morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-16
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Estimated Stench Depth (ESD):2Calories:3000+HIKINGI walk most of the day in sight of Watauga "Lake" (resevoir) making for beautiful views of the (former valley) lake below.I'm starting to feel strong. 17.5 miles today! As I churned through the last 4 miles I could feel the adrenaline and endorphins zipping through my veins. At last! It's been ages.My big toe joint hurts, though. I'm not sure what it could be, but will try to take it easy tomorrow.GIRL TALKI finished another period in the woods. It seemed early, but I don't know. Again no troubles. My only complaint is the timing. Last time it was 15 degrees. This time it was snowing sideways. Coudl it snow in May?HEALTHMy guts (remember I have Ulcerative Colitis) are doing well. I might even be what you'd call "regular" which hasn't happened since 1999. Yeah! I'm still not normal, but my colon isn't terrorizing me with unpredictability.STENCHI don't think my ESD will ever be 0 again. At least not on the trail. It will take more than one shower and one laundering to get the stink off of me and my things.We're all VERY smelly and have deeply imbedded stench at this point. NO reall news to the trail world. But for you kids at home, the smell and its staying power may be unimaginable. It's powerful, deep, and has dimension.NATUREI saw the first of the deciduous leaves emerging from their buds yesterday along Watauga Dam Road as well as a live reptile.
Date: 2004-04-17
From: Vendeventer Shelter

To: Low Gap, US 421
Miles today: 18.2

Weather: Sunny and warmESD: 3Calories: 3760 (now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout)MORNINGMy toes are killing me. Sharp pain and a dulla che all in one. I may be getting stronger, but I'm not sure my joints are ready for it.The sunrise was a beautiful red this morning like the gorgeous red sunset last night.NIGHTI finally saw some deer today, bringing my wildlife sightings to 1)loads of juncos 2)bunch of robins (a portly bird, not liek the Disney version at all)3)1 dead snake4)1 giant earthworm5)many chip munks6)miscellaneous bugs and spiders7)shelter mice8) two deerWOW!I walked 18.2 miles today after 17.5 yesterday. It's a lot but not really enough to put me ahead of schedule. I think I must be crazy.I'm camping tonight with a group of five - Green, Squish, Rock Hound, Jay Bird, and Burning Boots. They're a fun groups, unceasingly having and making fun.
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Low Gap, US 421

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Weather: Sunny and HOTESD: 4 (could be lots higher, definitely not lower)Calories: Lots and lotsI was pooped today. Less than 1 mile out of town, I could even see it, and I was ready to quit. I sat on a rock overlooking the town and pouted. Before that I was singing to keep my spirits up (thanks to Randy Travis, Eddie From Ohio, and Brooks and Dunn). But one can artificially elevate one's spirits for as long as they're willing. I lost the will.I eventualy got up and made it into the town of bike shops, outfitters, B&B's and CHURCHES galore. Ther must be a whole lot of sinning in this town to populate those churches Damascus has a reputation for being the frienliest town on the trail. It's the host of Traildays. But I'm not feeling the "love". I'm not feeling disdain or contempt either, nor indifference. I guess we hikers just "fit right in" even though we hikers seem initially to be quite different from the locals.I'm staying at the Place, a big house behind the Methodist Church. It's cheap; the bunks are grey painted boards; there seems to be no host though the church runs the hostel. It works but isn't cozy. I have good company though. I'm sharing a room with Flora, Fauna, Squish, Green, and Rock Hound.I saw a hunter today - decked out in camo and carrying a gun. Very unnerving. Kinda' freaky. It made me want "don't shoot me" orange ... everything! I passed what I assume was his truck before I saw him. Even with the windows all rolled up, I could tell the owner was a smoker. It reeked of cigarette smoke.I'm doing laundry now, will get organized, then turn in. To those I know and love, I miss you all. Missing you is the hardest part of this long walk.
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Damascus, VA

To: Sauders Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

ESD: 2 (showers do nothing)Weather: HOT and sunnyCalories: 3500 ishI found out this morning that I got in to the University of Washington Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management (QERM) program. I had initially been wait-listed. And so the difficult decision on where to go to school next year has recommenced. I have a lot to think about in the next couple days.I traded in my Tempest Lo Lady shoes for Tempest II Lo Lady shoes. And get this, the outfitter managed to get me the shoes for free due to a possible warranty issues. Frankly, I think Lowa was being generous, but i'm seriously not going to argue with generosity.So I thought I was so clever, strolling out of town in brand new *free* shoes, licking an ice cream cone. Within 30 minutes, however, I wasn't so cool. My right foot was KILLING me. It hurt so bad, I could feel it in my butt. Ya. Dont' ask me how that works. I stopped, loosened my laces, and noted that my right shoe looked a bit smaller than my left. O dear lord. I checked the tags - a 7 on my left and 6.5 on my right. F***!I called the outfitter who agreed to start hiking up the trail with the correct choe, while I hiked down. I back tracked at least a mile before I met up with my right shoe.So I actually walked 11.4 miles today, but only officially covered 9.4 trail miles. GRR.I arrived first at the shelter afraid I would be alone. I am far from alone. Satori, Flora, Fauna, Leki-less, the Camera Crew, and their dog Sasha have joined me.It was a rough day for me. I'm still really feeling yesterday and the two days before. Plus, I'm so eager to visit home (going home for Ted's graduation, then back on the trail).
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Sauders Shelter

To: Whitetop Mountain Road
Miles today: 11.9

Weather: Mostly cloudy and warmESD: 3Calories:32004 Miles in ...A boy, and I'm pretty sure this one is barely, if, legally an adult), said he has learned more from his dog than he has from many people. Hmm.I'm in another foul mood. These days before visiting home are killing me. Every time I hear a road, I want to bush wack to it and stick my thumb out. Perhaps I should have take a zero in Damascus. Maybe I'm tired. Maybe I"m dehydrated. Maybe I just really want to see my beau.I'm eating like pig today to keep my strength up. I hope it doesn't backfire. That is, I hope I don't run out of food before I get to Partnership Shelter.The first 4 miles have been really hard. I'm not too keen on the next 8. Ugh. But must move on. Wimper.End of the day ...At lunch I was diagnosed as dehydrated. I drank tons of water and Flora and Fauna gave me some Gatorade. I was cured of the muscles aches and headache. Hurray! I was still tired, but got lots of breaks. I had to pee every 15 minutes!I'm camping at a beautiful bald with the same crew as last night - Flora, Fauna, Satori, Leki-less, the Camera Crew, and their dog Sasha. I'm pooped. the birds, however, are not. They're singing to the pink sunset like the morning sun has just come up.O. I can't forget to tell you that the forest floor has come alive. It's green with a suting of white Spring Beauties.O. And I have just been informed that the "birds" are frogs. Oops.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Whitetop Mountain Road

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Weather: Sunny and warmESD:4Calories: 3100Have you noticed how my ESD scores generally stay pretty low. I'm not sure if I'm just not producing as much stink or if I'm getting too (?) used to it. Either way is good, right?I can honestly say that I have never hurt so much ... and I've run a marathon and had open blisters at Sea World.I really should have stopped at the Wise Shelter, but I got it in my head that if I walk 10 or less miles on the 23rd, I can catch a bus the same day to go home to my bebe. Plus, my first few steps away from the Wise Shelter felt alright and I hate to back track.I walked in misery for four miles at least. I had the crying sort of lump in my thorat, but even when I sat on a rock and tried to force the sobs to come, I couldn't cry. Grrr. No release.I was super cranky when I pulled into the camp, but after dinner and water I felt better. I do wonder, however, how I'm going to walk 14.1 miles tomorrow.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Weather: Mostly sunny and warmESD: 5 (I can hardly stand myself and hold my breath when I undress)Calories: Who knows? I ate peanut butter straight out of the tub like ice cream.LUNCH BREAK8 down, 6.1 to go. I'm tryig to take it easy on my feet by taking lots of breaks. It may be night fall by the time I hobble into the shelter. And since my feet are still screaming after a 15 minute break, I've got some time to share some thoughts with you.RACCOONSI saw a raccoon yesterday in the middle of the trail. I imagine it was eating something. In fact, I imagined that it was eating trash ... because that's what coons eat, right?n But there was no trash. This is no city coon. Anyway, I also imagine a Daniel Boone coon skin hat and wondered what useful purpose leaving the tail on the hat served. Was it to insure authenticity? Was it a design flaw? Laziness?BLUE BLAZERS and YELLOW BLAZERSFirst some background. The AT is marked with white blazes painted on trees and rocks and posts to mark the trail. Other trail may be marked with blue blazes. Blue blazed trails take you to water, to summits, to privies, and sometimes they short cut the AT. If you short cut the AT on a blue blazed trail, you "blue blazed" and if you do it a lot, you're a "blue blazer".Yellow blazes are the yellow rectangles painted in the middle of the road. If you short cut the AT in a car, you've "yellow blazed". If you do it a lot, you're a "yellow blazer".There are also slack packers. Folks who walk sometimes or all the time without their backpacks - just a day pack. Second, just about everyone does all of these to some extent for a variety of reasons. Those who do not are "purists". With such a variety of ways to get from Springer to Katahdin, and with all of these ways being a significant challenge of some sort, the idea to "Hike Your Own Hike" (HYOH) is essential.However, I have to admit that after haulilng all of my stuff past every white blaze thus far, I'm strangely irritated by yellow blazing. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to be lying, slack jawed and exhaused at the side of the trail and have a fresh faced yellow blazer zip by. Is it envy? And why do I even care how someone else got from point A to B? It's silliness.FLOWERSThere are tons of flowers out now, too many to describe. Don't get me wrong, they're not coating the hillsides or anything (at least not often). But they are lovely in their new "abundance".SPORKSI love my Ti spork, but you can scrape the bottom of a peanut butter tub clean with it.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Grey Hound Bus
Miles today: 10.6

ESD: 1Weather: Mostly sunny and very warmCalories: 3000+I practically ran from the Trimpi Shelter to the Partnership Shelter. 10. 6 miles in 4 hours flat. That's a record. I can hear you cheering!I "stole" some soap from the nearby visitor center bathroom by filling a candy bar wrapper with liquid hand soap then showered at the shelter. At the shelter! The Partnership Shelter is the only shelter on the trail (as far as I know) where you can shower and order a pizza. No kidding!I forewent the pizza, but the Camera Crew and a south bounder (SOBO) named Seeker ordered some. As clean as I could get, I caught a hitch into Marion with Rock from Bland, VA. He didn't know where the bus station was, but took extra time to find it and deliver me to the front door. I caught the 1 p.m. bus to Ann Arbor, MI and will arrive there a day earlier than expected. Hurray! That is, of course, after a 22 hour (ya, you read that right, 22 hour) bus ride. Boo ... Hoo ... I wish I had a tranquilizer to make the time go by faster.I'm taking a week off to celebrate Ted's graduation and to "treat" my homesickness (aka longing).Mickey One Sock got on the bus in Abingdon, VA. I think he misses his wife at least as much as I miss Ted, and is going home to refuel too. Mickey is a great guy. He fed me candy until the bus stopped at a food place. I was starving and got Chester Fried Chiken. Let em just say, "Yum." And I love the name. Chester Fried. Chesterfried. Have you been chesterfried?PAINKILLERSNow, because of my sorry gut, I have been variably advised to avoid over the counter medications. My current doc prohibits anti-inflammatories (e.g. Advil/Ibuprofen) and aspirin, but gave Tylenol the thumbs up. I've been off OTC's for so long, however, that I eshued pain killer altogether ... until yesterday.The 18 miles through the beautiful but paifully rocky GRayson Highlands killed my feet. Satori, who went into Troutdate, picked up some Tylenol for me. Satori is great. Tylenol is great.Now I mean no offense to the pill popping(i.e. I buprofen popping) hikers, but after feeling the amazing relief (yes, amazing relief) of 2 Tylenol capsules, but you guys have had it pretty good. I felt such extraordinary relief, I couldn't believe it. However, I don't plan to make a habit of it. I want pain killers to remain effective, and I think pain means something (i.e. "slow down" or "take a break").BEING ON THE BUSThe views from the bus aren't bad. The views ON the bus ... well you've ridden the bus ... aren't so good. All I can't think watching the mountains slide byis how much better the view from the ridge, the shelter, the trail is - aching feet, stinking everything, and all. I feel sad leaving the trail, even temporarily. I was missing my boyfriend so much last night, though, that I hardly slept. Such confusing, conflicting emotions.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Ann Arbor Shelter

To: Ann Arbor Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Ted picked me up in Toledo - a 40 minute drive from Ann Arbor Michigan that would have taken me 6 hours on the bus. Hurray! It is beyond wonderful to see him. Being in town makes counting calories difficult. I've4 decided for the week to give my consumption a descrittive predictive rating as follows:1 Too few calories to sustain life (e.g. too sick to keep anything down)2 Sufficient calories to sustain life but not to support exercise of any sort3 Sufficient calories to sustain life and support moderate exercise4 Enough calories to eventually make me super chubby without vigorous, regular exercise (this is trail target calories)5 Far too many calories, gross levels of chub are inevitable no matter what I doToday, I put myself at a 4. I represented thru-hikers well at a dessert party! Y'all would be proud.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Ann Arbor Shelter

To: Ann Arbor Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Caloric Rating: 4 completely chowed at Dan's cookoutI really struggled over the last week to decide where to go to graduate school in the fall - University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment or University of Washington Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management program. Both are incredible programs. And they are VERY different programs.One month ago, I was very disappointed to be "wait-listed" by QERM even though I couldn't decide between QERM and SNRE. After being "wait-listed", however, I focused on why Michigan was the good choice, and really started to feel great about it. So being accepted into the QERM program last week felt more like a burden that an opportunity - a return to a very difficult decision.   Ugh.I thought about it on the trail a lot. I came to the conclusion that QERM would be very difficult for me. It is in my nature to choose the more difficult path, thinking that to do so was more valuable.   So ... I've decided to attend the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. I'm stepping out of my uncomfortable comfort zone. Ya! I think Michigan will be fun. O horrors! I'm going to collect debt like it's just money. I'm going to be impractical, and I'm going to enjoy my education. Yahoo!
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Ann Arbor Shelter

To: Ann Arbor Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Caloric Rating: 5 It was shameful. The cookout was at my place, and someone had to "clean up".It is the week of graduation at the University of Michigan and my many friends are wrapping up their degrees and lives in Ann Arbor and are preparing to leave. Sniff. However, we're spending as much time together as we can, and it seems I have done nothing but go to BBQs since I got home. Yeah!I went to the doctor today and found out that I did indeed lose 5 pounds. Yahoo! More importantly, however, is that I finally fit back into my wardrobe. Last year was tough on my body. I left for the trail heavier than I've been in more than a decade thanks to fat making, muscle atrophying, appetite enhancing medication plus the holidays and a discipline hiatus. So I've lost five pounds and if I had to guess five more pounds has morphed from fat to muscle. Hip Hip Hurray!You still won't find me anywhere in a bikini, but I'm sure to be striding about with a bit more confidence. I'm a girl after all.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Ann Arbor Shelter

To: Ann Arbor Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Written by TedESD: 0 (thankfully)Temp: It got to about 60 degrees today, nice and sunny, a bit humid and really windy. The wind is bringing in thunder storms.Calorie Rating: She keeps eating, holy crap! Today it is 5. But she doesn't lose those good looks at all.Dana (semicolon) and I have been having a lovely week. As she mentioned in her other entries, we have been to quite a few BBQs, including one that we held at the beginning of this week. Though we usually go hiking or running or biking when we are together, this week has been more of a (hold your puke in) snuggling, whispering and giggling week. While we do the previous sickeningly cutsy things, we also eat and drink. One could argue that we are both getting fat, but so far, I can't tell. Dana (semicolon) is looking really good, very fit. I have been riding my bike to work, so, though I'm not getting in good shape due to the short milage, I am at least not turning into a blob of poo.The sketch accompanying this journal entry is of me in Senegal, West Africa. I was there with the Peace Corps working in a small Mandinka village (reading the first handfull of chapters in the book Roots is a great description of my time there). The time the picture was drawn, was close to the end of my tour. I had just grown a large beard, and prior to shaving it, ran the razor down my cheeks to form an enormous goatee and huge chops. But enought about me, this is Dana (semicolon)'s journal. I am very excited that she is taking this opportunity to hike the AT. She is meeting some wonderful people on the trail, she is experiencing a grand adventure that is not only exposing her to a different realm of our crazy culture, but allowing her to become healthier physically. I too am growing from her experience.-Ted
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Ann Arbor Shelter

To: Ann Arbor Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

ESD: 0Temp: warm, with rain at timesCalories: 5x2+8Today was graduation, the reason Semicolon left her temporary AT home. To come see me get my degree. It was a fabulous day, a lot of family, a lot of food, a lot of friends. Hectic as it was, it was extremely enjoyable.[Stay tuned for more pictures]-ted
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Ann Arbor Shelter

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Daily Miles: 557.62ESD: 1 (put back on the dirty clothes)Temp: outside it is damp and warm, inside the bus it was smelly and warmCalories: 5The beginning of the day consisted of eating with family again, hence the 5 rating on calories. We drove around the southern part of Michigan visiting family and continuing the celebration of my graduation. Who would have thought it would have been so tiring to graduate. The day ended when semicolon and I discovered that we had to rush back to the Ann Arbor shelter, lightning pack, fix food and rush to Detroit to catch the Greyhound bus.I left Semicolon at the Bus station, sitting on the right side, middle of a big stinky metal blue grey musty bus. She sat in her seat and unpacked the large bag of food that I packed her and opened the note that I left her and I waved goodbye and left. I hope to go down and meet her somewhere on the trail, sometime soon to share in her adventures. sigh.-TedIt was a beautiful day with Ted's family continuing the velebration of Ted's graduation. We ate obscene amounts.This visit home was well worth the time away from the trail. I spent nearly every monent with Ted and ate cheese cake three days in a row!I've caught the 9:30pm bus out of Detroit to Marion, VA-- back to where I left off. I am anxious just as I was on the flight to Atlanta nearly two months ago.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Marion, VA

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

ESD: 0Weather: partly cloudy and chillyCalories: ?Why do folks make such horrible faves when they smoke? Lots of people on the bus are smokers. And when the bus stops, they file out and smoke with great urgency. They look uncomfortable and unhappy as they do it.Weatherwise, last week was a good week to be off the tral. It was cold and rainy according to the hikers at Partnership Shelter. It's still quite cool now. Temperatures will drop into the low 30s tonight.It's good to be back on the trail? It's good to be back on the trail! I'm still working this out. I've certainly lost my rhythem.I'm pooped from the bus ride, so even though it's well before sundown, I'm hitting the sack.
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Crawfish Valley
Miles today: 17.9

ESD: 1Temp: Sunny and warm with a chillCalories: 3500+ (Burger and fries @ the Barn in Atkins)The forest floor is green, crazy green, with slashes of white, pink, yellow, purple and blue wild flowers. Notably, there is almost no red. Why no red? I saw one single red flower.Knocking off 18 on my first day back probably wasn't the smartest thing. But I had no choice. The shelter at 15 had no water source. Dehydrate or walk on. My feet feel like I never left.I'm meeting new folks and camping with Bonnie and Clyde tonight--a wonderful couple from Seattle.Am pooped.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Crawfish Valley

To: Lick Creek
Miles today: 10.6

ESD: 3Temp: Mostly sunny and very WARMCalories: 3050LUNCH THOUGHTS:Walking through the reemerging lushness of Virgina feels like a homecoming. I lived here for over five years, first in Charlottesville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and then in Arlington in the suburbes of Washington DV.The license plates, the occasional bursts of red clay earth, and even the slope of the land seem familiar and comforting.AT CAMP:I'de been walking along with portions of the chorus "I will survive" going through my head. That ought to tell you something about the state of my feet. I was miserable, wishing I'd stayed at the Knot Maul Branch Shelter. There were 7 miles between me and the next water source according to the data book.Woe is me. Agter 1 mile, I wanted to trun back. And after 2 miles and a hard climb up Lynn Camp Mountain, I wished I had.After a mile or so more I resolved to stop at the first water source I came to. I came across several small stream and began looking for a flat spot to camp. Then I crossed a bridge at least 20 paces wide, over a huge creek with plenty of nice camping. All of this NOT in the data book.I have thought on occasion, that the data book sucks. I'm thinking it again today.So why isn't this huge water source not in the data book? Granted, big fat creeks are fed by zillions of streams that could be transporting pathogens by the boat load. Better to drink from small streams and springs. But as tired as I was-- suffering with wrethced feet, I would have liked to have known about this place.I have set up campt after a mere 10.6 miles, will sit and read Barbara Kingsolver, and sleep. Hopefully when I wake, my feet will feel better.It's spooky here alone.