morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Franklin N.C.

To: Tellico Gap
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

A van from the First Baptist Church of Franklin picked us up this morning and fed us breakfast. Pastor Ball said they do this as a service to hikers. He is usually there but tomorrow he will be going to Agusta, Ga. to the Masters Golf Tournament. Being a lead pastor is rough these days. We were on the trail by 9 O'clock and did 19.4 miles today. I am hiking between a speed walker and a marathon runner. They are pulling and pushing me over these mountain in record time. I think what usually takes 6 weeks to get in shape, i'll get done in 3. These guys are whipping me in shape quick. We could not find a camping spot tonight so we are stealth camping. That means we are camped where we have no buisness being. In this case above and behind a big TVA electric tower. I have been asked about bathroom facilities out here in the mountains. I will be as delicate as possible, however you may want to quit reading now. Oh, you didn't quit. There are shelters every so many miles with very primitive privies, but what to do when nature calls when your miles from a privy. There is a protocal for that. Obviously for men when the # 1 calls, that's easy, any tree, rock or log works well. But what if the # 2 train pulls into the station. what then? Well today was my first woods evacuation. This is how it went down. The spiders were barking early and often and around noon I realized it was time to do what the bears do in the woods. I told 26.2, my hiking partner, I must dig a hole. Hiking protocal asks for a 6 inch deep hole for this project. Many hikers actually carry a small shovel along, however a stone or stick works just as well. I approached an area in the thicket and picked up a 6 inch diameter rock to start my excavation project. Said cavern carved out I faced west and dropped my hiker regalia. I hunched over this opening in the earth like a frightened jackrabbit in the Arizona desert and gave my gift to mother earth. I then resealed the opening by recovering the dirt and placed the rock on top of finished project as a monument to decomposition. To those readers who I now have lost, I thank you for stopping by. Just keeping it real.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Tellico Gap

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

A David Swartzentruber from Sarasota, Fla. wants to know how I charge my Treo phone in the wild. Hi cuz Dave. I brought three bateries along. That would be a trio for my Treo. My plan is to go into town once a week to look in a mirror to see if it is still me. While there I will recharge the batteries. We hiked 8 miles this morning and at noon we arrived at a road crossing where the Nantahala Outdoor Center is located. It is a white water rafting place with a restaurant and store. I was really tired this morning so I loaded up with lots of energy food and drinks. We needed it because this afternoon we had the hardest uphill yet. It was a 1 mile elevation gain over 6 miles and took 4 hours. Waa to tired to set up tent, so am in a shelter for the second time. Everyone here is very nice and I hope the mice leave us alone. We are 24 miles from Fontana Dam where we need to be by Sat. noon before the post office closes. I have a box of food to pick up there. Sunday morning we head into the Smokie Mountains.Thanks again for the prayers and encouraging words.I'm glad my potty humor didn't scare you away.
Date: 2008-04-12
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My quivering finger darted around the red button, push, clunk, I had a cold Coke and a cup of ice. I must be back in civilization. We are at Fontana Village Lodge. This morning we arrived at the parking lot still 3 miles from the village. A lady was unloading 3 hikers from her vehicle. I asked her if she was a shuttle service, she replies that she was from The Hike Inn. We had tried to get in there but they were full. She then told us she would drive us into the village and actually took us right to the lodge. Thanks Nancy from The Hike Inn. I am amazed at the kindness of strangers we meet on the trail. Last night our camping spot was beside a small stream and we were greeted with thunder storms and rain all night. The weather report for the next several days is rain, snow, sleet, and cold. They had a hiker advisory out but did not say what they were advising. I assume it meant to go ahead and hike. The rain last night really caused a change in vegetation. So many new things to see. This morning right in the middle of the trail I found a morel mushroom. I desperately wanted to drop my pack and race up the mountain side in search of mushrooms. I left the little soldier standing where he was. Some unsuspecting hiker after me probably crushed the little feller. Two days ago at the N.O.C. Mountain Sailor one of my hiking partners developed a huge blister on his foot. This thing is so big it had its own blisters. He had been leading our little group till then. I would remark to 26.2 my other partner that Mountain Sailor really has his sails unfurled today. Now that he can no longer keep up his blistering pace we have sent 26.2 to the front. 26.2 is the length of a marathon. He has run in as many as 30 in one year. While I was gasping and wheezing uphill he would not make a sound. Now he's leading the pack. He knows no up or down, same speed always. His backpack was bought in 1969. It is made with red canvas, it looks like a red sled strapped to his back. That is like entering a model T ford in the Indy 500. I told him many strides have been made in backpacks in the last 40 years. He also does not use hiking poles. Because of these two advanced hikers we have passed hikers that started 8-10 days before us. It also got us into Fontana Dam right on schedule. For those interested, Fontana Dam is a 480 ft. high concrete stopper that's plugging a river that never intended to be a lake. It was built by the TVA during the great depression. When God starts over again with the New Earth all dams will be eliminated and rivers will be allowed to meander wherever they wish. That's good news for the Columbia and the Colorado and many other rivers around the world. About the only thing you can say about these man made obstructions is, "wow! that's a lot of concrete". The A.T. normally goes over the dam but since the stupid things leaking we have to detour around it. Probably did not use the right concrete mix back whenever. Tomorrow we start the Smoky Mountains. Happy 83rd. birthday to my dad, April 11th. Thanks again for all your encouraging remarks.
Date: 2008-04-15
From: Fontana Dam

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 42.7
Weather: clear sky

What a 3 days! My hiking partner Mountain Sailor has a saying, "words have meaning" he says. We should have taken that hiker advisory more seriously. Sunday we hiked into the Smoky Mountains. It was nice when we left but the higher we hiked the colder it got. At the top of Doe Knob was a clearing just loaded with little white flowers. Than little snow pellets started to bounce around the flowers. It was really neat. We spent the night at Mollies Ridge Shelter. There were about 20 hikers there trying to stay warm. During the night the temperature dropped and it started to snow. Monday we hiked in snow all day. At 11 o'clock yesterday I decided I was no longer having fun. We hiked in miserable conditions till 1 O'clock, than stopped at Derrick Knob Shelter for the day. We ended up with about 30 hikers trying to stay warm. I was in my sleeping bag at 5 o'clock with all my clothes including my shoes on. I pulled the sleeping bag up so only my nose stuck out. It was a long 14 hours in that bag. Also yesterday my Camel back water system froze up. I have a water bag that fits in the back of my back pack, then a tube threads through the top of the pack to the front of the bag. I have a nozzle right in front of me, that way I can be like a suckling calf all day. When it froze I resorted to eating snow and hoar frost right off limbs of trees. Today we hiked in 6 inched of snow. Around noon the sun warmed up enough that we were walking in slush and several inched of water. Our shoes and socks were soaked. We also climbed over Clingmans Dome today. That is the highest spot on the A.T.elevation 6643. The trees on top of Clingmans were just loaded with hoar frost. That was beautifull. By the time we got to Newfound Gap we decided since we were so wet we would hitch hike into Gatlinburg, 15 miles away. We are now full and dry. Today while hiking my hiking poles would pick up leaves and then snow to the point where it looked like I had 2 Hostess Sno ball cakes on the bottom of them. It made me so hungry for them that when we got to Gatlinburg I bought a coke and a pack of Hostess Snow balls. What a treat. The misery index went up one notch, but it has not reached intolerable yet. There is no cell service anywhere up in the Smokies, which is why I dissapear for several. 2 more days in GSNP then 2 more days into Hot Springs,N.C. on Sunday for our first complete day off. Thanks for all the prayers.
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Flint Mt. Shelter

To: Uncle Johnnys Hostel
Miles today: 34.0

We are in Irwin, Tenn. tonight. We had 4 days of 17 miles. Yesterday and today were rough. Too many steep climbs for us. Every time we think it will get easier it does not. This morning we got up at 4 am to hike 17 miles to Uncle Johnnys Hostel.It is located right by the trail. It is 3 miles to Irwin so they have bicycles to ride to town. I had a mail drop to pick up so I am resupplied for the 8 day trip to Damascas, Virginia. Yesterday we were hiking late in the day, it had been an exceptionally hard day with 2 big uphill climbs. We came upon a trail maintainer working on a section of trail. He said he was going to spend the night at the next shelter and would be cooking bratwursts for anyone staying at that shelter. That immediately changed our plans. He also had bananas, rootbeer and little debbies. It sure tasted good and we needed the additional nourishment. The last journal entry I said we overlooked the town of Greenfield, I should have said Greenville. We are at 335 miles hiked so far. Yesterday we passed a patch of Phacelia wildflowers so thick it looked like it had snowed. It sure was pretty. I forgot to mention when I talked about Dandelions that you could make wine out of them. 17 years ago one day I picked a bucket of dandelions and made several bottles of wine according to a recipe from an Amish lady that came into the restaurant. It is down stairs in my basement and while putting christmas stuff away I happened upon them. I sampled it and it still tastes really yeasty. I probably must wait another 17 years. Tomorrow we head back out into the forest and in two days we climb groan, I mean Roan Mountain. I really enjoy all your comments on the guest book. It is 120 miles to Damascas. The first 40 miles is rough the last 40 is supposed to be easier. I don't know about the middle. Talk to you all later.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Bland, Virginia

To: Pearisburg , Va.
Miles today: 42.9
Weather: light rain

Just a quick update since I have cell service tonight. We are at the Plaza Motel in Pearisburg, Va. We hiked 16.7 miles today to get here. We bought some extra food to get us through the next 5 days. We plan to do 5 twenty mile days to get to Daleville, Va. by Thursday. Yesterday Mt. Sailor and I hiked 26.3 miles. The terrain was finally a little easier than before. I say easier in the context of less difficult. This trail is a lot harder than I ever imagined it to be. You constantly are kicking rocks and roots, and it traverses the hardest highest mountains at all times. We passed 600 miles today. My feet and heels are very sore but the few blisters I had are healing ok. I have moleskin on 4 places on my feet. I guess we could slow down a little but it does not seem to be in our vocabulary. I mentioned the man who shot the fishermen the other day, they both survived and are in the hospital. The man who did the shooting is from Pearisburg and in 1981 murdered 2 hikers who were staying at the Wapiti Shelter 16.7 miles from here. Do the math and you will see that we stayed at the Wapiti shelter last night. The fishermen he shot were just down the path from there. Since everyone else refused to stay there Mt.Sailor and I had the whole shelter area to ourselves. It was kind of eerie but not too scary. I pitched my tent in front of the shelter and do admit to having a rather big rock where I could reach it. We have been on the trail 41 days now and are averaging around 16 miles a day. At the upper levels the trees still do not have leaves on them, but at the lower levels there is all kinds of foilage. Last week one afternoon I found 4 morrel mushrooms. I picked them and washed them in a stream and mixed them with my beef stew. Happy Mothers day to my mom, your the best in the world. I still have other Issues I plan to address in future entries, since I'm on a crusade to fix the world. I liked the quest entry where someone suggested I change my trail name to Andy Rooney. I enjoy hearing from all of you. On Thursday Ina will pick me up in Daleville, Va. and take me to Damascus, Va. to a 2 day hiker festival. It is supposed to be quite an experience. Between 10 and 20 thousand hikers decend on that town for a huge reunion. Sort of the Woodstock of hikers. Many of my fellow hikers I have met will be there. They have a field called tent city where everyone sets up there tents. I am looking forward to 2 days without that weight on my back. Thank you to Cheryl for picking us up hitchhiking in Bland and taking us to the trail head. With what had happened up the trail people were afraid to pick up hikers. Keep praying for my safety. I have been very fortunate so far. One misstep and the trip would be over. I have way to many problems to solve for that to happen. I have a rant on sweepstakes and seminars coming up. So many issues, so little time. Hey, 26.2 we miss you.
Date: 2008-06-01
From: Skyland Lodge

To: Harpers Ferry, West Va.
Miles today: 90.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Oh dear Lord save me! It's a bear with 2 cubs. Save me from the jaws of this mighty animal. I have seen the huge piles of bear scat on the trail and don't wish to end up like that. God save me now! Oh she's going back into the woods. Sorry God, don't need your help after all............ Backpocket God.
Date: 2008-06-05
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: broken clouds

To describe what happened today will be difficult. For about the second time in my life I feared for my life. The forcast was for storms and did I ever get one. Close to Turners Gap 2 miles from Boonsboro, Md. is where I was hiking at the time. When it hit I was close to a fence line. I crouched down in front of a row of trees. Then it really hit. Leaves and branches werw swirling everywhere. It was also raining very hard. A flying branch hit my head and on both sides of me trees blew over. I made a run through an open field through ankle deep water to a single Maple tree which I grabbed and hung on to till the storm passed. I do believe I was on the edge of a Tornado. I will have pictures to prove it. After I started hiking again I realized how bad it was. Trees were down all over the trail. I went through, over and under many blown down trees. I could hear many other trees crashing to the ground. The smell of fresh wood and bark was in the air. The woods were littered with fallen and splintered trees. I will try to get these pictured on my site as soon as possible. It is still unbelievable to me what I saw and went through yesterday. I keep thinking After every storm that it can't get worse. Now I know it can't. I asked God if he did that because of my bear story. I missed a great opportunity to join Mary. Thank for all your prayers. They were needed today.
Date: 2008-06-13
From: US11 Harrisburg Pike, Pa.

To: Port Clinton, Pa.
Miles today: 87.6
Weather: broken clouds

Pennsylvania rocks! As nice as the trail was in Southern Pa. it is just as nasty now. Rocks of every shape and denomination hinder my path. By the end of the day your feet resemble hamburger helper. I am in Port Clinton, Pa. at the Port Clinton Inn. They have several rooms available on a first come basis. On the average I hike 2 miles an hour. However when I'm going to stop in a town for a shower and laundry and a soft bed I have a town gear I use. It is one of reckless abandonment. I did the 13.1 miles in 5 hours this morning. I have been hiking with Hometown the last several days. He is a nurse from Franklin, N.C. He has the same hiking style I have, up at 5 and hike till 7 and bed at 8 o'clock. We are both staying here at the Inn tonight. Tomorrow morning they are doing a hiker feed at the town pavilion. Hometown and I are heading there then it's up the trail to kick more rocks. Today I went over 1200 miles. Also the miles left are under 1000. Earlier I had told you about the Gypsy Moth infestation. The worms are everywhere. They are up in the trees chewing up leaves. It is so bad It sounds like it's raining with the worms pooping little hard pellets. At night they bounce off my tent. There are signs everywhere about the woods being treated for these worms. It seems the worms are enjoying the treats. It has been extremely hot the last week. 98 and 100 degrees with very high humidity. I feel good, I eat a lot but can't gain weight. I have 75 miles left in Pa. I should be in Delaware Water Gap by Wednesday. That is the border between Pa. and New Jersey. It is starting to feel like I might actually finish this hike. However many more miles to go. I miss everyone at home and can't wait to see all my family again. I will do another entry tonight about what God revealed to me back at Duccannon, Pa. If religious content offends you, you may want to pass on it.
Date: 2008-06-17
From: Little Gap

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: broken clouds

I am inside my tent which is set up inside Kirkridge Shelter. Last night in the woods it got cold and my 45 degree sleeping bag could not keep me warm enough. That's why the tent is in the shelter. There are 3 Others here also. If anyone else arrives I will have to move outside. Hometown and I hiked 24.6 miles today. That's pretty good for hiking in Rocksylvania. We only have 6 miles into Delaware Water Gap tomorrow morning. By 10 o'clock I hope to be at the Water Gap Diner eating breakfast. I have a food box to pick up at the Post Office. I also need to stop at the outfitters to fix my hiking pole. I fell backwards yesterday on some rocks and could not get my right pole out of the rocks. I slowly went backwards while the pole slowly bent into a half circle. My hiking poles are leikies and any outfitter will repair them for free. Yesterday While hiking over Lehigh Gap I there was an entire side and top of the mountain without vegetation. They used to mine zinc there and one a by product was lead. It is now a toxic waste land only good for thru hikers. Also yesterday we came across many fresh blueberries. They were delicious. They are smaller than store bought and much sweeter. I had one eye out for the rocks and the other for blueberrys. It rained some this afternoon, just enough to make the rocks slippery. I took a tumble and fell on my right arm. It hurt but nothing serious. It made me aware that one misstep and the hike is over. I am sore from all the rocks were hiking over but otherwise feel good. On Thursday morning I will be going into New Jersey. Its always exciting to get to a new state. Its 9 o'clock, way past my bedtime.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Graymoor Friary

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: few clouds

Some days the miles melt away pretty easy. Today was not such a day. I felt like I had lead in my legs and a cement block in my pack. It was however the first day in a long time that it didn't rain or threaten to rain. This morning I missread my watch and thought it was 5 o'clock. It was really 4 o'clock and since I was up I got an early start. Last night while in the shelter a turkey with 10 chicks was feeding outside our shelter. Also yesterday while hiking down Bear Mountain a Doe and Fawn walked past me. They stopped about 20 feet from me. The little fawn was feeding. It was so cute. I got some good pictures. Only 27 more miles in New York. On Friday I will be in Connecticut. The shelter is located near a road and had a number to call for pizza. I am with 2 other hikers, Site See and Willie. All 3 of us ordered large pizzas and are waiting for delivery. Tomorrow morning after hiking 5 miles we get to NY52. A half mile away is a grocery store and deli. We are stopping there for breakfast. That is such a treat after being stuck in the woods day after day. Only 750.5 miles left to go. Am getting very anxious to get home.
Date: 2008-06-27
From: RPH Shelter

To: Kent, Connecticut
Miles today: 38.0

Another hot, humid, muggy, sweaty, rainy, bug biting day. Much like the previous 20 days. Just another good day to be hiking the A.T. Finished New York today and are now in Connecticut. This is the tenth state. I am finally two thirds done. I still have 722 miles left. I am told the last 400 miles are the hardest....Two month ago while hiking through Virginia in Sinking Creek Valley we came upon a large white Oak tree. It was called the Keffer Oak. We were told it might be the biggest oak in the entire land. I had hiked 800 miles content in the belief I had actually seen the biggest oak. That all changed today when I arrived at County Rd. 20 also known as Dover Road in New York. Standing there beside the road was another large oak claiming it was the greatest in the land. What are the chanced that on one trail you find the 2 biggest oak trees in the land. They both claim to be over 300 years old. Being the arbiter of all things good and fair, I propose we cut down both trees and weigh them both to determine a winner. Anyone else think that's a good idea? Somewhere in America the third largest oak is wildly waving her branches in agreement. The only thing the two trees had in common was they both stood there as stiff as a board.....Yesterday our guide book said that at Rt.55 there was a hot dog stand close to the trail crossing. Three of us hikers set off down the road in search of this tubular treet. We could not find it anywhere. We were standing beside the road in the rain when a hiker we had met previously came by in his rv. We now were 4 thru hikers with an rv in search of a weiner stand. It supposedly was only two tenth mile down the road. We traveled miles in each direction in search of the missing elite hot dog stand. 911 what is your emergency? Yes maam, there is an entire weiner stand missing out here on rt. 55. That's not an emergency, you say. You come out here and hike 20 miles in this weather with your mind set on a sizzling, plump all beef elite weiner, then you'll realize that is an emergency. Click.. We traveled far and wide and never did find that missing purvaer of fine meats. Just another day on the A.T.