morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-05
To: Last Night before the Trail
Miles today: 0.0

This will be my last preparation journal entry. I've tried not to make to many since this is a hiking journal and not a therapists couch, but its hard to resist the siren call of the white page. I don't know how well the Verizon Droid will hold up or how often I will get a signal, but I will try to update everyday. Not sure how detailed they will be because typing on the droid isn't as easy as typing on a desktop computer. Actually I am not sure of much at all and thats fine with me. Everyday will be a surprise. What will be, will be. We'll make do.I haven't talked about my wife much on this journal. One reason is that she isn't down with all this internet sharing with strangers and throwing our privacy to the winds. She's old school and thinks we are all insane for the stuff we share for all the world to see. I am pretty sure she's right about one part, but the part about sharing is still up for debate. So I try not to share to much about her to keep from stepping over her boundaries.But the main reason I have limited what I say about here is because she isn't really a volunteer in this man's AT adventure. Yes, she has come around and understands why I am doing it and fully supports my decision. But the truth is, in the beginning she didn't want there to be a beginning. What woman with 3 kids at home and a mortgage would willing encourage their man to quit their job as a professional engineer and go walkabout for six months. I'm surprised the fights didn't last longer than the few days they did. But in the end, in the last few months since I made that fateful decision, I think we have grown closer together than we have been in a very long time.Trish, I love you. I am very lucky to have you as my wife and the mother of my children. I know that the four of you will do fine running things without me and I hope you'll let me back in the door six months from now . Remember that many people have offered to assist you in any way that you need. Don't be afraid to call them if the need arises. Take care of our little boy and don't let him forget me. Harass and bedevil the girls for me as much as you can. I'll try to get the skype/video chat set up as much as possible and I will be sure to send home lots of video.   One last thing, I know you sometimes forget the user name and password to the checking account so I am going to enter it here so you'll always knw what it is:Username: nunyabusinessPassword: yanosyjournalreaderI hope that helps. Love you. Be strong. Post plenty of pics of you and the kids into facebook and Keep a light on for me.
Date: 2010-03-06
To: springer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm sleeping on Springer Mountain tonight, but it took us a while to get here. The drive from Wilmington, NC was fairly uneventful, but things got exciting once we reached Amicalola Falls State Park. We checked in, weighed our packs (31 pounds plus a liter of water) then asked about the condition of FS42. Bad news, the road was supposed to be impassable to 2 wheel drive cars. So we did the expected thing and tried to drive up anyway. Carlette drove Marvin (her car) right on up the road in snow and slush. She was doing fine right up to the point where Marvin lost his footing and slid slightly into the deep slush next to the bank. I don't think her sphincter has unclenched since.Nimblefoot took over from there and drove a little further but then Marvin refused to go any further. So Nimblefoot backed us at least a mile down the mountain before we could turn around. More sphincter tightening by the others, but for some reason I remained tranquil. Since arriving up here a sense of calm has come over me. What will be, will be, and I will just roll with the trail. I just hope that it doesn't involve rolling sideways down a mountain in a Toyota Matrix.We called Ron Brown for a shuttle and he obliged. In the end we nighthiked up to Springer from FS42 arriving around 10:30 pm. The shelter was full so we set up our tents and turned in. Just now in the tent next to me I heard Nimble yell "God Dam Mouse!!!"Hehehehe, I hung my food from the cable just because of those little buggers.We met a thruhiker down at the falls named Gravy. He will be coming up the Approach Trail tomorrow. Everyone up here was already asleep when we arrived so we will have to meet them tomorrow.Well, my hands as getting cold so I will stop for the nightGood night and sweet dreams to all of you out there not living the dream.
Date: 2010-03-07
From: springer

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

2nd dayIts beautiful out here with the mountains covered with snow and the trail glistening in the morning sun. Yes, I said glistening. The trail is a solid sheet of ice from Springer down to the FS42 parking lot, but there is plenty of room to walk in the firm snow on each side. From there to Stover Creek Shelter has been much nicer with a lot less ice sections. I've stopped here for breakfast and will move on to sleep at Hawk Mountain Shelter. I met Dave Hanson, a blind hiker. Website is WWW.hansonat.com at Stover Creek Shelter.I arrived at Hawk Mountain Shelter at 1:45 and will be staying here for the night. When I section hiked Georgia back in 2005 I did a lot of 15 mile days. I told myself if I were ever to thruhike I would start the first week slower and not bypass Hawk Mountain Shelter. So here I am. At least I have a lot of time to journal, read, surf the web , and chat with other hikers when they show up. None are here now.The trail from Stover Creek has been very nice. Very little ice and almost no blowdowns. There is still plenty of snow, but it hasn't affected the hiking any. It did make it very cold to sleep on last night. Nimblefoot said it was 18 degrees this morning. Speaking of Nimblefoot, I haven't seen him since this morning. Rumor is he needs to correct a few things and will return in a couple weeks. Pay no attention to those people who claim they saw me digging a very deep, wide and long cathole this morning.Two more things before I turn this off and start dinner. First, I owe a very big apology to Carlette's car. His name is Marty not Marvin. I'm sorry Marty, you no hill climbing wussie. Seriuosly though, a big thanks go out to Carlette and Wildbill for driving me to the trail and abandoning me here.Second thing, yes I know this journal is and will be full of typos, grammatical errors and nonsense words. It was 20 some degrees, late at night and I am typing on a tiny virtual keyboard that likes to change my words as I type them. Learn to live with it. OK, off to dinner at the picnic table. Good night and sweet dreams to everyone not living the icy trail dream.(edit, I have gone back and tried to edit the worst typos and bad spellings, but I am sure I didn't get all of them)
Date: 2010-03-08
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: few clouds

3rd dayArrived at Gooch Mountain Shelter around 1:45 and set up inside the shelter. I am sticking to my slow start plan. I don't know what time I left this morning but it was pretty early. I don't have a watch and only turn on the Droid a few times during the day. Had a nice cozy fire last night which is a great start for this adventure. The trail down to Hightower Gap was frozen solid, but afterwards was pretty much free of snow and ice, with just a wee bit of mud. The mud became plentiful on both sides of Justice Creek. If I were a mud salesman I could have got rich enough to quit my job and hike the AT. There was deep mud, wide mud, leafy mud, steep slope mud, mud streaked with long skid marks (probably both kinds). There was even mud over sheets of ice. Now that was fun. Then the trail became the best hiking trail I have ever seen. Smooth, dry, well graded with no roots or rocks. It was better than most suburban hiking trails.Today was a 7.3 mile day and I feel pretty good. I am a little tired but nothing hurts and that tell me my slow plan is working. I leapfrogged Swichback (trailname) most of the day, but haven't seen anyone else from last nights shelter. I imagine they will arrive before too long. Switchback stopped here for lunch but moved on. She isn't on the slowtrack. She spent the last 9 summers as a camp counselor taking kids to the top of Katahdin. Georgia has been child's play to her so far.Well time to use the privy and deposit some of this food I have been carrying. Some folks have said they want the nitty gritty details, so here goes. The privy is a raised platform over a pile of human feces mixed with toilet paper and mulch. There is a seat to sit on thankfully and when you have delivered your load you scoop up some mulch from a bucket beside you and dump it in. Supposedly this stuff composts and then someone hikes up here for the sole purpose of spreading composted poop all around the privy. Lovely. Is that gritty enough, Annaliese? If you click the follow my journey link at the bottom of this entry you can see pics of the privy.Good night and sweet dreams to everyone not living the privy dream.
Date: 2010-03-09
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Slaughter Creek Campsites
Miles today: 12.4

4th dayToday was a beautiful day. I hiked in shorts and a T-shirt for most of the day, the sun was out, the trail was free of snow and ice for the most part, although there was still some foot thick patches at the higher, shaded elevations. There was a lot more mud today, but it wasn't too bad. It felt like I was climbing uphill for most of the day.   The views were pretty awesome though. The forecast for tonight is for showers and rain tomorrow. I'm tenting so its going to be a heavy pack tomorrow with a wet tent. I got some trailmagic from a thruhiker named Nature Boy. He is currently stopped in the Virginia Highlands due to the deep snow so he came South and was delivering Mountain Dews and chocolate fudge cakes to thruhikers on the trail.   Thanks nature boy.A lot of the people I was in the shelter with last night headed into Suches, GA at the Woody Gap road crossing to lighten their packs and mail some stuff home. One of them is a guy fromb Scotland named Stuart who is a pretty fast hiker even carrying a 55 pound pack. He'll be hiking into Neels Gap tomorrow where I will be staying in the hostel so maybe I'll see him again. He seems to be a pretty cool guy. Another hiker I camped with tonight and at the last two shelters is Q-Tip. We have been sharing the fire building duties. He is hiking with his brother Trinket who is staying in a hotel in Hiawasee tonight after hurting his knee. I hope he can get back on the trail soon. Lots of other people out here right now, but I am terrible about remembering names. I don't see many of them on the trail. I start very early in the morning and am soon passed by the fast hikers, but I hike fast enough to stay ahead of the rest. I thought the 12.5 miles today was going to kill me. I would have stopped a couple of miles back, but there just wasn't any good campsites. Well I think that's all for tonight. Nothing funny or witty. The brain and body are too tired for that. So good night and sweet dreams to all of you not living the slaughter creek dream.
Date: 2010-03-10
From: Slaughter Creek Campsites

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: moderate rain

5th dayI am in the hostel in the Walasi-ye center at Neels Gap. I just finished off a large green pepper pizza. I don't even feel bloated. I've also had a hot dog, a honey bun, various snacks, a large V8 juice, a Pepsi and probably 5 mountain dews, 2 of them I drank within 10 minutes of my arrival. Ms. Janet is managing the hostel and has been pretty friendly.   I've also have had a hot shower and used a flush toilet . I had to walk a few hundred yards to the Cabins to get them since the water was off here. Its back on now though.Today's hike was only 3 miles, but they were tough ones up and down Blood Mountain. It was enshrouded in clouds just like it was when I came through in 2005. So no views for hyway once again.Lots of cool people here tonight. Everyone on the trail is so friendly and easy going. I imagine I'll be sharing the same shelters the next few days, but others will be doing much bigger days than me. I arrived here just after 10 this morning and can't believe how fast this day has gone by. And yes I meant gone by, too many hikers this is already past bedtime. I am not to that point yet so I am going to go out to the main room so they can turn out the lights in here.So good night and sweet dreams to everyone not living the hostel dream.
Date: 2010-03-11
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

6th dayI'm in my tent in a light rain at Low Gap Shelter. I busted my ass to get here before the shelter filled up. I only took my pack off twice today, once to tighten my shoestings and the other was at Tesnatee Gap to eat summer sausage and cheese in the rain. The rest of the time I just sloshed through the mud. When I arrived there was one more spot in the shelter, but I decided to tent rather than squeeze in. I am not sleeping well as it is, being elbow to elbow wouldn't make it any easier.I am not going to talk about the trail any more in this journal unless something changes. It goes up, it goes down. It goes over sticks and stones, rocks and roots, blown down branches and trees, mud, ice, muddy ice, snails and puppy dog tails. And occasionally its flat and smooth. Then the whole thing repeats itself. The only thing different today than yesterday is the addition of the rain and thusly no need to stop for views. So that's it for daily trail descriptions except for the occasional choice word or two.Had a great breakfast at the hostile this morning. If only all mornings could start with that nice a meal . Here at the shelter tonight are Stuart the Scot, Joe, Dr evil, Barefoot, Switchback, Stumblewolf, Moonshine and Terrapin, Boston, WaitNSee, and a bunch of others. Q-Tip was here earlier but he is hiking hard to get up to Haiwassee to meet up with his brother who is recupperating from a hurt knee. More people were coming in as I climbed into my tent, but I won't be getting out again except to answer nature's call. Ive already eaten my mountain house beef stew and now will just listen to music whether or not it kills my battery. I'm tired, chilled and I miss my family so I am going to indulge.Good night and sweet dreams to everyone not living the cold, wet, muddy dream.
Date: 2010-03-12
From: Low Gap Shelter 

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

I am at the Hiawassee Holiday Inn drying out. Yes, I know its a hard life. It rained, and then it rained some more. I know I said I wouldn't talk about the trail anymore, but I must apologize for referring to what I walked through before as mud. That was the Nevada salt flats compared to the riverlets of liquid trail we had today. It started out very nice with slight elevation changes on a wide well graded trail that once upon a time was probably a road. The Rhododedrums have long since taking over though. It was a very beautiful trail, but the day started out foggy so once again no views. After an hour or so there was a very loud and close boom from lightning and it was on like donkey kong. The rain started pouring down. I did the 7 1/2 miles to Blue Mountain Shelter in 3 1/2 hours mostly because it was just too wet to stop anywhere for long. It was only 12:30 and there wasn't likely going to be any views in the morning (this shelter can have some fabulous sunrise views) so I hiked the 2.2 miles down to Unicoi Gap with plans to go into Helen, Ga, a tourist town modeled after a Bavarian village. Only when I reached the Gap a red pickup was just about to pull out of the parking lot. It was Boston and Dr. Evil getting a shuttle into Hiawassee from Trail Angel Storyteller who thruhiked last year and was doing his part to pay back the trail. He had a tarp set up and had a spread of goodies he was giving out to Thruhikers. I didn't get any of that, I just crammed myself into the back of his truck and rode into Hiawassee.Now I have had a hot shower, clean clothes, a full stomach from the country buffet next door and have all my camping gear spread out around the room to dry. It quite crowded in there with Boston and Dr. Evil's gear also spread out. Well now its after 6 I can call the wife and kids and chat them up, and maybe hook up the video chat to this computer and talk to Jason face to face. After that its a dip in the heated pool and a good nights sleep in a soft bed.I hope to be back later to clean up my previuos journal entries, but if not, Good night and sweet dreams to everyone not living the rain free night in a motel dream.
Date: 2010-03-13
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 11.2

8th daySurprise surprise. Bet you can't guess where I am. Nope, I couldn't get a cheap flight to Argentina so I am in my tent at Addis Gap. Do you want another surprise? Its raining. And its cold. And for the first time.... I don't have service on my phone. So no surfing the internet. I bad hoped to find a way to watch/listen to the Wolfpack play basketball tonight. I watched them win last night and sure hope they win today. I'll be back in Hiawassee tomorrow so hopefully i'll get to watch them win the ACC Championship.   One can dream.Last night I had a nice swim in the heated pool and a nice long soak in the Jacuzzi. And then this morning after a great hot breakfast I caught the shuttle back out to Unicoi Gap and started climbing a bill and kept climbing for 1.3 miles and 1068 feet of elevation gain. And then since there was no more up the trail went back down again at nearly the same slope. Once down it found some more up and it went up 1317 feet over 2.6 miles of continuous climbing.   At the top was a lot of ice on the trail plus some small blowdowns. On the way down from Tray Mountain the trail was completely blocked in many places and I had to go around, climb over or crawl under. The next 4.8 miles to Addis Gap was mostly your typical trail. I was exhausted when I arrived so I just put up my tent and climbed into my sleeping bag. I haven't even eaten yet. I think i'll take a nap firstI hope Brianna is having a grand weekend with her friend Micky and that Jason got to horseback ride today and that Trish and Savannah got to go to the movies.Goodnight and sweet dreams to all of you not living the no internet access dream.GO WOLFPACK!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 2010-03-15
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: dicks creek Gap/hiawassee
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a zero day. Thats when you don't do any hiking on the trail. I am staying another night at the Hiawassee Holiday Inn with Dr. Evil to let my legs rest up before starting the planned 12 mile days to Framnklin, NC.   I should be there Friday and if I am not to wet and tired I only plan to resupply and get back on the trail the same day. That should put me into the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) late sunday night. I think I will call NakeApe and take him up on his offer to stay a night or two at his house in Bryson, NC. I hope he home when I call .I should enter North Carolina tomorrow, yay! Today I have been mostly lounging around and soaking in the hot tub. Croft has arrived here. She's been out there since the same time I left Neels Gap. I bet she is ready for some rest and civilization. Not much to say about a day doing nothing so I'll sign off and get some sleep.Good Night and sweet dreams to all of you out there not living the zeroing dream.
Date: 2010-03-16
From: dicks creek Gap/hiawassee

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 10I am at Muskrat Creek Shelter in North Carolina tonight. 11.8 miles and the elevation 4650'. At this altitude the mountains are still covered in snow. Looks like I will stay this high or higher for the next few days. I crossed the border into North Carolina around the 9 mile mark. It felt good to put one State behind me. Now just 13 more to go. The last nine miles of Georgia was a very pleasant walk. There were a few climbs but they felt good. It was like Georgia was saying goodbye with a hug and a kiss. North Carolina welcome's you with a slap to the face. After an interesting old gnarly tree at Bly Gap the trail goes straight up for what seems like forever. Then at the top there is about 5 inches of snow on the ground. Its a nice soft snow that crunches under your feet rather than making you slide all over. Walking though snow with Rhododendron trees forming a tunnel over the trail is quite lovely.The trail was snow covered the rest of the way to the shelter. At the shelter now is Dr. John, Soulsearcher, Tango and Catman. My dinner consisted of Knorr Garlic Butter Rice, hot cocoa, a muffin, a granola bar and a Snickers. Currently I am snuggled inside my sleeping bag while I write this entry. Later I'll walk over to a ridge and watch the sunset.A lot of the people I was hiking with previously came through this shelter yesterday or the day before. Maybe I will catch up to them during this next week, or maybe I never will. It will be what it will be. Tomorrow I will go over Standing Indian Mountain, which is over 5500'. There's going to be a lot of snow and ice up there. Well that's it for today. I have a book tonight so I think I will read some.Good night and sweet dreams to all of you out there not living the snow covered mountain dream.
Date: 2010-03-17
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Day 11Lots of snow on the trail today going over Standing Indian Mountain, elevation 5498. Hiking in the snow is pretty, but its wears you out. The snow has been compacted by lots of boots but if you step off even the slightest you might sink to your knee. Even the compacted snow slows you down. You never know whether the snow will crunch under foot or if your foot will go sliding.The hiking today wasn't that difficult except for the snow and the number of miles. I was happy to see this shelter. There is an older decrepit looking shelter a few hundred feet before this one. I am glad I knew enough to move on to this one. Its pretty chilly, below 30 degrees, and it feels like it will get into the teens. I might be wearing my down jacket to bed. I started a fire but everything is so damp up here that it takes constant attention to keep it going, so I guess it will go out while I write this entry. Dinner was Mountain House Chili Mac and beef. Very tasty. So was the hot chocolate and Snickers bar. Breakfast this morning was some type of granola bar, then later as I took breaks I ate more snack bars and borough (raisens, nuts, dried bananas,and other fruit and chocolate covered raisens).I hiked most of the day with Soulsearcher who I met my first day while I was writing in the register on top of Sprinter. We have been hiking about the same pace. I took his picture today to post to his Facebook page but somehow it showed up on mine. I am sure that confused a few people. I'll try to get it right later tonight.My fire decided to keep burning and is going quiet nicely. It should add some heat to the shelter, but when it goes out the temp will drop quickly. Smokey and the Bandit are here at the shelter as well. They are just finishing dinner so I think I'll beat them to the privy before it gets dark.I loved my message from Jason in my guestbook. I miss you fiercely, my handsome lovely little boy.So good night and sweet dreams to everyone out there not living the fire heated shelter dream.