morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-10-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It is now October 2nd. I¢ve set my sights on getting back on to some trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park a.k.a. GSMNP. In order to hike and spend overnight in the back country, you must request a back country permit. This can be a daunting task in October because the fall foliage is a big draw and there are a limited number of overnight hikers permitted at camping spots. My plan is to hike in the less crowded area in the east part of the park. The further away you get from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, the less crowded trails are apt to be. I plan to get to one of my favorite spots in the GSMNP; Mount Sterling. There is a CCC built fire tower at the summit. It reminds a bit of the Fire Tower at Ferdinand State Forest. The trail to Mount Sterling is currently under a bear warning which means black bears have been entering overnight camping areas. As much as the GSMNP preaches to hikers not to feed the bears, some hikers ignore the rule. The downside of feeding the bears is that the bears know that humans have food. Once the association with food and humans is made, bears will pillage tents and backpacks if they get a scent of something tasty. So to be on the safe side, I¢ll carry some pepper spray as I will be hiking solo. There was an extremely informative article in the last AT magazine about how many of the AT Shelters in the 70 miles of the GSMNP have been rebuilt. When I stayed in the shelters in early 2010, the shelters still had chain link fencing that was built across the front of the shelters. Most were run down and the shelters were often crowded, damp, smelly and mouse infested. Gauging from the pictures in the article, the shelters are now clean, feature nice drainage to alleviate the mud and dampness in the front of the Shelters and yet retain the original look of the shelters from the 1930¢s. Most retain their stone fireplaces. I can¢t wait to see them!For the third time, I am reading the book Undaunted Courage. It¢s a book about the Lewis/Clark - Corp of Discovery and their trip up the Missouri River and down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. One part that is fascinating is their description of the Buffalo herds. Their first encounter was with a herd of about 5 bison. They marveled at the size, beauty and tasty meat of the great beasts. As they move further up river into the Dakotas and Montana, the sizes of the herds they see kept increasing. At one point from a high vantage point near Great Falls, MT, Captain Lewis views what he estimates to be a herd of no less that 20,000 bison. I would have sold my soul to be on that incredible journey. A real oddity is that I share a birthday with Captain Meriwether Lewis. I think I am suffering from what can be rightly called ¢melancholy¢. The cause is due to lack of time on mountains trails. While I¢m blessed to have a loving family and friends, and I certainly enjoy the many trails in Southern Indiana, I miss the mountains and the view they offer. I hope to hit the GSMNP trails for at least five days beginning on October 17. I hope this will be a form of treatment and cure for what ails me.
Date: 2012-06-11
To: A Simple Farewell
Miles today: 0.0

On May 23, 2010, Sole Searcher (John Bieker) began his much anticipated and long awaited journey on the Appalachian Trail. For the past two years, John hiked many miles and walked many trails, though not nearly as many as he planned. Hiking was his passion. There was nothing he loved better than being outside walking on a trail...especially if it was a cool, breezy day.My heart hurts as I tell you that John died of a massive heart attack on Monday, April 23, 2012. There was no warning. The day he died, he was still adding trails to his bucket list. Early that morning he searched for information on the internet about the Camino de Santiago, the historical pilgrimage also known as "The Way of Saint James" which is located in France and Spain. In August, he planned to hike trails in the Rockies that he had hiked with his friends in the late 70's.You may have met him somewhere on the trail and known him as Sole Searcher. I know that many of you knew him as John (or Babe.) I knew him as my husband, the father of our children, the light of my life, my rock.I want to end this part of his journey with words from a movie scene. These words spoke to him and I think he would want to share them with you. "I never like to say goodbye.But there is a wind behind everyone that takes us through our lives.We never see it.We can't command it.We don't even know its purpose.I would have stayed among you longer but that wind is taking me away.I will miss it here and I will miss you.But I'm content that the power that propels me, does so with superior knowledge as to what is for the best.That is my faith."
Date: 2010-07-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I am very happy to report that after a crazy amount of money, I have my packweight down to 27 pounds, including a ridiculous amount of food and a full water reservoir. Nope. I can't do this. I can't refer to is as a water reservoir. It's a bladder. Bladder. Bladder is gladder.I am perfectly happy with 27 pounds, especially seeing as I won't always carry so much food. When I started backpacking in 2004, my first packweights were always hovering around 50. Yes, 50 pounds. Which is ridiculous. No wonder I never made it more than 14 miles in a day back then. Here is my gear list, for you 2 people on the internet who care:Big Stuff w/ CommentaryWestern Mountaineering 10 Degree Versalite (AMAZING. I am a freeze baby, but this keeps me warm.)Granite Gear Vapor Ki (I swear I didn't buy it because it's purple. . . uh . . . )Steripen Adventurer (Even if Steripen 1 died, I believe in these. I can't stand the thought of intentionally consuming more chemicals.)Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 (I love Big Agnes!)Mini Inflatable Thermarest Black Diamond Switchback Poles (ca. 2004)Merrell Moab Ventilators (free replacement. Thanks Merrell.)Smaller stuff:Bladder (2 liter)Journal & PenAddresses, stamps, 3 envelopesIbuprofin & LyseneAT SOBO guidebookhand sanitizerWet Wipesknifetoenail clippertitanium pot & plastic spoonlighteremergency iodine pills (~10)water bottletoothbrush & paste & mini flossersWolf Ridge jacketCrocsCamera & cell phone chargersCamera & cell phonePopcan stove with homemade windscreen & two bottles of HEET1 pair backup shorts2 pairs additional underwear (I splurge.)2 pairs additional socks1 pair sacred camp socks1 sweater1 backup shirt1 bandana4 backup Steripen batteriesCoby MP3 player with LOTS and LOTS of Ace of BasePetzl headlamp3 backup AAAs2 photos2 carabinersPomegranate monsterI am sure I am forgetting something obvious.
Date: 2010-08-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I really like hiking alone. I like hiking alone because I can huff and puff all the way up and squat all the way down and I don't have to worry about holding anyone up. I like hiking alone because I don't have to worry about another person's needs and I can hike more when I feel like it. But for a hike like the Appalachian Trail, I was thrilled when Hungry Creepster wanted to come. Terrified, but thrilled. I've been slightly bummed that I wasn't going to get to share the southern southbound hike with anyone. It's such a good opportunity for inside jokes, general silliness, and great photo ops.I invited Bovee and Fritz, but they have other adventures. I invited Hungry Creepster, but he just hiked it. And then Mark popped into my life. I estimate that there are approximately 2 people on Earth willing to quit their job to go hike the AT with me. I found both of them! While Hungry Creepster went back to his job and was able to kind of pick up where he left off, Mark is leaving LA and going to find a new life on the east coast. Huh! Well, like I said with Creepster, this is either going to be aaawesome or it's going to be a disaaaster. But I think it will be aaawesome.
Date: 2010-08-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Whew! What a crazy couple of days. Last time life was so busy that I didn't have the luxury of being stressed about the hike. This time. . . lots of time to stress!I am beginning the grand tour of farewells 2.2 tomorrow. I've already said goodbye to my dear fishies, Eleanor and Yuto, and my sister's whole family, and my beloved cousins Madeline & Sam and parents. Tomorrow I say goodbye to my parents and visit with my dear friend Michael. Then I'll spend a concert evening with my childhood friend Tom before hanging out with His Creepiness one last time before I get on the train. Crazy schedule, but wonderful to see three of my very best friends before I head out.Harpers Ferry, here I come!
Date: 2010-09-02
From: Campsite

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I should also note that Mark is keeping track of the trail on his site, which is http://markjoat.blogspot.com/. He has a fancy camera and uploads pictures and stuff, whereas you only get my witty commentary here. And alas, it hasn't even been all that witty yet. It's hard to be witty when I am actually enjoying life on the trail. It was way more fun to write a trailjournal back when my feet were gushing blood.
Date: 2010-09-03
To: Campsite
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Just under a year ago, I left the AT at Harpers Ferry. My best friend Phil hung out with me as long as he could, then he had to go hike to finish the last 9 miles of the day. I got on the train and rode home. So it was fitting that Phil drove me to the Amtrak station early on September 1 and yet again said goodbye to me. Thanks for the ride & camaraderie, Hungry Creepster!After a ridiculous train delay (not Amtrak's fault, however) I arrived in Harpers Ferry a day and 2 hours late. I was seated next to a nice man on the way out there who is going to be a pastor along with his wife. A nice, relaxing train ride. And although I was ridiculously late, at least I got there.Today I finally met Mark, the person who, unless we decide we hate each other, will be my hiking buddy for the next 3 months. He met me at the train station and we went the ATC to say hi to the workers and get water. There we met Aboo, a female thruhiker. There aren't too many SOBOs in the area, so it was nice to meet one. Mark seems like he will be a lovely hiking buddy, though he hasn't walked into anything yet or otherwise provided the comic relief that hiking with Creepster did. Then we finally started hiking. My legs didn't remember what I was asking of them. It was a tough thousand foot climb for a girl from Minnesota where hills come in the 400 foot category if we're lucky. But I hauled myself up slowly (and I mean sloooowly) but surely and we hiked on.Today the first trail magic struck! It was an incredibly dry section and I knew we wouldn't make it to the first water source that first night. We got near a road and there was a cooler of Gatorade and some gallons of water. We drank and filled up and kept going. That was the most perfectly placed trail magic ever. THANK YOU to all trail angels out there!So now we are in Front Royal Virginia, 50 miles later. I'll update this next time we have a moment.
Date: 2010-09-04
From: Campsite

To: Stealth by supposed stream
Miles today: 12.0

Oh good lord. This is the AT I remember. . . albeit a slightly kinder one. Today was really long - really good, but really long. We awoke early, packed up the tents and hiked on in our quest for water. It's hard to believe how dry it really is around here. We had to hike in .2 to a shelter, and nearly had to descend into a ravine of death to reach the spring, but happily some weekenders (was it even the weekend?) had way too much water in a massive 10-gallon tank (how did they get it there?) and let us fill up. A lovely surprise.We later did descend into a different ravine of death to get water at Blackburn Center, but there were also picnic tables in this ravine of death, so I felt moderately better about that. I think the trail went down approximately 5,000 feet in .2 miles.A very, very exciting thing happened today when we officially crossed into VIRGINIA! West Virginia was indeed "almost heaven" as John Denver so eloquently put it, but it is exciting to check it off my list. Virginia composes about 1/4 of the total miles of Appalachian Trail, so I'll be here for as long as it takes me to hike 500 and some miles. Basically, forever.We also crossed the 1000 mile marker, which is made for northbounders so they get to say "Yay, I totally just hiked 1000 miles!" instead of the southbound attitude of "Oh, my God, I really have 1000 miles to go?"Just 1000 miles to go . . .
Date: 2010-09-05
From: Stealth by supposed stream

To: Stealth by Morgan Mill
Miles today: 8.3

Long but good day. I feel my muscles waking up and my heart growing to accommodate my needs. I am still painfully slow, and I am very happy that Mark has all his gizmos to play with while waiting for my to haul my butt up the mountain.We were going to go farther, but the best laid plans of mice and men . . . We are camping by a somewhat decent water source with Aboo, who we have been hiking with, and Doug and Blacklight who we've seen the past couple of days. Kind of fun to have a southbound crowd already, although they are already in trail shape and will go much faster than we will right now.Today I met the first person who ever thru-hiked the North Country Trail. That's 4,600 miles of hiking. On trail that isn't built yet. Yeah. He gets hardcore points.I love seeing the shadows of falling leaves. I know that I am the only person who will ever see that particular shadow.
Date: 2010-09-06
From: Stealth by Morgan Mill

To: Dick's Dome
Miles today: 11.6

Today we got to leave the "Roller Coaster" section of Virginia and head into a slightly saner terrain. I left camp early because I couldn't sleep, and I expected Speedy Mark to catch up with me quickly. Alas, he never did, so I kept on trudging along. Good hiking companion, I am!Today there was a deathclimb out of Ashby Gap. Halfway up I threw off my pack and collapsed joyfully in the middle of the trail. Yeah. It was great.But the climb was well worth it, for at the top of the hill was SKY MEADOWS, which is exactly as beautiful, pristine, and Eden-like (minus snakes and naked people) as it sounds.I got to our first shelter (we have passed others but not yet slept in one) and watched butterflies lick salt off my socks. That's pretty much why I hike.
Date: 2010-09-07
From: Dick's Dome

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

One other highlight of yesterday: Some section hikers lost their water filter and came to me for help. I was able to give them the backup iodine tablets I've been carrying, and I Steripenned their water for them. SO many times the trail has given me, somehow, exactly what I needed when I needed it, and it made my heart so happy to give these two ladies what they needed.But today was even better. We found our first GOOD water source at Manassas Gap Shelter and ate lunch at 10:30. Yum. Bagels and Nutella. The next five miles were really hard for me because it's hot, and I'm from Minnesota, and I'm just not comfortable with this heat/humidity combo that Virginia seems rather keen on. So I did what any normal person would do: I dug out my MP3 player from my pack and listened to Lady Gaga as I hauled myself up the 600ft hill. Once on top, Mark was waiting for me under a lone apple tree, so we nibbled on apples and put some in our pack and went on. And it was so worth it.Jim and Molly Denton Shelter may be the nicest shelter on the AT. Sure, there's that shelter farther south where you can get pizza delivered, and I'm sure that's going to seem really nice. But this shelter has a SOLAR SHOWER. Which, granted, was not getting any sun and was ice cold . . . but on a hot day, it was like finding an Icee in the middle of the trail. Heaven. I don't think I have ever been so happy to get into a shelter early in the day. We were done at 2, which bodes really well for higher miles in the future.
Date: 2010-09-08
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

This was one heck of an 8-mile day. First we gained about 2000 feet (lost a bunch), and then we resupplied in Front Royal. It felt GREAT to be out there, hitching again. Hitch-hiking on the trail is normal and pretty safe and definitely an accepted part of the culture. Very different from normal life, unfortunately.Our first hitcher-pickers were Elaine and Henry (Woods?) who tried to get us to find jobs in Front Royal and settle down there. We did settle down long enough to eat a pizza and visit the library briefly and get food for the our next stint. Then we were hitching back out, and got picked up by Doug and his silent daughter. I think she was really unamused with her father's love of picking up hikers. We really, really, appreciate the rides.On our way up to Tom Floyd I saw my FIRST BEAR EVER on the AT!!! I thought I would have a heart attack with my first encounter, but it was all slow motion and calm. Alas, I scared it away before Mark got to see it.Ginger spring was cold but piddly with wasps everywhere. I am ready for some rain! Make this land wet again!
Date: 2010-09-09
From: Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Again we rocked up to camp around 2. The next shelter is too far for us, and the water situation south of here sounds dire, so we decided just to call it a day. Some high-quality loafing and cloud watching happened. Early this morning after I left the shelter, Mark was able to see a bear come and check out the picnic table. Very cool! I got to see THREE bears within moments of entering Shenandoah National Park. Later at a piddly spring I scared one away.I am a huge fan. Shenandoah is all right by me.We shared the shelter with Neil, TurtleHawk and Silver, and a couple others who decided to tent. Mark read from Just So Stories and we learned about the armadillo.Bear count today: 4. YAY!
Date: 2010-09-10
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

Long but good day. Stopped by a wayside after 6 miles. Turns out that national parks have amenities, like camp stores and grills . . . who knew? It's a magical thing. We got there in time for breakfast and we stuck around to eat lunch as well. I ate 2 eggs, 2 pieces of toast, 2 hash brown patties, bacon, chocolate milk, a nalgene of water, french fries, a cheeseburger, and a pop. Oh yeah. It was really something to waddle to the shelter after all that. Bear count of day: 1
Date: 2010-09-11
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Mountain Stealth
Miles today: 12.1

I really didn't feel like going 15 miles to the next shelter. We got a late start, lost a couple of hours eating awesome food at Skyline Resort (financially, I am glad that Shenandoah National Park does not go on forever . . . my stomach, however, will be sad to leave). . . anyway, it was getting dark and stormy and we were still a couple of miles from the shelter so I bailed and stealthed alone. Mark decided to keep on, because it was clearly going to rain and he is not as vehemently opposed to night-hiking as I am. It worked out well. So it rained, but only my tent got wet. Life is good.
Date: 2010-09-12
From: Mountain Stealth

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 6.7

Sometimes I have moments of genius.I woke up early and made it to the shelter, where Boy Scouts were frolicking and Mark was reading the trail register. We decided not to go anywhere and take a zero day (a zero-mileage day for him, but not for me technically). Around noon I had the brilliant idea of hiking a few more miles and getting a room at Big Meadows Lodge. For two hikers (thruhiker discount!) the price was not outrageous and came with breakfast. Sold! I don't think I have ever hiked 3.5 miles so quickly. We were passed by the Taco Boys, Guac & Queso, along the way, but we didn't say hi. I think we were all thinking of food or showers or more food. This was the first shower I'd taken since my unexpected layover in Chicago. Can you imagine how bad I smelled? I really smelled bad. We each took a half-hour shower, ate supper, and enjoyed having pillows. If only I could carry a pillow always. Sigh.
Date: 2010-09-15
From: Weaver Mountain Stealth

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

A craptastic morning made for an awesome day. I had my first CLOSE bear encounter, which was awesome and did not end in death. We hit up another wayside and I got a BLT which was so good that when Mark went to order dessert I decided to get another BLT. That was unwise, but I cannot regret it.
Date: 2010-09-16
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Made it to the shelter 20 minutes before it started to sprinkle. Alas, it did not add up to much, but still a good feeling.Have enjoyed sharing the shelter with Djangle who is a funky dude from Asheville.Waynesboro tomorrow!!!
Date: 2010-09-17
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Quality Inn
Miles today: 7.0

We made it to Waynesboro today! We ate at the famous Ming Garden Buffett. My feet look like they've only gone through a minor war! Life is good. Hoping for an honest-to-goodness zero day tomorrow, but we'll see. No rain in forecast. Please send rain. Waynesboro stories to come later. Thanks for the maildrops, Mom and Dad and Jesse's fam and Mark's mom! xoxojo
Date: 2010-09-18
From: Quality Inn

To: Nowhere!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a wonderful zero day.Waynesboro is, in general, a really sweet little town. Its only downfall is that it is OBSESSED with showers.We went to Ming Gardens Buffet and instead of saying "hi" like normal hostesses would, our hostess snarled at us and said "ARE YOU HIKERS?" We sheepishly said yes. Does being a hiker make us a second-class citizen? Our uber-friendly hostess went on to ask "Have ya'll showered yet? Because hikers come in and they spread bugs and stuff from their hair." So I guess I am vermin, a disease-carrying undesirable.We ate heartily but not ridiculously and ended up at the library, where there was a huge sign saying "HIKERS: WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE YMCA OFFERS SHOWERS."Gee, thanks.
Date: 2010-09-19
From: Nowhere!!!

To: Humpback Mountain Stealth
Miles today: 11.5

Big thanks to Mark and Janice for the hitch out of Waynesboro. I thought we were destined to be stuck yet another day, and I feel totally ready to be back on the trail.The highlight of today involved a blow-up lion that my sister sent me in our Waynesboro mail drop. My sister always thinks I need random junk sent to me when I am on the trail (usually she is right). I then have to figure out something to do with said junk. The obvious answer with the inflatable lion was to leave it in a shelter with a SOUTHBOUND CHALLENGE: Carry the lion to Springer Mountain in Georgia! We'll see what happens. Maybe someone super fast will pick it up and we'll see it again.Tonight I watched colors change from the top of Humpback Mountain and the glittery lights of towns in the valley kept us company. It was a beautiful place to stealth.
Date: 2010-09-20
From: Humpback Mountain Stealth

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Sometimes, when there are lots of trails and lots of signs and lots going on (trail-wise) and my guildebook claims that the shelter is right on the trail (rather than being on a side-trail in reality), I might be forgiven for taking a wrong turn and going a quarter of a mile up a mountain when in fact I was supposed to go on a different path entirely.So when I turned around and finally did make it to Maupin Field Shelter where Mark was eating lunch (and had presumably been killing time for an hour or more) I threw down my poles and said, "I am not ready to talk to anyone yet and I am going to go sit in the dark." So I crawled into the shelter and sat in the dark. Poor Mark.Then the world got better and we tried to hang our food on the bear pole, but the bear pole is so freakishly tall that even Mark (6 foot 4) had trouble with it. He got pictures of me (5 foot 7 on a tall day) attempting to get our food up there. That's okay. We all need blackmail material.