morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-22
From: Rainbow Springs Campground

To: Rainbow Springs Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

hi all,This is Clint checking in from Franklin, NC. I think i'm around mile 103. Leila is coming down for spring break so i'm going to take two 0 days and hang out with her.The hiking has been great so far. No interesting bear stories so far though. Thank goodness. :-) I've seen a garter snake and a dog and that's been about it for wild life. The dog was cool though. I think he was thru hiking cause he kept walking the trail north. I was with him for about two days. He hikes much better than I do so I wasn't able to keep up. :-) He's doing pretty good for food too. Bums some from everybody he runs into. I think the most miles i've done so far is 13 in a day but i've had a few of those days. The knee brace really helped keep hiking but at night my knee still aches. A lot of other hikers are having the same thing. Guess it takes time to adjust. I think this is around day 12 or so and i need about 40 i'm told to become a professional hiker. heheI keep spending money at all these gear stores. I'm thinking about sending home one of my fleece jackets to even out the weight of the stuff i'm picking up. I'll probably wish I hand't in the smokies. That's only 7 days though right. ;-)My sleeping bag has been doing great. Most nights I just use it as a blanket over my pad and it keeps me about the right temperature. I'm worried about having a 0 degree bag when things start to really warm up before Pearisburg. The Tarptent is working out great too. I haven't gotten it wet though. I seem to make it to a shelter everytime it rains. :-) It hailed two nights a go on a metal roofed shelter (Carter Gap). Man was it loud. Food is doing good although i'm sick of TVP chunck. I really only meant to have it everyother day but now it's becoming repulsive. Oh well. I've had cravings for ramen noodles which is funny cause most people get sick of them. Next time out i'm packing little debbies. I need more snacks durring the day.Ron and Mom sent me a whole tube of toothe paste in my mail drop and i'm not sure if it was a joke or not. :-) Pretty funny either way. It's almost lunch time around here so I'm going to go find a burger.QuietGuy(MakeMyDay)Oh yeah. HeyBob started calling me QuietGuy and it stuck pretty well. So I'm probably going to go with that one. Though on here you can still find me as make my day.
Date: 2004-03-23
From: Rainbow Springs Campground

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Leila was down today and we got a cabin at the campground. The gas went out during the night, so the temperature was in the teens. I just about froze. Luckily Leila brought a sleeping bag so she used mine and I used hers. The camp manager let us use his place to shower and finally get warm.I got to eat town food, Long John Silvers, Burger King and I cooked blueberry pancakes. We stopped at by the side of the road when driving back to the camp and I showed Leila the stars and planet lineup -- she loved it.
Date: 2004-03-24
From: Rainbow Springs Campground

To: Campsite 117.3 miles
Miles today: 14.0

The weather was clear today, about 65. I did 14 miles today after two days off. I saw a snake today but it moved too quick too determine what kind.Lightfoot is the only one here at the campsite. I saw one other thru-hiker but I didn't catch his name.I'm feeling pretty lonely, but the cds Leils brought me were pretty good. I've been smelling smoke for two hours and seeing ash. What does one do for a forest fire when in the forest? Lightfoot says it's probably far away.
Date: 2004-03-25
From: Campsite 117.3 miles

To: NOC Us19, Hostel
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: broken clouds

Today was sunny and kind of hot. My feet are tired, I did 16.8 miles today. The trail was pretty rough towards the end today. I met up HeyBob, Hogwalkter, Misty and TT. Misty gave me half a sub. Mmmm. Smokey Mountain Steve gave me some water at Wesser Bald Shelter.I wish the restaurant was open. I got here right before they were closing registration.
Date: 2004-03-26
From: NOC Us19, Hostel

To: Locust Core Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

The weather was hot and clear today. I'm tenting out on less than level ground. My health isn't bad, my knee is a little sore and I got two blisters on my ear.The trail kicked my ass today up hill most of the day. I walked with Joe, HeyBob and TT most of the day. I saw Smokey Mountain Steve and Lightfoot at breakfast at NOC.Breakfast was great, biscuits and gravy with country ham.
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Locust Core Gap

To: Campsite 159.2
Miles today: 14.6

Today was warm with a few clouds. I'm tenting next to a mosquito infested creek. The mosquitos suck but my tent works.The trail was reasonably easy today, I saw a grouse. I hiked with TT, he was at the rack. I'm camping with Dragon Fly, Timber, Tumbleweed, Goldfish and Coy, TT and Trunks. I saw Fontana Lake and it was nice.I can't wait for town food. I couldn't make the post office on saturday so I'm spending Sunday in Fontana and picking the mail drop up on Monday morning.
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Campsite 159.2

To: Fontana Village Resort
Miles today: 4.0

I'm in town staying at Fontana Village resort. The weather was in the 80s today. I'm sharing 2 rooms with 7 other people. I got to air stuff out, take a shower, use the sauna and eat town food. I wish I could have some beer, but this town is dry. Fast food would also be nice.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Fontana Village Resort

To: Russel Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

The weather has been a bit cloudy and rainy. I've been feeling good although my pack was heavy so I ache.The smokies aren't to bad, saw a lizard today and hiking across the damn was neat. I caught up with HawkEye (Johnny) and Mongolian Joe ended up going from Fontana. I saw Syracuse (Dwight) at breakfast but he didn't seem talkative. I met Walk Softly and he's planning to finish August 15th .
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Russel Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: light rain

It's cold and people are talking snow. I forgot my knee brace so my knee was pretty shaky today. The trail has been uphill, and I'm doing Clingman's dome tomorrow, but I didn't have much energy today. It was great to finally get to the shelter. No bears yet!Hey Bob and Mongolian brough me my hat that I had left in the last shelter. Hey Bob said: Your Mamma ain't here and we're not carrying anymore of your stuff. I'm thinking about going to Gatlinburg with the guys. Some funnel cake would be great.
Date: 2004-04-02
To: Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Hey everybody. It's Clint checking in from Gatlinburg. :-) There was 8 inches of snow up on Clingmans dome when I crossed it yesterday morning. Clingman's is the highest point on the trail (6600 feet). We're staying at the gran prix hotel with a bunch of other thru hikers. Currently I'm sharing a room with HeyBob and Mongolian. I'm going to wait out the snow here for a few days. We're talking about getting ten people together to share a room so we can get hotel room with a jacuzzi.Hiking has been great so far. The Smokies have been really great mountains to hike in even if they're wet.I've got a problem with my right boot. I think something in sole bent cause it's rubbing my foot wrong. I'm going to outfitters to see if they can do something. Expensive boots like this shouldn't do this. Anyway gotta go. out of time at this library.later
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Ice Water Shelter

To: Tri Corner Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The shelter is packed tonight. I got a space but many people are on the ground. The trail is either wet and muddy or snowy. I didn't really want to go on today.I caught up with Hey Bob. Jason had knee problems so he and his dog took another trail. I'm thinking about taking a week off in Erwin and I might go fishing with Dad.
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm checking in from standing bear hostel. I'm finally out of the Smoky Mountains and I have to say they haven't been too much fun. I think I like going to town a little too much. There has been so much snow, wind, and freezing tempratures. I ended up spending two days in Gatlinburg and spent a fortune. I stayed three nights in a hotel and ended up buying new boots. Who knew I was a size 11 (I was hiking in size 12). I should have caught a clue when my granfather gave me size 10 1/2 boots and they fit pretty well. Oh well I guess I just like toe space a little too much. Who knew it was important to have the arch not sticking into the ball of your foot. The new boots are working out well for my foot problem but the toes rub a bit. Oh and don't think gortex means water proof cause they aren't. I wish I'd bought my good boots in the right size. I used to wade through creeks with no problem.I mailed about two lbs of weight and got my pack weight down. My pack is feels better all the time. Although I've got a heavy food bag for only four days. Next town is hot springs, NC and then one more week to Erwin. I've told everybody i've been hiking with my truck is there. hehe I'm looking forward to going to Ryan's.
Date: 2004-04-08
From: Max Patch

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

I'm in Hot Springs right now and the next stop is erwin. I had a really great day coming into Hot Springs. Camped out on Max Patch which is this bald at 5629' with 30 mile per hour winds. It was a really great 360 degree view although it was a bit noisy to sleep well. Then I hiked all day to make the 19 miles to hot springs. Tonight I'm hanging out with Sundance and his parents grilling food and stuff. I'm going to see a few movies tomorrow. It's so exciting. :-) Sundance wants to see kill bill 2 but the other movie is unknown. None of us really know what's playing.Anyway I think it's going to take 5 days to get to Erwin and i'm leaving monday. Just so everybody knows about when i'm getting to town.Alright I'm going to go finish washing my clothes and see what I can get into till dinner.later
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hey. I am 2 miles into Virginia now. How exciting though it's sad to leave TN. North TN has deffinitely been my favorite part of the trail. The Roan Highlands and the little laurel falls in dennis cove have been the most beautiful sections of trail i've seen.I picked up a new pack in town, the ULA P-1. It's only a 2 lbs backpack but it's pretty neet. My pack weight was 27lbs with 6 days of food although I needed some snickers and cheese. That probably added another lb but I'm going to start carrying only a liter of water so that should save 2lbs. Enough abouut weight obsession right now.Everything is going ok. My next town is Atkins, VA but there's not much there I think. I need to pick up my mail drop. Then it's off to Pearisburg (163 miles). We're planning on getting there by the 12th of may and then heading back to Damascus for traildays. I'm thinking about buying some new shoes cause most of the vendors come to trail days. I think I need to find something else for breakfast this morning. I ordered biscuites and gravy and they gave me two half biscuites which wasn't really filling.I guess I haven't written about the dog yet. My crew (syracuse, sundance) found a dog on the trail and have been taking care of him. We met some guy who the dog was following and he didn't want to leave him in the parking lot and asked if we could take him. He's a really nice dog but he's adding about 2lbs of dog food to my pack. :-) He looks like he's part golden retriever.Syracuse claimed the dog coming into damascus but then after calling his parents he couldn't keep the dog. So it's between HeyBob and me who keeps the dog. I'm trying to talk leila into renting a place that allows dogs. ;-) It'd be nice to have this dog. We're going shopping to get him a new pack after breakfast. He has one right now but it's too big for him but it was free from Bob Peoples(kencora).I think i'm going to go find more to eat. Take it easy.
Date: 2004-04-30
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I haven't written in quite a while but I just wanted to let everyone know I'm off the trail. All the people I have been hiking with have went home and it really is the people not the trail that keeps me going. Leila could use some help getting ready to move too. I hate to say it but I need to find a job sooner or later. I've had a great experience and tons of fun. Met a zillion people; good and bad ones. I can't wait till next time.
Date: 2004-03-04
From: Home

To: Amicalola Falls
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So I'm off, as of today. Out the door in ten minutes, to be exact. And setting up my trail journal at the absolute last minute, as is my wont. I finished packing my gear, and my base packweight, according to my calculations, is somewhere between 21.4 (according to my calculations) or 24 pounds (according to my very inaccurate scale). Springer Mountain, here I come!Melissa
Date: 2004-03-04
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Springer Mtn.
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a beautiful day today, 69 degrees when we drove past a bank sign. It¢s still beautiful. I¢m at the Springer Mtn. Shelter which is really nice, two story. The sun is setting out the door. It¢ll still be cold tonight. It was kind of brutal out there, especially the final ascent of Springer. But it made it more worth it, really, to see that final plaque on the green-streaked stone. I do love this, so far, despite all the pain. I¢m not sure my pack is working well at all. Maybe I¢ll trade at Neel¢s Gap? Blister count, two rather bad ones. Thank God for duct tape! Eight of us here at the shelter, all except Ardra and Ian are thru hikers. Gregory, James, British (trail name: Trap), who is going to Harper¢s Ferry. I hope I won¢t be cold tonight. I hope what they say about GA is true. I hope I get in better shape fast.
Date: 2004-03-05
From: Springer Mountain Shelter

To: Hawk Mtn
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

My apex stove crapped out this morning. Good thing I tried it before Audra and Ian left - they¢re going to hike back down to Amicalola and then drive back up to the summit, where I can meet them, with a replacement stove. It¢s nice to be able to rest this morning anyway, although I am also anxious to get going. I¢m only .1 mile in! This does not bode well, but slow and steady wins the race I suppose. The key is staying flexible. At least I don¢t have to work today! I¢ll probably go get some water, rinse out my socks, maybe play some solitaire (thanks Sara, for the cards!), then head on up the road. People are great. Hung out with Birdsong from MI, who works at Bea? The three Nova Scotians are looking out for me. They¢re stopping at Hawk Mtn too. They have an extra stove in tow. Robin has a big crush on yours truly.
Date: 2004-03-06
From: Hawk Mtn

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: broken clouds

Hawk Mtn. Shelter last night. Slept on top of the loft with the three Nova Scotians and Martha/Queen/Jailbird - tons of people in the shelter plus one tent pitched. James and Nick are also here. Yesterday I met Ardra and Ian at the Springer Mtn parking lot where Ian passed off his stove, with both white gas and butane attachments. It worked great last night after dark to cook my Filipino ramen. I did all of those 7+ miles after about 2:30 yesterday - up one pretty steep climb, but mainly downhill. I went through a beautiful stretch right at dusk on top of Hawk Mtn, where there¢s a graveyard. It was gorgeous - grey trees and fog and further on, worn away gravestones. Kind of eerie too, but in a forlorn deserted way. A bird started calling as I walked through. I¢m feeling good about my body¢s resiliency and I was able to do in the late afternoon, what everyone did all day yesterday . Still blistered.
Date: 2004-03-07
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Wood's Hole Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Missed my goal of Blood Mtn today--one of these days is going to have to be a 14-mile day, and I have Neel¢s Gap tomorrow. It¢ll still be great to get some food and talk to people. Maybe I can tell Mom and Dad to meet me someplace closer. It¢ll be a brutal day on Tuesday otherwise. It was a rough day with bad blisters and high mountains, but it was a gorgeous, gorgeous day weather-wise. The wind has picked up now and I¢m really worried I¢m going to freeze tonight. There were gorgeous views all along. I may be sunburnt. Dinner tonight was partially cooked minute rice--got to figure out how to do that better. I¢ve been sharing with Fingers, so he added tuna to my rice. He has no stove and no food, poor kid. He has $700 for food for the whole trail. We saw some crazy stuff today--a foreign couple carrying luggage and Bible thumpers.
Date: 2004-03-08
From: Blood Mtn

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: clear sky

Staying at the hiker hostel at Neel¢s Gap. I talked to Dad and the people at the outfitters today, and I decided just to rest today and tomorrow and let by blisters heal. I still don¢t feel like they¢re that bad, but there¢s no rush and I might as well take it easy. We¢re trying to figure out the boot situation. Hope the company will reduce them, but I¢m not even sure I want to wear their boots anymore, with the damage they¢ve done to my feet. I might buy a pair of trail shoes here. My load¢s light enough that I can. The views today were extraordinary though. It was freezing this morning - 25 degrees - and windy, but the climbs up and down Blood Mtn weren¢t bad at all. The weather was exquisite, if cold. I¢m stunned by the beauty of everything - that¢s the part of the trail I was unprepared for, weirdly enough. I mean, you assume you¢re doing this for the nature, for the wilderness, but you forget what that means.
Date: 2004-03-09
From: Neel's Gap

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

My first zero-mile day! I feel great. I wasn¢t planning to take a zero day here, but it¢s a good chance to let my blisters heal. Mom and Dad are bringing new boots - I have to decide if I want to go with them or go with trail shoes, at a cost of $110. They¢re also recommending I switch packs to one that costs $200. They say mine is the wrong size for my torso, who the hell cares, really. They did fit it slightly better for me, which is good. It¢s been great hanging here all day - talked to Eric ¢The Breeze¢, a Christian kid on his fourth thru hike attempt, and to another guy with sleep apnea, who¢s quitting. They say fifty percent quit here. Craziness. I can¢t imagine. Maybe I have a better shot than I thought. It¢s a weird group in here tonight. Everyone¢s really quiet and sullen and depressed. It¢s snowing like crazy outside now.
Date: 2004-03-10
To: Cowrock Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 4.7

Mom and Dad met me last night and took me to a hotel. We had a fantastic dinner (a cheeseburger with mushrooms for moi) plus showers and laundry and all that good stuff. Vasque is replacing my boots with ones a half-size smaller. Hopefully it¢ll make a difference with the blisters¢and they won¢t fall apart. We got a late start today and went to Walasi yi where I left off. Picked up some denatured alcohol and some blister treatment. They are also letting me try a pair of Lekis until I get to Rainbow Springs. I¢m not that happy with them so far. They slow me down and keep me from looking at the mountains. I also feel like I¢m affecting the trail more negatively by bashing my Lucite wantonly into the sidelong undergrowth.But, Dad and I found a fantastic campsite up on top of Cowrock Mountain and decided to stop. We¢re melting snow to make water and have our tent set up.
Date: 2004-03-11
From: Cowrock Mountain Campsite

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: clear sky

We actually ended up hiking less than we thought yesterday¢maybe a mile less¢somewhere before Cowrock Mountain where we thought we stopped, but all told both days we did 10.6 miles. Not bad considering I¢m having a great time with Dad. We ended up waking up really late today¢probably didn¢t get started until twelve or one, but still did okay. We had problems drinking our smoky-tasting yet painstakingly melted over the fire snow. So, I got a little dehydrated and felt faint coming up one mountain.   As soon as I got to rest and got some water, I felt fine. Some hideous blister action is happening. I don¢t think the new boots are working. I also hate the hiking Poles. Maybe, I¢ll get used to them. I hate having my hands occupied, and I feel like I¢m not seeing nearly as much of the scenery. But, I got a salamander in my water bottle today, and we saw a pheasant!
Date: 2004-03-12
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

I¢ve been a day off! Today was miserable, actually. Beautiful, but miserable. The weather was exquisite and the walk was easy and there were all these gorgeous moss-covered rocks, but my feet are falling apart. I have blisters every where. My toes are filled with excruciating pain. To make matters worse, my shoulders have started hurting, too. I¢m not sure if it¢s the hiking poles (which I hate) or the readjusted backpack or the boots or just the cumulative effect. I don¢t know if I should replace the boots with Salomons and the pack with one that fits or it this is a normal quantity of pain to be feeling. One thing¢s for sure: if I keep limping through seven-mile days, I¢m never going to make it to Maine. I also know that¢s exactly what I can¢t think. I was reminded by some southbounders in the register tonight that it¢s all mental. I can do this. I will do this. The first month is the hardest.
Date: 2004-03-13
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It¢s cold out there tonight. We stayed at the Blue Mountain Shelter last night and moved onto the Tray Mountain Shelter tonight. Rice for dinner¢had too much again and gave some away. All compliments to the chef. Two brutal downs and two brutal ups today. My feet are still in a lot of pain. But, it¢s mainly my toes not blisters. I don¢t know if that means my boots are too small or what or maybe I¢m still just breaking them in? Downs are excruciating¢ups not so much. The first time that been true for me. Beautiful news today, though. Some Gorgeous streams, walking through rhododendrons and moss. The cheese factory site flooded with sunlight¢and some trail magic! A couple whose son had thru-hiked southbound gave us diet Cokes, after we had passed an empty cooler. Exactly what I¢d been craving. Nice people at the shelter tonight unlike last. And, now three days to go ten miles!
Date: 2004-03-14
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: broken clouds

We¢re alone at the Deep Gap Shelter tonight. Nice hike today¢some mountains, but all fun ones. We¢ve decided I have blisters under the nails of both my big toes. I feel better now that I have the problem identified. We¢re going to try to find Salomons in the Hiawassee, and if I can¢t, I¢m going to pick some up at Rainbow Springs. I¢ve decided it¢s worth the $120¢if my feet will really feel better. Right now, I¢m suffering with every step¢I do know the difference between pain and suffering. Dad saw today: five deer, four robins (his first of the season), and insects. We also saw a pheasant the other day and a landed vulture, which was cool. Where are Erica and Peter to make vulture jokes when you need them? We¢ll be warm tonight¢we¢re in one of the lofts. Dad decided on the trail name Yogi (he¢s fond of the verb) and Bubu for Mom. Blue Eyes was floated yesterday.