morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-04-07
From: Blue Mtn Shelter

To: Tray Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: clear sky

April 7Got an early start this morning because I'm looking at two BIG mountains today, both at the end. The first was a 1,000 foot asent which was challenging, then the decent and immediately a 1,500 asent in front of me. Onother hard day but whEn I got to the shelter there wer onlt three hikers there and they were just eating and resting before heading out again.Mark Trail tried a thru hike last year but only made it to PA. Heis 53 and has been mowing lawns for the past 28 years. He has a lot of trail savvy and totes out any trash he finds on the trail. He claims hiking the trail is 50% physical and 80% mental. Two other guys joined me to spend the nite here, Broadway who is rated the #1 martial arts fighter in New England (9&0) and Caped Warrior. There were another 8-10 renters---many have left the trail already.A week ago a woman left all her gear at Low Gap Shelter and walked out with only her day pack saying "I'm6 never hiking again".On the other hand there is No Hurry who got hypo/hyper (the cold one) and spent three days in a shelter vomiting while his sleeping bag and clothes dried out. ran into him yesterday.Then there is the legend on the trail about 50 miles ahead of me, Cimarron, who is 88 and is trying to become the oldest thru hiker, he will be 89 if he finishes. He has fallen and cracked his head, taken into Hiawasse where he got 5 staples. He is back on the trail but one arm is bleeding. He has a support group that helps him along the way---you can check him out on trail journals!
Date: 2011-04-08
From: Tray Mtn Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap & Hiawasse
Miles today: 11.1

April 8Left camp at 8:00 this morning because it will be my longest hike, 11.1 miles and I will be in a motel tonite!!!! I made good time and by noon I had gone 6 miles and scaled the only major mountain, 900 feet. Major problem, my left hip is hurting, particularly on uphill climbs.An hour before I reached US 76, the highway where I hitch hike into Hiawasse, it started raining. I put my rain cover on my pack and continued on. By the time I got to the highway it started to rain harder---it was then that I noticed this hole in the top of the rain cover, seemed I had put it on upside down. That was a drain hole for any rain that had gotten thru, guess I should have tried these things out before I left. I put my thumb over the hole ( like the little Dutch boy) and stuck my other thumb out to hitch a ride. I was picked up immediately and given a ride to my motel.A hot shower, did laundry, watched some of the Masters, walked down the street and ate BBQ and drank a couple of beers ( my first), came back and slept.
Date: 2011-04-09
From: Dick's Creek Gap & Hiawasse

To: Zero Day in Hiawasse
Miles today: 0.0

April 9Ouch! Woke up this morning and my left hip is still hurting. Called Laura to see what kind of stretches she did when she was having hip problems. Took a couple Advil. Went to the breakfast buffet and ran into Sparkplug who is an ER nurse in Boston and an avid runner. She showed me a couple of stretches and suggested I rearrange my pack to get more weight on my right side. I'm going to stretch off and on all day, take some more Advil and see how I feel in the morning.Got back from the store where I resupplied and ran into Slow Snail and her 17 year old daughter, Ranger. They are having a really tough time. They started March 1, have been in cold rainy weather, had a bear get to there food bag, have had to go into towns and buy better sleeping bags, etc. Slow snail had to get a lift off the trail due to dehydration, still had her hospital ID wrist band on! Guess I'm not doing that bad.LITTLE IRRITATING THINGS ON THE TRAIL1---If you stop to get a snack and there is no wind the nats will eat you alive. There have been numerous NatFests on my head and the only solution is to walk back and forth on a flat spot while you eat.2---Leaves get stuck to your hiking poles,doesn't seem like much but the pesky things won't fall off unless you bang your pole against a tree.3---when your handkerchief gets plumb full you have to revert to the old farmer's method of pinching your nose and blowing hard thru one nostril and then the other, not pretty but you wind up snot free again.4---many times there is a tree right in the middle of the trail and you have to make a split second decision to go right or left. If you make the wrong choice you can wind up taking an extra step, I hate when that happens.Mother Nature has been kind to me so far. I hiked 4 days in pretty good weather (no rain), stayed in a cabin on the 5th nite and there was huge thunderstorm, hiked 4 more days with rain only the last hour I was on the trail yesterday. Today is a Zero Day and thunderstorms are in the local forecast, I hope they blow thru by morning.Other hikers of interest---Slow Poke who when he was 13 his dad went next door and shot the neighbors then came home and committed suicide. that can affect you and it's been a life long burden for him. Depression, etc. And recently lost his job and had a nervous breakdown. Wrote a book about how to keep from killing yourself. Met him at Neel's Gap, seemed to be therapeutic for him to talk about it so I listened.Pig Pen, Cheese, Sage, Pyro, Oaf, Mud Butt, Brave Heart and others.While I'm rambling I met a nice couple day hiking who retired to Hiawasse from Atlanta. They said the town was full of "Half Backs"---- people who had retired to Florida from New England, NY, & NJ and spent the winters in Florida but wanted to get away from the summer heat so they came back only half way and stopped in Northern Georgia.Okay, that's it for my Zero Day--- got to watch the Masters, go eat Mexican food tonite,get a good rest and start out again tomorrow.
Date: 2011-04-10
From: Zero Day in Hiawasse

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: few clouds

April 10One of the toughest days yet---you are probably getting tired of hearing that!11.7 miles and the first two mountains in NC were virtually straight up, apparently the concept of switchbacks has not found it's way here. Took me 8 hours--- a long time on the ol feet and constant ups and downs.I crossed the border into NC--- Hallaluyah!Walked some with Spot, a 60 year old who has thru hiked 3 times---amazing. He taught me the "mountIn slow step" which on the steeper grades you of course go slowly but you make sure your back foot stretches out straight, you do not want to keep your knees bent all the time. By straightening the back leg you allow ( can't think of the name right now but that bad stuff that builds up in your legs) it to dissipate, does that make sense?A couple from Holland, Tea & De De hiked with me , also SetemUp, and Porcupine Fred.Turning in, almost 8 and another big day tomorrow.Hunter informed me it is lactic acid.
Date: 2011-04-11
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

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

April 11Good news to you readers, I'm not going to whine today, I could but I won't. NC was kind with easy grades and they did find out about switchbacks---12.5 miles in 8 hours.Porcupine Fred ( he prefers just Fred--- got his name some years back when he swam the Porcupine River in the Yukon trying to impress a French maiden) is a 52 year old Tennesee attorney and we have been leapfrogging each other the last couple of days and trading stories. He once was asked by a judge if he would defend three murder defendants pro Bono as they had no money--- he did, one got off, one got send to reform school and one was given the death penalty. Turns out they wer Chow dogs who had mauled a young girl!Another big daytomorrow---we climb Albert Mountain and am told we wii be on all fours for a short steep climb.
Date: 2011-04-12
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

April 12Today I'm whining. Last nite a local section hiker came by and said there was a cold front coming---high wind, rain, and possible hail. A couple of renters moved away from some "widow makers" but I was okay. It was quite a thunderstorm! Here in the mountains you can hear the wind begin to blow from down low or one of the gaps, it seems to increase and get louder and 10 to 15 seconds later you think it might just blow you away. Reminds me of a big ocean wave.This morning I surveyed the damage--- none, I came out okay, the tent did not leak and no water got inside so my sleeping bag is dry. As I was packing up it began raining and was bitter cold. My hands were numb and it was all I could do to get the clasps off my tent poles and get it all stuffed in it's bag. I hustled up to the shelter where it was standing room only. Finished packing up, got all my rain gear on, and headed out. Since I had ditched my gloves to save weight I put a pair of wool socks over my hands to keep them warm. They got wet soon but were still better than nothing. It was a miserable day, one I had dreaded but knew I would experience sooner or later.Albert Mtn was as difficult as advertised. It was only a 400 foot climb but the steepest I have encountered. I did have to get down on all fours and find handholds as well as footholds to climb over some of the rocks and they were slippery as well due to the rain. Later I came across a couple of big trees that had blown over recently and volunteers had not yet cleared the path--- took me several minutes to climb over them. Needless to say I was a happy camper when I got to the shelter that afternoon. Spot was already there and in his sleeping bag trying to warm up, I did likewise.Diesel and Stroker showed up so there were four of us in the shelter---another three renters. Diesel got up in the middle of the nite to go pee, he stumbled and fell on me, I thought it was a bear and screamed---scared the bejesus out of me!
Date: 2011-04-13
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap & Franklin
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: clear sky

Aprl 13Woke up this morning and the rain was over. Spot and I hiked the 4 miles to Winding Stair Gap where Ron Havens picked me up at 10:00 AM in an old school bus and took me into Franklin where I am spending the nite at his Budget Inn.Spot kept hiking, he wanted to do 15 miles today. He was good company and shared a lot of hiking knowledge with me. It is a beautiful day, the air is crisp and clear after yesterday's rain, the temp in Franklin is 67 degrees and the trees down low here are all in blossom.Went to a bikers store and spent $40 on a good pair of waterproof Marmot mittens---I would have paid even more because I don't intend to suffer thru anymore cold rainy days with unprotected hands.On a sorry note I learned today that Model T was found dead in his tent yesterday just north os the Smokies. He was in his 70's and had thru hiked 5 times and was trying for his 6th.Lunch at Fried Fish and getting a steak tonite at Blue Mtn Restaurant. Tomorrow morning the local Babtist church comes by at 7:15 picks up the hikers and takes us to an "all you can eat" breakfast buffet, brings us back in time for Ron to shuttle us back to the AT. This is a hiker friendly town.Oh yes, not whining, but you should know I have now gotten a bone bruise on my right heel. I really enjoy hearing from everyone, it's something I look forward to whe I get to a town where I can get on the Internet.
Date: 2011-04-14
From: Winding Stair Gap & Franklin

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

April 14Had a minute tis morning so thought I'd tell you about Neels Gap. I was there on dY 4 , this is where they go thru your pack and make suggestions about what you do and do not need. I traded in my running shoes for some crocks, eliminated an extra flashlite, some batteries and Dale Shuler's compass/mirror (sorry Dale). I sent home 3 1/2# and got my pack weight down to around 37 or 38 phones. Neels Gap sends home over 4 1/2 tons of stuff each year.Of course they do inadvertently sell you a few things along the way---I spent nearly $200 --- most on a silk liner for my sleeping bag! It's been good though, keeps me warmer at nite.Then there are the "hiker boxes" located in towns at motels, hostels, and other places. You can discard extra stuff you don't want or you can rummage thru it and take what you want. At Havens Budget Inn there was a hairdryer, a big bottle of rubbing alcohol, a regular size salt, some tampons, books, etc.In addition to the gloves I bought yesterday I got a belt---seems my shorts are dropping down my backside. I look like one of the younger set with my pants so low if I wasn't wearing underwear my butt crack would be showing. Also got a new spoon since I broke the original and it was too short to stir the noodles. And a pair of women's medium size shorts with a 7 inch inseam and a zipper in front ( go figure )---they are a perfect fit with plenty of pockets and lightweight. Now I won't have to go to the laundry in my wind pants.Weight---seems we are all losing some. Wings has lost 40# since he started 3 weeks ago, he can afford to lose some more but I admire his grit to lug all that weight over this trail. I haven't weighed but suspect I've lost a couple myself.Some surprises----most of bikers are young, twenties and many of them smoke! There are a lot of "Dudes", "Awesomes" and "Cools" being tossed around. There are also more dogs than I expected, I've seen 6 or 8 and some are thru hikers. There are also more females, maybe 10%, some are hiking alone.The Babtist church fed us well this morning and did not try and convert any heathens or pray for us,very nice folks. I did over 11 miles today. Always worn out when I ger to my intended shelter. Another sad note, Bear Knife who I hiked with earlier fell outside Hiawasee and banged his knee badly and tore ligaments. He is flying home for surgery to San Francisco.
Date: 2011-04-15
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

April 15Well, my taxes are paid and today I really am 70. I've been telling other hikers I was 70 and now I' not fibbing. Still haven't run into anyone my age yet but am sure I will.My plan today was to hike 10.6 miles however I got to that shelter at 2:15 and thought about going to the next one, 4.9 moles further. It looked all downhill and should be an easy 3 hours so I asked my bod " what do you think?". My feet said no but my legs said yes so I decided to forge on. NOT an easy downhill, most difficult yet. I spent 15 minutes negotiating about 30 feet. Pictures cannot do it justice. I slid down areas on my butt, climbed down backwards, dropped a pole once but was able to recover it, and for most of the time I just sat there and tried to figure out the best way without doing serious damage to my body.I made it to the shelter at 5:30 just before a huge thunderstorm hit. I stayed in the shelter all nite---I heard later it rained 3 inches, the streams were running full blast the next morning.Slick had to turn back, he thought he had a cracked bone in his foot and went back to Franklin. Sage turned his ankle but doesn't think it's a bad sprain. Pyro fell twice, grabbed a tree once to keep from sliding down a ravine. Lone Duck, same.I don't want you to be worried about me, it is scary and dangerous at times but I am being extra careful.
Date: 2011-04-16
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: scattered clouds

April 16T0UGH! I may have used that word a time or two before, guess I need a thesaurus to come up with more adjectives. I left the shelter this morning as the sun was coming out and hiked the mile to the Nantahala Outdoor Center ( NOC ), drank coffee for a couple hours while I checked emails and updated my journal, then had a big cheeseburger and fries. Lot's going on here, kayaking festival with races and acrobatics, etc. Must be several hundred kayakers here.About a dozen of the people I'd been hiking with were there---most knew I had just turned 70 and wished me a Happy. Pig Pen offerd me a beer but I declined, thought Lewis would show up and I'd wind up spending the nite, didn't want to tackle the 3,000 foot climb with a hangover.Made it okay. The weather turned cold and windy near the top and I made good use of my new gloves.
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: NC 143 & Bryson City
Miles today: 7.8

April 17Great group at the shelter last nite---Wedge, Bear Snack, Calgon, Lone Duck, Tic Tac, and a couple others. All of us in the over 50 group with two young day campers who were training to be river guides.Turned cold last nite, down in the low 30's---hate going to the privy in the mornings on these days. Shelter mice were active and we nailed a couple, nice breakfast adders.Started out hiking with Lone Duck this morning. I'd met him the first day out on the 1st and we had spent nits at the same places but we had never hiked together before. He is a retired fireman & paramedic from just West of Milwaukee. Turned out I was fortunate that he was there when I took a header on some rocks. He performed first aid and stayed with me, hiking the 2 1/2 miles to get to a road (NC 143).There was trail magic going on and a couple vacationing from Ohio, Doug &. Candice Spaur, drove me to the hospital in Bryson City, stayed with me while Doc Frank Vanmiddlesworth stitched me up and had a CT scan, then took me to a motel. I couldn't have been more fortunate to have been helped by such kind folks!Bill Woerner is driving down from the Ashville area tomorrow where I'll spend the nite and make plans to fly home to Tulsa.Yes, my AT hike is over but I'm not disappointed. It has been one hell of an experience and I plan to write more as time permits.
Date: 2011-04-18
To: Flat Rock, NC
Miles today: 0.0

April 18Bryson City is a nice little town of 1,500 inhabitants. Wonderful Italian restaurant two blocks from Gracey Manor, my motel, chicken Parmesan and a couple of Cabernets--- more than I could eat.Walked down to the diner this morning, just across the river and had some java and breakfast.Bill & Pat Woerner picked me up at 10:30 and we drove to there home in Flatrock. Absolutely beautiful area with azaleas in full bloom. Bill and I went downtown Where I purchased a shirt so I could board the plane home looking somewhat presentable. Bill gave me an old pair of jeans and a belt. My eye is opening up and looking better. Had a few beers at the local pub and dinner at Mezzanos---salmon for me!
Date: 2011-04-19
To: Tulsa, OK
Miles today: 0.0

April 19Bill & Pat have been wonderful! Bill's brother, Jerry, and I have been friends since I moved to Dallas in 1954 and lived a block from each other. We went to school together from the 7th grade thru college at SMU.Bill & Pat were living in Tulsa when I moved there in 1968 and took me under their wings. I visited them in Flatrock in 2004 while on my tour of the lower 48 and here I am again, a casualty of the AT!Bill has a brand new Jag with 400+ horses; he had to show me how easy it was to pass a car on the freeway, Pat kept telling him to slow down.Made plane reservations yesterday to fly home from Greenville, SC. After breakfast of waffles (Bill made em but forgot to put in the pecans--- that happens when you are 77), sausage, OJ ,etc they took me to the airport, one of the nicest mid-city sized one I've ever been in.Got to Tulsa at 5:00 and Laura was there to meet me. I' glad to be home but have mixed feelings about leaving the trail.
Date: 2011-04-20
To: Tulsa, OK
Miles today: 0.0

April 20Feeling pretty good this morning. Laura went to the drugstore, got some new bandages, changed them out, looks like I will have a nice little scar over my left eye. I should be able to elaborate and amplify the enormity of my mishap with some creativity. Steve Heath coming over tonite with some scotch.Strange feelings I'm having. The trail keeps pulling at me but I know coming home was the right thing to do. I miss the trail routine, the comraderie of the fraternity of thru hikers, the relaxing lunches, and the evening sunsets. Even those damn uphill climbs with the downhills that followed.I felt like I was really getting my trail legs---15,5 miles one day followed by a 3,000 foot ascent the next with no particular joint or muscle issues. Even quit using "vitamin I" (ibuprofen).The other thing is I don't want to see anyone other than a few close friends and family---no groups? What's that all about. Guess I'll have to slowly reintegrate back into society.
Date: 2011-04-21
To: Tulsa, OK
Miles today: 0.0

April 21FOOD---occasionally we get lucky and are treated to the delicacy of shelter mice!I ate the same thing every morning, cream of wheat with an abundance of brown sugar and raisins mixed in along with a cup of instant coffee.After a couple of hours on the trail I'd stop and eat a snack of trail mix. Later I would have a larger snack of cheese, summer sausage, and bran crackers. Once in awhile I'd woof down a can of Vienna Sausage or eat a small container of peanut butter. The first day after resupplying I would choose the stuff that weighed the most.Dinner consisted of some light weight dehydrated food. The easiest, but also the most expensive, were the packaged chilie macs, spaghetti and meat balls, or chicken and rice meals. All you needed to do was boil some water, pour it in the package, seal it up for 10 minutes, and eat---right out of the bag. Another option was to add a package of noodles to boiling water and simmer for 7 or 8 minutes; then add a package of water sealed tuna or salmon and enjoy. Surprisingly these were pretty tasty meals. Each dish made two servings but I always ate it all.I still lost 5 pounds in the 17 days I was on the trail. It is hard to consume some 4,000 to 5,000 calories per day! That's what hiking 8 to 10 hours a day requires.
Date: 2011-04-23
To: Tulsa,OK
Miles today: 0.0

April 23CREATURESI didn't actually see a bear and there were a couple I wanted to avoid in Georgia---those that got into a shelter and raided the food bags on Blood Mountain. I'm sure I heard some at nite walking around my tent stalking a food bag or was it my runaway imagination? Bill & Pat Woerner had a recent visit from one seeking nourishment on their 3rd floor deck---just shinnied up the corner 4x4.Problem this time of year is that they have recently come out of hibernation, they're hungry and the berries and other natural food sources aren't yet available. If encountered it's recommended to look as big and mean as possible, make loud guttural sounds, and stare them down. If per chance they attack; run downhill because their front legs are much shorter than the hind ones and they don't do well going downhill.Saw a couple innocent snakes but no rattlers or copperheads---they would have shown up in warmer weather. Biggest news was the thrashing noises heard in the underbrush by a couple hikers followed by a 600# (their estimate) ferile boar hog being chased by some hounds and later a pair of hunters. It's open season on these varmits year round!Birds and squirrels were about all I saw, another hiker did see some deer.