morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Hot Springs

To: Rich Mtn.
Miles today: 8.0

I didn't leave Hot Springs till 5:00 last night, so I didn't make my 11, but I did get in 8 and made it to the top of an old fire tower for a sunset. Good timing, plus it was right next to a phone tower, so I am using that cell phone Mom and Dad talked me into getting sent out here. By the way, getting 3 boxes at the post office yesterday felt like Christmas in May. Thank you Mom for the care package, Dad for rushing to get the camera out here, and Jenni for all the extra goodies in the box. It made my day, but it's tough hauling the extra weight over today's miles. I almost made up for the 3 I missed yesterday by knocking down a solid 21 and a half. I'm camping next to some gravestones which is kind of creepy, but it makes me wonder a little about life. Why do we live? I take that back. A better question might be, "Why do we die?" Obviously a tough question to jump right into, so how about "what makes us dead?" The clinical answer is because we cease to live (duh), cease to have a heartbeat, cease to have brain activity. The spiritual response is that we cease to have lifeforce or aura or soul, and/or it's time to start our next life. But a very honest answer is one I heard off a commercial for some TV show. Why do we die?--To make life important. If we weren't to die, we could recklessly wander through space and time with no goals, hopes, or dreams. While that may not sound bad, people MUST die to give us a limit on our time here. That face that human lifespan has increased over the ages may not necessarily be a good thing, either. When kids start to grow up, at least recently, it seems that many of them learn to wait for things, rather than proactively approach life. When humans only lived 40-50 years or less, they knew it. They treasured it. Every minute of every day because they could drop anytime. Now that medicine and tachnology had upped that number by 30 years, many think, "Oh, there's plenty of time to get something done." "I'll get around to it sometime." "Maybe later." I can't understand why? I once heard a quote--"Life is not measured in the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Stop counting the hours, stop lingering. Letting life pass you by is like letting the girl of your dreams walk away from you. "The one that got away", right? No, the one that YOU let go. Or maybe it's like saving your Halloween candy to the point that when you get around to eating it, it's no longer good. Life is a gift...grab onto it, use it while you have it. No more waiting, move on. I am...now, not later.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Shelton Graves

To: Big Bald
Miles today: 21.0

I've been a little behind on my journal the last three days as I write this on Friday afternoon. Such is life on the trail...easy to lose track of time, easy to lose track of your worries. There are no need for worries out here. Forget about all the things yo uleft behind and focus on what's in front of you. Focus. Rock or root. Branch or stump. Springer or Katahdin. Life is simple when you take it just pieces at a time. A fellow hiker told me Wednesday an anecdote I've heard before, but it made me feel better at the time. "Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch, life's a cinch." I killed another 21 and a half today and camped out on top of Big Bald. About a dozen of us up here and Politician hiked up a 12 pack of PBR. Disgusting beer, but it was cold and refreshing after a tough climb. He had managed to "refrigerate" it by damming up a spring and creating a pool of water. Yet another amazing sunset, this time with 360 degree views. But as a I sat thinking about what that hiker had told me, I started crunching some numbers. 5,280 feet in a mile and 2,174 miles on the trail comes up to roughly 140 million inches for myself...some cinch. But I tell myself and other hikers all the time to just take it step by step, mile by mile, day by day, week by week. You won't get to where you're going any other way. It's not going to be easy. If this were easy, anybody could do it. If this were easy, I wouldn't do it. Nobody feels a true sense of accomplishment when they take the easy way out. There may be some short lived success that comes from the easy way, but not the sense of, "I did that, you can't take it away from me." I watched an even more incredible sunrise yesterday morning. The density of the clouds had caused them to sink down into the valleys, creating the image of islands in the clouds. At the same time, the sun started its daily rise and cast a soft glow over the tops of each "island". Each ray of sunlight was visible as it peeked over the horizon. I was there. Man, was I there. I saw it. I saw it and you can't take it away from me.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Big Bald

To: Erwin
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

All the way into Erwin. 18 miles and I'm wondering where to stay. There are two hostels here, Uncle Johnny's and Miss Janet's. Johnny's is certainly more convenient for a quick stop, it's right on the trail, but not near any other services so you have to catch a shuttle. Miss Janet's is 4 miles away in downtown Erwin, but is within a mile of all major services. The funny thing about these two places, which you hear about before arriving, is that Uncle Johnny and Miss Janet are not each other's biggest fans. A few years back, Johnny's was removed from all the guidebooks due to repeated complaints and assaults on a hiker. Johnny pretty much stays drunk all the time and lets people come and go as they please. In the meantime, Janet's place flourished and he hates her eternally for it. So when I made it to Johnny's, I needed a ride into town, but I wasn't about to ask him to give me a ride over to Miss Janet's for obvious reasons. I talked him into a free ride over to the Post Office, which happens to be right across the street from Janet's. It wasn't a complete lie, I did have to pick up a package, after all. So Janet's is a cool place with tons of young and old hikers alike rolling through all afternoon. Clearly a party joint, I felt a little out of place after spending 4 days on the trail. Some people have been here for over a week..they call Erwin the "vortex". I don't plan on staying very long. But I did manage to score the last bed thanks to my quick hiking pace and early start time. It does pay to hike hard early in the morning and relax later. And relax I did. Baltimore Jack, a trail legend who's thru-hiked 9 times or so, cooked us all dinner. All you can eat Shepherd's pie, house salad, garlic bread, and ice cream. Jack got drunk and basically forced us to watch Braveheart till 2 in the morning while he quoted EVERY line. I didn't get to sleep until 4 and woke at 7. The worst part was that I didn't even sleep in the bed. I slept, as my family well knows, right there on the sofa watching TV. I felt right at home.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Erwin

To: Cherry Gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

16 miles was rough on me. 3 hours of sleep is not recommended for the trail. Each step felt like someone dropkicking me in the face, pounding over and over for hours. I didn't even get on the trail until 11 thanks to Janet taking her sweet time to get up and make breakfast. The 10 miles out of Erwin is almost all uphill and then you come to Unaka Mtn. I still hadn't decided what I wanted to do when I made it to Beauty Spot, the 10 mile mark, at 6:00. I had heard there was a party with the same crew from last night up on Beauty Spot, but I made up my mind to let it go and keep running. I smoked the 5.8 in an 1:45 including the 1200 feet over Unaka. It was tough and I got there just as it was getting dark, but I was worth it to not have to make it up later, especially with Roan Mtn looming in the distance. Unaka was a treat of sorts. They say it is much like the Maine woods, with conifer trees covering the summit. The trees made it extremely dark coming through at 7 and all the limbs stuck out like the creepy tree arms from the Blair Witch Project. I imagine if I were to get mauled by a bear or stalked by a pack of wolves, this is where it would take place. I found little solace in the blazes since the trail seemed to meander aimlessly with no sign of treadway in the growing darkness. But I'm out now, relatively safe from what my imagination puts into the woods arounds me. Goodnight.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Cherry Gap

To: Roan High Knob
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm finally caught up with my journal, at least for now. In doing to, I want to go back to an entry from a few days ago. It's taken me a few days to realize the answer I want to give, but I'm going to explain as best I can what I came up with. "Why do we live?" We live to make the most of ourselves in the environment we find ourselves. You can be in any situation at any time, but in a hyperspeed form of evolution (I guess), you want to progress, to advance. Always looking for that promotion, that next best thing, the next addition, the next step. I come to this jumbled conclusion because I have been slowly realizing how much I want to push myself everyday. Not that I am trying to beat someone because the only person you have to beat on the trail is yourself. But I am always wanting to get further even if I am already at 25 miles for the day. Another aspect is that human interaction supplies some of that fuel for the journey through life. On the AT, I meet so many people and I'd rather talk to them than think about issues of my own. That's why I've gotten so far behind on my journal. I've been so busy enjoying the company of other that I've found little time for myself. I feel as though I am helping them pass the time and get to the next step. So, "Why do we live?" To help ourselves and to help others, both now and for those to follow after us. We live to live. We love to live. We live to love. Complex human emotions resulting from our interactions are what make us different than other animals. Other animals come nowhere close to understanding or mayb even experiencing any of the feelings that humans do. A good friend once asked me if I would rather have a moderately happy life with no sadness or a life that was equally full of intensely happy and intensely sad moments. Of course, I chose the latter. As I said in that previous journal, "life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away". I know this one is scattered in thought process, so forgive me, but I'm on the last peak over 6000 feet until New Hampshire, so blame it on the elevation.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Dennis Cove

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It's been affectionately called the "Tennessee Turnpike", the "Highway", and the "Death March to Damascus". But if there's one thing I could call the 40 miles preceding a town with that name, it would have to be the "Road to Damascus". Given my Christian roots, I deemed it nothing less than appropriate to model my walk after the walk of Saul-turned-Paul in, if I remember correctly, the book of Acts. It was my full intention to walk the entirety of the 40 miles between Watauga Dam and Damascus, but as it turns out, Mother Nature had other plans. Before I made that first step into the charade of mindless walking, I knew I was going to make it. No doubts, no regrets, no remorse--I would walk 40 miles today.Fortune Cookie had talked me into it weeks ago in Fontana. "Yeah, dude, it's easy!" And it would have been had I not--A) gotten a late start; B) gotten rained on all day; and C) received a sign from the heavens telling me to stop. It's that last part that make the "road to Damascus" an even more fitting label. I was 18 miles in and had stopped at a shelter to rest for 20 minutes. The skies had grown extremely dark to the point that one might have thought apocalyptic doom was eminent. I shook it off and made up my mind to move. I made it 40 yards from the shelter when the skies opened up and the Heavens poured down on me with unrelenting cruelty. Had I been gone for just 5 minutes I would have kept going, but my proximity to the shelter forced me to pull a u-ie and stick it out for the night. I was crushed and my Damascus Dream was no more. Rapunzel asked me as I came back inside, "Do you believe in signs?" Yes, I do, as a matter of fact. And that was it, I took the sign with a planet-sized grain of salt and curled up among what would eventually become a very full shelter as all the other Damasucus-bound hikers were coming in out of the rain. I did not sleep well that night knowing that I could have made it, could have pushed on. It's a very tough thing laying down a winning poker hand when you know you've got your opponent licked. The 40 miles is just another mental game and if you can win in your head, then you can win physically, too. I felt like a dog...Mother Nature put her leash on me and tied me to the trees. How depressing.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm in Damascus. The "road to Damascus" is over and I even made it without being blinded or having to fast, as per the biblical scripture. Although, I must say, this is a town where miracles do seem to happen and I've seen my share of them already on the first day. Most hikers set up tents a mile outside of downtown Damascus on Shady Lane, but I scored a sweet spot right by the river in the backyard of a churchgoing lady. It also happened to be right by the shower trailer at the Baptist Church. I was greeted by Silverheels, a hiker I met in Erwin, who immediately offered me something to drink. I was caught off guard when the thirst-quenching liquid in the water bottle turned out to be Maker's Mark. Whoa! That'll wake you up. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, mind you.The courtesy of this town was out of a storybook. They call it "the friendliest town on the trail" and it quickly lived up to its name. The first night I ate about 5 dinners, all of them free, at the Baptist Church. It's not hard to see why I put on about 10 lbs throughout the course of the weekend. I ran into Larry, a local who offers hikers a free phone service as he gets free long-distance at all hours of the day. I was met constantly by locals just wanting to hear "my story". I can't imagine it's much different than that of any other hiker to whom they've spoken. Nonetheless, I exchanged tales of my experiences for the tales they remember from years gone by. Everyone is full of excitement about this weekend, the one and only, Trail Days. I busted my tail to get here, not planning on making it into D-town until the 24th. I think I'll take it easy for the next few days and enjoy the perks of my "job".
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The hospitality of Damascus' disciples continues to amaze me. Starting with my morning shower, I was the first one to use the trailer ever providing me great joy in not having to wear shower shoes. The people at the church had everything including clean towels, soap and shampoo raided from a wide array of hotels, motels, and establishments that can't really live up to either label, and other toiletries like razors that I felt were over-the-top. Finally feeling marginally clean, I went to sign up for HardCore, the trail maintenance program run by Bob Peoples. There were a ton of people already there just waiting for the sign-up sheet to arrive and most of them were people who had done the program in previous years. I got the impression that this was an exclusive honor worth waiting an hour in line to sign up...like camping out to get seats to a Carolina-Duke game.This was the first day of the festival and the vendors were lined up at the park just waiting for the schlubs who know know zilch about camping to ask about their products. However, the thru-hikers know the deal--if you talk to them with a bit of sense, you will often receive free products to "test out" or discounts on some of their goods. The rest was the usual fairground fare with ice cream and funnel cakes and BBQ sam'iches. I partook in none of it and went for the free food instead. Between the church and the fire station, I'm not sure I will have spent any money on food by the time I finally leave this town. God bless everyone of these people who contribute to the magic of Trail Days.Among the other events of the day, I taught 2 ladies to juggle, became "Champion of the Park", met tons of new and old friends, created the Hot ChickDog sandwich, and listened to Warren Doyle-a self-proclaimed AT fanatic who loves his soapbox for telling the stories of his 14 thru-hikes. What would drive a man to hike the AT 14 times I can't imagine, but this guy was definitely off the reservation. He spoke little about the trail and more about our political and socioeconomic systems. Apparently, the whole system is so awful, he can only stand to be a part of it long enough to save money for his next hike. If you ask me, he's been smoking way too much peyote. But congratulations on hiking 30,000 miles.This town is full of trail celebrities and trail legends. Tomorrow will bring new and even more exciting things I'm sure, but for now, today was pretty good.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Each shower I take in the trailer feels like the best shower I've ever had. Come to think of it, every shower I've had on the trail is the best one I've ever had. It never gets old. I might actually have broken through all the layers of dirt with this second shower in 24 hours. It's tough to find free breakfast, but I succeeded yet again by going to check out a documentary film from a previous thru-hiker named Papa Razzi('05). They had bought several boxes of doughnuts with each box taking up the better part of a six foot table. Miles of glazed goodness was mine all for the price of sitting through a fairly awful movie for 2 hours.The middle of the day up until the parade was unusually relaxed with a few chess matches and some casual conversation at "The Place", a hostel in town sponsored by one of the churches. The parade would be later in the afternoon and I heard that there is always a huge water fight between the hikers and the spectators. I stocked up with four water guns from Dollar General and prepped myself by purchasing some clothes at a yard sale. I came armed and ready wearing some tight, torn blue jean shorts, a ratty plaid sport coat, some goggles, and a bandana. It was on, as they say. The parade was like a freak show on steroids. There were crossdressers, giant shopping carts full of midgets, and beards on everyone, men and women. Tie-dye was everywhere and water balloons were ever-raining down on this parade. Hundreds of hikers spanning several decades of thru-hikers filled the streets and made easy targets for the locals and festival-goers lining the streets. We walked the length of the highway through town getting pommeled by the water balloons launched off of porches and balconies. It was an onslaught of epic proportions. Note to self-don't underestimate the crowd next year.Today has done one truly significant thing for me. It has opened my eyes to what I am calling "the truth of the trail". That truth is the need to enjoy the hike and enjoy the time you have away from the busy outside world. Everything is slower on the trail. More relaxed and easier to take in. Forgive me if I do not write in my journal everyday or don't post every picture. It is only because I am relishing and taking in, quite selfishly, all the fun and good times I'm having out here. Damascus has done me well. The spirit of the AT community is strong and very much alive in this town. I'm glad I made it to Trail Days even though most of it now feels like a blur. I'm also glad to give back tomorrow and Monday when I am doing HardCore. Then it's back to the trail and on with the adventure.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Damascus

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Just a note---There are more journals to come, I will be sending Jenni handwritten ones for her to update for me, so just be patient. I have the last couple of weeks written down in notes, but will be writing journals over the next couple days as I'm still letting my leg heal from shin splints. Thank you to everyone for reading and I hope you continue to check it out. I am currently in Roanoke, VA and will be getting back out on the trail probably on Monday the 11th. Take it easy.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Damascus - Hardcore Day 1

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today is intense. Today is extreme. Today is HardCORE. Trail Days is officially over and the throngs are going their separate ways. The alumni will go back to their hometowns, the hikers back to the trail, and the local bums will resume their positions underneath the bridges. I have yet to see this town on a "normal" day, but that opportunity will present itself in a couple days. In an effort to avoid the masses, I am taking two more days off to give a little something back. I hope only to return a portion of what has been given to me by the thousands who worked this trail before me. We, all 115 of us, met at the post office and loaded up into some very tight quarters to get to the worksite, about an hour away. We piled into and out of the vehicles like clowns in a circus car or illegal immigrants crossing the border. At the parking area, it was at least a mile's hike uphill to the place where the tools were stashed and another 1/2 mile to the actual site. The 2 1/2 days off hit my legs not much differently than if they had been hit by the sledgehammers and polaskies we lugged up the hillside. It was the plan to clear 2,500 feet of trail over the two days. After the first day, 2,200 feet were done and ready to be "blazed". So the coordinators took some extra time to work out another 2,500 feet of trail to do tomorrow. Swinging the polasky and pulling the fire rake, as I'm sure you can imagine, works up a pretty good appetite and the kitchen crew had BBQ sandwiches, baked beans, and green beans waiting for us. The conversation in the air was the same at every table..."wait until tomorrow"..."Jack's cooking". Oh sweet Jesus, could it be? The same Jack from Miss Janet's? Yep. Baltimore Jack is in town working his magic. Speaking of, I heard he got pranked hard at Trail Days. On Saturday, when he was out talking up the vendors, half a dozen people dug out a hole a few feet deep underneath his tent and then set it back up. So Jack was none the wiser...He came in late that night and crashed right to the bottom of the pit...and somehow, by God's good grace, kept the floor of his tent from ripping. You could hear the cursing all over Damascus. Sorry, Jack. Half of the crew stayed at Kincora and the other half of us ran over to Braemer Castle, an old house that now serves as a hostel. I lied, most of the crew stayed at Kincora - those of us at Braemer had it all to ourselves, bunk or bed for everyone. I can't wait to hit it, today's zero didn't quite feel like a zero. Looking forward to tomorrow's work.