morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-05-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Neat-o, my first journal entry! Like so many AT hikers, I have had dreams of thru-hiking for about 6 years now and I have finally been able to commit to it for 2003. I am 23, graduated w/ an Anthropology degree 2 years ago, and am an obsessive Lord of the Rings fan (the books, not the movies), and I train in Shotokan Karate. I live in northern Kentucky and have spent many weekends in the Red River Gorge and the Smokies. Right now, my biggest challenge is trying not to bore my family and friends with talk about the Trail (they're getting so tired of it) and waiting for March to get here. I'll be at Trail Days for the first time this weekend and am very excited about it. I really appreciate the work and time that Zipdrive and Leif have dedicated to this wonderful resource. I have learned so much by reading journals and looking over gear lists.
Date: 2002-05-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Trail Days was great. A big thank you to my mom for going with me and sharing in that wonderful learning experience (although I had a hard time explaining the guys wearing dresses!) I've recently bought the Gregory Reality and have thrown ~30 lbs of gear in it and taken it for a 6 mile stroll but it dug a hole into my collar bone so I'm not sure if this is the pack for me yet. I'm pretty sure backpacks aren't suppose to do this.Anyway, these past few months have been spent mainly on this webpage reading journals and gear lists and doing research on what I want to carry on my back for 6 months. I've also awaken the artsy-fartsy gene in me and have made several pieces of equipment which I'm very proud of: a pot cozy (no it's not for anything illegal), a water bladder, a cat-can stove, and some stuff sacks. My goal is to carry less than 35 lbs at the most, including food and water. I need to save my knees from as much turmoil as possible. I've been backpacking since I was five, but I've never made an effort to cut my pack weight down until now. It's fun counting ounces!
Date: 2002-06-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This past weekend was spent TRYING to hike around East Fork Lake in Ohio. For anyone thinking about doing this, you need to wash your mind out with soap. They have a "perimeter trail" which, based on the name, I assumed meant it traversed the lake, but in Ohio it apparently means "pretend like there is a trail that might have existed at one point but no one uses any more AND tell any backpacker that wants to do it that it's a great trail and is very well marked." The rangers there (who pretended like they knew what they were talking about before I got on the trail) apparently don't backpack or use the trail in anyway and I spent the majority of the weekend bushwacking, something I was not prepared for. The bushwacking doesn't bother me too much (just ask my dad) but the rangers shouldn't be telling anyone to use this trail unless they get off their butts and check it out first. My gear worked well and it was the first time I'd gotten a chance to spend the night completely alone. Worst thing that happened was that I forgot my spoon. It's really hard to eat ramen noodles without a spoon. And now I'll remember the wise words of the Tick forever.   SPOON!!!Okay, I'm done venting now. But for future short backpacking trips, I'll stick with the Red River Gorge or the Smokies. Down with East Fork Lake!
Date: 2002-09-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Basic stuff (for the people who don¢t know much about the AT and for family/friends):I¢m hiking south to north, starting in northern Georgia and ending in Maine. This should take about 6 months. I¢ll be starting March 15 (pretty sure about this). I¢m going to have about 6-8 mail drops so the majority of my food will be coming from grocery stores along the way. When it gets closer to March, I¢ll post my maildrop plan on this page. It sounds like I¢ll be resupplying my food every 5-6 days. A close friend of mine is getting married in June and I¢m going to try to make it home for the wedding and 2-3 days off (congrats Katie and Michael!)¢I tried to talk them into rescheduling for October but they wouldn¢t listen to me, go figure. Other stuff:It was an interesting weekend. Started out on Saturday morning with a spontaneous overnight backpacking trip to Red River Gorge. This area has been in the middle of a drought the entire summer but I¢ve figured out how to break the heat: send me hiking in that area and the rain will follow. I always thought the saying ¢the sky opened up¢ was just poetic, but no¢¦it¢s applicable¢in fact, I think several skies decided to open up right over my head. The woods hold a different atmosphere when it¢s raining. It¢s a serene and cleansing feeling, almost feels like I¢m in the middle of Mother Nature¢s spring-cleaning. Shesh, I thought my mom was bad when she cleaned. (j/k mom!) After a couple hours of hiking in the downpour, I did what any normal person would do¢started yelling the song ¢Raindrops keep falling on my head¢ over and over and over again. It rained throughout the night and gave me a great chance to test out my tarp and make sure I was setting it up correctly. I stayed dry throughout the night, and so did the daddy-long legs who found their way into my ¢house.¢ It was a good trip¢¦short, but good, AND I remembered my spoon this time.Later on, when I got back on Sunday, I managed to meet up with an official veteran of the AT. Kentucky Slim (Nick Summe) just got done hiking the AT in 2002 about two weeks ago and was gracious enough to answer a bunch of my questions about the Trail. He¢s got a great attitude about his hike and had some wonderful advice. Two big things were answered that I was thinking about: 1-he didn¢t recommend doing that may mail drops and I was only planning on 6 anyway so that was comforting and 2-he didn¢t carry the detailed maps of the AT either but carried the data book instead and said that was enough to go on. Thanks for all your time Kentucky Slim!
Date: 2002-11-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Things really seem to be speeding up, in many many ways. I've been working on my gear list and am making a conscious effort to cut my weight down, mainly to save my knees from unnecessary stress. I¢ve updated my gear list with some of these decisions. The big change is that I¢ve decided to forget the Gregory Reality pack¢if I¢m going to get my pack weight under 30 lbs, I don¢t need a 5 lb pack adding to it. My new choice is probably going to be the Osprey Aether 60 (3lbs) but I¢ll have to see how it feels on my pack at the store in a couple weeks. If any hikers reading this have advice about packs, I¢d love the input.I¢ve also decide to treat myself to a really nice sleeping bag¢I hate being cold and starting mid-March isn¢t going to help that so I¢ll be getting a 15* bag soon but will also carry a sleeping bag liner and an emergency blanket thingy. As soon as it starts getting colder I¢ll be able to experiment with what clothes will work and what won¢t. And I¢ve decided to use the Aqua Mira instead of the water filter¢saves a pound! My family and friends must be getting so tired of hearing me talk about this stuff all of the time. I¢m obsessed, I¢ll admit it. I went on a long weekend trip to the Smokies in mid-October and met up with another AT2003 hiker¢Susie, who was hiking w/ another friend, Cindy. We had a blast and we were hiking along the AT starting at Max Patch¢very inspirational and motivational. I lost my watch up on Max so maybe I can pick it up when I go through there this coming spring. We even managed to do some serious night hiking¢by accident¢but it went well (unless you ask Cindy) and I got a chance to use my LED light to lead the way. This little flashlight weighs 12 oz but gave off plenty of light to follow the trail. I¢ll carry two of these at a time next year. At one point during our hike on Sunday, I was ahead of Susie and Cindy on top of a hill and all of the sudden I hear something that sounds like ¢help¢ coming from down below where they were hiking. I stop quick and try to listen¢turns out that they remembered it was my birthday and they were screaming the ¢happy birthday¢ song to me from the valley floor¢so the ¢help¢ was suppose to be more of a ¢hap¢¦¢ but they get big points for style. It was the best way I¢ve ever spent a birthday¢thank you Susie and Cindy!That¢s it for now. Sign my guest book please! After this adventure is through, wherever it takes me, I¢ll print it out for my scrapbook.
Date: 2004-01-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I promised an end-of-the-year journal, but I'm 9 days late. Need brooks no delay yet late is better than never. 2003 was quite a year for me and now it's over, leaving a bitter-sweet feeling that I've gotten use to since I've been back home. A couple of weeks ago, several trail friends came up to visit me in Kentucky and we had a little reunion which was a wonderful chance to reflect, drink, contemplate future adventures, get drunk, watch Return of the King together, and get sober. I had a great time and I hope everyone else did too (Lucky, Sally, Snail, Tang, Tunnel Vision, Stringbean, and of course LT and Orb). So OLG was reunited, if only for a couple of days.With hindsight, my biggest yet simplest mistake was thinking that completing a thru-hike the AT would solve a lot of problems and give me this enlightened insight into what my future holds. It hasn't, not really. It has given me the simple knowledge that I can do anything I want to accomplish. And it has made me want to travel and explore even more than I wanted to before the Trail. New Zealand is high on this list, but I also want to spend some time in the Rocky Mts and maybe the PCT is in my future somewhere too. All I know now is that these boots were made for walking, and that's just what I'll do.
Date: 2003-02-09
To: More Preparation
Miles today: 0.0

We just about have our food ready. We have almost firmed up the food drops. It appears that we will have 35 drops. We checked with two Scoops from last year's trail and he saidwe couldn't have too many. I have a spare bedroom full with 540 suppers and 540 breakfasts.We have about 15 empty boxes waiting until we actually have all the ingredients for one food drop. Who would believe that there is so much to do? Having read lots of other journals from past years, it has always amazed me about all the prep work but now that we are about 5 weeksfrom leaving, it is beginning to get to be a rush.The planscall for us to leave Nova Scotia on Monday morning and get a drive to Bangor, Maine. from there we catch a Grayhound bus to Atlanta. After a short 27 hour bus ride (and I find a coupleof hours on a plane to be tough), we have touched base with Matthew Warne who hiked the AT last year and he is shuttling us to Amicalola State Park on Tuesday night. Therefore, we will be starting from the Visitors Center on Wednesday morning and doing the 8.8 mile approach hike to Springer. Some have said it is long way but the view of the water falls makes it worthwhile and we are trying to enjoy the hike notgetting tied up in always, always, Katahdin.
Date: 2003-02-22
To: and more planning
Miles today: 0.0

Well here it is Saturday and I have been officially off work for a week. Kind of nice not to wake up to an alarm. Here in Nova Scotia, we have about 12 to 14" of snow down with a bit of a hard crust but you still break through. I have been walking the dog with my pack at about 30 pounds,a little lighter than I will be carrying but it at least it gets you used to the weight and the pack. We have been doing about 2 and a half or three miles in an hour on the local golf course so I feel the first few days won't bethat tough.This is like before a big race that you have trained for six months. I have ti listen to my body for every little change. Is that a blister? Do I feel a tinge in my hamstring? Am I eating enough and the rightstuff? I sure can't wait until we just get going.I spent almost a whole day trying to get my maps (only 42 of them) organized. The problem is that of course the mileages are a little bit different from the "Handbook" and a little hard to find the post offices that are off-trail.We just got the 2003 "Thru Hikers Handbook" and now have realized that thewaterfall by Amicalola is A WATERFALL - 776 feet, Wow I knew there was a good reason for going that way.In looking at the mail drops, we realized that in some cases we were taking 6 days to go 35 miles and 2days to go 85 so did a little changing. We also had one town in twice, so took one out. We are trying to focus on goals of a week or a town or some thing like that instead of having to do 15 miles today. It hasactually been above feezing the last couple of days, so spring is in the air.Oh one important item, when I return from this adventure,I have a contract for construction project manager with the provincial government, so that sort of takes the pressure off.
Date: 2003-03-04
To: Start gear list(s)
Miles today: 0.0

MALCOLM GOATClothesSleep HatHiking HatShorts (zip-off)Nylon Running shortsSwim suitLong Underwear (Top&Bot)Poly-top longPoly-top short3 socks/linersFleece suit (Sleep)Rain suit BandanaGloves & mittsRossignol bootsTeva sneakersSmall gaitersToiletryToothpaste/brushTowelSun LotionToilet paperMedicalScissorsMoleskinBandaidsGauze/tapeGearBackpack/coverSleeping bag Thermarest 3/4Silk linerTent/tarpHiking Poles2 liter water bag.5 liter waterSit-uponMulti-use knifeWhistleCompassWatchRadio/batteriesSew kitDuct tape50' RopeMisc repairFoodStove/fuelSpare fuel.5/1.0 pot setSpoonSpatulaScrub brushVIKINGClothesSleep HatHiking HatNylon pants (zip-off)Nylon Running shortsSwim suitLong Underwear (Top&Bot) Poly-top longPoly-top short2 socks/linersFleece topRain suit BandanaGloves (finger-off)Hike bootsTeva sandalsSmall gaitersToiletryToothpaste/brushTowelToilet paperMedicalPillsGearBackpack/coverSleeping bag Thermarest FullSilk linerTent/tarpHiking Poles2 liter water bag.5 liter waterSit-uponMulti-use knifeWhistleCompassWatchSew kitDuct tape50' RopeMisc repairFoodStove/fuelSpare fuel.5/1.0 pot setSpoonScrub brushSCROUNGERDecisionsPoly liner glovesMedical Gauze/tapeLarge alcohol wipesDay Food bagDitty bagWorking mapNotebook/penRadioSpare batteriesPassport StorageStuffsack (BruceM)30' ropeTweezers/scissors?Blue Cross??Camera???ClothesToqueHiking HatNylon pants (zip-off)Nylon Running shortsMec medium tights Poly top longWool top long3 socksFleece topRain suit BandanaSunGlassesGlovesHike bootsCamp sandalsSmall gaitersToiletryToothpaste/brushTowelFlossCamp soapToilet paperMedicalMoleskinBandaidsOzonolClippersASA tabletsPrescriptionGearBackpack/coverSleeping bag Thermarest 3/4Silk linerTentHiking Poles2 liter water bag.5 liter waterSit-uponMulti-use knifeWhistleCompassWatchSew kitDuct tapeMisc repairWater filterFoodStove/fuelSpare fuel.5/1.0 pot setSpoonSpatulaScrub brush
Date: 2003-03-18
To: The approach
Miles today: 0.0

Well after a 6 hr drive from Halifax and great sleep, here we are in Bangor.Packs have been checked one last time, Greyhound tickets picked up (they wanted a phone# if our packs didn't arrive with us in Atlanta) (fat chance)We'll be checking at every stop.Maybe a time for "Thank you's"Almost hate to start for fear of forgetting someone, but here goes Kosmo, Carbo, and Jelly Bean, who shared the experiences with us.Our many friends, who have given us so much in encouragement in the last year. Our families, who really are sacrificing so much tohelp make our dream/adventure become a reality.Gee, hard to believe but in 3 hrs we will be the bus for 33 hrs of "fun" and agony.Viking
Date: 2003-03-19
To: Bus woes
Miles today: 0.0

wow,when I fly, I find that as long as you get a meal or movie, you can forgetthe pain of the cramped space. Not true on the bus,it is really hard to believethat you can feel so bad after 18 hrs and still know you have 15 to go.We were wiped, but when we arrived in Atlanta, there was our ride waiting for us.(it is nice when a plan comes together) We got to the trailhead (Amicalola Falls State Park) at about 11:30 and fell asleep asap.I suppose that this is a good time to give myself a new trail name.Viking is a little hard to explain and now after 33 hrs on a cramped Greyhound bus, my limp has returned so I think that "Gimp" might be better trail nameLove to you all,Grayhounds, Scrounger, Goat, Gimp
Date: 2003-03-19
From: Springer

To: Springer Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 0.2
Weather: light rain

Pulled into Springer Mtn Shelter @3730' Very tired,very sore, decided to have a short nap @5:30Pm before supper and woke up at 0730 on Thursday.Thursday 19/03 up and out of the rather full shelter at 8:30. Had breakfast@Stover Shelter about 2 1/2 miles into the day. It actually works out pretty good having breakfast and break after a couple of hours walking. We went throughmany wild rhododendron forests at the lower elevations. Not having got any pictures{we couldn't even see Amicalola Falls}, we did see a nice falls at Long Creek.Had dinner @Hawk Mtn Shelter before continuing to Horse Gap at the 10 mile mark.Except the US Rangers playing war games {machine guns and cannon fire}all aroundus and the big military trucks on the dirt road,it is really kind of quiet. We are staying at the site with Bat, a thru hiker from Florida who is about our age so fits in well. It was 62F and overcast all day although we didn't see the expectedthunder storms so all in all pretty good.Had supper and to bed at 6:50
Date: 2003-03-20
From: Springer Mtn Shelter

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 9.8

Had a good day. left late at about 9:00. It will take some getting used to. Eating and packing and getting going. Warm and sunny. Very few evergreens and no leaves out yet ~ so we are getting the full effects of the sun. Have seen a few wildflowers. They are such a change from the brown leaves and brown trees.Gimp
Date: 2003-03-21
From: Horse Gap

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow can it get any better?First, last night was our first night under canvas. We had decidedto pass the last shelter as it was almost full and go th extra 2.4miles and make it a 10 mile day. The military took the night off andthere was no gun fire. We were up at 0630 and hit the trail at 0750.We need alot of work at getting our gear together.It was another overcast,grey, foggy day. Just like the sungod said: three days of rain in your first 10 days. Boy are we ever glad we got them over with in the first 3 days. The sun broke through at about 11:00in the morning and with a balmy 63 F, we were down to shorts and tees.We had breakfast at about 10:30 at Justus Creek which didn't just have us but about 20 Florida boy scouts. A beautiful spot with lots of Rhododendrons all around us. We looked down on a beautiful valley to our south and watched 4 eagles floating in the updrafts. We are now at Woody Gap which is the road downinto Suches and already 20.0 miles under our belts. The last couple of days, wehave been seeing lots of wild holly bushes as well as rhododendrons galore. Tomorrow it is up Blood Mt the highest peak in Georgia and on to Neels Gap and our first food drop, and maybe a motel and a hot shower and real food.
Date: 2003-03-22
From: Woody Gap

To: Walasi Yi Center
Miles today: 11.0

Trail NamesIt has taken a bit of getting used to but for the rest of you, it really is kind of easy to get used to. I mean what kind of a name is Joe or Sue or Anne? We have met Zack's Dad [his youngest son is Zack], Turtle [She carriesher house on her back], Mud Butt[ I think she falls on her butt a bit],Seventy [cause he's 70 yrs old] Some people are still looking or waiting for oneand are definitely in the minority. There have been about 400 through Neel's Gap since the year started. The first one this year started on Jan 1st.Yesterday we passed Ranger Rick who appeared to be very tired and we gave him water.He hitched a drive to this spot and the outfitter went over his gear. His weight of pack went from 86lb to 37lb and sent all old gear back home. He had in his pack 40 daysof food and along with his sleeping bag still had an old military blanket and an extra military sleeping bag. Not hard to take out a bit.GimpWow what a day?First and maybe most important, we had trail magic yesterday. First we got to a crossroad and trail crossroad and weren't surejust which way to turn. A car drives up and directs up the correct trail. "Anything else?" "Well we were looking for some water." In the end he drove us about a mile down the trail and we got ourwater bottles filled. We start up the trail and there is the firstblaze and......2 cans of ginger ale. As we got to our tent site for the night a thru hiker from 2001 had left musketeer bars in a cooleryet. Real nice touch.Today up @0630 and on the trail @ 0820. We are getting worse at getting going. A beautiful day with sun and temperatures in the 60's. Did 11 milesincluding Blood Mountain and out to the Walasi Yi Center. Staying in a cabinin lieu of the 16 person hostel. Catching a lift into town for food shortly.All are well with small blisters, sore hips, and equipment that is acting up,but spirits are high.We picked up our first food parcel and are ready for the next 4 days.We miss you all
Date: 2003-03-23
From: Walasi Yi Center

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

It just keeps getting better.We left the Walasi Yi Center at 0945 and setout for a 12 mile day.(figuring the next town and food drop is 36 miles) away3 days 12 mile days. We had some great views and tarveled with Zack's Dad, Batand Morning Crow. A young fellow,OFF as in one foot forward breezed by us a coupleof times but stayed to enjoy the views longer than we did.We saw turkey vultures circling in the updrafts loookng for wayward hikers. We had quite e few ups and downsbut made it to Low Gap Shelter by 4:30 where we are tenting.
Date: 2003-03-24
From: Walasi Yi Center

To: Cheese factory site
Miles today: 12.0

Up @ 0630 and off at 7:15 We were trying to have breakfast at about 9:15, but didn'tfind water until about 11:00, so had a late breakfast. Only 1 1000 foot climb, but with the temperature hitting the 80's, it was a warm one. Tented at Cheese Factory site with Kate and Andrea, a couple of young women. [Kate who works in a sports shopin Lake Placid and Andrea, an engineering student from Stanford].They were waiting for us, or looking to move on to the next shelter.There is an amazing community the travels the trail. Everyone is treated the same.Everybody looks after every one else. There is a sharing of food, water, and knowledgethat makes the whole thing an enjoyable experience. We went to bed at 7:30 in our tents,but it was a starry night and the girls just slept under the stars.
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Cheese factory site

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Up at the usual time and off at 7:15 again. Today, we had breakfast at 9:15 at the Tray Mountain Shelter side trail.We all have sun burns, noone expected this weather.Today was in the high 70's, again warm and sunny, with no shade as the woods we are travelling through is predominately hardwood, mostly oak but we have found hickory nutson the ground. We made it out to Dicks Creek Gap and within 10 minutes, our shuttle to the Hiawassee Inn was there. It appears that there are about 10 hikers here tonite.I think that we might just stay in town till at least late tomorrow. Rain expected tomorrow, so it might be a good day to check out our e-mails at the library and do laundry and check out our gear and shop and rest. There is talk of all the hikers eitherdoing Italian or the All You Can Eat buffet.The Grayhounds