morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-02-28
To: Getting Ready
Miles today: 0.0

With three weeks to go before I hit the trial I am alternating between thinking I am crazy for doing this and being impatient to start. While I have thought about doing the AT since my Boy Scout days, I have to thank my friend TeeTree for making the point "why wait". I also have to thank all you Thru-hikers TeeTree, Tom, Beckett and others for your advice and encouragement. Whenever I start thinking I am crazy I have only to think about the joy and excitement in the eyes and voices of those who have hiked the trail. Right now I am in the middle of a Wilderness Frist Responder course up in New Hampshire. It has been good to focus my mind on how to deal with problems that can arrise in the bush. It is also a great time to talked to a bunch of outdoors folks who are at least as obsessive about camping gear as myself.
Date: 2004-03-18
To: 10 days to go
Miles today: 0.0

10 Days to go and I can only hope that the foot of new fallen snow here in Boston is a sign of spring, I would hate to be treking through this stuff. I am beyond thinking about this trip, and I just want to get going. I have a week of hanging out with friends and family which will be fun. But at this stage I am sick of planning and preparing and just want to get going. Probably just one of those natural stages one passes through, fear, denial, thinking your carzy, and being sick of planning. For those who have not previouly read my dispaches from various far flung places. Let me warn you that spelling is not my strong point, there is ongoing debate as to whether english is really the language that is spoken in New Jersey, where I grew up, but usually one can get the jist of what I am trying to say. By the way and I should have mentioned this in the frist page. But when I hike the Long Trail, a 270 mile trek through Vermont, I was given the trail name of Dr. Chris. Now explaining the whole "trail name" thing is beyond me at this point but let me just say that those who hike the whole trail make up a unique subculture, with their own language and social rules. As I come to better understand these things on the hike I will try to make note of it on these pages.
Date: 2004-03-28
To: Start of the Appalachian Trail
Miles today: 0.0

to start on the official trail: 3/29/04 March 28Well here I am at Amiczlola Falls. Having spent the last week being fed andcared for by friends,it was hard to get myself going. It was great to see oldand dear friends in Atlanta. I even got them to give me a ride up here to thebeginiing of the mountains.I have to say I have not been into the planing aspects of this trip, so now that I am here in the woods I now feel like I can finallybegin to relax and enjoy the fact that I am finally doing it. We will see how I feel tomorrow after my first days hiking. At least the weather is great if anything warmer than I would prefer.By the way I am thinking of starting a pool, whoever guesses after how manymiles my shoes fall apart wins. The Abuja crowd I am sure would appreciateanother wager from me.For those interested in the numbers my pack weight is 40 lbs with 3days food and 2L of water
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Stover Creek

To: Stover Creek
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: broken clouds

Stover CreekWell I pulled off 12.4 miles for my first day which was much better than Iexpected. Of corse, 8.8 of those miles just got me to the top of SpringerMountain, the offical start of the AT. It was a perfect day to sstart not to hot not to cool. Down in Atlanta spring was already in full swing, all the trees in bloom, but up here in the mountains it stll has a ways to go. I ran into half a dozen thru-hikers on my first day out, but I have ended up in this beautiful spot by this stream. The sound of the rushing is perfect forlulling one to slep. My gift to myself was this fanncy watch that tells me elevation so I have allthese statistics I can look at. I will spare you all the details but thisgives a rough sense of the work,elevation gained 3,610 ft elevation decended2,540 ft. There is an enormus amount of goin up and down on this trail.
Date: 2004-03-30
To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Gooch Gap Shelter 11.2Well it rained last night, so much for saying how nice the day was. I supposethat it is good to get that out of my system. At least by the time I got started it was begining to clear up. A big day of ups and downs,3150 up and 2934 down. Ended up in this shelter which is packed to brim, including all the tent sites.My guitar was a big hit Not my playing, but a lot of people could play alittle. But the big event was that Flying Brian a famous hiker ended up in ourshelter. He is famous for 2 years ago having hiked the Appalachian Trail,Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail, all in one year, which is somthing on the order of 9,000 miles of walking. Very entertaing guy to listento.
Date: 2004-03-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0

Mile 30.7 on ATGreat day covered 16 miles and other than feling exhausted I feel pretty good.The weathered changed prety drastically today. A cold front came in and thetemperature dopped suddenly with strong winds than rain then freeziing rain anda bit of snow for good measure {this is not supposed to happen in Georgia, Ithought}. This all hppened whle climbing up some unnamed mountain. But that iswhen luk started to turn for the better. As I came down the mountain there wasa pass with the first proper road since I had started, and there in the parkinglot was a trail angel. A trail angel is a person who helps out hikers, oftenwith food. Wel Suzy the trail angel had a truckload of food that people fromher town, down in the vally, hsddonated. Lots of chocolate, drinks and othertreats. The was hord of us hikers gobbling up neded calories. I think that iswhat gave me the energy. To go the distance. But by doing 16 miles I was ableto make it to town and a motel with the lux! ury of a shower and a warm bed
Date: 2004-04-01
To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

April 1Low Gap 10.6 miles mile 41.3 on the AT I was to tired last night to write more but the motel I stayed in was actually a delapitated cabin. But it did have hot water and a shower so I should not complain. In the moring we returned to Neels Gap. There is an outfitter store at the top of the pass and the trail actually passes right through the middle of the store, talk about a captive audience. Aparently they offer a service which you pay for and their staff will go through your pack and tell you what youshould get rid of. I have actualy been pretty happy with my pack weight. I have been moving at the speed that I thought I would and while I am sore and tired at the end of the day, Ifeel good most of the time. No blisters so far. I feel like I have been very lucky so far,what is called on the trail as "trail magic". Yesterday I arrived at the cabbin just in time to catch the last shuttle bus to town for a hot meal, and this afternoon the same trail angel as yesterday with another box full of goodies. For those of you in Georgia I highly recommed doing so hiking between Woody Gap and Neels Gap. There are some good trails and great views. This morning was a bit nippy right around freezing. The freezing rain coated the trees at the higher elevations and as the sunbroke through the clouds they absolutely sparkled.
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Low Gap Trail

To: Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 13.0

April 2Cheese Factory site 13 miles mile #54.3 on AT Frist there is no cheese here. I guess that in the 1800's there was a factory her but now only a clearing in the woods is found. It was another cold grey day in Gorgia. There were intermitant snow flurries all day. I don't think I saw this much snow in my two years in Atlanta. Mind you it is not sticking to the ground, but it is cold. The story of note today was; I was walking down the trail and passed an older woman. I noticed that she had an emblem of the Long Trail on her water bottle. The Long Trail is a 270 mile trail through Vermont, that I hiked in 2002. So we get to talking, and we realize that on my last night of hiking the Long Trail we had shared a campsite and had a long discussion as it was her first night on that trail. Quite a coincidence, although those crazy enough to hike 270miles are more likly to be drawn to somthing even crazier like hiking the AT.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Dicks Creek Gap/Hiawasi, GA
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Dicks Creek Gap/Hiawasi, GA13 miles mile #66.8 on ATAnother great day of trail magic. It was a bitterly cold night but the cloudscleared and everything including myself warmed in the sun. There was a rumorgoing round that some people were going to cook a big dinner at one of theshelters, but I had deciced to keep going rather sit for most of the day. I wassort of feeling bad about pasing up the party. Than all of a sudden these,brightly colored hand written signs start apearing on trees. The signs invarious humorous ways invited all travellers to the 11th Annual Addis Gap,"Feast in the Forest". Now sigs mention, food, drink,beer,and entertainment, all a bit hard to believe this far into the woods. But who could pass upcheching such claims out. And there at the botom of a hill just a short way offthe trail was the Feast. Everything the signs haad claimed and more. I can'tthank Gordo, Moo, Kelly, McGiver, and all the others for making it all happen. I ate and drank till I was stuffed, and listened tosome gre! at music. It was hard to drag myself away, but I was determined to make ittown befor daark. I had to fly to get there, but I hit the road just after agroup had called for a shuttle ride to a motel. While we were waiting for theshuttle, this guy drives up and asks us if we are thru-hikers, and out comesmore food and drink. Ended up yhis guy had hiked the trail last year and wantedto repay so of the trail magic which he had recieved.I was great to get a hot shower, a warm bed and an "all you can eat" buffetmeal.
Date: 2004-04-04
To: Blye Gap
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

Blye Gap8.8 miles mile#75.4 on ATWell a pretty low key day. I was feeling great,showered, clean shaven, and withclean clothes. I have not had all of that since I started this trip. It ishard to believe that it was only a week ago. I picked up my second food parcel. It is amazing that the system really works. I did have another bit of trail magic today. I had food but I needed fuel for myooking stove. Now some hostels will sell you fuel by the once otherwise youhave to pay "an arm and a leg" for a big jug at a store, and I can only carry 8oz. so the rest goes to waste. So I ask the gu who runs the motel if he mighthave any fuel. He say "not usually but somebody left this bottle yesterday. Idon't know what it is." So the is this large juice bottle with just a bit ofliquid in it. It smells like the right stuff, but it does not look like it isgoing to be enough to fill my flask. But I try anyway and with the last drop mybottle is full. Let' just hope the trail magic continues.By the way passed out of Georgia today. One down 14 more to go.
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Blye Gap

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Carter Gap 15.2 miles mile#75.9 on ATNot to keep complaining about the weather but last night it was 36 degreesINSIDE MY TENT. At lst it was sunny but the first part of th1 trail wentstraight up, welcome to North Carolinia, the moutains are substantially higherhere. I ran into this guy whose trail name is one leg. He in fact has only one leg. He has an above the knee amputation and had a specially designed prostesis witha motor powered foot. My brother Brian, who is also an amputee, had sent me aclipping about this guy planning on thru-hiking the AT. Bri had asked me togive the guy his best if I ran into him. He was having some malfunction with hisleg so was headed out to have it serviced. He was travelling with deafgentilmen whose trailname is flash-hands. Flas hands headed on and I talked toOne Leg for a while, he has dedicated his hike to a little boy who is going tohave his leg amputated in a few months. I had a lot of miles to cover so I didnot have a lot of time to chat.      It was a long slog of a hike. It is interesting in places the trees still looklike we are in the dead of winter but then there are these patches of rhoadendrmforest and whenyou travel through them you suddenly seem transported to somwheretropical. The rhodadendrums in spite of the season are green and over hang thetrail creating a canopy alost like a tunnel. I finally pulled into the shelter and there was no one there, which suprized me. It was also a prety decrepit shelter, but some of them are and I started gettingset up for the night.   The place felt pretty creapy but I sat down to read myguide book about tomorrow and I saw that there was in fact two shelters at thisplace. So I decided to look for the other one, and just around the bend was avery nice shelter with a few fellow thru-hikers. Now I felt I would sleepbetter.
Date: 2004-04-06
To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Rock Gap Shelter12.1 mils mil #103on ATThe weather finally improved, it was actually warm today. There were some niceviews today. I willhave to work on getting photos out to my sister so she canpost them. Ran into Flash Hands, and we helped each other take pictures of eachother. I wish I hand learned more sign language so we could communicate better. I think my body is teling me I need a rest day. Started with blister andchaffing problems for the first time. If I don't feel better in AM than willtake a break in Franklin, NC, otherwise will push on a couple ofdays more andbreak at Nantahala Outdoor Center [NOC]. I went rafting there when I lived inAtlanta, and if the weather is nice than another rafting trip might be in order.The day ended on a great note. I had passed a couple of hikers who had told methat he thought a group of Royal Rangers were going to be staying at the shelterI was planning to spend the night in. I just figured that the Royal Rangers wereBritish soldiers. So I get to the shelter and there is a guy cleaning himselfup and two young boys waering shirts emblazoned with Royal Rangers. I come tounderstand that it is a group that tries to combine the eperience of Boy Scoutsand bible study. But more importantly their 5 day trip in the woods was endingand the folks that would be picking them up would be bringing dinner. So aftertheir ride came they brought up a huge bag of fried chicken, as the shelter wasclose to the road. I mmust have eatten 5 or 6 pieces. I guess in spite of mysore feet the Trail Magic continues.
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Rock Gap

To: Wayah Bald
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Campsite just North of Wayah Bald.14.2 miles mile #117.3 on ATWell I bound my small sores and headed out. I flet pretty good starting out butby the second 1,000 ft climb. I was thinking I should have taken the day off. But the end of the day payed off all the hard work. On top of Wayah Bald, oneof the higher mountains there is an old stone observation tower. From there is afantastic 360 degree view of the valey below and all the surounding mountains. The sun was hanging low and the light was spectacular. I could see back tomountains I had been on three days before and ahead to the mountains I will notreach for a week
Date: 2004-04-08
To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A. Rufus Morgan Shelter16 mies mile #133.3The day started out grey threatrning to rain. But I got an early start as if Imade th distance then tomorrow have less than a miles to go to all theamenities of civiliztion, and I badly desire a hot shower and clean clothes. Iwas alone for most of the day and the grey skies kept me focused on movingforward. In the late afternoon I ran into a bunch of other hikers and we talkedfor awhile. But getting out of the woods early drove me on. The last five mileswas tough a huge decent of about 3,000 feet. Going down hill hurts much morethan going up, it's harder on the joints. About halfway own the clouds clearedand there were some nice views. I is a diferent world here at lower elevations,spring is obvious, lots of wildflowers and leaves are sprouting on many trees.
Date: 2004-04-09
To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: clear sky

Nantahala Outdoor Center0.9 miles mile #134 on ATAs much funas it is to hile it is even better to have a day off. Got into thisplace just in time for the opening of the restaurant for breakfast. It isamazing how good eggs taste after a week of oatmeal.The best part of today was watcging the other hiker roll in thru the day. FolksI had not seen for a week but who were just behind me. There is definitly thebeginings of the thru-hiker community, as you get toknow more of the folks aheadand behind you. Everyone is inmuch better spirits after having washed up an inclean clothes.
Date: 2004-04-10
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Nantahala Outdoor Center0 miles mile #34.1 Had a great day of doing nothing but playing. I have to thank Tim and Montsefor comming up from Atlanta to play. I hope you guys had as much fun as I did.Basically I did nothing all morning. I did try to access the internet, but wasagain unsucesful. If you need to reach me, or if you just want to say hi, thenit is best that you use my pocketmail adress for the duration of this trip.But for the afternoon I signed us up for a whitewater rafting tip on theNantahala River. While not the most impresive rapids, they were stil a lot offun. We had a good group in he boat and a nice guide. I got our guide to giveus a good dinner recommendation. So after warming up and driying off we headedout to dinner. The place had a nice view of the mountains. I had been craving anice steakand a good bottle of wine and I was very hapy to get exactly what Ihoped for. Good food, good drink, and wonderful conversation in the company ofdear friends. While the Atlanta crew headed back I arranged to stay in a realmotel room a luxury I hand not fully endulged in on the trip. So all in all a completly succesful zero day.
Date: 2004-04-11
To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Brown Fork Gap Shelter16 miles today mlie #150.1 om ATIt was nice to have a real meal again before hitting the trail. There was justa bit of a pull to remain in civilization, but off I went back into the woods.Sitting atop Cheoah Bald it's aken3.5 hours toclimb the 3300 feet out of thegorge. It rained a good bit of the way up and while the a lot of clods I alwaysthink it is neat when I can lok down on the tops of some cloud. The low onesmoving through the valley below. Well need to get moving 7mles to cover beforedark and one gets a bit of a chill when you are all damp and up on top of themountain.It rained all day although more a steady drizzel. It was a perfrct day toappreciate why these are called the Smokey Mountains. The clouds seemed to berising from each little nook and valley. At other times the clouds completelyfilled the valley below and the tops of the mountains looked like islands in apearly white sea. I wish I could have captured a picture, it was beautil andconstantly changing, but I was always looking out through the trees and so thepictures never worked. I was neat walking right through the clouds, in placesyou would take a step and be surrouned by haze and than walk a bit and sudenlyyou were in the clear.At least the rain kept it cool for hiking just before I reached the shelter Iran across a bright orange salamander and I took some pictures. When I arrivedat the shelter, it was packed with familiar faces, and it was decided that thesalamander must be a good omen, perhaps we will be done with the rain soon.
Date: 2004-04-12
To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: mist

Fontana Hilton12.7 miles mile #161.7 on ATWell it was a very wet day spent sloging through mud and sliding down hill. Butluckily I was able to get into town and pick up my resupply box in town and geta ride to this shelter.Now this shelter is called the Fontana Hilton because it is the most luxurioushelter on the trail. It is located on packland around the Fontana Dam. it is a nice clean spacious shelter that loks out over the lake and mountains. Inaddition, at the dams visitor center, just up the road, they have SHOWERS withHOT water, a true luxury. To top off the greatness of this place, this week a group is providing all youcan eat dinners and breakfast to all the hikers who stay at the shelter.So in spite of the rain and mud in the end a pretty good day.
Date: 2004-04-13
To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

April 13Mollies Ridge Shelter11.3 miles mile 174.1 on ATWell it was an interesting night at the Hilton. One person got sick and therest of us wondered whether it was food poisining from the free food. Luckilyno one else fell ill. Around midnight we were awoken to a fabulous thunder andlightning storm. In the morning it was still raining, but by the time I wasready to go the sun had broken out. But at the free breakfast it was mentionedthat they were expecting snow up in the mountains. Well up we went into SmokeyMountain National Park. There was 2,500 feet to gain in the first two miles and by the time we made it up to this fire tower to take in the view the temperature was plumiting the wind was howeling and some very dark trees were apearing over the mountains. Upward we cimbed and down fell the temperature. I walked through several clouds and right after I made it to the first shelter it started snowing. Origionally I had planned to go further but when some one mentioned that it is exactly 2,000 from this shelter ! to the end of the trail in Maine, that seemed enough of an excuse to stop. AsI am writting this the ground has turned completely white with snow and it isfreezing. It,s mid April we usually don't get snow this late in Boston letalone this far south, but anything can hapen in the mountains. It will beinteresting to see what tomorow brings.
Date: 2004-04-14
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derick Nob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light snow

April 14Derick Nob Shelter11.7 miles mile #185.8 on ATSNOW, WIND, COLD, EXHAUSTION!Well now that I have slept the night let me try to say more about yesterday than I did last night.The night before last night was freezing. The thermomaters read 25 degrees inthe morning. Every time I woke up in the night I would feel the snow blowing inthe open front of the shelter. There was probably four or five inches of snowwhen we woke, and it was still comming down. Needless to say it was not a googmorning. In addition, all of my water was frozen and my stove would not work. Off I dragged myself into the malstrom.I can't believe the guys that went out first, how they figured out were thetrail was I don't know. I just stepped in the foot steps of those in front ofme. By the time I had gone 5 miles I was spent, cold tired hungry and thirsty. I had wanted to make it another 6 miles, but I did not think I had it in me. Istopped at a shelter and contimplated my fait. While I was there three dayhikers showed up. Now the ost comforting thing about that was that it ment therewere people actually crazier than if they had left their warm beds that moringto walk through the blowing snow and cold. I must have looked quite forelorn asthey offered me chocolate water and an orange all of which I took and gobbleddown. It was amazing, within 20 minutes I felt much better and decided to pushon. That had to have been the haredest 6 miles I have ever walked. The windwas howeling the snow was drifting. One had to pay a gret deal of attention tokeep on the trail. After a few hours I was! back to dragging myself forward. I was about to give up on reaching theshelter when the sun finally broke through and a short while latter I made ithere. Since all my water was frozen as well as my water filter I had to meltsnow for eatting or drinking water but it was done and I was in bed before I newit.