morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-03-09
To: Prep #9
Miles today: 0.0

My countdown meter is at T-28 so we should be heading north from Springer in exactly four weeks.During the past few weeks I have been busy with many last minute items.About three weeks ago I decided it was better to acclimate my body to sleeping on the ground before starting out. I started sleeping on the floor with my air mattress and sleeping bag (see Gear section on the left). It took me about ten nights to work up to getting through the full night without retreating in pain to my bed. From that point I spent the next ten nights on the floor quite comfortably. Now I have backed off to alternating nights in bed and on the floor. I finally bit the bullet and got an LG enV2 phone from Verizon. This will let me have regular, though spotty, phone service along the trail, plus take and upload photos, and compose, send and receive emails (without attachments). This should be all I need to keep my trail journal updated. I also purchased an extra battery so I will have more life between recharges in trail towns. Normally I will hike with the phone off, checking for messages 2-3 times a day if I am within range of a cell tower, but I will still need the extra battery power to compose a journal entry every day.We had a lot of rain here last week so one day I gathered my courage, went out into a deluge and set up my tent. It wasn't much fun, but well worth it. When I came back in the house, I immediately made several gear adjustments to save setup time when I need to do it for real on the trail!On Saturday, I attended an all day Wilderness First Aid seminar sponsored by the Sierra Club. Although the primary focus of the seminar was to train group leaders, having had no first aid training since my Boy Scout days, I still learned a lot.This morning I uploaded my Mail Drop schedule (see the side bar on the left). Fortunately this schedule can be modified on the fly, if and when my schedule changes.This afternoon is set aside for seam sealing my tent, pack, and several stuff sacks.In between all this prep work, I am trying to hike at least every other day, plus read the journals of those of the Class of 2009 who have braved an early March departure.By the way, I've come across a very good overview strip map of the entire A.T. located here.I would rather be ashes than dust! - Jack LondonRoute 66(To see all photos in this journal, click here.)
Date: 2009-03-30
To: Prep #10
Miles today: 0.0

The final prep whirlwind is in full storm mode around here.About 10 days ago I went out for a 3-day, 2-night gear shakedown hike with my frequent hiking companion Becky. We did 20 miles and 5,400 feet of elevation, cooked three meals with alcohol and one with twigs, washed clothes, purified water, hung our food bag in trees, doctored our feet, and successfully dealt with a bull that was blocking the narrow trail. Everything worked pretty well, but I did make a few minor changes to my gear as a result of the trip.A few days later I attended the monthly meeting of BALLS (a gentlemen's cigar and martini group) to say farewell for six months, and took the opportunity to hand off the final files of an internet forum I have moderated for the past several years to my successor, Scott.Meanwhile, day in and day out, I am working through a long check list of things to do before I leave ... filing taxes, a short haircut, temporarily unsubscribing from various things on the internet, learning how to use the new phone/email/camera device I will use to send my journal updates from the trail, deciding if my fancy new shoes are really going to keep my feet happy, or whether I should stick with the Walmart "training shoes" that have served me well for the past year, rain testing my tent with a hose, etc., etc. The problem is that the list is getting shorter at one end and longer at the other end! The biggest remaining task is getting everything together for my bounce box, two resupply boxes, and the large cardboard box I will use as checked baggage when I fly to Atlanta (and then abandon). The box needs to hold all my gear, some of Bon Bon's gear, some of our food, my trekking poles, and still stay within the size/weight limits of the airline.So right now, Bon Bon and I are at T-7 and counting. There was a last minute panic around here last week when it looked like Bon Bon might have to wait through a lengthy delay until a business deal closed, but it all come together successfully this past Friday and now all system are go.We put our boots on the trail Monday, the 6th, a week from today. Bon Bon flies from southern California on Wednesday to attend her high school reunion. I fly from San Francisco on Saturday. On Sunday Bon Bon's sister will take us shopping for food and fuel, and then to a family cabin near Springer where we will box up most of the food, get all our gear in order, and spend the night. Then, on Monday morning, we will mail our food drops and her sister will drive us up Forest Service Rd. 42 to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the A.T.
Date: 2009-04-06
To: Prep #12
Miles today: 0.0

Bon Bon and I are "camped' at her sister's cabin about six miles from Springer as the crow flies. We had hoped to start off about noon today, but the weather did us in. The forecast for tonight and tomorrow night in the mountains are mid-teens with a wind chill of ten degrees on top of that ... not the best way to get our feet wet, or frozen. It now looks like Wednesday, the 8th, is going to be about 30 degrees warmer, so we will start then. In the meantime, we spent the day getting our backpacks organized, and five food resupply boxes packed and mailed up the trail as far as Fontana Village. We will pick them up at post offices about every three days over the next two weeks or so. After that, we decided to visit Amicolola Falls State Park, the start of the AT Approach Trail, 7-8 miles from the official starting point on top of Springer Mountain. We hadn't planned to go there, but since we had the time, we did. We signed in, took photos at the arch, visited the first shelter, and weighed our packs. Mine was 24# fully loaded (the lightest of the 11 thru-hikers who signed in today); Bon Bon's was 26#. We then went on a 1.5 mile hike on the approach trail, visiting the falls, and then going a bit further up towards Springer from the top of the falls. By then it was dinner time, so we went to the park lodge and gorged ourselves on the $10 all you can eat (AYCE in AT lingo) menu. While we were having dinner, snow started, and now, about 9:30 pm back at the cabin, it is coming down heavily and sticking to the ground.PhotosPacks and drop boxes ready, but snow in the forecastPack weigh-inOfficial sign-inCeremonial AT starting pointBon Bon with our hosts, sister Ginny and her husband Trip, we while wait out the storm
Date: 2009-04-08
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: clear sky

Bon Bon's niece picked us up at 9:30 and drove us 6 miles up the Forest Service road that crosses the AT nearest to its southern terminus. We said our farewells at 10:22 and started hiking .9 miles south and 400 feet up on the AT to the official starting point.After taking some ceremonial photos and signing the register, we turned around and began our official hike, in 35 degree weather, north with snow on the ground and ice on the trail. As we descended Springer, the snow was less and the icy trail turned to mud.The hike today was a gentle downhill for the first 4 miles, followed by 2.5 miles of moderate uphill, and a mile of level hiking to Hawk Mountain Shelter where we tented.As we moved along, the temperature got up to the mid-50s ... perfect for hiking.We made three stops along the way ... lunch on the trail of gorp and pepperoni sticks, a rest/snack break at Three Forks, a beautiful stream we crossed, and Long Creek Falls, a pretty spectacular waterfall a few hundred yards off the trail.We arrived at camp at 5:30, set up our tents, got water, cooked dinner at the shelter, and went to bed, tired but happy, at 9:00, only to be awakened repeatly during the night by very nearby machine gun and cannon fire, and low flying choppers since this is an area where troops practise nighttime warfare!PhotosAshley, Bon Bon's niece, who gave us a ride up Springer Mountain to the trailheadSpringer Mountain. The Southern Terminus. Mile 0!The first of 1,000's of bridgesMaps are helpful, but not needed, on the AT. White blazes (about every 100-200 yards) mark the way. Double white blazes mean "change ahead." Blue blazes are used on side trails to shelters, water sources, etc. No blazes for awhile mean you may have taken a wrong turn!Three ForksLong Creek FallsCampsite at Hawk Mountain ShelterFirst dinner
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We got up at 8:00, cooked breakfast (grits with bacon, and hot chocolate), packed up, and finally got under way about 10:30.The big events of the day were a series of vertical climbs of 400, 800, 400, 200, and 400 feet which pretty much wore us out. We took several rest, snack and hydration breaks along the way since we were in no rush.We arrived at camp about 5:30. Folks in the shelter told us some showers were expected, but we decided to tent anyway.While setting up camp, I took my clothing bag and tossed it over by my tent, but being a round and plump bag, it rolled over the side of an embankment and proceeded to fall and bounce over 100 feet down before it came to rest. I had to scramble down to get it ... another lesson learned.There was a nice crowd here tonight, including some folks we had met over the past two days. We cooked dinner and hung out at the shelter until about 9:00 and then went to bed.PhotosBear bagging, a nightly choreOur first outhouse, called a "privy" on the ATOur first "bear"Filling a water bottleTypical shelter area layoutGooch Mountain Shelter
Date: 2009-04-10
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

... it's a rainy day in Georgia ...Well, the prediction of rain in during the night proved wrong, but that's the only good news.About 7:15, just as I was beginning to get out of my sleeping bag, there was a flash of lightning, followed two seconds later by a sharp clap of thunder, and then rain drops. The rain got heavy real fast so I packed up my clothes and sleeping bag so they would not get wet.Bon Bon was camped about 50 feet away in the next tent site. I called to her several times, but she did not answer so I assumed she was still sleeping. Finally, about 11:00, I decided we needed to figure out what to do so I bundled up and ran over to her tent.She wasn't there! All her gear, except her tent, was gone too!I figured she hadn't gone far and soon found her at the shelter where she had taken refuge and staked out a couple of spots for us in case we decided to stay over. Several hikers decided to move on despite the weather, but about 9 of us stayed, hoping for better weather in the morning.We did the right thing because at 5:30 all hell broke loose. Lightning, thunder, howling wind, hail, and a deluge all at once, lasting about half an hour.We left our tents pitched but slept in the shelter. The shelter was rated for 10, but by the time late hikers arrived, we had 12-13, including one on the picnic tablePhotosShelter life on a rainy day
Date: 2009-04-11
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Lance Creek tent site
Miles today: 8.2

The weather improved overnight.Folks in the shelter started stirring about 7:15 to get ready to hike on, but just before 8:00, a 69 year old man who had been tenting .6 miles south of the shelter, walked up and said. "I need help. I think I have had a stroke. I've had two strokes in the past. I spent last night sleeping in a freezing cold puddle in my tent."The shelter crowd sprang into action, getting him into Bon Bon's dry bag, calling 911, getting a couple of guys to go back down the trail to fetch his gear, etc.Within a hour, two medics hiked in from the nearest Forest Service road 1.5 miles away. They looked him over and decided to have him carried out. So, about an hour after that, another eight folks, including a higher level medical gal showed up, did more tests, and finally wheeled him away on a special gurney with just one large rubber wheel. We learned later that he had been released from the hospital and was making making plans to return home to Florida.We don't know what the final diagnosis was, but the consensus of the hikers is hypothermia; not a stroke.About 10 minutes after he "rolled out," the shelter was empty as everyone set off to make up lost time.We hiked our 1,500 feet of elevation and eight miles today with "Doc" from northern Wisconsin, arriving about 5:30 at the Lance Creek "tent site" (i.e. no shelter, picnic table, outhouse (called a "privy" on the trail). "Cat" and "Old Hobo" were there too. We have camped near them every night since starting out.After setting up camp, we cooked a quick dinner, chatted with the others for awhile and went to bed as it was already in the low 40's.PhotosDrying outHypothermia victimMountain rescue teamHiking with Doc from northern WisconsinWhere's that "gentle footpath" we were promised?Lance Creek tent site
Date: 2009-04-12
From: Lance Creek tent site

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: clear sky

It got down to 32 last night. We had energy bars for breakfast rather than cook, and hit the trail about 9:30.The elevation gain today was about 2,200 feet, with the main event being an 800 foot slog up Blood Mountain and a steep 1,700 foot descent down the other side. At 4,400+ feet, Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia, with an old stone shelter and great views.After a break, we started down the steepest grade we have encountered so far, with lots of rocks which would have been very slippery had this not been a clear, dry day. This went on for over two miles until we reached Neels Gap at 3,100 feet and our first trail hostel/outfitter, Mountain Crossings.Here, after 30+ miles and four days of hiking, is where about 25% of AT thru-hikers toss in the towel and get off the trail. We plan to continue on, but may stay two nights in the bunk house since rain is forecast for all day tomorrow.As we hiked along today, we met Danni (a gal from Maryland), and Peter and Jane from Virginia. When we got to the hostel, we also ran into Etai, from Israel, who we had met a few days ago. Since the hostel has no restaurant, the six of us combined resources and took a shuttle 17 miles down the mountain into Blairsville for dinner and shopping. Being Easter, when we got to town, our only choice was BurgerKing. We then picked up a few items at the grocery store... and headed back to the hostel.There are about 10 here tonight, mostly a younger crowd. A few folks played Gin, but everyone was in bed by about 10. We are sleeping about ten hours a night!PhotosBlood Mountain ShelterView from Blood MountainBalance RockMountain Crossings outfitter and hostel at Neels GapEaster dinner at Burger King in BlairsvilleHostel common roomThe bunk room sleeps about 15. Seen here are, from left, Peter and Jane from Virginia, Danni from Maryland, and Etai from Israel.Old Hobo and CatNano (front)
Date: 2009-04-13
From: Neels Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

As predicted, we awoke to a drizzly day ... with fog keeping visibility down to 100 feet!We had planned to use the down day to wash clothes, charge our cell phones, and other things. This all came to a quick halt about 8:15 when the power and water went out, not to reappear until about 4:30! Despite the difficulties, we did manage to get Bon Bon's broken tent pole repaired, find and fix a pinhole leak in my air mattress, wash and dry our clothes, and organize our food for the next leg of our journey.Some folks moved on in the rain while a steady stream of new hikers stumbled out of the fog all day, mostly older than yesterday's crowd, filling the hostel to the brim.Someone organized a pizza delivery for dinner which brightened things up considerably.Hoping for a brighter day tomorrow!PhotosWaiting out the fog and rainOur clothes after only 4 days!Still awful after pre-rinsing them three times!
Date: 2009-04-14
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

This morning proved to be as soupy as yesterday, but word was that it would clear up later in the day so we decided to go for it.After using the coffee maker In the hostel to heat water for our grits and hot chocolate, we packed up and said our farewells to our 13 hostelmates with whom we had shared one bathroom.I had brought a pack cover for rainy days, but, foolishly, never tried to fit it on my pack when it was totally full. It didn't fit by a mile! Fortunately, the outfitter at the hostel had just the sizes we needed, so we were on our way just after 10:00.Off we went into the fog, going up 1,000 feet right away, heating us up quickly under our rain jackets in the 50 degree, 100% humidity weather. Fortunately, after about four hours. the sun broke through the clouds and we had sunshine, warmth, and some great views from various mopuntain tops.We hiked most of the day with Doc, arriving at Low Gap Shelter about 6:30 after nearly eleven miles ... our longest day so far. My plan was to do roughly eight miles/day for trhe first four days of hiking, then four days at 10 miles, four at 12, four at 14, and then see how I feel.It got chilly as soon as we arrived, so we set up our tents, cooked quickly and went right to bed to spend a cold night accompanied by strong winds all night.PhotosMoving on with the promise of clearer weather aheadBon Bon on the banks of The Appalachian RiverHog Pen Gap - many of the place names along the trail go back a long, long timeComing in to Low Gap Shelter
Date: 2009-04-15
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Helen, GA
Miles today: 9.4

Doc hiked out ahead of us today and we have not seen him since. He is a faster hiker than I so we may never see him again. Such is life on the AT.Today was our first really nice day of hiking, with clear skies, nice temps, and more and more wild flowers popping up.We started off with a long, easy uphill on an old, abandonded logging road. Later, we had some fairly long stretches of level (flat) trail for the first time too. Then came a long stretch where the mountain had disintegrated into boulder fields which called for lots of careful rock hopping.Towards the end of the day, we had a tortuous 1,000 foot downhill to a road. Our plan called for us to then hike back up 1,000 feet to a tent site, but our legs said "No!"After looking around, we concluded it was not safe to camp so close to the road, so we consulted our trail guide and noted the town of Helen was only nine miles down the road and that the Super 8 Motel there had a special hiker rate. Bon Bon had never hitchhiked in her entire life, but stepped up to the plate and got us a ride in short order with a delivery truck, and we were literally "delivered" to the motel a short time later!We showered, rinsed our clothes, had a great dinner at Paul's Steakhouse and went to bed to get the first good night's sleep since starting out.PhotosPacking upFresh water spring right beside our tentsLow Gap Shelter (we tented nearby)Hiking on an old forest roadRotten trailDinner in Helen
Date: 2009-04-16
From: Helen, GA

To: Sassafras Gap tent site
Miles today: 10.4

We had a very restful sleep after so many nights in tents, a shelter and the hostel.After a continental breakfast in the motel lobby, we packed up and were ready to go about 9:00, but not before bringing the manager into our room and showing her the 4-5 pounds of extra food we had decided to leave there for the maid since we are eating much less than expected ... not unusual for early days of a thru-hike.Helen is a tourist town that architecturally looks a bit like Bavaria. We walked through the business district, taking pictures, to the other end of town where Bon Bon tried out her emerging hitchhiking skills again. Soon after she put out her sign, Cindy and Eileen, two avid hikers and trail angels on their way to Hiawassee, picked us up and got us back up to the trail by about 10:00.This was going to be a tough day since we needed to make up the 1,000 feet of elevation our feet had rebelled against yesterday. Altogether we had about 3,200 feet to climb today ... the worst so far.On the way up the first mountain, we happened across Mo Mike, about my age, who we had seen off and on since we were together at Neels Gap. He was just breaking camp, and, as the day went on, we passed each other from time to time. As we came into an area called the Cheese Factory (don't ask 'cause I don't know) we joined him for lunch and to make a side trip to get water, getting a bit more acquainted.The weather was great today as we hiked along and when we finally arrived at our tent site, it was warm enough to actually do more than rush to set up camp, cook dinner and jump into our sleeping bags.While I started making dinner, Bon Bon and Mo Mike went down the hill to fetch water. It turned out to be more than they had bargained for, and they did not return for about 20 minutes after a very steep descent and climb back up.We sat up and watched the sun set in relatively warm weather until 9:00 pm, far beyond usual "hiker midnight."PhotosDowntown HelenEileen and Cindy gave us a ride back to the trailMo MikeSassafras Gap tent site
Date: 2009-04-17
From: Sassafras Gap tent site

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: clear sky

We were up, fed, packed up, and on the trail by 9:30. Even with reduced mileage, it was a 2,000 foot day, hiking near Mo Mike from time to time.The weather was great ... much like Bon Bon and I had expected for the entire trip so far before we came face to face with the reality of late spring in the north Georgia mountains. We saw more wild flowers today and signs of emerging leaves which Bon Bon says will eventually reduce my ability to see through the forest and create a "green tunnel" for hikers.Along the way, we met our first Ridge Runner and trail maintenance worker. Ridge Runners hike up and down a set portion of the trail looking for problems, chatting with hikers, inspecting shelters, etc. What they find, in part, becomes the work list for the trail maintainers who deal with all kinds of things ... from making sure trail drainage measures are working, to cutting blown down trees blocking the trial. We arrived at Dicks Creek Gap about 2:30, and Bon Bon again did her magic, getting us a ride into Hiawassee in short order with local retirees Dave and his wife Robin. Dave often goes fishing for trout in the mountains while Robin goes up and down the creek gathering bags of rubbish.They dropped us off at the Hiawassee Inn where we ended up with a room two doors down from Mo Mike. After turning in our clothes for washing, showering, and picking up our food drop, we took the 6:00 PM shuttle to the other end of town to Daniels for an AYCE (all you can eat) dinner with Mo Mike. We ran into Nano again there, having last seen him at the restaurant in Helen. Not sure if he is hiking or grazing his way along the trail since we have never actually seen him hike ... ;-)After dinner we walked back to our motel and were in bed at 7:30.PhotosRhododendron tunnelA "piped" springClearing blowdowns from the trail is a huge, never-ending jobBon Bon, the hitchhiking proDave and Robin gave us a ride into HiawasseeHanging out in borrowed clothes while ours were getting washedA piece of history in downtown Hiawassee