morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-07
From: YELLOW BLAZERS HELL, White Mountains!

To: Kinsman Mountain, NH
Miles today: 0.0

I love this mountain so so much! I love the Whites tremendously. It is too bad they are so crowded but that's another rant. The climbs are steep the descents steeper... Lisa and I have been having a great time. It's so nice to share beautiful views with someone you care about. We stealthed our first two nights in the Whites... once right smack dab in the middle of the trail and once down by a developed campsite next to Eliza Brook. I loved the sound of rushing water soothing our souls after a day of climbing. Tomorrow we go deeper in the Whites... Happiness... Bliss... Lafayette here we come.   NOt much more to report other than we are gonna keep on keeping on!Peace OutAswahset list from our first show:July 30, 2004Tweeter CenterMansfield (Boston), MASet 1: Help On The Way> Slipknot!> Franklin's Tower> Truckin'> Love Supreme Jam> Me & Bobby McGee Strange World> The Wheel> @Candyman Just A Little Light U.S. BluesSet 2: Lady With A Fan> Terrapin Station> St. Stephen> High Green Chilly Winds> The Eleven> Scarlet Begonias> Fire On The Mountain> Drumz/Space> Mountains Of The Moon China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider E: @#Ripple#Phil-no bass, Warren-slide @Bobby acousticset list from our second show:August 1, 2004Happy Birthday Jerry!Saratoga Perf Arts CtrSaratoga Springs, NYSet 1: Jam> Uncle John's Band @Lazy River Road ^Estimated Prophet> The Other One Jam> No More Do I Down The Road Again Music Never StoppedSet 2: @Me & My Uncle Cryptical Envelopment> Death Don't Have No Mercy Birdsong> Reuben & Cerise> Drumz/Space> Shine On You Crazy Diamond> St. Stephen>Comes A Time> The Other One> Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad> Angel Band E: The Real Thing^Phil dedicates to memory of Kirk Kuehn @=Bobby acoustic
Date: 2004-08-13
From: Stealth Camping in the WHITES!

To: Gorham... Andover... Who Knows?
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Time is trickling to an end... sadness... I had my first work related nightmare... Oh, on yesterdays post... The computer I was (and am) using has a messed up keyboard... no T's...Lisa and I are venturing up to the Cabin to meet, greet and get liquored with he one and only Rambunny, repeat Offender exraordinaire. Then back thru the Mahoosuc Notch and onward to our end date. This could be one of the last posts till the end. I am posing many many more pictures for those interested.Aswahp.s. hey Rebel... tell your son he needs a least 4K or 5K, even living without exras. I've put 5,000 plus miles on the AT and that is my opinion.
Date: 2004-08-16
From: Gorham... Andover... Who Knows?

To: The Cabin - The Vortex
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Good Lord and I thought that Damascus was a Vortex!Lisa and I have been holed up here in Andover for a few days now. Help me LORD! Honey and Bear are just too nice and their cabin is too nice. Lord give me the strength to leave or I will be registering to vote here, in Maine. We have caught up to Rambunny and Aqua. Actually a dead snail trying to hike uphill in frozen molasses could catch Ms. R Bunny this year. Not that she is slow... it is just that she isn't moving due to a broken rib. Crikey!Last night I made Poule au Pot as a tribute to the late great Julia Childs. I poached the chicken in an aromatic broth then reduced the juices added tarragon and cream, blah blah and served it with rice pilaf. Cliff made some Mexican food to go with it. Kind of a Mexi-Froggy tribute. Lisa and I are trying to figure out what to do now...short post...Aswah
Date: 2004-08-20
From: The Cabin - The Vortex

To: Moxie Bald Mountain
Miles today: 0.0

I sit and write this while watching TV back at home in the Chicagoland area... It's really kind of sad to be home... more on that later...After leaving the Cabin, we jumped up to Cartunk, Maine. We had a time limit. Our planned trip out WEST was starting soon and we wanted to be on Katahdin by the end of August. I guess I kinda of regret missing parts of Maine. It is such a beautiful, rugged state. We spent the night at North Country Micro Brew in one of their cabin tents. The next day, overladen as always, we hiked out. The first day we stopped near Bald Mountain Brook campsite. A fantastic thunderstorm passed over us during the evening. I love the sounds of rain on our tarp. The next morning we toasted bagels over our Freight Train Stove 2000 and climbed up to Moxie Bald. Realizing it was our last mountain top to camp on... we stopped and set up our tarp. It is amazing how versatile one can get in tarp hanging. We had a wonderful night camped there. We did spend the day with Slips enjoying the views. Oh, what's up with all the garbage up there?Hey, just saw Tha Wookie on CNN... cool! Congrats!
Date: 2004-08-21
From: Moxie Bald Mountain

To: Monson Maine
Miles today: 0.0

We woke up to rain and more rain... I knew that if it rained hard we might have a problem where we set up our tarp... By the time we had finished coffee, chai and breakfast the water was starting to flood under our tarp. I guess that's what happens when you set up on a rocky mountain top in a depression. Still, I would never change where I tarped. Lisa and I trudged down the mountain and thru the woods. Sometimes it's a lot of fun getting wet and muddy on the trail. Today we enjoyed it. A few small river crossings. We got to Horseshoe Canyon Shelter and cooked lunch. Slips and others were there. We made plans to jump up to Baxter State Park with Slips. With loose plans to also meet in Monson.Got to Monson... quickly. Checked into the Pie Lady's abode. Spent the next day eating loads of BBQ. Damn that BBQ joint rocks! Try the steak and cheese BBQ sandwich. Ran into Slips, ate pies and decided to spend one more day.Next day came and we packed up and waited till 5:00 am to meet Slips brother and friend for a journey to BSP...
Date: 2004-08-26
From: Holy Mount Katahdin

To: down the knife edge
Miles today: 0.0

after pouring my thoughts onto my journal for August 25th... I realize I left ourselves on the Tablelands pondering the conclusion of our hike... We walked up the remaining mile in silence, our minds heavy with thought. Walking to the sign is no less dramatic the second time around. I love how I feel as I look at the sign. Can you imagine, if a sign could think, the joy and tears that this old weathered sign has seen? All the different people who have photographed this sign. We sat on top and thought about which way we would descend. We decided upon the Knife Edge. As the name implies it is a true knife edge descent. There are more rocks than in all of Pennsylvania up here. There are moments when your heart is down in your stomach going down this way. One slip and you will forever become part of the Maine mountain landscape. Earlier this summer someone got crushed to death by a boulder that accidently was dislodged by another hiker. You really have to respect the awesome power of the natural world. It is indifferent to us. Our lifespans, the lifespan of man, is nothing, not even a wink of an eye to that of Mount Katahdin. The rocks do not care whether or not we are here. By the time you reach the Chimney you have passed several hair raising parts of the descent. We caught up to Slips and his friends for the Chimney. The Chimney was the only spot going down that I felt uneasy. It requires more skills as a mountain climber than a hiker. Remember Lisa and I had full packs. Our legs were getting tired. In a last moment of cooperation, everyone helped get everyone safely down the mountain. Each person would guide the next person in where they ought to place their feet to descend. We got down to the ranger station around 10 p.m. in full darkness. The ranger gave us a ride to the jeep. Slips and company got us to a motel in Millinocket and to much needed sleep...
Date: 2003-11-17
To: The Plan
Miles today: 0.0

Plan to get a ride up with my friend LWOP on Febuary 24th, 2004 or there abouts. We plan to get to the top of Springer Mtn on Feb 27th and start hiking on Feb 28th. Beyond trying to make it to Justine Creek on the first day, we don't really have a set plan. For me, I plan to hike about 12 - 14 miles per day and make it to Mt Katahdin by Sept 30th. Would like to go faster, but as a Florida Flatlander, age 55, I doubt I can go much quicker.I tried this in 1997 and was given the trail name Slow Walker by the group I was hiking with at Mt Albert. Everyone else would get to the shelter at mid-afternoon and I would wander in about 5 pm. I had made all sorts of plans and knew where I was going to be every day for the next five months. Problem was, I couldn't get up the mountains. I was carrying 55 pounds and could only make 8 to 10 miles per day. Then at Wine Springs camp area, I froze my feet about March 15th and was walking on numb feet for the next two weeks. It took six months for my feet to return to normal. Plus my money was going a little faster than planned. So with great reluctance, quit the trail at the end of the month, having only gone 240 miles.This time, I'm carrying maybe 35 to 40 pounds, depending on how much food and water I've got. The base weight, without food and water, is about 22 to 25 pounds. A little heavier than the ultra light packers, but I think it's a good weight. My conditioning is better this time, plus I have more than enough money to complete the trip. Whether I'll have any money to live on after the trip remains to be seen. I'm a little older, by seven years, but that shouldn't be a problem. My weight is up, but that will solve itself after a month or two on the trail. Plus, as I mentioned, no real day to day planning. That should help me from getting deppressed about not making my goals like I did on my first trip.Don't plan to use mail drops at all. I will resupply at the trail towns and carry a lot of weight to make it between the spots that don't have resupply stores.
Date: 2003-11-17
To: The Big O Hike
Miles today: 0.0

Part of my preparation will be several hikes. This one was the Big O Hike, of which I am the leader. I'm not really very good at being a leader, but someone had to do it. For some reason the dozen or so other volunteers thought I was the best person for the job.Anyway, the hike consist of 9 day hikes varing from 9.5 miles to 14 miles. We start at South Bay RV Campground and finish, 107 miles later, at the same spot. We car camp, starting at South Bay RV Campground, moving to Okeechobee KOA, then to Okeechobee Landings in Clewiston and then back to South Bay the last night. The begining date was Saturday Nov 22nd and we ended on Nov 30th.I've done this a few times, so it's not a difficult hike for me. Have completed the Big O hike. Didn't have any real problems. We had thirty people complete the hike this year, which is more than have completed the whole trip than ever before. Our oldest hiker was 76 years old and our youngest was 41 years old. Am now planing for the Ocean to Lake trip.
Date: 2003-11-17
To: Ocean to Lake Hike
Miles today: 0.0

Another preparitory hike I will be doing is a six day Ocean to Lake (OTL) backpacking trip. This starts at Hobe Sound Beach Park, goes through Jonathon Dickinson State Park (JDSP) near Tequesta, Florida and ends at Port Mayaka, on the banks of Lake Okeechobee. As the crow flies, the Ocean is about 1/4 mile from the JDSP front gate, but there are a few obstacles in the way. You have to hike about 4 - 5 miles to get from the Ocean to the JDSP gate and most of it is road walking. On the other hand, it only adds a couple hours to the day and we might as well start the OTL hike at the Ocean.We plan to hike about 60 - 70 miles in 6 days. Right now it looks like myself, LWOP, Navigator and Hammock Hanger, plus four other people are on the hike. I'm sure we will pick up some more as the start day of January 26th rolls around.
Date: 2004-02-28
From: Springer Mountain

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 10.0

The day before LWOP and myself went up to the summit and then said goodbye to LWOP's wife and Bea, who shuttled us up there. LWOP's brother in law, Jack, PO and Dennis arived later and gave us a dinner of steak, potatoes, carrots, onions, salid, cheese cake, etc. .... A really nice send off. Jack, PO and Dennis are going to section hike with us up to Dick's Creek Gap.It was a little cold and there was melting snow on the ground so I elected to stay in the shelter rather than set up the hammock. Not sure I would make the same decision now, everybody in the selter (there were 10 of us) snored loudly and long! (I'm told I snored to, but I don't believe them - beside, when I do snore it's from the nose and not nearly so loud.)The five of us set off around 8:30 am and stopped at the parking area to get rid of all the garbage, etc. from last night's steak dinner. Then it was off to the races. As usual, LWOP was way ahead of everyone and I was, for the most part, in the back. We were shooting for Justice Creek at 13 to 14 miles, but by 5:00 PM it was clear we weren't going to make it, so we stopped at Horse Gap, an even ten miles. We ate our dinner at Hawk Mtn Shelter, and so didn't have to worry about our water supply and could stop anywhere there was level ground for the tents. We set up camp and enjoyed a camp fire built by some of the other hikers.Only one problem to report. Our three section hikers decided to hike down the Benton McKay Trail (sp?) where it crosses the AT near Long Creek Falls. Lucky both LWOP and myself caught them in time. Not sure why they thought the retangular blazes had changed to diamond shaped blazes.
Date: 2004-02-29
From: Horse Gap

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started out around 8:00 am with the intent to eat breakfast at Justus Creek. We got there around 11:00 am and left around noon. LWOP wanted to hike to Wood's Hole Shelter - 13 miles from Justus Creek. I had my doubts that either I or our section hikers could make it that far before nightfall. We got to Woody Gap around 3:00 pm and spent quite a bit of time getting water - with the intent of going to Miller's Gap. It's not on the map, nor is it listed in the data book and I wasn't too keen on climbing up to Preacher Rock so late in the day and being so tired. Meanwhile, Josh from Hiker Hostel was offering to put us up for the night, with a free breakfast in the morning. I couldn't resist. LWOP and his three friends hiked on and we agreed to meet at Neel's Gap the next night. So while they are out eating freeze dried who knows what, I had an excellent Salmon dinner at Big Dave's Road Side Grill. It's not much of a place to look at, but the cooking is extremly good! Big Dave use to be a highly paid chef, but got tired of the rat race and opened his own place. Highly recommended if you're ever in Suches, GA. Also recommend the Hiker Hostel. Josh and Lee are just starting out and have a brand new log house to handle about a dozen or so hikers. The house is really clean and I hope all us thru hikers don't mess it up too much!Sorry about not having any pictures. I've taken a few, but don't have a way to upload from my camera - yet.
Date: 2004-03-01
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Stayed at the Hiker Hostel the night before (nice place, highly recommended). Got a nice french toast and egss breakfast. Helps the hiking a lot. Was alone most of day. A few day and section hikers passed going the other way and a few thru hikers passing me going north. Met up with LWOP, PO, Jack and Dennis at Neels Gap. They didn't make it to Millers Gap, instead stayed on top of Jarrad Mtn. LWOP thought the views would be really good when they got up in the morning. Instead all they got was about five feet of fog. For me the day was slow going. Got started around 8:30 am and didn't finished until 4:30 pm.Resupplied at Neels Gap, replaced a couple pockets that were coming apart. Stayed in the Hostel, listened to lots and lots of snoring.
Date: 2004-03-02
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Got a late start from Neels Gap, about 10:45 am. LWOP needed to replace his hip belt and one of our section hikers needed help adjusting his pack. Since the store doesn't open until 9:00 am, we had to wait around for awhile before we could start. PO (I think) cooked us up some scrambled eggs with ham.The days hike was pretty good, but it rained pretty much all day. LWOP and friends stopped at the Whitley Gap Shelter, but I went on to Low Gap Shelter (didn't feel the extra mile and a half off the trail was such a great idea). I didn't get tp Low Gap until 6:30 pm. Shelter was full, so set up the hammock. Wasn't too bad, it wasn't cold and the rain stopped just before I set it up.
Date: 2004-03-03
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Helen, GA
Miles today: 9.4

Couldn't resist the temptation to go into town. Didn't see LWOP and friends all day. Saw a few other hikers up, but not many. Left Low Gap about 10:00 am - still have problems getting everything together fast enough. Because of the different way the MoonBow pack works, it's not very easy to pack everything away the night before. The weather was good all day and am starting to see more of the landscape than in the last couple days. Got to Unicoi Gap around 4:00 pm and hitched a ride into town. Only took a couple minutes, but the ride into town was a little different. A young lady in a beat up old pick up asked me to ride in the back, and that she was in a hurry. I was sitting on top of a bunch of tires as she went sliding around all the twist and turns and then left me two miles short of town! Took another hour to get into town. Stayed at the Hoffbrow (sp?) motel. Had a really nice dinner, bath, and went to bed. Next morning hitched a ride back to the trail. Only took about ten minutes to get the ride.
Date: 2004-03-04
From: Helen, GA

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 10.8

Met up with LWOP, PO, Jack and Dennis at Unicoi Gap. Nice day, but as usual, all the hikers are much faster than myself, but we stayed together most of the day. I tend to catch up everytime the section hikers need water. Weather was good. The section hikers were a little miffed at me for not buying them some chocolate eclares in Helen. I would have, but they come four to a package and there are five of us. Was afraid there might be death involved with the two last hikers fighting over who got it.We started hiking around 9:00 am and finished about 4:00 pm.
Date: 2004-03-05
From: Addis Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Short day. This was the last day for the section hikers. PO had his car at in the parking lot and gave us a ride into Hiawassee, GA. LWOP and myself got rooms at the Mulls Motel, had lunch and then said our good byes to his friends. We resupplied and got a good nights rest.Weather was good, but it started raining just as we were finishing putting our packs into PO's car. Good timing.
Date: 2004-03-06
From: Dicks Creek Gap

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

Had a nice breakfast and then got a ride from the motel people to Dicks Creek Gap. Started hiking in the rain about 9:00 am and got to Muskrat Creek Shelter around 6:00 pm. Passsed the GA/NC state line and Bly Gap around 3:00 pm. The rain let up about midday and was very nice after that. As usual, the shelter was full and so set up my hammock. It was windy all night and the canopy flapped all night. Temperature was down to about 40, which works out fine for the hammock.
Date: 2004-03-07
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: few clouds

Nice sunny day, but got colder as the day wore on. Still hiking slowly. Started around 8:00 am and got to Carter Gap around 6:00 pm. As usual, the shelter was full and so set up the hammock. Got down to 20 degress and the wind howled all night. The people in the shelter complained about all the noise from the flapping canopy. They wanted to change my tail name to Bear Bag Kite. Feel really bad for them. Anyway, I was warm enough when inside the hammock with the two sleeping bags (a Feathered Friends Winter Wren and Nunatuk Down Blanket). Need to work out a better system. It's warm enough, but really hard to get into. Either of the sleeping bags by themselves would have been too cold.
Date: 2004-03-08
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 12.8

After last nights cold, was happy to be hiking agian. Got started around 8:30 am and got to Wallace Gap about 5:00 pm and had to walk an extra mile to the hostel. Stayed at Rainbow Campground in their new 30 ft round Yurt. They have room for about 24 hikers in the Yurt without making it too crowded. There were about seven or eight of us there the first night, including LWOP.
Date: 2004-03-09
From: Wallace Gap

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 0.0

Decided to stay an extra day and rest up a little. Everyone else started out on the trail about 9:00 - 9:30 am. Heavy snow started falling around 10:30 am. Glad I stayed here for the day, but figure I'll have to start out in the morning with about four to six inches of snow on the ground.
Date: 2004-03-10
From: Wallace Gap

To: Wayah Bald Campsite
Miles today: 13.6

After a good days rest was able to hike again. Started out with Haiku, Moonpie, Wildcat, Dharma and a few others. Most of us made it to the campsite just past Wayah Bald. Set up the Hammock as there was some snow on the ground and didn't want to sleep on top of it. Was warm enough, but getting in and out of the sleeping bag and down quilt is quite a chore. The gearskin backpack is working very well, but it takes a long time to get packed up in the morning. I think with a little more experience, I'll be able to do it faster. Biggest problem so far is the cold. Living in Florida all these years hasn't helped. My pace is still a little slow, but I'm doing much better than I was when I tried this in '97.
Date: 2004-03-11
From: Wayah Bald Campsite

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

The shelter was full, so hiked past the shelter about a half mile and found a flat spot to camp at. Decided to just pitch the hammock canopy and sleep on the ground. Much warmer than sleeping in the hammock, but was very greatful it didn't rain. Not quite sure how all those tarp people handle the rain yet, but sure I'll find out soon enough.Using the canopy as a tarp seems to work at least as well as using a regular tarp. There is enough coverage, as long as you put one side on the ground and the other held up with a hiking stick. The side on the ground shoud be into the wind. If the wind shifs and it starts to rain - well, not quit sure it would be very comfortable.
Date: 2004-03-12
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC, Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

Short hike into NOC. Everything was pretty much closed, at least all the resturants. The outfitter store was opened, resupplied - sort of. Not much selection. We were able to eat lunch and dinner, but no breakfast in the morning.
Date: 2004-03-13
From: NOC, Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice day's hike. Was passed by Moonpie, who was looking for Haiku, who I guess left the NOC before I did. Stayed in the hammock, fortunately it was a little warmer this night than the last few days.
Date: 2004-03-14
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: few clouds

Long day, was hiking into the night. There was a phone at the road, but couldn't get a ride to the Fontana Village. Finally had to hike to it, a couple miles in the pouring rain - and me with nothing but a MicroII LED light (later purchased a head lamp at Rainbow Springs). Everything was closed and had to call the guy at Hiker Inn to shuttle me to town for resupply. They were very nice about it and got to talk to LWOP for the first time in several days. Decided to try a no cook option, so only got things I didn't have to cook.