morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-20
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Lane Street, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

I'M BACK!! I started back on the trail today slack-packing from Woods Hole Hostel to Pearisburg, VA. I left my pack at my daughter's house and she drove me to Woods Hole Shelter. Yesterday we did a drive-by and I talked with Neville and Mike, owners of the hostel. Mike suggested hiking it North bound as that was easier than South bound. I took his advice and thanked him again this morning. If my daughter didn't live so close, I would have enjoyed staying at this hostel. Mike and Neville seem like great people and the hostel is very nice, but the chance to spend another night at my daughter's was a no-brainer.I hiked up from the hostel to the trail so in total today I hiked 11 miles. My knee feels better but not 100%. I was not carrying my pack and with the exception of the last 3 miles, most of the trail was flat. The downhill is what hurts the knee. I did the whole 11 miles in five and half hours. When I got home my knee wasn't swollen but it does hurt. We went out to dinner and now I can rest up for tomorrow. It will seem strange because I will be going SOBO and really won't know (m)any of the hikers I am meeting yet. I figure I will start to see some of the ones I know in a week to ten days. Today's hike was beautiful. The weather was cooler at the start then I expected and thankfully I had gloves. No need to risk frostbite again! There was one point where I must have walked for more than a mile in a tunnel of Rhododendron. They didn't have any flowers but the feeling of being in a tube of green was awesome. I met three NOBO hikers - Bean, Snow Frog and ? but they were moving fast to get into Pearisburg for the afternoon and evening. I stopped for lunch and some pictures a couple of times reminding myself that it's not a race. I have to admit, I am nervous about tomorrow. I feel like a kid returning to school after being out for an extended time. I hope to get a good night's sleep and be back on the trail early with no after effects from today's mileage. Life is good and I am happy to be back in the game. Paddyman
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Dismal Falls Trail
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up feeling good although I was too excited to sleep a good night's sleep. My daughter dropped me back at Woods Hole Hostel and although I hated to say good-bye to her, I was anxious to be back on the trail with a full pack. I was headed SOBO so I didn't expect to see many hikers until later in the day. My knees felt good and the flat trail was easy going. The weather was warm and I was happy. This part of the trail started with a lot of rocks and side trails but other than a few downed trees laying in the trail, it was a nice hike. Five miles into the hike I was headed downhill and took it slow. Downhill is so hard on the knees. The trail was nearly flat for the rest of the day. I met Olde English early on the trail today. He is a section hiker from England. We had a nice chat and he told me he was heading back home May 26th but he'd be back next year to do the streach from Damascus to Springer Mountain. Later, I met Joe The Hiker. He was headed NOBO. We could have talked forever! We had so much in common and shared some of what we had learned while out on the AT. I would have enjoyed spending more time hiking with him and wished we had met earlier when I was NOBO. The afternoon was different sceanery than what I have experienced so far. There were some green fields under forests of pine, so many stream crossings and foot bridges I lost count. I even stopped and soaked my feet in one stream it looked so inviting! There were so many road crossings and side trails that I did not realize how close I was to Dismal Falls until I ran into a group of day hikers who said it was just up ahead. I had hiked the 13 miles and even thought about going another two miles but the sign for Dismal Falls was too inviting. I uploaded some photos but they don't do it justice.I set up my campsite around a camp fire setting and was surprised no one joined me later but in truth, there were many great campsites here. I was moving a little slower after making dinner and could feel my body stiffing. When I turned in for the evening, I could not get comfortable and my legs were cramping. I fell asleep to the sound of the falls and the temperature was very comfortable. All in all, a good day. Paddyman
Date: 2013-01-21
To: Hocking Hills Getaway
Miles today: 0.0

Just returned from a looong weekend (5 days) in the Hocking Hills area of Southern Ohio. Perfect opportunity to do a little hiking and test some clothing and gear. Highs were in the low to mid-thirties, with the exception of Saturday - a balmy 45 degree heatwave. My intention was to do 'two-a-day' hikes, to borrow from my son's HS football term - or to hike the 3 mile trail twice each day. This also involves a VERY steep downhill-to-the-trail and a VERY steep uphill-to-the-cabin (no tent camping for me in January - that's why I'm leaving in March!).This was my last planned activity, of the travel type, until I hit the trail so I took along some things that I plan on hiking with. All worked out fine. I am really getting used to hiking with poles and love them. They save the knees! My Keens have been comfortable since the day I put them on. My husband and kids were in attendance, (along with two other families), so Hoop and Socks were there. I'm sharing a photo op of us at Old Man's Cave - probably the MOST visited natural spot in Ohio. And if it's not, it should be! Hoop is a North Carolina boy (Franklin, as a matter of fact!) so our 'mountains' are pretty small (the highest point in Ohio is only 1500+ft.). Still, I do believe he enjoyed them.We finalized our plans - they'll be doing the limo service to get me down to the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega. About 2 months and counting - wowee zowwee!Congratulations to Brian and Melissa (son and future daughter-in-law)! He finally popped the question.   ...they kid that the wedding will be the day I start the trail. ...they better be kidding
Date: 2013-01-28
To: Food Glorious Food_3
Miles today: 0.0

I had the art of packing maildrops down about the third month into Sock's hike - just about the time she started hiking with Hoop and then the amount in the drops doubled! Hey - I admit it - I offered (...sigh). The cost would come out to approx. $30 for a six day supply. All in all, I guess that is not bad. You can easily spend $7 for one Mountain House meal. I do have to note that I keep a huge garden so that helped to keep the cost down. Sadly, my garden will be on hiatus while I'm gone.Using the Chef Glen guidelines, I included breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and 4 snacks, plus a hot drink (coffee, tea or hot chocolate) and 1-2 powdered drink mixes/day. I always tried to mix it up and to give lots of flavor (using cinnamon, hot spices, etc). I would line the USPS box with a kitchen trashbag, to both protect the contents and for use by the hikers. And then, I'd throw in a couple of wet wipes, half used roll of TP (take the cardboard in the middle out), cajun seasoning, box of wine, etc. You know, all the things hikers value.I'm going to use the same formula for my hike. Both hot and cold breadfast choices (oatmeals, cereals, couscous); easy lunch foods (tortillas/flatbreads, cheese, p-butter); hot dinner every night (but I can eat those dehydrated meals cold if conditions dictate); and a little something sweet for dessert (puddings, dark choco., s'more packs). Four snacks per day may sound like a lot but they're just little things - like dried fruit or gorp (nut and dried food mix). I'm really trying to keep things varied - I couldn't imagine having the same things over and over for a six month period. All the boxes will be packaged and labeled (both numbered and addressed)and then the ones I'm not taking with me down south (I'll be bringing all boxes for my hike up to Erwin, TN) will be put in the freezer out in the barn. So, when I'm coming up to a point where I planned on having a maildrop (and there are just 10 total past Erwin, TN), I just ring up Don, tell him to get it in the mail pronto, and sashay on in to the post office to pick up my stuff. Sound like a plan?This is about as much planning as I can manage or intend to do. Part of the reason for this hike is to drop out of the world as I know it and I don't want to substitute weekly grocery shopping for weekly maildrop planning. I want to be free as a bird....
Date: 2013-02-14
To: Drifting in Calm Waters
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm in the 'calm before the storm' period of my planning. Everything is on track - meals almost completed, number of food boxes determined, locations where to send pinned down, equipment obtained or identified as to what yet to get. I haven't put in my notice at work so I guess I can still back out (just kidding!).Winter has returned ... again. This is our Spring, hopes and then dashes. I still have not been able to get the hiking in that I'd like but I imagine I'll soon have enough. Again, if you start out slow and pay attention to what your body can do I think you can avoid the injuries. I've been reading over past journals and it seems GA is forgiving in this respect. It would be so much harder to start in Maine and go South. Tough climbing in that state (and NH!).I've also been trying to get everything in order at home. Housecleaning is not my forte, nor Don's, but everything will be neat and tidy, spic and span, and then it will be up to him to keep the Fritz hair from taking over the house. We have an aquarium that has been running since the kids were little (probably at least 25 years) and it's down to three little bottom feeders. I've been tossing about what to do with them and finally cleaned the tank and plan on having long-term fish feeders that Don can toss in now and then. Sometimes I feel that I'm going to 'missed the bus' as my fellow thru's start out on their journeys. It will only get worse in this respect so I've decided this is my lesson in patience. Some are starting this month, there is a large group leaving the beginning of March, and a very large contingent March 15th (a traditional starting date - the ides of March). There will be others starting in April, after my late-March departure, but those are for the most part the youngsters - they'll be waving as they pass me by. It is what it is - know thyself - I can tolerate heat so much better than coldWell - that's it for now, just checking in. I am going down to Cincy this weekend so will get to go to the new REI (first in Ohio - yeah!).   Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Date: 2013-02-17
To: Trail Names
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

A morning Shout Out to my readers at St. Leonard's Senior Community in Centerville, OH! Many in this group may be new to the whole world of Appalachian Thru-hikers, although they certainly are not new to the idea of walking for exercise. I have trouble keeping up with the nonagenarians during their annual 5K!I wanted to touch on the matter of Trail Names - When you scroll down through the list of journals, you probably noticed that the majority have pseudonyms, aka Trail Names. I'm not sure when this practice first became into being but it seems to have caught on around the mid-80's by checking the 2000-milers listings at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The Appalachian Trail Museum's website explains the concept well, "Trail names are often colorful and intriguing. Sometimes self named, sometimes given by others. However they originated, they often give us an insight into the bearer or some event that sets that person apart."Socks got her Trail Name by the time I met up with her 5 days into her hike. She had neglected to bring gloves and it got very cold after the 2nd day. A Boy Scout leader, out with his troop, gave her a spare pair of socks to wear and so she was greeted as 'Socks' when she came into camp that night. (not the first or the last to receive that moniker is my guess!) She liked it and proudly declared she had a Trail Name when I met up with her at Unicoi Gap.Hoop came to his name in a much different manner and one that is quite sad. He first started with a different name (Pumpkin - due to his hair color). On reaching Damascus, VA, he learned that a dear friend had been killed in a car accident. She had called him Hoop and so he took that as his Trail Name in her memory. I don't have a Trail Name - yet. As someone that never even contemplated names for her children until she actually saw the child, I cannot select a name prior to getting on the trail. It will come...so if some day, you suddenly see that I am now going by 'lizard' or 'wildflower' or some other off the wall name, this is the explanation. I'm sure Trail Journals won't mind if I share this link for the AT Museum in PA - http://www.atmuseum.org/trailnames.htm. Hikers provide the stories behind their trailnames. Makes for good reading on a Winter Sunday morningOn a sidenote - I just recently discovered that you can add notes to your guestbook (thanks LuBa!) so I went back to answer questions. If I missed yours or if you have a question, feel free to reach out. Thanks for all who have signed my guestbook. I am honored that you are following my hike!
Date: 2013-03-07
To: Reservations Made
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The launch is set! Reservations are made at the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, GA for three. It will be a fun 'Girl Power' event, both of my daughters will see me off and hike a bit (Socks for a couple of days, she-who-is-yet-to-be-named for a couple of weeks. At one time, the latter and I contemplated a Mother/daughter thru-hike but the stars didn't align for her. Maybe a 10 year anniversary hike in the future...? Why not!The Hiker Hostel is a great place to begin this Great Adventure. You get the first taste of the hostel experience and Leigh and Josh provide a great breakfast before shuttling you to the trailhead and kicking you out of the car And then reality kicks in - 5 million steps - one foot in front of the other - no rain, no pain, no Maine - never quit on a rainy day - what have I gotten myself into....hahaOne thing should be a given. The weather will have improved. I've been keeping track of the hikers out on the trail and they're hiking and camping in a lot of snow. This is no joke in the higher elevations (especially Smokies). Our noble weather forecaster in my neck of the woods, Buckeye Chuck, predicts an early Spring. So March came in like a lion and will go out like a lamb. Girls, bring the sunglasses and sunscreen!
Date: 2013-03-20
To: So Long O-H-I-O
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

This is a quick entry to let you know that the Grand Adventure has begun! We are off and away!I am leaving tonight for parts unknown - actually just Cincinnati at this time to join up with my daughter. We will then migrate down south to Asheville and finally - parts unknown!David - my tech support - I finally figured out how to download my music on my phone so all is looking up in that area. Airplane mode is working perfectly - I've been listening to my music all morning while I packed and the battery is still full.To all who have signed my guestbook, thank you for following my journal. It will be a comfort to know I'm not alone on the Grand Adventure. I'm the middle of five children - I am used to having someone around.
Date: 2013-03-25
From: Countdown to Springer

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light snow

The Grand Adventure has launched and all I can say is that the 'no rain, no pain, no Maine' has now become much more poeticNo wind, no rain.No pain, no Maine.We made it down to the Hiker Hostel with no problems and met a lot of nice hikers - England, South Africa, Canada and US represented. Conversation was all of the Trail so Socks was able to add anticipation of what was to come.But...of course...The gorgeous weather was not to be had. I'm learning not to make predictions or the opposite will happen.The outside temperature indicator on the Hiker Hostel's SUV showed 23 degrees and it never warmed much beyond that. The worst though were the winds. Unrelenting and brutal.The Launch party, also known as Team Girl Power, hiked to the start, signed the register, took photo ops, took our first pee in the woods,and toasted with Makers Mark. Then off we went.Georgia is very pretty - I would love to come back and hike when its green.Our first day was a 10 miler. We were going to stop at Hawk Mountain shelter at mile 8 but it is situated in a very exposed spot (remember those winds).We made it through the night-three girls sleeping in a 2-person hubba hubba tent. Just like little puppies. We did get some sleep. Socks was incredibly helpful.'Nuff said....I did not quit the first day
Date: 2013-03-26
From: Horse Gap

To: Woody Gap 
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke to snow cover, cold and -again- unrelenting winds. The newbie hikers would have stayed in their warm sleeping bags until mid-day but the pro-Socks was adamant you get up and go!It really was to cold to make breakfast- snacks had to do which was a lesson learned climbing Sassafras and Justus Mountains that morning- I really lagged!For new readers of AT thru-hikes, the Army Rangers train up here and they were out on maneuvers. We heard arms fire all night- big mortar shell booms. Also saw a ranger scouting with his dog. Stay safe guys.Another 10 mile day- our own type of boot camp. We were slow and frustrating Socks- so she offered to hike ahead to Woody Gap to set up camp. Heck Yeah! But when we got there we saw a note under a rock on the trail (the way to message on the AT). The note said she had gone to the Hostel a few miles down the road.She procured the last bunk for me at Wolfpen Gap Country Store hostel with sleeping on the floor for the other two. We called the store, they sent a shuttle and within five minutes we were warm and eating leftover pizza. Small things are the greatest pleasures.....and I don't even mind sleeping in a room with 8 snoring men (well, really only two snored)I'm still in!
Date: 2013-03-27
From: Woody Gap 

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

She-who-is-yet-to-be-named (my eldest faughter) is now Blueberry. Decked all in blue, Socks kept calling her that yesterday-it works!We met a 2011 thru-hiker at the hostel, Catfish (awesomely nice guy, who is doing a repeat performance 2013 thru and he procured the first shuttle back to the trail for himself and the three of us. Again- note the seasoned hikers advantages- they know the ropes.MUCH better day for hiking!The sun came out and I actually took off the gloves for the first time. Socks was given leave to hike her own hike and did the 10 miles to Neels in less than four hours (including climbing Blood Mountain-highest peak on AT in GA). Blueberry and I did a respectable seven hours-which included a stop on the top for 'high tea'. We are getting better. Socks had gotten one of the darling cabins at Blood Mountain cabins (highly recommend) and had a delicious spaghetti squash dinner going. I love that girl!Blueberry had been having pack and knee issues. We went to Mountain Crossing Outfitters and spoke to the excellent staff (Cinci REI needs some thru-hikers on their staff). We think they are worked out so she will continue on with me. (Thank you Jess!)Socks is leaving us. I think you can tell how valuable she has been. If all these unknowing hikers we met in the last three days had her, they might have a better chance of getting to use all the expensive equipment they purchased. Sadly, we heard so many say they are throwing in the towel. I am hiking on...rain is on the menu next (this weekend).
Date: 2013-03-29
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 13.0

Way back in the mid-1800's, an enterprising entrepreneur started a cheese factory at the site of our final destination today. Apparently, there were dairy cows grazing on these high slopes, although where, I cannot imagine. Certainly not suitable farmland by Ohio standards.The cheese factory is long gone but a camp area now exists on the site-no shelter-just a flat spot and good water. Michael and Ryan, from KY, kept referring to it as the 'Cheesecake Factory'. I couldn't get that picture of a big piece of cheesecake out of my head all day. So on that happy thought, Blueberry and I set off to do our first 13 miler.The trail was rather easy for the first 7 miles but even so it was apparent that Blueberry's knees were not going to improve. She was in constant pain every time she had to go downhill. The decision was made-she was to get off at the first road we crossed -Unicoi Gap. Now, I had met Socks at this trailhead during her thru-hike (remember that I hung around to make sure she didn't change her mind) so I knew it was a busy parking area for vacation hikers and thru-hikers that wanted to go into the nearby town of Helen or Hiawassee. It was a long, slow descent but we finally made it to the Gap. The Kentucky boys were there, along with Hannah and Kat ( young girls hiking together) and a couple of other hikers we didn't know. Blueberry and I figured out what I would need from her pack to go on alone and then I figured out what I could send back with her to lighten my load so I could hike faster and spend Easter with her in Hiawasse. We had way too much food so I tried to do The Great Food Giveaway to all the young hikers. They were so leary of my homemade meals that I couldn't get any takers until finally Michael took three spaghetti packs. No one wanted the powdered drinks to flavor their water ( I told them they'd change their tune on that in a couple of months). Finally, I came to the cheese and pepperoni and you would have thought it was manna from heaven! Ahhh.. I love these young people.( note: the next day I saw Michael at 2 pm and he had already eaten all the spaghetti dinners. He said he loved them! )As we were doing the above, a day hiker came by and asked if anyone needed a ride into Hiawassee - trail magic! She was a teacher from Franklin NC that wants to hike the AT one day. Thank you Sarah for taking care of my daughter!!And so I continued on alone. I was now truly hiking my own hike. I finaaly made it to the Cheese Factory (bummer, there was no cake) around 6. I was pretty tired but I did hang my first bear bag ( you have to throw your rope around a high tree branch about 20 feet up....okay, I confess, I did get a little help with that.
Date: 2013-03-30
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a wild night at the Cheese Factory last night. First, there was a very odd couple that had been camped there for three days that were definitely not thru-hikers. Suffice it to say the legitimate hikers were calling them the Meth addicts (the man had the Meth mouth rotten teeth). They were talking very loudly for waaay too long until finally one of the thru hikers said 'shut the f@#% up. Please shut the f@#% up!'. Everything was quiet - finally! If not for the fact that we outnumbered them 5 to 1, I would have been a little freaked out.Later that night, there were racing trucks joy riding on the dirt road about .1 mile from our camp. The thought did go through my mind that we were going to be in a bad scene from Deliverance, but I was so tired, I went back to sleep. Oh the tricks your mind will play.One joy I will take with me from that night was the sound of the owls. I love listening to the owls.The rest of the day was enjoyable but non-eventful compared to the night. I was on a quest to meet up with my daughter so I hiked pretty fast for me. 13 miles and at the Gap by 4 pm. Another steep descent. I'm telling you - they are toe killers. My poor toes are so sore right now!