morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-08-10
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Kent, Connecticut
Miles today: 12.7

I felt so glad that Katie and Amanda stayed at the shelter last night so I could spend some time with them. We all woke up and were getting a leisurely start about 8:00 when Pokey arrived! He'd taken the train back from NYC last night and camped in the woods. It was so great to see him; I thought I might not have a chance to say goodbye. Katie left, hoping to hoof it to Kent, pick up her resupply, then continue on. I headed out, hiking by myself, contemplating my desire to end my hike. When I think of going home, I feel a huge weight has lifted and I feel incredibly relieved. I would never have guessed a weke ago (before the fearful episode on the rocks) that I would have changed so quickly, but my decision to go home feels 100% right. Amanda caught up to me and we continued on together for the rest of the day. I really enjoyed hiking with her. Gabby and Pokey lagged behind the whole day. As Amanda and I arrived at the river we turned and saw Burnie practically skipping down the hill towards us! She hadn't been ahead, she'd spent four days in NYC with her boyfriend Mike and was catching up. I was SO glad to see her. She hurried on, hoping to do 20+ miles today. The day's hike was mostly quite nice, by the river, then up fairly steeply to a ridgeline where Amanda and I stopped for a two hour lunch and siesta at a beautiful overlook. The last part of the hike back down the hill was quite rocky, which simply confirmed how right it feels to end my hike. I am tired of being bone-weary tired all the time and being scared that I'm going to fall. I hiked from the shelter to the road by myself, savoring my last moments on the trail, quietly singing the Irish Blessing as I said goodbye to the trail for now: May the road rise with you,May the wind be always at your back,May the sun shine warm upon your face,Mayt the rain fall soft upon your fields,And until we meet again, may God hold you,In the hollow of his hand.Gabby and Pokey had caught up to us briefly at the overlook and we decided to get a room at a B&B. At the shelter just before town Amanda decided to go ahead quickly to the B&B. We'd left a phone message at 2:00 to make a reservation but hadn't spoken to a person. Unfortunately when she got to the B&B she was told it's full and the nearby inn was closed as well. But a construction worker offered to drive us to a motel out of town. So we paid for his supper at the deli and all ate at the outdoor tables. Egg salad sandwich, gatorade and a pint of Ben and Jerry's almost filled me up. And Katie showed up and joine us! Then a drive to the Hitching Post motel, an old 1950's roadside motel where we got two rooms. I called home and discussed arrangements to get home, full of mixed emotions--sad to leave the trail and vastly relieved to be going home. A shower and clean bed sure feel good.
Date: 2004-08-11
To: home!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

A day full of intense feelings, sadness at ending and saying goodbye, a strong sense of relief and happiness to be going home, and an over-riding tiredness of body and soul. We slept till after 7:00. I treated myself to a second shower. (I think once I'm home I'm going to take three showers a day!) Breakfast at a nearby small grocery store. Gabby's wife, Sue, and his daughters Darcy and Christy, arrived at 10:00 and we piled packs and hikers into Gabby's pickup truck. We went to the post office to pick up mail drops. I did everybody's laundry while they organized food and repacked their packs. Ah, I'm re-entering the world of perpetually clean! Then to the ATM for magic money and to the outfitter where I picked up my maildrop and Amanda got a new head lamp and fuel bottle. I bough a pair of Tevas on sale for my new larger feet since none of my shoes will fit when I get home. Then off to the nearby state park for a wonderful picnic repast provided by Gabby's family. Then the sadness, saying goodbye to Amanda, who was dropped off at the post office, then a tearful goodbye to Gabby and Pokey when we dropped them off at the trail head. Gabby's family graciously dropped me off at the bus station in Hartford where I bought a ticket to Boston. I called my relatives Neil and Monica who live outside Boston and asked if I could stay the night with them and get the bus home tomorrow. Home! What a wonderful word! I look out the window of the bus at the scenery flying by at what feels like light speed. But it's different than when I was last on the bus on my way to Hot Springs last April. I notice. The maple and oak trees swaying in the wind and rain. The beautiful Queen Anne's lace and black-eyed Susans dancing by the roadside. And little white roadside reflectors, about 2 by 6 inches, racing by that look so much like Appalachian Trail white blazes, reminding me that the beauty and lessons of the trail are everywhere as long as my eyes and heart are open to take them in. No matter where I am, the trail is in me, is a part of me. I think I will always be looking for that white blaze and finding it in surprising places. I know I will return to the trail some day, but now I'm heading home. I have a wonderful home and family and a rich life to return to. I am blessed indeed.
Date: 2004-08-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I've been home a week now. I'm immersed back into family life. I washed my pack and my sleeping bag. I'm cooking and baking again--blueberry pie, potato salad, deviled eggs, blueberry buckle, etc. And I'm refamiliarizing myself with tool belt, hammer, and skill saw as I help my son, Ethan, build a small cabin on our property. My car broke down the day after I got home so I'm transporting my daughter, Kate, back and forth to her summer internship job. And I'm watching the Olympics on TV, amazed at what those young athletes can accomplish, but also reminded of all the incredible "athletes" on the Appalachian Trail who hike many miles a day, day after day, with no medals or recognition. I am in awe at the amazing feat of long-distance hiking. My body is still tired and my knees move slowly. I think it will take a while for my body to return to its energetic self. But my soul is full to brimming with amazing memory of the Trail and all that I've experienced since May 4th. The rest of the trail awaits me, some day. But for now I'm content to rest, to sit on my deck and take in the views of mid-coast Maine which I love so much. I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz as I click my heels three times and say: "There's no place like home!"
Date: 2004-10-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I feel blessed indeed. I've spent the time since I got off the trail on August 10th home with my family, enjoying the beauty of late summer in Maine and feeling so grateful for both my time this summer on the trail and the time with my family. I have a newfound appreciation for T.S. Eliot's famous quote:"We shall not cease from explorationAnd the end of all our exploringWill be to arrive where we startedAnd know the place for the first time."Being away has helped me to see how wonderful my life here is. I have a great family, a wonderful home, a fulfilling career, loving friends, and the wonder of living in the midst of the beauty of mid-coast Maine where I can drive five minutes and be on a hiking trial that overlooks Penobscot Bay. I just needed to be away for a while to deepen my appreciation of all the gifts in my life, to "know the place for the first time."Gabby phoned me this last week and we managed to connect. I met he and Poky at the AT trailhead on Route 4 near Rangley yesterday. I brought my little schnauzer dog Yoda with me and he greeted them first as we walked up the trail to meet them. It felt so great to see them again. I drove them into town where they bought groceries. Then we stopped at the local sports bar where Katie and Burny were eating lunch. We decided that I would drive Poky and Gabby to Gull Pond Lodge, drop them off, then return to town to take Katie and Burny shopping and then back to the trailhead, which I did. So I had a chance to talk with Burny and Katie and share the stories of our lives since August. They seemed tired, but determined to keep on, which I respect. Yoda and I hiked with them for half an hour as they headed north. Then I returned to the Lodge and drove Poky and Gabby to the Red Onion for supper. The next morning we returned to the AT and I joined them hiking up Saddleback Mountain. It felt so great to be on the trail with them again, chatting along as we always did. We stopped for lunch at noon, just short of the summit but above treeline with spectacular views of the surrounding lakes and mountains with the fall foliage at its peak brilliance. I wanted to head back by 12:30 to have enough time to get back over all the downhill rocks and roots by myself, which I accomplished quite well, returning to my car about 4:15 after a stop at the shelter to read the register and catch up on my old friends who are still on the trail. I feel so happy to see my "Happy Brigade" friends again. It feels like a fitting end to my summer of hiking the Appalachian Trail. I wish them all well as they continue their trek northward.
Date: 2003-05-17
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: past Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 17.0

This is my first section hike of the AT! Whoopie! I got a shuttle from Erwin to Hot Springs for $40 and began the hike back about 9 AM. The hills were long and hard. Wearing a pair of sandals for the first time, I started developing blisters in ways that I had not anticipated. It was a day of duct tape.A group of loud dogs were camping with their owner at Log Cabin Drive, so I moved a littl further, to the top of the hill and set up a stealth camp just before a rain shower hit. Hammock make great stealth camp sites! For a full account of the section hike see:First Section Hike
Date: 2003-05-18
From: North of Log Cabin Drive

To: Frozen Knob
Miles today: 21.2

This was the way I chose to celebrate my 50th Birthday. No black crepe paper, no black cakes, no black jokes! It was fantastic. I learned a lot and further resolved to do much more hiking.Too much hiking this day. I ended up wearing out the cartilage in my knee on this 14 hour hiking day. I now know that I would never attempt more than 40 miles when starting a hiking week! Live and learn. Frozen Knob is a great description of my camping spot! Out of Sugarloaf Gap, and around the end of a ridge, I ran into a wall of cold, wet wind. It kept going all night and got me rather cold. I had tried to get all the way to HogBack Ridge Shelter, but had run out of energy and daylight about 9 PM. For a full account of the section hike see:First Section Hike
Date: 2003-05-19
From: Frozen Knob

To: Big Bald Shelter
Miles today: 12.8

Today I paid for the excess of the two previous days. I had just about decided to pack it in and quit. A cell phone call to my pretty EllieD persuaded me that it would be a bad idea to quit. My toes had big blisters and my knee was killing me.I ended up praying with EllieD on the phone, and continued. Moments later, I found I could go down hills by dancing a short shuffle down the hillside. It was a cold night at Big Bald. I spent the evening with Patience, a girl from Israel; FujiBoots, a teacher who had recently returned from Japan; and a hammock camper who had not adopted a trail name, called Chris. Lots of encoragement from the group got me going the next morning after a cold night. In the middle of the night, I needed to put my FroggToggs on to get warm.
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Big Bald Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

This short day began in the clouds at Big Bald. As the day went on, my knee got a little better and the blister on my great toe got worse. At the shelter, I decided to lance the blister and put some superglue in the space. This did work quite well to reduce the pain. BTW, this is not No Business Knob Shelter... It is actually Spring Mountain Shelter about 40 miles to the south. It looked like a nice picture for the page, however... relax.A section hiker, NoDrip, showed me the secret of making an emergency fire starter by soaking a slip of cardboard in melted candle wax. This is a great way to make a fire starter. I have used them on every trip since then.
Date: 2003-05-21
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Packing up in the rain, I put my sealskinz over my bruised feet and found that my feet felt much better. My knee was still hurting. The walk into Erwin was easy. Mostly downhill, it was pretty in the light rain. Once to the river, I still had another mile up the road to get my car at the campground past the railroad tracks. I considered another few days while eating at the Erwin Burrito. Given my knee pain, I decided on this rainy Wednesday to drive home to Dayton and attack the trail another day. As I was driving out of town, I happened to see Patience and FujiBoots walking up the trail on their way to Roan Mountain and Damascus. I have tried in the time since then to find out what happened to them, but have never heard.
Date: 2003-06-12
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Humpback Rocks
Miles today: 11.5

This is the first day of a three day adventure in central Virginia. After renewing my Virginia Driver's license, I drove to Rockfish Gap and began the section hike. By lunch I had made it to the Paul Wolfe shelter, where the resident goat took to butting another hiker trying to cook some lunch. I decided to go on. After seeing a rather large Timber Rattlesnake, I exhausted myself in the heat making my way most of the way up Humback Mountain. I finally ate some supper near the stairway to heaven and camped at Humpback Rocks. Soon after setting up my hammock off the trail, a gentle rain shower began, which quickly put me to sleep at 9 PM despite the sky being quite bright with sunshine.Here is the full journal:June Hike
Date: 2003-06-13
From: Humpback Rocks

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

The day began bright and pretty. Unfortunately, there is not much water available on Humpback Mountain. I was able to fill my water bottle from pools in the rocks on the top of the mountain. On top of the mountain, there was a great view of the Wintergreen Ski resort. Then it was through a valley, spooking a deer, falling down some rocks that were quite slippery, and then crossing Reed's Gap. In this gap, one of the chefs from Wintergreen was set up, cooking the best hamburgers I have ever tasted, as a trail angel. Maupin Field shelter had lots of bugs and not much water. The shelter register talked of constant mosquitoes at night. I walked over Three Ridges and through a thunderstorm, arriving at Harper's Creek Shelter just as the storm was abaiting. The woods were full of moisture. I had a great time there talking with a couple who were nearly finished with all portions of their section hikes of the entire trail. If I remember right, they had finished about 1800 miles of trail in 4 years. They were an inspiration.As I turned in, some hikers came up and started putting a tent up right next to my hammock. I think they finally saw me and decided to move their camp across the creek. That was good, because they were up late at night with a roaring fire and loud singing.
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Spy Rock
Miles today: 11.5

The day was hot.There was a lot of poison ivy walking to the Tye River from Harper's Creek. Once at the river, I cooled off in the water. I wanted to skiny dip, but there was a young couple holding hands on the bridge crossing the river. The climb up the Priest was the hardest climb I had made yet, but it was not excessive. I did rest half way up on a nice slab of rock, drying some of my things from the previous afternoon. On top of the Priest, there were bugs everywhere. Mainly, they were sweat bees. The bug net on the hammock came in quite handy. I had planned to spend the night at the Priest Shelter, but notes in the Register mentioned Spy Rock as a great place to watch the sunrise and sunset. So I pushed on and was very glad. They bugs were less intense, and the view was spectacular.
Date: 2003-06-15
From: Spy Rock

To: Montebello VA
Miles today: 4.0

This short day was just hiking out to the Dutch Haus for breakfast, followed by a ride back to Rockfish Gap.That is easy to say, but much harder to describe. Lois' breakfasts are not just to be described as a meal, but an experience. The food is wonderful. They view is better, and the conversation is better still. True southern hospitality for us hungry hikers is what Lois and the family give to the hiking community. The day ended with the 7 hour drive back to Ohio. Great trip.Here is the full journal:June Hike
Date: 2003-09-10
From: Mt. Rogers Headquarters

To: Racoon Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.0

This 5 day, 4 night hike southbound from Mt. Rogers Headquarters to Damascus was made possible by a shuttle from Mr. Roger's outfitters in Damascus. It was a great solo trip with cool and comfortable weather.The full story can be followed here:September HikeThe previous day, I had driven to Damascus and spent the night in Dave's Place. The next morning I got a shuttle to the Partnership Shelter and began hiking back to Damascus. The day began cool, but quickly warmed up. The trail wound through farmland, some of it still used quite actively. I stopped briefly at the Trimpi Shelter, but there was not much water there. I ended up walking to the Racoon Branch Shelter, where I spent the night alone.
Date: 2003-09-11
From: Racoon Branch Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

This was another great September day! On my way out of Racoon Branch Shelter, I scared a pair of deer which had been browsing in the area above the shelter.The path was all but deserted. I saw my first wild ponies just past the Scales. A couple F-15s screamed overhead at low altitude while I was having lunch at Old Orchard Shelter.The night was spent at the Wise shelter. I was able to string up my hammock from front to back in the shelter, which was of very modern construction.
Date: 2003-09-12
From: Wise Shelter

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

This beautiful walk began in early morning. I was able to do it in the reverse direction of most thruhikers. The ponies were out in large numbers, occasionally on the trail itself. The picture is from Thomas Knob shelter, where a pair of deer were Yogi-ing for lunch scraps. The views of the day, especially from Buzzard's Roost were spectacular. I spent the night, again alone, at a small shelter in the deep dark woods. It was hard finding enough firewood to keep me awake for long after dark.
Date: 2003-09-13
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

I rose early and began hiking 2 hours before sunrise. There was simply no way I could stay in the hammock any longer.The advantage was being able to get back to Damascus early enough to leave for home a day early and get to church on Sunday morning. On the pages on my homepage, I describe the impressions I had returning to town after a time on the trail. Here is that description again:The first one notes in coming back toward town are the sounds. Still a couple miles away from the edge of town, well up on the mountain, there is the sound of several large dogs barking. This sound, and the noise of aircraft, are about the only civilized sounds I have heard for the last half week. I have heard dogs barking several nights, and occasionally during the day. But the sounds are always the deep barks of dogs I imagine to be at least half my weight. Then there are a few automobile noises. A honking horn, a truck's diesel engine, the screech of someone's tires that just avoided an accident are all heard. Next, small yard dogs and lap dogs barks are heard. The higher pitched yapping didn't make it very far through the trees. Now that I am getting closer to town, I can hear the racket. Next, I hear a lawn mower. I assume it is a riding lawn mower. Only a few hundred yards from the opening to the street, I hear the sound of car's tires on the roadway. A little closer and I hear bicycle sounds from the Virginia Creeper trail. Next, voices - just the sound of voice, nothing that can be understood - makes it into the trees only a hundred yards. Finally, at the tree line, at the top of the steps, the sun floods the ground. My eyes have difficulty focusing on the steps in the brightness. I clamber down the wood steps and across the road... making doubly sure that I am not about to step in front of a car. Which way to I turn my head to check for traffic?? It seems strange, like being in England and never knowing where a car is going to come from. Walking along the Creeper path into town, people nod their hellos. Time to get back into the social graces of responding to their friendly gestures. I buy an ice cream. No trouble there. Unpack down to my ditty kit to find the key to my truck. Crossing the road to Mt. Rogers outfitters, I walk in, but do not feel like interrupting the talking people to say that I have just gotten back and that I will be taking my truck now... I just walk out after looking through the shelves. A hermit for the last half week, it will take me a few hours to get reacquainted with social interaction.
Date: 2003-11-11
From: Highway 60

To: Seely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This section hike began with temperatures below freezing. There were many hunters in the woods. The hike was arranged by the Dutch Haus, and they provided a shuttle. It was a wonderful trip, though lonely. Only one other hiker seen in two days of walking.The impressive thing about the hike was the amount of hunting going on! Several times I saw hunters. I heard them many times. Three different times I saw fresh blood on the trail from deer who had been shot.Details, and many pictures are here:Veterans Day Hike
Date: 2003-12-31
From: Amicola Falls

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

New Year's resolutions are important when it comes to hiking. For years, it has been common for people to gather on hill tops in the middle of winter to make resolutions. When it comes to big resolutions, long trips and much privation are necessary. This trip required driving 9 hours from Ohio to Georgia and then solo hiking to the top of Springer. The magic of the place is palpable. The weather was very plesant. The people I met, including liteshoe, Ed Speer, Karen, and many others were friendly and supportive. There were even some southbounders finishing for the year that special night. The whole journal can be seen here
Date: 2004-03-25
From: Standing Indian Campground

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: broken clouds

This was the first partial day of a three day section hike with PapaJohn Kennedy. We went to the area because of our interest in a hammock hangers hangout at Rainbow Springs on Saturday the 27th. On the first day, we hiked the Kimsey Creek trail to Deep Gap and then up the mountain to Standing Indian Shelter. Once at the shelter, we spent time with several other hikers talking about their hike so far. One hiker we met was Cuppa Joe The full journal can be read here:Albert Mountain Hike