morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-12-26
To: Pack list
Miles today: 0.0

I think now it's time for the "if you show me yours, I will show you mine" game. Although I'm no gearhead I realized that reducing packweight is one (but not the) key measure for successfully hiking the trail. But at the end it's not my gear that will let me go. It's my feet and my mind.Maybe you will miss some items that some of you think are essential. I will have no kompass and maps with me, simply because I cannot rely on maildrops. So I would have to carry the whole bundle of trail maps. But I can't imagine somebody could get lost on the trail (ok, in fact I know some people I wouldn't put it past them, but they would never ever come closer to a trail than an eskimo to a pineapple plantation). It's properly blazed and every year hordes of hiker mark it with their feet. I think the chance of getting lost in New York is much higher. Certainly I won't go without informations about the trail. The ALDHA Companion will be my premier source of knowledge, altough I think fellow hikers will contribute a good part at the campfire.I also won't carry a water filter because I personally believe it's not neccesary. During the past years I have drunken water from all sources without purification and never had any problems. I know this issue can't be raised without controversy but it's my risk and if I get the runs it won't harm anybody else but me.  Gear List  ozlbsPack and shelter   Granite Gear Vapor Trail 38,8Nordisc Summer Star down bag 38,8Foam pad 16,6Mountain Hardwear Approach 82,0 176,211,01 Kitchen Trangia mini alcohol stove 5,6Pot, pan, lid, plastic mug 12,0Swiss knife 2,82 x 1,5 l plastik soda bottles 3,5 23,91,5 Clothingworn Montane Solo Primaloft insulating jacket 16,2Loeffler Transtex long sleeve shirt 7,8cheap zip off pants 26,5Falke hiking socks 2,6briefs1,8Lowa Whistler GoreTex hiking boots 42,3baseball cap 1,8neck pouch 1,4hip pouch 5,6hiking poles 22,9 128,98,1 carried in pack  Montane 200 Superlight Waterproof Jacket 7,1Montane Featherlite Smock 3,0Microfibre long sleeve shirt 4,6Loeffler Transtex short sleeve shirt 6,2long johns 6,23 x briefs 5,32 x hiking socks 5,3waterproof neoprene gloves 3,5fleece balaclava 2,6camp shorts 6,2camp shoes 3,5bandana1,8tatonka gaitors 3,5cheap rain pants 5,3 64,14,0   misc first aid kit 7,1headlamp5,3microfibre towel1,8stuff sacks 1,8pocket mail composer 8,1Casio Exilim EX-Z10 digital camera 7,8batteries4,2pen, paper 1,8duct tape 1,8ziploc bags 1,8nylon rope for bear bagging 3,5toilet paper 5,3personal hygiene 7,1MP3-player with earphones 3,6 61,03,8 Packweight without food and water 325,220,3Packweight with water and 5 days food 485,230,3total skin out weight614,138,4Bruno
Date: 2006-01-03
To: What rhymes with 
Miles today: 0.0

After countless hours of reading journals,maps and trail descriptions, calculating daily mileages, estimating hiking speed by looking at elevation profiles I've come to the conclusion, that it's virtually impossible to hike the whole trail in 88 days, especially if you are a middleaged, overweight, short-winded, chain-smoking whimp, whose only daily workout is to reach for the remote control. Based on this facts I finally came to the only logical decision: I will do it. (Ok, at least I will give it a serious try).I almost can hear you thinking :"He must have gone nuts", and well ... maybe you're right. "Why would you do such a stupid thing", I hear you asking. Well, mainly because already as a kid I couldn't bear to hear somebody saying "No, you can't have that". You know for sure how the discussion went on. Me:"Why?"Other person:"Because...", Me:"But...", other person:"Anyway....", Me:"But..." and so on. Finaly crying or yelling or stumping on the floor helped to get the desired. Nowadays crying would look a bit silly and the outcome of stomping with my foot on the ground would surely be a sprained ankle, so the only way to get what I want is to take it by myself. And that's the contract I signed with myself: - I will not leave camp later than 7 am, regardeless of the weather- I will not camp before 6 pm, regardeless how far the next shelter is away- I won't stay at a motel/hostel two ore more days in a row and not more than a total of eight days - no slackpacking- no yellowblazing- I will hike as far and as fast as I canMost people I talked with called it crazy even to make an attempt. And almost every conversation ended with the words: "You must be nuts!". So be it. From now on I will go by my new trailname "Nuts".Some things I like about this name:1) It's short2) I often use four letter words (remember, I'm German and therefore genetically predetermined for ill-bred behaviour)3) It's fun to answer "You are absolutely right" whenever somebody calls you nuts.4) I can tell every ranger on the trail "No officer, you can't give me a ticket for speed-hiking, because I'm nuts." (I think "non compos mentis" is the proper legal term in this case)5) Nuts are a tasty and energising part of my daily meals6) It fits me (hard outside and fat inside)7) I hardly will meet many hikers with the same name+++ only 40 days left +++ adrenaline level is rising +++ EOMNuts
Date: 2006-01-05
To: Let's wrap the whole world in red tape
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday I got an email from a hiker who told me, that even if I make it to Maine in 88 days, I won't be able to finish the trail, because Kathadin will be closed for hiking until May 31. I first thought he was pulling my leg, but after checking the Baxter State Park website I found out, that he was right with this. I'm stunned. In my worst dreams I wouldn't have thought of that! I've been raised in a country that is famous for regulating everything, but even here, where you can't fart without obtaining a permit from any public authority, nobody would close a whole mountain for climbing. What happen with "the land of the free" ? Sorry for bitching about that, but this caught me on the wrong foot. Apart from the fact, that I probably won't make it to Maine anyway in the given time frame, it's my own fault not having checked this earlier. I could kick myself for that, but this wouldn't help either. Looking for some good music to carry with me on the trail I found a song whose lyrics - after some rewriting - perfectly would fit as the icing of the cake at the and of the trail. To bad I won't be able to sing it. Anyway, here it comes. (Sorry Otis, I hope this doesn't hurt too much)Sitting in the morning sun I'll be sitting when the evening comes Watching the clouds roll in And I watch 'em roll away again Sitting on the top of Big KLetting the time roll away I'm just sitting on the top of Big KWasting time Hiked all the way from Georgia Headed for the beautifull Maine'Cause I had something to reach forAnd this helped me through the moments of painLooks like everyhing's gonna change Nothing ever will be the same I could do what no people dare me to do So I guess I'll deserve the fame Sittin here resting my bones And this happyness won't leave me alone It's two thousand miles I roamed Just to make this rock my home Now, I'm just sitting on the top of Big KLetting the time roll away I'm just sitting on the top of Big KWasting time Nuts
Date: 2006-01-07
To: microsize it!!
Miles today: 0.0

Today my new windshirt and rain jacket arrived. I was really suspicious as the postman gave me the little package. But both items were in it. As you can see on the picture both of them can be stuffed into their own packsacks. The orange was heavier than both of them. I really love this type of gear. Couldn't anybody pleeeeeeease invent a tent and a sleeping bag who packs as small and weighs the same?? In times of nano technolgy this shouldn't be a big deal.Although I actually completed my gear list I spent the whole afternoon in a real weight cutting frenzy. "Lid?...Who needs a lid for the pot? Take the pan as a lid!!" Lid was thrown out. "Do you really need two pairs of extra socks and briefs??...Not really!!" Socks and briefs went the same way as the lid. "Who the hell needs a long sleeved shirt with a turtle neck?? I hate turtle necks!!" (Don't ask me why I bought this). Neck was cut off. "Do I really want to hike in this heavy zip-off pants?? No way!!" Pants were substituted with the other pair I actually designated as camp pants. Short cycling pants will serve as camp pants just as well. Long johns were replaced with a warm panty hose (will look funny). And so on. I almost managed to come down to 18 lbs without food and water. Originally I planned to go without maps, but some days ago I discovered a really good mapping software. The company is DeLorme and the product name is Topo USA 5.0. For only 99$ the software creates topo maps which cover the whole US. Some of the cool extra features are elevation profiles, routes, waypoint import and 3-D view, which gives a really good feeling for the terrain. Although I'm able to read topo maps it's quite impressive to view a spatial picture of the ridges, balds and gaps on the trail. Click on pic to view bigger image (opens additional page)Importing waypoints for all A.T. shelters was a matter of minutes and now I'm able to print out a set of customized maps with markers and comments highlighting all important details. It was really fun playing around with this toy. I used a scale of 1:125.000, which is somewhat greater than on the original A.T. maps, but it's fully sufficient for my purpose. I don't want to know where every single bush is located, but rather get a feeling for distances between shelters. Every page covers between 17 and 50 miles, which brings me to a total of 32 sheets printed on both sides. They easily fit in a zip lock and can be littered if the area lays behind me. Nuts
Date: 2006-01-09
To: Pre trail magic
Miles today: 0.0

Even though I haven't yet started my hike I experienced my first kind of trail magic today. I ordered a pocketmail composer and wanted to ship it to the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega. Because there were some problems with the address I had to explain that this isn't my permanent residence, but just wanted to avoid the high shiping costs to Germany and the customs stuff. I told them that I will need it for hiking the A.T. and they generousely offered to include a protective carry case for no charge! They apparently had another customer who did the same hike with Pocketmail. He dropped his composer and thus kept trying to get it repaired under warranty but Pocketmail described it as "abused handling" and refused a free repair.Really a friendly gesture and a very welcome gift. In case you want check their offers just take a look. Tonight I had my first trail related nightmare. I walked through the fog down to a shelter and could hear a lot of people talking and laughing from the distance. As I reached the shelter, there was a big group of hikers around the fireplace, all staring in my direction. One of them started talking to me, but even as I understood everything he said, I wasn't able to speak one word in English. My thoughts were totally confused and my brain felt numb. As I stood there with an open mouth, my jaw hanging down like made of lead, the group started to shout at me angrily. I tried to explain what happened but could only speak German. This heatened their reaction even more and at the end they started to throw things at me. I turned arround and tried to dissapear into the fog, but as I had done a few steps I took a dive, lying on my back like a big bug. The group bursted out laughing as I tried to come on my feet and the more I struggled the more they laughed. Then I woke up and for a couple of seconds wasn't really sure where I was. Fortunately it was my own sweaty but familiar bed. I hope this won't continue the next 35 days as I can really do without this nightly entertainment. But at least I think I'm not the only one having this kind of dreams.Nuts
Date: 2006-02-10
To: ready for take off
Miles today: 0.0

Just a quick update before I finally hit the trail.The past two weeks were some of the longest in my life. Sometimes I thought the time would never go by. That's how you must feel when you're incarcerated by holy inquisition. At some point you almost yearn for torture so that this endless uncertainty finally is over. But as if the time had noticed that it was a bit sluggish, the last two days went by like a blink of an eye. Mr. Spock would interpret this as a self-resolving anomaly in space-time continuum and probably raise his left eyebrow. So I'm sitting here at my desk with the strange feeling that something has been forgotten, but for heaven's sake I can't find out what this could be. I will presumably find out when it's to late. The person who will sit next to me in the plane will think I'm screwy when I suddenly slap my forehead yelling "ooooh myyyy gooood". Stuff it. It's no big deal as long it's not my passport or my debit card (make note to myself: Quadruple check if PP1 and DC2 are in NP3 . Addendum: DON'T FORGET YOUR BAG).Although my plane departs not before monday 10:00 am I will leave tomorrow. The 40 miles to the airport will make a good warm-up hike and I can probably fix some occuring nuisances before I finally leave. I will do a nice two day hike to some friends of mine who are located only 5 minutes from the airport. So I don't have to hurry on monday morning as they will drop me off at the terminal. Winter has finally arrived in Munich (it snowed the last two days and temperatures dropped to 20°), so conditions will be pretty similar to Georgia.This will be my last entry before I'll arrive at Hiker Hostel. Maybe I will make a short update (safe touchdown, no casualties ... something along those lines) from their computer, provided that my plane doesn't take a nosedive. Did I mention my aviophobia? ... Oh, 10 times already, really? Some things can't be said often enough.(Addendum to the addendum: Don't forget to take out a good life insurance at the airport. Better safe than sorry. ) So that's it. In case you don't hear from me, let's say until wednesday, please inform1) Coast Guard2) NTSB3) FEMA ... no, cancel that. They won't do anything until there is a joint resolution from congress and a double-blind-study to determine the prospects of a successful recovery operation.4) Navy Sealsin no particular order.Keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned. Hopefully more to come.NutsAppendix:1 PP = passport2 DC = debit card3 NP = neck pouch
Date: 2006-02-11
From: Munich

To: Dahlonega
Miles today: 0.0

What a start! After 10 hours flight I finally arrived in Atlanta and was picked up by Leigh from Hiker Hostel. The last days have been pretty tough and so I decided to stay here until Wednesday. This has been an awful long day (26 hours so far) so I won't get into detail what has happened today. Just a quick update to tell you I'm well and alive (no emergency calls necessary). I will make a more detailed entry when I got a couple of hours sleep.NutsPS: First impression from America in general and Georgia/Atlanta in particular: I felt instantly at home. It looks pretty much like Germany. Exept people are talking in English (I'll have to work on that).
Date: 2006-02-15
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Josh drove us up Forrest Service Road 42 to the point from where it's only 0.9 miles to Springer. We said goodby and half an hour later i touched my first white blaze. The view from Springer was great (probably 80 miles) and after shooting the obligatory pictures from the two plaques we started our hike around 11.00 am. First stop was at Stover Creek Shelter where we had a little snack. The hike was mostly downhill, so it was a good warm up for my blistered feet. The new socks from Walmart did their job and even as I feelt a little pain from time to time it was nothing really annoying. As we went on the trail became at some parts almost like a big avenue framed with evergreen Rhododendron bushes. What a picture this must be when they are in full bloom. At some point I couldn't believe I was really hiking the Appalachian Trail. It all seemed to be so unreal so I had to laugh every once in a while when this thought crossed my mind. It was a beautiful hiking day and sometimes t! he sun came out and immediately warmed up the air so you could smell the pine needles on the ground. At 4 pm I arrived at Hawk Mountain Shelter where we planned to stay for the night. Although it wasn't a very long stretch we have hiked it was enough for the first day. The body has to become accustomed to hauling a bag the wole day and as I'm not any more in my twentys my feet and joints remembered me to kick into low gear. Crutch and Pilgrim had already arrived at the shelter and were talking with two other hikers. The Bull is at age 74 and one of the most impressive people I have ever met. And he's really funny too. The other hiker was Sunset, a 18 year old guy from New York. Hawk Mountain Shelter is a really well build double floored building with a picknick table in frnt of it and a privy which has probably the best view in the world. Insde the shelter we found three big solid boxes with trail magic donated from the Appalachian Outfitter. Ll sort of needfull stuff from thermo mugs to socks and shoe laces. Very generous donations and very welcome.   As I wanted to pick up some water from the nearby source I missed the blue blazes and walked probably 400 feet on a trail which looked pretty much used. As I was barefoot in my camp shoes I slipped a couple of times until I finally realized that I went the wrong way. So I learned my first lesson on the trail: If you don't see any blazes for at least 2 minutes stop and turn around as you have probably lost your way.   Nuts
Date: 2006-02-16
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

We got up at 7.30 and after having breakfast and putting our stuff together we went on to the next shelte. The Bull was the first to leave and as it was a bit slippery on some parts of the trail he thought about taking some of the Forrest Service Roads to pass by the wet and muddy sots. I was the last one leaving as I had once again to enjoy the beautifull look from the privy. There was no need to hurry as this wasn't supposed to be a very loong hiking day. So I took my time to take some pictures and taking breaks at beatifull sunny spots on the trail. There are plenty of mountains the trail wents up, but except Sassafras Mountain they were not overly tiring. At some point it got so warm that I had to zip of the legs from my pants. The scenery was beautifull and the feeling to be alone out in the woods was really amazing. One could not wish a better day for hiking and I enjoyed everey minute, even when it got a little harder as the day went by. At 4 pm I arrived at the shelt! er, not without loosing my way the second time in two days. Shortly after crossing Blackwell Creek the trail went left up sme steps. I saw the white blaze on the tree, but did't see the steps. So went on as there was a broad trail which I thought was the right one. After 10 minutes a guy withe his dog came my way and we had a little conversation. He asked me where I was walking to and I told him I was headed for Gooch Mountain Shelter. He wished me well and I hiked on. After some minutes there were some seious blowdowns on the trail and as the trail was in great condition until then I became suspect if this was the right way. Suddenly I realized that there hasn't been one single blaze for the last 400 yards, so I turned arround to walk as long as the first blaze appears. Shortly after the guy with the dog came back in my direction. I told him that I must have missed the blazes and he said the trail leads up those little steps I must have missed before. Actually I was a lit! tle upset because the guy must have known that I walked the wrong way as I told him before I was headed for the next shelter. Nevertheless I had to laugh aout myself because this already was the second time in 2 days that I've lost my way. Shortly after I arrived at the shelter where my hiking buddys aready were eating dinner. The Bull was missing, but maybe he has decided to go to town and sleep in a bed this night. I hope everything is ok and he is well and safe. Tomorrow will be a longer day as the next shelter is Woods Hole, aout 12.4 miles from here. This is a good point for staying the night as Blood Mountain will be a little tiring. So we will probably arrive at Neels Gap sometimes Saturday arround noon. Enough time to do a little shopping and laundry. Probably we will have our first zero day on sunday as the hostel at Neels Gap is only 15 $. Again a perfect day with beautifull views and an interesting conversation with very nice hiking partners at another very well maintained shelter. What else could you wish, except a pizza and a cold beer? But you can't have it all :-) Nuts
Date: 2006-02-17
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Wood's Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a pretty cold night as the wind blew through the shelter floor. Lesson learned today: always put a sheet of plastic under your sleeping pad. I woke up at 06.00 am and crawled out of my warm bag to cook my breakfast as I wanted to leave early today. As I went to the privy it started to rain but fortunately not very long. I was the second leaving the shelter at 8.00. Sundown was in a hurry because he had to meet his Mother at Woody Gap. The hike started downhill and I slowly started to warm up. An hour or so later Pilgrim caught up wth me and said he probably would hitch a ride into Suches to eat a cheeseburger at the gas station. As we arrived at Woody Gap there was a pickup in the parking lot and Pilgrim asked the guy who sat in it if he could give us a ride. He agreed and so we hopped on the back of his pickup and a couple of minutes later we were at the Suches gas station. As they had no burgers we ordered a big pizza, a big cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin. As we were ready to leave a car with Maine numberplates drove by and two guys got out and went to the door of the gas station where our packs were standing. One of them asked if we are hiking the trail. One of them, Maniac, has hiked the trail before and planned to do a section hike with his family. They asked us if they should drive us back to the gap and we were glad to got such easy hitches. The pizza definately took it's toll at the steep uphill hike to the top of Big Cedar Mountain. But the terrific view was worth the tiring ascent. Pilgrim hiked a faster pace and as it wasn't late in the day I decided to take my time and to slow down a little. At Jarrad Gap Sunset appeared behind me and we hiked the remaining 1.3 miles to the shelter were Pilgrim already cooked his dinner. Crutch wasn't there and so we thought he probably has hiked on to Blood Mountain. An hour later another hiker, Red Blaze, arrived and told us he had met Crutch at the last shelter. Apparently he wanted t! o meet another hiker who was due to arrive at Gooch Gap Shelter. So we lost another one from our party, but that's the way it is on the trail.Tomorrow morning we will hike up to Lood Mountain. Hopefully the weather holds up, but the locals in the gas station told us that freezing rain was announced for the night. Temperatures have dropped to the 30's and it will be a pretty cold night. Time to crawl in my new 0 degree bag and get a couple of hours sleep. Although tomorrow will start with a steep hike it's only 4 miles to Neels Gap where we will get the first shower in 4 days. My body doesn't hurt to much and even my blisters don't bother me. It's definately not a cakewalk but pretty serious hiking. But most of the time it's pure fun. Hopefully this will stay that way.   Nuts