morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-14
From: Katahdin

To: View Entry
Miles today: 4.5

March 14, 2008I did not get much sleep last night, there were screech owls being their noisy selves all night. I woke at day break, packed up and went to the stream to gather water. There was a wild boar; he was very upset with me invading his domain. He snorted and snorted. I took care of my business and left him to his kingdom.I left Sassafras Gap as soon as I could, knowing the weather was turning, and I had to get to Dick¢s Gap as quickly as I could. About one hour into my hike, it started raining. About another hour later, it turned to freezing rain. I hiked for 2 hours in freezing rain before reaching Dick¢s Gap. This was a tough hike and I was soaked to the bone.I was not at Dick¢s Gap very long till Frank from Cloud 9 Hostel come by with the van picking up hikers along the way. He said it was to drop to 15 degrees with snow squalls tonight, so he went on the hunt of hikers to give them a haven. I took him up on the ride back to Cloud 9 Hostel. Windjammer and Bear Paw were still at the hostel. Hail and tornadoes are forecasted for Saturday, so will definitely stay at the Hostel tonight and tomorrow.Ounces make pounds, and pounds make pain. I am going to send more stuff home tomorrow. This will be the 3rd box sent home.
Date: 2008-03-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Here at Art-Exchange we have a couple things that we try to infuse into all our art-relationships. First, we try to under promise and over deliver. Second, we take pride in our company motto: Simply the best place on earth to buy and sell art. I personally believe that these things have helped us to grow to be one of the largest art sellers in the online market. That said I believe that James is a perfect example of what we can offer an artist that is often overlooked. The freedom to be displaying your work at 4 of the largest most prestigious venues in the country. Keep in mind this is professional representation and complete service from start to finish. James¢ art is beautiful, it reflects the time he has spent to perfect his craft, and his personal interpretation of our world is one-of-a-kind. It is my pleasure to announce that as this is being posted Mr. Davis¢ art is being reviewed by no less than three nationally competitive publishing companies. He has also passed the preliminary cut to be part of several upcoming commercial jobs. Before this becomes any more of a commercial, please let me add a personal note from someone who has made the 3600 mi trek across the U.S. (mine was via bicycle for 64 days). ¢James the first week or two is the hardest, and then it¢s downhill from there. I hope you know you have my whole staff cheering you on, and our prayers are with you for a safe and successful journey. Soak it all in, I have never forgotten mine and it was 10 years ago. I look forward to having a few checks waiting for you when your home. Good luck and God speed! ¢ Your admirer and Art consultant Justin Lipscomb ¢ Sr. Rep. Art-Exchange
Date: 2008-03-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

March 16, 20080 day. I stayed all day at Cloud 9 Hostel, helped cleaned the bunkhouse again. Frank and Laura are super hosts. There are about 20 hikers here today. There is no way anyone could have hiked today or even camping.   Balls of ice kept hitting the ground and winds so powerful. We heard a tornado hit downtown Atlanta that killed 2 people. Hiker talk today¢¦..80% to 90% of the hikers who started have dropped off the trail at Neels Gap. It is so understandable with the severe weather this season. At Whitley Gap Shelter in the afternoon, there was a bear sleeping on the floor of the shelter ¢ the hiker was then motivated to hike on by.I have re-supplied and re-packed. I have made my plans for Sunday, leaving early in the morning and hiking 9.1 miles into North Carolina past the Plumorchard Gap Shelter. Weather should be 35 degrees with sun!!! We heard the Fontana Dam was closed for terrorism, so we have to hike 11 miles around to find a place in the river to cross.This is trail is a National Treasurer. I have seen flowers that bloom for only 2 days and then die¢¦Red tail hawks circling. Unbelievable!!
Date: 2008-03-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.1

March 16, 2008I moved that white dot to North Carolina. I took a picture of the North Carolina sign ¢ just a piece of wood ¢ but it was beautiful to me. It was cold today but it was dry.At 9:00 this morning, Frank drove me to the point where he picked me on Thursday. I hiked 9.1 miles today. I found a good camp site about 4:45 pm. I did not stop at all today, kept my head down and moved up the mountains. I really like my tent ¢ thanks guys at Provisions!I got so tired as I crossed the North Carolina line that I tripped over a root and fell on my face, luckily into some soft leaves. You get so tired that you cannot pick up your feet. But I was determined to get to North Carolina today.I have a pinched nerve in my neck. This seems normal after talking to the hikers. I hope to stretch my back out tonight. I am planning an exotic meal tonight, going to put tuna in my noodles tonight!I am plotting my course for the next 3 days. I plan to camp 2 nights and on the 3rd night I will be at a hostel in Franklin and will get a shower ¢ oh, how I look forward to the hot showers.
Date: 2008-03-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.0

March 17, 2008Big burrrrr¢¦¢¦..last night; really cold with 30-mile an hour winds. No animals moving around last night as it was probably too cold for them to be out.Around 1 p.m. I made it to Muskrat Creek Shelter, stopped to eat some lunch. I have 4.9 miles to go to get to Standing Indian Shelter. The weather is cold, windy and foggy. I still have a pinched nerve in my neck. I hang on limbs of trees like a monkey, trying to pull the nerve right. I am sure I am a site to see, hanging like a monkey from the trees.I hiked nearly 10 miles today on rocky ledges, it seemed like it took forever. I arrived at the Shelter about 7 p.m. There were already 4 people at the shelter; that is all it can hold. So I pitched by tent beside it. It is so cold and windy; I have on everything I own. I ate so wonderful noodles and tuna for dinner and am ready for bed. The Park Ranger warned us of a rogue bear who is not afraid of people.My spirits are still good. Tomorrow¢s hike of 7.6 miles will take me to Carter Gap Shelter; maybe I will get to stay in the shelter tomorrow night.
Date: 2008-03-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.0

March 18, 2008I woke up at 4:00 a.m. with wind and rain tearing at my tent. As I broke camp, I could see my breath ¢ it was cold. I climbed Indian Mountain in the freezing rain today. I am so wet and tired. About 4:30 p.m. I reached Carter Gap Shelter. I am staying inside this shelter tonight. Two other hikers are here, each of them have slipped and hurt their ankles today. It was demanding today with the freezing rain; I am so very lucky I did not slip bad enough to hurt myself. I believe I hiked a little over 9 miles today.I really need to get to Franklin as I need supplies and my cell phone is now dead. My battery pack on my cell is weak; and I cannot get much coverage. So I am only able to talk this few minutes to my wife.
Date: 2008-03-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.2

March 19 and 20It has rained for 2 days and 2 nights. I had to climb Albert Mountain (worse mountain yet) which was just ledge after ledge; it was really a technical climb. I fell once and tore a hole in my backpack; I am so lucky that was the only damage on this Mountain. Pops, another hiker, caught up with me. We came across a fellow hiker who was in hypothermia sitting on a rock. We gave him some electrolytes for his water and gave him some food. WE slowly made it to Big Spring Shelter where we stayed the evening of March 19. The wind howled and the rain poured through the roof of this shelter. My sleeping bag was soaked. My boots and water were frozen. I am just totally soggy. We reached Franklin after 6 miles and 3 hours of hiking today. Thank heavens for Ron Haven and his yellow school bus. He drove us around town to get supplies as I am totally out of food and I must patch the hole in my backpack. Pops and I are going to share a Budget Inn tonight and split the costs. The only weather I have not experienced is a sandstorm and a hurricane; I am ready for anything! My attitude is undaunted, I am going to K. As Winston Churchill put it ¢ ¢If you think you¢re going through hell, keep going as it is your only way out.¢Leaping Turtle is at Franklin with Brush Strokes. Leaping Turtle had some comments on the harrowing experience of Albert Mountain, 5,250 feet up in rain and fog, slippery as the dickens. Leaping Turtle says that water is hard to get to, one day he climbed up a cliff and got a 5 foot icicle and melted to get water ¢ it worked. He just had to have his noodles!!
Date: 2008-03-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.1

March 22I climbed up on the yellow school bus early this morning, and Ron Haven drove me to the place he picked me up from. Another day of up and down the mountains. I had my 1st Trail Magic today¢a woman standing on top of Winding Stair Mountain waiting for me. She gave me a bag with a boiled egg, snickers bar and chocolate Easter eggs. Then as I was 12 down Winding Stair Mountain on the other side - at the waterfall, there was Capri Sun All Natural Sport Berry Ice floating in the stream so I reached down and got one. Thanks Trail Angels.I hiked 9 miles to the Cold Spring Shelter, an old shelter. I have a nice water supply here. I am ready to eat my noodles tonight. I have placed my food bag up in the tree from the bears. It will be in the teens tonight, but it is dry. I need to have a good hiking day on Sunday because Monday is rain again. I am looking forward to getting to NOA by Monday afternoon.
Date: 2008-03-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Poem by Brush StrokesI HAVE NOT BLINKEDI sit on top of your great mountain hump, huddled in my tent;I nurse my wounds with one eye, keeping my other eye on Katahdin.Never blinking. The elements¢¦battering high winds, sleet ,snow, floods of rain;I shiver from the cold while I plan the task ahead of me.I will rest for now. I will ignore the pain. I will plan my journey carefully.I will retain my strength. Yes, I will rest; sleeping with only one eye closedFor tomorrow will be another day Katahdin, I am getting closer, only 2,000 miles to your summit I have not blinkedMarch 16Camped at base of Indian MountainBrush Strokes
Date: 2008-03-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.0

March 23, 2008Long hiking day, 12 hours and 13 miles to Cold Spring Shelter. It was a sunny and cold day but it was a dry day. I was about 3 hours into my day, there was Trail Angel Carol set up along the trail with hot coffee and cinnamon rolls for the hikers. Wow! Wow! Wow! Hot coffee ¢ it was the best!! Thank you Trail Angel Carol!!As I made it into Cold Spring Shelter about 8:30 p.m. in the dark and very cold, there was Trail Angle Apple who had a big tent set up for hikers to stay in. How nice I did not have to put up my tent and set up camp. Thank you Trail Angel Apple.Tomorrow will be another long day of hiking as I must go 13 miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). It is to start snowing tomorrow morning so the hike may be slow. But I look forward to getting to the NOC for a hot, hot shower.Kudos to the Trail Angels!!!!
Date: 2008-03-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.8

March 24, 2008Big thank you to Apple the Trail Angel for letting some of us stay in his tent last night. Leaping Turtle and Pops made it to the tent, also. Apple had a fire burning, I ate 5 hot dogs!! So tasty!! What a treat!!!I got up this morning with it snowing. All the water was frozen. I climbed straight up Wasser Bald; I thought I would never get to the top of this mountain. I hiked in snow and ice ¢ had to be careful with every step ¢ had to place each foot solidly so I would not slip. I felt as if I was cross country skiing instead of hiking. At the top of the mountain, it was a tremendous sight ¢ I took a picture. There was a snow storm coming straight at me ¢ an amazing sight.I arrived at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) after 6:00 p.m. I had to really push the last 2 hours to get there. I am totally drained and my right knee is paining. Coming down Wasser Bald was difficult as it was like putting brakes on all the time with the ice and snow, so my knees took a lot of punishment.I went 13.8 miles today. I am proud of myself.
Date: 2008-03-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

March 25, 2008 I took a 0 day at the NOC for healing of my body, mostly my legs. The swelling in my knees is down and chaffing inside my legs is a little better. I had a good night¢s sleep and a nice hot shower. This NOC is not hiker friendly. You have no sheets and no pillow. You just put your sleeping bag on a wood bunk. You have to rent a towel and to get soap; you have to buy it at the Outfitters who close at 5 pm. The only restaurant closes at 7 pm. I am sharing a cabin with Pops and Leaping Turtle.I ate everything on the breakfast buffet this morning. It was so, so good.For entertainment, I read Out of the Cradle Endless Rocking from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. I had to purchase a new backpack today. I am so disappointed in the Kelty Ultralight Cloud that I purchase prior to the trip. It has a hole in it and is wearing on the belt around the waist. I am not yet 30 days into the trail. I am sending it home to my wife who will send it on to Kelty to get repaired or replaced ¢ hopefully.I feel rested and am looking forward to hiking tomorrow ¢ into the Smokey Mountains. I plan to get to Sassafras Gap Shelter tomorrow, approximately 8 miles. It will be a steep climb so I will have to push on steady to get to the shelter by dark.I am slowly going up another hump of the Dragon
Date: 2008-03-26
From: Springer Mountain

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

March 26, 2008I had a wonderful breakfast buffet at NOC before starting my trek. I purchased ¢Glide¢ at NOC, it is for my chap on my legs which are scabs over scabs. This ¢Glide¢ is like mini deodorant, like silicone so my pants won¢t rub against my legs. It made such a difference today ¢ finally some relief!! I climbed straight up all day. It was a nice day, about 50 degrees with overcast skies. However, on top of the mountain, I felt I was in the sky. As I looked down at the NOC, the stream running through it looked like a thread. I took many pictures from this vantage point. What views!!I reached Sassafras Gap Shelter about 3:30. There is a nice stream here. I prepared my campsite, putting my bag up in the tree away from the bears. I hiked 7.7 miles today. Leaping Turtle passed up this shelter and hiked on up the mountain. Pops, Windjammer and Bear Paw stopped here. So I will have company tonight at camp. I was really hungry so I fixed one of my ¢mountain house¢ meals ¢ beef stroganoff ¢ it was to die for!! One thing I have learned is that your diet is very important; nutrition is so important. Other hikers have introduced me to ¢mountain house¢ meals which are freeze dried ¢ light for packing and easy to fix. I am going to try to eat one every other day.It is getting windy so tonight will be another cold one.
Date: 2008-03-27
From: Katahdin

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.1

March 27, 2008 Another day of steep climbing. I think I am climbing to heaven. I hiked 9.1 miles today and arrived at Brown Fork Gap Shelter about 5:30 pm. This shelter is an old, old log cabin like one that I would think Daniel Boone would have lived in. This is another Kodak moment. There is a small stream but it is a little hike to get to the water. I plan to leave at day break in the morning so I got my water supply for tomorrow. I am wiped out; my body is ready to hit the sleeping bag.
Date: 2008-03-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.8

March 27I am very pleased to have hiked 16.8 miles today because it was another day of straight up the mountain. I arrived at Brown Gap Shelter after dark. The Privy was made of 4 posts up in the air with a roof. It had a wooden bench with a commode lid on it. I felt like the King with the 30 mile an hour winds coming through as I sat on this bench.I strained my hip today. I had muscle cramps in both legs with my toes drawing up for more than an hour tonight Then the mice¢¦I felt something run across my neck ¢ I grabbed my light ¢ it was mice everywhere and lots of brown spiders. I did not get much sleep tonight,
Date: 2008-03-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.6

March 28 and 29I have arrived at Fontana Dam after 13.6 miles of hiking, arriving after 6 p.m. Here I have to register and get a permit to go through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. I also need to resupply. Pops and I are sharing a hotel. There is no cell phone coverage so I had to purchase a calling card to call my wife ¢ my biggest supporter.I slept in today, enjoyed the nice bed and hot, hot shower. My strained hip is feeling better. I have decided to take a 0 day and plan for my trek to Gatlinburg which is over 60 miles from here; so I need to purchase enough food to last me. I went to the store and had to have potato chips and orange drink FOR BREAKFAST ¢ it is amazing what you crave. I have lost more than 30 pounds in my first month on the trail. It is a rainy, cold day. I had dinner with Rain & Barley who are MIT grads. I have really enjoyed meeting so many interesting people on this adventure.
Date: 2008-03-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.1

March 30I climbed into the middle of the clouds today ¢ it was very eerie. Many times I almost lost the trail because of the clouds/fog.   I pushed harder today than any other day ¢ I have to stay on pace to get through the Smokies because of my food supply. I hiked 14.1 miles today. I had to pass up Mollies Ridge Shelter as there were already 14 people there; they had plastic over the door to keep the wind out. I hiked about 2 more miles and camped out. I had camp set up by 7 p.m. I was very, very tired and very hungry.It is rainy and very windy. I fixed my tent so I could hold onto it from the inside. I think I would prefer to camp out than in the shelter after my experience with all the mice. Uuuggg!
Date: 2008-03-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.2

March 31, 2008 total 6.2 miles todayIt rained all night and was so windy. I am so happy that my tent stayed dry inside. Packing and carry a wet tent is no fun. There is a huge cloud dropping moisture all around.It has rained all day. I hiked 2.5 miles to Russell Field Shelter; there was a bear cage around it ¢ another Kodak moment! I took a break here about 1 pm. It has stormed and poured rain all day. The trail was so muddy, I kept sliding down. One step forward, two steps backward. My Achilles tendon is hurting today. Shin splits have appeared now.I hiked another 3.7 miles to Spencer Field Shelter. It is about 3:30 pm. I cannot go another 6.5 miles to Derrick Knob Shelter so I am stopping here for the night. There are signs up stating ¢absolutely no tenting¢. The weather is so nasty, a shelter is good. Windjammer and Bear Claw came into shelter this afternoon also. Windjammer is 34 today so we sang ¢Happy Birthday¢.Well, Leaping Turtle came into the Shelter about 6 p.m. The Shelter was full, I gave him my space in the shelter because everything Leaping Turtle had was soaked and he needed it more than me. So I pitched my tent beside the Shelter. Still raining and gushing winds tonight. I have my tent tied down good.
Date: 2008-04-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.0

April 2, 2008I hiked a hard 14 miles today. I enjoyed the good weather, so good to have sunshine. I am finally warmed up. There is no wind. It is calm and so beautiful.I feel really strong today. I am so ready to paint as I have seen so many unusual colors. There was a plant that was maroon and red; it just blew me away. I took pictures of it. I am going to make that color when I do my Appalachian series. I reached Clingman¢s Dome late in the afternoon. It rises 6,643 feet above the Great Smoky Mountains and is the highest point along the AT and provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. Anyone who knows me understands my love and knowledge for the Civil War. So, Clingman¢s Dome was named after the Civil War General / US Senator, Thomas Lanier Clingman, a prospector who obtained much wealth from the timber and minerals of this region. Clingman originally measured Mount Mitchell as the highest peak, which of course it is at an elevation of 6,684 feet, but Dr. Elisha Mitchell also made this claim and after much debate and a decade later Mitchell went back to remeasure the mountain and fell to his death at the base of what is now known as Mitchell Falls. Coma and Leaping Turtle were already at Clingman¢s Dome when I arrived. There was a family at the observation tower there. We visited with the family; they shared sandwiches and apples with us. Then they offered to take us to Gatlinburg; but we had to ride in the back of the pickup truck about 25 miles. We thought that would be great; we did not have to pay for a shuttle to go down to Gatlinburg. It was a cold ride. The 3 of us decided to share a hotel in Gatlinburg and take the shuttle tomorrow back to the trail. In the morning, we need to resupply and wash our stinky clothes.
Date: 2008-04-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

April 3, 2008 I had a great night sleeping in a nice warm, comfy bed. Getting around Gatlinburg is complicated when you do not have a car and you use the red line and blue line. I spent most of the day waiting on the bus ¢ to get supplies ¢ to go the laundry ¢ to go out to eat. By the time I got these chores done, it was early afternoon. It is storming and raining so I have decided to take a 0 day here in Gatlinburg. I took the opportunity to call all of my family and friends. I really appreciate all of those people who are supporting me by reading my journal, keeping me in their thoughts and prayers¢¦thank you!
Date: 2008-04-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 5.0

April 4, 2008I left on the shuttle to Clingman¢s Dome about 10:00 a.m. I am really glad I did take a day off at Gatlinburg. I finally told my wife that I had fallen the day before I arrived at Gatlinburg and had cracked a rib. I know cracked and broken ribs as I raced cars for many years as a young man and had my share of crashes and my share broken ribs. Broken ribs need time to heal, there is nothing I can only accept the pain. If I saw a doctor, he would tell me to take time off the trail. I am going to march only. The devil is just trying to stop me from my dream to make it to Katahdin.It was another cold and rainy day, and I am still hiking in fog. I know there is beauty out there. I wish I could see it. I am doing about 1 mile per hour because it is wet and slippery and ribs continue to hurt. I cannot put pressure on my right pole; I feel it in my ribs. I arrived at Deep Gap Shelter, going about 5 miles today. I ate and lay down to sleep.
Date: 2008-04-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 8.0

April 5, 2008It is still rainy, cold and foggy. I met 2 ladies who are 61 years old; they are doctors from Chattanooga. They were day hiking, getting in shape to climb the Himalayas. I stopped and chatted with them for about 12 hour. I hiked 8 miles and arrived at Icewater Spring Shelter about 2:30 pm. There were already 5 hikers there. The next shelter is almost 8 miles; so I need to stop even though it is early. While in the National Park, if you solo camp, you can be fined $125. That is why so many have stopped so early. I lost my spoon so I am going to have to carve a spoon to eat my exciting dinner tonight.
Date: 2008-04-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

April 8 (Tuesday)I left Tri Corner Shelter about 8:30 am. It was a beautiful day; I really enjoyed the hike today. I hiked 20 miles today ¢ my record to date! I arrived at Standing Bear Farm in Hartford TN at 7:30 pm tonight. There is a hostel here. I am now out of the Smokies; and I am really glad to have them behind me. I am staying at the bunk house, cost is $15 which includes hot shower. There are several hikers here including !Windjammer and !Bear Paw. My ribs are feeling better. I plan to take tomorrow as a 0 day so I can resupply and heal up.