morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Pigeon River
Miles today: 9.5

Thursday, April 26Song: Pinball Wizard (Some really old, random neurons must have been firing when I woke up this morning. "That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball!"I didn't hear Yellow Jacket get up to go to the privy, but about 1:30 am she ran into the shelter exclaiming, "It's right there!" A couple of people got up and looked but I went back to sleep. About 4 am Roast Beef was dreaming and cried out, "Bear!" After that I only dozed. The bear was still around in the morning but I did not see it. It left a present for us though--a big pile o'bear poop on the privy path. Someone found an old running shoe last night and Roast Beef said we should leave it on the pile to make it look as if the bear ate a hiker. Further said yeah, with a note in the log that there would be an extra space in the shelter.Before I left I asked Fred if that was his real name or his trail name. He said he didn't have a trail name and Roast Beef pointed out how Fred had taken charge with the bear and we ought to be able to come up with something. Yellow Jacket thought of "Dances With Bears." Half Pint, Further, Y.J. and D.w.B. are going to slack pack tomorrow and hit Hot Springs for the weekend (Trail Fest). Half Pint said that she would miss me and that she hoped she'd catch up with me again after she makes a quick trip home to Michigan.It's about 3:30 pm and I am sitting in the Davenport Gap Shelter. I left Cosby Knob about 8:10. The plan was to take it slow and easy with long breaks to make it down to I-40 at 7:30 pm to meet Steve. I took the side trail to Cammeron Mountain fire tower, 1.2 miles round trip. The tower was cool, the view was great. It was overcast but the sun came out a little as I went up the trail. Someone wrote in the log to look due east to see Max Patch, one of the next landmarks I will pass.I was going to hang out up there for a while but it looked like rain so I ony stayed about 20 minutes. Sure enough, the rain came, so I hightailed it to the shelter, where I changed into warm, dry clothes. I have threee more miles to go to meet Steve so I am going to hang out here a couple of moer hours before heading down. The sun is trying to come out but the wind is blowing making it a little chilly. I am very tired and ready for a couple of days off the trail with my sweetie.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Pigeon River

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Talked with Naomi on the phone this morning. That was great. (Talked to Mary yesterday, that was great, too.) Steve and I went over to Ruby Tuesday's for lunch and then headed to the trail. Steve carried my pack for me for a couple of miles. It was so hard to say goodbye. After a month on the trail I had something I needed to say to him other than, "You're so clean!" Once we got through that we were back to such a wonderful place with each other. I don't think we had really been there since the diagnosis. It was so hard to leave that closeness. It was interesting to watch my transition from Jane-alone-in-the-woods to Jane-with-Steve and back again. The group I was hiking with in the Smokys moved on over the weekend so I was truly alone.A few minutes after Steve turned back I was overtaken by Google and Sunshine slack packing to Max Patch. (That always makes me think of Max Pain--the price at which an option when it expires will cause the most option holders to lose the greatest amount of money.) I met them at NOC before they had trail names. Steve had told them to say hi to Jane, who they didn;t know, and then to Tango, who they did. That made me feel a little more connected.I started hiking about 1 pm. I was too hot, too full from lunch, it was uphil and I didn't want to leave Steve. Generally, I would say I was meserable, but I slogged the eight miles to Groundhog Creek Shelter. I met Bloody Nose and some section hikers. A guy heading south brought some food leftover from weekend trail magic at Brown Gap: potato chips, Chex mix (some with chocolate), fruit and a truly bizarre red velvet Twinkie. I took two oranges.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

When I got up I decided to go on to Erwin. I went out to breakfast with Wolfhound and Leatherneck. (The first time I met Wolfhound I think was on the first day out of Fontana Dam. We introduced ourselves to each other as he passed me. He got a few steps ahead and turned around. He indicated a pink bandana he had attached at his waist and randomly said, "My daughter gave this to me. Do you think its too fem?" I cracked up and said, "No, just get a little more dirt on it and it will be fine."). After breakfast I called Steve on my way back to the motel to let him know I had decide to go on. He had already been looking into flights home for me and said he had plans to take me to Colorado. I went back to the motel where W and L were packing up to leave. Leatherneck gave me a talking-to. He said he didn't want to hear any more talk of me quitting the trail. They left and I hung out and finished square 5 of the Appalafghan (after I checked into the motel for the day and while I waited for the outfitters to open). I resupplied there, expensively, but at least they had food I can eat. Best find - macaroons made with coconut, egg whites, and honey! I also bought a pair of flip flops for camp shoes. I ate lunch at Sweet Inspirations - spinach salad with a side of chicken salad - then went and did laundry. While there I met Tick and Flaxseed. Thumper was there, waiting for his family to hit town. I updated my journal through Tuesday and then went to the post office to mail it and some other things home. Then I hung out, knitted, watched Oprah. Went out for supper at the Paddler's Cafe and had some ice cream at Sweet Inspirations. I gave myself and acupuncture treatment (K7, SP9/ST36 cross, GB 31a, LI11a, ST34a).
Date: 2007-05-04
From: 3 mi S of Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Friday, May 4th, 7 pmSong of the day: It's Raining Again - SupertrampDidn't sleep from 3-5 am, then woke up a little before 7. Got out about 9:15 am. I came very close to turning back. My clothes were still wet so I put on my dry purple shirt and gortex pants. I'm not sure what made me keep on going - it seemed easier to stick with the plan. Once I started I thought it didn't really matter what direction I walked in. After about a half an hour I stopped to get water at a nice piped spring beside the trail. After another half hour I was getting hot so I put on the damp clothes. It was cloudy. The sun came out noonish. I got to Spring Mountain Shelter about 12:30. I think it was about 5 miles from where I camped. On the way Ringmaster passed me. He gave me a good laugh with his magic trick and prayed for the health of my knees. At the shelter, Ringmaster was finishing up lunch and Oregon was getting ready to take off after spending the night there. I ate and spread out my stuff to dry. I took off at about 1:30 with Flaxseed ( a different one - I will refer to him as Flaxseed 2). We walked together to Little Laurel Shelter, 8.2 miles (another sign said it was 8.6) - got there 6 pm. He paced me - I went faster than I would have by myself (almost 2 mph) and he waited for me on the hills where I couldn't keep up. It got me going. It was good to push myself a little.   Thanks, F.There was a storm coming which made us go faster. We almost outran it -got to the shelter about a half hour after it started. It didn't rain as hard as yesterday and I had my gaiters on (I'm trainable) so I got nowhere near as wet. F and Oregon hung up my food bag for me. Now I am in the shelter with Ringmaster, Flaxseed 2, Jones, Fox, Reckless, Oregon, Spartan, and Dirty Deed. There are two dogs under the shelter. The last couple of days I have seen mountain laurel starting to bloom (the unopened blossoms look like dollops of frosting decorating a cake), lillies of the valley and one lady slipper. There are also tiny wild purple irises 2 -4 inches tall.
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Spivey Gap

To: Chestoa Gap, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Song of the day: Walk On By (because everybody passes me)In the morning we had breakfast (provided by Miss Janet and helpers) and got ready to go slack packing another 11 miles. In the night it became obvious that I was coming down with a cold. Miss Janet had to go to court and testify as a character witness. Of course, that took longer than expected and we didn't get out on the trail until a little after 1 pm. I almost didn't go, because it was such a late start. On the way, they stopped at the Holiday Inn so I could check in and drop off my stuff. I had a scare there - my wallet was gone. I went back out to the van, and luckily, I had dropped it on the seat.The hiking was pretty easy - another nice section of trail. Much of it was down hill. I felt pretty good up to No Business Knob Shelter. Melk, Jett, Bullwinkle, Fishstick and the dogs were taking a break when I got there and I stopped for a bit. After the break I felt lousy - very bad sore throat. I was ready to be off the trail and hurried for about an hour (and made very good time). Then I settled in a bit for the last 4 miles or so. It was beautiful coming down into Erwin.It wasn't the hike I wanted today. It was only 11 miles and I wanted to start early and take my time with knitting and journaling breaks. It wasn't terrible - things just didn't work out how I wanted them to.I got to the gap shortly after everyone else. I had just missed Miss Janet who went with Tim and Jeff to Spivey Gap to pick up their packs. When we didn't show up this morning they ditched their packs and slacked to Erwin. Their gear was old and they were going to replace it anyway, so they weren't worried about losing it. I stopped at Uncle Johnny's and bought a shirt and some V-8. I ran into Thumper there. I told him that now that we had said goodbye we would probably run into each other at least 10 more times.Everybody hitched a ride into town with Uncle Johnny, but the van looked so full I decided to go with Miss Janet. She was waiting for Mr. Hawes, her neighbor to come down off the trail. He had started with us earlier. After awhile, when he hadn't shown up she asked another hiker to call her when he arrived, and we headed back to town.Miss Janet dropped me off at the Holiday Inn. I got supper, cough drops and cold medicine. Back in my room I did acupunture and sweating as well as mass quantities of Vitamin C to try to nip this cold.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Westminster, Colorado

To: Westminster, Colorado
Miles today: 0.0

Hello from Westminster, Colorado. I am having a good rest and a great time here with Steve. After 27 years together, who knew? We set off the smoke alarm! (I am not kidding.)My knees are not healing as quickly as I had hoped, but I don't think its anything serious. I think it is patellofemoral pain syndrome - from overuse coupled with tight muscles and not a high enough arch in my boots. My boots are also starting to feel too small in the toes. So I went to Boulder yesterday and bought new boots - 2 pairs, actually. Its a good thing Steve loves me! So new boots, more stretching, acupuncture treatments, ice when possible - we'll see how it goes.I am heading back to the trail next Wednesday. I am flying home with Steve on Saturday (was the cheapest way to go), and then to Asheville, NC on Tuesday. Hawkeyes is picking me up and taking me back to Erwin, probably Weds morning. I will be hiking without any major trail breaks until the last week in June.While home, I will do a minor gear overhaul and reseal some of the seams on my tent, as well as check out Naomi and Bryan's new condo and visit with friends. If my knees are up to it maybe we'll take a country western two step and a west coast two step lesson on Monday night.I appreciate all the comments in the guest book. Its nice to know I'm not talking to myself! I have to say that that cup of tea at Stecoah Gap was possibly the best cup of tea I ever had! And I appreciate all the pictures people have sent Steve. While I am being appreciative - kudos to Steve for typing in most of these journal entries. I have been doing it myself the last couple of days and its a lot of work.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Chestoa Gap, Erwin, TN

To: Curly Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: broken clouds

5:45 p.m.At the Curley Maple Gap shelter.I flew from Bradley to Atlanta to Asheville yesterday. Hawkeyes picked me up at the airport, took me to the outfitters (bought another short-sleeved shirt and an aquamira filter bottle and had them check the fit of my pack), then we went to her house. Dawn came by after she got off work. We talked with Hawkeyes' neighbor, Gail, for a bit, then went out for dinner. Hawkeyes and I got a slow start this morning. I was tired and in no hurry. She put her house on the market a couple of weeks ago and I helped her with some quick fixes a la "Sell This House". We took the leaf out of her dining room table and centered it in the room, moved the cat box out, moved her bed and a nightstand so that the bedroom door would open all the way and one didn't have to squeeze past the bed to get into the room. We did a little bit of rearranging in the living room. I suggested some depersonalizing by removing some items from view and she arranged a bowl of fruit on the butcher block in the kitchen. It was already a very nice, neat and clean house, but those little changes really spruced it up.We got on the trail about noon and hiked for about an hour and 15 minutes. Then we sat on a bridge over a stream and ate lunch. After that Hawkeyes turned back. She said this probably really was goodbye - at least for this hiking season. I said, "Farewell," because, who knows? I hiked on by myself to Curly Maple Gap shelter. It has been threatening to rain since about 3 pm, so I stopped here. Right now it is darkish, slightly windy and the thunder is very loud. I ate supper, got my bed ready and did a good job hanging my bear bag. I am going to knit and go to bed early. I already got my water and arranged my food for tomorrow, so hopefully I will get an early start out of here. I am the only one here right now and since I am only 4 miles from Uncle Johnny's Hostel, that is likely to remain the case. I weighed the pack this morning and it weighed 32.5 pounds with 6-7 days of food and 1.8 litres of water. My shorts, loaded with gear, weigh 1.5 pounds. I weigh about 135.Here comes the rain. I'm glad I wimped out and stayed in the shelter. I'm sure that sooner or later I'll get rained on - I'd just didn't want it to be the first day.8 p.m.Song of the day: Norwegian WoodAround 7 pm I heard something big moving around in the woods behind the shelter. My food bag is about 200 yards in front of the shelter in the opposite direction. I built a fire and picked up some rocks and put them by my sleeping bag. Another paradox: Hawkeys pointed out today that gaps are low spots on the trail and high spots on the highway. That one reminds me of yin/yang theory. She also said that she was surprised by how much the social aspect of the trail was important to her. I was surprised about that, for myself, too.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Greasy Creek Hostel ~ Friendly
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

Had a great time at the shelter this morning hanging out with Lifesaver, Comet, Bard and Towanda. There was lots of speculation about who was tenting near the shelter. It turned out to be Eagle, who I met at the Fontana Hilton. He is on the beginning of what may be his second yo-yo (he started at Springer in March 2006, summitted Katahdan in September 2006, and turned around and hiked back to Springer.I got out about 8:30, stopped at about 10:30 to eat. It felt like it was going to be hot and humid, but it got partly cloudy and breezy. Great hiking weather. It was a little steep out of the shelter, but most of the day the terrain was not too bad. The last 4 miles to the hostel were beautiful. Its hard to describe, just beautiful deciduous forest at about 4,000 feet. Lots of flowers, birds, and grasshoppers.Yesterday it was tough to make the 12 miles. Yesterday the bottom of my right foot was painful with every step. Today it was o.k., but on the first downhill my left knee started giving me a lot of trouble. It came and went throughout the day, which is good, but it is the worst pain I've had and it is the first time I've felt something that might stop me physically.I was planning to go at least 9 miles to the next shelter and assess from there, but I ran into Lifesaver about a mile before Greasy Creek Gap. He was heading to the hostel, which I hadn't really considered before. I've also been feeling tiredness on the edge of chronic fatigue since Monday, and all I felt like doing was taking a nap. At the Gap was a handwritten sign with directions and an explanation of the "disturbed neighbor" across the road. Having had experience with disturbed neighbors, that was the deciding factor - I wanted to support this lady.So I hiked the .6 mile down to the hostel, had a shower, did a little handwash, and bought a pint of Ben and Jerry's which I shared with Lifesaver and Eagle who is here doing some work exchange. Eagle said that Ali Baba is back on the trail and that Michigan Wolverine had to stop due to illness.I found some Nikwax so I am going to go treat my boots. Song of the day: Climb Every Mountain (that was so obvious - you saw it coming, right?)
Date: 2007-05-28
From: US-19E, Mt Harbor B&B

To: Abby's Place
Miles today: 11.5

Song of the morning: Boston - Emmett SwimmingStarted out this morning at about 8:30 a.m. after a great breakfast with great coffee. The trail today was serpentine and mostly wooded with smallish ups and downs. There was an open section near the beginning. I was hiking behind Dirt and Ping and we missed a turn. Got up to the top and had a choice of 5 trails, none of them with white blazes. Ping backtracked and hollered to us - we hadn't gone too far out of the way. Stopped for lunch for about an hour at 11:30 at the 5 mile mark - Jones Falls. It was gorgeous. Saw Redwood there. Ping and Dirt took off a little before me. Ping and I had hiked and talked all morning and it was great, but I didn't think I could keep up with her any longer.I took it a little easier for awhile after lunch. I stopped for a break at Mountaineer Falls at about 2:30. When I started up I heard thunder in the distance so I picked up the pace. Awhile later, I put my watch in the pack and put the plastic on. I really made time (although I don't know exactly, I just know I was traveling fast). It rained on me a little, but not much. It had been overcast all afternoon, but then the sun came out at the same time it was raining. So the song of the afternoon was Heartbeat, by Antimateria ("walking in the rain, walking in the sunshine"). I thought maybe I had passed Ping and Dirt because I could hear people at the Mountaineer Shelter, but I wasn't sure.Unfortunately, I blew right by the trail to the hostel. I never saw the sign which was weatherbeaten and quite a ways above my head. Redwood and two others passed me, then I caught up with them when they took a break. I asked them if I had missed the turnoff and they said yes. I overshot it by about 3/4 of a mile at least. On my way back to the hostel the rain started.When I got here Ping and Dirt had come in about 10 minutes earlier. I think Dirt went on. Life Saver is here and a Southbounder whose name I haven't gotten yet. Song of the afternoon: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield (sp?). It was playing on the TV when I came in ("feel the rain on your face"). :>)I've showered, my laundry is in the dryer, I talked with Steve for the second day in a row, and I ate scrambled eggs with veggie chips and beer. Amazing what a hiker will eat. It was fantastic!
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Abby's Place

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Song of the day: Tribulations - LCD SoundsystemIt was tough to pick a song today, because I am home and have lots to choose from. It's definitely a techno/dance/electronica kind of day.Steve picked me up in Hampton last Friday and I have been home since Sunday night. Today is the first day I have felt recovered and felt like writing again. I'll update the last few trail entries soon.Today my knees felt better for the first time and I am ready to go back out again. I'll do some sections up here closer to home (Western Mass). It's going to break the bank if I keep traveling back and forth down south. Right now I am thinking I will go back next April and pick up where I left off.So I guess now I am technically a "section hiker" although I admit I have had trouble with the labels all along. I let them make me confused about what I was doing. I can see the value of setting the goal of hiking the AT in a season, but for me, it turns out that there is just hiking and not hiking (I sound like Yoda). :>)I also think I understand people's need to label other people. The label is symbolic of a human being's need to feel a part of something larger than themselves, like a marriage, a family, a community, a church, an art, an ideal or a goal to name a few possibilities. The irony is that we're already part of something larger than ourselves. There's no way not to be. The labels are limiting, and because a narrow definition leaves out so much, the illusion of paradox is created. (I'm big on paradox, have you noticed?)Anyway, I was already tired when I started the last leg, I pushed myself trying to make miles, and got overtired. Maybe one of these days I will figure out how to make this hiking thing work for me. Who knew it would be this hard?Hey, Jeff. Thanks for your comment in the guest book. The day I hiked with you guys was one of my best on the trail so far. I had a blast hanging out at Hogback shelter with you, Tim, Rosie, Melk and Jett James. I got a big kick out of you guys ditching your packs at Spivey Gap. I just missed Miss Janet when she took you back to get them. Keep hiking!I can't stand it - its at least a two song day! I am so happy!Here (In Your Arms) (Young Americans Remix)- Hellogoodbye
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Greenfield, MA

To: Greenfield, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Song of the day: Funky Kingston - Toots & The Maytals, Bootsy Collins & The Roots from the album "True Love". It's a reggae hustle - how great is that?I am heading out again on Thursday or Friday. I was thinking Thursday (I am trying to hit a patch of good weather), but Steve just said he and Scout (the dog) should hike a couple of days with me so maybe it will be Friday.I am going to hike Massachusetts from South to North (about 100 miles), then come back home for a couple weeks for my sister's visit.I am switching out some gear. Things I am not taking:Sleeping bag top - 22 ouncesLong Undies - 10 ouncesRain pants - 10 ouncesIodine - 5 ouncesStove and fuel - 9 ounces (I didn't take it on the last leg either)Watch - one ounce, will use cell phoneThings I am adding:Silk sleeping bag liner - 5 ouncesWater filter - 13 ouncesOrganically grown instant coffee :>)Digital Voice Recorder - 2 ouncesTwo pairs hiking socks - 6 ounces (total 4 pairs so I can wash them on the trail and they have time to dry, also brought them on the last leg)Things I am considering adding:Another pair of hiking pants - 7 ounces (its getting buggy out there)Mosquito netWater bagA bookTim!!! Only 3 days? You must have a thing for section hikers....Thanks, I got a big out loud laugh out of that one. :-D
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Greenfield, MA

To: Greenfield, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday eveningI'm still at home. Something came up and I needed to delay my hike until tomorrow morning. Steve will be taking me to the trail and hiking with me for a ways. It turns out I have already hiked a few miles at the beginning and the end of Massachusetts, so I will be going about 75 miles on this leg.Bonus - I got to go dancing last night. I hadn't been since March. It was so much fun!Song of the day (Feels Like) Starting Over - John Lennon