morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-24
From: Hot Springs

To: Norwood, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Hot Springs, NCmile 271.7 on the ATHi everyone,I stayed at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn these last 2 nights but now I am headed home to Norwood this afternoon. As much as I hate to leave the trail at this time, I decided to return home for several weeks to allow my injured foot to heal and to be with Linda. It is a decision that I have been contemplating for several days. And it is a decision that I came to with Linda approval that I was to return to Hot Springs when I felt I could walk with much less pain than I have been experiencing these passed several days. In fact, I left several items in Elmer¢s trust so that I have reason to continue my quest from this point. I hope to return sometime around Memorial Day.As you can see from the photo of my feet, I have some significant swelling in my ankle even after nearly 3 week. Of course, walking 19.6 miles in one day didn¢t help the healing process. I did go to the medical center here and x-rays on the ankle proved negative and they said for me to take a couple days off before returning to the trail. Then walk shorter days while the ankle healed before gradually increasing my planned mileage. Well that plan fell apart after I talked to her this morning.Seems she has been in the hospital for several days but could not reach me by phone. She was able to send an e-mail telling me which hospital to call her. She is waiting a pacemaker and will not be able to drive for several weeks. Medically she is fine and strong but needs the ¢ticker¢ as a precautionary device to insure a minimum blood pressure. I will be ¢Off the trail¢ for the next several weeks while we both recover.During that time I will be adding more to this journal as I review my notes and also upload more photos. So watch for my new entries and I will e-mail everyone as to my return date when I make my travel plans to return to Hot Springs.
Date: 2009-04-25
To: Norwood, MA
Miles today: 0.0

April 25, 2009This is Sunday morning and I¢m writing from a coach seat heading home on AMTRAK somewhere near Charlottesville, Virginia. I know the trail is only about 20 miles to the west of these tracks in the Shenandoah¢s. Spring has busted out even here, everything is green and fresh and a good blue-skied morning. I long to be walking but the pain has overtaken my foot ankle and an urging to be back home with Linda in her time of need has driven me from the trail.I went to see the physician¢s assistant at the clinic in Hot Springs where an X-ray showed no fractures and his diagnosis confirmed my suspicions of a severe ankle strain of the muscle down to the heel with soft tissue damage in the same area. He suggested several days of no hiking, then shorter days as I can tolerate them but he convinced me that I did not need to leave the trail. Then I rested and iced my foot, did a couple of errands I needed to do and hung out on main street as many hikers arrived for Trailfest, Gorgonzola and Denali, Lu, Skywalker, Carpenter, Blackbird, T-suds and Sunset Chaser, Phantom Cupcake, Popeye, Chick Magnet, Wrath, and many others. At the spaghetti dinner I ran into Journey and we visited catching up on trail news and I had her sign my walking stick. Then later back at Elmer¢s I sat out in the back yard by the fire with the crew, Jeanie, Chris, Alan and Seneca, Sean, Elmer and Hot Feet where we talked into the evening.I had a great time while I was at Elmer¢s playing in the music room several times. Besides the large upright piano there are all sorts of string and wind instruments for playing blue grass plus sheet music to read. There are even 2 didgeridoos. After a scrumptious breakfast of scrambled eggs, grits, biscuits and vegetarian gravy (things that I usually avoid but very tasty and I enjoyed here at Elmer¢s) granola, milk, and juice, I went up town to mail a package and check e-mail before the entertainment began for the Trailfest activities. While working on a carillon program at the library, I received Linda¢s e-mail that she was able to send from the hospital. She said she needed a pace maker and I immediately replied that I would call her as soon as possible. I left the library to go find Elmer and explain to him my concerns for my foot and for Linda. He offered me the use of the house phone and more importantly information that I found useful later. I called Linda and after about 20 minutes we decided that I would return home. After calls to USAir, AMTRAK, Greyhound, and Alamo Car rental, I booked on AMTRAK. Elmer was helpful in connecting me to Alan parents who live in Greenville and ultimately go me to the train station there.And so I¢ll be there at the hospital and for her during her recovery and hopefully while my foot gets healed.
Date: 2009-05-28
To: Holding Pattern
Miles today: 0.0

May 28, 2009It has been 5 weeks since I was last on the trail, an excruciating agonizing time for me. I left to help both Linda in her recovery from getting a pacemaker and in mine for my injured ankle. In Hot Springs, an x-ray showed nothing and after a couple of weeks of PT at home showed little improvement I insisted upon an MRI. These things take time but I was able to get an appointment last week. After the MRI, the call was bad news for me. A fracture in the heel and a split tear of the tendon and ligament damage sounded even worst than the ankle felt. I will go to the orthopedic office tomorrow morning hoping against all odds that my hike for this year is not over. In the mean time, I sit here at home reading trail journals and watching Red Sox games trying to stay off the foot as much as possible. Btw, Linda is back to work and fully functioning actually showing no signs of what she went through. She looked great the first day I came home. I¢ll update again soon when I know more. Bummed in Norwood.
Date: 2009-07-02
To: Norwood, MA
Miles today: 0.0

July 2, 2009Still at home in Norwood resting the ankle. After several weeks of totally being off the foot, there no longer is any pain in the heel bone. But I still have discomfort in the tendons and soreness after being on it for more than a couple of hours. I am encouraged by my progress that I am planning a return to the trail for middle of July depending upon what the doctor says when I go on the 8th. I will not restart in Hot Springs this year but go to Maine and hike from the Northern terminus of Mt. Katahdin south. That will allow me to get into trail shape in the first 100 miles of relatively flat trails at my own pace. After that stretch, I can easily return home when I want. And I will be in position to meet up with many of the thru hikers that are heading north.I know more of my exact plan this time next week.
Date: 2009-07-09
To: Holding in Norwood
Miles today: 0.0

I went to the doctor yesterday and the foot is getting better by the day. I am to monitor it and let it tell me when to cut back on using it. The ligaments and tendons are still sore and will continue to be for some time. So I am going to try some walking on the trail in the next couple of weeks and report back to you. I don¢t expect to be back to the trail full time until the first week in August. I didn¢t realize it would take so long to recover from this kind of injury.Anyone heard any good Appalachian Trail jokes lately.
Date: 2009-07-30
To: Test Hike
Miles today: 0.0

This year¢s hike all but over.Vermont Test Hike, July 21 ¢ 23, 2009 17.5 milesNorwich to Pomfret South Pomfret Road.Hiker Sightings:I was on a short section hike from Norwich, VT to VT Rte 12 to see if my foot could take the rigors of the trail. (It did not hold up to well, so I'm still off-trail) I crossed paths with these long beards(NoBo's).Legs and 357 Magnum at Happy Hill Shelter on July 21Hot Pants, formerly Shades, and his wife, S'mores at VT 14, on July 22At Thistle Hill Shelter, Skittles, No Nails, Moonwalker, Sir Richard on July 22Wags and Gangsta near Cloudland Road on July 23, They reported that Rainman had ended his thru hike at Manchester, VT but Captain Ahab was still on the trail.Freeze and the 3 other boys and a dog were in Hanover on the July 23.Tank and Tanglefoot had passed thru VT 12 on July 10.On July 24, at VT 12 Oblivious came thru at 10:50, then Gromet and Gritty at 11:50, all long beards (NOBO's). Gromet and Gritty came down from a wet night at The Lookout and he was headed to Cloudland with a large bouquet of wildflowers for his gramma's birthday. Also, Elroy, a short beard (Sobo) had cowboy camped there that night.Also, any thru hiker needing support between Killington and Norwich, VT can call Bugbite at 603-418-4088.As for me, with the set back of the tendons not healing in a timely fashion, I have decided to end my attempt of a thru hike this year and try it again next year. So look for me on Trail Journals next spring 2010.
Date: 2009-10-08
From: US 20, Lee

To: October Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Planning on a slow paced hike from US 20 in Lee going north staying at each shelter and getting off in North Adams on Rte 2.The weather is in the hi 50's and clear with no wind. It had been very windy yesterday so I encountered many blow-downs across the trail. I left the truck at the parking area and was on the trail by noon. I had a bit of trouble finding the shelter area and walked right by it so I had to double back from the road crossing 0.7 mile beyond. That added about 1.4 extra miles but I was able to settle into the shelter by myself at around 6 PM.In the first couple of miles of my hike, I realized that I neglected to pack a lighter and would not able to light my cooking stove but,,, the first couple of hikers I encountered were taking a lunch break right on the trail and as I was talking to them (Steve and Karen with their dog) I explained my omission and Steve offered up an extra lighter to me. This was very fortuitous and can be considered in the category of him being my "Trail Angel", they were going south and was headed to "the goose" tonight.So, I actually did not cook tonight as I had brought with me half of a sub sandwich from town that I had for dinner. the hike on today's trail was uneventful but there were a couple of nice beaver dams and I did see several day hikers. My body is a little sore so I will have to continue to pace myself.I noticed that the privies in this section of the trail often contain Duff Buckets. I'll explain that later.
Date: 2009-10-09
From: October Mountain Shelter

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

Total mileage on this section is 16.0 miles. I left October Mt. Shelter around 9:30 and arrived here at 4:20. I first stopped at the Cookie Lady' s house and only met her husband, Tom and the dog, Rufus, as she had gone into town. No cookies but I did talk to Tom a bit. There are many wooden walks ways called truncheons that carry hikers over wetlands and bogs that hikers have to walk on or they otherwise would be walking in water. And when I went to step on one of these I slipped off and went right up to my hips in water. It happened so fast I didn't know what was happening. It was a bit difficult to extract my leg and boot back out of the muck but I was able to eventually do that and because I was wearing gators didn't get to much mud on my pants. Lucky I didn't hurt myself.I caught up to Wild Turkey and her brother, Fat Cat, and walked with them for a bit in off and on light drizzle. They are slack packing this section of the AT and plan to take a couple of more seasons to finish in Maine.As I read the shelter log, which I often do, I noted these entries:7/16 Wendi and Matt (I shared my shuttle to Amicalola Falls back in March)8/3 Blackbird (I walked into Hot Springs with him)8/13 Journey (I spent many days and shared many shelters with her)8/14 George and Gracie (I first met in Vermont and know that Journey is good friends with them)8/15 Ziggy8/19 Lemonhead (I first met in the Smokies)
Date: 2009-10-10
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Crystal Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Total miles this section is 23.2 miles.I met Swiffer as he was dropped off at the trail head in Dalton at 10:45. He is headed SOBO and by himself but had seen Houdini in Lincoln and has reported at least a dozen other SOBOs behind him. I think this is astounding considering the late date in the hiking season and I suspect many of those hikers may not reach Springer until spring of next year.I had an easy walk today and after leaving Kay Wood at 8:45 spent a bit of time resting at Tom Levardies and then leisurely walking up the grade to this campsite. On the way I passed Jerimiah and Barfight, 2 SOBOs that had flip-flopped from Damascus. I chose a tentsite up the hill and a little away from another weekend group of 2 couples from Dalton that were in a large tent in the middle of the main area and next to the privy.
Date: 2009-10-11
From: Crystal Mountain Campsite

To: Mark Noepel Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

Total section miles is now 32.9 miles. Today's hike was mostly uneventful but for all the hikers I ran into, all headed south.First I met Koi, then Tenderfoot from Barnard, VT on a section hike. Next was Fat Cat and Wild Turkey slack packing to Dalton and then Kevin with Morgan the dog all near The Cobbles.North of Cheshire, I met Foxtrot doing a solo SOBO, Firecracker, Lightning, Eagle Eye and his son with Trailmix the dog all going to Crystal Mt. campsite. Foxtrot said he had seen Houdini in a group at Glencliff, NH.(ed. note: Later, I saw that Houdini had summited and was featured on the cover of the AT Journeys magazine.)When I hiked into this shelter at 3:30, David from Boston was here. I left Cheshire in a t-shirt so after claiming my spot in the shelter, I cleaned up and put warm layers of clothing on. For dinner, I made mac and cheese with chicken. At about 5:30, Mark, Mike, Cathy, and Teresa arrived and so there was a total of 6 of us in the shelter. The weather had been cool, in the 40's to maybe 50, and partly cloudy with some wind. Tonight will be clear and cold so I'll use my sleeping bag liner for added warmth. Mark Noepel Shelter is named for the brother of a friend of mine from my home town. The Noepel family are from the Pittsfield area and Mark was a thru hiker and naturalist that worked for the NPS in the Shenandoah's.
Date: 2009-10-12
From: Mark Noepel Shelter

To: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: clear sky

Today my total section miles in MA is 39.5 miles.The highlight of today was the time I spent at the summit of Mt. Greylock. I knew it would be a short walk for me today as I needed to stay in the woods until tomorrow when I could more easily get back to my truck. About 0.6 miles from the summit, the AT intersects with a side trail up from Adams and it was like merging from a single-lane country road onto the Santa Ana Freeway in the middle of rush hour. My god, there were all sorts of hikers, of all ages, sizes, abilities, in every different kind of dress with every type of footwear ranging from heavy well-worn trail boots to flimsy flip-flops. I had run into the Mt. Greylock Ramble, the annual Columbus Day hike that had to be cancelled the last 2 years because the access road was being rebuilt. Dodging and ducking hikers, I made it to the top and entered Bascom Lodge for a couple well deserved sandwiches for my lunch. As I was walking though the hordes of day hikers that were strewn in all manners and spaces in the building, I heard someone calling to me by my trailname. It was Blessed who I had last seen in Hot Springs. What a great surprise to catch up with him and to exchange contact information. He was wearing his boots he had bought in Hot Springs and he lives nearby. He did finish the trail in the middle of the summer. There is a photo with Blessed on my April 20th journal entry.I spent about 2 hours at the summit and then when I arrived at the shelter at 4:30, I met Lake Eagle and White Quartz. They did not stay so I had the shelter to myself where I built a fire in the fire pit but let it burn out after a light rain began falling shortly after dark.
Date: 2009-10-13
From: Wilbur Clearing Shelter

To: MA 2, Williamstown, MA
Miles today: 3.0

This section amounted to 42.5 miles.It took me a little more than an hour and a half to walk in rain the 3 miles down to MA Rte 2. There I walked the road a little ways toward North Adams looking to hitch or a bus stop. When a car stopped I was able to get them to drop me off at the bus Kiosk in town and while waiting for the south bound BRTA bus Tenderfoot arrived on her way back to Bernard, VT. We talked for a few minutes before my bus arrived and she said that she had stayed over at a motel in Lee last night. The bus brought me back to US Rte 20 in Lee where I hitched back to the trail head and my truck by early afternoon. I found it rather easy to get around to different points of access to the trail by bus and will use this experience in the future to do sections again in the Berkshires.
Date: 2009-01-12
To: Going for a walk....
Miles today: 0.0

So I'm going to take a walk this spring...beginning at Springer Mt, GA and (hopefully) ending at Mt Katahdin, Maine. As I read through other people's journals on this site I realize that I am somewhat behind the curve in the preperation dept. I am buying gear and finalizing dates now that others where doing a year or more ago. Thats fine though, I'm not crazy into the planning but have researched enough that I am comfortable that I will be prepared when it is time to hit the trail. I do realize that I have a lot of work to do and I better get going. I am planning to start mid to late March and am enjoying reading the journals of others who are starting around that time. Good luck to everyone especially those already on the trail.
Date: 2009-01-20
To: Gear, gear, gear
Miles today: 0.0

I have a trip planned to Cabela's in Dundee, MI in a couple weeks (no REI in this part of the country). I will probably get a big chunk of my gear there but am looking around for deals. I am going to work until the end of February or the first week of March at each of my jobs and then take it easy for a couple weeks. My final date for hitting the trail will be decided last minute based on the work schedule of my family that is taking me to Springer. The money is coming together pretty well although never too much in that category. I just want to make sure I have enough to get going again after completing the trail. Well next journal I will list (or try to) my reasons for wanting to walk the trail. That should be my 3rd entry and get my on trailjournals...very exciting.I am about two months from starting and the act of paying the cable bill or rent for the last time or next to last time really puts the time frame in reference. Counting down the days....
Date: 2009-01-26
To: 'Why?'
Miles today: 0.0

The Appalachain Trail is a 2175 mile footpath that stretches through 14 states beginning in Georgia and ending in Maine. The idea was conceived in 1921 and the continuous trail was completed in 1937. Between 3 and 4 million people visit the trail each year and several thousand of these people attempt a 'thru-hike' - walking the entire trail from end to end. Official stats are difficult to track but only 10-20% of these attempts are successful. Others section hike the trail - just what it sounds like, complete the trail in secions over a period of years. Thru-hikes have been completed by hikers as old as 81 and as young as 6.A question I asked myself long before I told anyone I was hiking was 'why do I want to do this?' This is also the response I get when I tell people what I am going to do. Sometimes it is with genuine interest and sometimes it is another way of saying 'you must be crazy!' So in no particular order these are some of the reasons I want to hike....- Adventure. Not a huge rush maybe but 6 months of living out of a tent and walking 2000+ miles is definitely an adventure.- Challenge. I think it is good to test yourself occasionally...to know that you can rise to a challenge and do something that is difficult. Someone said that it isn't always necessary to do a task but it is important to know that you can do it.- Reflection. In my busy modern life I take too little time to reflect on life, on personal growth, on what direction I am headed...6 months of hiking isn't necessary to do this but it will offer a rare chance just to 'get away' from the worries, stresses, and distractions of daily life.- Time with God. Same as what I said above...I'm am often too busy and don't take the time necessary as a Christian to think and communicate with the Lord.- Closeness with Nature. Nature is something we don't take enough time to appreciate and it is often best experienced when you are surrounded by it.- Beautiful Places. I love seeing a sight that takes my breath away or amazes me. I think that some of the sights I see on this trip will be worth the six months of hiking by themselves.- Junk Food. For 6 months I get to eat as much as I want of anything I want as often as I want. I turned 30 a few yrs ago and can't eat like a teenager anymore so I really appreciate this.- Stretch my legs. This is how my nickname came about, but it will be nice to not go to work every day but just go for a walk. There are other reasons but these are a few.
Date: 2009-02-19
To: 'Take this job and.....'
Miles today: 0.0

OK, so I didn't start the conversation with those words, but I did put in my two week notice at my factory job (I also work at a restaurant) this week. My boss's response was "Good for you!" We have daily dept meeting and he tends to try to be inspirational and sometimes even philosophical, and the day before he had been talking about doing what you love and how he hadn't been liking his job very much recently and it was making him think about what he wanted to do going forward. So he was happy for me that I was going to do something totally different while I had the chance. In the last couple days a couple of the plant managers have stopped by to talk to me. They have all been encouraging. I've told a couple co-workers and their response has been the more standard "what?!" or "why are you doing that?"My gear is coming together. I ordered a ULA Circuit pack which should arrive in the next couple days! Several packs I considered had the 30 lb max rating which made me a little wary. Maybe if I was a more experienced hiker I would be comfortable with that but it just doesn't seem like much weight for all my food clothing and shelter. I've also decided to go without a camp stove. I received some trail journals influence from Garlic and Pickle - 08 NOBOs - on that one. Just basically I think it simplifies things a bit and reduces pack weight.I want to say thanks to Evil Eye and Stealth Blew. Advice from experienced hikers who don't even know me is way cool. I definitely try to learn from the experience of others. About 5 weeks from starting....