morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-01-29
To: The London Meeting
Miles today: 0.0

Today has been the UK-based hikers 2004 pre-hike booze up in London. Trey and Hannah had promised to be wearing foam stetsons and to set off an air horn every 5 minutes so we could all recognise one another, but there was no sign of anything like that when I walked in to a very large and crowded World's End pub in Camden Town. Instead, I looked around for Bloody Cactus who I imagined should be very distinctive on account of his resemblance, in photos, to a sort of ZZ Top baby. I immediately clocked him propping up the bar, already on his second or third vodka and orange. The others were harder to spot but turned up very quickly, almost on top of each other. I just about recognised Ross and She-ra was thoughtfully toting a moose-stickered Nalgene.What can I say? We all got on like a house on fire and were soon discusssing such fascinating topics as whether or not it was true that a three-quarter lengh Thermarest was only 50 grammes heavier than a Ridgerest. No, it was really good fun and a lot of ground was covered. She-ra is a 2002 thru-hiker and a genuine American. She showed us her photos and filled us in on all the stuff usually considered TOO HOT FOR TRAIL JOURNALS!! If anyone wants to email me privately I'll gladly pass on this secret information. Seven and a half hours later we were still holed up in a dodgy after hours drinking den and all the Underground trains had stopped running. The end of the evening came suddenly with all of us hurrying to go our separate ways on night buses. I was staying with a friend in Hammersmith and managed to get back easily (at 3.00 AM) despite being blind drunk and having no idea where I was going.A great night and thanks to all those that came.   I just hope, from what I have seen, that that the bars along the AT corridor are busy warmiing up the beer and stockpiling it in underground silos.Back in London on Tuesday to beg for an extended visa at the American Embassy.
Date: 2004-02-08
To: Red Kites
Miles today: 0.0

I'm in Wales getting some peace and quiet in a remote stone cottage and, with luck, a bit of practice hiking for the AT, now not much more than a month away.This place is on a farm, near the village of Crickadarn on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Shaun and Rachel are staying with me for 4 nights, the rest of the time it will just be me,the sheep and the eerie quiet. No lights at night, no sound, no trace of the background hum of the city that's always there in Bristol.When I was in Wales 22 years ago, just a boy, I was really keen to see a Red Kite, a bird of prey with a distinctive V-shaped tail. I never did, they were down to about 30 pairs in those days. Recently, I read there was a farm about 20 miles north of here where they attracted them in with meat, it was a good place to make a sighting.But I had not expected a whole flock! At 2.00 PM there were dozens circling overhead waiting for a bolder crow or raven to make the first move, dive in and grab the meat just dumped from a tractor and show the coast was clear. Soon one did and it was a veritable feeding frenzy of wheeling kites swooping low, not landing, grabbing meat or, preferably, robbing crows. There are still only reckoned to be about 400 birds in Wales, but you wouldn't believe it from the spectacle at Gigrin farm. I think they were all there.A lazy day with no hiking. Later on, we drove further north through the flooded valleys and rolling mountains.Tomorrow we wil head for the Black Mountains and scramble around near Crickhowell.
Date: 2004-02-11
To: Table Mountain
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it's Wednesday and I finally managed to get out in the Mountains. On Monday we went to Crickhowell to climb Table Mountain and its larger neighbour with an unpronounceable Welsh name I cannot remember. The day was clear and bright despite the cold. We loaded up on greasy food at a cafe and headed out. Crichowell is a funny place as it's encircled by both a Table Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain. In a sense it captures the best of Cape Town and Rio all wrapped up in one chilly little Welsh town. OK, so these are mini-versions of their famous namesakes and Crickhowell has no beach and less sun, but the council are working on that.We were soon on top of Table Mountain. It was much easier to climb than the one in South Africa which had lots of steps and was hell on the knees when I tried it a few years ago, I was really out of condition at the time. Today, we saw no other walkers and had the place entirely to ourselves. There was a great view up top of the ridge opposite, the central beacons in the distance and the outlying Black Mountains on the far side. We set off along the ridge to a trig point in the distance. I like the huge, exposed, flat ridge-tops that feel like level ground even though they are way up. The rock strewn landscape feels almost lunar, but with much more water.The hike described in my guide didn't go all that far, so I put it on one side and we set out on our own to descecnd gently to a gully negotiating a couple of sreams and barbed wire fences before reaching a tiny farm road. The beauty of these Welsh mountain walks in winter is that the vegetation is very sparse, so if you do wander off the track, or discover you've been following a sheep trail for a few miles, it's easy to right yourself, especially on clear days like today when you can see town for miles.When Rachel arrives I want to climb Pen Y Fan again. Today, it was an isolated presence far away. Distinctive as the only peak in snow and ice.
Date: 2004-02-13
To: Pen Y Fan
Miles today: 0.0

Now, Rachel isn't much of a climber, so it was with some degree of apprehension that she agreed to follow me up the slopes of Pen Y Fan, the highest mountain in Britain south of Snowdonia.The day wasn't the best. For the first time since I arrived in Wales there was a light drizzle and moody clouds. You couldn't see the twin peaks from the Neuadd Reservoir where we set out, which may or may not have been a good thing as Rach could well have decided against it if she had seen how far there was to go.The steep, muddy ascent to the ridge is by far the hardest part of this hike, which becomes relativey easy once you're up there. It was pretty boggy today, and I was glad I'd brought the poles which kept disappearing deep into the waterlogged ground. Rachel wasn't looking too happy at this point, it must be said.But it wasn't cloudy all the way, for most of the ridge there were murky views over to Cribbyn, the opposing ridge and the black, reflective waters of the reservoir and it's tiny, pine filled island.However, the summits were lost to cloud. I've been up there twice before and know the views are fine. But today, there was just a grey expanse an edge of the world sensation. You had to invent your own views.It was great to reach the top. I love this hike, the valley is wild and remote and it's hard to spot any signs of human habitation from any of the vantage points in any direction - even on a clear day. That may not mean much in the American wilderness, but is a precious sensation on this small and overcrowded island. A winter walk during the week meant few people too.The weather picked up a bit and we followed the track back to our starting point in a wide horseshoe. We hadn't got soaked and it hadn't been too windy. Some of us had a few aches and pains, but it was as nothing to the AT, where Bryson reckons you can cross as many as30 Snowdons in a week. Mind you, Bryson exaggerates!
Date: 2004-02-18
To: Testing Times
Miles today: 0.0

My plan to start the Wye Valley Walk today did not go quite as planned. There was a piece of work I had to get finished; the details are far too boring to trouble you with.I had hoped to get a bus to Chepstow and get at least two or three hours of walking in today, but that wasn't going to happen. I'd have been arriving at the river just in time for nightfall. I checked the railway station to see if they could get me there quickly, but I needn't have bothered.I went for a coffee and regarded my pack with a resigned air. It was Starbucks and all around were suits discussing management strategy. I perked up realising I'd soon be a million miles away from such bollocks, not that I've ever had to wear a suit, come to think of it, I've rarely talked management either, maybe that was where I was going wrong?So, I left the cafe, found the river and kept on walking, out of the city and into the suburbs to some woods, not so very far from where I actually live. It was a lovely evening, a beautiful sunset, I mainly wanted to test gear on this outing anyway and, well.... I'm testing gear.So now I'm reclining in my tarptent tapping inanely on the pocket mail by the light of my Petzl. That's going to be less high-tech in the States as I wont have a mobile phone with me; I do now, so in a second I could be scaring the badgers with weird modem sounds. Not that I'll receive any messages, I haven't told anyone this address yet.No sooner had I found a nice flat pitch than I realised I'd left the meths {denatured alcohol} behind. But, I had a few Esbit tablets that I carry in reserve, there were three handy looking rocks laying around to make pan supports, so I thought I'd give it a go. I once failed to boil water in my kitchen using Esbit, but tonight there was no trouble at all, I'd soon knocked up pasta and TVP. I've got one of those pot cosy things and it was perfect for finishig things off. I nearly hadn't brought it along.So far, and it's only 10.00 PM, tonight seems bone dry, still and mild, the whole day has been sunny and springlike. It's been dry for days, not like England in February at all. I was hoping for rain and raging winds so I could test the storm worthiness of the tarptent. These things get such good reviews and yet and yet.I'd better be going now. The police helicopter is out again tonight, I don't want it hovering over my camp, attracted by the light of the tikka. I'm not really very, very far from Bristol.
Date: 2004-02-19
To: In the Woods
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I didn't sleep great last night out in the woods near my home. Normally, I keep late hours, so it's a bit strange to be stuck in the dark with nothing much to do at 6.30 PM. I will have to get used to it though. Like most people, I'm a summer camper and I like to start late and walk late, but at this time of year there's not the option. I hope it doesn't bring down my AT mileage.I finally made it out to the Wye Valley for the hike. I'm currently camped about 1.5 miles north of Brockweir. I camped very near here on my Offa's Dyke hike. There's a link on this page if you don't believe me.The weather is still cold and bright, still no rain, but colder tonight. I was imressed with the Marmot Helium last night. I was pretty toasty. I didn't use the hood and had to unzip at one point. I'm on a slope tonight. Did I mention that I have not yet bothered to put seam sealer on the tent floor? It's as slippery as an ice rink. I will almost certainly be in the river by morning and its about a mile away. It was bad enough last night,which was a flat pitch.
Date: 2004-02-20
To: No Grizzlies
Miles today: 0.0

Today has been another sunny blue sky day. Even though the deciduous woods are dead for the winter, they still look great etched in grey and brown against the clear, fast flowing water and the blue. Still no rain! I think this is the driest British camping trip I've been on, it's certainly the earliest (and coldest).I walked through some of my favourite bits of the Forest of Dean, the high river valleys, the rapids at Symonds Yat. The river looking quite wild in places. A bit like Canada. No Grizzlies
Date: 2004-02-21
To: Old Orchard
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I think my kit is getting its first real test tonight. It's very cold and will go below freezing. I want that AT 'Oh my water bottle's frozen solid' moment that I have read in other journals, but I just drank the last of it, so I suppose that's out of the question. For the first time I've changed out of my running tights and put on the fleecy thermals tonight. In Hawkshead, in Monmouth, I bought proper fleece socks. A bit gimmicky, but toasty warm now. I have worn the running tights all day and been surprised how warm they are, seem to stop most of the wind too. I'm considering leaving my zip off combats at home and just using them and a light, baggy pant for town.Todays walk was good, though the river has lost most of the drama of the lower reaches and seems more ordinary now. Things are also becoming more agricultural, less wild. But there are still woods to pass through and creatures to spot. I saw a Red Fox from the corner of my eye this morning.The trail went right through Ross on Wye. It was market day in the narrow streets which were bustling. It's much bigger than Hay on Wye, which I visited last week from the cottage, with proper shops to serve a real community - not just bookworms! This also means it's not so remarkable, the High St looks like most others in Britain.So, tonight I'm camping in an old orchard about 10 miles South of Hereford. It might sound romantic but, of course, there's no leaves on the trees much less fruit or blossom and the icy wind is ripping through the tarp tent as the temperature sinks. Still, gotta test that gear!
Date: 2004-02-22
To: Hereford
Miles today: 0.0

Last night was cold, maybe not as cold as forecast. I did manage to leave a little bit of water in my bottle to see if it would freeze - it didn't; but, it was cold in the windy orchard nonetheless. I put the tarptent back side on to the wind and was surprised how well it cut the breeze, not that it didn't still whistle round my ears, it did. No condensation, in fact no condensation all trip, Henry must have cracked that one with all the mesh.I loved the cheap Matalan fleecey thermals and fleece sock combination. I woke up too warm around midnight and had to unzip. You know the thing that puts me off the tarptent the most isn't its storm-worthiness or lack of bug-proofness under the door.....it's the head against the mesh, the lack of protection at the front, the bear sniffing around at night, the momentary terror as the bone crushing jaws clamp down on soft skull. Maybe us Brits shouldn't be let out in the woods alone. You don't have to worry about that sort of thing with badgers.I had wandered slightly off track last night, but it didn't take long to find this morning. Only the last part of the walk was along the river, I passed through some interesting villages before coming to Hereford a little sooner than anticipated. I forget what a nice little city it is, even with not much open on a Sunday. I had to get coffee in Mcdonalds. There was a train back to Bristol earlier than planned too. I was home by 4.30.
Date: 2004-03-15
To: Atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

I got to Atlanta safely after a dull flight. Security was tight, but I got through OK; they only gave me 6 months on the visa rather than the 7 I'd asked for. I think that's a standard thing. I suppose I'll just have to walk faster now.I got to my hotel without too much trouble on MARTA, the subway system. There's a flat tate of $1.75 no matter how far you go, so it's approximately 200 times cheaper than London.I chose the hotel because it was just opposite the MARTA station and it did prove easy to find, I speak as a man easily lost. It's nice. I even got complimentary popcorn. I've been busily scouring the hotel for sachets of salt, sugar, etc so I won't have to buy any. There were loads just lying around, maybe enough to get me to Maine. I won't mention the name of the hotel as I don't want crowds forming on the pavement below. That evening I took it easy and hung around the hotel but but I did go to the diner next door and ordered pot roast. I slept quite well. Noisy air conditioning.
Date: 2004-03-15
To: Bust that Rambling Road
Miles today: 0.0

Today I spent most of the day wandering around downtown and along Peachtree from Midtown to Buckhead. First impressions? For a great big town there don't seem to be a lot of people wandering around. Initially, I thought this was because it was Sunday and I was downtown, but there didn't seem to many people anywhere. I hope it's not because they knew I was coming.I had breakfast in Underground Atlanta. I resisted the temptation to visit World of Coke or whatever and got down to having a hot chicken sub at the food court. As I've not been to the States for 5 or 6 years I'm having a clasic American food phase. Later on, I even had a cheese and chili dog at Dairy Queen.I have become very reliant on the Internet and I had to get online so I could get the number for Hiker Hostel and address of REI. 6 Years ago I would have written these things down.I found a PC at Kinkos, Midtown after a long search. I called Hiker Hostel and Leigh put me straight on how to get to REI by MARTA: go to Sandy Springs and it's just over the road from the station. I only really went there for the AT data book, but still managed to spend over 70 bucks.At the hotel I even found a box to call a bounce box. I think I might be organised.
Date: 2004-03-16
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Stovers Creek
Miles today: 9.3

My first day on the trail. Last night I stayed at hiker hostel, which has become THE way to get to Springer from Atlanta. I would thoroughly recommend it.We all got out at Amicalola, signed the register and weighed the packs on the famous AT scales. Mine was 30 pounds including 4 days of food and 2 litres of water. Not bad, it feels ok on my back.I was umming and aahing about whether to do the approach trail or not. My instinct was not to do it but Casey and Louis who stayed at hiker hostel last night were keen to give it a go. In the end I compromised and got a ride to the falls, just 2 miles in to the approach trail. Apparently, the first bit is not much more than a sandy road anyway.It wasn't that tough, though pretty much all uphill. The weather was bright and sunny which was great because it had rained first thing. I wore a rain jacket over my T which got a bit sweaty, but it was a little chill in the wind for just a T which was how I ended up.I was setting a fairly good pace, probably too fast, so ended up calling it a day at Stover creek shelter even though it was only about 3.30. I promised myself not to over do it in the first few days.There was a good bunch of people at the shelter. I met Bear Behind, Brutus, Nemo, who I'd been hiking with for a while, and earlier Haiku and Chef, though apparently not the Haiku and Chef from Trail Journals.I knocked up TVP and instant mash which the pepsi can stove handled quite well.   I found an excellent sunny camp site not far from the creek by the shelter. It took me ages to erect the laserlite and I still wasn't happy. It is totally fiddly. But a nice first day.
Date: 2004-03-17
From: Stovers Creek

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up at 8.00. It felt about the right time. I made breakfast up at the shelter, instant peaches and cream flavour oatmeal (porridge). It was pretty good. It always takes me a long time to break up a camp, it was 10.00 before I hit the trail.It's been a fantastic day. Sunny all through and hiking in a T shirt most of the time. I stopped to slap on some sun screen after lunch and wished I hadn't bounced my hat on to Hiawasse.I mostly hiked alone today, but kept meeting up with the guys who'd stayed at the shelter last night.I talked to a woman who reckoned that only 230 people had started the trail this year, that's a slow year.But there were plenty of folks at Gooch Shelter - all the tent sites were full. I met up with Peak a Boo (Chrystel) who I'd exchanged a couple of emails with. She and her friends seemed a good laugh, but I pressed on down the trail because I couldn't find a nice flat spot. I ended up at Gooch Gap where there was already quite a crowd camping. Later, someone lit a fire and there was about a dozen people sitting around. A nice way to end the day.
Date: 2004-03-18
From: Gooch Gap

To: Slaughter Gap
Miles today: 11.0

Another late start! All around the campsite people were looking ready to leave, except Bear Behind, who still wasn't out of his tent. I went to the creek to fetch water, which is a little way off at Gooch Gap. I mixed up some of that peaches and cream instant oatmeal again and wondered why Ready Brek haven't hit on the idea of flavouring it yet.I was last to leave the campsite but set off at a quick pace and felt strong today. I think all the laps of St Georges Park and hours at the gym have paid off - even though I didn't do as much of that stuff as I'd hoped. The trail in Georgia is very up and down, as I'd heard, but I've had no twinges of the dreaded knee pain and have been hiking within my abilities. I guess I'm just a lot fitter than I was 10 years ago.I rained today for a couple of hours on and off. Not hard, but enough to put on the rain jacket and make sure the pack contents were well wrapped.I arrived more or less first of the little group that set out from Gooch. I tented at Slaughter Gap. I prefer not to know why this place is so called, not now, in the dark. It's at the base of Blood Mountain, which is as high as Ben Nevis at 4500 feet, though it doesn't look it (or feel it) as it's covered in trees at this southerly latitude. In the end Bear Behind, Brutus, Elk Blood, Casey, Chef and the Ohio guy turned up. That night we stayed up late 'til 9.00 (ooh!)and had a fine time. In fact, my best evening on the trail so far.I met a guy who makes gear and has his own company Etowah. His alcohol stove looks great and they have them for sale at the outfitters in Neel's Gap which we hit early tomorrow. I may snap one up as the pepsi can stove is heavy on the meths.It's going great so far.
Date: 2004-03-19
From: Slaughter Gap

To: Near Whitley Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

I camped at the base of Blood Mountain last night, so the climb to the top came first thing. It was a clear day and the view from the summit was spectacular. Peak a Boo, Grant, Cuppa Joe and Vagrant were already there. I believe that this ulikely crew are all keeping trail journals on thia site. We got lots of pics. Blood Mountain was the first register I've signed, that's not good. A purist would have signed all of them and you should do so regularly, so that if you are ripped apart by wild beasts whilst sallying forth in the woods, the authorities have a rough idea of where to start looking for the bits.I got to Neels Gap at about 11.00ish. It felt like something of an event, not more than 30 odd miles in to the trail, but a marker of sorts. It's a gear shop and general resupply place. They specialise in ripping apart the packs of heavy hikers and chucking away the gear that's weighing them down. A kind of outdoors What Not To Wear.Most people were upbeat and happy at the way things were going. The 70 F weather helped with that. I even broke out my shades for the first time, though I've needed them every day. Nemo decided to leave the trail, however, his pack was very heavy and I don't think things were panning out quite as he'd hoped. On the other hand, section hikers like Elks Blood seemed sorry they had to call it a day when the general consensus was that we were all going to Maine.I left about 2.00 when I suddenly realised things weren't all over and this wasn't Katahdin. I didn't end up staying at a shelter, but camping a little way short of Whitley Gap Shelter. Only Brutus was there. He was very impressed with my bear bag hanging technique, but not my attempts to secure it to the tree. Brutus and I have swapped pans for a while as he wanted a smaller one and me a bigger. I get the better deal as his is Snow Peak titanium and mine's a cheap aluminium number.