morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-30
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 8.2

Today turned out to be gorgeous, weatherwise, but bad for hiking. I will have to say, though, that the Overmountain Shelter privy has one of the nicer views that I have seen. We started out a little late, and had planned on making it to one of the campsites about 15-ish miles from Overmountain to begin. The morning took us over some beautiful mountains, Little Hump and Hump Mountains, and the weather couldn't be more agreeable. It was still a bit chilly, but the sun had finally come out. I took my time today, because my knee had started hurting a bit. I honestly didn't mind stopping and resting on the balds, though. I ran into Magic Rat, and some curious longhorns, on one of the balds we crossed today. As I started walking by, the one closest to the trail stood up and started staring right at me. I stopped in my tracks and had some sort of Mexican stand off with the guy until Magic Rat assured me all would be okay if I just passed on. Of course, after I got to the other side, and over the fence, he told me that he had been hanging out to get pix of the group with the longhorns in the background, and everyone(including a dog) had passed by without event until me. I guess he knew I was from Texas! Magic Rat started keeping my pace for the rest of the day, because I guess he could tell I was having problems. I don't even know how to describe the knee problems, except that every few steps, I would get a searing pain through my knee, and sometimes up to my hip. I told him not to worry about me, and that I would at least make it the 8 miles to the next shelter for the day, so he hiked on. For a while, I hobbled on, and a while later I saw Magic Rat headed back up toward me. He had dropped his pack, after a hairy stretch, and had come to try to coerce me into giving him my pack, at least until the hairy, rocky stretch had come to and end. I refused, though. What can I say, I'm stubborn. It got close to the point to where he almost took it from me, but we finally made it through the stretch, and up to the shelter, where we joined Nova and Yogi. I just don't know what to do about my knee right now. I don't want to spend more time off in some town. I don't want to keep walking in this condition, and I DON'T want to go home. I just wish it would go away.
Date: 2003-06-05
From: Damascus

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0

Happy June! Finally made it to Damascus on foot...no more Tennessee! We've finally made it to our 4th state! I had my best and worst hike last week, all in the same day...if that is a possibility. My knee has been off and on bothering me during the hikes, and this particular day, it had become almost unbearable. To the point of where it was when I had to leave the trail in Erwin, and I did not want to leave again. Not for the same injury. So, as I hobbled and limped down the path (this particular path being the mudslide that was the re-routed part of the trail, which incidentally adds 4 miles to the trip, but makes it "easier"), I got to Jones Falls. Needing water, and feeling a bit like resting, I hobbled over to the falls, and just took some time to sit back and enjoy them. They were beautiful, and somehow they instilled more energy and will into me. Enough to get back up and walk on, while forcing myself to find a way around the knee injury (a good 15 minutes of yelling at my knee seemed to help a bit, as well). I then was hit by an adrenaline rush from out of nowhere, and started moving down the trail. I walked until dark, in order to try to make the full 18 miles to the shelter, where my group had gone, but did not make it. Of course, 2 days earlier, my headlamp had burnt out, making the night hiking possibility null and void. So, I pitched tent, had a surprisingly restful sleep, and awoke the next morning, walked half a mile, and found the shelter. 10 minutes more of walking the night before would have gotten me there, but who knew?So, what more can you do but laugh it off and keep moving the next day? Anyway, I'm ready for at least 500 more! Off to eat some delicious pancakes!
Date: 2003-06-05
From: n/a

Miles today: 370.0

Tennessee.Tennessee, I don't like you. You are an evil, evil state. You are the DEVIL. You have given me torrential rainpours in the Smokies (I am most positive we were on the Tennessee side of the trail during this), you gave me strep throat just before Max Patch, you made me slip and fall on that rock, and then you twisted my knee. I won't even get into Pond Flats (aka Prison Sex Mountain), which was neither flat nor a pond, and I'll ignore the attack bears near Iron Mountain Shelter, and the attack grouse, which I have the suspicion that you were in on this, Tennessee. Why did you have to be so violent? Why couldn't you just be a little nicer? Like Miss Janet? Or the good folks at Standing Bear, or Kincora? Why don't you like us, Tennessee?Goodbye, Tennessee....you mean, mean state.
Date: 2003-06-07
From: Damascus

To: Houston
Miles today: 0.0

Well, the knee is at it again, so I am taking a (maximum, hopefully) 2 week hiatus from the trail to go home and get it checked out, and rest up so I can finish this trail. I am leaving this afternoon, at 1:45 from Abingdon, VA, and should arrive home sometime Sunday evening. I am not really looking forward to going back to Houston just yet, but I'd rather go now for a few days and heal my knee properly than hike a few more miles and be forced off the trail permanently. We'll see how it goes.But, I am kind of excited about meeting up w/ my friends for a bit! And, I'll be able to better prepare the remaining portions that I need to do. And I may just come back in dreadlocks! We'll see!Happy Trails....to be continued.
Date: 2003-06-11
From: Houston

To: nowhere
Miles today: 0.0

Bored, bored, bored.So much time can be spent traversing around mom's neighborhood. My knee is getting tighter, with lack of hiking, and is set to be checked out by the doc. on Friday. I almost wish I stayed in a small town, as I would have already had my appointment by now. Damn civilization.Of course, my day was brightened by the calculation of how many days I have left until Katahdin, and how many miles I will need to hike per day in order to reach it by the Oct. 15th "deadline." I set calculations low, and far, with a re-start date of June 21st. I WILL be back before then, and still only need to make an average of 14 per day. Very excited about that.I am getting my food and remaining maildrops revised, so I will have less to carry. I am also trading my 300 lb MOAB (mother of all bags - - sleeping bags) in for a nice, lightweight 45+ down filled bag that weighs 1 lb., 9 oz. Heaven. Sweet heaven. So, if any of you guys I've been hiking with check this out, don't worry one bit for me. I refuse to adjust to "civilization" while I am at home, and will catch up with you guys at some point. It may be a month or two, as I have decided to just start back up from Damascus (I cannot, repeat, CANNOT miss the Grayson Highlands. I just can't). Be on the lookout, though, because I'll be out there somewhere...when you least expect it.Can't wait to get back out.Peace
Date: 2003-06-20
To: Anywhere but here
Miles today: 0.0

I am starting out today, again, on the Virginia Creeper Trail. I know, it's not the AT, and I will come back and make up what I miss, but I think this is the safest route to go, for a few different reasons. It will allow me to get used to "hiking" again, and will give my knee a little warm-up, without completely killing it again, AND will give me some nice, graded walking so I can break in the new boots.So I'm hiker trash. Deal with it. I have, and I'm okay with it. Here's to hiking!
Date: 2003-07-02
From: Holiday Motor Lodge (Pearisburg)

To: Post Office
Miles today: 67.0

I made it to Pearisburg yesterday evening, soaked to the bone. The remnants of T.S. Bill have decided to float up and hike the trail as well, apparently. Go figure. The LAST thing we need on the trail is more rain. Seriously. It's rained about 70-80% of the time I've been out here. I'm staying put in town today, and will probably take off tomorrow. I hope my boots dry out.Anyway, I'm still not giving up hope quite yet. The weather was getting better until this fluke of a storm came rumbling up upon us. It's been raining since AT least 6 o'clock this morning (yes, I wake up at 6 in the morning...believe it or not!). The forecast for the rest of the week promises only partly cloudy skies, though, with isolated rain Saturday through Monday. I guess you just have to take what you can get. My next scheduled town is Catawba, VA. Hopefully I can make it there by early next week.Hike on!
Date: 2003-07-18
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Nowhere
Miles today: 300.0

Finally made it out of Virginia! Yeah! We spent a week out on the Shenandoah River, aqua-blazing through the Shenandoahs. What a wonderful break from the hiking! Beautiful scenery and wonderful people awaited us as we canoed down the 72 mile section. I first had a few hesitations to take this trip, instead of hiking the Shenandoahs right now, but after being out on the River for just 5 minutes, I thanked myself for making the decision. This journey may or may not be a once-in-a-lifetime event, but I am definitely going to take every advantage that comes my way while I'm out here. Here's to hiking this year, and more hiking to come in the next few years that follow! I never want to leave!
Date: 2003-08-01
From: The Doyle (Duncannon)

To: anywhere but here
Miles today: 0.0

Finally made it to The Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, PA. Drank way too much w/ some fellow hikers: Nova, Slideshow Bob, Curly Dan, Boomhouser, Half Step, Singe, Laughing Bird, Q-Tip, Famous Shoes, and most likely 1 or 2 more. Need to leave town now, even if it is just 4 - 5 miles. Duncannon...the place you only need to visit once, because it will suck you in and keep you here.
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: NEW JERSEY!!!
Miles today: 16.0

Finally broke away from the DEVIL town of Mugshots...I mean, Palmerton, PA. The walk up from Palmerton was a great break from the normal hiking, even though it was under heavy hangover conditions. Walking into New Jersey today with Boomhouser, Curly Dan, Singe, Bear Magnet, and possibly Slideshow Bob and Nova (w/ Bosco). We are playing with the idea, once again, to leap frog up to New Hampshire, in order to miss some harsh White Mountains weather. Either way, we're planning on plowing through NJ and NY in the next couple of weeks! GO TEAM COWBOY, GO! Giddyup!
Date: 2003-08-31
From: Connecticut

To: Wal-Mart
Miles today: 19.0

Made it to Kent, CT yesterday!! Woo-hoo! Actually, we hitched into Kent yesterday, and are planning to slack the 19 from 22 to Kent today. Feeling good about the trail these days, and hope to represent Team Cowboy well! Many thanks to GP for dropping off all the sodas, fruit, and chocolates! Much appreciated! Also...we're thinking about you, BoomHouser! It's good to hear that things are going well on the home front. Hope to see you return to the trail! Katahdin, here we come!!
Date: 2003-09-01
From: Dalton, MA

To: the couch
Miles today: 0.0

I had another day of reckoning out here....and have decided to just hike; wherever I do so or whenever I do so is not really going to stress me out anymore. I jumped up a bit to Dalton, MA, where I'm kicking back at Robs....great guy, and a MUST for all you SOBO's, and even NOBO'S that are left out here on the trail. We're having a b-day celebration for Tangent this evening (and carrying on into the AM), a SOBO and fellow Texan. He may not be hiking out tomorrow.Anyway, I wish Curly Dan well, hope you're keeping with the Cowboy spirit out there, and hope to see you at some point, before I go home. Boomhouser, you're the greatest! You don't know what it means to get your positive e-mails, and I hope to see you out here again soon!Everyone else, have a good time while you're out here. Keep on hiking, wherever you are! Enjoy this time while you have it, and keep your head up and ready for what's around the corner. It's always a surprise!
Date: 2003-09-18
From: North Woodstock, NH

To: Franconia Ridge
Miles today: 0.0

Well...here I am, AGAIN, in North Woodstock. I'm currently hiking with a new crew, consisting of Blue Bird, Puff Daddy, Jersey, and Espy. They seem like my kind of people. The first visit I had in North Woodstock was Sunday, when I came in to avoid the rain on the slickery rocks of Kinsman. I arrived in town to run into old hiking pals, Nova and Tito. They were heading back to a hostel in the previous town, as Nova's dog was feeling ill, and had a slight limp. I decided to stay and hike out Monday A.M. So...I went over to Lincoln, NH, to check it out, and soon came back to North Woodstock, to the Woodstock Station. I ran into Bebop and Don't Stop, who had made it in earlier in the day, as well as Pack Rat, who runs the Hikers Welcome Hostel, and was a former thru-hiker. I talked to them for a few moments, and found out that there was a bar in Lincoln that had dollar drafts. So, I ran over to get a room at the Cascade Lodge, dropped my pack, and headed off to dollar draft-dom. I got to this place 5 minutes after the dollar draft happy hour ended, but ran into Chief (formerly Moses), Mover, Circus, and Bucky. They ran into a nice couple in town that puts up hikers for the night, so we all headed over to their place. A few of the boys got a bit rowdy, but all was well. The next morning (I ended up crashing there), I got up, had a nice breakfast, and hit the trail. It was too late in the day to actually conquer Kinsman, so I stayed at Eliza Brook, where I was soon joined by JJ, Laffy Taffy, Espy, Jersey, Blue Bird, Puff Daddy, Bebop, and Don't Stop. We awoke the next morning to rain, and Espy, Jersey, Blue Bird, Puff Daddy, and myself decided to take a zero. We hiked up Kinsman yesterday in BEAUTIFUL weather, and stopped back in town to "re-supply." We re-supplied on brews and margaritas, and ended up camping just out of town, where we were briefly told that the spot we picked was not, in fact, a camping area (by the local man), but that we could go ahead and stay, as long as we were out early.We made it out early, and are now planning on conquering Franconia Ridge...as long as we can get the others up and moving after last night's debauchery. We'll see!I did learn some new info. on my old hiking buddy, Curly Dan, though. He made it up to NH! He's now in Hanover, and (by the rate we're hiking) may catch up to us soon!
Date: 2003-11-12
From: Home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it has been almost a month and a half since I last set foot out on the Appalachian Trail, and I miss it every day. I feel a real sense of incompletion, and sometimes think about how I hiked my hike this year, almost with a little regret. Of course, I also think about what I would have changed about this year's hike, and come up with nothing. I met an awesome group of people, and feel very fortunate to have shared my hiking time with the people I hiked with. There couldn't have been a better, more complementary group out there. I'm sure everyone feels this way about their own hiking group, but I do think our own had a real special bond. Not only that, but the people we met in town were priceless, and proved that there are genuine people still out there in the world. Had I not spent the time in some towns that I had, I would have never met some of these people. I got a lot from this hike, and can use this knowledge and experience I have gained not only when I'm hiking, but in almost anything I do. This hike has not only changed my perspective for the better, but others around me as well, and it has improved the relationship with me and my dad. Before I left, I would likely speak to him once a year, around Christmas time, to see when it would be convenient for me and my sisters to come visit him and his wife. One of the last things he said to me, beforehand, was how he thought this hike was a stupid idea. That really cooled my communications with him, so I rarely spoke to him while I was out. I did eventually start calling him, though, and talked to him about the trail. He lost the feeling that I got myself into something "stupid", and started realizing exactly what I was doing out there. Since I've been home, we've actually started talking more; about the sights I've seen and the times I've had. It's amazing. There is a new understanding there, and I don't know if it would have happened any other way.The trail is a wonderful place, and I urge anyone to get out there and enjoy it at least once. So, with that being said, I am now planning for my 2004 thru-hike, and those of you that wish to continue to watch my progress can see it on the 2004 hikers menu. Peace!
Date: 2003-01-24
To: PA Ruck
Miles today: 0.0

The PA Ruck was our first real experience with the AT and our first chance to meet some of the people we have been learning from via the AT-L and Whiteblaze.net. What a great experience! We met so many interesting and fun people at this gathering. Some of them were hikers with years of experience like Jim and Ginny Owens, Gran Ma Soule, Baltimore Jack, Ez-Does-It, Spur and Ready, Sparrow and Hutch and others were people like us who were planning their first thru hike like A-Train, Stick Dog and Sparky, Jan, and Gary. There were even people there who were completing their thru hike in the middle of winter like Beeg Fut. We got to know Pittsburg and found that he was going to get a group of hikers together that were starting about the same time that we planned to start. He was encouraging us to take our time at first, a piece of advice that we had also gotten from Hopeful via e-mail.We got a chance to take our first steps on the AT during the Sat. morning hike to Pole Steeple. Fortuately Mrs. Gorp and Sparky remembered their cameras and took some great pictures which they have posted on the Internet. http://gallery.backcountry.net/2003PARuckhikehttp://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=786Pog posted some more pictures of the Ruck too.http://gallery.backcountry.net/PARuck03Speaking of Pog- She kept the kitchen organized and producing enough to feed all the hikers and shelter mice on the AT. Long distance hikers really know how to make a feast! I have never seen so much good food in any other gathering- not even my family reunion.We have a lot more realistic view about what hiking the AT will like after this weekend. Baltimore Jack, EZ-Does-It, Beeg Fut were quick to point out the hardships of thru hiking- being hungry, cold or hot, tired, and wet most of the time. Others talked of mice in the shelters, spider webs in your face if you are first on the trail in the morning. The weekend also gave us a much better idea of why we want to do this- the people we met at the Ruck and the ones we will meet as we hike, the fantastic views from the mountains, seeing the stars without electric lights making them seem dull, the challenge, the chance to be close to nature for weeks on end and take time away from the world of clocks,and electronic devices. Of all the people at the Ruck, we have probably had the least experience with backpacking- (none). Everyone was really great about answering our questions, very patient and very kind. I did see a few smiles when I brought out the two plus pound pot with lid and pound and a half stove with box, but to their credit- none of these experienced hikers laughed. I've decided to put those things in the basement until we go car camping again. ;)
Date: 2003-02-03
To: Preparation and Anxiety
Miles today: 0.0

I went by K-Mart coming home from church yesterday and there were people outside with going out of business signs. I've been putting off stocking up on supplies for the hike and this was enough to push me ito doing it. (10- 50% off on everything the signs said!!) I entered the store about 12 noon and emerged about 2:30 PM with mole skin, duct tape, bandaids, waterproof matches, tiny bottles of hand sanitizer, mini bars of soap, bandanas, several bags full of candy, beef jerky, tang and a variety of heat water and serve items (soup, stuffing mix, rice, hot chocolate, oatmeal, mac and cheese, etc.) Then I went to the local organic food specialty store called the Mustard Seed and bought more items; nuts, and dried veggies and fruits.   Gary was really surprised to see me unload all of this stuff, but he seemed relieved that I was finally getting down to the most important concern he has about hiking the AT, eating. I tried to give him the trail name "Bacon Belly" because he eats a pound of bacon most mornings for breakfast. He's not sure he likes this name. Maybe it's just the belly part he doesn't like. I'm sure the excess around his middle will disappear as his bacon habit is broken. Beware if you meet us during the first few weeks of the hike; he will be in a grumpy mood as a result of bacon withdrawl.   But enough of Gary and Bacon and onto the matter of supplies.I put together our hygiene bags, first aid kit, bounce box and packed the food bag with a four day supply. The food bag weighed 10 lbs. Gary said that he never realized 10 lbs. was so heavy.    The more we gather supplies, the more real March 9th becomes. We are going to load all this stuff on our backs and hike up the mountain. I'm anxious to get going, but there is also some anxiety at starting this new veture.
Date: 2003-02-27
To: Leaving the Comfort Zone
Miles today: 0.0

   As I started cleaning up the house in preparation to leave on the 7th, the fact that I am leaving my comfort zone really hit me. It isn't the first time that I've purposely left a comfortable place in my life to go adventuring. In fact, the urge to do this seems to come at times I feel most comfortable. The physical comforts I am leaving behind, showers, beds, flush toilets, etc. are not really what I am talking about. For certain, this adventure will be a physical challenge. Can this 56 year old body walk 2,100 miles without it's knees going out or other worse calamities?   The comfort zone I'm talking about is more personal. I'm leaving behind those things that keep me comfortable with who I am. I have always needed a challenge, a goal to make me happy. I have always wanted to test myself and discover those things about me that without the challenge would have been hidden. When I've become too comfortable, I feel somehow less alive. Like a butterfly in a cacoon, very safe, but also half asleep.    I'm not sure Gary feels this same motivation. He accuses me of liking to deprive myself, something about my Amish roots. But it really isn't deprivation I am after, but the excitement of being faced with difficulties to overcome.    My other motivation for this long walk into the mountains is my love for them. I love the feeling of being very, very small, but an integral part of a grand and marvalous universe. When I am surrounded by nature, I feel God all around me and within. I feel the mystery. I think that it may be hard for those who have a traditional Christian or Jewish belief to understand how I experience God, but the ancient teacher Lao Tzu expressed it well................The name that can be named is not the eternal name.The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.The named is the mother of ten thousand things.Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.These two spring from the same source but differ in name;this appears as darkness.Darkness within darkness.The gate to all mystery.Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 1               Beesknees- looking forward to leaving the comfort zone