morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                    This is an old fashion soaker, walking up Roan mountain last year it was the same kind of storm. The trail is about 4'-10' wide and the water running down it was 2"-12" deep. In some places the ice still remained making for an interesting hike up this beautiful mountain. Thru the years the erosion has taken its toll on the trail, in places its all rocks, and all of the soil has washed away. I finally reached the turnoff to the shelter, and it was a mess too. In hot weather: it must be a great shelter. Its made of stone with two levels To get to the loft you climb thru a hatch in the floor. From what i heard it is an old forest ranger bunk house.                                    When i got into the shelter i was soaked, alone, and freezing. I stripped down and got into a dry set of clothes. Then i strung two lines inside the shelter on the first floor, and hung all of my wet gear. I was hoping to see more hikers that night but none came so i had the shelter to myself. I climbed up into the loft and into my sleeping bag. Actually it was one of the best night sleeps i have had.                                    I was up the next morning early and when i went down to the first floor and found all of my gear as wet as when i took it off. Instead of packing it up i tied it to the outside of my pack. I stepped outside into a bright clear day. I then draped one piece of wet gear to the top of my pack and headed out. As i walked and each piece dried i swapped them, within a few hours all of my gear had dried, and i didnt waste any time waiting for it to do so on a line.                                    Only did a couple of mile yesterday then went to the mall with my wife.                                     LATA.........................Southside
Date: 2010-03-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

               I just printed my boarding pass to MN. My sister Kathy is scheduled for open heart surgery on Wednesday. After just going thru this same surgery in nov. i know the stress and anxiety she is going thru. Evan now for her i am going thru the same thing. Pam thinks this could be too much for me, so close to my surgery. But i have to be there for her. She is such a good person with a big heart, i hope and pray that someone is looking out for her.                The noreaster is still hitting the east coast with lots of flooding and storm damage. My son Chad's basement got a little water in it [8"] and he had to pump it out. Went to the gym and did a 1hr walk at 15% grade. If the rain stops this afternoon i will do another 5 mile walk with my dog Tug. And tomorrow its off to the gym, then shower and fly to MN.               LATA........................Southside
Date: 2010-03-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                        I arrived in MN. at 6;45 yesterday and then jumped on a shuttle to Rochester and the Mayo Clinic. I saw my sister at around 8:45pm and we just sat around talking for a couple of hours. Her surgery was set for 7:30 and we had to be at the hospital at 5:00am.                      The Mayo clinic is a huge hospital and from what the nurse told me they do on average 15 open heart surgeries each day. The procedure was amazingly fast and she was back in her room in 3 hrs. Now its on to a long recovery.                        Tonight i will go and do a 6 mile walk and then start walking stairs at the hospital tomorrow.                         LATA...............................Southside
Date: 2010-03-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

               My sister's surgery went very well and thankfully was less extensive then mine was because they did not have to repalce the valve. They took her in at 7:30 am and she was back in her room by 10:30. She remained under for 4 more hours.They were able to move her into her step down room the next day. She should be going home by Monday. Thanks to all who called or wrote.               Really haven't worked out very much, only doing about 4 miles a day and i can feel the difference. My flight is Monday at 7:00am and i get back to RI. at 12:00 noon. I am hoping to get in at least 8 miles by dark. Again thanks and good luck to all on the trail.               LATA..............Southside
Date: 2010-03-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

            After being part of the support team here in MN for my sister, I have come to realize the monumental job it must have bean for my wife. I am exhausted to say the least and unlike me, my wife Pam never left the hospital.Everything is on schedule for a Monday release. I will be on a plane going home when that happens. I just hope i was of some help here for her husband Milt. One truly nice guy that my sister is lucky and proud to have.             Walked 3 miles just trying to maintain my conditioning. That will continue today and i will increase it again when i am back home. I see there is alot of hikers starting and it looks like the weather is getting better every day.            LATA..............Southside
Date: 2010-03-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                     Got home yesterday and the rain just started, it's going to be here until weds. So that means treadmill for the next two days. I start the process of testing to get released from cardio rehab. That means stress test and meetings with the nutritionist, cardiologist, and the nurse. I also have my yearly reveiw with my dermatologist. Wear your sun block or in the long run you will pay for it. The last thing i have is the final appointment with my dentist. Wow thats a lot of appointments! Well thats it for right now, If your starting this week it looks like the weather is getting better. Good luck.                     LATA..........................Southside
Date: 2010-03-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                           12 miles, good trail miles and every one l felt great! The last week plus was the longest stretch of time since Jan, that I did not step onto a trail.   Shelter trail was in pretty nice shape but Breakheart trail was a mess. Water standing or running sometimes for 100's of yards. All of the low lands were flooded. My Keen Klamoth boots did a great job keeping me dry and good grip on the slippery root and rocks. This is what a lot of hikers are going thru on the AT, it will dry up some day.                               Tug had a great day hiking, we saw 4 dogs and 3 extra hikers. When we came up on two of them [a blue tick & a black lab] i let him run with them. We were standing next to a flooded part of the trail and by the time they were done all three were soaked and muddy. A great time was had by all three. Thursday it's back out there...thank God!LATA..................Southside
Date: 2010-03-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                        You know you are having a great hike when you look up and think, i am already here. Well thats how it was for me on Thursday, the trail just flew by. If i didnt have something to do at 2;00 i would have done another 5 or 6 miles. T he water has receded for the most part leaving long stretches of mud. But who cares when its 55* and sunny and your in shorts and t shirt?                            More signs of spring, skunk cabbage and field lillies have popped. Saw robins, bluejays, and sparrows, all too busy to notice me. The forestry dept has stocked most of the rivers and ponds with trout and posted signs: "no fishing until the second Sat. in April" opening day for trout here. All of this is a great sign that spring is here in the Northeast.                           One of the things that i remember from my first and second hike, was we did not see any wildlife until the temps started getting up into the 60s. The forest ranger i met told me that's because there is no food at the higher elevations, and until things start to bloom and the smaller animals come out to feed the predators don't come up to the higher elevations. As it warms we will see more and more wildlife. In june i saw more wildlife in New Jersey than i saw in all the rest of the trail south. Every day is an adventure and all of my senses become more keen on the trail. I just love the anticipation of seeing wildlife... large or small. LATA...............Southside
Date: 2010-03-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                 When the instructors at rehab told me i had to learn to relax and then they preceded to tell me how: I was skeptical. Being a type A personality, NOT willing to change, i did promise to try and listen and to do everything they told me to do {at least once}.   So i read more, listen to music more and I write in my Journal. Its like the best medicine i can take. It takes me away to another place, with a greater focus in what i have to do and more important...the things i love to do.                                 " Well" it was time to increase the weight in my pack, oh yea and to do that in my real backpack So i am wearing my Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone backpack with 22 lbs in it which is 5lbs lighter than trail weight! Yesterday i had a great hike, did a good 9 miles in 3 hours. I sure can tell the difference [in a good way] in my trail pack, compared to my small day pack!!      By the time i leave in April i hope to be at full weight and miles [15]                                 My winter sleeping bag is a Big Agnes 20* and weighs 2.1 lbs. I am going to take a chance and take my Big Agnes 40* bag. I purchased a silk liner which they say adds 10* to any bag and if its too hot you can use the liner and sleep on top of your sleeping bag. Oh yea with the silk my bag only weighs 1.4lbs. with a lot more options.   i just ordered a new pair of Zamberlan hiking boots. These will become my change boots in Vermont. Well just when i think i have nothing left to do, my mind goes crazy and comes up with new ideas and things to do. I love this crap!! LATA.....................Southside.
Date: 2010-03-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       Sunday was a great day for a hike, hit the trail at 10:00am with Tugboat and Pam.After going 1/2 mile we ran into a Boy Scout camp out. There were app. 50 people there. The site they were at has a shelter, big fire pit, and a two sided out house. They also had a cook tent and a totally inclosed eating tent. The equipment was truly first class.                                        Then we Hiked for 6 or 7 miles and came up on 10-12 trail maintainers. They were working on changing the direction of a small river that was running down the trail. Over the course of the winter this problem, washed out and or damaged 200yds of trail. So they dug a trench across the trail and put in a huge water bar to keep the water off the trail. Then they were building a foot bridge across the newly dug trench. Its going to get a big test today as we are expecting 3-6 inches of rain.                                           The three of us hiked a total of 9 miles in 3.5 hours. It sure is a lot more fun when your with the A team. Pam has a little problem with one of her feet and by the end of the day she was a little sore. The more she hikes the stronger the foot will get. Some day i would love to do some long distance trails with her. LATA............................Southside
Date: 2010-03-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       4 miles at the gym and now its waiting for this rain to stop. Most of the northeast is flooded and its going to keep coming down thru weds. So that means treadmill time for me and vacuuming the small amount of water thats coming into my basement. I am going to go to Breakheart river tomorrow to check out the dam. But for know its just trying to stay dry. LATA........................Southside
Date: 2010-03-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       10 inches of rain on top of the 8 inches we got last week. That makes for a very bad situation. Not only did it set a record for the month of March but its an all time "monthly" amount. Basements are flooded, roads are washed out [and i mean GONE! Rrivers are over their banks, bridges and dams are washed out and roads are closed.   Spent alot of time vacuuming my basement, and i am one of the lucky ones. Some homes are totally flooded and some people had to be rescued. Power plants and a couple of sewage treatment plants are under water. They have asked everyone to not use any water, there is a fear of sewer backups.                                        I quess this means we are all part of the big flood of 2010. That's history for ya. i dont know if its good to be part of something that hurt so many people. For the most part everyone i have talked to has a pretty good attitude and where needed they are helping each other. Tomorrow the sun will shine, the wind will blow and we will start to dry out. And this will all become just another story in our life of so many stories. I think as time goes on this will be surpassed only by one other flood, That one that had an Ark. LATA.........................Southside
Date: 2010-04-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       Every single house on the high side of our street has suffered with significant water in their basements. Pumps are running full speed just to keep up with the intrusion for mother nature. Her power can be seen on TV, from the videos from the air. I am still impressed with how calm all my neighbors are with all of this adversity.                                           Went to the Arcadia state forest yesterday to see the damage first hand. And other than all of the roads are closed to car traffic, the trails are running streams but passible. I walked the Breakheart trail around the lake. All of the trails are running water but i just wore my mesh shoes and let them get wet. All of the rivers are over their banks but the trails here are elevated just enough that they created a burm. The bridges had water up at least to the bottoms of them. So even though the trails are a mess they did better than the man made roads. Tugboat and i did 6 miles and other than our feet getting wet we did just fine.LATA..........................Southside
Date: 2010-04-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                                                        Happy Easter!                                        Friday went for an 8 miler, a road walk. Thats because it doesn't matter if you are in the fields, woods, or road. They are all flat and the road does not have the fire ants to deal with. Today i go to church with my son Chris and his wife Beth. Then its brunch with all of the family and some close friends. Hopefully Chris and i will be able to get in a good 5-6 mile walk after the festivities are over.                                       One week until i leave for the trail, do I feel good? I think good enough to start, its hard to tell sometimes. When every little tweak and twitch & your questioning your physical abilities. I know that when i get out there all of the stars will align and i will quickly get into a groove. But for now i will keep on walking and prepping until next sunday. LATA........................Southside
Date: 2010-04-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       Six days until my start day in West Virginia. Still here in Florida, and our visit with friends and family is just about over. I really didnt do too much in regards to the training. But i sure needed this trip with my wife to relax and just have some fun.                                       I will be back home on tuesday and then its back to the gym and the trail. I hope everybody had a nice holiday. LATA.........................Southside
Date: 2010-04-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       Just had a terrific visit with friends and family. Our flight was delayed out of Florida and we didnt get in until 11:00pm. So Yesterday i did not put in any time in my training. Today i will be back at it. I need to break in a new pair of boots. Hoping to get in at least 12 miles and thursday should be my last day at rehab. 4 more days until start day.   LATA.......................Southside
Date: 2010-04-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       Last regular day at rehab, i can honestly say that the folks there are the best. They always made me feel well protected and very safe. Looking at all phases of the classes and the cardio work outs, they have a very good step concept that brings you along physically and mentally. Evan the diet classes made sense [not that they will matter on the trail] I loved the yoga especially. Thanks to Bill, Joan, Joan, Donna, and Dr. Mancini if i left anybody out iam sorry for that. I love and respect all that you did for me.                                       Started at rehab and walked on the treadmill for one hour, doing 3.5 miles at a 15% grade. Then picked up Tug and went to the Breakheart trail. We knocked out the 9 miles in 3.5hrs and that included water stops for Tug at every stream. Tug needed it: 91 record setting degrees and barely a cloud in the sky. And his long black hair didnt help either,hes at the groomer right now and that should help. Also hiked with a new set of boots and a full pack. 25lbs and i should be able to get it down to 23 lbs by the time i leave on Sunday the 11th. For now i will keep using the full pack and do around 12-15 miles a day.LATA..........................Southside
Date: 2010-04-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       On the eve of the eve of my flight to WV. i have to admit that i am a little nervous. I have a strong support team here in RI and they will be my eyes to the weather and send me anything that i need. My wife Pam will be my transcriber and update everyone as to how iam doing. My son Chad who hiked with me in 2008, is my technical support. And Chris, Chad, and Pam are my moral support, without them i could not evan attempt this.                                        Yesterday was a day of chores and honey do list. So i did not get to the trail or even walk for that matter. But i did do my stress test and passed it with flying colors. I f it doesnt rain tomorrow its spreading mulch day and then its off to the trail. If it does rain then its finalizing my pack for the 15th time. Oh well, as the day comes faster and my lists grow longer i become more anxious. LATA.........................Southside
Date: 2010-04-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

                                       OH MY GOD. its here, the day or at least the day before. I fly tomorrow and i cant believe how nervous i am. Its been 5 months & 5 days since the day of my surgery, "it flew by." I repacked my bag 5 times last night, and five times it looked just like the last time. Full pack weight came in at 26lbs with 50oz water and 4 days of food. i think by the second week it will be at 24lbs full up.                                       My new Zamberlan Vios boots feel good, i feel one pressure point on the top of my right big toe. I added a pad and it seems to have fixed the problem. Treated all of my clothes with Permethrin, its the same chemical found in Buzz off clothing. Hopefully this will help with the tics, flies and mosquitos. The nice thing about doing the treatment, it lasts through 10 washings.                                       Well this is my last journal entry: as my wife Pam will be putting my thoughts on paper. Or better said to computer. I should be well ahead of the pack, but i dont think the race horses will take too long to catch me. The weather looks great for the next 7 days,,,,,,,,,,,,, So here i go. LATA.........................Southside
Date: 2010-04-11
To: Hamilton, Va
Miles today: 0.0

   This is Pam entering for John now that he has gotten himself off to the beginning of his journey. I will post entries from John's calls and when he hits a town, he will post his own entry.    John took the early morning flight to Baltimore and was met there by his good friend and favorite trail angel Jerry. Jerry has been a selfless friend in John's quest to hike the AT. Over the past couple of years Jerry has driven many miles to drop John off or to pick him up. Carol and Jerry both have been there whenever and for whatever he has needed. Two years ago they extended their hospitality to include Squire one of John's hiking mates! Good friends are hard to find...treasure them!   On the way from the airport they stopped off in Harper's Ferry at the AT visitors center so that John could register for his hike. He spent the day with Jerry and his wife Carol visiting and enjoying the company of their granddaughters Bea and Ella. The girls were actually doing practice runs with their soap box derby cars. Most likely the guys had as much fun (or more) than the girls. As always, the food was great (leg of lamb and homemade strawberry pie)but the company was better.    A little TV and then an early to bed so he would be ready for an early start on the trail.
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Harpers Ferry, WVa

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Dictated by John:   Early rise this morning with Jerry giving me a ride to Harper's Ferry to start this long anticipated journey on the AT. I entered the trail on the side trail at Harpers Ferry which is where I stopped two years ago. In 2008 I started at Springer Mountain and stopped at Harpers. Last year in my desire to do the trail as a thru hiker,I started over at Springer and made it just short of Harpers. I have actually hiked the mileage of a thru hiker but have done it between Springer Mountain, Ga and Harpers Ferry, WVa which may sound nuts but doing the trail as a thru hiker was my goal. I have adjusted my thoughts on the subject and know that what I really want is to summit at Kahtadin and that is this years plan. Hike from Harper's Ferry to Katahdin, Maine which is about 1,165 miles. I am taking one day at a time and I may be out here 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months but my goal is to finish this year. Today I began the experience and am looking forward to seeing some new parts of the trail. Still a little nervous but feel that as I get some miles under me my butterflies will go away.   Harper's Ferry is unbelievably beautiful sitting on the Potomac River with everything blooming the town is alive and the day was perfect for a walk in the woods. I traveled along the canal toe path which was used to move coal down the river with barges. I actually saw a couple of coal trains and those that know me know how much I really love trains so that was a huge plus. The trail took me through Gathland State Park which is a civil war historical museum and past the Ed Garvey and Crampton Gap shelters. For as much rain as we have had, it is pretty dry out here and the water sources are spotty. There have been reports of fires in the Va portion of the trail so caution is a must. I met a day hiker by the name of "energizer" and she hiked with me for about a mile. She had done the thru hike in 1998. I also met a hiker by the name of "hitchhiker" who seemed a little bummed and was thinking about getting off the trail. Out of food and money. At the Rocky Run shelter tonight and no one else is here. Pretty quiet and I am tired. Pack is at 26+ pounds which is good but heavy for now until I get used to it again.    LATA...Southside as told to Pam