morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Campsite Elk Park

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: few clouds

I'm running out of words to describe all the beauty I see all day. The section beginning at Elk Garden is so awesome that it will be hard to find something comparable. The change in landscape was amazing. If you have seen mostly woods it's so refreshing to see those wide open balds and their different vegetation. Wilburn Ridge has some breathtaking rock formations and looks almost like the mountains far west.As I entered Grayson Highlands I was eager to see the famous ponys but no pony was in sight. I was a little dissapointed and was about to climb the last steep rock formation to leave Grayson Highlands as I saw a pony between two trees. I tried to be very quiet not to scare it away but it didn't take any notice from me. As I got closer I saw a whole herd grazing on a meadow. I spent almost 30 minutes to take pictures and was able to walk between them to get as close as possible. One pony even was laying on the ground. First I didn't know if it was dead or just sleeping because it showed no signs of life. But then it raised it's head and looked at me, probably thinking "my good, another one of this annoying hikers. C'mon, take your pictures and get lost".After a long break at Wise Shelter I decided to go on to Fox Creek because this is the 500 miles mark. As I arrived at Old Orchard Shelter it was empty and a pile of firewood was laying besides the fireplace. So I changed my plans and will stay at the shelter tonight. I haven't had a fire in a long time and a privy in the morning is a convincing agument to stay.Tomorrow I will try to make it to Partnership Shelter. The shelter has warm water showers and you can order a pizza from the phone at nearby Mt. Rogers Headquarter. That's almost 25 miles but a hiker would do anything for a big pizza. The profile map looks promising and I get used to do bigger mileage days. Bruno
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Baptist Church Hostel Troutdale

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a late start as usual when I leave town. After having breakfast in the Trading Post I tried to hitch back to Dickey Gap. It wasn't that easy and I almost hiked half the way until a young guy from Abington stopped and offered to drive me back to the trail. First thing I did back on the trail was changing my clothes because it was going to get a hot day. The heat and especially the high humidity in the last couple of days has given me a hard time as I'm not used to it. Where I live we have only 3 or 4 days a year where the temperatures are going up to 85 - 90. And almost no humidity. So it's not easy for me to cope with that especially while wearing a 45 pound backpack. First stop was at Trimpi Shelter where I had a 60 minutes coffee break.A really nice shelter although a bit off the trail. Somebody has planted bushes and flowers and it almost looks like a private little garden. As my map told me there were some old mining sites on a sidetrail I took the blue blazed Slabtown Trail to have a look on it. Unfortunatelly there wasn't to be seen very much as everything was overgrown. But it was nice to see the difference between the well maintained Appalachian Avenue and one of their little side lanes. The trail was partly almost invisible but as well marked with blue blazes. It was no shortcut and while the AT went arround the mountain this trail went over the top so it was even more difficult to hike. I don't know what problem some people have with blue blazes. Sometimes you find the really interesting things not on the trail itself but on one of it's little side routes (exept this time).As I arrived at Partnership Shelter I was welcomed by Jason & Jessica and Swiftcreek & Small Wonder. They offered me a can of beer and their Pizza leftovers so I first sat down and enjoyed the welcome dinner. Partnership Shelter is a huge and well build structure with two floors a warm water shower and a toilet a few yards away from the shelter. There is even a sink behind the shelter to get water or wash your dishes. Mount Rogers Headquarter is nearby and there is a phone outside and a restroom with soda machines (was yet closed as I arrived). I don't know why everybody is so amazed with the shelter at Fontana. This one is much more comfortable. I went up on the second floor and hoped for the announced thunderstorm at night because it would bring the needed cool off but it didn't come. Hiking in this conditions will be very tiring the next couple of days. Maybe I should hike at night and sleep the whole day :-) Bruno
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Groseclose I-81
Miles today: 10.5

Shortly after we got up in the morning two Pick Up trucks arrived at the shelter and a crew of 8 maintainers jumped out. They were armed with paint, brushes and a chainsaw and started immediately to work. They cleared out the bushes behind the shelter and one of them was wearing a yellow protection suit to apply wood protection onto the shelter wall. Not a nice place to have breakfast so I decided to move on. But even at the next shelter there was a group of 6 maintainers having a break. This seems to be a very active group although one of the guys told me that there are usually 30 people going on work trips while this time only one half of them have showed up maybe because of the easter weekend. This was the first time I had a problem with somebody taking his dogs out on the trail and it even wasn't a hiker. A guy with two chow-chows came to the shelter, leashed his dogs on a tree at the stream in front of the shelter and went to the privy. The dogs were jumping into the water and taking a bath exactly were hikers are taking their water out. To see this pissed me really of but I didn't want to start an argument. He probably wouldn't have understood what I was talking about.Where the trail crosses I-81 it comes out directly at exit 54. There is a gas station with a shower and a Motel close by and a couple of yards away there is even a restaurant. It's really convenient for hikers because they don't have to hitch into town. I bought me some snacks, icecream and coffee and waited for my ride to Erwin. Janet showed up 45 minutes later so it was perfect timing. It was really interesting to see the landscape passing by from a car window. It gives you a completely different perspective as hiking the trail. Virginia is really a beautiful state and espescially this time a year when the trees are getting new leaves and blossoms. And it was amazing how quick you can go back to Tennessee while it took me 14 days to hike. Coming back to Erwin was like coming home and it was puzzling to see how much the landscape has changed as spring has finally arrived. The house was the usual chaos but this time it was worse than ever because of the upcoming Easter Weekend. But everybody was in a good mood and the preparations were going on. Let me just name a few people I saw at the house because it's impossible for me to remember all the names: Batimore Jack, Cinderella, Minnesota Smith (this guy is a real character, if you like him or not), Lebowski, Red Baron, My nice little pony and so many others. If you are interested in the names you won't have a problem to find a journal whose writer has a better memory than me. Easter preparations went on until late into the night and as every bunk was occupied and it was a warm night I grabbed my pad and a blanket and slept on the grass in the back yard. Not easy to find a spot where no walnuts are laying on the ground but after a few Sam Adams you almost don't care. Bruno
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Groseclose I-81

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Cooking, chaos, egg dying, eating, laughing, burning heat, lots of calories. That's the easiest way to describe the day. The house was so unbelievably full that I feared it would burst at the seams. I counted almost 50 people and they were coming from everywhere just for the Easter Lunch. We had so many different types of food that you could have fed a small third world country. Two turkeys, two big broiled hams, chicken casserole, mashed potatoes, potatoe salad, three different kinds of salad, beans and so many other things I couldn't even name. And there also was a whole table of desert. Cakes, pies, cremes and all kind of stuff. Easter in the US is almost exactly like in Germany. Eat as much as you can and have fun. As so many were there it was amazing to see how quick everything was cleaned up and the leftovers will probaly last until Christmas (I'm talking about Christmas 2007).Most of the people left in the afternoon and the house was falling back from extreme to normal chaos. As I didn't get much rest until now (the night in the back yard was short as the birds started singing at 4.00 in the morning) I decided to stay at the Super 8 Motel for the night. The air won't cool off and the long needed rain and thunderstorm hasn't come yet so the aircondition in the room will be very welcome although I usualy don't like it. Bruno
Date: 2005-09-19
To: Doubts
Miles today: 0.0

DoubtsI have many doubts and concerns about Thru-hiking the AT. Am I up to the challenge? I wonder if I will be prepared for such a task and do I have it in me to hike day in day out. Although I am an experienced backpacker I have never undertook a hike longer than ten days or more than 80 miles. That ought to be fine in the first two weeks; I have no idea what it will be like after that. I figure I will start by making small mile days. I do not want to become so sore it causes me to start taking zero days or to want to quit. I want to take it slow and easy, allow my body to get strong on its own, and then I will lengthen my days. I must tune out the youngsters and not compare their progress to mine. I must hike my own hike.I have read so many times that hiking the AT is like taking on another job. The job is to hike on and to accomplish miles. I figure I need to average 12 miles per day to complete the hike in 6 months. With small mile days at the start and a few zero days added in I figure the pressure to produce miles starts to fall in on you. Also the days on end rain, mud and slippery conditions like 2003. Or extremely hot dry days like we had in 2005. It will take a lot of internal motivation to press on in those conditions. Is it in me? Do I have what it takes in me? I love the outdoors and the solitude you get when you are out there. I have always traveled in a group, will I like being alone all day while hiking.   This is another unknown to overcome, the only to find the answer is to get out there and do it. Each day will bring a new challenge (Thorn) and a new opportunity (Rose). I must conquer the challenge and find out the opportunity. At the end of the day I must become a better person for navigating through the thorns and collect all the roses.
Date: 2005-09-19
To: Shop map of the AT
Miles today: 0.0

As I prepare for retirement and also starting a thru-hike of the AT I am being bombarded with questions from my fellow workers. The other day I brought in an AT strip map and put it on the edege of the white board. I then wrote an arrow pointing to Springer with the date March 15 The Start. I went up to the top and pointed to Katahdin and wrote Finish here @ Sept 15.The next time I saw the map someone had written on the board "Chip's Big adventure" to which I added the word excellent making it "Chip's Excellent Big Adventure". Soon after the board started to fill up with more comments. Here is what they said:In chronological order.Mar 14 "Those poor suckers back at the shop."Mar 15 The start "This is going to be great."Mar 21 "Somewhere in Georgia. Do I hear banjos?"Apr 4 " I ate some wild mushrooms today! I thought I walked 27 miles, but it was only 20 feet weee.....what fun!"June 1 "I thought I saw Z today, but it was just Bigfoot." (shop joke)June 5 "Still walking! God I miss porn and my laptop"July 1 "F""this crap, I'm renting a car and driving home."Aug ? "Dear Diary, Charlie is all around me. I had to strangle a woodchuck today because it winked at me. Where am I?"Sept 15 "The End. Why on earth did I just walk 2000 miles?"What a way to get your friend involved in your hike. As the saying goes, "With friends like these, who needs enemies."I am guessing that the next batch will not be fit for print, if they are clean enough I'll add them later.
Date: 2005-10-06
To: Pre-hike anxiety
Miles today: 0.0

Well as the days count down to the big start I am beginning to feel the anxiety build. I signed my retirement papers it will take effect on February 3, 2006. This is a positive step that needs to be done before ¢Chips Excellent Big Adventure¢ can start. On that day my head will be spinning and I will feel the pressure to be prepared for the start. Right now I am still researching equipment, making a re-supply plan and considering what kinds of food I will need while on the trail. All of that seems so remote right now, but I figure on February 4th it will hit me that the physical arrangements for this hike will be my full time job. It will also hit me that the 39 I will haave left to prepare is really a short time. I feel I am an experienced backpacker yet I feel so much like a novice to thru-hiking. I know the mechanics of hiking and camping. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on whether it is in the form of a book, or advice forum. I dissect every word and make lists, and charts of this material. I feel I am hitting an information overload right now. This overload will probably continue until I put my first step on Springer Mountain. Once I¢m on the trail I will learn and adjust from my experience and from the others I meet. I have stepped up my walking on wooded trails at local state park. I try to focus on the beauty of nature and why I want to be immersed in it for six months. I also remind myself that every day will not be sunny and warm as it is right now. I intend to hike rain or shine and even into the snow season that comes about mid November. I am also apprehensive in putting too many journal entries before the start. I am a little superstitious and I don¢t want to jinx myself. I am writing to get the hang of it and to figure out the right way to input entries.I also want to have my thoughts before, during and after the hike to be available to my children and grandchildren in order for them to be able to answer the question "Why did he want to do something like that?"
Date: 2005-10-12
To: FAQs
Miles today: 0.0

Most online journals I¢ve read seem to have a page dedicated to Appalachian Trail Statistics. I was not intending to do the same as I felt it was very repetitious and was planning to suggest other sites with that information. However everyone I know who is aware of my planned hike I keep getting numerous questions that I need answer. Therefore I will attempt to answer them.So here goes:1.        2175 miles From Springer Mountain, Georgia Northwest of Atlanta.      To Mount Katahdin, Maine west of Bangor2.        14 States3.        About 6 months4.        Average about 15 miles per day, every non hiking day is included in      those days.5.        March 15, 20066.        Independently but not alone7.        Some nights in a shelter, some in a tent, some in a Hostel,      and some in a Hotel/Motel8.        I¢ll have planned boxes sent to strategic Post Offices,      I¢ll also buy food at local grocery stores and any snack bar I see9.        1,535, 370, about 24% in 2004 the last year with complete data10.        No I¢m not going to carry a gun1.        How many miles will you be hiking?       Where does it start and where does it end? 2.        How many states does it go through?3.        How long will it take?4.        How many miles do you walk a day?5.        When will you start?6.        Will you be hiking alone?7.        Where will you sleep?8.        How do you get food?9.        How many people attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail each year?      How many make it all the way?10.        Will you be carrying a gun?
Date: 2005-10-16
To: Making the Alcohol Sstove
Miles today: 0.0

I just built two alcohol stoves from directions I downloaded from the internet. It turned out to be a fun exercise. I now know why so many stoves are given away to fellow hikers, they are fun and easy to make. I made a few mistakes and they still came out alright. I think they will work tomorrow when I get to test them, I'm waiting for the JB Weld to cure before I put fire to them. I have two stoves one with the open top and one closed with a screw intake port. I want to compare them and decide which I like best. Also if I have too many or too few holes I can ajust or rebuild them. I also built a base and windscreen to complete the kit, for the wire mesh I used a paint bucket roller screen I found at Wally World for less than $2.00, it worked well. I'm also waiting for the base to cure before I test it. All in all this turned out to be a pretty good rainy weekend project. The grass still need mowing the car still needs work and I couldn't do them anyway due to the rain. I'm also starting to work on food planning. I am going to buy store items I think will work with my new kit, then try to cook it. I tried store brand macaroni and cheese in a one quart pot. I used a little less than a quart of water, brought it to a boil, dumped the macaroni and powdered milk, stirred and set it aside like I would on the trail. I still need to make an insulated bag to keep the water warm once boiled. Well my results were mixed. The macaroni was cooked but very starcy and stuck together. The cheese mixed okay and the taste wasn't too bad. I took a few bites, made up my mind and then threw it out. It will be okay on the trail and I'll figure it out with fellow hikers.Chip
Date: 2005-11-06
To: Biding my time
Miles today: 0.0

Well I am becoming anxious to get thru winter and become one of the retired baby boomers. I've been working up to this hike for forty years. I want to start now but I can't I must put things in order and start at the proper time. I am still playing with alcohol stoves and their design. I've made about five different ones of various types, open top, closed top pressure, side burn, always trying new things with them. My best one seems to be my first stove, it burns 7 minutes on one ounce of alcohol with a pretty good flame. I've compared it to friends Trangia, it stayed lit about 30 unusable seconds longer. I also compared it to an Antigravitygear side burner, it burned 3 1/2 minutes burn on one ounce but the flame was really hot. I don't know if I want really fast and hot burn or quite good and long burn. I still need to do a "How long does it take to boil known amount of water test. I am making a few more empty Guinness cans and then I'll build a few more stoves. Then I'll do more testing and choose the one I want to use.I spent this weekend at work, I'm an Air National Guard Technician and I'm required to belong to a military unit. We had a fun weekend of practicing war games. This requires me to wear a Chemical Warfare charcoal suit and run around doing my job. I was so happy that this will hopefully be the last time I will have to do that. It is amazing how good your attitude can be knowing that. The good I took out of that was the time spent with new younger members where I was able to pass along some skills and knowledge from 34 years of military experience.I keep working on my mental state for the trail; I give myself talks that the trail will be a job not a vacation (thanks Warren Doyle). I know there will be cold or wet days when I would prefer to stay in my sleeping bag to stay warm or dry. I know my job will be to press on and make progress on my task or it will not be completed. I know I can not ask my body to do more than it is able. I know that Katadin should not be my only focus; I must set daily, weekly, and monthly goals in order to feel like I am accomplishing something. And most of all I must remember to appreciate the people I meet, the places I see, the opportunities that come my way and to enjoy myself along the way. I am already feeling like a member of the Class of 2006, I¢ve received a number of emails and Guest book entries from people who will be my peers. I hope someday we will meet either on the trail, Trail days or the Gathering next fall. I don't intend to look at my hike as a task, I refuse to get up each day and feel like the day will be another day at the office. I have seen some journals are full of famous quotes, I honestly don't intend to use many but this one has really struck me, and it will be my morning mantra each morning. "The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Lao Tzu Chinese Philosopher
Date: 2005-11-09
To: Foot Pain
Miles today: 0.0

Well I have just started wearing the newest and maybe the most important piece of my equipment. I just got my brand new pair of Orthotics. For those of you that don't know what an orthotics are, they are support devices you wear inside your shoes to correct your feet. The pair I have now are professionally made for me through my Podiatrists office. He made plaster castings of my feet, he then sent the castings out and in a few weeks these carbon fiber and leather devices came in to the office. I now wear them inside my shoes to support my feet in the proper position. I started to get a pain in my heals and eventually in the arch of my foot. I was told by the doctor I have "Plantars Faciitis" which in laymens terms is the arch in my foot is stretched and the facia (tendon I think) pulls at the anchoring point under my heals. The pulling is the pain I felt, sometimes it was a burning pain others it felt like a pulled a muscle. Now by wearing a supportive shoe and these Orthotics I should keep the pain from making my journey painful. Before getting the custom Orthotics I tried a commercial Othotics from Spenco, they were similar to the custom ones but genaric. They helped for a while then their effect no longer was helping. When I wore my hiking boots I had a pair of Superfeet inserts in them. I never had any pain when wore my hiking boots with the Superfeet, I thought maybe all I need for my trek would be good boots with Superfeet. The problem I have right now is I am not wearing my hiking boots all the time and I have to try and correct the foot problem now. I plan on using the custom Orthotics while hiking next year, they feel good in my hiking boots and they are the right thing to wear. I chose the LLBean Cresta boots for their support and I want a company I can get on the phone if I have trouble. Also there is vertually little breaking period with these boots, if I wear out this pair I can call LLBean and have a pair waiting for me at the next maildrop and wear them as I leave town.   I am writing about this in my journal in hopes that my experience may help others. What worked best for me before the foot pain was good boots and Superfeet inserts. Now that I'm damaged I'll be wearing my custom inserts. Preparing for the trail takes on so many different aspects. I never thought I would need to see a foot doctor to get in shape. I have watched a number of people retire from my work that were my age or younger due to health problems. I always said that the one thing I wanted to have when I walked out the door on my last day was my health. I still have 88 days till retirement, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I am healthy then and for a long time to come.