morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-24
From: hotsprings

To: rich mountain fire tower
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

We finally freed ourselves from the Siren clutches of the trail town of Hotsprings!!!! We woke up and slowly broke camp. I had brown sugar cinnomen pop tarts and made sure little miss Ruby ate some breakfast for her first hiking trip with her new granite gear pack. We planned on hiking to rich mountain fire tower 8.2 miles from Hotsprings. It was a tough climb out and all of us felt like our packs weighed 50 lbs!   But we hiked up and out from the river valley to some beautiful views! We could look out over the river and into the town seeing the lodge we stayed at, the tavern we ate great food at and the Artisan where we had great ice cream!!! We had to turn away and hike on fast....We were looking for a water source and saw that there wasa boxed spring with a pond coming up. It was warm so we all talked about going for a dip...wellllllllllll... When we got there Ruby jumped in with her pack but it was stagnant yucky water so I called her out. Then Grape lightening hollered for us to come see the snake...a water moccasin!!!!!! Swimming in the pond!!! Eeeekk!!! I called Ruby and we hightailed it outta there! We made it to the campsite just below the tower and Jaba and Joelle were already there. We set up camp and started a fire...then the rain started! Into our tents we went. It subsided enough to come out and cook. I was super tired though. We hit the sack just before 8. It rained all night and I had done condensation from where I leaned up against the netting of my tent but it wasn't too bad. Either way, we were back on trail and out of the Hotsprings Vortex
Date: 2013-04-25
From: rich mountain fire tower

To: Log cabin road
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: few clouds

Woke up to a cold foggy morning and didn't wanna get out of my sleeping bag. Ruby had other plans! She wanted to go out and greet the day! I made Mac n cheese for breakfast...crazy I know but it just sounded good!!!. It took awhile for us to break camp after I went up to check out the cloudy view from the tower. Jaba and Joelle were still hanging by the morning fire when me, Flo, grape lightening and Popeye set out for our day.We had originally planned to hike up past little laurel shelter but somehow we found ourselves elsewhere!!! It's all Popeyes fault for saying how great it would be if we came upon trail magic in the form of cheeseburgers at Allen gap!!!! I'd hiked that section before and knew of a hostel just past there off of log cabin road...I knew there had to be food in our future...and good food;0)Soon we saw laminated signs for Hemlock Hollow Hostel which advertised a cafe, bunkhouses, cabins and shuttles... We were in!!!It was already 3:00 so we were running late to make it to little laurel anyway. About 1.5 miles past Allen Gap we hit log cabin road and slogged along on the .7 mile road trek to the hostel. Seemed like forever but we finally saw the inviting neon sign that said "open"!The hostel was a quaint Little place right on a creek with dogs for Ruby to play with and a nice homy little cafe inside. Hattie started up the grill right away when we said we were hungry! Soon Flo and I had a cheeseburger and the boys had a Paul Bunyan burger which was a massive double decker!!!!! We all honestly ate them in 30 seconds flat! Popeye never even tasted his!!!We headed over to the bunkhouse and settled in. It was super clean and comfy!We hung out on the porch overlooking the creek and decided that we would slack pack southbound back to this hostel the next day. Steph and Patriot came in pretty late with their headlamps on that evening after doing the same thing. They warned us that it was tough and easy to get lost. Steph had fallen and gotten scraped up by the rocks...they weren't happy. I had done some of that section before so I was somewhat familiar...we decided to hit the sack and go for it the next day.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: Log cabin road

To: devils Fork Gap
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: broken clouds

We woke up and had a good breakfast at the hostel and Fred took us to Devils fork gap for our 20 mile hike. There is a section of exposed ridge area that is supposed to be difficult so I was a little worried about Ruby but she ended up doing awesome!!!!! My little mountain goat!. It was warm and sunny all day but water sources were slim. SteveO was out of water and we were trying to find a source. Finally we found one with 11 miles left to go. Then we made quick work of the remaining miles back to the hostel. We all ate tons of food and hit the sack....... Only to be awakened all night long with stevo vomiting violently.   The Norovirus had hit the WarriorHike! Ughhhhh!!!!
Date: 2013-04-27
From: devils Fork Gap

To: devils fork gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

27thWe all got up and I went to tell Fred the situation. We packed up all of our gear and put SteveO in the front seat. He was super weak and still vomiting every 30 min. We took him to Unicoi community hospital in Erwin and then checked into Uncle Jonnys Hostel. Me and Flo stayed in the bunkhouse. They admitted SteveO and started iV fluids on him.Our plan was to wait and see what was going on with SteveO and hike the 34 miles from devils fork gap to Erwin and then hopefully all of us would be able to continue on north together.......:-0
Date: 2013-04-28
From: devils fork gap

To: devils fork Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

28th. We woke up and hung out for a bit and decided to go for Mexican later. After we ate we all got a Justin Bieber singing get well card for SteveO and headed to the hospital. We were surprised to see him being wheeled out toward the Operating room!!!!! They did a scan and found that he has an enlarged appendix and he was about to undergo an appendectomy!!!!! Yikes!!! We couldn't believe it!!!! I talked to his wife Ruby and she would be heading down the next day.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: devils fork Gap

To: Devils Fork Gap
Miles today: 0.0

29thFlo woke up throwing up this morning!!!!! Things just keep getting worse around here!!!! I heard from Sean that SteveO would be getting out of the hospital at noon so I packed up all his gear and got mine together.   Flo and the warrior hikers were scheduled to go to Xsvier Hawks sustainable farm for the day and over night for an event. Flo would be better off there than at the hostel if she was sick. I picked up SteveO at the hospital and we got a room at the Super 8. Since he just had surgery I didn't want him to be alone so I would stay with him until his wife could arrive.Never, I repeat NEVER stay at the Super 8 in Erwin!!! The owner was horrible to us and to other hikers!!!   He doesn't deserve our business!!!!Ruby arrived at about 10:30 and we all went to sleep....SteveO was resting comfortably. My plan was to hike from Devils Fork Gap to Spivey gap the next day.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Devils Fork Gap

To: Sams Gap
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

30thI woke up to the sounds of SteveO vomiting in the bathroom and Ruby helping him....this couldn't be good!!!!We quickly got him into the car so she could take him back to the hospital. I called miss Janet and arranged to be dropped at devils fork gap.Ruby and I hiked alone to SAMs gap. It was great to be on the trail again! The climb out of Devils fork was a little challenging after a couple zeros but I felt great! When I arrived at SAMs Gap a few other hikers came along including Subaru, Hawkeye and roadrunner. We all hitched a ride back to Uncle Jonnys.I set up my tent and talked with SteveO. They said he had Norovirus again and needed to stay in the hospital for another day or so....Steph was In her tent with an intestinal virus all day too...this was getting rediculous!!!!
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Sams Gap

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: clear sky

SAMs gap to Erwin 24 miles. May 1I woke up at 5:45 when my alarm went off. I was we'll rested and ready to get going. I ran my fingers through my hair to put my hair up in a ponytail and...eeeeekkkkkk!!!!!!! I felt a dark passenger on the base of my scalp... I knew it was a tick!!!! I had to act quickly before I completely lost it!!!!   I headed over by Hawkeye and Subaru's tent, handed them a tick key and quietly screamed.."get it OFF of me!!!!!!!" It felt like forever but they soon had the thing out of my head. I thanked them and shuddered all the way back to my tent to get ready for the long day.Jay picked me, Subaru, roadrunner and Hawkeye up to bring us to SAMs Gap for a 24 mile slack pack. Ruby stayed back at uncle Johnny's hostel with Sandy who was nice enough to offer to dogsit for the day! Thank you Sandy!!! 24 miles is just too far for Rubster at this point. Jay dropped us off and we started our hike at about 8:30.I hiked alone for a bit until we reached the top of the last climb before big bald and then we all headed up to the summit. Unfortunately there wasn't a view and it was cold windy and foggy. We spent a few minutes up there and then started our hike down to Spivey gap. We were hiking hard and fast and were starting to get hungry. We hiked about how cool it would be if there was hamburgers as trail magic at the gap.... Well!!!! All of a sudden Ambassador comes up the trail without his pack telling us there is trail magic at Spivey in the form of burgers,dogs, donuts, beer and sodas!!!! Whoooooo hooooo!!! We bounded down the trail and there was a van and a bunch of hikers!! We all hung out and ate burgers and drank sodas and PBR with trail Angels Rob (who used to own the Birdcage hostel up in Mass.) and Napaum who thru hiked in 2010. Phillip played his ukulele for us while we chilled for about 45 min. What awesome trail magic!!!!We made fast work out of the remaining 11 miles to Erwin and finished the whole 24 miles in just under 9 hours. I ended up hiking in with Hawkeye and jolly rancher...great guys!!!!   The shuttle was going into town so we hopped in to go grab some pizza to bring home! Ruby was super happy to see me and we hung out in the yard chatting with Sandy and Finn for awhile before hitting the sack.. I decided to hike out the next day 12.5 miles to a campsite at the base of Unika mountain.
Date: 2013-05-02
From: Erwin TN

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

May 2I woke up and decided to do my laundry before heading out for the 12.5 trek. My lord did my socks smell!!!!!! I couldn't handle that rank ness until I got to the next laundry opportunity. The hike was pretty easy so I figured I'd be fine if I left by 12:30. It was nice sitting in the sun and relaxing while waiting for my clothes to dry. I saw miss Janet's van and she called me over. She said that Jaba and Joelle had called for a ride at Sams gap because Joelle was really sick but that she hadn't heard from them since. I texted Jaba but no answer back, which is totally not like him!!!!! I was worried. The Warrior hike has lost 6 people already and the thought of losing another was not a pleasant thought!!!! Miss Janet came back and asked me if I wanted to come over for a hiker feed later... With 2 people missing and several slated to arrive at Uncle Jonnys the next day, I decided to stay in Erwin. I packed up and Lt. Cuckoo bird and I went for Mexican at 3:00. We sat and chatted until Miss Janet, Machine and a whole slew of others came walking in at about 5. No one had heard from Jaba or Joelle STILL!!!!! I called Sean, the founder of WarriorHike and told him about the situation. Clearly, he was worried too. We all went to Miss Janet's and hung out for the evening, pitched our tents and went to bed.
Date: 2013-05-03
From: Erwin TN

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

May 3Woke up and started packing up while everyone gradually started coming to life out in the yard and on the house. Hikers everywhere! I planned on getting back to uncle Jonnys and then hiking 12.5 miles to the campsite at the base of Unaka mountain. When I arrived I saw on FB that Cody, Flo, Kaci and triple G were coming down on the trail into uncle Jonnys. I waited for them and when they got here we all asked if anyone had heard from Tom or Joelle. No one had. We were all worried because it has been since Thursday morning that miss Janet had heard from them when they called and said Joelle was really sick!We decided to stay and start off together in the morning. There was a big BBQ here so we all hung out and ate and played music and sang by the fire. Soon it was getting cold and windy so me and ruby called it a night.
Date: 2013-05-04
From: Erwin TN

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 0.0

WarriorHike has really been under a black cloud!!! First clown car and Chris had to leave the trail for family obligations. Then Jesse and Cooper left the trail as well as Bill. Soon after, SteveO got sick, had an appendectomy and went home with his wife. Dick hurt his ankle and left for home. Now jaba and Joelle have been missing for 3 days and to top it all off Cody woke up vomiting all night with the virus.....8 out of 14 of us are left. I was up all night coughing ! I think I might have the bronchitis!!!! Ain't nobody got time for that!!!!!!!! ;0)I got some musinex and am waiting for that to kick in. Flo and I are discussing what we should do....we are going to stay here and take care of Cody and wait for word on jaba and Joelle. As a caregiver it's very difficult to be in the dark on people's well being! Ugh!!!!!!
Date: 2012-12-28
To: Making It Real
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I bought my plane ticket to Atlanta yesterday and booked a night at the Hikers' Hostel. I plan to start on April 17. Knowing that this thru-hike is going to happen has given me something tangible to anticipate. Before, it was all talk. Now, it's talk plus action. And I'm excited about it!Preparation seems like it will be fun. I've been reading forums for hours a day, taking detailed notes on any little piece of advice that might be helpful. I've started thinking about all the gear I still need; I've been thinking less so of the money that I'll need to spend to acquire it. Given that I've still a few months before I start, I imagine I'll be able to find a few deals.Timing for this trip is perfect. I've been back from Japan for a few months now and have been keeping busy - tagging along on two hunts, two trips abroad, weight training, and lots of baking. Though I recently experienced a disappointing end to a potential relationship, my goal to thru-hike the trail is keeping me focused on what I really want to do. I'm still planning on heading back to school when it's all over, though I'll likely have to delay that until Spring 2014 or later. Being an unattached, single male with stable finances is certainly a boon to my plan.I'm going to learn a lot by doing this. I've already learned so much by just reading about other's experiences. It is my hope that you'll follow along as I make my way north and maybe realize that you too desire to start your own adventure.
Date: 2013-01-09
To: 100 Days To Go (minus 2)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I had grand plans to make a post 100 days before my hike was going to start. I just did the calculation today and found out that I missed it by two days. Oh well!Since last post, I've gotten a much better grasp on what I need to do to prepare for this trip. Of most importance are the "Big Three" - pack, tent, sleeping bag.I took care of the sleeping bag back in November during Cyber Monday. My friend Whuppinstick caught me online and suggested I start taking a look at deals. Lucky for me! I found a Marmot Helium on sale for around $270 and price-matched it through Moosejaw (thanks!). I also ordered trekking poles and a 1.4L lightweight pot.Pack research has led me to Ultra-Light Adventure (ULA) Equipment. They offer two packs - Catalyst and Camino - that seem to meet my needs for a lightweight, yet accommodating, backpack. I've been in touch with one of their representatives and they are suggesting I go for the Catalyst based on factors such as my size and hiking experience (a little extra room just in case). It looks good and I'll likely place and order soon.Finally, shelter. There are a lot of good lightweight options out there, but with low weight comes higher cost. Big Agnes is a name that I've seen and heard good things about. They have a couple of one-person models, but the prices surpass $300 and weights typically come in above two pounds. Another option is the so-called "tarp tent." These consist of a lightweight tarp usually supported by trekking poles (multi-use!) and staked guy-lines. The higher end models come with sewn-in mesh and floors, where the tent-like features come into play. Tarp Tent and Six Moon Designs are two popular manufacturers.I haven't made the final decision on shelter yet - I need to consult with friends and forums. But once I get these three items completely settled, it's just a matter of putting together my the last of my gear, basically clothing, cookware, food, and other miscellanies (first aid, etc.).
Date: 2013-01-22
To: Pack
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I purchased my pack today. After lots of consideration, browsing forums, and taking into account an owner's experience, I decided on the Ultralight Adventure (ULA) Equipment Catalyst.The Catalyst is a 4,600 cubic inches backpack with a total weight of 48 ounces. It's recommended as a good beginner's lightweight backpack. For one, there's plenty of room, which is important for a newbie like me. Odds are that I will tend to take more, also slightly bulkier, items than those already accustomed to lightweight backpacking. So whether I get myself down to a base weight of 20 pounds, or pack it full and hit 40, the pack will be suitable.I've been reading Andrew Skurka's "The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide" and it's given me a lot of good information as to the advantages and drawbacks of different types of gear based on material, etc. Once I'm finished with the book, I'll be a lot closer to finalizing my gear list and posting it to the AT thru-hike forums for some suggestions and feedback.My next major purchase will be shelter. I'm still doing my research and should have a decision by February, meaning I'll be able to take everything out on a few test hikes in late March and early April.85 days to go.
Date: 2013-02-05
To: Shelter Projection: Hammock
Miles today: 0.0

Last entry, I mentioned having to make a decision on shelter. I've thought about it and I'm 95% sure that I'll be going with a hammock.Sleeping in a hammock seems like a good choice for the Appalachian Trail because there are trees (almost) everywhere. Finding a suitable place to camp will likely be easier than with a tent, because I won't have to consider ground conditions like rockiness or slope, nor will I have to worry about middle-of-the-night flooding should it rain during the night.The hammock I'm considering comes with bug netting and a simple yet durable suspension system. I can roll up and stow the bug netting on clear nights or to use the hammock as a rocking chair. If I set up the hammock just right, I could probably even cook while seated. Otherwise, I'll use a small foam pad to keep my butt clean and dry. For wind and rain, I'll set up a tarp.Hammocks require a little more thought in terms of insulation, though I'm planning to use a 1/4" closed cell foam pad for the duration of the trip. An under quilt is also an option, but they cost more than pads (which will be useful for those nights where I might find myself using a shelter instead of hanging).All in all, the hammock, tarp, and all the suspension will weigh around 38 ounces, not a heavy shelter by any standard. I could go lighter, but I don't want to spend the money for a few just a few ounces less.Now to look for a summer-weight quilt to replace my 15 degree bag once the weather warms up.
Date: 2013-02-14
To: DIY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My interest in hammock camping has led to me to do quite a bit of research on all sorts of topics relating to hanging: hammock models, suspension options, tarp set-ups, and lots of interesting rope work (knots and splices). The more I read, though, the more I determined that it might just be possible to make a hammock on my own.There are several advantages to making my own hammock. Most notably, it's cheaper. The hammock and tarp system I am currently considering buying costs $260. It includes a double-layer hammock with built in bug netting and comfort features (a foot box and a "shelf" for placing items out of the way), includes suspension, and a tarp. Raw materials for a similar hammock (minus the detailed foot box and shelf features) cost considerably less. 1.1 oz ripstop nylon costs as little as $3.20 per yard (for scale, the hammock I want to build uses six yards from a roll of material). Bug netting is also very affordable. Cord and webbing (for suspension) can be purchased for dollars. Tarp materials, which don't differ too significantly (they are coated, whereas hammock material is breathable), can also be found cheaply.The second advantage in making my own hammock is sizing customization. I'm not a large man, but at six feet tall, I have a minor concern about head and foot room (did you know you sleep in a hammock at an angle and not straight on?). By adding just a few more inches to hammock width, I can remove that issue and make a more suitable shelter built specifically for me.Other advantages include weight savings (several ounces), the ability to build a custom suspension system, learning how to sew - a skill I think would be useful to know for many more reasons - and knowing that I crafted my home for the next six months.I certainly have the time to attempt this project. With just over two months until I start my hike, there's no excuse not to try. I've looked for sewing machines and found a very basic model for $50. While a more reliable machine might run me anywhere between $200-400, I'm not ready to invest in one quite yet. And should the final product not turn out how I wish, I can always give a call to a hammock manufacturer and settle on one of their products.Even a failure to make my own hammock by April would not be a bad use of time. My familiarity with all things hammock will have increased and I will have come away with at least a little more skill in crafting my own items. Perhaps I'll even reach the point where I can taper my own dress shirts and repair my worn clothing.I haven't even taken a step on a trail, but I already feel like I'm learning so much.
Date: 2013-02-14
To: DIY: Cooking
Miles today: 0.0

Today I completed a small DIY project: I made a pot stand.The material I used, 1/2" aluminum wire mesh, wasn't widely available in small amounts. The first few stores I checked only sold it in bulk rolls, so I tried a local hardware store on a recommendation. As luck would have it, I found just what I needed.I walked from my apartment to Kurek's Hardware, a local proprietorship about 15 minutes away, visibly located on the corner of O'Donnell and Clinton. The owner, Bill, told me that he had just sold his final roll of wire mesh to a regular customer and that I'd be hard pressed to find the amount I was looking for, no more than 3" x 10". He told me to hang around as he wandered into the back of his shop in search of some scrap.After a few minutes, he emerged with a folded bundle of 1/2" mesh and another small piece of hexagonal screen. He plopped them down on the counter and offered them to me free of charge. I tried to offer him something for them, but he insisted, so I did what I could and gladly accepted.We talked for a little while longer, me explaining my trip and him wishing me well. Once I got home, I started working on the wire and came up with a simple stand (see picture). I tested it in the kitchen with my homemade can stove and got 0.5L of cold water up to a rolling boil in 6:30 minutes.I may not need to make many more hardware purchases in the next two months, but I will be sure to remember Bill and his generosity as I'm cooking dinner each night on the trail.