of my thick wool hiking socks. He thanked me and placed them on one of his bags. The next morning, there was Willis dancing back and forth along the oceans edge, barefoot. His new socks were burried in the sand next to one of his bags. Now I ask Willis is there anything he needs, "I'm good" is his response, perfectly content. I got to give Willis a hug today and say goodby for six months. It was the most important thing I did today. Soft sand, hard sand.....Humm.....
Date: 2011-03-31
To: Already missing home and haven't even left yet
Miles today: 0.0

What's really important!Tears are falling down my face as I contemplate being away for six months. I think I'm a little homesick and i haven't even left yet.One week to go and so much to do. Painting, repairs, bills, tax return. The dehydrator is running and this afternoon I will begin packing the mail drops.Read the rest of the blog at:http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-02/already-missing-home-including-my-dogs-and-i-havent
Date: 2011-04-01
To: The BEST Advice
Miles today: 0.0

The dehydrator is quiet. The pack is packed. I guess this is the time I give advice as to what gear to buy or what to do to prepair to hike for SIX months.First: The Gear. DON'T BUY ANYTHING! Grab your sneakers, a couple of blankets and your pillow. That's all you need. Contact Dr. Warren Doyle, Www.WarrenDoyle.Com. He has only hiked the trail 16, that's right, sixteen times. Sign up for Smart Start. He will meet with you each morning and each night and shuttle your pillow for the first 5 days. Don't even bring a backpack. He will supply you with a day pack. After three days you will hike thru Mountain Crossing Outfitters. By then you will have met a lot of hikers who will give you some gear and the rest Warren will advise you on. Oh but what about the food? Just bring five sub sandwichs and a 20oz bottle of gatoraid. It will become your water bottle after you first break. This will save you a bounch of time, stress, and most of all money.My personal prep tips:1. I Use camp shoes in all showers. I don't want athletes feet.2. I apply fungul cream on my toes 30 days prior to my hike. Once again, I don't want athletes foot.3: I Don't let anyone reach into my food's bag. If someone let's me put my hand into their food bag, I don't eat it. More cases of giardia are actuall a case of poor hygiene.4: Wash my hands..... Need I say more?5: I take lots of pictures.. After 21 days I will never be the same. I'd like to see the person I was.That's it.. Contact Warren Doyle. It will make for a great story and you will make it to Maine. See Ya!
Date: 2011-04-02
To: Almost everything I need
Miles today: 0.0

The dehydrator is quiet. The pack is packed. I guess this is the time I give advice as to what gear to buy or what to do to prepare to hike for six months.First: The Gear. DON'T BUY ANYTHING! Grab your sneakers, a couple of blankets and your pillow. That's all you need.Read the rest of the blog at: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-02/almost-everything-i-need
Date: 2011-04-02
To: The night before the adventure begins
Miles today: 0.0

SATURDAY, APRIL 2: There is never enough time. I could start a week from now and still not get everything done.At 2 a.m., I was cooking bacon and broke into an all out feeding frenzy. Eating small amounts of everything in sight. I knew that if I didn't go to sleep soon, tomorrow would never come.As crazy as it sounds El Flaco, whom I met at Curley Maple Shelter, just out of Erwin, Tenn., decided to hike the trail again after hiking it from end to end in 2010.We picked him up just outside of Savannah at the Mocha Frappe Cafe (McDonald's). There was alot of reminiscing and storytelling about last year, and the excitement starting tomorrow made the trip go by fast.Read more at: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-04/night-adventure-begins
Date: 2011-04-03
From: The night before the adventure begins

To: How to gain 8 pounds in one day on the trail
Miles today: 4.3

APRIL 3: Woke up a little chilly around 44 degrees and it felt great.The bacon I cooked the night before and a hard boiled egg were a lot easier and tasted just as good as if I made it fresh.We had to wait till 8:30 for the welcome center to open up so we found the scale for the backpacks. Flaco's weighted in at a mere 32 pounds while mine was 37.What happened to 28 lbs? Nine pounds of food and water.Doug, the welcome center ranger, opened promptly and we ran for the sign in book. Flaco's number is 600. I signed in on the next page. Foiled again by the El Flaco.On the brighter side, finally I'm an official thru hiker. Section hikers hike the trail in sections. Thru hikers hike from end to end. I think it's a lot harder to hike in sections due to the amount of travel you have to do to reach each section you hike.Read the rest of the blog at: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-04/how-gain-8-pounds-one-day-appalachian-trail
Date: 2011-04-04
From: How to gain 8 pounds in one day on the trail

To: Three breakfasts, a cello concert and an evening s
Miles today: 13.5

APRIL 4: Up at 5:51 a.m. A little chill at 50 degrees.Had bacon and eggs for first breakfast. Hiked to Long Creek Falls, a beautiful five-minute side trail well worth it.Found another stash of abandoned gear next to the trail. This time a Thermarest sleeping pad, lexan coffee mug, hot chocolate and a Pop Tart. I'd rather carry the Pop Tart in my stomach than on my back. Second breakfast.Flaco said, "I guess we're the Hiker Trash Tour." How appropriate.We met Razor the trail runner, just before Hawk Mountain Shelter (elevation 3260). He gave us a heads up about a guy carrying a Cello. Yes, a CELLO with an electric amp. Can't wait to carry that! To read the rest of the blog go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-05/three-breakfasts-cello-concert-and-evening-show
Date: 2011-04-05
From: Breakfast in the ladies room 

To: Breakfast in the ladies room
Miles today: 12.9

APRIL 5: Heavy storm last night with some snow flurries. Up at 7:30 a.m.Hiked to Woody Gap, elevation 3,170. Arrived at 9:15. The wind was whipping and very cold. The only place to get out of the wind was the men's room. The door was locked, occupied by someone with the same idea. We opted to cook breakfast in the ladies room. The last of the hard boiled eggs and bacon.Back on the trail, we climbed Big Cedar, 3,740 feet; Ganny Top, 3,395 feet; and Blood Mountain, 4,461 feet, where there is a stone shelter built in 1934. There was a bear there last night that got the hiker's food. Remember what Smokey the Bear says, "Hang your food low."Got to Neels Gap at 5:15 where I mailed back a complete set of gear found on the trail. Well, almost.To read the rest of the blog go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-07/breakfast-ladies-room-lumpy-and-baltimore-jack
Date: 2011-04-06
To: Blue Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

April 6: Woke up at 4:00, not sleeping through the night. Up at 7:00am to watch the sunrise. 48° but not that cold. Tried to upload pictures when the store opened but needed the camera cable, Go figure. Somehow lost an hour getting ready. Started at 10am. Only met eight people yesterday, but stopped counting at 20 today. Felt like a hard day but looking at the guide book, it wasn't that bad. Got to Low Gap Shelter at 4:30. 11 miles completed and finally had my long awaited chili for dinner. The dehydrated onions and mushrooms made it all the better. Yum!! The area around the shelter looked like tent city. Lots of hikers. I introduced myself and tried to remember names, a great mental exercise. We decided to move on @ 6:30pm to Blue Mtn Shelter another 7 miles. We watched the sunset while we hiked, stopping, catching my breath, and enjoying the evening show. The trail was much easier then earlier in the day. Arrived at the shelter @ 10:00pm, the first 12 hour day, and the first night hike. Made 2nd dinner of Mountain House Chicken Ala King, donated by No Worries. Hung our food on the bear cables, very convenient. Cowboyed next to the shelter and had great views of the stars. The icing on the cake was a shooting star to cap off the day. Location: Blue Mtn Shelter. 18 miles.
Date: 2011-04-07
To: A little bit homesick
Miles today: 16.2

APRIL 7: Woke to a beautiful sunrise. That's why we pushed to get to Blue Mountain. Worked on journal and uploaded it till 9:45 a.m. Another late start.Whenever I exercise, stuff just bubbles and today was no different.Hiked down 940 feet to Unicoi Gap, up 1,070 feet to Rocky Mountain, down 1,005 feet to Indian Gap, and finally up 1,315 feet to Tray Mountain.It was like being on a treadmill for an hour, jumping on a stair climber for an hour, back to the mill for an hour, and lastly the climber for an hour.Quite a midday workout. To say the least, I was pooped.To read the rest of the blog, go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-08/little-bit-homesickness-and-lot-emotion
Date: 2011-04-08
From: A little bit homesick

To: What do donkeys and hikers have in common?
Miles today: 2.6

APRIL 8: Was hopeful to watch the sunrise since we were camped at the Vista but the clouds were too thick. Hiked to Dick's Creek Gap by 9:30 a.m. so we could catch a ride to the Blueberry Patch Hostel.Gary and Lennie Poteat have been operating the Christian ministry, hosting hikers, for the past 19 years. Gary hiked the AT with his son in 1991.On the third day of their hike, Shane said it would be cool to take care of hikers. By the time they got to Katahdin, the dream was set in stone.The hostel is right next to their home where they take care of up to 10 hikers per day. It didn't long for the hostel to fill up.We took showers and Gary drove us into town with a load of hikers he couldn't accommodate. First stop: Hardee's! A number 2 with a chocolate malt milkshake. I could have eaten more but wanted to save room for dinner.To read the rest of the blog go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-11/what-do-donkeys-and-hikers-have-common
Date: 2011-04-09
From: What do donkeys and hikers have in common?

To: A rousing welcome to North Carolina
Miles today: 16.5

APRIL 9: Lennie and Gary promptly rang the bell at 8:30 a.m. Scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits, sausage gravy, pancakes and homemade blueberry syrup. For 20 minutes it was quiet while we all enjoyed a home cooked breakfast.Gary shuttled us up to the trail at 10 a.m. The climb to Plumorchard Gap Shelter was nice and steady. Coming out of town my food bag was full. The hike was filled with new bird sounds. I tried to identify them but no such luck.We haven't had rain during the day yet, so today was the first. A couple of small sprinkles and a short burst with pea-sized hail. The funny thing about it was that most of the hail was round and then some that looked like mini flying saucers. Very strange. By the time I got my pack cover on and put up the umbrella the storm was over.I caught up to Chris, Bean, Lady Sherpa, Buckeye and El Flaco at the Georgia-North Carolina border. High fives and a lot of shouts of celebration.To read the rest of the blog, go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-11/rousing-welcome-north-carolina
Date: 2011-04-10
From: A rousing welcome to North Carolina

To: A hard climb rewarded with cheesecake
Miles today: 14.0

APRIL 10: Awake at 6:45 a.m., up at 7, on the trail at 7:15. Hiked to Standing Indian Shelter, 4,760 feet.Made backcountry scrambled eggs with bacon bits. The picture on the package looked much better than what I created. They tasted like yellow mashed potatoed with chunks making believe they were bacon. El Flaco worked hard to control his gag reflex.While I cleaned up, El Flaco left with Chef and Ugly where we would meet up on top of Standing Indian Mountain (5,430 feet). This is the third time here and I've never actually been on top. The sign to the side trail has been either stolen or burnt as firewood.To read the rest of the blog, go to http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-13/hard-climb-eat-cheesecake-and-watch-sunset
Date: 2011-04-11
From: A hard climb rewarded with cheesecake

To: A great day with the short school bus driver
Miles today: 9.0

APRIL 11: Drip, drip, drip. I opened my eyes and the moon had set. I reached down to check my sleeping bag and it felt like the outside of an ice tea glass on a hot summer day.The humid air was condensing on the cold fire tower. It was 4 a.m. and water was falling off the roof onto us. Flaco mumbled some non-printable words as I woke him. Something like "dumb ---."I moved to the outside edge of the chain link rail to avoid the direct drips. The tower is about 50 feet high. Pushing against the outside edge to avoid getting wet probably wasn't the smartest thing to do but it seemed right at the time.The sunrise wasn't the best but if you don't get up you'll never see one. We climbed down, hung our bags and finished the last of the hard boiled eggs and bacon.To read the rest of the blog go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-14/great-day-short-school-bus-driver
Date: 2011-04-12
From: A great day with the short school bus driver

To: Keeping Tic Tac and others safe
Miles today: 11.0

APRIL 12: During the night, storms moved through. Up at 6 a.m. and overcast. Forecast for showers ending around 10 a.m.The First Baptist Church of Franklin provides free breakfast for hikers for four weeks. Pancakes, bacon, orange juice and coffee. With stomachs full, we made it back just in time for the 9 a.m. shuttle back to the trail. Ron honks the horn promptly at 8:45 am. letting the hikers know it's time to go.He told a story about a local woman with three twins (really) and the census taker during the 11-mile trip to the trail. Everyone was in great spirits, having a great day in town until Ron opened the door. Outside, it was in the low 50's and raining.Trying to put my pack cover over my pack and attach the umbrella was, to say the least, challenging. At first the climb wasn't too bad but as time went on, the temperature began to drop and the wind increased.To read the rest of the blog, go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-15/keeping-tic-tac-and-others-including-myself-safe
Date: 2011-04-13
From: Keeping Tic Tac and others safe

To: What a difference a day makes
Miles today: 16.3

APRIL 13: Awoke at 6:45 to clear skies and 39 degrees.Checked on Tic Tac and she sat up in her sleeping bag with a smile on her face.She looked like a different person than the night before. She was thankful for everyone's help.While eating a banana, I gathered all my stuff to spread out to dry. On the trail at 8 a.m. The morning was cold but great hiking weather.To read the rest of the blog, go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-17/what-difference-day-makes
Date: 2011-04-14
From: What a difference a day makes

To: Building character on the trail
Miles today: 13.6

APRIL 14: Took our time getting ready to get out of town.Planning to get to Cheoah Bald to watch the sunset. The climb out of Wesser is the biggest climb so far 3,510 feet up over 8.1 miles. The nicest way I can describe it is the "Character Building Trail."The trail climbs Swim Bald, 4,750 feet, then drops to Sassafras Gap Shelter, 4,330 feet, where we had a late lunch at 4 p.m. I took my time for the next 1.2 miles climbing to the summit of Cheoah Bald, 5,062 feet.The weather was perfect for a spectacular sunset. I made ramin with dehydrated onions and shared fresh popped popcorn among six other hikers.To read the rest of the blog, go to: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/464718/marktrail2011/2011-04-17/building-character-trail
Date: 2011-04-15
To: Fontana
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 13 Thursday 4/15/2011Up at 7:00 am. On the trail at 7:20. I love the first hour of the morning. The birds are very vocal, calling back and forth to each other, just like a musical duet. Hiked up to Brown Fork Gap Shelter, 3720 ft. First breakfast consisted of swiss mocha and fig newtons. We met Sparkplug and El Flaco made coffee. The weather forecast was 70% chance of showers for the next two days so we didn't waste any time. The hike from Stecoah to Fontana Dam is up and down for 15.1 miles. All I could think of was dinner at the lodge. At Cable Gap Shelter, 2880 ft. we met Rose from New Mexico. She is hiking north for 8 weeks, doing the southern end of the AT. I found two chairs at the shelter and since I was light going into town, I strapped them on the back of Old Blue. On the way up Unnamed Rocky Summit, 3,720 ft., I thought, what was I thinking? Now I know what the person thought when they dropped their gear back in Georgia. I visualized two folding chairs, flying through the air, bouncing down the mtn. The pain of my straps brought me back to reality as I shifted the weight back and forth from my sholders to my hips and back to my sholders. I was SO happy reaching the parking lot of the marina for Fontana Village. Off went the chairs into the garbage can with the personal satisfaction of leaving the trail a little nicer for the folks behind. The next 1.2 miles is probably the most skipped section of the trail. There is a phone at the restrooms where you can call for a shuttle either to the lodge or into the village. Coming back to complete the section is often overlooked. We hiked together, which is seldom, to the Hiker Hilton. It is a large shelter which sleeps 24 and overlooks Fontana Lake, a hydrolic reservoir. The shuttle driver was dropping off some hikers and asked if we needed a ride. He waited while we dropped off our packs and then took us to the village. We got some groceries and walked up to the lodge for dinner. While we waited for the dining room to open for dinner, Rose showed up and asked us to share a room with her. The Hiker Hilton vs Bed and Shower with thick towels at the Lodge. Hummm...... As we were eating dinner, the rain poured. I'm thankful to be here. Location: Fontana VillageMiles: 15.1
Date: 2011-04-16
From: Fontana

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

Day 14 Saturday 4/16/2011Zero DayTown. Eat dinner, Long shower with thick towel. Sleep. Eat scrambled eggs and bacon. Laundry. Drink. Eat hot dogs. Sleep. Journal. Eat dinner. Sleep. Eat. Hike.Location: FontanaMiles: 0
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Fontana

To: Russel Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 14 Sunday 4/17/2011Gene and Georgia Ludlam from Dothan Alabama arrived last night to complete a section of the Smokies she missed last year. I met Sweet Tea just outside of Damascus Va. and ran into each other all the way to Harrisburg Pa. where Gene took me to the airport for the trip back home. Gene does trail magic while Sweet Tea hikes. Every few days they spend a night together and then Gene sends her back on the trail. We got late start as usual and took a lot of pictures of Fontada Dam and the start of the Smokies. The trail climbs a total of 2860 ft. over 11 miles to Mollies Ridge Shelter, 4570 ft. On the way up we pass Shuckstack fire tower, 3900 ft. The tower is in bad shape but the views are fantastic. On one step there is only one bolt holding it in place. There is a hole in the roof where you can climb up on top but I decided to stay put because there was no one around to write the story of me falling to my death. I caught up to Sweet Tea as we got to the top of Doe Knob, 4520 ft. Spring Beauty carpeted the landscape. It was so beautiful, I was in awe and humbled once again. I want to share the experience so much but am frustrated by my inability to discribe the moment with words. I took some pictures trying to capture it but no luck. Later I saw it, took the picture and got it. Yes Success! We arrived at Mollies Ridge Shelter, 4570 ft. and made dinner, dehydrated shrimp, onions, and ramin. There were section hikers, thru hikers and hikers hiking for a few days, a great night for popcorn. Through the trees we watched the sun set and the full moon rise. Wanting to set up an easier day tomorrow, we set out to night hike to Russell Field Shelter, 4360 ft two and a half miles away. The moon was so bright, I didn't have to use my headlamp. Arriving around 10:00, we cowboyed in front of the shelter, not wanting to disturb the sleeping occupants. No stars but there was a nice breeze and no bugs. Location: GSNP Russell Field Shelter               CowboyedMiles: 13.5