morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-10-23
To: videos 
Miles today: 0.0

We got the last fall day hike in up Cascade Canyon before the snows come in. A winter storm watch is in effect for the Teton Range this weekend which will shut down much of the hiking for the season. But I'll be getting some tropical hiking and even backpacking on Kauai this November. While Gypsybear is attending some work related seminars there, I'll be hitting the Kauai back country with a overnight in Waimea Canyon and then a five night trip on the famous Na Pali coastline Kalalau trail. Life is good!   On a gear note, I've finally decided to take my Panasonic Lumix camera on the trail next spring. It's a lot heavier at 14.7oz than your average point and shoot but much better quality and good high definition video and much lighter than the lightest SLR that I know about. Only draw back is poor sound quality on the Video but you can't have everything. I'm doing some test videos right now and just posted one taken from inside my cabin of a buffalo walking by as if he owned the place. Which he does.
Date: 2010-12-12
To: Hiking the Kalalau trail
Miles today: 0.0

All I can say is Wow!!! about my six days on the Kalalau trail on Kauai. It was simply the most beautiful eleven miles I have ever hiked anywhere. Not easy though, those eleven miles one way hike more like an average 15 mile day on the AT. And if you are afraid of heights you should maybe think twice about this one as the trail is often narrow, steep, overgrown, muddy, and with some exposure along the sea cliffs. The campground at the end is spacious and next to a huge beach with incredible scenery. So if you ever find yourself on Hawaii with some time and a backpack I highly recommend this hike. I'm going to upload my photos to the picasa web album and include the address here soon if you would like to see more. And I made a short video which I'll post soon as well.    It's full on winter here in Jackson Hole with a great start to the ski season, but my thoughts are often on the spring and standing once again on top of Springer Mountain and starting the long journey north. I think I'm more excited about this thru than I was before the start of my previous two attempts because I get to share the experience this time with Gypsybear!
Date: 2010-12-19
To: Kalalau link
Miles today: 0.0

With all the snow falling in Jackson Hole I have fond memories of my hike on the Kalalau trail in Hawaii! I've got the photos uploaded to my picasa web album and here is the address if you are interested in seeing what this fantastic backpack trip looks like.http://picasaweb.google.com/srdyke/KalalauTrail#
Date: 2010-12-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The best Christmas present in the world is to have the opportunity to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. I am very grateful to be able to get out there again!I uploaded two new videos, on of my Kalalau trail hike and the other of this obstinate moose. I had gone out on a walk with my dog Jackson and when I returned there were two moose in front of my cabin right by the door. So I politely asked the moose to leave so I could get in. The cow moved off as expected but the Bull just stood there. So I tried yelling at him and when that had no effect I chucked a few snowballs. He just looked at me as if to say "is that all you got?". I don't like to approach closer than 30 yards to a moose as they can be dangerous and unpredictable critters. I've been chased before. So it was a bit of an adrenaline filled journey to get to the back door through the deep snow carrying Jackson and hoping the moose wouldn't change as it would be impossible to run in snow that deep. But I made it inside with no problem and immediately grabbed my camera and got a great video of him still by the porch. Check it out!
Date: 2011-01-30
To: Training with Jackson
Miles today: 0.0

It was a fine winter day for a walk so I loaded up my daypack with 34 pounds and headed up the nearby Shadow Mt about a ten minute drive from where I live. The snow was just barely firm enough to go without snowshoes or skis. It's time to get in shape! And it was a workout in the loose snow. Jackson looks very cute in his little red booties, check out the video.
Date: 2011-02-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The food supplies are piling up as we get ready to sort out food drops. For health reasons, I need very nutritious foods to have a chance of making it to Maine so I do all of my resupply by mail drops. This is an expensive and time consuming way to go but does have certain advantages. It's great not to have to go shopping when you hit a town and it allows me to have what I want when I want it and portion things out precisely which can keep the pack weight down. I've recently found a wonderful addition to my menu which is the Backcountry Bar by the Cookie Queen. It has a lot of calories for its weight, is highly nutritious, but best of all, it tastes like a delicious cookie! I'm trying not to eat them all before I get them in the drops!
Date: 2011-02-17
To: Mail drop list
Miles today: 0.0

After hours of pouring through the Thru Hikers Companion I've finally finalized my mail drop list. It's probably one of the most extensive lists you will find so please help yourself to the info if you are planning some drops and have been procrastinating. I've double checked all the addresses so they are as you find them in the book. I doubt I'll use all these drops but you never know.
Date: 2011-02-24
To: A tribute to Jackson
Miles today: 0.0

Grief comes in many flavors and I hope I don't have to taste them all. We lost are dearest friend and buddy yesterday, our dog Jackson, who was hit by a truck during a training hike. We are very, very sad. He was the happiest I've ever seen him, just bursting with energy, when we went on a snow shoe hike up Ditch Creek. When he died a snow squall came over the sunny day and when the sun came back out there were rainbow sun dogs in the sky giving tribute to a very special being. It was gong to be very hard to leave him behind on our hike for six months but he was just too old at nine years to take along and did not like to hike in the heat. But nothing compared to this final goodbye. We will miss him forever.
Date: 2011-04-09
From: hawk mt

To: gooch gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We are sitting in the sun on top of Sassafras mt. Also fondly known as kick my ass sassafrass. I feel all energized by the wonderful spring energy in the woods with flowers blooming and the birds starting to sing. We are both doing well so far,breaking our bodies into the trail life. I feel so blessed to be back out here again.The weather has been goodwith above average temps and only a few sprinkles. All in all its been a great start to our journey north. I love the endless freedom of this endless trail And what a perfect campsite at the end of the day!
Date: 2011-04-10
From: gooch gap

To: lance creek
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

A very hot day in the Georgia mountains but some good views today and another fine campsite with cool refreshing stream. After a strong start Gypsybears paws were hurting but after Goose gives her a foot massage after I finish writing this she should be fine. Tomorrow we will make Neels gap and stay in some cabins and maybe find some icecream!
Date: 2011-04-11
From: lance creek

To: neels gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We got up at the crack of dawn to beat the heat and had lunch at the top of Blood Mt the highest mountain in Georgia. The decent is the first Knee tester on the trail and we both survived with only minor aches and are now holed up at rustic and cozy Blood mt cabins which we can highly recommend. Tomorrow we are doing only a few miles in the afternoon as we start our next leg to thenext resupply at Hiawassee. A cold front is on the way so temperatures should get back to normal. Im loving life back on the trail but this time its a much more magical experience with my lovely wife!
Date: 2011-04-13
From: neels gap

To:  cold springs gap
Miles today: 0.0

We left Neels gap as the cold front came through with light rain, wind, and falling temperatures. It cleared up in the evening at our camp on Cowrock mt with an excellent view and great sunset. Gypsybear got a bit damp on the climb up and had a hard time getting warm again even snugged up in her sleepingbag. In the morning it was down to 33 degrees with a strong damp wind blowing so we didn't linger. The climb out of Tessnatee gap was a stiff one but after that a very easy stretch and we made 9.9 miles to cold springs gap. So now we are relaxing and while I'm writing this Gypsybear is playing her OHE HANO IHU, a traditional Hawaiian bamboo nose flute, one of the luxury items we choose to carry along.
Date: 2011-04-14
From:  cold springs gap

To: cheese factory site
Miles today: 0.0

Gypsybear says today was the day that kicked our butts! It was a strenous one for sure starting with a climb up Bule Mt then down down down to Unicoi gap, the up up up one of the, if not the, hardest climbs in Georgia on the AT, Rocky Mt. Then down again to Indian Grave Gap, and finally up to the Cheese Factory site where there is no cheese and no factory. Just a nice place to camp. Camped near us is 69 year old Buckeye who thru hiked in '99 and is now on a 500 mile section hike with two new hip replacements to try out. He is still moving faster than us! Today the going was hard but the weather was good and we are loving life on the trail.
Date: 2011-04-15
From: cheese factory site

To: Deep gap shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up to fog and wind which lasted the day, with light rain but mostly fog dripping off the trees. No views on top of Tray Mt., completely fogged in,and the climb up Kelly Knob was stiff with a 1000ft elevation gain is just a mile. No switchbacks.But we made it to deep gap shelter where a bunch of thru hikes had a nice fire going and we got into our tent just as the major storm arrived. Gyspsybear kept saying during the day "have I told you yet I'm looking forward to Hiawassee?" We will be there tomorrowstaying at the Holiday INN Express. Gypsybear may not agree but I enjoy hiking in these foggy rainy days.
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Deep gap shelter

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The big storms that produced so many tornados hit us hard the night before last at the Deep Gap shelter. But there were no tornados near us and our tent is a MSR Hubba Hubba and was completely dry during the heavy all night rains with the wind roaring through the trees. We are now still at the Holiday Inn Express in Hiawassee doing a zero (no mileage on the trail) day. On the hike down to Dicks Creek gap, Gypsybears ankle started hurting and needs a full day of rest. We are a little antsy as the weather is beautiful and we want to be hiking, but you have to listen to your body and do what it asks or you won't get very far on a long distance hike. But we should be ready to go tomorrow and already have a shuttle arranged to take us the ten miles back up to the trail. Next town stop will be Franklin North Carolina and our fist state will be done! In fact tomorrow we will try to make the North Carolina boarder at Bly Gap.
Date: 2011-04-18
From: Hiawassee

To: bly gap
Miles today: 76.0
Weather: clear sky

We are sitting at our campsite watching the sunset in a new state. North Carolina. One down 13 to go. Georgia's trail is a good test to see if you are ready for the rest and we passed with just a few bumps along the way. It's also very beautiful in the spring time. But there is a nice sense of accomplishment in reaching the state line. There are a bunch of other thru hikers here with us tonight. And tomorrow startess with a couple of hard climbs but life is good on the trail.
Date: 2011-04-23
From: Franklin

To: siler bald mt
Miles today: 0.0

I've gotten a little behind on the entries as I like to update from camp but have been lacking internet up there lately. We are now in Franklin North Carolina and have resupplied and are ready to hit the trail this morning. So after we left Bly gap and did the killer climb up Sharptop Mt and Courthouse bald we had a good day and camped just beyond the Standing Indian shelter. The next morning as we neared the top of Standing Indian Mt a thunderstorm moved in and pummeled us with rain, hail and lightning. Thankfully the lightning strikes were cloud to cloud and didn't hit near us as this was the tallest mountain at over 5000 ft in the region. The rain let up after a few hours and we made camp passed Betty gap near what the guide book says is the wettest area in the eastern US. So of course it rained again that night. I think that was close to a 12 mile day, which is our best yet as we are still taking it slow and easy. We were happy to cross the 100 mile mark the next day and after the hard climb up Albert Mt. we were rewarded with the wonderful views from the top of the firetower. We ended up camped on a ridge top just before the decent to Winding Stair gap which is the road to Franklin. It rained again that night but now the forecast is improving and we should hit a good weather stretch as we head into some of the hardest hiking yet in the rugged Nantahalla Range. Our next resupply is at the Nantahalla outdoor center. The photos I've put up so far are all taken with the DroidX and I have many more that I'm taking with my Panasonic Lumix which I probably won't up on this journal until after it's all over. "No man is brave that has never walked a hundred miles. If you want to know the truth of who you are, walk until not a person knows your name. Travel is the great leveler, the great teacher, bitter as medicine, crueler than mirror glass. A long stretch of road will teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet introspection." From "The Wise Mans Fear"
Date: 2011-04-24
From: siler bald mt

To: aw
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We had a beautiful evening sitting atop Siler Bald mt and a good campsite on the saddle below. The Bear says it was a physically and energetically challenging day and it made her a little bit grumpy, but she is better now after eating some cookies. We also had another great view from the Wayah Bald lookout tower. Now we are camped just short of Burningtown Gap. The weather remains great and tomorrow will bring us mores beautiful trail.
Date: 2011-04-29
From: zero

To: cheoah bald
Miles today: 8.1

We are camped on a crystal clear evening on top of Cheoah Bald with fantastic views in every direction. Its one of the toughest climbs with a 3300foot ascent to over 5000ft out of the NOC. The little bear that could says she almost couldn't but I think she did great and she set a strong pace up this 8 mile climb. One of the hardest days yet but now we can watch the sunset over the Smoky Mt.
Date: 2011-05-01
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Village
Miles today: 0.0

After night out on the top of Cheoah we had the very rugged hike through the last of the Nanthala Mts with it's extremely steep up and downs. This section really works you. They don't believe in switchbacks around here! But we had marvelous weather,cool and sunny and ended up at Cody gap where we were joined by two lovely stay dogs. We called the number on the colar and it turned out they lived a few miles away and returned home on there own that night. The next day we got all the way to Fontana Dam and stayed at the big shelter there called the Fontana Hilton which even has a good shower in the restroom for hikers to use. Now we have up scaled and are staying at the Fontana Lodge to wait for the post office to open on Monday for our resupply package. WE make it to the Logde in time for a great Buffet breakfast that we agree was the best yet on the journy. Tomorrow will will be headed up into the Smoky Mountains with our next resupply in Gatlinburg Tennessee. I'll be uploading more photos from the DroidX soon but no connection in our rooms. I expect will will have intenet through the Smokys as the trail stays on the ridge tops so I'll get up as many photos as they happen as I can. Goose and Gypsybear are free an loving life on the AT.
Date: 2011-05-02
From: mollies ridge shelter

To: spence field shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Its raining as we hang out in the Spence field shelter. Gypsybears foot was hurting so we have decided to wait out the storm here for the night. Yesterday was a hard uphill slog to reach the high ridge of the Smokys but we made the 11 miles to the shelter and this morning saw a bear! It was grazing about 25 yards behind the shelter but just ignored us as it finished its breakfast. It was a big one too and everyone was pleased to see it.
Date: 2011-05-07
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We are stuck in a place of the most amazing bad taste imaginable, Galinburg Tennessee. The tourist trap of all tourist traps. We are traped here because on the cold day after the storm at Spence field shelter, Gypsybear pulled a leg muscle and after the very cold night at Siler Bald shelter it really seized up. It went down to 24 degrees that night with a good wind as well to make it even colder. The next day we managed to climb the 4.5 miles to the Clingmans Dome parking lot where we hitched a ride into this bizzare place. So after a good massage she is much better and it may even be possible to get back on the trail tomorrow. If not then, we will survive another day here and should be able to continue the next day. God willing. Hiking the trail has many challenges, and I think this is one of the hardest, trying to recover from illness or injury and all the uncertainty that goes with that. We both very much want to continue and you often don't know exactly how much the trail means to you until the possibility of not being able to continue arises. But we are still willing.
Date: 2011-06-04
To: Montana
Miles today: 57.0

If you were wondering what has happened to us, well hopefully we aren't off the trail for good yet! We traded in Smoky Mt national park for US Virgin Islands National park to see if Gypsybear could recover from the pulled muscle. Recovery just wasn't happening so we have moved to Montana where she has good doctors in her home town of Helena where we are currently staying with a friend. Gypsybear is now really starting to heal up and even though it's too late to do a thru hike, we both really want to get back on the trail and hike as much as we can until winter sends us home to our sailboat currently on the hard waiting out hurricane season on St Thomas. I've come up with two hiking plans and have not yet decided on which one we will go with. One has us getting back on in Port Clinton Pennsylvania which was as far as I got in my 2008 thru hike. This option will finally allow me the chance to complete the whole trail. The other option is to pick up where we left off this year, hike north until September and the skip up to Vermont and finish with the fall in New England. I'm very concerned about the heat in the south this year which is very persistent. So I'm not so sure about this option. But right now we are shooting for the beginning of July to get back out there. Wish us luck!
Date: 2011-07-01
From: Montana

To: Port Clinton Pennsylvania
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I am very happy to say that we are heading back to the trail! We will start at Port Clinton Pennsylvania which was where I left the trail in 08 due to illness from Lyme disease. I was very heart broken to have had to leave back then and now very excited to resume where I left off with a good chance to complete the trail this year. After hiking the first half twice and starting over again this year, I'm also looking forward to hiking trail I've never seen. I haven't hiked any of the trail north of Port Clinton. I think it is 973 miles left. So we will are leaving Montana tomorrow and will start hiking on July 3rd. We just had a great tour of the Canadian Rockys and did a over night test backpack trip in Glacier National park and Gypsybear is ready and willing to go back at it. So here we go again!
Date: 2011-07-02
From: Port Clinton Pennsylvania

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I was happy as a clam to be back on the trail and we made it to the Windsor furnace shelternorth of Port CLinton. After a very humid day it's now cooling off nicely and the birds are singing and we are greatfull to be back out here. Gypsybear says pray for my joints. AH HUI HO! (Moving forward)
Date: 2011-07-05
To: allentown shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Today Pennsylvania really lived upto its reputation as being the rockiest state. The hiking was a bit on the brutal side. There were big rocks, small rocks, sharp rocks, tippy rocks, and all the rocks without exception, were placed, deliberately I think, pointy side up! The going is supposed to be even wore the next few days and on top of all that, water is getting scarce and the heat is.building. Will we.survive? Stay tuned.
Date: 2011-07-08
From: bake oven shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

After a very interesting stay at Fine Lodging in Slatington, which was once a hotel and the building is 160 years old and showing its age, we got a ride back to the trail from the kind owner Ira, and started the infamous climb out of the gap which really lived up to its hype. Some serious boulder scrambling and a few rock climbing moves are required. Gypsybears says that she is happy that all her body parts survived it. And our reward tonight after all that is a stay at the lovely Filbert B&B.
Date: 2011-07-13
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It feels really good to be finally done with Pennsylvania after having two thru hikes stop there. I'm not alone in this sentiment. The entries about the state in the register of the last shelter were none too flattering to put it mildly. There was a lot of Pennsylvania bashing going on. And for good reason. There are times when the pointy sharp rocks seem to go on forever and the going isn't just tough, its downright brutal. So I'm grateful to be done with it but also glad I did it. It wasn't much fun but I did enjoy the challenge. Gypsybear was just happy to escape the rocks.We are now resting our sore joints in Delaware Water Gap which is a great little trail town. And tomorrow on our way into New Jersey!
Date: 2011-07-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The views in New Jersey really astonished me with the many miles of.forested land and all the beautiful lakes. I was expecting much more developed urban areas not all these wild woods! Who would have thunk it? The rocks have let up some but its been rocky enough to keep.us struggling a bit with sore knees and such. And its getting hot and humid again with no relief in site. You just have to deal day by day.
Date: 2011-07-21
To: appalachain motel
Miles today: 0.0

It was a very hot day today with much of the walking exposed to the sun as we went through meadows and the beautiful boardwalk over the swamps. It was over 100 degrees in the sun with the humidity in the 90 range I'm guessing. Hot enough for us to decide to play it safe and wait out the worst of it in the very nice bAppalachain Motel near Vernon NJ. We will stay here for another day to wait for heat to abate and luckily a cold front is on the way. I hope all the hikers will stay well out there in this dangerous heatwave. Gypsy bear almost melted at the end but some trail magic saved us as we got a ride to the motel amost as soon as we stuck out our thumbs! In this hot and humid and very polluted air, hiking is becoming an extreme sport.