morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-03-20
From: Neels gap

To: Whitely Gap
Miles today: 0.0

"The elevation gains & losses wreak havoc on the knees, the packs are still heavy regardless of what a hiker does to lighten the load, it still rains more than every hiker thinks they deserve. Do they think of quitting? You bet. Thru hiking on the AT is not a hand out accomplishment"               Lynn Setzer - Author - "A Season on the Trail" "Not happy" - the right hip aches going uphill, the left knee hurts coming down hill and I have a lingering blister on my right heel. I have the urge to keep moving however & stay out of towns ($$$) but I think I need a rest. I'm not a thru hiker yet - just a baby - but I think i'm getting stronger. The weather is still lousy - 40 degrees, rain and T&L storms again tonight. Fri, sat & sun should be in the 70s & mostly sunny. Eating is a bit of an issue. I am burning alot of calories daily, I have definitely lost a few pounds but I don't have much of an appetite. I have to force myself to eat and also eat bigger meals. I'll carry 5 days of food to Hiawasse but I must eat it. The Pepsi stove helps because it is easy but I need the appetite. I do OK at AYCE buffets but otherwise I eat like a bird. This AM I had 2 cups of black coffee, 6 tiny donuts & OJ. I (lost my coffee creamer, salt & pepper & ADOBO.)I need to resupply my 1st aid kit. I also lost my anti-bacterial creme for blisters. I used most of the Nuskin by ripping duct tape off my foot. Finger nails and cuticles are a mess. I have developed quite a hiker funk - a bit of an odor. We all smell like that but don't notice until we all pile into a steamy van. I also need to replace my Petzl headlamp, it doesn't give enough light. Alot of this may sound like I'm miserable but I'm really having an awesome time. Sure there are wicked lows but most of the time I'm quite happy. The wet, cold, scary night at Whitely Gap was spectacular and likely my most memorable experience so far. I was cold, wet and afraid but having a wonderful time! The people I have met are fantastic - we bond very quickly and we watch out for each other. When Ken and I were at Goose Creek, every 15 minutes or so we would ask each other how they were doing. It's great - a 59 year old guy and a 39 year old girl who 3 days prior never set eyes on each other are concerned about each other like nobody's business. It's wonderful!! "The fellowship of the trail."
Date: 2003-03-20
From: Neels Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

"It's not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."                  Edmund Hillary Here's a list of the great people I've met so far. LT-Laura Townsend, E-Dogg of Delaware, ATWannabe-Ohio, Will-England, Quincy & Lynn-retired cops from London, Melissa-Canada, Matt & Neely-artists in residence, Mag & Dag-Coatesville,PA, Skeemer-Ohio, Dimples & Wrong Way Brown/(Denise & Rebecca)-Kansas, Spunky Jen-Stamford,CT, Ryan & Taylor of MD & VA, Ken-Maine, David,Dan & Lemmings - all wonderful people I call my trail brothers and sisters. Went into Blairsville by shuttle & did grocery shopping. I'll eat better for the next 4 days on the trail. Breakfast will be - tomato basil bagel with cream cheese & carnation instant b'rkfst. Snacks will be - gorp, peanur butter & jelly crackers & power bars. Dinner will be - broccoli/cheddar cheese & mac & cheese w/ ham. Much more calories and hopefully more energy. Ken has been down. He's been off the trail for a week as he's been sick. He spoke to his daughter & now seems to be in better spirits. My shuttle picks me up at 10:30 AM tomorrow to go to Walassi Yi - then I'm off to Hogpen Gap and hiking again.Just got back from dinner with a group of hikers from Goose Creek Cabins. Had BBQ pork, salad & hush puppies. Also had 2 hot dogs at the grocery earlier - so now i'm filled to the gills! Met the Smith family from Trail Journsls. Lisa & Adam (Red Rover) are a nice young couple who design scenery for plays. We were cracking up at the silliest things. They are carrying a 12 inch plastic frog as a trail totem They may write a book with photos of the frog. The frog is an ordained minister - crazy -it can marry people on the trail. Keith of Goose Creek is incredible. He bends over backwards to help hikers. He picks us up & takes us anywhere we want to go - a real Trail Angel! Tonight I'm packing up my pack and everything is in ziplock bags - dry and for the most part clean. I'm well fed and ready for a good nights sleep.
Date: 2003-03-21
From: Walasi Yi - Hogpen Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

"The truth is that it is natural as well as necessary for every man to   occasionally be a vagabond."   Samuel H. Hammond Hello again from Hiawassee! today is actually the 26th of March. The next few entries will likely be out of order, since I sent Dad a few hand written ones from Neels Gap. Friday 3/21/03Nice short day! Up at 6:30, coffee, instant breakfast and Big Glass of Juice, watched a little news, (The War is on!) Don't particularly support the war but you have to support the troops! Said my farewell to my buddy Ken from Waterville. He's laying over another few days. He seems a little better, but still not 100%! Maybe he'll catch up to me! Had a nice dinner at a different restaurant, had sliced BBQ pork sandwich. It was ok. Drank 2 beers and watched news, passed out in Sheets!!! Slept like a rock! Went to Walasi Yi to catch my 10 am shuttle back to Hogpen Gap. Picked up a new Platypus for my pack, it slides in my pack and has a little hose that attaches to my shoulder strap. It makes drinking water easier! Also picked up new camp clogs WALDIES, they are bright yellow, comfortable as hell and weigh almost nothing! Also got a new LED headlamp, VERY BRIGHT!!! Shuttled by Fred and got to Hogpen Gap at 11 to find some trail magic. Nice older couple, lots of soda, fruit! Oranges and bananas,Little Debbie snacks (YUM) even beer! I hadn't hiked in two days so I didnt take any, just chatted a little while and was on my way. Hiked the 4.8 miles in 3.5 hours...I took my time knowing it was a short day, but I always take my time! Stopped two times to eat, 1st power bar, 2nd tomato basil bagel with havarti cheese YUM! Even after it all fell in a pile of leaves and dirt! "Five second rule!". Got to Low Gap shelter around 2:30. It is nice to be in camp at such an early hour, very relaxing! Quiet group of younger people. Groovy was playing his Martin Hiker guitar as I filtered water! Very nice! Adam (red rover) and Lisa (Peregrine) are here as well as Smith family, Sour Mash and Smoky Mtn Steve! Sunny, windy day, nice change. Should be cool tonight, plus the bugs are out. Ate all my dinner of Cheddara Brocoli rice with Sweet Sue Chicken (vacuum sealed like tuna!) Peanut butter cookie for desert, brushed teeth, took a pee in the woods (no privy) abd in my bag by 6:45. Hiker midnight is 7 PM! Im such a wimp!
Date: 2003-03-22
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Montain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

"If you don't know where you're going,you will probably wind up somewhere else."               Laurence J. Peter - "The Peter Principle."6:30 AM Slept like a rock! Got up to pee at 11 pm and the sky was full of beautiful bright stars! All silent except for the babbling brook that runs right by the shelter and the occasional hiker snore. 15 + folks camped here. Peeked out the tent to find a few more had come in the night! Its a little foggy now, but forecast calls for clearing skies. 8:00 PMGood hike today! very flat a few inclines. 2 miles from the shelter it got very rocky! Just like PA! Mostly ridge walking today ( not on top of the ridge of a mountain, but along the side). Great group at shelter tonight! The Smith family Waterboy (dad) 2/3 (mom) Had a huge Mac and Cheese dinner (with the sauce, not the powder) Ate it all! Amazing how I am starting to eat, and this is only the beginning! Blue Mountain is notorious for being windy and cold, but not too bad. I can hear the wind up high in the star filled trees!Smokey Steve this far out 59 year old gu started a fire. It was very nice and warm. We all hung out till about 7:30 (way past our bed time). We got very silly! There are 3 guys from NYC here, 2 weekenders, William and Edna from GA, Red Rover and Peregrine with the Reverend Sherman (a 1 pound frog most folks would use as a lawn ornament) He, the frog, is an ordained minister and if he could talk, he could marry folks! What a hoot! Met Hiking Devon and Nathan on the trail today!All my gear is working well! With cooler temps I use a little more alcohol in the pepsi can stove, but M and C's rocked my world1 Tomorrow onto Tray Mountain! Im told it is the toughest part of the trail in GA.
Date: 2003-03-23
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."                  T. S. EliotWhere's my Philadelphia Inquirer? Where's my fresh percolated coffee? Plate of eggs over easy with a side of hash browns, toast and jelly? Alas another breakfast of Carnation instant! Got up and took a picture of the sunrise. Not spectacular, but the 1st visible on the trail. Slept ok last night. woke up chilled a couple times, hunkered way down in my bag and warmed right up. its best to sleep with the hat on! Woke up having to pee! Badly! Didn't know where I was, all twisted in my bag! I couldn't get out! Had to Pee! Can't panic! Finally wiggled out and made a bee line to the woods! PHEWWW!It was a very hard day hiking! Very Hard indeed! Only 7.6 miles but, all of it WAY down hill, then WAY up hill!!! I could have dug trenches easier! Hiked with Smoky Mtn Steve most of the day. The guy is a real character! He cracks me up. He is one of many who every March head for the AT and hike a few hundred miles, then goes home. After a very long 8 hours of hiking, made the summit of Tray Mountain, just in time to watch a beautiful sunset! Incredible views (pictures to come!) All the hard work was definately worth it! met a lot of hikers today! But tonight at the shelter it is Oompala from Alaska, The One, from Maine, Commander in Chief, from Vermont, William and Edna and Matt from York PA. Tomorrow, I am off to Deep Gap shelter, then the next day Hiawassee!Today, I am Stinky Molasses. I am Wicked smelly! The flies keep hovering around me. Is because I smell good? Or do I smell Bad....I think the latter.
Date: 2003-03-24
From: Tray Mountain

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

"What if this is as good as it gets."            Jack Nicholson "As Good As It Gets"Tray Mountain 4400'. Woke up to a beautiful sunny morning! Chilly but pretty. Slept ok, a little cold, made coffee and lingered on some warming rocks to watch the day begin! A full day of adventure again on the AT. To give you a little perspective what a typical day is like I thought this analogy would help!Imagine you start your day on the 440th story of a high rise building. You realize you have left you favorite pen on the 370th floor. Hmmmm what do you do? You trudge down 70 flights of stairs and get your pen! Then you realize, the papers you need for your 11 AM meeting are on the 400th floor. What do you do? You walk up 30 flights of stairs of course! Then, you realize your lunch meeting is on the 230th floor, so you go down 130 flights of stairs! By now you are thinking about heading home only to realize your keys are on the 420th floor, so up again you go. Grab your keys, only to remember, your car is parked on the 370th floor, so down you go! That is what it is like, all day long, up, up, up, then down then up, you get the picture. FUN!!! But a lot of work considering every morning and every night you have to pack up your entire house (35 lbs), and carry it all on your back!Tonight at the shelter Smokey told funny stories around a nice, warm campfire. He taught us all the SCAT song! I met Serendipity, Sassafras and Brenda from trail journals who are all very nice folks! William nad Edna are here along with some nice younger folks. Its a great group, but they all tend to be! Ran into my buddy Gus on the trail today! He's camping back at Addis Gap! Great to see him! Tomorrow 4 miles to route 76 and Hiawassee, hoping for Blueberry Patch hostel.Hot shower, Food, real food, Beer, Bounce box with a razor (legs are unsightly!)Weird thing is im craving Hot Dogs! All the food in the world and I am craving lousy hot dogs, how unoriginal!
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap - Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: clear sky

"To different minds, the same world is a hell or a heaven."                     Ralph Waldo Emerson.Just a quick entry as I do my laundry in Hiawasee! The sun has been shining! The birds have been chirping and I have done some hiking. Taking it easy. Made it to Haiwassee this morning, checked into Mull's Hotel. Not 5 star accomodations, but the shower works, the toilet flushes and there is an enourmous King size bed! Met some excellent people since Hogpen Gap. I've been hanging and hiking with "Smokey Mountain Steve" the past 4 days. He is one wild dude! A regular spring hiker. Every year he does a couple hundred miles! Crazy! I may zero here and head north on Thursday. North Carolina is only 7 miles away! I am having a blast! It's a lot of hard work, but an excellent time! Caught up on email and entered some to journal. I should get pocket mail soon to make life easier for me and my dad! Thanks to all for your wonderful messages! They really make me smile!
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Dick's Creek Gap - Hiawassee, GA

To: Dick's Creek Gap - Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

"Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."                  BullwinkleAnother entry by Margie's dad.We spoke to her on tuesday night at Mulls Motel in Hiawassee, GA. She says, " I am having alot of fun hiking, I've met alot of great people - but this is really hard." Her trail name "Molasses" comes from her revised lyrics to the old song "She'll be coming round the mountain" follows:   She'll be coming down the mountain when she comes.   She'll be coming down the mouintain when she comes.   I 'm slow as molasses.   Cause this mountain's kicking asses.   I'll be coming down the mountain when she comes.
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: few clouds

"Press on; nothing in the world will take the place of perseverance. Talent will not, nothing is more common than unsucessful men with talent. Genius and education will not - the world is full of talented educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."   Calvin Coolidge.; ."   After a restful day and a half in Hiawasee it is nice to be back on the trail! It is pretty amazing that after 65 miles of hiking, the first quarter mile back on the trail can be so painful. Thoughts of going back to town, packing it in, all go through my head. But alas, I press on, every further into the woolly wood! Excellent hiking day! But really, they're all pretty good! So I tried to stay at Blueberry Patch Hostel, when I got there it was full, so Wolfman and I hitched further to Mull's Motel, not your 5 star establishment but, it had what we needed. I took two wicked hot baths and a really long hot shower! I think I emptied the 80 gallon hot water heater. Ate at Daniels buffet, porked out and at Georgia Mountain restaurant. Had Country ham (very salty and shoe leathery) grits, eggs and lots of juice and real coffee!Filled my food bag at Ingles and Dill's, (it must weigh 10 pounds)! I am alloting 6 days to get to Franklin. I can do it in 4 or 5, but I am taking my time and enjoying myself. Plus, we could see some snow! Tomorrow looks like a good hiking day, but, and a very big but, my first state line! Sometimes I can't believe I'm still out here! I am pretty bull headed, so I keep going!
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

"Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress."   Plato Up early today and out hiking by 8:45 (early for me). Crossed North Carolina State line by noon. Stopped, took a picture at state line marker (almost lost one of my trekking poles) then took more at the gnarled oak where I had lunch. I got a little emotional, thinking I can't believe I have come this far! Got a little teary. Thankfully no one was around. I can just hear it "Hey look at that big dork crying!" Anyway, onward northward. My emotion quickly changed to huffing and puffing! It seems as soon as you enter NC, you go UP. Directly up, no switchbacks, just up! There were even little garden gnomes in the woods giggling "welcome to North Carolina! Please, proceed up! Go directly up, do not pass go, and don't even think about collecting $200.00! Just go the hell up! UP, UP!!!" It was work, but excellent! My 1st state line! With the threat of rain, I decided to sleep in the shelter. I will give a full mouse report in the AM.   Tonight at the shelter and tenting are Gazelle Xanadu, Soynut, Ben and Tyler, Cadence - she walked to Damascus lasst year...100 miles on a broken foot--, Dave, a tall skinny quiet guy, trail name pending. But the big news! I have met a slower hiker than me!!! He smokes too! So Im not the slowest!!!A cool and windy night and a bunch of us sat by the fire... Plus this little lost dog walked up to us all...cute!
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

"Happiness is a warm puppy."   Charles Schultz So I've told you about the little dog showing up last night. Her name is Hazel-she is black and brown, sort of Beagle dachsund looking and very sweet. She hung around the shelter most of the night. As I am laying in the mysteriously mouse free shelter, I feel this strange thing, sort of kicking my feet. I thought Ben or Tyler were sleeping near the edge of the shelter, so I kicked back, hoping they'd knock it off. Well, they didn't stop, so I gave a big more significant boot in the general direction... nothing. A few minutes later, I feel this strange plop on my feet. "Please be Hazel, please be Hazel, Please be Hazel!" Sure enough it was Hazel, Pheww. I thought it might have been a skunk or porcupine or raccoon! She slept at my feet all night long! Kept me warm, I kept her warm! So Hazel and I are a team. Her phone number is on her name tag and when I get to Franklin, I will call her people. That should be about 35 miles and 5 days or so. All day long she hiked in front of me. She would run 50 yards out, I would call Hazel, and she would come scampering back. If you look closely at this picture, you can see Hazel way up the trail. Drove me a little crazy, but she was enjoying herself! Enjoyed some delicious and excellent trail magic at Deep Gap... Red Truck and Green Truck (both thru hiked last year) had breakfast of eggs, toast, sausage, juice, coffee and all sorts of excellent goodies! it is Saturday (late morning) and they plan to be there all weekend....Lunch is hot dogs and chili, Dinner more chili with peach cobbler, beer, soda and some much good stuff! Trail Magic is incredible! It boosts you physically and mentally! Sometimes i think more so mentally!A quick, short hike to Standing Indian Shelter... got in 1:30 ish. I was the first one there....hung out... when suddenly Ken from Waterville shows up! I was so glad to see him. He had been hiking for 4 or 5 days and finally caught up with me. He is in high spirits and cruising! The weather is supposed to turn for the worse....maybe snow and much, MUCH colder weather is forecast...Tonight a good group at the shelter and tenting... The Smith Family (2/3 -mom and 3/3 - dad) Chris and Marilyn, Red, Jack, Typhoon Ned, Ian (doing a project for school). Hazel and I are settling into my tent. She has decided that the foot of my sleeping bag is hers... Its ok, I love her already! She snores and dreams at night, but keeps my feet toasty. Especially, since we might wake up to 1 - 2 inches of snow! Excellent!
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

"Half of this game is 90 percent mental."   Yogi Berra I'm at Standing Indian Shelter - 4800 ft, in my tent.. So far I have been blessed with brilliant sunshine, torential rain, pea soup fog and now blizzard like snow! Yes it snowed last night. Woke up to 4 inches of white stuff and this evening it is snowing again. This special event forced us to to have an unwanted zero miles day here. It was "Strider', "SnackMachine", "Dragonfly", "2/3". 3/3", "Gray Ghost", and "Red" and me who were forced to stay. It was special fun with out a privy! A zero day on the trail makes for a very very long day. For fun we put on all our clothes and lay in our sleeping bags for approx. 48 hours!!! It was great fun??? To mix things up a little, every 6 hours or so we would put on our rain gear and boots and try to cook something in 25 mph wind gusts. Occasionally we would make yellow snow. Extraordinary fun.
Date: 2003-03-31
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

"Outside of a dog, a book is mans best friend. Inside of a dog its too dark to read."      Groucho Marx   Woke up to another 2 inches of snow! Great! Record cold too - 5 degrees. Slept OK - but woke up shivering several times. Hazel kept my feet warm She is such a great dog. I don't know what I'll do when her people come to pick her up. She's been eating like a thru hiker, poptarts, gorp,loves bannana chips, pita chips and PB. She gets about half of my dinner and whatever other hikers give her also. She can look pathetic and she yogi's very well. At night when its really cold I put my hefty bag over her to trap the heat she generates. It seem sto work. I take care of her and she keeps an eye out for scary critters like grouse, squirrels or the much feared junco. We hiked 8 miles today in the sun and through ice covered trees. Lots of rhododendrum & gushing creeks. Beautiful day! All day Hazel took the lead. and kept 50 to 75 yards in front. Every 5 minutes or so I would yell "Hazel" and she would come bounding down the trail to me. She seems to know that I will take care of her. I really love her and will probably cry when I have to give her back to her owners.Tonight at Carter Gap it is: 2/3, 3/3, Strider, Morning Crow, Gray Ghost, Homer and a few others. Its going to be cold again tonight. Nice big fire though.Tomorrow its Albert Mountain - a biggie (5220 ft).
Date: 2003-04-02
From: Franklin, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

"I grew up in the city and I don't care what anybody says - those cows look dangerous."            Colin PowellThis is a note from Margie's dad to the many friends and relatives who have been following Molasses on Trail Journals. We received a letter from her several days ago with many daily notes she wrote a week or so ago. I finally entered them plus several new photos. The new entries are scattered among some of the older ones. Go back to March 17 to read them. We also got a phone call from her tonight from Franklin, NC. She encountered quite a bit of snow during the last few days and I'm sure she will send info to us with her new Pocket E-mail. April 10 additional note: I just read the Smith Family journal describing their hike over Albert Mountain. There were several large rock cliffs to climb up and as well as a narrow 18 inch trail with big drop offs. Quite a scary adventure for them.