morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-09
From: Home

To: Unicoi State Park (Helen, Georgia)
Miles today: 2.5

05/09/2011Fraser FirSection HikerAppalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineYear eightYesterday was a great Mothers Day. We went to Unicoi State Park and hiked the 2.4 miles around the lake and enjoyed looking for crayfish under the creek rocks and cooling off in the stream.The park was not crowded and we loved every minute of it. Me and the boys are headed to the mountains to do a Georgia section of the A.T. next week. Oh, my trip in Virginia?I will take the time to detail my journal at another time.Since I have been home from Virginia, I have been taking care of other things, as you can imagine.A big word of thanks to Homer and Therese Witcher. Homer put up with all of my phone calls and let me cry on his shoulder!A big shout out to Sharon in Front Royal. Thank you to the RATC, Natural Bridge ATC, and the PATC for unbelievable trail maintenance! A big good luck to Patches and Back Flip, Indy and Scavenger. So glad I got to meet Hersch , Katmandu and the Corsican.Finally, Stumpknocker, so glad to get to meet you.   I cannot believe you remember us doing trail magic for you way back in the day. I knew it was you when I saw you but you just never know!!A big thanks to my family for trying to understand my time away from life and my mom for putting forth the cash this year to make this dream possible.Thank you to everyone who has read my journal.This in many ways has been more than a dream come true. God Bless each of you.
Date: 2011-05-23
From: Wallace Gap

To: Siler Bald
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Fraser FirAppalachian Long Distance Section Hiker-one night outing from Wallace Gap to Siler BaldGeorgia to Maine- an eight year journey so far..05/23/2011-MondayThis section of the trail is absolutely one of my favorite. To be specific: the Nantahala National Forest from Deep Gap to Wayah Bald.I just got back from camping and hiking with the boys in Unicoi State Park last week. I will journal that entire experience post-Virginia if you will. The time that we spent playing in the creek; building campfires, catching crayfish and watching a beaver swim on a late night hike are times that will be forever imprinted in my mind. I love my wife and I love these boys of mine.In addition to seeing a 300 lb. black bear (or at least I did) skirting down into the Chattahoochee National Forest via the forest road to Tray Mountain was a sight to see.Reverting back to today: I am on the way from South Carolina to Mississippi. Why not cut through the mountains and back pack? At my mother-in-law¢s birthday party she smiled and said that David is always hiking or camping or thinking about it! Is she ever so right?I start hiking this evening at 7:00 pm knowing that it will be an aggressive eight mile after dinner walk to the top of Siler Bald. I stopped at Three Rivers Outfitters in Franklin and got some post cards and a small A.T. sticker.The drive from Franklin to Wallace Gap made me want to cry.I wanted to cry because of the majesty and beauty of this area.You know that early on in my long walk through Virginia this year; I quoted Frank Sinatra and my friend Captain Patagonia in saying that ¢I did it my way¢.Or at least, I wanted to do it my way. This hike was so refreshing. I listened to Dr. Tony Evans on my mp3. I listened to NPR and jazz and classical. Then I turned off the music and just listened to the wind blow through the trees.It was 93 F when I left Anderson, South Carolina this afternoon. We went to the botanical gardens at Clemson University and had a very good time.As I close my eyes and go to sleep, it must be around 50 F with 30 mph winds.I am in my north face fleece with my 20 F bag and my 10 F liner.The winds are rockin my tent back and forth.The views of the lights of down town Franklin from 5216 feet are beautiful.I am so glad that I came here. I am so glad to be back home. This part of the trail is so much a part of me and who I am. My spirit and soul call for the mountains in this region more than anywhere else in the world.To facilitate these feelings, I read deeply into the Gospel of John and reflect on what I believe and count my blessings. Many, far too many to count. Siler Bald, I have missed you so much.
Date: 2011-06-20
From: Home

To: U.S. Hwy 60 Buena Vista
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to MaineYear Eight Monday, June 20, 2011My wife and my two children are out of town until the end of the week.I was able to work my schedule out that I will get off of work tomorrow afternoon at around 1:30 pm and travel from the metro-Atlanta area up to Buena Vista, Virginia.I will attempt to section hike some of the George Washington National Forest that I missed last month.An overnight section hike to Siler Bald a few weeks ago ¢re-invigorated¢ my attempt to go and experience the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area along with the Priest Wilderness Area and the Three Ridges Wilderness Area before concluding at Humpback Rocks and Rockfish Gap.I was ashamed to inform my shuttle driver from Waynesboro as to my itinerary.I was concerned that he may or may not want to put me on his calendar although I would be hiking ¢to him¢ if you will. He will not have to come and wait at some gap in along a forest road with no cell service wondering when and if I will be there. My shuttle driver just simply knows that a ¢David¢ will be in Waynesboro sometime on Thursday. We will keep it simple.So here goes:Tuesday, June 21, 2011= travel from Georgia to Virginia by car. (arrive in Buena Vista around 10:00pm and probably set up camp at Long Mountain Wayside.Wednesday, June 22, 2011= Summer Solstice ? Hike from Long Mountain Wayside to Chimney Rock (Middle Ridge of Three Ridges) 30 miles.Thursday, June 23, 2011= wake up early and hike from Chimney Rock to Rockfish Gap. 25 miles.Total Mileage=55 miles in less than forty eight hours and then back to work Friday morning in Georgia.To all of you that do not understand what hiking more than twenty miles in a day means? How could he enjoy the nature and the scenery or fellowship with anyone?That is why I start so early in the morning. To take those breaks. To say hello and stop and take pictures.I will carry a tarp, rain jacket, change of undergarments and an extra shirt.(no tent- first time ever and no, I do not plan on sleeping in a shelter)I will drink straight out of the creeks for a water source. I do believe that I can do it without getting sick. (no water filter)Fraser Fir will use his day pack that he used 2004-2007 in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. A "reunion" of sorts!!In addition, I will take a bare minimum of food (just enough to get by) and load up on Gatorade powder, etc to prevent dehydration. I expect it to be very hot.Sound crazy?? What we will do to take a walk in the woods! Amen?Thanks to all of my friends who checked the weather, etc.. Before coming up with this idea on a moment¢s notice.Let us get ready to hike shall we??A big hello to all thru and section hikers that I have met this year in Ga, NC and Va.Thank you for reading my journal and God Bless you.Take care !
Date: 2011-06-21
From: Home (Gainesville, Georgia)

To: U.S. Hwy 60 Buena Vista
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection Hiker of the Appalachian TrailYear Eight06/21/2011arrival at U.S. Long Mountain Wayside I remember some time ago; 2004 to be very specific when I decided to hike an "out of this world" amount of mileage in a very short time.I woke up very early; three a.m. to be specific and drove 180 miles before arriving at Fontana and then hiking thirty five plus miles in one day.You know I want to go back and do that section again because I was so wiped out from the drive and then the hike (all in one day).As I have said before, the trail is a classroom. It is up to us to learn from our wins and celebrate. It is up to us as hikers to learn from the pain of our mistakes and adjust accordingly.It was critical that I arrive in Virginia tonight and get a good night of sleep before climbing Bald Knob in the morning.Here it is around 10:30 pm and I have made my way from the busy bee-hive of Atlanta and Charlotte to the prestine farmlands and National Forests of one beautiful place: Central Virginia. The first thing that I do is find a safe place to park my car at Long Mountain Wayside.I park near a truck with Pennsylvania tags and set up my four man car camping back packing tent.I enjoy some drinks and goodies from the local Food Lion and feel very appreciative that the rain backed off just long enough for me to get the tent up and crawl into my warm sleeping bag.I have a book and my Bible, but it is not too long before I am asleep.My hike will consist of heading north from Hwy. 60 Long Mountain Wayside to Rockfish Gap.I can hardly wait to walk with a ten pound pack, my camera, my mp3 and spend another dose of sanctuary in the mountains of the Appalachian.thank you for reading my journal.Have a great evening. Good night!
Date: 2011-06-22
From: U.S. Hwy 60 Buena Vista

To: Harpers Creek (entry one of three on the day)
Miles today: 30.0

Wednesday, June 22nd 2011- First Entry of the day.Second day of summerFraser FirSection HikerYear Eight-day nineU.S. Route 60 Long Mountain Wayside to Harpers Creek Shelter30 miles (with side hikes to find water)The second day of summer and the first day on this north bound section in Central Virginia started with warm temperatures and blue skies.After breakfast and hydrating myself for the climb up Bald Knob, I got onto the trail around 6:30 am.The climb up Bald Knob was right at one hour.I gained right at 2,000 feet and found myself drenched in sweat.To be on the conservative side; once I got to Cow Camp Gap, I took the one-half mile blue blazed trail to Cow Camp Gap Shelter.There were some thru hikers that were still asleep and one guy from New Hampshire (sorry, forgot your trail name) who was on his way out.I used the privy and then drank and drank and drank fluids.As I mentioned yesterday, no water filter system or tablets; thus, I am dancing with the devil.After about four quarts of Gatorade, I quickly hiked back to the AT and headed in a north eastern direction.The hike up Cole Mountain was beautiful. I caught myself being reminded of a hike up Max Patch.Views to the east revealed Mount Pleasant. Views to the north concealed the Priest, the Cardinal and Dismal Mountain.I am clearly ¢out in the open¢ the way that I like to be.to be continued¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦¢¦.
Date: 2011-06-22
From: US Hwy 60 Long Mountain Wayside

To: Harpers Creek (entry two of three on the day)
Miles today: 30.0

Fraser FirSection HikerAppalachian TrailYear Eight ¢day tenGeorgia to Maine Thirty miles today with ten pounds on my back with no tent and only a tarp!06/22/2011Entry two of the day.In the event that you have just ¢caught¢ my journal, you will observe that I will have multiple entries for the same day because I literally record every step of the way and try to communicate that to you as you may read my story.I like short sentences to keep you engaged. No one likes a bunch of run-on garble and I have been guilty of this in the past.When my hike is over, I plan to publish it with an independent book company for any other reason that my kids can have a soft cover of some of my thoughts along the long green tunnel.It is before lunch and I have just descended from Cole Mountain to Hog Camp Gap.Hog Camp Gap has a plethora of camp sites and available areas to stop and rest.I head east off of the trail and search for the South Fork Piney River. Fifteen minutes later, I find water and mix Gatorade mix. All of these side trips are adding additional mileage to an already aggressive hiking itinerary today.The blue blazed side trips are critical to have guaranteed water supplies. So far, during the first ten to twelve miles in the high elevation of the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, water has not been ¢on the trail¢.Past experience has taught me that when water is not found directly on the trail, you have to invest the time to go find it; you have to hike the extra ups and downs to get to it because if you blow off the sure thing, it could spell the end of your hike and just maybe a trip to the E.R.Oh, by the way, I keep running into my friend from New Hampshire. I think that his trail name is Paradox.Tar Jacket Ridge is amazing. I take mega-pictures and just praise the God of this universe for the beauty out here in the Blue Ridge.The ride down from Tar Jacket does indeed reveal a few berries to chomp on but nothing of real significance. I hike along past Greasy Spring and stop for water at Sealy ¢Woodworth shelter and sign in with my trade mark green felt pen and Fraser Fir Christmas Tree with a smiley face!My next entry will expose my written confession at the Priest Shelter! Hahh! I did not know about the ¢confession journal¢ and would find it and the cooler temperatures of the 4,000 foot range very appealing!Thank you again for reading my journal. You are appreciated.
Date: 2011-06-23
From: Harpers Creek tent pad (entry numero uno)

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: light rain

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011Fraser FirA ten to twelve year journey from my home in North East Georgia to the State of Maine. (One footstep at a time.)Entry numero uno on the day   8--)Last night was a pretty good night of sleep. I was a party pooper and did not stay at the shelter with Paradox and the other hikers that poured in this evening. Paradox is the guy from New Hampshire that I have run into like five times in the past twenty four hours.Honestly, the time that it took to set up my tarp; was more time consuming than going with my good old eight or maybe five pound North Face two-man tent.Dinner was tortillas and beef jerky with some granola bars, lemonade, Gatorade, etc¢¦Sleeping right at about 1800 feet is pretty new for me in the mountains, especially in the summer time.Our summer vacations usually consist of Balsam Mountain Campground 5200 feet; Mount Pisgah 5100 feet or maybe Standing Indian (around 3500 to 4000¢) :--) I want to sleep in creature comfort!At any rate, after a pretty aggressive thirty mile walk yesterday, I slept fairly well with a light breeze and no bugs or mosquitoes biting at me under my tarp!I set my telephone alarm for around 5:30 a.m. and got up and had a light breakfast and ¢rehydrated¢ on Gatorade and had beef jerky, pop tarts and other goodies.Since leaving Buena Vista northbound, this is the first place where I have seen decent water along the trail. It was nice to go directly down to the stream and just fill my water bottles up without having to divert along a blue blazer.Talking with the dude from the ¢ Lone Star state¢ about the up and coming section of Three Ridges and the Hanging Rock overlook, it looks like a half day challenge. Bill will be picking me up regardless, sometime this evening at Rockfish Gap. :--)From Harpers Creek to Rockfish Gap is a cool twenty seven mile trek today.I think about all of this for a moment; look at the time and it is six-thirty a.m.; and I decide to do a little blue blazing. Please do not tell. I will cut about three miles off of my trek by doubling back to the Mau-Har Trail. (head south on the AT) and cut out the entire Three Ridges wilderness :---( I am on a time crunch and need to be on I-81 by this evening.I grab my ten pound slack pack and head south on the AT. Next, without realizing the ups/downs of the Mau-Har trail: I invoke on a journey of a side trail used during inclement weather voiding myself of the experience of 3500 to 4000 foot views of the magnificent Three Ridges Wilderness.I guess yesterday was a bit much with thirty miles without any real warm up. Maybe even a twenty mile day would have been a little gracious! Thank you for reading my journal- I have been so blessed and fortunate to see Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and my homey , Georgia-- with a new set of lens in these woods we call the Appalachian!to be continued¢¦see you soon!!
Date: 2011-06-24
From: Home

To: Mount Pisgah Campground (family vacation)
Miles today: 0.0

06/24/2011Fraser FirGeorgia to MaineYear: EightDays of section hiking in 2011 so far: TenLatest SectionStart: June 22- 795.2 Buena Vista-US Rte. 60Finish: June 23-850.5 Rockfish GapA story will come next week as I will confess to my lovely bride that I drove up to Central Virginia on a whirlwind to finish this section that I had every intention of hiking last month.Like Therese Witcher told me after she picked me up from Shenandoah last month, aim low and if you complete what you set out to do with additional time permitting, you can always, always, always add to that hike. It is when we put physical and psychological demands on ourselves that it can potentially become a grind and a feather to put into our cap.boo hoo to that for certain!!see you soon   8----))))thank you for reading my journal so far and do not be shy- I have email now, so go ahead and sign my trail journal rewgister: and I will correspond with you!8----))))Take care!
Date: 2011-09-05
From: Rock Gap near Franklin

To: Wesser 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Fraser FirSection HikerNorthbound from Georgia to MaineI am so excited.I am going walk from Rock Gap to the Nantahala Outdoor Center with a couple of friends, Allen and John! 8----)) As far as this beautiful section of the trail goes, I have been to Siler Bald and Wayah Bald numerous times.My youngest son is named Siler.We are considering naming our next child, who is due October 23rd, Wayah, if a boy. (we do not know if we are having a boy or a girl)The three of us will walk around thirty miles over the beautiful mountains of the southern Nantahala.I am so excited. Thanks Stephanie for reaching out and letting me go with these guys. I did you so wrong a couple of months ago.
Date: 2011-09-06
From: Home

To: Wesser
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We will leave next Saturday, September 17th and park at Rock Gap with the intention of spending the first night on top of Siler Bald.I will start calling and arranging a shuttle tommorow. 8----)I may swing by REI and look at replacing my water filter system that broke down in Central Virginia this past spring for something better.REI is good about taking defective stuff back. I want one of those "magic wand" filtering systems that I saw a guy have near Paul C. Wolfe Shelter.He stirred his water and was ready to drink in less than one minute.I know of many springs between Rock Gap and Wayah Gap and will not hesitate to just go ahead and fill right up.ahhh Wayah Gap brings back memories of our family hike last September 30th.It was Stephanie's birthday and we "car camped" at the Wayah Gap picnic area and then summited Siler Bald the very next day!Little did we know that literally hundreds of school children would show up as we were finishing breakfast and did the Siler Bald Challenge!!Good for those kids! They were of various ages and nationalities from Macon County Public Schools.Anyway, we had a blast the night before with glo-sticks in the tent and Winzer eating hotdogs with us!!Oh, back to this hike. We will walk along alot of the ridge line of Wine Spring, Wayah and some other crests above 5,000 feet.Allen asked if he should bring a parka. I say absolutely!! I will even bring long pants and my sleeping bag liner.Siler Bald is an awesome place to camp. If we have a clear night we will see stars forever. It makes me think about the Louie Giglio Video "Indescribable"where he gives us just a small glimpse of the massive universe that God has created for you and for me. :--)talk to you soon.Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my journal.
Date: 2011-09-07
From: Rock Gap near the old Wasilik Poplar

To: Wesser
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

09/07/2011Fraser FirSection Hiker from Georgia to MaineThis is like hiking this section for the first time!!From Wayah Bald, north, I have only been on that part of the trail one time for an in/out day hike on a very hot day with tons of nobos!!   8----)))Today, I went to REI and they did me right.I traded in my katahdin water filter system for an in store credit.I took that bad boy (the in store credit) and bought a Steripen classic.What is a Steripen classic you may ask? It is a magic stick 8---))Seriously, it is a handheld UV water purifier. It will filter one liter or (32 oz.) of water in 90 seconds. How awesome is that?When I was in Virginia, I saw some guys with one and they were drinking like right away after pouring stream water into their water bottle. I am charging up the batteries as we speak.Baby Little #3 will be here in late October. I am really starting to get excited. Who knows if we will have a boy or girl? As long as the baby is well and mom is well, I do not care either way whether we have a boy or girl. Next year will be pretty quiet for me on the trail except for whatever ¢da boyz¢ and I go out and do for two or three nights. They are excellent hikers for their age. I have a few ¢pockets of trail¢ in the Cherokee National Forest, which will hopefully be taken care of next year in 2012. In addition, I hope and pray to go on a mission trip next September with my work. The trip that I will apply for will be located in Monterey, Mexico.The next thing that I need to look for at Goodwill or at a consignment shop is a decent day pack. I have one, but it may be stuffed way too tight!! Actually I have been looking for one for some time.My target weight goal is twelve pounds and the bag that I have had since 1999 is a North Face. If I do not find a new one, I can only pray that my ten bag pound bag will do the trick. Words cannot describe when I wake up in the morning and my boys are with me in our tent!! I can hardly wait until we camp hike and camp together again. Oh, since we have internet for a few weeks(thank you Harry) I have been reading Stumpknocker's 2008 north bound thru hike. Evey time open it, I stirve to get outsie   8----))))
Date: 2011-09-11
From: rock gap

To: Wesser
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Fraser FirSection HikerThis year: new miles hiked from Catawba near McAfee Knob to Chester Gap.250 plus new miles over a ten day period. I had a blast. 8---)) super smiley face!Next year: will be a year "off" from new mileage.Stephanie is due with Baby Number Three on October 24th. Can you believe that it is almost here?We are scared and excited, all in the same basket! We do not have a boy or girl name yet; however, we have been using a dry erase board to rule out/add boy and girl names.I like several that Stephanie has come up with.I believe she likes some of the names that I have come up with.Nonetheless, mileage next year may be Springer to Fontana or the Smokies or the Benton MacKaye. I need to be more 'available' and she has shown me grace and patience in seeing this dream of mine make it to Northern Virginia.It is just that I want "it all right now". I want to go all the way.. and then I have to reign in and look at reality and be so thankful that I have covered 44 percent of the trail. 44 percent more than some that have never had the opportunity.We will just take one day at a time.I know that Bryson and Siler will be hiking with me to Blood Mountain in a couple of weeks. Winzer (14) (picture above) should tag along. Maybe we will do an over nighter near Blood Mountain, although the trail is closed to "over-nighters" in the area.Next Saturday, John Hoffman, Allen Perry and myself will attempt to hike from Wallace Gap/Rock Gap to the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We will do the hike over a three day period.I am very excited.You know I am like a little kid when it comes to backpacking.I am going to keep my weight level to fifteen pounds.I have a new "magic wand" to purify water that I bought last week :-)Beef Jerky with flour tortillas, chips, fruit and other snacks will cover me for three days along with gatorade powder.You know that Standing Indian and Siler Bald had a September snow back in 2007?Would that not be awesome??thank you for reading my journal!