morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-01-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Am I taking too casual an approach to my upcoming trek? Sixty days out and only now posting my first TJ entry.I depart Hike Inn on March 16th with a full stomach and a sack lunch, and take the first step. From there, it's in the hands of my muse.Admittedly, I'm no Spring Chicken. Some might tag me a "Late Autumn Leghorn" although I'd prefer a moniker that includes the word(s) "retread" or "second wind". On the other hand, I am well seasoned, have lived a life packed with an overabundance of FTA, and relish a personal challenge.At the start, thanks to the Class of 2010 TJ'ers, especially King, KingKrawler, Mrs. Joy, On the Loose and Quarterpounder. Those five particularly--all thru-hike finishers, different genders, ages, stages, hike styles and motivations--have been stellar inspiration for my aspiration. My success, if achieved, will be directly connected to their experiences and superb journaling.Light weight is my mantra. I'd like to go out with 20 pounds on my back. So far, the basics--pack, tent, bag and pad--total eight pounds, 9 ounces. Eleven pounds, seven ounces remain. (If it turns out the load is a little heavier, it will not be the first time my aim is wide of the mark.)This is my start. More later. An abbreviated gear list next...then a little more on my prep (or lack thereof.)Be with you on the trail - in person or in spirit.
Date: 2011-01-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Gear Report. I've posted an abbreviated list of gear--generally the basics as I imagine the creature comfort items are largely a matter of taste and preference.One comment on boots. I've purchased several pairs of Asolo FSN 95's (after trying alternatives) and have found Asolo superior for my feet. Great combo of weight, support, features and price. No aches, pains, blisters or hot spots. My purchase for the trek was a half size larger than usual anticipating thicker socks and widening soles.Staying geared up! Next, thoughts on whys and wherefores.
Date: 2011-01-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I am principally motivated by the opportunity to focus on two elements of the AT hiking adventure:1. Reviewing the elapsed 75% of my life span, (the good, bad and ugly), and sketching out the next 75% yet to be experienced.2. Observing and participating with the dynamics of the Society of Trail Hikers which I expect to be exhilarating, regenerating, enlightening, inexplicable and just plain fun.Not that I'm insensitive to or unaffected by the beauty of it all. It's just that I've spent a fair turn tromping the southern half at various times - Old Rag, Clingman's, Wayah, Nantahala (if you include Snowbird Mountain Lodge as a hardship tour), Dockery Lake, DeSoto Falls) - and been captured by the views and vistas. In addition, the Gila - with its incomparable and interminable display of mountains, canyons, hoodoos and watersheds - has been my backyard for the past several years. I may be a bit jaded, but luckily for me it's all good!
Date: 2011-01-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Logged six miles lateral and a bunch of vertical in the Gila on Monday. Actually a bush whacking/rock scrambling marathon. The trek necessarily included ritual bloodletting as our dear leader never encountered a goathead or catclaw the he did not love. The weather was spectacular however - crystal blue skies, cloudless and warm, (sorry, northeasterners), with some nosh and nap on the high spot.Plan to UPS my gear to Amicalola in advance, then perhaps fly naked to ATL to avoid the TSA patdown. (I'm still thinking that one through a bit, however.) In any event my "go-lite" objective seems to be on track -- I'd like to start out at 25 or fewer pounds on my back.Maybe the payoff is neither the journey nor the destination, but the planning?
Date: 2011-02-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Long ago, in a prior life, a phrase was occasionally and excitedly heard which I thought epitomized spontaneity. "Pull pitch on me, brief on guard." Loosely translated it meant, "Let's go, we'll work out the details later". (My collective band of brothers may come up with a more precise and graphic definition.)I stand, however, to set a new standard for spontaneity if I don't wrap up the AT prep phase. I'm at the "packed my bags and got my reservation" stage, but this Sentimental Journey still needs some fine tuning in terms of victuals, those small creature necessities, and comfort tchotchkes. I am amazed but shamed by the meticulous planning of many of my prospective trailmates -- down to the measured and recorded daily intake of sodium chloride. Unfortunately my left hemisphere is not quite that facile, but I WILL be ready!Well, they say spontaneity is the spice of life. Dole out the Hatch chiles, I will relish the paucity of programming.
Date: 2011-02-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Finally got serious about food! For the longest time I irrationally put the issue into my subconscious as I sort of figured that food should be weightless and not add to the heft of the pack. Food should just appear....as it does now. Of course, at some point I had to face reality. Purchased my first five days of chow and resigned to the fact that I will break 20 pound pack weight.Also been pondering on things I will miss. Aside from the obvious, (family and friends), I will miss tax season (or more properly, the clients whom I serve as an AARP TaxAide volunteer...they are wonderful folks with great stories), and I will miss the coming of spring in New Mexico. We planted a variety of native trees, shrubs and bushes on our property in late fall and I will not be around to count heads of the survivors.On the other hand there is a counterpoint....the dogwoods and redbuds of North Georgia are beckoning!With you on the trail.
Date: 2011-03-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Was that whoosh my best buddy, my "six", suddenly and unceremoniously departing and leaving me with profound feelings of angst, guilt and desertion? No, worse! It was my loaded pack being pitched in the back of a UPS truck heading for Amicalola Lodge to await me and my date with destiny. How am I suppose to occupy myself for the next ten days without the opportunity to rearrange, reorder, reload and reconsider? It seems, as they say, that I have crossed the Rubicon. My challenge now is to ensure that crossing the Kennebec is on my far horizon and not a trip across the Styx. Cheers and best wishes to the stalwart early birds.
Date: 2011-03-24
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 64.0
Weather: scattered clouds

My kickoff was somewhat uneven and rocky (pun intended) as I dealt with some unexpected nutrition problems. I'm told that rejection of food and lethargy are not uncommon and after a week on the trail and a day of R & R in Hiawassee, I'm in much better shape. In spite of all, I'm doing some 10's and 12's and the "ups" are becoming less daunting as each day passes. Weather has been near perfect. Generally clear, cool and no rain yet. The trail herd is thinning out...shelters and tent sites comfortable and water not a problem. Will cross into N.C. tomorrow and head for NOC and Fontana. Meeting lots of great fellow travelers...many middle-agers, a few gray backs, lot of couples, but the majority are young, strong, lean-bodied chargers, just like my hiking clan back home! The trail is full of support, encouragement and spirit and will prove to be one of life's high points, I'm certain. Cheers to all!Miles to Date: 64
Date: 2011-04-03
From: Hiawassee

To: Fontana Resort
Miles today: 98.0

Thru Day 19Holed up at Fontana Resort which is a true find, especially compared to accommodations available to this point. Great thru hiker rate, fabulous food service, decent resupply point, room appointments comparable to full service Marriotts. This can not be the AT! The last couple of trail days were very cool (read freezing), but generally clear and very windy. Looks like warmer temps thru the Smokies. Next rest stop is Standing Bear Farm after six nights on the trail. I really want to avoid Gatlinburg. Then three more nights to Hot Springs where I will meet up with my #2 daughter, Ellie, who arrives from California to section hike with me (to Damascus?) Current "family" is "Fortis" from Austin and three tourist thru hikers from Germany. Body is holding up, the downs are worse than the ups because of injury risks, triple layers are keeping me warm. Sorry for the intermittent posts but the internet is not commonly available. Life is good! Cheers to all!
Date: 2011-04-08
From: Fontana Resort

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 42.0
Weather: light rain

I said I wouldn't, but I could not resist the siren call of Gatlinburg. Leaving Fontana on Monday, we were warned of possible inclement weather, but I had no idea of the severity of the storm. Gale winds, ice, sleet, snow and freezing temps - the LCD display in my camera froze - led to sloppy, muddy, difficult days and uncomfortable nights. Clingmans Dome was charitably a gentle climb, however. I didn't get cell service until Thursday at Newfound Gap when I learned from Mary Ann that the storm was a killer. The Trail through the Smokies is not easy. It probably averages 12 to 15 inches wide - in some places six inches wide - and typically carved a foot or more into the soil. Consequently this stop to perform body and pack overhaul. The lack of a CR to this moment may close the park in which case I may have to skip ahead to Davenport Gap at the north exit of the Smokies. Weather is improving. Warmer with only intermittent rain. Doing great...rested, clean, fed, watered and ready to hike!
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Davenport Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My dad, Tom Buckley, aka Model-T, passed away in the early morning on 4/11/11, 235 miles into his NOBO thru hike. He died in his sleep in his tent at Davenport Gap. He was 69 years young. This was his first thru hike. My dad loved to hike but the number one thing he spoke of about his journey on the AT was the camaraderie. I want to thank you all that had the chance to share your kindness and stories with him on the trail. Hiking AT was a lifelong dream of his and I know he was having the time of his life. His obituary is below. Tom Buckley, 69, of Silver City, N.M. peacefully passed away of natural causes on April 11th in the Smoky Mountains National Park while pursuing his lifelong dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail. By his own assertion, Tom led a full and vibrant life. He served in the US Army for 26 years, including two tours of duty in Vietnam and one in Korea. He was distinguished for heroic service as a helicopter pilot with the Bronze Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. He further served as an Army Comptroller, earning a Master's Degree in Business Administration and CPA while on active duty. He retired as a Lt. Colonel and began a second career as an owner of a multistate distribution company in Houston, TX for 20 years.When he retired to Silver City in 2006, he served as a stalwart volunteer in the local community. A quietly committed member of many community organization boards, he brought experience and energy to the Grant County Concert Series, the AARP Tax-aide program, the Grant County Pilot Association, the Senior Services Board, and the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP). Tom was a true master dabbler, language aficionado, and skilled handyman who was not afraid to jump on the roof to install a solar water heating system. As a life-long learner, he had widely varied interests including classical and gospel music, reading, flying, and dancing. He loved to travel, especially adventuring off the beaten path from Patagonia to the Arctic Circle, Europe to the Pacific Rim. And he loved to hike. He so valued the camaraderie and community on the trails, especially his buddies with whom he bushwhacked through the trails of Southern New Mexico and the "families" he hiked with for 235 miles along the Appalachian Trail. Tom is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann Buckley of Silver City, mother Louise, brother David and his wife Pat, daughters Susan, Ellie and her partner Shelley, Kay and her husband Brian, Bonnie and her husband Joe, stepchildren Susy and Andy and his wife Shaira, and grandchildren Justin, Emily, and Andie. Donations can be made in his memory to the Grant County Community Concert Association P.O. Box 2722, Silver City, NM 88062 or the Continental Divide Alliance, 1200 Arapahoe Street, Golden CO, 80401.
Date: 2010-02-20
To: Start date March 13
Miles today: 0.0

This may have some repetition but I'm not sure whether my entries are saved, since they don't show until the 3rd one. Ordered some freeze-dried foods for testing which ones I will like. Also ordered a new closed cell pad that will be over twice as light as my thermorest inflatable. And a steripen to lighten up from my pur water filter. A new titanium pot to replace my aluminum. Well, my next purchase will be a new and lighter tent shelter. Shooting for a total weight of 35 lbs., which includes food bag.    I have been busy making mail drop and bounce box lists on computer, although that will not be finalized for quite awhile. Son Brooks and I are going to North Alabama next month on his spring break to hike a few days, either the Sispey Wilderness or Pinhoti Trail loop.    Also started my gear list on this site, and hope to post a pic soon. More later...
Date: 2010-02-22
To: STUFF!!!!
Miles today: 0.0

I am like a kid at Christmas! I just received a large, box full of gear and food from 'Backcountry'. The 3 pieces of gear will give me lighter choices if I choose to go that route. A Steripen adventurer, which saves me almost a pound on my pur filter system. A Z-lite pad (another pound) is lighter than the Thermo-rest air pad. An a titanium 2 piece cook set to replace my aluminum set (saving 3 oz). I also got some freeze-dried foods to sample next month. My oldest son and I will hike the Pinhoti trail in Alabama on his spring break. I will be (trying out) different foods for the next 9 months before the ordering and mail drop packing begins. I have already started organizing the mail drops with printouts and label lists (tentively). Also bounce box and gear (what I will actually start with) list.    I am planning to stay with the family at Amicalola Falls lodge or cottage the night before Springer Mtn. Wow, there is soooo much to plan.    I have been following the 2010 thru-hikers and have learned much about what to expect. I have even 'tweaked' my plans a litle.    Looking forward to reading 2011 journals as they progress, and possibly meeting you guys next year on the trail!
Date: 2010-03-05
To: R & R in NE Texas!
Miles today: 0.0

Kelly & I are in Northeast Texas for a few days, staying at an 1850's farm. We are in a 2-room log cabin for a few nights after a B & B stay in Vicksburg, MS! A shout out and huge thank you to Ahern's Bed and Breakfast and owners Dan and Mary. Our stay there, was as usual, fantastic! And we had a great stop-over at Bass Pro Shop in Jackson, Ms., where I got to check out G-E-A-R!!! Loved it. Looked first hand at some of the 1-person and 2-person lightweights that i have on my wish list. Got to at least narrow tent choices down a bit. It's good to look first-hand at vestibule size and the way a rain/storm fly fits. I tried on the Merrell Phaser Peak hiking boot/shoe and am now the proud owner of a pair! Great fit and weight. These will be my cold/cooler weather boots to around Pearisburg and then later from the Green Mtns to Katadyn.So i'm on the front poarch of this log cabin in a rocker with the breeze blowing, sunny, and 68 degrees; the lake 50' in front of me. The best part is the IPOD thumping and a Rolling Rock...Ye-ah! The owners (gourmet chef) are cooking us dinner tonite! S P O I L E D!!!! Hey, I gotta rest up and beef up for next March, right? A year and 7 days...but who's counting? :>) Brooks and I go for the first big shakedown scheduled, in two and a half weeks. We plan on making a large loop in the Talledega National Forest, using the Pinhoti (trail in the planning stages as an extension to the AT), Cave Creek, Odum Scout, Skyway Loop, Lake, and Chinnabee Silent Trails. The latter was built by students of the Talledega School for the Deaf and Blind. A great trail with water falls/features in the beginning and difficult climb (Stairway to Heaven) at the end. More later...
Date: 2010-04-20
To: shakedown #2
Miles today: 0.0

Went back up to the Talladega National Forest last week with Jace and Zack (my youngest two boys), as they were out on spring break. We did lots of day hikes for 4 days. Great Weather! We stayed 2 nights in a primitive campground, but then I decided it was way too crowded for my liking. The last 2 nights we stealth camped in the Cheaha Wilderness Area. I took my new MSR Hubba HP tent, but didn't get a chance to use it as the boys were a little frightened to stay in a tent by themselves. I did set it up, and it took down twice, and even seam sealed it (although it was seam sealed at the factory). My old tent (4-man, cheap)had instructions to set it up and spray with a water hose (to set the seams), and you wouldn't believe it but it leaked then and has never leaked since. I had a good chance to reorganize my car camping gear and spend a great few days with the boys. We got in the creek to swim and then to bathe. Wonder why it wasn't cold when they were swimming, but freezing when they had to bathe? Gotta run...Rotary meeting...later - Moondoggie
Date: 2010-04-21
To: It's getting serious!!!
Miles today: 0.0

I may have a lot of prep entries in my journal, that may be boring to some readers wanting to actually read about the trail; but I am writing these for the years to come...the memories, and what I am feeling as I prepare.The trail is all consuming. Simple as that. I try to get/keep my mind off it, but it's always there. My wife, Kelly, asked me to paint the ceiling of a room I'm remodeling. I said, "but I might fall and break something on that stepstool, and not be able to hike the trail." To which her reply was, "If you don't paint it you won't go!" So guess what I'm doing today? Yes, and very carefully! Seriously, it occupies all my thoughts. I've even been coaching little league trying to get my mind off the trail. 11 more months and I'll be there in Georgia.As I have said before, I am trying to replace some of my equipment with a lighter version, but that is getting expensive. So, I am taking on a few big lawns with my tractor and finishing mower to offset the 'gotta have' stuff. (hey...retirement is hard work). New 0 or 15 degree down bag. A down jacket and icebreaker layers for the colder temps. And a new pack to cut 3 lbs off my Gregory Wind River. I'd like to squeeze in another hiking trip before Yosemite in July. I have decided my Ipod will be my main luxury item I can't live without.Would like to do a Pinhoti or Benton McKaye trail section in the fall. Any readers here interested, contact me? A week or two is what I had in mind.Later - Moondoggie
Date: 2010-05-18
To: less than 10 months...
Miles today: 0.0

"We civilized ones also, whether urban or rural, are potentially helpless as canaries in a cage. The ability to cope with nature directly - unshielded by the weakening wall of civilization - is one of the admitted needs of modern times." - Benton McKaye (1921)What a visionary McKaye was!Wow! I could read and study about the AT for years and not get all the info there is out there. I read everything remotely pertaining to the trail that the library had, and it just wet my lips, so, to get satiated, I looked on Ebay for a book or two. I found 13 that I put on watch list to review, and before I knew it, Kelly bought all 13! I've read 12 - 15 journals of ones 'who made it thru'. I had been thinking of reading a few of ones who didn't, to get a perspective of why/what their reasons were for abortment (weight, injury, weather, family issues, etc). 3 more pieces of gear have have been added to my 'pile'. A Western Mountaineering Alpinlite 6'6" bag (2 lbs. 1 oz). 4 ozs more than 6' Ultralite, but it's a wider Mummy (2 ozs) and I choose the long (2 more)because I plan to stealth camp more, and will need the space to dry damp clothes at night. What a great bag (retailing at $460 it should be!), and saving right at 2 lbs over my 20 degree synthetic. Being from the Deep South, I never thought I would need a down jacket. I bought a North face jacket at 40% off, and it quickly became my favorite. It will serve to keep me warm well into Virginia, and again starting the Whites of N.H. I have also gotten a 'White Box" alcohol stove. I have yet to try it out, but I'll make it work for a pound of weight savings over my MSR. It is the solo version and weighs 1.2 ozs. I researched and it has great reviews. I figure at 20 bucks it's a deal. I looked at making one but the time involved (making several to 'fine tune', wasn't worth it to me. Although I feel confident I could make one in an emergency with just my pocket knife and a couple of soda cans. Will be fine tuning my gear until late fall, then it will be time to finish work on food and mail drops. I will need get down to the exact meals and snacks for at least the first month or 3 - 4 mail drops. I have carried w-a-y to much food in the past. Never even close. That must change. I plan at least a 2 - 3 week fall trip and will definitely work that issue out, as well as trying out more of my lighter (yeah!) gear.Plantar Facisitis sp? foot problems with the intense workouts I've been doing. I have been studying this online for relief, and I am getting a little. Very sore in the mornings, but works itself out quickly. - Moondoggie (class of 2011)