morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-12
From: Unicoy Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.1

unicoy gap to dicks creek gap: 16.1 milesBig ups today: 5020 vertical feet, biggest yet. It's getting kind of monotonous to keep talking about all the mtns. notice I didn't say "hills", but that's really all everyday is...continuously going up one mtn and down to a gap and then up another mtn. We got in 16.1 miles today and both Big Daddy and I faired pretty well. Thanks for all the prayers, I know in my heart that that's what's making the difference. So many little things happen in a day it's hard to remember them all. One revelation I did get today was that, "every one of us HAS a full time ministry in the body of Christ...the problem is that we're only part time Christians! Ouch! The truth is we're to busy with our agenda, which has God penciled in 2 or 3 times a week...notice I said penciled in...in case we need to bump Him for another more urgent "need", to even consider that He has a full time agenda for each of us. God is continually showing me just how BIG He is and how little I know. It's both humbling and exhilarating at the same time. For now I know I've got to keep walking. I'm not sure why, but I have no release to come home. I love the days, the athletic challenge of what's going on, but I really just don't like any of the rest of what I'm having to do...sleep outside on the ground, go without showering, eat stuff that...well, you get the idea. But for now it's the cross that I must bear until He says otherwise. Godspeed...not Rickspeed. No I don't understand it either but I do know He loves me and can only act out of love and for my best interest.Thanks for the emails! I can't tell you how much they mean to me.calories today: 2400
Date: 2007-04-13
From: Dicks Creek Gap

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

Dick's creek to Standing Indian shelter. About 17.1 milesAnother long day of hiking. Most ups in a day yet...5250. Remember that dosn't count any of the downs along the way. Got started about 9:45 and finished about 7:15. We crossed into NC at 2:06 PM. The start of the trail in NC is straight up! And then up some more. It was kind of a milestone though. I think our total miles is about 83. Both Johnny and I are getting along very well physically. Our feet still ache at the end of the day but I guess that should be expected. Our plan is to be in Franklin NC by about lunch time on Sunday. According to the weather forecast it's suppose to start raining heavy tomorrow afternoon, clear up a little for SUN, then snow on Sun evening and Monday. You gotta be kidding me! Oh well, God is big enough to get us through that as well. He has been so faithful to us so far. Thanks to all of you who are praying for us, I could never tell you how much it means. About time to turn in (9:15).Calories for the day: 1600.
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4

Standing Indian to Big Spring Shelter. 14.4 milesGreat plan from yesterday. We made it to the shelter about an hour before the bottom dropped out! I knew God would handle it for us. The hike today was realatively easy except for the last climb. Albert Mtn is absolutely the hardest .3 miles I've ever seen. Straight up and in some parts hand to hand climbing! Made it to the shelter and had an early dinner, a snack, lots of water and vitamin I. The rain sounds nice on the tin roof of the shelter. Don't know how cold it is but I can see my breath and the wind is really howling. Good time for our first night in a shelter! The plan is to rest up tonight and hike into Franklin tomorrow. Only about 9 miles and that will put us at about 106.6 for the trip so far. The main variable is the weather, I understand that snow is not out of the question!One of the benefits of endless hours of hiking is a lot of time to pray and just to talk with the Master. I need to "delight in Him" the rest will take care of itself. Still don't know how far I'll go on the trail. A friend of mine from church pulled me aside before I left and told me this, "I know you have to go, but come back as soon as you find your answers". Thanks for the insight Marie, I know you've been praying me through. Mark Hinson, if you're following along, you've really been on my mimd a lot. Thanks for your friendship, and I'm praying that God would continue to grow you and shape you into the husband and father he wants you to be. It's a little strange to say but I love you like a brother. Take care of Stephanie,sam,jake,and sarah.Thanks to all of you who are diligently praying. Pray especially for the feet. I'll miss all my church family tomorrow. I long to be with you. I know it's only been a week, but it seems like months to me. We don't know what we've got until it's not there anymore. If you're a husband and or father reading this...stop right now and go hug them and tell them you love them. Don't waste another day, they're too precious.Turning in now.Calories today: about 1000Hello Girls! I miss you, be good. I love you and hope to talk with you on Sunday. DadHearing the Melody, Ipod.
Date: 2007-04-16
From: Winding Stair

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Winding stair gap to Cold Spring shelter...15.9 milesWhat a cold day. We got a ride back to the trail and started hiking about 9:30. The temp was about 40 ish but the wind was ferocious all day. I mean 30 to 40 with gusts that would almost knock you down! It made for a bitter cold day. I'm in the tent for the evening, it' about 8:10 and this is as cold as I've been in a long time. I'm in my sleeping bag and will warm up soon I'm sure. Anyway we thought that it might take us 3 days to cover the 28 miles from Franklin to the NOC because of the ups involved. But we got 16 in today so we'll be at the NOC around 1 or 2 pm. We'll stay in the hostel there and hit the biggest climbs on the trail on wed. The miles really passed by quickly today. Maybe I'm actually getting into a shape other than round. Got a word from god today...Consistent. Of course I asked Him to explain and was really shown how inconsistent my walk with Him has been. Pretty scary stuff. Study time, quiet time, service, putting others needs ahead of my own,! even as a father and a husband. It's very clear to me that I've got a lot to work on. The good news is He's there to help me,to show me, by His example, how I should live my life.Great to get to talk with my family yesterday. Hey girls, daddy loves you. That includes you momma! Also good to talk with Barret. I understand that Billy did a great job teaching sunday school this past week. I knew you guys wouldn't miss a beat. Thanks again Barrett for taking ownership of the teaching scenario while I'm gone. They say a man's blessed if he has one true friend in his life...if that's so then there's no word for how blessed I am. There are a number of men in my life that I truly call friends. Thanks to each of you...you know who you are. Thanks again to all of you who are emailing and signing the guest book. You'll never know how much it means to me. Thanks for all your prayers, know I am praying for you also.calories today: 1500Trying to stay warm, IPOD. ------------------------------
Date: 2007-04-17
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nanahalla Outcoor Center
Miles today: 11.5

Cold spring shelter to Nanahalla outdoor center...11.5 milesVery cold getting up and getting started this morning. The wind on top of the mtn was still hitting around 30 mph or so. Started walking about 8:15 and got to the NOC around 1:30pm. Not a very long hike but the last couple of miles was down about 3000 feet. Very hard on the knees and feet. I've learned that the ups take more energy but the downs are really harder on the body. Oh well, it is what it is. Got a chance to get some hot food, hot shower, and wash some clothes...always good! The river is very pretty and runs right past the outdoor center. The AT runs right through the middle of the complex. It's really a cool setup. Outfitter, grocery store, and restaurant.Tomorrow is our biggest challenge yet. Supposedly one of the toughest climbs on the entire trail. We're about 134 miles into the trail at this point. If all goes very well we'll make it to Fontana Dam Thursday evening. That will be two aggresive days and we'll just have to see how much the big climbs take out of us. We're slow but we're awfully consistent(at least so far). Got a chance to read more emails. All I can say is that I'm overwhelmed by the love that is poured out through them and by the prayers that keep me healthy and keep me going. Pls keep sending them you'll never know how much they mean. I'm convinced that God is doing something mighty in my life out here. Something that I must keep going through...even though I quit most every night. I can't worry about the end I just need to take it one day at a time and listen to His voice and keep depending on Him to get me up and down the mtns. Just like life I guess...we all have mtns and valleys and if we're smart! we'll allow Him to lead, guide, and direct us through them that He would be exalted in all we do. Calories for today...2150 thanks to the NOC resturant.Hey girls, great to hear your voices! I love you and miss you more than you could know. Let's keep praying and I'll keep walking. Love you always, dad.Searching for THE right key...IPOD.
Date: 2007-04-18
From: Nanahalla Outcoor Center

To: Brown Fork Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

NOC to Brown Fork Gap...16 milesBig day today. We got started at 8:10 and by 12:30 we had climbed to the top of Cheoah Bald...some 3200 feet later. We had talked about only doing 11.2 miles to the first campsite but decided to go ahead and make the next shelter. We should be able to get to Fontana Dam by 2pm tomorrow. The last mile was tough on us. Only 750 feet but straight up, no switchbacks until the very top. Tough way to end our biggest climbing day yet. It's about 7 now and I'm in the shelter in my bag. It's raining again and the cold is back with it's friend the wind. Big Daddy is in his tent. He really doesn't like the shelter situation. He'd rather be alone.It's wed and I miss being at church. I hope all is going well and that God is continuing to bless. I understand that Pastor Brad is doing a series on tithing. One things' for sure...you can't out give God.Great to talk with my mom yesterday. Thanks for the encouraging words. I love you. Hello girls, hope you're doing great! I love reading your emails. Can't wait to read your journals. I love you and I'll talk to you soon, Dad.Steph, I miss you and love you. look forward to talking with you tomorrow night. Me.calories for the day...1250carrying the tune, Ipod.
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Brown Fork Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 11.6

Brown fork gap shelter to Fontana Dam...11.6 milesShelter life is...interesting. Wolverine is the man when it comes to snoring. I've heard some good ones in my day but no one's in the same league as this guy. Oh well, at least I was off my feet for a while. Made it into Fontana Dam. The last couple of days have been very strenuous and they've taken their toll. Big Daddy's right leg is cramping up, at least we're hoping it's a cramp and not a pulled muscle. We're heading into the Smokies in a few miles and our plan is to cut back our miles to about 12 a day for a couple of days and try to rest up a little. We were told today that two thirds of the people that start thruhukes never make it across Fontana Dam. So at least we're in the top third of our "class". Enough talk about the trail...it's tough. Every day is tough. Up one mtn and down another, over and over again. I can't think of anything I can relate the physical challenge to. So keep praying for us, specifically our feet and knees. Thank you so much for all you!r prayers and emails they mean so much.I was thinking today how hard it is to get out of our comfort zones, our "routines" if you will. I think that sometimes we can get so busy with the rituals that we forget it's really about a relationship. Not only with out God, but also with our wives and children. I think we really need to be stretched from time to time, to be taken out of our comfort zone, into an area where we really have to depend on God for our direction and the outcome. We usually don't attempt things if we can't see how they will turn out. I know we are called to live by faith and not by sight, but it's still hard. Or should I say I make it hard.It's a good thing that God is big and that He loves us so much. Goodnight for now.calories for today...2450Hey girls, great to talk to you all today. I love you very much. Hopefully I'll get to talk to you again in 3 days when we get to Gatlinbrg. Sweet Dreams, Dad.Keping the tune, Ipod.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: Fontana Dam

To: Russell Fields Shelter
Miles today: 14.9

Fontana Dam to Russell Fields shelter...14.9 milesLost Big Daddy today. Prayed for him...but he finally showed up anyway! Just kidding about the last part. We'd gone about 6 miles and he decided to let me lead awhile. His leg was feeling good so I took the lead and pumped up the ipod "inspirational" playlist and off we went. Had a run of 4 or 5 really good songs and I looked back to check on BD and he was nowhere to be seen. I slowed down(a little) and looked back often but he just wasn't there. I began to think that maybe I had taken a wrong turn, it had been a while since i'd seen a white blaze. I kept going, more slowly now, and passed a white blaze which made me feel much better. I debated my options: he did know where we were going and i was sure he'd be ok. Then it came to me...Tanya would kill me if anything happened to johnny and i wasn't at least there to try and help him. So I thought about walking back to find him...or maybe this tree would be a good place for me to sit and wait on him. I choose the tree and! about 10 minutes later he arrived. We spoke ever so briefly (we don't really talk to each other much any more...we've got it down to 3 hand signals and 2 grut-like sounds. I got a hand signal and acknowleded with a grunt and we headed on together.It was another big day on the trail today...about 5400 in ups from Fontana Dam. Our plan was to only do about 12 miles today but we ended up with 14.9. 176.4 total so far. BD's leg seemed to be ok. Tomorrow will probably be about the same and then that will leave only about 12.5 for Sun to get us into Gatlinburg Tn. I'm looking forward to that!One of the songs that really got my attention today was "Crucified with Christ". The whole song is great but the beginning really caught my ear, "when i look back on what i thought was living, i'm amazed at the price i chose to pay. And to think that I ignored what really mattered because i thought the sacrifice would be to great. When i finally reachd the point of givin in, i found the cross was calling even then. And even though it took dyeing to survive...i never felt so much alive. For i am crucified with Christ and yet I live, not i but Christ that lives wthin me. His cross will never ask for more than i can give..for it's not my strength but His. There's no greater sacrifice for i am crucified with Christ and yet i live." Wow, that really hits home for me. It truely is His strength that keeps me going. Mine has long since been gone on this trip. But just maybe that's the way He wants me to live every day..on His strength. Calories today...1700Hey girls! Love you and miss you bunches. Hope to talk to you sunday pm. Always Dad.Psalm 37:4 "Delight youself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."I'm working on the first part and trying to figure out the second! Hearing the music, Ipod
Date: 2007-04-21
From: Russell Fields Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: clear sky

Russell field gap to Double spring gap 16.4 milesAnother big day for us. Nothing is ever easy. We climbed up through 5547 feet and then went up and down mtns the rest of the day. BD's leg is apparently ok, he led most of the day. As for me, my back hurt a little today in its usual place...bottom right. Hopefully a good nights rest will help. Although that's highly unlikely given that i'm in a shelter again tonight. Shelter life is...oh yeah, we've been through that already. At least I'll be off my feet. Tomorrow it's up to clingmans' dome (the highest point on the trail), then down to Newfound gap and into Gatlinburg...Yeah for ipod! Hot shower, food, real bed, etc. Should only be about 10 miles or so. Met a very nice couple at the shelter tonight. Clint & Jessica Sattler. We talked about life and I really enjoyed their company. Made me really miss my own wife and girls.Today makes 14 days of hiking and by the end of the day tomorrow over 200 miles! I'm not sure how long I'll stay out here. Right now my plan is to stay another two weeks until we have to come off the trail for work. After that I'm not sure. I continue to seek His plan as best I know how. Thank you all for your prayers and emails. Pls continue to pray that God will show me clearly what to do next. Calories for today...1750Hey girls...I love and miss you very much, Dad.
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: broken clouds

Double Spring Gap Shelter to Newfound Gap...10.8 milesPassed another milestone today...203.6 miles to date! That's a lot of ups and downs both physically and emotionally. The miles today were relatively easy with the exception of the overall trail condition. The pathway through the Smokies is, for the most part, a system of ruts cut down 1 to 2 feet down into the ground. This makes for a muddy mess and makes it hard to use your hiking poles. To complicate matters more the storm that came through last week knocked down over 250 trees on various parts of the trail. Volunteers have done a good job cutting most of them from the trail but some they just haven't got to yet. Anyway, today we made it to and over Clingmans Dome. At 6643 feet it's the highest point on the trail. The weather was perfect and we could see "forever" so to speak. Got some good pictures and moved on. Spending the night in Gatlinburg...good for Ipod. Shower, food, and clean clothes. Got a ride to Gatlinburg from some trail angels named Jerry & Tonna McClure!. They picked us up and let us pic-nic with their family and then drove us into town. Thanks again guys, God bless you. Great to get to talk with all my girls tonight. Just to hear their voices make me smile, it's like a ray of light. They are a real encouragement. That's for all the love and support gang...Dad loves you.Calories today...2500.Back on the trail tomorrow, hope to make hot springs by Sat the 28th. Thanks for all the prayers and emails, I love and appreciate you all...Ipod.
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Newfound Gap

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Newfound gap to Pecks Corner Shelter...10.4 milesGot started on the trail about 1:45 pm after hitching a ride up from Gatlinburg. Thanks to the husband and wife that stopped to help us, didn't get your names but know that God used you in a mighty way today. Thanks again.Covered the 10.4 miles in 4hrs and 30 min. Pretty good time since we stopped to take many pictures and crawl around on Charlie's Bunion. This was by far the best scenary of the trip. I hope the pictures will do the views justice. I started thinking about trying to describe the views to someone who wasn't able to be here to see them fist hand. There's really no way to begin to do so...all the words are inadequate. Then I thought of how closely that paralells a true relationship with Christ. It must be experienced, I mean truely experienced, to be understood and enjoyed. He is so good and most of the time we manage to stay so busy doing "good" things that we never really get to know Him intimately, we never get to experience the great things He has for us. You know, we never get to the point where we've arrived in that relationship. The journey of getting to know Him better is where it's at. He is so good and He loves us so much. I can't wait to see what He's got in store! for tomorrow. I can't wait to see how He's going to use this whole experience to glorify His name. I know it's going to be cool and I know that I'll probably never know or understand the impact. That's ok with me, I know that I've come to know Him better while I've been out here. His provision alone, in so many ways and in so many circumstances has grown my faith by leaps and bounds.It was great to get to talk with my girls yesterday! You all ROCK! You inspire me in so many ways. I can't wait to "love you better", not necessarily more but certainly more deeply than ever before. Hopefully more through the eyes of Christ than ever before. I'll talk to you soon, Dad.Big day planned for tomorrow. Going to try to get in about 23 miles to the next Hostel. We plan to hit the trail by 7am and hopefully be done by 6 pm.Calories for the day...2100Hearing more clearly now, IPOD.
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 23.3

Pecks Corner shelter to Standing Bear Farm...23.3 miles. 237.3 miles so far.Made it out of the Smokies by the end of the day.Longest day so far. My feet are making me aware of their unhappiness. We hit the trail about 6:55 am and finished about 5:45 pm. The walk was in the misting rain in the am and then faired off and really got hot for the afternoon. The hostel here is full so we're tenting it. At least I got a hot shower and got to wash my clothes. Looks like Hot Springs is only about 33 miles away and we're not meeting Tanya and the boys until Fri evening. Should be some lower mile days. Maybe good for me, somewhere about mile 8 today I felt a pain in my lower right "belt line" area. Don't know what it is. Hopefully just a slight pull and not a hernia. Don't know much about hernia's so I guess we'll just have to pray and see. Thanks to everyone who's praying and sending encouragement, I can't thank you enough. It really makes the difference. It's about 8:45 and I'm getting ready to hit the tent. Hey girls, daddy loves you. Talk to you soon, Dad.Calories today...2200