morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-11-05
From: Cherry Gap

To: Long Branch
Miles today: 150.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today, I am thankful.To be honest, I have had some difficulty writing lately, and even communicating with those at home. The journey is winding down, with a mere 100 miles remaining, and yet seems to be at it's peak. My feeble attempts to describe the richness of the experience seemed cheap and are thwarted by the limits of my vocabulary. The details of daily life, the distances, heights of mountains, size of hail, temperatures- all menial. The aches, pains, and hunger fade into the background (well, not so much the hunger, that stays pretty relevant), and all else goes ignored in the light of what cannot be put into words.There is the sound of leaves dying and falling from trees, the harsh sting of wind on flesh, the way the rain smells before it begins. It is sitting together in comfortable silence, observing and absorbing beauty without a need to explain or document it; having the freedom to bare one's soul and essence in a real, almost childlike way, without the societal confines that dictate what characteristics are acceptable or attractive. It is facing the good, the bad, and ugly within yourself and others. It is humbling, it is painful, it is raw. And can be frightening. But it is also rewarding and can bring peace and contentment, and the ability to find those things in unideal situations. There is an quiet intensity in this blatant, intentional way of life and interacting. I am acutely aware of the passing of time, and in that awareness, experience both great anticipation and deep sadness. Yet in both of those I find that I wish to neither hasten nor slow time's passage. No matter how beautiful or precious a moment, it cannot be held forever. Things cannot go back to the way they once were, nor can I go back to the way I was before. I share this not in an attempt to elicit understanding, as I know that would be impossible, just as I know this may all be perceived as the idealistic ramblings of one who has lived too long in the woods. That is ok, though I assure you the transformation is real, and ongoing (I certainly still have much to learn). Instead I share it for the following reasons: First, to encourage you to continuously try to discover and pursue the things that are most important in your life and relationships, and find what speaks to your heart. And second, to ask that you please be gracious with me as I return to your world, to drop any expectations you may have of the girl that left you and embrace the one that returns in her place. This will likely be my last entry as there is little left to say but this: there is so much to living than being alive. Happy trails!
Date: 2003-05-17
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: light rain

Day 23It's 21 miles to a shelter or 27 miles into Erwin. In the morning I was pondering doing all 27 into town, mostly under the influence of my stomach, which is calling for pizza.My average hiking speed has been 2 mph, including breaks. So I should be able to get to Erwin before dark with my 7 am start. But it sounds unrealistic. It's longer than a marathon, wearing a backpack and going over mountains.The biggest climbs of the day are over within the first 10 miles. Big Bald (5500') is an expansive double-peaked bald. When I went over, it was totally covered in wind-swept fog.Big Bald Shelter is the nicest shelter since the Smokies, but the water source is weak. The last two shelters have not had registers.I made great time and got to the road before 8 pm. My maildrop is at Ms. Janet¢s, so I sheepishly try calling her from the phone at Uncle Johnny¢s and get an answering machine. I start the walk into Erwin, sticking my thumb out whenever a car passes.A van stops for me and it¢s Uncle Johnny giving me a ride downtown so I can stay at his competitor's place.At Erwin Burrito I ate a burrito the size of a small dog and listened to a soundtrack of Johnny Cash singing covers of Depeche Mode and 9 Inch Nails. Ms. Janet took off for Damascus and the house is locked with my maildrop inside. I climbed through an open window to get it.It's dark, raining, and I'm a little ticked that there was no notice of this hostel shutting down in the middle of the hiking season. Not what I needed after a 27-mile day. Walked another half mile to the edge of town and a Super 8 Motel where I'm writing this.
Date: 2013-06-19
From: Katahdin

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up early, almost with the sun, and had pancakes for breakfast. Got on the Hunt Trail at 7:30. Wow, the part leading up to the table land was steep. Everyone (my parents and I) made it to the top. Great views and a number of people at the top. Going down was interesting with Dad. He must have been sore that night. Waiting was painful below treeline with all of the blackflies. At camp I made dinner while Mom and Dad finished coming down.
Date: 2003-05-18
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 24This Erwin stop just didn't work out for me. I was torn between waiting for Ms. Janet's return or leaving town and going back to Uncle Johnny¢s Hostel. I putzed around, bought some food for the trail and hit the Pizza Hut buffet. The library, post office, and anyplace else that would be useful to me is closed today (Sunday). I "broke into" Ms. Janet's again to get a second maildrop I had forgotten.About 4 pm Ms. Janet returns with a van full of hikers dragging back from trail days. "Disarray" is the most tactful word I can think of to describe the place. She says she'll find a space to put me, but it's all too bohemian for my mood right now.I ran into Crossroads on the street, and walk back out to share a room at the Super 8 motel. Feels like this zero day was a bad idea.
Date: 2013-06-20
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Hurd Brook Lean To
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

Had pancakes again since Mom forgot the eggs for breakfast burritos. Packed up and went to ranger station. The ranger said I was SOBO (southbounder) number ~230 this year. We'll see what number I am when I reach Harper's Ferry, WV. First ten miles to Abol Bridge were relatively easy. I saw Big and Little Niagara Falls, and a bunch of rafters in the river. There were a few very swampy areas which required wading. Hopefully there won't be many more of those. Took a break at Abol Bridge and met Richard and Jeremy (Giardia). Richard is at the shelter tonight, but Giardia pushed on. I'm sitting here waiting for dinner time. The weather for the next few days looks good, so I'm happy.After cooking dinner two guys showed up. After deciding that this was the place to stay, one proceded to roll a joint and climb ~60 feet up a tree to smoke it. It turns out that they tried to climb Katahdin but the magic mushrooms they ate beforehand were too strong. It will be interesting if the hike at the same speed as me. I'm predicting they won't finish- too many drugs. It's dark, so I might reat a while then go to bed.
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 26Roan Mountain is the last mountain over 6000' until New Hampshire, and it is a hell of a climb.I think this section from Erwin to here has been as hard as any 30-mile section of trail so far. I saw three thru-hikers slackpacking. They got rides to the top of Roan Mountain and hiked south; tomorrow they'll get rides back to the top and go north and avoid climbing the mountain.I spooked 4 deer this morning, 3 does and a buck. This makes me consider putting in a request for reincarnation as a deer. But I'd probably get shot so they could mount my antlers on a bunny skull at Longhorn Steakhouse.The terrain is supposed to level off a little now. I'm still hoping to get to Damascus in three long days.This shelter is an old barn that could sleep dozens of hikers. Sixteen are here tonight. It faces downhill with an open field in front providing a clear view of the mountain range.I just ate two of my dinners and I'm light on lunch food. Food is a problem. I weighed 155 last night, but again it was an unreliable scale.
Date: 2013-06-22
From: Rainbow Stream Lean To

To: S. End of Nahmakanta Lake
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up, packed up and left. The first part of the trail was along a gorge. I thought of Becky in Ithaca. There was a short but steep climb up Nesuntabunt Mountain. At the first ledge I ran into Walt (Chief). We took each other's photos and talked for a while. Shortly before we left it started to rain. This weather continued for a while, but it was never enough to put on rain gear. It has since stopped and it is sunny now. Walt caught up to me at Wadleigh Stream Lean-to and we ate lunch there. While resting we met the first NOBO- Prospector. Just before I left two more showed up. I was planning to stealth camp at Prentiss Brook, but there were no good sites. We are now at some sort of campground, set up by the lake. (Nahmakanta Lake) The guide book describes this point as "Gravel Road near South End of Nahmakanta Lake". I took the oppertunity to rinse all of my clothes, and they're hanging to dry now.I've noticed I've gotten hungrier. I think hiker hunger is setting in. With luck it won't really get going until I'm out of the 100-mile wilderness. My legs, for the most part, are not sore anymore. Hopfully this lasts a long time.Well, I thought it would be a quiet night, but Richard, then Cheech and Chong, and then a girl and her dad showed up. Luckily there wasn't a lot of crazyness. Also, the breeze that made this such a good campsite has died away, and the bugs have come back in full force. It's also really warm and I hope it cools off some and the bugs go away. It's too hot for long sleeves. I'm going to bed, the mosquitoes are attacking my exposed hands.
Date: 2003-05-21
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: light rain

Day 27My feet are soaked less than an hour into the day. It was barely a drizzle when I left the shelter, as if the fog was too heavy to stay airborne.The rain lasted all day. The first three miles out of Overland Mountain Shelter were grassy balds with outcroppings of huge boulders. It probably would've been scenic in good weather, but blanketed in fog it looks like a scene from MacBeth.The rest of the day there was a lot of variety: fields, pines, flowering polar, mountain laurel, some level ground, and many difficult stream crossings.I "hit the wall" at about 20 miles with a new assortment of blisters from walking with wet feet. Crawled into the shelter with just enough light to cook.
Date: 2013-06-23
From: S. End of Nahmakanta Lake

To: Antlers Campground
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

This is a really nice campground. No one else is here right now and I wouldn't complain if it stayed that way. It's amazing how quickly one's mood can change. Between the previous shelter (~3 miles back) and here I was mercilessly attacked by mosquitos. Amazing how much some DEET and a headnet will do.I woke up this morning when it was light out, and after I couldn't hold in the pee anymore I got up. I was the first one up and was just about packed up by the time the others got up. It was an easy, mostly flat number of miles to the shelter (Podywadjo Spring) [I think thats the right spelling]. I got there very quickly. I passed the group with the dog, who caught up as I was leavning the shelter. The poor dog was limping on three paws, so I wonder how far they'll go today. It was the first shelter with a log with all of its pages present and intact, so it was neat to see who is in front of me. I wonder if I'll catch any of them. I haven't met any SOBOs who started after me. There was an old outdoors book in the shelter, but someone had torn out the pages on how to forcast the weather. The sky is very gray now, and I can't tell if it's going to rain or if it's getting better.I constantly have blood on my hands from crushing mosquitoes. So far, only one blister on my left heel, and some sore spots where the hip belt goes. My left ankle/heel started to bother me today. I think I'll do a short day tomorrow to let it heal some.A bunch of people have now arrived. Skunky built a fire which really helped keep the bugs away. Also, I have never seen so much marijuana in my life. Cheech and Chong and the three from Va. were smoking all evening, and comparing notes on Jamaica. After I went to bet I could still hear them talking.
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 29I cooked about 40 pancakes this morning to share with the other hikers at Kincora. I was in no hurry to leave. I had over 50 miles to Damascus and there was no way to reach the P.O. before it closed at 11 am. I was reminded that the P.O. would be closed Monday too, for Memorial Day. I called the Damascus P.O. and ask them to leave my maildrop with the Mt. Rogers Oufitters, which they did. Fortunately the outfitter has late Saturday and Sunday hours.When I got done making calls, Spoon had woke up and cooked scrambled eggs and toast, so I had a second breakfast.Well fed, with my maildrop problems solved I took off in a great mood under clear skies. The first three miles out of Kincora were interesting, weaving through boulders and rock cliffs around the Laurel Fork River and Fall.Just after lunch I crossed Watuga Dam and met Tipperary with 3 section hikers. Tipperary asked if I wanted more food. I figured it was a trick question, 'cause of course I want food. One of the section hikers had gotten ill and they were cutting their hike short. I got 4 breakfast bars, six bagels, a tuna packet, and a Little Debbie cake. It was a long afternoon, so I ate all but one bagel and one bar.I was motivated to stretch the day with hopes of getting to Damascus tomorrow. I¢m here, alone, in Iron Mtn shelter with a register warning of a bear roaming the area.
Date: 2013-06-25
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean To

To: Logan Brook Lean To
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up very early walked three miles by 7:15. Cheech and Chong and the Va. group were camping there by the lake. I said hi and kept going. At the road crossing I caught up with Sam and Lee and Jarred. Sam is a trail maintainer down in Georgia, the Hawk Mountain shelter area. He had some interesting stories about taking care of that area. The climb up Little Broadman Mountain wasn't hard, which is good because there's no view. It was downhill to the Pleasant River Lean-to where I had lunch. Just before the leanto is a ford of the river. I almost made it across, but my foot slipped and my bottom half got wet. From the leanto it was flat for 1.5 miles, then up two to the shelter. This was the first real climb since Katahdin. Being up will make the rest of the climb easier tomorrow, over Whitecap Mountain and the others.I passed the half way point of the 100-mile wilderness today. I'm now six miles closer to Monson than Abol Bridge. Cheech and Chong and the Va. group showed up. There's a full house at the shelter tonight. The sky is getting darker, I think it is going to rain. I think I've covered everything for today, goodbye until tomorrow.
Date: 2003-05-24
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 30Happy Birthday Juli - my wife who has done an excellent job posting these entries and being a single working mother while I'm hiking.I am in Virginia now, after two long days from Kincora. The terrain was nice, about as level as the trail has been. Even so, it was a challenge. I wanted to walk 26 miles into town, and I had to get in by 5 pm so I could spend a little time at Mt. Rogers Outfitter, getting packages, shipping stuff home, and buying a few things.Walking fast with a backpack for 26 miles is tough, no matter what the terrain, especially after having a long day yesterday. My legs were weary the last ten miles.My knee hasn't bothered me since before Erwin, so I'm fairly confident that problem is behind me. I am surprised by the recovery; I had read/heard that ITB problems will not go away if you don't stop the activity that caused it. I never really stopped hiking. Here's what worked for me: I stretched a few times a day, and took Ibuprophen only when it hurt. I use trekking poles, which I now think are essential even w/o knee problems. I did NOT wear a knee brace, cause I believe it increases ITB friction.
Date: 2013-06-26
From: Logan Brook Lean To

To: Chairback Gap Lean To
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up and got out shortly after Chief. The climb up Whitecap Mountain wasn't too bad, and there were a couple of views while we were above the clouds. The rest of the ridge was less difficult than I thought I would be. It was an easy walk down to Newhall Shelter, where I stopped for a while and ate lunch. From there I decided to go to the Pleasant River ford and campsites and see how I felt there. There is a road nearby because I saw a lot of day hikers out, probably to see the gorges and falls. Gulf Hagas might be fun to go back to sometime. Around that area I started to feel a little sick. After peeing a few times and drinking less water I felt better. I think I may have been drinking too much water. I'll cut back a bit on water intake, but not too much. Don't want the other problem, dehydration.After fording the West Branch of the Pleasant River I decided to push the four miles to this shelter. It was a long climb, but I was able to get lost in my thoughts and it went by fairly quickly. At least the first half did. There is a false summit on Chairback mountain and I thought I was close to the shelter. However I was still a few hundred vertical feet below the true summit. From there it wasn't too far to the shelter. Only Richard is in the shelter, and Sam is hammocking nearby. The water source is a tiny spring that is down a steep hill. The water doesn't look too bad, and there don't seem to be too many chunks in it.It was a long day today, 17 miles. I don't know if I've ever walked that far before in a day, let alone hiked that much with a full pack on. Right now my feet are sore, so hopefully by tomorrow morning they'll be less sore and my legs and sholders will feel like the do now. Its getting late and the High Five (Wooly, Xena, Skunky, Cheech, Chong [and Sugaree]) haven't been seen or heard, so I'm hopeful I'll get a night away from all that second-hand marijuana smoke. Chief said he was stopping at the river, so I may see him tomorrow if I don't do a big day. It looks like I'll get to Monson in 2-3 days, which is a bit faster than I thought. I don't have to worry about running out of food. I hope I didn't pack too much in my maildrop, cause my food bag will get very heavy and full again. Heavy backpacks are no fun. Hiker hunger better kick in soon so the food gets lighter. I'm just rambling now, so I'm going to put this notebook away and not use up all of my paper.
Date: 2003-05-25
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 31The waitress is skeptical. "You sure you can eat all that?¢ referring to The Barn's Hiker Breakfast that includes 2 massive blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, a half plate of hash browns, 2 slices of ham, a biscuit and jelly, a big bowl of grits, coffee and orange juice. She should be skeptical, cause I look pretty scrawny now weighing something less than 160.I was dying to take a picture of this meal but was too embarrassed in front of the other customers. About 30 seconds later the waitress returns for the empty pancake plate. "You're doin' great, remember to chew." I polished it all off, except for a few spoonfuls of grits so I wouldn't look like a pig. I'll try not to write about food all the time, but today I've been on the trail one month, and I think about food a lot.Damascus is a great place to visit; lots of Bed & Breakfast places and a riverside trail that is very popular for bicycling. At least 3 places rent bikes and shuttle bikers (and hikers). The AT north of Damascus is scenic.The Creeper Trail has been parallel to the AT for about 12 miles since Damascus, and now they cross. The Creeper is on an old railroad bed, a nearly flat course following a scenic waterway. The AT has been PUDing along.Someone told me Cimarron has left the trail with a bad knee.It was nice walking slow today, not trying for big miles or trying to get out of the rain. I was almost too casual, and it started raining just after getting in the shelter.
Date: 2013-06-27
From: Chairback Gap Lean To

To: Wilson Valley Lean To
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

Dennis showed up to the shelter last night, so there were three of us, but it still was not crowded at all. Woke up early this morning and couldn't tell if it was raining or the trees were all dripping. It was the trees. It might as well have been raining, though, with all of the water that dripped and rubbed onto me. The climbs up Colombus and Third Mountains were rough, but I had an energy bar on top of Third Mountain and felt a lot better. I quickly made it to Barren Mountain where I met Seabird, another SOBO. I continued to the next leanto for lunch and water break. Seabird caught up just as I was leaving, but she said she was aiming for this shelter tonight. The last 4.7 miles were killer, with some fords and lots of slippery and wet roots and rocks. I made it here eventually. The Beatles' "Baby You're a Rich Man" has been playing in my head since lunch. Not that that's a bad thing. Right after I got to the shelter, a NOBO section hiker showed up. After a short break he decided to push to the next shelter. As he was leaving a group of kids showed up. They are tenting somewhere behind the shelter and I can hear them setting up. I think they are only going shelter to shelter which means the will be in the woods for a while. I set of my "I'm not dead" beacon (the Spot), and am waiting a while before making dinner. Tonight I will finally eat some of the mashed potatoes I brought. I think I've carried them long enough. Richard still hasn't been seen yet, I wonder if he's still coming all the way here. I'm also wondering if it would be entertaining to go watch the group in the woods. Some of them probably have no idea what they're doing. No trail name yet.One will come sooner or later.Tomorrow afternoon I'll be in Monson with a cold beer and a hot meal. Yum, I can't wait. My right knee has started hurting on the descents today. I hope it just needs a day off to recover, which it will get tomorrow and the day after. The maintainer for this section just arrived and he seems like a nice guy.
Date: 2003-05-26
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day 32I just switched from a 25° bag to a 40° bag and I was cold last night. Maybe I made the switch too early.Crash, Old Bill, and Scott were at the last shelter and we leapfrogged each other all day. All except Old Bill come this far today.The fog and sun fight for control of the skies. Fortunately it is clear enough to have some views when I pass through the bulk of Grayson Highlands. This is a scenic section of the trail. The open fields are a nice break from the green tunnel.I saw three herds of wild ponies, all with about a dozen ponies and some foals.There was a gradual elevation gain in the morning of about 1500 feet, then no major climbs the rest of the day. The terrain was rocky and my feet feel bruised tonight.This shelter is full, and there are about 8 tents/tarps in the area. I stayed up late (9:30) campfire talking with thru-hikers and a bunch of great section hikers.