morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Home

To: Giddy
Miles today: 0.0

It started at around five o¢clock as I was driving downtown to pick up our produce from the CSA. I called Annie and left her the most ridiculous message. All of a sudden realized I was really giddy. All evening I was running on hyper energy; I told Tim I felt almost as excited as I had five years ago tonight!I called my mom and told her my plan. ¢I hope I can make it all the way,¢ I said.¢Well, just get an early start!¢ she advised.¢Yeah,¢ I agreed.
Date: 2008-10-08
To: Hatching a Plan
Miles today: 0.0

I'm getting married April 26. (Finally found the right man!)I woke up this morning hatching a plan for one last long-distance hoorah. I mean, not that it will be the last long-distance hike I ever take, but the last one while I'm single. Great way to get in shape for my wedding dress! =)I'm thinking Virginia, spring break. Think I could finish the 314.9 miles in Virginia that I skipped in about two weeks? Ha! That's ambitious. I'm thinking about how I could make something happen...
Date: 2009-07-27
To: Still Writing
Miles today: 0.0

I'm humbly grateful to everyone who says they enjoyed my writing six years ago. Thanks to you I had the courage to begin a freelance writing career, which I've done on a very small scale for the last four or five years.Last month though, I embarked on a serious writing journey by starting a blog! It's all about health and wellness. Right now the emphasis is pretty heavy on physical health since that's the area I've been working in the last few years, but I have a LOT of ideas of things to add on a much broader scope.If you happen to still be reading here, check it out! http://blog.beinhealthnow.com/ I hope you'll find something useful and inspiring, and share it with your friends.
Date: 2003-02-28
To: beginning
Miles today: 0.0

I've thought about hiking the AT again after my last job started to get to be a real drag. Then I read the thru-hiking papers listed in the ATC quarterly magazine and that really got the bug going really strong. That was more than a year ago. Since then I've been training almost every day in one way or another. Unfortunately while working a full time job it is very difficult to put in more than 3-6 miles per day except maybe on weekends.I've been trying to train enough so I don't get the overuse injuries that occurred the last time I was hiking the trail (see my about entry). I had problems last time with tendonitis in the Achilles and just about every other place it is possible to get it in the feet as well as major problems with one of my knees. The knee problem almost halted my hike 4 days out from Damascus in 1991. I continue to shave away at my pack weight, but I think 16 pounds base weight (all gear in pack + fuel but not including water, food, or clothing worn) is about as low as I'm going to get. Changing to a tarp or bivy would cut it more but I've done the tarp thing before (in 1992) and didn't like it. I was probably doing things wrong but I ended up just hiking in the rain and dark to get to the next shelter because I was getting wet under the tarp. I've also walked into packed shelters in the pouring rain without a tent and been told there was no more room. There was more room, but those in the shelter were not willing to move over.
Date: 2003-02-28
To: beginning2
Miles today: 0.0

The fall, winter, and spring of 2002/2003 has been absolutely brutal up in Massachusetts. I can't remember when it's been so cold and snowy for so many days of the year. Unfortunately, this has made training for a thru-hike even more difficult. I have resigned myself to the (probably) fact that I won't be doing any hiking on bare grass/dirt before I leave at the end of March. Since November all of my training has either been done in snowshoes, inside the house doing stairs, or postholing through the snow outside.Hopefully most of the snow will be gone from GA, NC, TN when I get down there. But knowing how frustrating it's been trying to train in the snow this fall, winter, and spring, there will probably be snow on Springer when I get down there. Someone must have done something really wrong this year to deserve such wretched weather. It definately couldn't have been me...
Date: 2003-02-28
To: beginning3
Miles today: 0.0

My father has been wanting to hike the AT since I was on the trail in 1991/1992. Coicidentally he decided that this was the year for him to hike as well. So we plan on both starting on April 1. I plan on taking it easy at the start thus I will be able to help him get started.Because both my Father and I will be hiking, my mother and sister will be doing support. Thanks girls!!!
Date: 2003-03-04
To: training hikes
Miles today: 0.0

I've started increasing the intensity of my training now that I have less than a month to go. Of course the weather is still making things difficult.Up until recently I've always been a little peeved to see snowmobile trails on the trails but now I kind of like to have them out there. The snowmobiles have packed down the 24 to 28 inches of snow pack that we have in MA so that it is almost like hiking on bare ground/grass. As long the weather stays cold and it certainly has been,(-2 F this morning) training will be with boots and a fast pace.Sunday morning was a great day for tracking animals/birds -- deer, coyote, turkey, grey/red squirrels, chipmunks, mice, fisher, ruffed grouse were all out and about before I got out hiking.
Date: 2003-03-07
To: gear
Miles today: 0.0

Just about everyone does a gear entry so here's mine: I've been through about 5 or 6 different backpacks in my hiking career. I started in 1991 with a Jansport D3 -- heavy, heavy but I carried 1700 miles. Then I graduated to a Mountainsmith Bugaboo which was a great pack for the time (under 4 pounds) and it served me well for the 450 or so miles in 1992. This year I tried the Mountainsmith Auspex, as the Bugaboo was a little small, is heavier, and is no longer made. I like the pack, even though it weighs in at about 3 1/4 pounds without the top and after some butcher work. It carries well and has more than enough space (almost too much).Then I got this bright idea that the Mountainsmith Ghost, a lighter smaller version of the Auspex, would save me on base pack weight while still having enough room. Even with the Backpacker magazine editor's choice award, this pack didn't work for me. The shoulder straps slipped, the load lifter straps slipped, and it felt like the pack was always trying to pull me over backwards.So I'm back with the Auspex. I wanted a pack with a hip belt and some sort of frame even if minimal, so I wasn't ready to go with the GoLite designs. Maybe I'll try one of the GoLite designs later up the trail...I also decided to go with an alcohol stove -- everyone seems to be raving about them so I tried out 5 - 6 different designs and decided on the Photon stove design. Boil time was about 4.5 minutes for 1/2 L of water on .6 oz of fuel.All of the other stuff is pretty standard. I went with a 2 lb 3 oz down bag and a tent for under 3 lbs. I had planned on just using a 1.5 lb bivy bag initially and shelter hopping, but it sounded like the shelters may be a little packed at least at the start. I've done the sleep almost in the rain thing, under the shelter, under the shelter overhang and don't plan on doing that again if possible. A tent is also real nice on those 90 F nights when the mosquitoes swarm -- not a time when you really want to be sweating in a 20 F down sleeping bag.
Date: 2003-03-11
To: society on the trail
Miles today: 0.0

One of the reasons I like hiking on the AT is the people but it seems that some of the stuff that I prefer to leave behind in the "real world" is more prevalent in the 2003 than it was in 1991/1992. A great example of this is the first entry in my guestbook.It seems that one of the hostels was being run not by the owner of the house, but a guest who had no permission to run such an establishment. It is unfortunate that this is the case and additionally unfortunate the amount of hostility in the guestbook entry which seems to be directed at hikers. I understand the reasons behind it (I've had issues similar to this with my own property.) but that does not make me feel any better.I also have read quite a bit about how hostels and places frequented by thru-hikers and long distance hikers in the past have been closed because of the inappropriate behavior of those hikers. This is really sad. (I don't think the Bryson book helped very much on this front.)There has also been some talk of how you have to be careful with some of the trail services as the cost really adds up.All of these are instances of the junk of modern society starting to permeate the AT experience. Hopefully this and future years' hiker classes can turn some of this around...
Date: 2003-03-23
To: Final Preparations
Miles today: 0.0

This past Tuesday I presented the contents of my pack to the local Boy Scout troop which I have been volunteering with for the past 8 years. The troop presented me with two books (How to to S**t in the woods and The 2oz Backpacker) as well as a cane with "Maine or Bust" on it. (Given my past experience on the trail I may certainly need the cane while I hike or at least after I finish whereever that may be...) The presentation got some really good questions and the boys really thought it was hilarious that I was carrying "alcohol" for stove fuel. For some reason, they thought I was carrying it to heat my food as well as have a little nip after dinner. I think I made it clear that drinking the denatured alcohol I am carrying would kill you...I have continued to do training hikes just about every day. The snow is starting to disappear and should be just about gone on my training trail a week or two after I leave... About 50% of the trail is covered in 4-6 inches of snow, the other 50% is covered in 1-3 inches of water so I either get to slog through the slushy snow or wade through the mini-river that is my training trail. I leave on March 30 to fly to Atlanta and plan to start on the 31st. It's still going to be a real rush to get everything wrapped up before I go...
Date: 2003-03-30
To: Gainesville, GA
Miles today: 0.0

   My sister and her fiance drove us (Trog and I) to the airport -- we left at 8 am. Went through one security checkpoint as we parked. Checked baggage was hand searched. Trog got to take off his boots to go throught the metal detector. I got the best checker at the gate; they took me to the side and frisked me, made me take off my sneakers. They were really concerned about the snaps at the bottom of my rain pants which set off the metal detector.   The plane was delayed. Our boxes didn't appear with the normal baggage -- they were off to the end. At first I really thought our boxes had not arrived. The airline said that they came on a different flight. I wonder what we did to get such great treatment?   Got a shuttle to Gainesville because we missed the Greyhound bus. This was a better option because the driver made an exception and stopped at Lowes where we were able to pick up alcohol for the stoves. (This was only a 7 minute stop because the driver still had to make schedule.) Stayed the night at Best Western in Gainesville. Subway for dinner.
Date: 2003-03-31
From: Gainesville, GA

To: Stover Creek
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Up at 6:30 am. Had the "free" hot breakfast at the hotel lodge. Good breakfast, AYCE. Caught a cab to Amicola Falls; saw two hen turkeys cross the road on the way, just before the park.   Signed the log. Pack weighed in at 39 lbs. after taking off the 2 lb. offset in the scale. I was also carrying two 12 oz. sodas to celebrate Trog making it to the top of Springer.    Took the necessary pictures and started up the trail. There were sporadic blue blazes on the way - I had to ask at the top of the Falls parking lot where the next blaze was. There were yellow blazes, but the blue blaze was hidden up the trail.   Met "60", a 73 year-old guy hiking the second time in memory of his wife, "59", who had passed on. Met Carla and hiked with her for a while.   Stopped at Black Gap shelter until 1 pm (started at 9:30 am) waiting for Trog but he was farther behind. Hiked to the top of Springer; got my photo taken by some other Thrus hanging out on top. Left a soda for Trog. It was cold with the wind whipping!   Signed the log at Springer Shelter and moved on. Got in at Stover Creek shelter at around 3 pm. Trog arrived later. Had "Lost in the Woods" (section hiker), "ICT", Carla, Kathy, Montana, TheAT, and Makishika staying in the shelter and tenting around it.   A barred owl was hooting away all night. It was cold!! Maybe 30-35 degrees F.
Date: 2003-04-01
From: Stover Creek

To: Gooch Gap +
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Up at 6:30 am. Breakfast of granola, honey, and powdered milk. Left shelter at 7:30 am. Arrived at Gooch Gap shelter at 12:30 pm. Passed Trog and about 10-15 others on the way. Everyone else but Trog at Stover Creek shelter hadn't left by 7:30 am. Cold morning - in the low 30's. Waited at shelter until 2:30 pm when Trog and Carla (now Odessey) arrived. Many others had come and gone at the shelter. Ate dinner at 3:30 pm, packed, and left to camp 3 miles beyond Gooch Gap shelter. There seems to be much poison ivy in this spot. Hopefully I was careful enough not to catch it.
Date: 2003-04-02
From: Gooch Gap +

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

   Up early at first light. A turkey putt, putt, putted as I exited my tent. I'm not sure if it was a male or a female. Packed up and was hiking at 6:45 am. Got to the Woods Hole shelter at 10:30 am. It was rather annoying that the shelter was over 1/2 mile off the trail and was not marked as such. Saw 10-20 pileated woodpeckers in the trees and on the ground throughout the morning. I continud to the top of Blood Mountain and then down into Neels Gap. The climb down was really steep and I had to go slowly to protect my knees. I made it and only have a couple of blisters on my right big toe so far. 15.2 miles today to Neels Gap.
Date: 2003-04-03
From: Neels Gap

To: Blue Mnt Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

   Up at 5:30 am. Packed up and left at 6:40 am. Walked to Lowe Gap shelter - 11:00 am. Hung around until 2:30 pm, relaxing. Had planned to camp about 5 miles up the trail but the water was 1/2 mile down a steep hill so pushed on to Blue Mtn. shelter. Arrived at 5 pm. My appetite is finally picking up so I can get rid of the 20 or so pounds of food. My pack weighed in at 39 lbs leaving Neels Gap with 1.5 liters of water.
Date: 2003-04-04
From: Blue Mnt Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Up at 6 am. Hiking at 6:45. Made it to Boy Scout Feast (Troop 605 from GA) at 9:30 am in Tray Gap. Had biscuits and gravy, orange juice, and a hamburger and several glasses of iced tea. Left at 11 am or so. Got to Deep Gap shelter at 2:45 pm. It was a long climb up some knob which should have been called a mountain. Cornbread, Redbeard, KRock, Flamingo, The FrenchGuy, Play, Annie, KC staying here tonight. 14.8 miles today.
Date: 2003-04-05
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: moderate rain

   Woke up at 6 am. Hiking at 6:45 am or so. It started raining and thundering and lightning. Hiked with Annie and Casey to Hiawassee Road Crossing. I got sucked into Hiawassee for the rest of the day. Good food, good hotel, good company. Out of town tomorrow. 3.5 miles today.
Date: 2003-04-06
From: Hiawassee

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Time change - 1 hr forward. Up at 7:30 am. Ate breakfast at the hotel. Took 1 hour to hitch out of town with "EZ Does It". Thankfully a pickup truck finally gave us a ride. Started hiking at 9:00 am. Stopped at Plum Orchard Shelter to sign in and at GA/NC border to take some pictures. One state down! On to Muskrat Creek Shelter, where I stopped for lunch then hiked on to Standing Indian Shelter - all full. I'm sleeping on the gravel floor tonight. This should be drier than the tent if the forecasted thunderstorms arrive. Saw a wild turkey at about 30 yards this morning. It took off. I'm not sure whether it was a hen or a tom. 16.5 miles today.
Date: 2003-04-07
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

Up at 7:45 am; hiking by 8:45 am. The trail seems more "cliquy" than it was in 1991/1992. I had planned a 14.4 mile day but ended up doing 19.7 miles to get away from one such "clique". Ended up at Rock Gap Shelter by 4 pm. Met up with Flamingo again - he had gone on from Dick's Creek Gap (the road to Hiawassee) instead of going into town. Firefeet and Spicebug are also here as well as a clique. Oh well... It was raining this morning when I got up but I suited up in rain gear (as opposed to before going to Dick's Creek Gap in just shorts, T-shirt, gators, and knee warmers). The rain cleared out at around 1 pm and I was able to dry out the dampness from my sleeping bag caused by blowing rain from sleeping under the table on the gravel at Standing Indian Shelter. 19.7 miles to Rock Gap Shelter.
Date: 2003-04-08
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

Walked 19.6 miles to Cold Spring Shelter. It was another long day getting away the "clique" at the last shelter. The last 6 miles/ 2.5 hours was in the pouring rain. The forecast says rain for the next 3 days. It's cold, which makes the risk of hypothermia much higher, especially at the 4000+ ft elevations. Resupply tomorrow at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Both of my heels were hurting the last 7 miles and my left foot feels as if I have a blister on the ball of my foot. I can't see anything there, so I just keep walking on.
Date: 2003-04-09
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Natahala Outdoor Center Hostel
Miles today: 11.5

Rained all night - I was very glad to be in the shelter. It was still raining in the morning at first light. Got up, suited up in rain gear (wet, wet) and headed out at 7:30 am. Arrived at noon at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Got a hostel bunk, food to get me to Hot Springs, did laundry, had lunch, and took a shower. I spent the rest of the day just hanging around and resting my feet. There was a little on and off sun in the middle of the day but now a steady rain has set in. They are calling for snow now. Yuck! 11.5 miles today.
Date: 2003-04-10
From: Natahala Outdoor Center Hostel

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: snow

16 miles today to Brown Fork Gap Shelter. It was a nice climb out of the NOC - muddy, wet, and slippery. Then the down hills were a slip-slidey mess. There was about 1/2 inch of snow above 4000 ft elevation. This, coupled with the wet mud underneath the snow, made for a dangerous walk. I took a nice spill coming into Sassafras Gap Shelter. I may have sprained my wrist in the process. I did get all muddy and wet. Just beyond the top of Cheoah Bald I met up with a hiker who had broken his ankle, right there when he slipped and fell on a muddy, snowy wet rock. Several other hikers were on their way to get Search & Rescue to get this guy off the top of the mountain. He seemed OK. After I talked with him for a few minutes, I moved on. Got in to the shelter at about 3 pm after leaving at 8 am.
Date: 2003-04-11
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Birch Spring Gap Campsite
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: overcast clouds

18.6 miles today into Smokey Mountain National Park. I'm camping at Birch Spring Gap Campsite. Walked from 8:20 am to 4:45 pm in overcast or drizzle or mist/fog. People have been saying the weather was going to break this afternoon but it didn't. It's been 5 days of rainy or snowy cold yucky muddy slippery hiking. Stayed last night with a good group of people at the shelter: Piel, Face, Blaze, Fur, Thor, and Smile. We had several stories to exchange about some trail shelter hogs who don't pack the shelters full when it's raining. While I was eating my dinner of Lipton noodles (the new Asian variety which are better than chicken and rice) there were a few breaks of sun. Maybe tomorrow I'll finally be able to walk in dry socks on a dry, solid trail...
Date: 2003-04-12
From: Birch Spring Gap Campsite

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

Good night last night. The sky cleared out overnight and the sun was shining when I left camp at 8 am. Once I reached the higher elevations the snow amounts on the side of the trail increased. The hiking was either a slip-slidy mudfest or slushy, slippery cold water going through the shoes all day. It was slow going, approximately 2 miles per hour, versus a normal 2.5-3. I slipped and fell several times and only once did I almost really hurt myself. I slipped going into Spence Field Shelter and almost busted something in my knee. Nothing popped in the knee and I was able to hike on but I was more careful. Got in at Derrick Knob Shelter after 17.1 miles. Wet feet tonight and probably for the next few days until the snow melts and the water puddles and mud dry up on the trail.
Date: 2003-04-13
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Ice Water Spring Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

Left the shelter at 7:40 am. The trail had dried up quite a bit overnight so I had semi-dry shoes most of the day. My knee felt pretty good today, even after the spill yesterday. At the second shelter I passed, I decided to go the 21 miles to the shelter at the other side of Newfound Gap. So I walked and walked and walked. Got up top of Clingman's Dome and took some pictures on the handicapped-accessible viewing platform. Because I planned on going past Mt. Collins Shelter without stopping (0.5 miles off the trail anyway), I had to get water. I have to give all the tourists credit for walking the 1/2 mile up from the parking lot to the viewing platform. It was a long climb even if it was paved. (The bathrooms had water but they were at the bottom of the hill.) I had to go down and then back up. It was kind of comical passing some tourists going down and then passing them going up again... I hiked on the Newfound Gap and lost my hat on the way - I went back 200 yards to look for it but gave up. At Newfound Gap some friends of Hopeful's were having a birthday party for him but he wasn't going to make it as he was staying at the Mt. Collins Shelter tonight. (I stayed with him last night.) I ate a bunch of stuff and then carried some up to the shelter. Thankfully, the shelter was not full when I arrived at 5 pm. I ate dinner after drying out socks and shoes in the sun. It's quite surprising that I was able to eat the whole dinner after the food at Newfound Gap. 21 miles to Icewater Spring Shelter.
Date: 2003-04-14
From: Ice Water Spring Shelter

To: Crosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: clear sky

Left the shelter at 7:10 am this morning. I had a grouse not further than 10 feet away on the side of the trail. It just stood there and clucked but never flew. I also made a wrong turn at Charles Bunion so I ended up going completely around it to make sure I hiked all the white blazes. There was at least 8 inches of snow all along the approach, top, and descent of Mt. Guyot, so I had yet another day of wet shoes and feet. I was the second person to arrive at the shelter who was staying. There are now at least 20-25 people at the shelter. The last night in the Smokies and a really crowded shelter. Oh well... 20.3 miles to Crosby Knob Shelter.
Date: 2003-04-15
From: Crosby Knob Shelter

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: few clouds

Hiking by 7:15 am. Saw my first (and last) deer in the Smokies at 20 yards. There was definitely not the amount of the wildlife I expected in the Smokies - they must have been sitting out in the snow... In the last 1/4 mile a couple of trail maintainers were hiking up the trail. They asked if I was a thru-hiker. I said, "Yes." They then asked if I wanted an orange. I said, "I certainly would." I ate the orange and a Snickers bar at Davenport Gap. Both were quite good. There were not trash cans at the gap, so I continue to lug all my trash... I continued my hike and arrived at Groundhog Creek Shelter at 2:10 pm. 17.6 miles