morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Sarver Cabin

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

That was a very relaxing evening at Sarver Hollow Shelter. We all - 6 hikers and Tigger - enjoyed it. Tigger slept immediatly after Dinner on his own sleeping bag somebody has left for her and we had a bit of guitar music, live, and crept into our mummies soon.And in the morning - OhGodOhGodOhGod ! - swollen eyes and itching ears again. Am I allergic against cats now ?After 3 sunny and nice days this day is dark again. In fact, it is the darkest so far. Not because my eyes are swollen - I CAN open them. Hardly, but I can.As for me, my hope a high pressure will lower down is gone now. Even a bit hart-headed person like me (some people claim that) must admit: low pressure has won for good. This day was so dark, it gave me the creepers. Rain from 11 am on. The 16 miles walk was a walk crossing a nice landscape. Stony ridges, smooth pathes, rocky outcrops, grassy ways, some small bridges, bit up, bit down, different forest vegetation, berries red and blue. I couldn't enjoy it any more. The sky without sun felt like a sheet that covers a dead body. The landscape converted in sth liveless, all gray, no shade, movingless, colorless. If I can't enjoy the hike anymore, I'll get off. Nothing and nobody forces me to give me a bad time. 6 miles tomorrow and I'll try to book in this B & B place in Catawba. Will stay the rest of the day there and the night followed by a breakfast. That'll be a treat. Than I'll decide what I will do further on.
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Catawba
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Itching and scratching durgin the night again. I try not to scratch, of course. Mainly arms and face now. Face, eyelids, ears swollen and read in the morning. Skin feels terrible. I look like a sponge-cake. I can't believe it is still a persisting reaction against Poison Ivy oil. It's not this typical rash that appears after having had contact with the Ivy. Maybe I have a contact allergie against sth else. Sleeping bag ? Fleece jacket ? Maybe the cobwegs crossing the path that I touch constantly with face and arms while walking along ? During the day the skin feels usually a bit better. The nights are a torture.At least the sun was out this morning and the walk was really nice. Although the hills are not as high as in the south, walking is more alpin here. One has to cross big rocks constantly, a narrow ridge and than one rolls down easily to the road. Went to the petrol station/grocery left from Rte 624 to phone the B & B from the public phone. Phone didn't work. And - do you believe it !- this bloody f.... bitch of a woman of the shop didn't allow me to use her phone ! For a local call with my own phonecard. It would have cost her nothing but a friendly word. She denied very unfriendly and I left the shop at once. Got a lift to Catawba at once and back to the B & B place. Nobody there. Lift back to Catawba grocery (another one). The women there phoned the B & B for me a bit later. Still nobody there. After a while I got another offer for an overnigth stay in Catawba. It's a secret, I guess. And it seemed to me she only takes females. A bit cheaper as the B & B and just around the corner. O.k., so I decided to stay there. Shower, laundry, etc. Had a lazy afternoon, a nap, couldn't resist and scratched again my arms and face. I do hope this will stop soon. In a short time I'll go to the "Homeplace Restaurant". I've been told it serves the best family-style AYCE (All You Can Eat) dinner on the trail.
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Catawba

To: Lamperts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: mist

Homeplace Restaurant SERVES the best family-style dinner on the trail, you bet. I couldn't eat all what I was served. I was hardly able to walk the short way back to my bed, felt into it, read a little while and slept very well. The first good sleep I had after several nights. In the morning heavily swollen eyelids again.Late start after the heavy morning rain has stopped eventually. I cheated and started from rte 311. So, only 10 drowsy miles to this shelter. And tomorrow about the same distance to Daleville/Troutville and the next motel. I should try to to to a village where they have a Lost and Foun place. Perhaps I can find my lost sense of homour there again. I sit here inside the shelter. Well protected from the rain. I can't wash the sweat off my skin and it itches terribly. I feel like a wet cat and wish it would be already tomorrow morning.What a luck that I carried my doggy/bag with the leftovers of yesterdays dinner to this place.
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Lamperts Meadow Shelter

To: Dalesville
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Halleluja !Could sleep this night. Only slightly swollen eyes in the morning. NOT ONE BAD EAR ! AND partly sunshine ! (after a very rainy evening and night)Chugged along in a good mood and made 10 miles in 4 hs. Entered the outfitter at Dalesville: "DooSie !" That was really unexpected. It seems I am a well known person in the US.That was "Recon out" A british fellow-hiker from "Devon, near Exeter". I thought he is miles ahead of me. But no, he is leaving the trail monday since - he flys to Germany for 2 weeks. To a motorbike rally. Than he comes back and continues the trail. And now we have this hotel room together with 2 other fellow-hikers. I can have my rest day tomorrow and see whether my skin really gets better. If yes, I'll continue my stroll on the trail. Very relaxing. Had already a good meal at the all American Truckstop. A huge truckstop. HUUUUGGGE !!. I've never seen a thing like that. Countless proud gigantic trucks at a parking lot that touches the horiyon ( I overdo it a bit, I admit). Proud trucks waiting patiently and movingless for their masters. And a little DooSie with not much brain crossing through this labyrinth in search of the restaurant. I found it. Piece of cake.Have to stop now. My PC time in this library at Elisabethtown or -ville at the east cost is over.
Date: 2004-06-27
From: Dalesville

To: Cabin near Dalesville
Miles today: 0.0

Spend most of the day with fellow-hikers in this nice cabin in the woods that is ownd by a friend of one of them.Despite I was together with wonderful and interesting companions it was a bad and sad day for me: terrible headache and a really bad feeling in my stomach. I felt pretty bad, you bet, and I fear I have spoiled the day a bit also for my companions. I hope, I didn t gave them a bad feeling.Anyway, everything seemed to break up. Dan had to fly back to NYC the other day. Recon out went for 2 weeks to Germany visiting friends. He is going to continue the trail at 14th July. I decided to leave the trail since my state of health didn t improve. I had still this itching rash spread over my whole body, headache, nausea. OgodOGod !Meningitis ? Symptoms would fit! But I still believe: What comes by its one will disappear by its own. After all, only 4 days or so ¢walking time¢ left. Have to fly back from Atlanta at 7th July anyway.Only Milliped was brought to the trailhead this very evening. He is the only of the crew who walks on
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Roanoke

To: Campground Hyco Lake
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday good bye to Milliped. Today good bye to Recon out an Dan. His friend brought aus to cosy Roanoke Airport. The companions disappeared in different directions. I hired a car, left Roanoke on HW 220S and than a smaller road East.My first car after nearly 10 years. I was scared, you bet ! But it worked out pretty well and the population of the US didn t suffer of a loss. Not one ! And also absolutely no damages on the car itself, other cars, traffic signs or buildings.Maybe I caused some mental suffering of other drivers. But I find this is only marginal. In any case: I did my best.Bought a book.Had a really good caf© au lait at the bookshop.Eventually I found this Campground beside the lake. Sun is disappearing in a few moments and draws a red line on the water. It is quiet and I feel a bit sad that I felt forced to leave the AT about one week earlier than I had planned. And, of course, I am sad about the lost companions. Everybody went his/hers own ways again. As it was before. As for me, I plan to drive SOBO along the coastline, visit Charleston and Savannah, back to Atlant and back home
Date: 2004-02-24
To: I HAVE TO GET MY JOURNAL STARTED!!
Miles today: 0.0

This is the day! The day I finally make myself stop long enough to get my journal started. My son and I will begin our hike from Springer two weeks from today, and I have promised everyone in Alleghany County, VA they will be able to track our progress on Trail Journals. Friday is my last day at work. I work 9 to 5, Mon.-Fri.; evenings that my grandkids don't have an "event," I walk (on the treadmill/or in the stairwell with my pack) or work-out; and, on the weekends, I try to get in a couple of (over ten-mile) hikes. Maybe next week I'll slow down and get to "catch up" (even though I am still packing mail drop boxes). It seems like we have been "getting ready" for this hike forever. I am so ready for March 9th!!!
Date: 2004-02-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My gear is ready - I think! I've slept out 3 or 4 times to test my sleeping bag and clothes at below 20 degrees and I think I've finally gotten it "just right." I started sleeping out in a picnic shelter, but now I'm using a tarp pitched in the backyard. My shoes have been my major worry. The Montrail's I bought at Christmas continued to hurt my feet, so I've gone back to my North Face trail shoes (they're goretex so they stay warm and dry). I have two pair that are well broken in. I'm trying to stay as light as possible (gear will be listed ASAP). I'm 5'3" and weigh 115 lbs. so I see 20-25 lbs. as the most I want to try to haul to Maine. More tomorrow! I have only two more days to work!
Date: 2004-02-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I guess I should focus at least one entry on my feelings, expectations, and/or reasons for this hike. I've lived my entire life in the eastern end of Alleghany County, VA. I LOVE THIS PLACE!! Approximately 20 members of my family live within a ten mile radius of my house. Every holiday is spent at my parents' house with the clan (ages 3-76). We are an athletic, out-doorsy family who enjoy all sports - baseball, football, basketball, soccer, swimming, hunting, fishing, etc. When I was growing up the woods was my playground. My younger son and I have said for years that the spring of '04 we were going to hike the AT. So, last Memorial Day, I said, "Hey, are we walking The Trail next spring; I need to let my Superintendent know if I don't intend to finish the year." My hiking son was in between moves (from Kentucky to Georgia), so we decided, yes, we're hiking in the spring, if everything went well with his family's relocation. My husband has been very supportive (or should I say tolerant), as he has always been in my many far-reaching endeavors. My local son and his wife, Mom and Dad, brother & sisters, etc. are excited for me (after they finally accepted the fact that I was really serious). My grandsons are not too happy, but when I explained that Grandma just needs 5 months out of her 55 years to do something that she has wanted to do all of her life, then they seem O.K. with that (the youngest says, "but, Grandma, make it minutes"-he understands that minutes are shorter than months). My hiking son, a few weeks ago, said, "Hey, Mom, have you ever been out of Alleghany County for longer than two weeks at a time?" The answer is NO. We do summer vacations at Nags Head and we've done Florida for as much as two weeks at a time, but this hike is definitely my "big adventure." My expectations: To walk a new walk everyday; to awake each day cognizant of the fact that each place I pass that day I will, most likely, never pass that way again; to accept whatever the challenge the days bring with an innate knowledge that both my son and I can face, accept, and conquer these challenges and reach our goal. 2168 miles and 14 states - I plan to see it all from beginning to end.
Date: 2004-02-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today is my last day at work! My co-workers are having my retirement dinner tonight. I will be a blast (I think that's a '60's term). I have worked for this school division for 18 years, and I do feel I have made a difference - in students' lives while I was at the high school and for our employees since I've been in administration. But now, I want to do something fun. After my hike, I've thought about part-time teaching or working at our local state park, Douthat (I certainly know the trails, I've been training there every week-end for the past nine months). I have another whole lifetime ahead of me and, like my hike, I think I'll just take it "one day at a time."
Date: 2004-02-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

What at beautiful day! The temps are in the low 50's. My grandson had a basketball game at 11:00 (they won), so this was a short hike day - I did about two hours with about 30 lbs. It's great to know that even when I have limited time, I can just go across the road, or behind my house, and have a good walk with some decent ridges. Ive tried to get in shape, but I have always heard, "the Trail will get you in shape." Only nine days to go, and we'll finally know!!!
Date: 2004-02-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It is 65 degrees here today. The robins are back and the dandelions are blooming. Do we dare think that "spring has sprung?" It makes me second-think my expedition-weight polypro that I've packed; but, then, my common sense takes over, and I remember all of the March (and April) snow storms that we get in Virginia. I'd rather be safe, than sorry! I did a 4 hour (probably 9 miles) hike at Douthat today with about 28 lbs. in my pack (I was at 20 lbs., so I threw in my 8 lb.hand weights). Some pretty good ups/downs and tolerated it well. Hey, I don't have to go to work tomorrow - I'm retired!!! My day of leisure will be spent working on my mail drops.
Date: 2004-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Slept out again last night for the last time until I'm on the trail. It was 34 when I went out and 24 degrees when I woke up. I rested well - when the neighborhood dogs weren't barking. Today I packed boxes all day. I'm afraid I'm already tired of trail food. Just kidding! I'm really trying to "mix it up" so I don't have to eat the same thing everyday. Some noodles, some macaroni, but also potato soup, broccoli soup, vegetable soup, rice, tuna, etc. I'm not normally a big eater, but my son continues to stress that I will have to consume lots of calories. Imagine, eating without guilt.
Date: 2004-03-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Took my pack to the post office and had it weighed - 16.5 lbs. without food and water. I think I can cut a little off of that, but not much. It's pretty close to the weight I was hoping for. I'll be looking forward to the time when I can dump the winter geat. Then, I should be cruisin' with about 20 lbs. (with full load) - I hope.
Date: 2004-03-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I haven't said "thank you" yet to all of the hikers who post on Trail Jouranls. I religiously followed the 2003 hikers (Detective Friday, Journey, Goldberry, Sassafras and Flying Cricket, Dimples, et.al) and I learned so much about enduring the hard times and enjoying the good times on the trail. I will be updating my own journal whenever I get computer access. My entries may be short, but I'll do my best to share the special moments, places, and people who go into the mix of this experience and give all of you a taste of the "trail life."
Date: 2004-03-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

All of my doubts and misgivings as to whether walking the trail this year is the "right" thing to do were completely dissipated today. My sixth-grade grandson has to do a journal each day as part of his English assignment. Today's topic was "The Woman You Most Admire." He told me (as we were throwing football) that the teacher nixed Janet Jackson, so, "Grandma, I wrote that I most admire you, because you're going to walk the Appalachian Trail." How humbling! These simple words said to me that he's going to be O.K. while I'm gone; that he's going to be pulling for me; that he has a deep sense of pride in my efforts. His faith in me will keep me going - there will be no quitting -all the way to Maine.
Date: 2004-03-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So, what do you do on your last Saturday at home for some time to come? 1) Have your grandson sleep over (one will stay; the younger one will stay until time to go to bed and then go home) and have lots of Yu-Gi-Oh matches; and, 2) re-pack your pack and re-check the drop boxes. In between, I got in a short walk (less than two hours). It's raining here, off and on; but, it's still warm. Wow, I really hope that our trail weather will be this mild - wishful thinking???
Date: 2004-03-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

And, what do you do on your last Sunday at home? 1) Have your grandson sleep over, have lots of Yu-Gi-Oh matches, and shoot some hoops; and, 2)Clean house - change beds, dust, do bathrooms-ugh; and, 3) do a short walk with my fully-loaded pack to see if the load feels O.K. We'll be leaving Alleghany County, Virginia around 7:00 tomorrow morning, and it should be an 8.5 hour drive to the Amicalola Park lodge. We're stopping at Walasi-Yi on the way down to drop off a box, and I need to exchange a pack cover at Mountain Crossings. No more entries for a while - the next ones will be from the trail.
Date: 2004-03-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Left Alleghany Co. around 7:30 and by 10:00 I had gotten a speeding ticket. Dropped off a box at Mountain Crossing at Neels Gap and pulled into the Amicolala Lodge at about 6:30. The lodge has panoramic views of the mountains and we arrived just as the sun was setting - spectacular. Tomorrow's the day! The day I switch my journal entries from "prep" to currently hiking. Is this for real?
Date: 2004-03-09
To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

What an awesome day. It started out sunny and pleasant - I pull off my long sleeves. Then it starts to blow snow - I put my shirt back on. Then the sun comes out - shirt off. Then it starts to hail, then it rains, then the sun comes out, then there's thunder, and more snow. What a great day to start this journey. We hiked the approach trail from the Lodge to the beginning of the AT on Springer. The rocks underfoot are quartz and mica and I kept hearing myself say, "Follow the yellow-brick road." Hey, I'm not in Kansas. The hike up wasn't nearly as strenuous as I expected, though. There were stands of holly trees all along the way. It's 7:30 and there are four guys and me in this shelter tonight - one from Engladn, one from Iowa, and a guy from Boston. There's a couple tenting nearby from Blacksburg, VA. Hello, Virginia!
Date: 2004-03-10
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

A beautiful hiking day. We left the shelter around 8:00. My feet got cold last night and I didn't sleep much. The temp got down to 24 and the wind was howling. The hiking was harder today, too, but we took lots of "shoe off" breaks. At about 2:00 we had to decide whether to keep hiking or go on to Woody Gap and tent. We kept going and tonight we're in a quiet streamside camping area (no one else is here, so far) on the northern side of Granny Top Mountain. Tomorrow we do Blood Mountain and we should get into Neel's Gap early - it's only 7 miles.Hi all of you - Zach, Jo, Kacy, Liza, Kenny
Date: 2004-03-11
From: Woody Gap

To: Bags Creek Gap
Miles today: 12.0

Slept great! The temps were down to 25, but the lull of the stream and two Aleve put me out. It got up to 70 today (another clothes on/clothes off day). We got over Blood Mountain and into Neel's Gap by 11:30. Picked up our boxes and kept going. The views from all of the mountain tops today were spectacular. The climbs were not too bad, the downs were hard on my knees (if anyone from the School Board office is reading this, please tell Rock, Jeff, and Mike "thanks" for putting up with me all of those nights I did the stairs at CMS and Mtn.View - it really did help - some of those ups and downs today were just like doing stairs). O.K. It's 7:30 - bedtime - for me the person who never sleeps before midnight. Luv U - AllSpent $5
Date: 2004-03-12
From: Bags Creek Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Last night I was in the tent (tarp, actually), trying to go to sleep, and I opened my eyes, I was looking right up at the stars. None of this seems real - even though the sore knees feel real. We did some big ups and long, long downs today. There are very few hikers on the trail. We walk for long stretches without seeing anyone. We decided that since we didn't do the stop at Neal's Gap (hence, we havenit had a shower or clean clothes for four days)we would hitch a ride into Helen, Ga. and stay at the Super-8 for the night. Didn't take long for someone to pick us up. Now, I'm clean, have clean clothes on, have called and talked to all the folks back home, and I am sleeping in a bed in a warm room. Oh, yes, and we're up late - it's 8:30.Hello - Zach, Jo, Liza, Kacy, Gina, Kenny - everyone back homeSpent - $33 (room, dinner, laundry)
Date: 2004-03-13
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow! Hitching is easy in Ga. Got out of Heln and back on the trail by 8:00. Another beautiful hiking day. Temps in low 60's. Up and over Tray Mtn., then up and down all day. At 3:00 we had to decide whether to stop at the shelter or keep going another 4 miles so we could stay at the Blueberry Patch Hostel. We kept going and now we are tucked in at this fantastic place! There's a fire in the stove, how shower, and the Poteats do your laundry and cook breakfast, and they only ask for a donation. Mr. Poteat took us back to the trail at 9:30, and there were 4 or 5 hikers waiting to go back with him. We saw a few more hikers today - but mostly day hikers or kids on spring break. The only wildlife we've seen so far has been grouse and squirrels.Hello everyone back homeSpent $15
Date: 2004-03-14
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

When people tell you that the Ga. Mountains are the hardest, remember, people lie! There's 50 percent chance of rain tonight, so we know we either had to stop at this shelter of go 5 more miles to Standing Indian Shelter. Ever since we hit the N.C. line the ups have been horrendous. I thought maybe it was just me, but my hiking partner agreed that the last climb was one of the hardest. We got a late start so we are stopping for the night (4:00). There's 4 others in the shelter (the shelter can sleep 8). We have a campfire tonight and the temp is not too bad.Patty at CMS - tell Ryland he had done some really hard hiking last yearHi Zach and Jo
Date: 2004-03-15
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Sorry it's taking so long to update. It never occurred to me how hard it would be to find a computer out here in the woods (you know, book sense/no common sense). It was an easy walk today (our first day of walking in the rain) and we stopped at about 2:30. The next shelter is about 7 miles and we thought about going another 3 miles and tenting, but thee is a chance of rain again in the a.m. We have the same folks here tonight that were in Muskrat Creek shelter last night. About 7:30 last night it started pouring and rained hard all night. The temps are in the 40's so walking in the rain wasn't bad. There's 9 in the shelter tonight - 5 guys and 4 females - variety of ages and lots of laughs.
Date: 2004-03-16
From: Carter's Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

We've come into Franklin, N.C. tonight to resupply. It rained again today. The walk wasn't too bad until Albert Mtn., which goes straight up to 5500 ft. I'd really rather do this kind of straight up, hand over hand climb. Nice sleeping in a real bed.