morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-01-13
To: Trail diet
Miles today: 0.0

Less than a month before a new journey begins!!! I'm getting anxious. : )If you watch the highly-recommended walkumentary (www.walkumentary.blogspot.com) about the 2006 CDT hike you will see at the end that I was known for having the worst diet on the trail. I basically consumed mass quantities of junk food and somehow my body didn't completely give up on me.Still I figured that If I am planning on doing 18-months straight of hiking I will need a better trail diet. So I wrote my friend P.O.D., who knows a bit about healthy eating and asked for some tips. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing them on here as it's basic, but good advise.Easy tips...1. A candy bar a day is a good dessert, candy bars arenot good fuel.2. If you don't have access to good energy bars, gowith granola bars and peanut butter. 3. Cheese and crackers are great.4. Mixed nuts and plain peanuts mixed with MMs areawesome!5. Add tuna to dinners when you can.6. When you get into town, make sure you eat an apple,a banana, and an orange at least once before youleave. Always pack out at least one piece of fruit (Irecommend an apple because they travel well). Take avegetable too if you have space (green pepper or alittle broccoli)7. Get dried fruit to take from town...raisins areusually cheapest. 8. Get a few lara bars when you can...Just remember that candy and chocolate are good,indeed I always carry them, but in the long run theyare not fuel that lasts and you're liable get diabetesif that's all you eat. If the good bars and all thataren't cutting it, add more cheese (string cheesepacks well too) and carry out peanut butter. That isthe best thing on the shelf. Fritos are also goodbecause of the fat content and calories. I would gowith Fritos over an additional chocolate bar per day.
Date: 2008-01-23
To: New bio
Miles today: 0.0

So we were supposed to write background bios for the Web site at work. Even though I'm leaving they still wanted me to write something since they are going to link to my trailjournals. I haven't written my bio yet, but a friend wrote one for me. For some reason I don't think they will use this gem from award-winning writer and savior of baby nuns Adam Raeder:Henry David Thoreau once said, ¢Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.¢We can only hope this is true for Richard Larson as his past 35 years on this planet are devoid any mental endeavor larger than trying to divine a porn star¢s cup size.Now, he begins a great odyssey. Not the cool kind of odyssey with cyclops and sirens and gods looking to do him asunder. No, instead it¢s more of the lame, looking-to-find-myself-in-nature odyssey that brings most of its danger from the risk of marijuana-induced paranoia.Richard¢s life path didn¢t always destine him to be a worthless drain on the resources of society, a parasite hiding in the wildernesses of America¢s soft underbelly.As a young boy growing up in a small Minnesota town, Richard destined for great things when he outshined most Minnesotans by being able to multiply double-digit numbers by his second year in college.But his life soon took a downward spiral of drugs and unprotected cow tipping, culminating when Richard woke up one day broke, high and with a face-full of cow shit.After years in and out of rehab clinics, Richard seemed poised for a comeback when he got a job working the deep fryer at A&W, and soon became known as the sixth-best deep fryer in the tri-county area. Like all good things in Richard¢s life, though, this was short lived after, one day, Richard decided to fulfill one of his life-long dreams of having sex on his work-place, an act that resulted in third-degree burns and what historians would later recognize as the worst french fries in the history of the United State.After being fired for ¢health-code violations so vulgar no one ever thought to write them down,¢ Richard suffered through a series of odd jobs, bottoming out during a stint as a rodeo clown when he was gored while trying to make a balloon giraffe. It looked nothing like a giraffe.One day, Richard decided to pick up and lose himself in the wilds of Alaska, but in traditional fashion, he failed at that too, finding himself in the heart of Fairbanks where he splits his time between work and, well, whatever the hell else he does.But soon he¢ll head out on to the trails, drifting aimlessly, maybe for the rest of time.Not that anyone cares.
Date: 2008-01-26
To: Leaving work
Miles today: 0.0

The announcement came over the intercom shortly after I arrived at work at 4:30 p.m."There's cake and ice cream in the upstairs break room for Richard, who is leaving us ..... again."I don't even know who made the announcement, but it got a chuckle since I am leaving the News-Miner for the third time (they all want to know when I'm coming back this time).It was the second time in my life I've had a Skittles cake (Burn made one for my birthday on the PCT back in 2005 - its a normal cake with writing in Skittles on the top : ). Most of my co-workers weren't fond of the Skittles on a cake, however, especially with ice cream. "I think I broke a tooth," Matias said after cracking into frozen Skittle.It is starting to finally feel real. Tomorrow actually is my last day of work, then I have three days of play before flying to Minnesota where I have 10 days to see family and friends before flying to Atlanta.I've been fighting some sort of infection that has kind of knocked me off my feet for more than a week now and I'm probably in the worst shape I've been in since I finished the CDT. I have a feeling I'll be sucking wind on the approach trail.
Date: 2008-01-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hooray I have snot coming out of my nose!That might not sound like something to get excited about, but for the past 2-3 weeks I've been battling som form of sinusitis. My sinuses have been plugged up above my nose and I've had thick mucus running down my throat (hope you weren't eating anything before you read this). But I flew into Minnesota yesterday and the weather change (it was only 10 below, yeah warmth : ) seemed like it must have helped as I feel less congested, my raw inflammed ears and throat and sore jaw all feel better today. Still have swollen lymph nodes in my mouth, but I feel 100 percent better. Even went for a 2-mile run today (first time I've had any exercise in awhile).I have an physcial tomorrow to go in for some blood work, but I'm not as concerned about it now.My hip still worries me a bit. It's a little sore. Not painful, no problem with motion, just feels maybe like it could be arthritic? (I'm getting old!!). I'll ask the doc about it tomorrow. Little worrisome to start an 18-month hike with a sore hip, but we'll see what happens.By the way when you fly they don't like it when you have a pocketknife in your carry-on bag. I carried on my backpack with all my backpacking stuff, but I didn't even think about the knife when I threw it in there. Didn't think about it when they asked me if there was anything sharp in my pack either, so I answered no, then got brought over to the little side table so they could go through my pack. They didn't like the knife and then they couldn't decide about the tent stakes, they decied they didn't like the v-shaped ones (I only had two of those) but I could keep the rest. Then they asked where my tent poles where since they found my little wild oasis tarp and seemed a bit puzzled when I said I didn't have tent poles. Still they let me on the plane. Kind of nice when your backpack filled with all your gear is still small enough to be a carry-on.Happy Trails
Date: 2008-02-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Looks like I got out of Fairbanks just in time! It's 45 below there now and apparently it reached 70 below in Tok. Now that's cold. People here in Minnesota are freaking out because it is supposed to get below zero this weekend. Come on, that nice weather! Feel bad for those running the Quest (www.yukonquest.com) which starts tomorrow (Feb. 9). That's brutally cold weather to be mushing dogs in.Well this is probably my last prep entry. The weather in northern Georgia is supposed to be decent for starting out (highs near 50, lows near freezing, chance of a little rain).I'm pretty much over my sinusitis. My hip is still a little sore sometimes, but the doc said its probably a ligament strain and that I shouldn't hurt it by hiking on it. So hopefully it's not too painful once I hit the trail.I fly to Atlanta on Sunday where I will meet up with Night Owl and Four-Leaf Rover. Monday we rendevous with Recess in Franklin, leaving her car somewhere, and then we start hiking that afternoon. Yippeee. I can't wait : )
Date: 2008-02-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I left Minnesota in temperatures that were 15 below zero and arrived to sunny skies and 60 degree temps in Atlanta.My parents dropped me off at the airport. It had been green to spend time with them and my sister, Dawn, her hsuband, Elliott and my nieces Ashley and Brooke. We spent most of our family time playing games: Wist, Hearts, full-sheet Yahtzee, Tripoly, Texas hold-em and go fish and memory with my nieces, who also played a bit on my guitar.Night Owl and Four-leaf Rover met me in Atlanta. I had met both of them for a few days on the AT in 2004. They were awesome hosts and we made quick stops at REI and Publix for stuff I needed before heading to Night Owl's house.Night Owl is an architect and his place looks like it. Two towering buildings, one a guest house, with lots of windows, stairs and decks. A beautiful, but elegantly simple place.Night Owl had friends over who had wanted to meet me. We watched Disco's Walkumentary and talked about hiking gear, etc. Tyler, a good friend of Night Owl and his wife, was planning a trip to Peru by foot and hitch and whatever happened to happen. He just wanted to go without any preset agenda. Suzanne was looking in May to do a short trip on or near the AT eating just plants found in the area. I hope to hear more about how each of their trips turn out.I discovered I forgot my camera in Minnesota. My parents are going to mail it to Wildcat. I'll have to rely on Recess for photos of the start. We are meeting her tomorrow in Franklin at 9:30. She has a five-hour drive to get there. We'll leave her car at Rock Gap and hike toward it.Four-leaf Rover found a four-leaf clover while we were walking Night Owl's dogs. She got her name because she is great and finding those rare specimens and said she even once found a seven-leaf clover.Night Owl made same fish stew that was incredible.They kept calling everything my last supper, my last shower, my last night in a bed. The realization that I'm embarking on an 18-month trip still hasn't fully hit me yet, though.
Date: 2008-02-11
From: Approach Trail (High Shoals Road)

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

The start of the Quadre could not have been more perfect.When I last hiked the AT in 2004 I had started at the forest road 0.9 miles north of Springer Mountain so this time I wanted to hike the Approach Trail to see what all the fuss was about. Still I wasn't going to be anal about doing the whole thing so Night Owl drove Recess and I up High Shoals Road, cutting off a few miles. The road was rocky and rutted and barely wider than a car, but a sign indicating a Baptist Church was 1.5 miles down this winding road intrigued us so in search of it we drove a little past where the Approach Trail crossed the road. Expecting an old run-down tiny building we were surprised to see an angelic white medium-size church with a steeple and an adjoining cemetery that had newer grave stones and colorful wreaths of flowers.With the sun shining bright and a pastel blue sky framing the leafless trees it was an idyllic start to the hike.We started hiking at 2:15 p.m., stopped at Springer for few pictures and to celebrate the official beginning and then hiked on to Stover Creek shelter just before dark to set up camp.My hip bothered a bit and then the pain went away and whatever infection I've been fighting in my nose/throat didn't bother me either.Recess and I did much reminiscing of other hikes and talked about other hikers and were snug in our sleeping bags by 8 p.m.* * *Skit's bits:Temperature at start of hike: 63 degreesNumber of bags of new chocolate flavored Skittles eaten: 1No. of other hikers seen on trail: 0No. of other hikers seen at visitor center: 1 who was finishing a hike from Vermont to Springer.No. of thru-hikers who had signed in the Springer register on Feb. 9: 5No. of mice seen at shelter before dark: 1
Date: 2008-02-12
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: ridge before Big Cedar Mountain
Miles today: 18.0

One of the things I love about thru-hiking is the unique and often bizarre things you encounter that you would never have expected and would never experience if you weren't out exploring.Take today for instance.Recess and I were taking a leisurely break at Horse Gap when suddenly we were invaded.A convoy of trucks carrying soldiers pulled up on Forest Service Road 42 and stopped adjacent to us. The 40 soldiers, in full camo gear, including massive ruck packs, piled out of the back of the truck and immediately positioned themselves behind trees, scanning the countryside, including looking right at us. They sighted their guns, not real guns I'm pretty sure, but some sort of air rifle maybe?A captain came over to us and assured us we were OK that they were going the other direction. A bit later another captain appeared below us and several soldiers were looking past us at him. When he walked by I asked again if we were OK where we were seated and he said yes and that we shouldn't worry when we heard a lot of gunfire shortly.A minute later there was a bunch of shots fired in the woods north of us and a squad threw off their packs and hustled into the woods to cut off the "enemy." The firing continued in short and long bursts with some loud commands shouted every now and then in somewhat excited voices. I was tempted to go over and lift one of the packs to see how heavy it was but a few soldiers had stayed behind as a back guard.We continued to watch the war simulation for a little while then began climbing out of the gap up Sassafras Mountain.We are supposed to try to meet Flatfeet tomorrow but I forgot the directions to his house.Based on shelter registers it looks like we may catch up to our first other hikers sometime tomorrow.* * * Skit's bits:Temperature on thermometer at Hickory Flats cemetery at 9:30: 41 degreesNumber of other hikers seen: 0Number of soldiers seen: about 40Number of trail maintainers seen: 2 Number of dogs wearing t-shirts: 1Number of places I camped in 2004 that we passed today: 3
Date: 2008-02-13
From: ridge before Big Cedar Mountain

To: Baggs Creek Gap
Miles today: 15.3

Today was a day of cold and warmth.Cold temps, cold rain and cold blustery wind that kept getting stronger, cold snow and cold pieces of hoarfrost that blew from the trees in big chunks occasionally dealing us icy blows.But we also experience the warmth of meeting new friends, a hot bowl of chili, stays at Flatfeet's and Neel's Gap and the warmth of clothes fresh from the dryer.After a rainy morning we found Flatfeet's note on the trail and wandered down to his house where we woke him up. We scurried in out of the rain and ate a big bowl of chili, had a banana, some orange juice and watched the weather channel which indicated tomorrow and Friday should have better weather but another cold front bringing rain is headed here for the weekend. We swapped hiking stories and talked about all the hikers we both happened to know. Flatfeet hiked with us up Blood Mountain where the blowing mist afforded no views.We parted ways and headed to Neel's Gap to warm up, eat some food and dry some gear. I discovered I think I left my neoprene bottoms at Flatfeet's after changing there. Three other thru-hikers were there and I can only remember the name of one, Mike. I'm horrible with names. One of the other guys was sick and doing work for stay and had hiked the trail in 2004 and 07, wish I could remember his trail name.We stayed for 90 minutes or so then for some reason decided to head back into the cold.* * *Skit's bits:Occurrences of bloody noses on Blood Mountain: 1Temp reported by Pirate at the Neel's Gap hostel at 3 p.m.: 25Dayhikers seen on Blood Mountain: 1, the first hiker we had seen other than FlatfeetThru-hikers staying at Neel's Gap: 3Number of thru-hikers that had been through before me: 31Movie showing at the hostel when we got there: Delta FarceMovies they planned to show as Valentine's Day "chick flicks": Rambo and [some other decidedly NON-chick flick movie]Number of times I wondered about our sanity hiking out of Neel's Gap at 4 p.m. in windy, below freezing temps until we camped on an extremely sloping leeward side of a hill at 6:30 p.m.: never : )
Date: 2008-02-14
From: Baggs Creek Gap

To: spring on Rocky Mountain
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

Happy Valentine's Day!Recess' quote of the day: "Georgia is flat!"Living in Virginia and hearing often how "flat" the AT supposedly is in her state Recess has found that Georgia is not any tougher than most of Virginia. Today we had a nice PCT-like grade for almost 5 miles that allowed us to get in ok mileage despite getting up late.We woke up late because we were still half frozen from temps I would guess dropped to 15 or so. It also snowed a bit on our very slanted, but out of the wind campsite.The sky was clear and as the sun came out in the morning the trees began shedding the icy inch of frost that had piled on them. It fell down in chunks, often hitting us, and leaving the ground a solid white.By midafternoon I debated about hiking in shorts. Quite a contrast to yesterday. We even were able to dry out some gear.Still haven't seen any other thru-hikers on the trail (just at Neel's Gap). Thats OK for now, but once Recess leaves I won't have much company.For Valentine's candy we had Reeses Pieces at lunch and dinner. My hip was bothering me a bit on the last climb of the day.* * *Skit's bits:Number of times hit in head by chunks of hoarfrost: too many to countNumber of toilet paper squares left: 7Number of days until next sure TP resupply: 2 if I go to Franklin with Recess, 5 if I don't.
Date: 2008-02-15
From: spring on Rocky Mountain

To: Plumorchard Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

19.8 miles today (not counting two torturous side trails to water).Even though that's what it was back in the 1800s I don't think they should be allowed to call places along the trail things like Cheese Factory site. It makes you think of cheese all day and then you get there and there is no cheese. That's not fair.Man we had some hills today, the rest of Rocky Mountain, Tray Mountain, a steep climb up Kelly Knob and whatever the heck that climb before Plumorchard is called. I was tired and hungry when we got to camp.It is a Friday and we finally saw a few other hikers on the trail today. One guy headed south to Deep Gap Shelter, two college kids planning to night hike to the Georgia/North Carolina border and three section hikers here at the shelter. They are nice and were going to make room for us, but we decided to camp. Got to get up early tomorrow, hike 15 miles to Recess' car and head for a night in Franklin. I'm dreaming of town food tonight.* * *Skit's bits:Number of horribly long downhill routes descending through gnarly brush and slippery leaf-covered slopes we took to poor water sources: 2.Number of yards after the second long descent that there was water on trail: 200Place on the AT in 2004 that I first did a day as long as today: In central Pennsylvania from Caledonia State Park to Pine Grove Furnace State Park.Number of TP squares I still have remaining: 7 (I didn't have to use any today, it's a miracle!)
Date: 2008-02-16
From: Plumorchard Shelter

To: Deep Gap (plus Kimsey Creek side trail)
Miles today: 15.0

Turns out we made a good decision to camp out last night. Very loud snoring noises echoed from the shelter at the start of the night. In the morning the other two guys accused the culprit who responded that he doesn't snore. It was difficult to keep from laughing.We finished Georgia today!Beautiful weather. It is the first AT state Recess has completely finished (she's missing about 0.5 miles of W. Virginia) and the first time I have hiked all of Georgia (I skipped 16.6 miles in 2004).We celebrated at the state sign and again at the traditional old gnarled oak tree. Then were in for a rude greeting by North Carolina with an immediate climb up Sharp and Round tops that rivaled any climb in Georgia.We stopped at Muskrat Creek Shelter. In 2004 I stayed there with Mountain Goat, Four-leaf Rover and Solamente del Toro. I still keep in touch with two of the three.We hiked down to Recess' car from Deep Gap, meeting four others hikers and a boy scout troop of 15-20. It was more people than we had seen on the trail our first five days.Watched the weather channel -- rain all day tomorrow : ( -- and did the normal town stuff. Spent a last night with Recess before heading out on my own. I'll miss her.* * *Skit's bits:My alternate version of the first verse of Wagon Wheel as we approached North Carolina:"Heading up north to the land of the pines,I'm hiking my way up to North Caroline,Staring down the trail and pray to god I see toilet paper,I made it through Gerogia in 75 miles,Hiking with Recess and a whole lot of smiles,Headed for Franklin, going to watch some tv tonight."Number of skateboarders Recess and I watched as we ate McDonalds in her car in the McDonalds parking lot: 5Number of McDonalds employees who arrived in a car with the passenger door roped shut: 2Number of soccer games we watched on Spanish language tv in the laundromat: parts of 2Time we saw the Georgia boys returning from their hike to the border: 8 a.m. (they had stopped at dark and didn't make it all the way).Number of toilet squares I had left after using the privy in the morning: 0* * *Georgia notes:best stop: Flatfeet'sbest meal: Flatfeet's chilimost interesting experience: getting invaded by the armytoughest climb: Kelly Knobeasiest section: Low Gap Shelter to Chatahoochee Gap.recommendation for other hikers: start somewhere south of Springer on the Approach Trail (Nimblewill Gap, High Shoals Road, Amicalola Falls) instead of the road just north of Springer. IMO it makes Springer feel a bit more special to make the climb up it.
Date: 2008-02-17
From: Deep Gap (plus Kimsey Creek side trail)

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

(4.4-mile Lower Ridge Trail plus Standing Indian to Carter Gap - 12 miles)It is windy and rainy outside and the thunder and lightning is putting on a show, but I'm snug as a bug inside my sleeping bag in the Carter Gap shelter. I love listening to the rain on the shelter roof. It is so loud that it is hard to talk over. Hope it is gone by morning though.It was raining when I left Recess at Standing Indian and it rained until I reached the shelter. But it was mostly a steady drizzle, it's not very cold and the trail was well protected by beech and rhodo trees despite being on a high ridge.* * *Skit's bits:Minutes before I reached shelter that the first rumble of thunder came signaling the end of the steady showers and start of the downpour: 5Other AT hikers I've now met on trail: 1 (Jonathan from North Carolina started on Feb. 8 and was at the shelter sound asleep when i arrived at 4 p.m.)Weight Jonathan's pack was when he started: 65 pounds.Weight it is now after a shakedown in Hiawassee: 50.Pages I read in Grishom's "The Innocent Man" at the Carter Gap shelter: 164Feet that Standing Indian is taller than Katahdin by: 230Number of AT miles I missed by taking the Kimsey Creek trail down and the Lower Ridge trail up: 2.4 milesNumber of hikers I passed who were going downhill to escape the weather: 4