morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I¢m writing from Muskrat Creek Shelter, 4600 feet in North Carolina! I figured this would be a great time to reflect on Georgia.On my right arm, I wear a yellow bracelet that says ¢Livestrong.¢ I¢m now past trying to correct its misuse of adverbage. Now, it serves to remind me of Lance Armstrong, a true hero. Winner of 6 consecutive Tours de France and a cancer survivor. Armstong is possibly the most inspirational athlete on the planet. Why am I talking about him? I¢ll tell you why. Unlike most world class cyclists, Lance Armstrong only rides in 2 races per year: the Tour de France and the practice race. What exactly is the practice race? No it¢s not the Tour de Spain or Italy.It¢s the Tour de Georgia! Folks, Georgia is no cake walk. Okay, I hope I¢ve made my point. By the way, all that about Lance Armstrong and the Georgia race is true.We did 12 miles today from Dick¢s Creek Gap. After a warm breakfast and good company, we were glad to get back on the trail. We arrived at Muskrat Creek Shelter and there were a few guys already building a fire. That was really a luxury considering how windy and cold it is up here. We¢ve met all good people so far; it¢s nice to know there are folks looking out for you out here. I¢ve been having a thought a lot today that I should mention here, though I haven¢t reflected on it enough to write as much as I¢d like to. It will surely be a theme of this journal: ¢This AT journey is a coming into my humanity experience.¢ I mean that mostly mentally, or rather abstractly more so than physically. This is about me affirming my trust in humanity and counting myself as a good person. My whole life I¢ve been surrounded by religion which requires as a foundation the basic belief that humans are intrinsically wicked scumbags in need of cleansing and saving from the Fall. I¢m sorry, but I don¢t know if I can believe that any longer. We have to give God more credit for creation ¢ perfect creation. And we are but creatures that fit into the scheme of creation. We¢re no more veil than a tree or mountain. I believe we have the potential to do bad things, but only in groups. A person alone is a good person.Of course every deep thought has its exceptions and I know this philosophy has its faults. But, I¢d rather err on this side of humanism and hope for change than on the side of Calvinism and know this world is doomed. Hope springs eternal, and why not hope for the now? Jesus came into history. To me that means the world¢s salvation is primarily relational and social, not emotional and spiritual.A humanist can save the world (be he/she ¢empowered by the divine¢ or not.)A mere ¢sinner¢ only hopes for a new world in ¢heaven.¢Heaven starts now!I sign out with a quote that is appropriate for a thru-hiker.¢All those engines running all night long still makes a slow-moving train.¢¢David Wilcox (I prefer the anticipation of a post-quote citation.)I¢m just a Tennessee Walker,Josh Hill
Date: 2005-03-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

3/12/05Carter Gap Shelter (the new one)Tonight we were pleasantly surprised to find a mildly warm temperature, great company, and good conversation around a lasting fire. ¢Frank¢ (female) and Ray are great folks who are out for Maine as well. I hope to stay close with them on up the trail.North Carolina is so much more hiker friendly in terms of the trails. More elevation, less climbing, go figure. We¢re currently about 90.7 miles from Springer, meaning we¢ve completed 4% of the AT. I¢m tired so tonight¢s entry won¢t be as long as some. I end with a quote:¢Together more or less in line, we just keep truckin¢ on.¢-The Grateful DeadI¢m just a Tennessee Walker,Josh Hill
Date: 2005-03-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

3/14/055290 feet.Just shy of Wayah Bald, about 20 miles south of Wesser, North Carolina, we lay camped under a thin layer of waterproof nylon, only our bags for warmth. We did a little more than 12 miles of trail today, plus we took a 1 mile round-trip side trail to the Wasalik Poplar, the 26 foot-in-circumference, 2nd largest Poplar in the US. According to legend, loggers hauled another tree its size down the mountain and the weight of the tree injured the oxen so badly they just decided the Wasalik. So in all, 13 miles today. Looks like we¢re shooting for 14 tomorrow. I failed to write yesterday because we were in town, tired, and busy. I spent a little time getting to know some other thru-hikers, Healed, Bam-Bam, English Bob, Shadow, Roger from Syracuse, and Pop Pop. We also played trail angel to a section hiker who needed a cell phone at Winding Stair Gap. His ride wouldn¢t have come had it not been for our phone. By the way, lots of folks our here carry cell phones. Frank and Ray are stuck in town waiting on Ray¢s knee to heal up. We¢re lucky and blessed that things are going so smoothly. I miss the comfort of normal life, but am growing accustomed to camping every night. The weather has been fabulous the last couple of days. We hear rain is coming thought. I guess it will come sooner or later anyway. The trail is amazing. We¢re having a great time so far.¢The Berkshires seem dreamlike on account of that frosting. With ten miles behind, 10,000 more to do.¢-James TaylorI¢m Just a Tennessee Walker,Josh Hill
Date: 2005-03-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

3/15/05Wesser Bald ShelterToday we put in our longest day so far ¢ 13.4 miles. We covered some beautiful country along the say. There were two observation towers, one at Wayah (Cherokee for wolf, and now Chaya¢s middle name) Bald and one at Wesser Bald. We got our first confirmed view of Clingman¢s Dome and the Smokies form Wayah, then again with more clarity from Wesser Bald. It¢s funny to reflect on such panoramas because I feel like I¢m having generic thoughts. But, I feel the need to write them.Perspective. You sometimes have to climb to ger it. Sometimes it just takes time to get it. Some days it all just happens suddenly ¢ perspective in life is much like perspective of the terrain you tred. It takes effort, but you see where your toil has paid off. For instance, I saw Standing Indian Mountain on the horizon and it looked tiny. It¢s not. Perspective allows you to make plans, chart efforts and mentally prepare for what¢s coming in the future. One should never make a decision without seeking the advice of someone who can offer some perspective. Likewise, one cannot claim their place as a resident of these hills/mountains until he or she sits atop the Wesser Bald observation tower and puts place into perspective. Sometimes perspective requires sacrifice ¢ like walking a tall mountain. Or maybe it comes when you free yourself to pursue something you¢ve always dreamed of doing. All of us hikers have sacrificed something to be out here. For the youngsters, it¢s a rung on their career ladder. For the older folks, it¢s a time to be away from spouses or grandchildren. Blocking off 6 months of your life makes you automatically connected out here. All the people understand you and vice versa. We¢re a community of hikers all out to gain a little perspective. I write from a sardine-like shelter ¢ 7 of us packed in tightly with the late guy on the table. We¢re here with Steady Step, Quick Foot, Old Yeller, Shadow, Eaglefoot, and Hike-aholic. All middle-aged men minus Eaglefoot. We¢ve had excellent conversation tonight and really enjoy the company of the older guys. I hope to see them more.It¢s supposed to snow 6-8 inches tonight so I¢m going to get cozy in my bag.¢From a distance, there is harmony.¢-Better Midler(It was the first ¢perspective¢ quote I could think of, so shut up. Better Midler is good.)I¢m just a Tennessee Walker,Josh Hill
Date: 2005-03-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

3/16/05NOCBoy did we get lucky. A school group had the Hostel rented out so the NOC gave us a private room in a cabin for the hostel price. We had a blast! There were several hikers in our cabin: Steady Step (who bought our lunch), Quick Step, Old Yeller, Eaglefoot, Sticks, Pine Dragon, Pixie, Deep Sea Climber, Pacer, Mr. Magu, Orphan, Michael, Shawn, and us.Pixie got a ride into town and brought pizza and beer. Suffice it to say that we had a great time cutting loose and sharing stories. I don¢t think we should expect another stop as good for the rest of our time on the trail. Most hostels/motels don¢t offer everyone a private room with a common area. Coming down the mountain into Nantahala Gorge was the most difficult descent yet. Fairly technical and wet. I fell twice. Today we have to gain back all the elevation we lost yesterday. We plan to be at Fontana Dam sometime on Saturday and are anxious to go home for night. Chaya was a hit last night in the cabin. She¢s really starting to come out of her shell with other hikers; it¢s pretty cute, really. We¢ve enjoyed a relaxing stay at the NOC and now are off to hike up Cheoah Bald in the rain. Our prayers are for sun, safety, and strength. We miss friends back home but have been embraced by the trail community. Being so involved in hiker culture right now really compels me to be a trail angel when we are through in August. We¢re having a great time.¢You wanna be where you can see you troubles are all the same. You wanna go where everybody knows your name.-Theme song from ¢Cheers¢I¢m Just a Tennessee Walker,Josh Hill
Date: 2005-03-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

3/17/05Sassafras Gap ShelterAfter going to be later, we didn¢t get started until about 9:30, landing us at the Shelter by about 1. We we¢re the first ones in , but at dusk there are now 15 pack explosions. We¢re packed like sardines! Luckily I have the corner tonight, it¢s a little warmer and makes me feel more secure. We¢re basically with all the same people as last night, so it¢s neat to be a part of this community. Tomorrow we¢re looking to do our biggest day yet, so I¢m sure that our last 2 short days will pay off.Talking with all these hikers, I have begun to see a common thread that binds us all. We¢re all the adventuresome, risk-taking, whim-following, live-for-fun, follow your dreams, unrooted people. But we all share the fortune of having someone reliable back home.Thru-hikers (budgeted) would be impossible if it were not for moms and wives, friends of roommates, brothers and sisters, who take on the responsibility of being reliable for us. Pine Dragon call his mom ¢The Mother Ship,¢ because it all runs through and because of her. It is true that a right path through life requires a harmonious balance, Yen and Yang, if you will.Now we are flexing the young muscles of spontaneity, but we see the day when our role will be more one of reliability and stability. Of course that¢s just the youngsters out here. The opposite must be true for the older guys we¢ve become fond of.   Quick Step, Steady Step, Old Yeller, and Shadow. They¢ve been steady for year and are balancing the spontaneity into harmony of their lives.Balance and harmony are shades of gray in a world that¢s increasingly so instantly gratified that it refuses to find legitimacy between black and white. We don¢t have time to understand the gray anymore. Personally, I feel that refusal to acknowledge gray area is a cop-out and a sign of a rotten mind.I hope to achieve inner balance and harmony in all I do and with all I relate.¢Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.¢-HymnI¢m Just a Tennessee Walker,Josh Hill
Date: 2005-03-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

3/18/05Cable Gap Shelter15 miles today. That¢s the most so far. I ate 1.5 dinners and I¢m still starving. One thing no one tells you is that trail stomach develops before trail legs. I can¢t imagine carrying as much food as my bod wants to eat. That could turn into a problem as we continue to increase our mileage. Perhaps lots of money will fall from the sky and I¢ll be able to purchase ¢summer gear.¢ Or I can just carry more weight. We¢re in here tonight with the father/son team from Florida, Michael and Shawn, and Roger is tenting. The craziest thing happened today. I went to turn on the phone, and it rang: Bert Emmerson, or Wildcat. He just wanted to hook up with us in the Smokies. So, we¢re planning to meet him at Spence Field on Monday night. Shawn is hoping he might make them a stove and bring it up with him.All of the hiking is beginning to run together. The forest, mountains, every switchback, and every gap are beginning to look the same. The same great views, the same water sources. The same shelters and people. I really believe I am becoming a little callous and apathetic about the hike, and my mind has been tempted to be motivated by thoughts of the amenities offered in the next town. In reality, we need a zero day soon.We are becoming very cozy campers, however, and I don¢t even consider the dangers I did at first. Maybe this whole thing truly does make you tougher and more trusting at the same time. Well, I think it¢s bunk-down time.¢I¢d rather be a forest than a street. Yes, I would, if I only could, I surely would.¢-Simon and Garfunkel
Date: 2005-03-20
To: Birch Spring Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Wow! What a respit from the trail was our time in Maryville with good friends Jenny Colvin and Carol B. We were able to drop Chaya off for a week-long play date with Maggie the dog, resupply, get our full tent, do laundry 'en masse' (Sleeping bags included), check email, make trail plans for NorthEast Tennessee, read current trail journals, spend great time with great friends, shower, eat a lot, sleep in a bed, and watch Saturday Night Live on Sunday, thanks to the magic of TIVO.A big 'thank you' to our wonderful friends Jenny , Carol, Jenny, and Micah. We love you so much! You are the best!Today we started at Fontana Dam around 3:30 pm and after giving the "yes, we're real thru-hikers" speech to some vacationers, we crossed the dam, entered the park, saw a grouse, and met the Ridgerunner. We only did about 5 miles or so today due to our late start; that put us here at Birch Spring Gap Tentsite and GPMNP backcountry site 113 by about 6:15pm. We were happy to find Eaglefoot and 3 Springbreakers enjoying a fire. After setting up our tent, we went to make dinner, only to realize that WE WEREN'T HUNGRY! All that food in Maryville just had us stuffed. So we eat ate a doughnut and granola bar and headed for bed. There has been a deer roaming the site that doesn't seem to be afraid of humans. It's kind of weird. Oh Well.We are camping at the former site of the Birsch Spring Gap Shelter, the shelter where Katz kills 7 mice in Bill Bryson's "A Walk for the Woods."   The book really rags the shelter, so they tore it down. I guess the publicity was just too much pressure for the NPS. Well, it's time to snuggle down. Spence Field Shelter tomorrow night. I'm so pumped to be in the Smokies! It truly feels like home.I'm just a Tennessee Walker.Josh Hill"Into the great wide open. Under the sky so blue. Out in the great wide open. A rebel without a clue."-Tom Petty
Date: 2005-03-21
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

179 Miles from Springer.Wildcat met us with all kids of goodies. He and Kevin hauled-up oranges, cookies, veggies, cheese, sausage, bread, and some Jack Daniels. Wildcat! What a great guy!Today I gt in front for a spell and had a great time walking with my head up for a change. We saw a grouse and a few deer. There are lots of spring breakers in the Smokies, and they technically have the right to kick us out of the Shelters, but luckily most here have tents tonight.We've had a great time tonight talking with Bert, Michael, Shawn, Brandon (the Roaming Gnome), Snail, and Eaglefoot. The conversation tonight was all about comparing the trail world with the "real world" and trying to figure-out if te latter is truly what we say it is. Consumerism. Land ownership. Disconnection with the natural world. Is that "real?" Is that the way God intended for us to live? Sometimes on the trail I just start thinking of how lucky I am to have this freedom, flexibility, and opportunity to go at my own pace for a change.Ah, the Smokies. What a beautiful place! A warm shelter and good people. I'm loving this AT thing.I'm just a Tennessee Walker.Josh Hill
Date: 2005-03-23
To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

The "hiker hungries" have made an official entry into my life. For dinner tonight, at Doug Moore's (Topper '05 Ga-ME NOBO) condo in Pigeon Forge, TN we ate to our hearts' content. I had 2 cheeseburgers, 2 hotdogs, a bag of cheesepuffs, an apple, and a honey bun! Great times. We rented Napolean Dynamite as a group and I got a kick out of watching Roger's reactions. Roger is a physician from Syracuse, NY with whom we've been hiking since our departure date. Roger seems to be well read on Trail Journals.com, so if you're reading this, we miss you, Roger! Today was his last day section hiking.We arrived at Newfound Gap at Approximately 4ppm and there waiting for us was Uncle Bert (Wildcat), Doug, Roger, the Harrington Brothers, Andrew, Brandon, and Snail. We loaded up and went to Gatlinburg. As we drove to Happy Hiker in Gatlinburg I started telling Brandon (the roaming gnome) about how we'd already "completed half the trail."   You see, as a youngster, I remember going to Newfound Gap and looking southward. imagining, "Georgia is that way." Likewise, I would look northward and say, "Maine is that way." All the while I thought I was perfectly in the middle of the AT's termini. So today is a mental victory: Today we finished half of the AT!!!! Not really, but a milestone nonetheless!Now we just have to finish the second half!I'm just a Tennessee WalkerJosh Hill
Date: 2005-03-24
From: Newfound Gap

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

For breakfast I ate 6 Krispy Kreme hot fresh doughnuts, 2 hotdogs, 3 glasses of milk, an orange, an apple, and a cheeseburger. ( I didn't eat the milk, I drank it.) Suffice it to say that I'm a disposal of sorts now. It will be nice when the miles start going as quickly as the food!We're having a great time! Thanks for reading, and Micah: thanks for typing!So, the comforts of town were too much for our feeble will to hike big miles today. The plan was to wake, and leave by 10am. We didn't make the 1st or 2nd shuttles to Newfound Gap because Snail, Brandon, Michael, and Shawn were ready to leave before us and called dibs,packing Bert's Jeep. We were just waiting for him to come back at 11am or so. So, we waited and ate more. At almost 1 pm, he came rolling-in with a jeepful of new thru-hikers: Adam, Ana, Kasey, and Eaglefoot. They hopped out, pulled out their banjo and guitar, and started picking on the porch. As we sat there, the music and direct sunlight had a way of playing the tempter, and we decided to stay for a while longer.The shuttle eventually left Pigeon Forge at 4pm. That puts us here at the luxurious Icewater Spring Shelter with a new group of hikers. They seem like a fun group. Tonight we live with Supercheese, Cocoa Bean, Strider, Uncle Bob, Superfeet, and Lloyd. We were welcomed warmly and engaged in some hilarious conversation already. I'm looking forward to meeting new people, even though I miss the ones we've left behind or those who are ahead. I'm one who makes quick attachments with people, but it's a catch 22 because good-byes are rough. Speaking of goodbyes, It's important to say your proper goodbyes out here because any day could be the last time you ever see someone. I hope to do a better job of getting contact info and pictures.I'm just a Tennessee Walker.Josh Hill"I get by with a little help from my friends."-Joe Cocker
Date: 2005-03-29
To: Max Patch Bald
Miles today: 14.0

3/29/05Miles:14Destination: Max Patch BaldMy 4th-6th grade basketball coach, David Scott, used to say ¢You know you¢re a great team when you play your worst and still win.¢ Today, that proved true for us because I feel that we accomplished much with many set-backs. ¢Ad astra per aspera,¢ or ¢to the stars, through difficulties.¢ (Latin) One would think that two zeros would be totally helpful, but I believe our 2 days off lulled our bodies into a recuperative slumber. Our groggy legs hit the trail at about 9:45 this morning at I-40. The late start time was a setback considering our goal for the day: Max Patch. With Chaya back with us I had a little extra weight because I¢m packing her sleeping bag. Hardship #2 was a heavier bag than I¢m used to. Then was the hot sun, a steep climb, sore fee, and dwindling daylight. Though hiking was difficult and our bodies were tired and sluggish, we did 14 hard miles and tonight will enjoy a campsite in our ten atop the 1600 foot 400 acre grassy summit of Max Patch. Tonight there are 8 tents up here. I guess the 360-degree views on the perfectly clear day gave a lot of people the same idea about camping here rather than campsite down the hill.The summit was breathtaking with southern views of the Smokies. As night dominated day, we watched as thousands of lights lit-up in Sevierville, Dandridge, Greenville, Morristown, etc. Max Patch might be the ¢most likely place we¢ll revisit after our hike¢ so far. Right now our tent door is pointed Eastward, so the sunrise will peek through the window of our tent in the morning. There¢s nowhere to hand a bear bag, so our food is being guarded by Chaya tonight. Thank God for this beautiful place.I¢m just a Tennessee Walker,Josh Hill¢If you¢re not a dreamer, you¢re just sleeping.¢- Josh Hill
Date: 2005-04-01
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs, NC

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

4/1/05Miles: 11Spring Mountain ShelterElmer¢s is the center of the universe. It¢s a good things we got out of there because I could have stayed a while with that food, library, and conversation. Lots of positive energy flowing through that place.Today we walked about 11 miles and caught up with Troop 8 from Greensboro, NC, the same troop with whom we camped at Deer Park Shelter. What a great bunch of kids!Today was kinda slow and uneventful, pretty boring really. I think we may give up ... April Fool¢s! he he he... No, we¢re still having a great time. The Boys didn¢t hang their food tonight, so we¢ll see how the night goes. This shelter is for ¢little people.¢ Luckily the picnic table bench is the same height as the platform, so we pulled it flush to make room for my head.Today I had plenty to consider after reading from of Lao Tsu at Elmer¢s. The concept that grabbed me was that be said to name something mortalizes it. Also, there is an eternal play between mystery and manifestation ¢ the eternal and the temporary. I¢m beginning to tie that to a Judeo-Christian worldview quite easily. The Hebrews knew not to ¢mortalize¢ God, so the refrained from saying God¢s name: YAHWEH. Instead, the wrote it, without the vowel sounds. It¢s like communicating it, but respecting it enough not to speak the word. In English, it would look like this: YHWH. Actually, to be picky: HWHY. Joke Hebrew a is that. Mind Never.Walker Tennessee is just I¢m,Hill Josh¢Walk like and Egyptian¢- The Bangles(Oh Way Oh)