morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-08-01
From: 1 mile north of NY 301, Canopus Lake

To: NY 52
Miles today: 11.1

I woke up this morning to the sight of a slug on the outside of the netting of my tent, with his trial of slime showing the path of his travels! Ugh!! So I flicked him off and started my day.   By the time I was finished packing up I had found 2 additional slugs in or on my gear. This was a nice campsite, but obviously very damp.Putting my feet in wet socks and soaking wet boots this morning was not as bad as I had anticipated. The boots had actually drained of all water during the night. They were still soaking wet, but not squishy.Today was a hard hike for me, right from the start. I lagged behind Jim Dandy and Braids all day, and huffed up each climb. The day was sunny and bright, and the humidity dropped as the day wore on. My right knee was really bothering me on the descents today, so I was quite slow all day. We stopped for a late lunch at the RPH shelter and met 2 SOBO¢s (south bound thru-hikers). We have been seeing a few SOBO¢s the past few days. Very exciting.The sun continued to shine so we set out our tents and fly¢s to dry while we ate lunch.Unfortunately, Braids hurt her Achilles tendon while at the shelter, and was forced to leave the trail. I was sorry to see her go as I really enjoyed her company on the trail.Jim Dandy and I pressed on, but I could not make it to the next shelter. I was exhausted, and my right knee was really hurting. We decided to go to the market and pizzeria on Rt 52. What a great decision, because their food (both places) was great, and when I asked if we could camp behind the stores they said Yes!   Grassy, level lawn greeted us, and our gear. So, I not only had a great Chicken Parm sub, and a Dove dark chocolate ice cream bar for dinner, but also then had luxurious accommodations for the night!!Also¢¦. The market opens at 5 am, and they make breakfast sandwiches, and they have freshly brewed coffee. Am I a lucky hiker, or what !?!?
Date: 2009-08-02
From: NY 52

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

AARUGH!!!   My right knee is swollen and hurting. This is the knee that had the ACL replacement 10 years ago. It has been fine through the entire hike thus far. I don¢t know why it started to hurt yesterday, but it definitely is worse than it was yesterday.After assessing the knee, and careful deliberations I know that the best course of action is to rest this joint. So¢¦¢¦ I¢m going home again. This body is taking a beating, but it keeps on ticking, so I am certain that I will be back to the trail ASAP.
Date: 2009-08-11
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I waited a week to see if my knee would improve, but it hasn't. Saw my primary doc yesterday, and had an X-Ray of my right knee. No big surprise there.... arthritis!! Have to see the orthopedic surgeon next week to see if there is anything else amiss in the knee joint. He did the ACL replacement 10 years ago. Hopefully he will tell me that the knee can return back to the trail, along with the rest of my body.I would really like to finish the state of NY, and then tackle the areas I skipped down south. Am I asking too much of this body???At this point I have to try to patiently wait till I see the doc next week!
Date: 2009-08-27
From: Palisades Interstate Parkway, NY

To: NY/CT State Line
Miles today: 46.0

So... after tending to my injured knee Ron (my trail angel husband), and I headed back to NY state. With his support I slack packed from the Palisades Parkway to Graymoor, then from Canopus Lake to the NY/CT state line. Being reasonable with this knee, can carrying a light load allowed me to finish the state of NY!!!! That is what I wanted to accomplish this year.So, in retrospect... my hike this year ended differently than I expected when I began in March. I wanted to complete a thru-hike, but was humbled by a body that did not think that was such a good idea. I conceded to the bodies concerns, reassessed my situation and decided that I need to try to complete the trail as a section hiker.This is as many miles as I will do this year. In coming years I will continue on my journey, being thankful that I can continue hiking on this great Appalachian Trail!Happy Trails to all, and stay tuned.......
Date: 2009-05-20
To: Gainesville GA
Miles today: 0.0

Mom and Dad dropped me off at the Wilmington train station to start my 14 hour train ride to Gainesville. It is brilliantly sunny, especially noticeable on all the rivers we are passing. The earliest reservation for dinner is 8:00 pm. Meantime, I checked weatherbug and it is 20-50% chance of thunderstorms thru Tuesday. Looks like it will be a wet although not too hot week.
Date: 2009-05-21
From: Gainesville GA

To: Hawk Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

I sent out an email before I left that I would be hiking and I enjoyed hearing from friends I hadn't heard from in a long time (read the emails on the train). Had a lovely dinner of stuffed shells with a glass of shiraz. Then was up until 1 am reading ¢ The girl with the dragon tattoo". Finally I realized I was at the start of a 60 page denouement and tried to get to sleep. Got into Gainesville right on time at 7 am and was picked up by Josh from the Hiker Hostel and went to the adorable hostel. We picked up Ma mere who was 2 days away (after years of sections) from completing the AT. She was joined by her daughter, son-in-law, 2 friends and a dog for her grande finale. Her daughter said she had left her 18 and 20 year old behind at home and before she left she taped the kitchen cabinets shut so they wouldn't use dishes and therefore wouldn't ruin her dishwasher. ??I was sitting in the back going fast around the curvy dirt mountain roads and was getting really carsick. After we dropped them off I could sit in the front which was way better except for Josh using his cell phone while going. fast on the curvy roads.So I had to back track 0.9 mi to get to the official springer plaque. 2 young women out for 6 weeks passed me and just before Springer one had her camera out and the other was motioning for me to be quiet. Was it a bear? A deer? Just as one whispered "Naked guy" I saw the flash of white flitting through the trees. So next to the plaque was his pack, his cell phone, and a pile of clothes. June 21 is Hike Naked day on the AT - maybe he just had his months confused.Very pleasant day of hiking - about 68 degrees, sunny, breezy, great trail. I was telling my sister-in-law that the AT is NEVER a nice pine-needle covered dirt path but it was today . It was totally "the long green tunnel". I had lunch at Stover Creek and got to the shelter after 5 hours of hiking. Early to stop but it looks like rain and I didn't want to tent in the rain and didn't have the energy to make the 8 miles to the next shelter . So far Larry and Rich, Pam and her son Dave , and another Dave are here. A great first day.
Date: 2009-05-22
From: Hawk Mtn Shelter

To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night we had a camp fire and were up late talking. Larry and Rich have done little sections all over the AT, so we talked about some of the places that we were both familar with. Larry lives near Wolf Rocks in PA which I remember as the place I lost my mp3 player. Also Larry told me about calling ahead to the White Mountains to see if they could bring dogs and they said dogs aren't allowed but "This is New Hampshire - live free or die" (state motto), meaning - dogs aren't allowed, but go ahead and bring them because no one will hassle you. They were both Boy Scout masters which also crack me up because their packs are HUGE. Everybody else at the shelter was from Florida, inlcuding this guy Matt who just graduated college and wants to do the AT before he reports for Army duty in November. His pack was 80 pounds (compared to mine which is 25-30). He said he had his Army tent - 12 pounds. I told him they do pack shake-downs at Neels Gap 30 miles up the trail and I think he will be changing his pack weight soon.Got up at 5 AM and was out by 6, although I had to use my headlamp for the first half hour (sure have short days this far south). When I left Larry and Rich were still making breakfast and looking for things like ladles - those Scoutmasters are nuts.After 5 miles I came to Justus Creek and the girls I saw the Naked Guy with had tented there. I thought they were getting a last start but I saw them later and they were having serious blister issues. They had taken off their boots and were hiking in their Chaco sandals and they had surgical tape all over their feet - one had it wrapped around her ankles.I got to Gooch shelter at 11:15, which was too early to end for the day, especially because it was 68 degrees and the hiking was really beautiful. In addition to all the green, there were lots of stuff in bloom - mountain laurels, orange azaleas, and lots of other stuff I don't know what they are. I called the Hiker Hostel from Ramrod Mountain and got the last open bunk at the hostel. I went to Woody Gap and waited for them to pick me up. I saw the Naked Guy girls hobbling across the parking lot. I laid out on my ground sheet on the grass and coudn't see them so I thought they must have moved on, but a car pulled up and picked them up. I was so relieved - they looked so miserable. Leigh picked me up and took me to the Hostel - after only 2 days of hiking - a shower and laundry - what a luxury. I talked to Bob who has been hiking for 4 days and we went to The Oar House in Dahlonega and had dinner on the dock on the Chestatee River. I had Georgia trout - delicious.
Date: 2009-05-23
From: Hiker Hostel

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great breakfast (French toast and eggs) with Bob and 6 women from Chattanooga who were out for a 2 section hike. It was raining a bit when Josh dropped me off and it sprinkled some throughout the day. I had lunch at Jarred Gap with a scout troop. I got to the top of Blood Mountain and reached in my pocket for my trail guide and it was gone. I threw down my pack in a panic and picked up my poles to go retrace my steps. At first I was thinking I really need this, it's how I find my water, figure out where to stay, etc. Then I realized I could go to the outfitter and somehow get it off the internet. But then I ran into the scout troop and they had found it and picked it up. I was all ready to start again and could see a line of storm approaching so I ducked into the shelter. There was a note from a US forest ranger about bear activity or as someone wrote in the register "there is definitely a douche bag beat hanging around the shelter". From the other entries I gathered that the bear was chewing through the bear bag rope and grabbing the bags when they fell. One guy was eventually able to find his stove and bag of toiletries but most people just lost their stuff. Meanwhile, the storm moved off and I went down the mountain. It was more of the obstacle course style AT but it didn't last long. I got to the Mountain Crossings, outfitters that are right on the trail. I was talking to a couple of the guys there (conversation started as usual with them admiring my gaiters) and they were warning me about bears. So instead of continuing 1mile to a campsite i'm staying here. Someday I'll use my tent. I had a hot dog and an orange Fanta and bought some food. Now I'm a little worried because if I don't make to my next stop in 3 days I'll be hungry but one of the things I'm trying to work on is not carrying too much excess food. Matt the guy from the the first night with the 80 pound pack came in and we are all having our favorite discussion - gear and how to cut weight.On the way up Blood Mountain I saw the first rhododendrons in bloom.On the way down Blood Mountain I met a whole lot of day-hikers. There was a guy with a European accent whose outfit looked like he belonged in a cafe and all he was carrying was a (glass) bottle of San Pelligrino water. A family with 3 kids and a dog came up - the dog was a dachshund which seems an unlikely breed to climb a mountain but it seemed to be doing very wellThe gear discussion turned to head lamps - I told the guys that Matt had one of those LED lamps that clip onto a hat brim. Matt just shook his head and said he lost it "throwing his hat at a rattlesnake". ?!
Date: 2009-05-24
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Although the official miles is 10.8, I also had 2.4 to and from Whitley Gap shelter for lunch. It rained on and off last night and today and now is actually raining pretty hard. So I didn't want to stop for lunch on the trail and all my stuff muddy and wet so although I was reluctant to go that far off the trail it was the best option. I had the rest of the peanut butter honey with crackers and tomato bread soup. I figured out I have 4 days of food eating pretty well except for dinner on the 4th night which I can have in Hiawasee. Not many people on the trail today - no big surprise given the weather. I'm in the shelter with a guy from TN who's done most of the southern half and 3 guys fromTexas. The trio camped with the Naked Guy girls. One guy dehydrated jerky and fruit for their hike but then he sheepishly said "but we ate it all before we started hiking". Had chicken noodle soup and veggies and couscous, with pepperoni Larry and Rich gave me the other day. Nice to be dry and warm and well-fed.
Date: 2009-05-25
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

After I journaled last night, it started really pouring and thundering and lightning-ing. Matt showed up about 9 pm - his pack is now about 28 pounds. There were mice running around but it doesn't look like they chewed anything of mine. I started out today with all my rain gear but it cleared up and actually got sunny. Got to the shelter about 1 pm and have been having a lazy afternoon - slooowly getting water, hanging up things to dry, etc. Apparently the mice are pretty active here too, and we've already seen one. May set up my tent if the good weather holds.
Date: 2009-05-26
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shaelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

Yesterday afternoon I set up my tent because the shelter register said there were tons of mice and it also seemed buggy. Bob from Florida and couple (he was from Russia, she was from the UK) stayed in the shelter. Later, this guy came in who walked right by a bear cub and wouldn't have known it except it barked at him. Got woken up by the rain a few times. Woke up right before the alarm, got changed and packed away my sleeping bag, then it poured again so I waited for the rain to stop before getting out of the tent. There were mice all over the shelter when I was making breakfast. Bob managed to kill one with his hiking staff . It rained off and on all day. My pack felt heavy I think because there was about 5 pounds of mud on my tent. Slow going because of the mud, wet leaves and slippery rocks. In shelter with Eric, Scot, and Mike. Looking forward to going to Hiawasee tomorrow to get cleaned up and dried out.
Date: 2009-05-27
From: Tray Mountain Shaelter

To: Hiawassee GA
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

Yesterday I thought to myself as I was packing up my wet muddy tent "I am so taking a zero in Hiawassee" and continued to think that throughout the day. So I was highly motivated to get out early and make good time. The guys from the shelter passed me right after Deep Gap shelter and Eric said a shuttle from the Hiawassee Inn was picking them up at 1 pm. Then I realized I would have to do 3.5 miles in an hour and twenty minutes and I was thinking "Is he crazy?" but I made it an hour and a half. (And did the whole 11 in 5 and a half hours which for me is unprecedented.) Just as I was crossing into the Dicks Creek Gap parking lot the guys were admiring a copperhead. If that is the only copperhead I see, I am totally fine with that. Then the van pulled up and off to Hiawassee, which is a really pretty town on a lake surrounded by mountains. I picked up my mail drop and headed to Dairy Queen for a burger, fries and a shake. Even before a shower. I spent the rest of the afternoon drying and cleaning stuff. The Inn gave me clothes to wear while they did my laundry. The Inn let Mike borrow their van so the 4 of us could go to dinner at Shoney's. Although Mike had a half pound burger at Hardee's a few hours earlier, he had a country fried steak breakfast, a rib-eye dinner, and all-you-can-eat salad bar. I couldn't finish my salad with pecan-crusted chicken, and Mike and Eric still went to DQ after. Gotta love the town food.
Date: 2009-05-28
From: Hiawassee GA

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up early and decided to do a "nero" instead of a zero. Went to the post office to mail my Georgia maps home and had about 15 minutes before the post office opened. So I went to the supermarket next door and read about Jon and Kate in Us and People. Got back to the trail at 10 and it was sunny and hot. I was poking along with my heavy pack (6 days of food) and listening to the audio book "Home to Big Stone Gap" which is very relevant since I cross about a half dozen gaps a day. Eventually, the sky clouded up and thunder started getting closer and closer. SECONDS after I got to shelter it totally poured, and has been raining and thundering on and off ever since. I spent the afternoon napping and reading "Plum Lucky" that I got at the Ingles supermarket yesterday. Just tried to make dinner and dumped my pot over - fortunately the alcohol burned out before the picnic table caught fire. This is a nice shelter - 2 sleeping lofts and a picnic table with an overhang. So far it's just me and a young couple going to Front Royal, VA. 4.4 miles from the NC border!
Date: 2009-05-29
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

Managed to make dinner last night and finished my book. Talked to Joe and Mackenzie - they were waiting in Helen for a mail drop last Sun and Mon (Memorial Day) and it wasn't there when they went on Tues. Then they realized they actually hadn't sent one to Helen after all - what a drag! I started out at a good pace. All of a sudden I instinctually whirled around because I sensed a large mammal behind me. It was a dog and when I whirled around he was so scared he fell off the trail and rolled halfway down the mountain. He was a big brown hunting dog who was bone skinny and really scared. He followed me along for a while. Then I left some peanut butter and bread in the trail and he followed some more and eventually let me pet him. He waited patiently while I took pics at the GA/NC border (new state - woo hoo!) He would be right at my heel when I would stop to huff and puff on the ascents - like hurry up you slow 2 legged creature. He followed me 5 miles to Muskrat Creek shelter where I made him my couscous/veggies/chicken special. I had it all figured out - I would make an unscheduled stop in Franklin and get him to an animal shelter. But he would only take a few bites and then he disappeared into the woods. Poor thing. Soon after leaving him I passed everyone's favorite name for a side trail - the Chunky Gal trail. It threatened rain all day but I never got rained on. There are no bear cables at this shelter so Helga and I had an amusing escapade hanging our food bags . Please let my bag be there in the morning. In the shelter with Trevor and Sharon. Joe and Mackenzie are tenting, as are Helga and another woman just came in. They are the first women hiking alone that I've encountered this time out. Must stop typing to take pics of other bear bag attempts.
Date: 2009-05-30
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Rough night last night - I think I got a cold walking in the rain those 2 days and I can't breathe thru my nose , so I was snoring, which infuriated my shelter mate Sharon to no end. She kept complaining (loudly ) to her husband, shining her head lamp on me, and banging the shelter floor. Around 4 am I was awake for a while, and her husband was snoring too. In hindsight I should have sent up my tent but I didn't. I know it's miserable when you can't sleep, but I am not the first person to snore in a shelter and I did apologize on the morning but she was still really pissed . So I got out as early as I could. It was 49.6 degrees when I got up and stayed cool but sunny throughout th e day. Perfect hiking weather and nice trail. I've been continually being startled by a little blue and white bird flying up from beside the trail and today one was leaving a nest with 4 eggs in it. So now I realize they are ground nesters - too bad for the ones that set up their nest right next to the trail. I went up Albert mountain which has a fire tower on top that today had great multistate views. I got to the shelter and made dinner and planned to push on to a camp site to avoid Sharon and Trevor. but after about 20 minutes I was still in a rhododendron tunnel and could have stayed on it for miles, so I came back to the shelter and set up my tent in an out of the way site. When I went to hang my food, I think saw Sharon and Trevor but I hung my bag away from the shelter. Of course I still needed help throwing the line seeing as how I throw like a girl. The nice weather is supposed to continue tomorrow but then Monday we are back to showers and thunder storms.
Date: 2009-05-31
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: broken clouds

Around 4 AM I stuck my head out of the tent and the stars were amazing and I thought about getting out of the tent to get a better view, but I was too snugly in my sleeping bag.Yesterday I met Dave and John from Raleigh at the Carter Gap shelter and they were looking for their buddy Jack. Later on I saw them at Betty Creek Gap and they still hadn't found him. Last night they helped me get a tent spot (had finally found Jack)and they mentioned that they were going to Franklin. So as I was hiking along (another beautiful day, nice hiking) I finally decided to go to Franklin just for the luxury of showering and getting clean clothes. When I got to Winding Stair Gap though, I couldn't get a phone signal and didn't want to hitchhike on my own. Fortunately, Jack, John and Dave came along a short while after and got a signal and I shared their shuttle to the Sapphire Inn. When I checked in, they were still doing my room, so I went across the street to Hardee's and had a burger, fries and shake (not as good as the DQ in Hiawasee). Then the four of us went to Ron Haven's other hotel to do laundry. Dave and I went on a beer run - I insisted that we get the AT beer - Yuengling. After laundry, we went to the Kerr's drug store (apparently pronounced Cars) and the girls there said the best pizza in town was at Vito's (because the owner was from New York). Across from the Kerr's was a Bojangles and John and Dave were asking me if I'd ever seen one (I hadn't). The pizza at Vito's was really good but the owner was actually from Michigan. After dinner, Jack, John and I hung out at the hotel pool - it was so nice, after being loaded down with a heavy pack and plodding along, to be light and buoyant in the water. So pizza, beer, pool - this roughing it is really tough.