morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Blueberry Hostel

To: Franklin, N.C.
Miles today: 32.9
Weather: clear sky

Hello, from Franklin, N.C. The days have been sunny and hot down south, and the bugs are already out in numbers. First, I must say thank you to the Blueberry Patch Hostel! Amazing place with by far the best breakfast east of the Mississippi River! Today, LB (LastOnTheBus) and I are putting our feet up and resting after three straight long mile days all in sunny hot conditions. It was a great coupkle of days. LB rejoined the group and we also met up with Mary PoPpInS and H(2) who were with us in our first couple of nights on the trail. I was lucky enough to get more trail magic a couple of days ago. A nice couple that thru hiked in 1994 set up camp and were waiting with HotDogs and sodas! The last couple of days have all ran together and it kinda feels good to not have a clue what day it is! My eating has slowly started to rise! I entered more photos and will post another entry tomorrow as I am tired! Will be taking a zero tomorrow here in sunny Franklin, N.C."If it smells like a dog, walks like a dog, and looks like a dog, it more than likely has fleas" (Chase H.)
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Franklin, N.C.

To: View Entry
Miles today: 38.0

Hello! L.B. and I left Franklin and hit the trail after a days rest. The trail offered many great views so far in N.C. Got into the Nantahala Outdoor Center yesterday after hiking a long 11 mile day. Many hikers stay in the bunkhouses as the center offers a restaurant, outfitter, and general store. I went straight for the food and consumed a bacon cheese burger! I am pretty sure I had worked off the calories on the way there.Smartly, I choose not to take a zero at the NOC and hike out this morning. The Nantahala Outdoor Center sucks you in with a down hill entry into a hikers dream with the outfitters store, general store, restaurant that serves real food breakfast, lunch, and dinner! However, leaving the NOC is a 7 miles all uphill battle. In seven miles I climbed 3900 feet. The trail has offered amazing views! Glad I have such a great camera thanks to the Howell's and my mother! Starting to feel stronger everyday and feet are feeling great!Count: 0 Bears, 2 Snakes, 1/2 a fall, and I fed 1 mouse at the shelter.Quote: In wilderness is the preservation of the worldHDT
Date: 2010-04-14
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To:  Fontana "Hilton" Shelter
Miles today: 22.5

Howdy! The last two days have been great. I hiked 15 miles yesterday and met a lot of new hikers. Today, was short with only around 6 miles to get into Fontana Dam Village to get my maildrop from my wonderful mother! In the package I got Easter cards from the Howell family! Easter Day was spent in GA in the morning an N.C. by days end.Also, just an FYI the daily miles are added from my last entry. Hiking with new people is different LastOnTheBus is taking a zero here in Fontana and I just don't want to spend a lot of money as towns are very expensive. I hope to meet up with LB and the gang soon or at traildays. Traildays is a festival or party in Damascas, VA for hikers, visitors, outdoor vendors, and families. Here you will get to see doctors especially foot doctors, gear repairs by vendors usually free and the doctors are free! Funny games, eating competition and hiker talent show!I will head into the smokies tomorrow and start another chapter in this grand adventure!Hello to new friends: funky monkey, long shanks, grumps, and lucy. H(2) and poppins I will catch up soon.
Date: 2010-04-18
From:  Fontana 

To: Ice Watersprings Shelter
Miles today: 44.0
Weather: clear sky

Warning Journal Entry Rated TJ14 Well, its been a great last couple of days in the Smokies. However, leaving Fontana Dam and the 4,000 feet to climb to enter the Smokies is not all that fun. Leaving you know you have to hike all day uphill. There's not much motivation in the morning cause the only thing that would make me want to hike eight hours uphill would be if there were beautiful topless women ready and serving bacon cheeseburgers! Sorry, but its the truth and don't get me wrong; I am having fun and enjoying myself but sometimes there is a lack of motivation . I started with a group of hikers I met at Fontana as most of my buddies were taking a zero day. The Smokies have been by far the best place I have seen and hiked in ever. After most of the first day of climbing all day you are rewarded with a trail that cuts between beautiful flowers and everywhere you look you are surrounded by beautiful quiet nature. Not many things have taken my breath away in my life and this sure did. The next miles was walked with a smile.I picked up my pace quite a bit through the mts and have felt good. I hiked 16.9 miles my second day as it was longest day. The Smokies have been difficult as instead of having to climb mountains you are already up so you go up and down the ridge line which is really nice. But after about twenty hills you get pretty tired. I have been hiking with Cervesa and opus from Seattle and they have been great. Saturday morning I woke up early to haze and light rain. I just knew that in three miles to Clingmans Dome would be all fogged up. I was right but the hike was awesome with the rain clouds racing through the mts. Saturday was by far my favorite day on the trail.I met a friend from TN after hiking 11 miles and went into Cherokee NC for the night. She was a great surprise at the last second and I enjoyed the company. Riding in a car going through the Smokies was scary and all the people in the park was quite alarming. I am not used to more than 15 people and not used to going faster than 2.5 miles an hour.Overall, the Great Smokey Mountains National Park was amazing BUT you must get out of car and walk into the woods to see how amazing this place is. In memory of my family whom is very giving, I used a McDonals gift card I got from my puppys and purchased 12 double cheeseburgers to hike three miles to the first shelter where I will meet my fellow thru hikers with trailMAGIC! I have great photos to add and videos but will have to wait a week or so until I am by a computer.Count: 0 Bears, 3 Falls, 2 new blisters, and over 137 confirmed gnat killingsHappy Birthday to my MOM and ChaseDogg!Quote: Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 27.4

Thanks all for reading and support! The last two days have been great and the Smokies are beautiful! By far the best park I have hiked in. I forgot a few things from my last entry. I only have one problem with the Smokies and that is that the park has signs in the shelter asking not to use dead wood from the forest floor to use for a fire as it takes away from the natural beauty of the park. However, when hiking the north and south ends of the park you will find horseshit in the middle of the trail cause horseshit does not take away from the natural beauty of the park while hiking. Don't get me wrong this is more for sake of journal humor and us thru hikers don't have camp fires but it is just ironic to not pick up deadwood for a fire but its okay for a horse to shit in the middle of the trail.Also, LB saw a kingsnake and I found myself giving a park ranger program to the group I was with about random kingsnake facts I recalled from my ranger days at Savage Gulf. I have been hiking with a new fun group of people the last couple days and really enjoyed it. I am averaging over 14 miles a day in the Smokies and feel great. I have made great friendships with Funky Monkey a fun gal from NJ and Lorod a man from SC. The two are great and very smart people. Everyone out here hiking are very inteigent. I believe 4 of 5 people hiking have a college degree. LB is still one of the smartest people I have met yet. I will meet back up with LastOnTheBus and Country this weekend in Hot Springs N.C. for a hiker festival and all you can eat buffets!I am on day 27 I think and at mile marker 235.1 and picking up speed! I am looking forward to spending time with friends in Hot Springs this weekend and ALSO getting to see my family and two beautiful friends get married next week. Congrats to Chase Howell and Ana HOWELL! I will also get to see my puppies Banners and Brutus!Thank you to all the guestbook entries and support.Also, the cheeseburgers I hiked up Sunday night for friends was a huge success so thank you for the trail magic mom, sara, and rudy!
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Hot Springs, N.C. Elmer's Sunny Bank Inn
Miles today: 36.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Hell-o Friends and Family! I hiked 36.8 miles in two days to make it to Hot Springs N.C. in order to enjoy the Hiker Fest here in town! I am resting up and eating all the food I can find! I am staying at Elmer's Sunny Bank Inn and it is an amazing hostel. Please look it up on the internet. This journal will be short as I am at the Library and am hungry as hell. i added a few photos, but will add another entry real soon with better details. As for the next 24 hours i will be eating non stop (cheese and meats), and resting. Don't worry I took a shower and did laundry already! GO NASHVILLE PREDATORS!
Date: 2010-04-22
From: Hot Springs, N.C. Elmer's Sunny Bank Inn

To: Ice Cream Eating Contest
Miles today: 0.0

Hell-o everyone! Hot Springs has been great thus far! I am enjoying TrailFest and all the activities it has to offer. The photo is of Lorod picking up a paper bag that is less than 10 inches tall with his mouth and on one foot off the ground! He won this event and is amazing! Again, in a matter of a few days I will post a lot of photos from my last couple of weeks on the trail.As far as the last week of hiking for me goes, it has been very good. I have hiked with lorod, and funky monkey and have covered a lot of ground. We play everyday by ear and just start hiking with no real plans on anything. I am lucky cause the two of them are very smart when it comes to plants and flowers, and I get smarter everyday. I have also hiked with Gibits, Cervesa, and opus! We are all a mix of different personality types from across america! Everyone I have met has been great! I have been able to hike more miles than usual by averaging about 14 to 16 miles a day and am gaining confidence. I feel blessed everyday to be out here and around these people and also having the chance to explore the wilderness. Some people might ask "isn't hiking the AT pointless?" Well, isn't living paycheck to paycheck just to comform pointless? I want to make my life less ordinary and worth living. Look at it this way: One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make SURE it is worth watching I say.Another thing I have noticed is that; if I was still drinking I would be 100 miles back and over $300.00 in the hole. I feel so good about saving money and health by not getting trapped into the partying and drinking going on here on the trail. And believe me there is a lot of partying going on out here. Every town, and even some hostels. Not that it is a bad thing, but it would put a damper on your feelings when all the partying is over and you realize you are here for an adventure and journey and not to extend your college days.I only have a few days left before I will get picked up by family and head into Maryville for the wedding of by brother(bestfriend) Mr. Chase Howell! I haven't seen him in about a year or his family in what seems like two years. I am real excitiied and I am sure my legs and body will love the four days off. I know I will miss the trail and my friends, but everyone out here is great and I am hoping to meet back up with lastOnTheBus soon as well. Thank You all for the guestbook hellos and support! However, it is about 1:30 and I am entered in an IceCream eating contest at 2 p.m. before I hike 11 miles so I have to prepare. Actually, I know I will lose but the ice cream is free so I had to enter! Wish me luck and I will post an entry and photos of the contest in a few days!Congrats to Chase Howell and Ana Howell!Quote: Unless you walk out into the unknown, the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty rare.Forgive the spelling and grammar erros. I have a Tennessee Education and have ice cream on the brain!
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Hot Springs, N.C.

To: Erwin, TN Uncle Johnny's Hostel
Miles today: 58.5
Weather: clear sky

Hello friends and family! I have added more photos and a video or two and will work on more. I am currently, in Alcoa, TN for my Bestfriends Wedding (Chase Howell) and am off the trail until Sunday. I have encountered my first injury the last day on the trail. I have a shin splint that is pretty bad but will not keep me off long. I am lucky to have a break at this time. I also got a "flat tire" in that my shoe blew out the bottoms. 340 miles and boom new shoes already. Well, they actually had almost 400 AT miles on them ( I did the MD section to test my gear a week before leaving for GA) I purchased Merrell Chamelons 3 Goretex. However, I purchased the insurance plan at Dick's Sporting goods and will recieve a full refund! I might get trail runners this time and purchase the insurance plan again and see if I can just keep this process going and have free shoes for the whole trip! The last couple of days have been great hiking with Funky Monkey and Lorod! They are wonderful people and are already missed a lot. This week has been rainy, wet, cold, and ugly but still managed to hike fast and make great time. The photos from this last week are my favorites! I did not win the ice cream eating contest    BUT the fight camme down to my hiking buddues Lorod and Funky Monkey! Miss Funky Monkey took home thhe win and got new treking poles which she really wanted! Trailfest in Hot Springs N.C. has been my best time on the trail! I got to meet Lorod's wife and she is awesome! The four of us (Mrs. Bosse, Lorod, FM, and I) had a hot tub filled with Natural Spring Mineral Water and it was great! The ice cream contest however, made my week! I am in transition to real society with a computer, TV, shower, and actual running water, and bed; so things are different. I will post another journal entry before I leave Sunday along with more videos. Check out the Videos and tell me what you think! Thank you all for reading and for your support!
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Erwin, TN Uncle Johnny's Hostel

To: Some camping spot off a cliff
Miles today: 87.0

Hello and sorry for no journals as of late. The wedding was great and it was good to see family and my puppys again. I was able to eat everything I could get my hands on!This entry will be short due to phone usage. Have hiked almost 100 miles in five days to catch up with funky monkey and lord . Might attempt at 27 mile day tomorrow to make it into VA to meet the.Have met a lot of great people the last few days and have enjoyed all the new hikers. This last part of TN has been beautiful. Will post pics and a funny video this weekend.Things are going great and I could not have asked for anything better.Love and miss you family.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Some camping spot off a cliff

To: Hurricane Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 88.5
Weather: light rain

Hell-o! Well, I caught up with my hiking buddies Funky Monkey, opus, cerzesa, lorod, and miss bear blaze. However, it was no easy task by pulling out 120 miles in about less than a week.The Howell wedding was great! It was just what I needed to see good friends and family. Chase and Ana are amazing and I am very glad they are so happy. Mr. And Mrs. Howell were so nice to me as they always have been. I also got to spend time with my mother and sister! I also got to see my pups Benners and brutus. It also reminded me how much I miss them.The trail has been great the last 150 miles. Just when you think it gets to looking the same BOOM it completely changes. The climb up Roan Mt. through carver gap was beautiful with balds and 360 degree views! I have tent camped most of the last week.Made it into VA Sunday and so far the trail has been easier but nothing on this trail has been easy. I am currently right passed the Grayson Highlands where wild ponies roam freely. However, the weather has not been so well with fog and rain. Currently, I am gearing up for Trail Days in Damasscuss, VA! The town will go from a population of 1,000 to 10,000 overnight. Current and passed hikers get together; I will get to see hikers I met in the beginning ie: mr. Lastonthebus and country. Gear reps will be there to fix gear and hopefully replace some. I am on my second pair of shoes now and have messed this pair up enough for Merrell to fix or replace the ones I have now!The trail is great and I am still having the time of my life. Trail food is starting to get old and I am eating a whole lot more food now than before. I counted my calorie intake at Arby's while staying at the Kincora Hostel and I consumed a record breaking 3,395 calories and had a tab of $24 with a $1 donation! I plan on trying to beat that record sometime down the road.Hello to the newly Howell Family and friends back in TN, MD, AZ, MA!, and TX." What I lose in possessions I gain in freedom "I love you my family
Date: 2010-05-17
From: TrailDays

To: Relax Inn
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: light rain

Hello, friends and Family! I made it through TrailDays unhurt and alive! The festival was great and the town of Damasscuss was also great! I had a really good time and also got a few upgrades! I changed out my sleeping pad for a better one and also had some gear fixed by the company who made them! A big thank you to Osprey, Leki, Mt. Hardware, and LightHeart Gear for everything! Those who are thinking about doing a thur hike next year, besure to use gear from people who will be at Traildays because they will fix, replace, or giveout free gear and do anything to make your hike better!Also, a big thank you to Funky Monkey's boy Cosmic Jackpot for being awesome by picking us up from the trail and taking us to Traildays and also feeding us and being great! I am grateful to have met both those two in this journey! The weather has been wet and hot making the hiking not very pleasurable. I found out by the doctors at Traildays (free to hikers to see doctors) that I have 13% body fat and weight 168. Meaning I have lost about 20 lbs already. The doc told me to eat more and I told him he has no idea how much I am eating and it is overwhelming. I ate 3,395 calories at Arby's which has made its way down the trail and people now know about me! VA is not all that easy so far but I would say that it is easier than before. I am now 1/4 finnished with the journey, but the mental test is starting to begin and I can tell. I purchased more food than before now and am having difficultly with shoes. I will be changing brands the next week or two and will not use Merrell anymore as they are not very strong. (hate it cause I love Merrell shoes but they just don't last on the A.T.) All my opinion though..As of right now I am doing well and eating everything in sight. I am sure I gained atleat five pounds back from traildays to hike off this next week!Family and friends be looking for postcards in the mail. Also, new pictures are up so enjoy!Also, look for these sites to see people that I have met that are walking for a good cause! www.hikingforwater.orgwww.afenlistedwidows.orgQuote I got from my sister"You may not be able to save everyone but you can try to save the one God sends to you" Luke 10:25-37
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 100.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hello to everyone! This week was a very hard week on the trail. The tempatures have been very high and the humidity up as well. In case, makes for tough hiking and smelly hikers. I went 100 miles and right at seven days without a shower due to lack of towns on the trail. I did get a chance to bathe in streams and water areas! Look for new gear, photos, and videos after reading this entry. The hitch hiking video is the best BUT WARNING there is a very foul word at the very end of the video so, ear muffs on Colten and Maddy Jen. Whoever said VA was easy should be smacked in the face. Frustration has been high in this heat as it has been hot, no shower, bugs, ridge and rock hiking, and bugs. This whole week it seems as though the same bee has been following me and swarming around my head and hitting me in the side of the head all week. This can drive someone crazy. I did get the chance to hike through Dragon's tooth and then get to hit McAfee's Knob. Excellent pictures! I have been hiking with Cerveza, and Bear Blaze a bit this week and by myself some as well. Health wise I am doing real well. Appearntly, I look real skinny and have dropped about 20 lbs from my start weight. Have no fear as I am still eating everything I can put my hands on.I got a great surprise by my mother, sister, and brother Rudy who came down from Baltimore to see me in Daleville, VA! This gave me a chance to see little Brutus and old man Benners as well(puppy dogs) My family also, provided trailmagic for cerveza and I with food and transportation so we don't have to walk everywhere. I am so blessed to have such a loving and caring family.Glad to report Mr. and MRS. Chase Howell are back in the states from their Honeymoon! I also was able to see their wedding pictures!! Congrats again to the two of them and may GodBless them both in everything they do! Can't wait to see them again.As, for me....   I will be off again Monday mid-day hiking up and out of Daleville with hotdogs to cook for everyone at the first shelter. A small bit of trailmagic I can provide but will require a campfire in which thur-hikers don't have very often. Will also, we hiking out with a new backpack, shoes, and summer sleeping bag! Got too skinny for my backpack, shoes tore up (merrell can't last on the AT) and winter bag was just too hot. Next stop for me is... not really sure yet, but am close to Shenandoah National Park! Thinking of you all for your thoughts and prayers.
Date: 2010-06-04
From: Daleville, VA

To: James River
Miles today: 55.0

This has been a week of highs and lows. Started this week in the heat and humid air.I hiked in hot dogs and we enjoyed the dinner on our first night out after two unplanned zeros.The next day was a very hot and long 17 mile day. The bugs have been the worse and the trailhas started to get very mentally tough. You are hiking in pouring sweat, tired, and now youhave a bee flying and buzzing around your head along with 30 gnants that are doing their bestto get in your eyes. Very frustrating to hike through. However, that day ended in Jennings Creek.A nice way to cool off! Next day was the hottest yet and climbed over 4000 feet by lunch.Took a break at a shelter and met a nice section hiker named Island Boy. He was an older nameWho looked like Santa Clause. At the end of this day we met a man named John H. He is a trail angel who provides trail magic once a week. He cooked Bear Blaze, Funky Monkey, Cerveza, and I pancakes, eggs, and sausage! Amazing! What a nice man and a pleasant surprise. With a fully bellyI slept very well. Friday was another hot day with plans to camp at james river we were greetedby a law enforcement ranger who knew our names and wanted answers....Over thursday night into friday island boy passed away at the shelter we left from our lunch break.We were not murder suspects but were around the last to see him alive. We all filled out informationabout everything we knew of island boy. It really hit me hard how someone so nice could be takenfrom this world doing something he enjoyed to do. We chose to stay at the shelter at go toJames river the next morning. This has been a hard week. Everyone do me a favor and make sure you tell your family that youLove them. Island boy did not get this chance. He was retired and in his second day of athree month section hike. With this said, I want my family to know that I love them dearly.Quote: Its not about the start or finnish; its about the journey.