morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Fontana Visitor's Cener, NC

To: Fontana Visitor's Center, NC
Miles today: 0.0

OK, one month today since I fell and broke my left arm and less than 48 hours until I restart my walk north again. :-))) I have done all the recuperation thing I can do for now.....I NEED to walk!!!! I was back to see the orthopedic surgeon on Monday and he said things were healing nicely. I told him of my plans to continue my walk on the 9th and he just looked at me and smiled and said he figured I'd be leaving soon. He did warn me about the fact that my arm is not 100% yet and it will be about another 4 weeks before things start getting back to normal. He also said that if I fall on that arm again, it's going to hurt bad.....I can't believe I'm paying him to tell me that if I fall on my broken arm that it will hurt. :-))) I'm going to walk very carefully and next time I smell food, I'll slow down and pay more attention to where my feet are. Ha!!! (It's easy to say that now because I'm sitting here writting this with a full belly) :-))) I've had time to get a tooth finished that I've had trouble with for about a year now. I had a root canal done on it a few months ago, but ran out of time to get the crown before I started my walk. I just had the crown done on Tuesday since I've found some down time. I spent the day yesterday going through my backpack and readjusting my gear to the season I'm going to be walking in. I'm taking an extra piece of Z Rest to place under my regular piece of Z Rest to cushion my arm a little more when I'm laying on my side. I tried on my backpack yesterday for the first time since I fell. I figured I probably should make sure I can carry it since I'm heading into the Smokies on Sunday morning. I had to be more careful, but got it on without much problem. The hipbelt doesn't close as much as it did before, but that's because I continued to eat for the last month like I was walking everyday. That should take care of itself soon enough, so I'm going out to dinner tonight and I'm starting from Fontana right after I enjoy the breakfast buffet at Fontana Village on Sunday morning. :-)))
Date: 2006-04-08
From: Fontana Visitor's Center, NC

To: Fontana Vistitor's Center, NC
Miles today: 0.0

It's just after 4am and I can't sleep anymore. I am so excited about getting back on the trail that I feel like I did on my very first hike. I'm shutting down things here at the RV this morning, then heading to Fontana Village to spend the day and night before walking up the hill into the Smokies tomorrow morning....right after the breakfast buffet of course. :-))) It looks like I picked a great day to start my walk. It's raining hard here in north Georgia right now, but the forecast is for beautiful weather going through the Smokies. I'm going to carry extra food into the Smokies with me this time because I'm not sure how long it will take me to get through there. (I've got 8 fruit pies.) I'm not at this time planning to stop in Gatlinburg, so the next time I can post will be from Standing Bear Hostel which I hope to walk into on the 12th....we'll see. Thanks to everyone who sent me emails and signed my guestbook after the unfortunate hamburger incident that made me break my arm on March 7th. It was a fantastic feeling having so many friends get in touch with me. Trail people are the best!!!! On to the buffet.....I mean the Smokies!!!! :-)))
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Near Devil's Fork Gap, NC

To: N of No Business Knob Shelter, Tn
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: broken clouds

27.0 miles todayStealth TentingN. of No Business Knob Shelter, TN63,084 foot steps todayI woke up at 5:45am. I got an extra 15 minutes of sleep. :-)))I made my coffee and had my last two fruit pies for breakfast.Now I know I need to get close to Erwin today otherwise I might starve when I wake up tomorrow morning without anything for breakfast. :-((I was packed up and walking at 6:50am.The temperature was in the upper 50's and humid, but there was a little more wind today.It's so humid out that it's kind of hazy. I saw the full moon just getting ready to set through all that haze.I stopped and got water above where an old homestead used to be. Now there is just some of the ruins and two grave stones.I made the long climb up Frozen Knob and stopped along the way and tanked up on water again at a nice spring.I walked by the side trail to Hogback Ridge Shelter without stopping.I ran into Carbomb and Elsbeth about a mile north of the shelter. We talked a while and I told them that Red and Kate were trying to catch up to them.I stopped by Sam's Gap long enough to empty out my garbage. I was hoping one of my "friends" might be waiting there with an ice cold coke, but they must have been busy. ;-)))I walked on about a mile and sat down next to a small spring and ate my lunch. The spring had a snake in it looking for his lunch when I got there.I made the long climb up Big Bald and ran into Doubleshot and Fast Lane on the summit.I didn't stay long because I had been sweating on the way up and the strong breeze made me feel cold.There wasn't much in the way of views. It was still very hazy out today and I had a hard time seeing even the close mountains.I walked by Big Bald Shelter without stopping. I could see a few people there, but I just didn't feel like stopping right then.I got down to Whistling Gap and was getting tired, so I sat down and ate an early dinner. I had a Mountain House spagetti and meat sauce that I had carried all the way from Fontana.While I was there, Doubleshot, Fast Lane, Irish, Supersize, Mudflap and Daisy all came by.I don't know why I got so tired. I usually get more energy as the day goes on. In fact, I count on getting more energy as the day goes on because I love walking until about dark.Well, tomorrow will be a short day and I'll get some rest then. :-)))I climbed over High Rocks, then walked down the mountain to Spivey Gap.I got water just before I got there.Mudflap and Daisy were setting up camp near there.I climbed the mountain out of Spivey Gap and walked along Oglesby Branch for almost a mile on the way up.I kept walking, but was getting tired again.I got to No Business Knob Shelter and stopped long enough to sign the register and say hello to Beer 30, then I walked another 1/4 mile and found a flat spot to set up my tent.That will leave me with a short 6 mile walk into Erwin, Tn in the morning.I'm ready for a shower!!! :-)))
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Indian Grave Gap, Tn

To: N of Greasy Creek Gap, Tn
Miles today: 16.0

33,554 foot steps today I woke up and went downstairs to get me some coffee.I got breakfast while I was there and took it back up to my room to eat. I knew Miss Janet always runs late, so I was in no hurry this morning. I laid around the room most of the morning, then went next door and bought lunch and two hamburgers to pack out for tonight. Miss Janet called at 11am and said she was running late. :-))) I ended up getting to Indian Grave Gap at 12:40pm and started walking north. When I got to the summit of Beauty Spot, I saw Outbreak, Morning Fit, Able Jack and Chainsaw up there. We talked for a short while, then I kept walking I walked down to Deep Gap, then climbed Unaka Mtn.That mtn had some red spruce on top and it's darker than most of the forest....very nice. I stopped at Cherry Gap Shelter and signed the register and ate my two hamburgers. I didn't bother getting water because my guide book said there was water a mile after Iron Mtn Gap, but there wasn't. :-((( I kept walking until I got near Greasy Creek Gap and I found a spring. I was really needing the water by then.I drank about two litres and filled my water bottles for the night. I walked on another mile until I found a flat spot, then I set up my tent. I just can't get focused on my walk right now for some reason and that makes it tough out here.
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Kincora Hostel, Hampton, TN

To: 3 mi N of Vandeventer Shelter, Tn
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

18,312 foot steps todayI got up at 5:30 and had half an apple coffee cake, 2 bananas, some grapes and a Boost drink for breakfast.I was trying to be quiet because Boulder was sleeping on the couch and I was eating in the living room.There was one too many hikers for the number of bunks here last night.I got my journal entry ready and sent that in and read my emails.I got packed up, then sat on the porch for about half an hour talking to a few other hikers until Bob came out at 8:30 to take some of us over to Watauga Lake.It was a truck load of hikers this morning. A few of us were heading north, but most were slacking south to stay at the hostel one more night.Terry, from Mountain Harbour pulled in just as we were leaving. He brought Red Baron over who's been sick for a while.It seems alot of hikers caught some kind of bug at Erwin. They get a 48 hour bug where they vomit and generally feel like crap.I've tried to stay clear of anyone I could tell was sick and so far haven't had any of the symtpoms of that virus.Bob dropped us all off at the trailhead at 9am and I started walking north with the intentions of one night and two days in to Damascus. It was only 40 miles, so a couple of easy 20 milers and I'd be in Va.It was a beautiful morning with partly cloudy skies and a cool temperature.I walked around the north end of Watauga Lake, then walked by the side trail to Watauga Lake Shelter without stopping.I stopped half way across Watauga Lake dam and ate an Italian hoagie I had packed out for lunch and drank a coke. It was only 10am, but I figured I'd rather carry that stuff in my stomach than on my back while I was climbing the next hill. :-)))I made the climb up the mountain from Watauga Dam Rd.I stopped at a spring 3 miles in and filled up my water bottles with water.I was looking at my guide and getting ready to walk on just as Leprecaun showed up and also stopped to get water.I walked on to Vandeventer Shelter and stopped to sign the register and ate an avacado before walking on.Leprecaun showed up again just as I was getting ready to walk on.Barefoot Nate and a friend of his was there too and walked out just before me.I had planned on going another 13 miles this afternoon, But at 1pm, I started thinking how good a nap would feel.I kept walking and was getting pretty tired, so when I saw a nice flat spot just before 2pm, I set up my tent and crawled in with the intentions of just taking a 2 hour nap, then packing up and walking on...well, I woke up at 6pm and rolled over and the next thing I knew, it was 7:40pm and I decided that I would stay here for the night.That means it's going to take me 3 days to walk to Damascus, Va.I've never set up my tent in the middle of the day and taken a nap like that before. I usually keep getting more and more energy as the day goes on. This is sure a crappy feeling...I walked 11 miles today and that was it. :-(((
Date: 2006-04-24
From: 3 mi N of Vandeventer Shelter, Tn

To: 3 mi S of Tn/Va Stateline
Miles today: 23.2

44,036 foot steps todayI was in my tent last night for over 17 hours. I set it up and got in at 2pm yesterday.I woke up at 5:30am and brewed my coffee and had a Boost drink and an apple pie for breakfast.I was going to start walking just a little earlier than 7:10am, but it started raining litely, so I waited until the rain passed.I stopped at the spring just before Iron Mtn Shelter and filled up with water.I was looking at my guide when Billy Goat came walking down from the shelter.I walked up to the shelter and signed the register and took a break.Once again, I'm not feeling like I have alot of energy.Parkbench, Billy Goat and Lunch Box was there.I stopped at Nick Grindstaff's Memorial. He was born on the same day of the year as I was, only 101 years earlier.I crossed Rt 91 and walked through a very nice old farm for about a mile.I stopped by Double Spring Shelter and rested for a while.When I got to Rt 421, I stopped and tanked up on water and filled my water bottles from the nice spring that's there.I walked up to McQueens Knob and passed by the old shelter just north of there.I stopped at Abington Gap Shelter and took another break.Normally I just stop long enough to sign the registers, but lately I've been taking breaks at the shelters too.Parkay was there and we talked a bit before I walked on.I found a flat spot about 3 1/2 miles later and decided that even though it was before 4pm, I was going to set up my tent for the night.I got in and ate some snacks, then fell asleep early.I've been thinking all day about the way I'm feeling and have decided to get to Damascus tomorrow and see about getting home to Blairsville, Ga somehow.I'm going to rest until Trail Days, then decide what to do...maybe a flip??I love to walk and when I'm out here walking, I want to walk all day.Right now I'm getting way too tired, so I figure my body is trying to tell me to take it easy until the ol' broken arm is completely healed.Note from 4-25-06;If anyone is near Damascus and heading south, I sure could use a ride.I'm at Dave's Place across from Mount Roger's Outfitters in Room #5, or just give Dave, Jeff or Tom a call at the outfitters and leave a message.
Date: 2006-05-23
From: North of Beartree Gap, Va

To: Whitetop Mountain, Va
Miles today: 9.4

9.4 miles todayStealth tentingWhitetop Mtn, VaToday was a scheduled easy day since our food stash is only about 11 miles away and we don't want to get to it until tomorrow.I have my summer quilt with me and I woke up a few times cold last night, so I had to make sure I kept the quilt on all the way.I woke up at about 5am and wasn't ready to get up yet.I finally decided to make my coffee about 7:30 or 8 and had my two apple pies. Yummm!!! :-)))We just hung around camp and enjoyed the morning. I watched the sun coming up through the trees and it slowly warmed things up.I finally got packed up and Low Gear came walking by just before we left.We started walking at 10:40. :-)))We got to the Creeper Trail in about a mile and walked across the bridge to where the AT cuts back into the woods.There was a nice little stream in another 1/4 mile and we sat down and ate an early snack and refilled our water bottles.We stopped at Lost Mtn Shelter and took a long lunch break. I sat and read through the register to see who was around, but I don't recognize most of the hikers around here now.I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then got ready to leave when Billy from Philly walked in.We talked for a while before we walked on.In another mile, we crossed Rt 58 and saw the Wonderers sitting on the other side. There's a father, a daughter and a young son walking the trail together.I had met them just north of the Smoky Mountains back in April.We had a 1,900 foot climb from there up to Whitetop Mtn.We ran into Granny Franny about a mile into the climb. She had been dropped off at Elk Garden today and was walking south back to Damascus to pick up a food drop that hadn't arrived yet.We stood and talked a while in a cow field near Rt 601.We sat down and took a couple breaks on the way up to Buzzard Rocks.The flowers are really out in full bloom right now. Trillium, columbine and bluets were a few I could identify. The forest was white with little fuzzy flowers low to the ground.We got to Buzzard Rocks and I ate a couple sandwiches, then we headed on because even though the sun was shining nicely, the wind was cool.We had planned on tenting near the gushing spring on Whitetop Mtn, but there was a young guy there already, so we stopped long enough to eat dinner before walking on.Billy from Philly, Grim Reaper and Breeze all walked by while we were eating.I finally found a suitable tent site about 200 feet off the trail and we set up and crawled in the tent for the night.It was another mild day and we enjoyed everything that's blooming right now. The trees up here at over 5,000 feet high still don't have any leaves on them yet.
Date: 2006-05-27
From: Partnership Shelter, Va (on the trail)

To: Comfort Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Partnership Shelter, Va (on the trail)I ate too much last night at the Homeplace....but I'm going back there tonight. :-)))I was up until early this morning catching up on emails and transferring photos to my laptop, then uploading about 45 of them to my journal.It's lots of work, but I enjoy doing it. :-)))I was slow getting up this morning, but finally managed to go downstairs and get some breakfast and coffee.I saw Longhaul when I went down for breakfast. Lucky Dime and another hiker were there too.I just kind of took it easy most of the morning, then went to Wal-Mart to resupply.We stopped at the outfitters and I bought a new pair of hiking shorts. My old ones were ripping out in the crotch. I'll get those fixed later.Banjoman and Cash were there along with a few others that I can't remember their names.When we got back, I started planning my days on the trail and where I'd be at, so I can get to The Homeplace when they're open on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.It worked out that if I didn't take two more zero's in the next two weeks, that I would miss The Homeplace. Well, I couldn't let that happen, so I decided to go ahead and take one of those zero's tomorrow, since I was already at my favorite motel on the trail. :-)))I still had a book to finish reading and lots of emails to answer, so that's what I am planning for tomorrow.We drove up to The Homeplace and ate another very good dinner although it was more than I needed tonight since I didn't walk today.When we got back to the motel, I started reading that book I need to finish.This zero flew by!!
Date: 2006-05-28
From: Partnership Shelter, Va (on the trail)

To: Comfort Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Another slow start to the day. I read for a while last night and I guess it was after midnight before I fell asleep.I got breakfast, but made my own coffee this morning...Starbuck's. :-)))I went right back to reading my book. It's an old book; Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It's a loooong book too...almost 1,100 pages and very small print...so small that my eyes bug out each time I look up from reading the book. :-)))It was lunch time before I knew it, so we went to a nice little barbeque place for lunch.When we got back to the room, I spent the rest of the day reading. I only had about 30 pages left when we went to Bojangle's for some dinner at 8:30pm. They've got good fried chicken. :-)))When we got back to the room, I finally finished that book. I don't like to leave anything unfinished, but I ran out of time to finish the book before I started walking again, so I was real happy to get it done now.My buddy, John Galt, from the '03 sobo hike will be glad to hear I read that book. It's the book he took his trail name from.I guess I'll have to finish answering emails tomorrow morning before I leave here for the trail.That's all that happened today. :-)))Another nice zero!!
Date: 2006-05-29
From: Partnership Shelter, Va (on the trail)

To: Sleeping in my truck
Miles today: 11.5

Today started off way north of where I'm at on the trail. I woke up at the Comfort Inn in Daleville, Va after another zero yesterday.I wanted to answer most emails I've received before I left, so I started writing when I woke up...after coffee of course. :-)))While I was writing the emails, Shortcut went and brought breakfast back from the lounge, so I ate and didn't have to leave the room.I stretched the time out as long as I could before the 11am checkout. I still didn't get all my emails answered, but I'm not far behind now.We drove back down to where I am at on the trail, but stopped at Groseclose to show Shortcut where I would be coming out of the trail later today.When I got to Mt Rogers Visitor's Center, I packed what I needed for the short walk today, then headed north at 1:35pm.Shortcut is slacking me for a while until she has to return to her home.I'm looking forward to slackpacking for a now. :-)))I started seeing rhododendrons, orange azaleas and yellow azaleas almost from the start of today's walk. I also kept smelling a sweet aroma in the warm air. I think it was wild roses blooming and maybe some blackberry blooms.I walked over a small hill, then down to Rt 622 before climbing Brushy Mtn then Locust Mtn.I had to keep stopping to take photos of the blooming rhododendrons and azaleas. This was the most spectacular plants that I've seen blooming so far this year.There was also a few wild magnolias in full bloom through the area.I kept walking and descended to USFS 86 before climbing back up Glade Mtn at 3,900 high.There was a large variety of wildflowers blooming.I saw lots of cinnamon ferns coming up too. I got some photos of whole fields of those buggers.I stopped and signed the register at Chatfield Shelter, then scanned through the register to see who had been by before I walked on.A mile or so before I got to Groseclose, I stopped at Settler's Village and went inside the old one room school house that was built in 1894. I took a few pictures and signed the register that was left in there. There's an old pot belly stove right in the middle of the room that was used for heat.I walked on and went through a couple freshly cut hay fields that really smelled good. The last mile or so was mostly out in the open, so it was much warmer.I got to Groseclose and saw Shortcut parked at the truck stop waiting on me.We went to The Barn for dinner, but it had closed already, so we headed into Marion, since we had to go that way to get to where I'm walking from on the trail tomorrow.We stopped at the Appletree Restaurant near the Interstate and had really good meals. I walked today, so I even ordered peach cobbler and ice cream for desert. :-)))We headed on out to the trailhead where it crosses Rt 42 and pulled in there for the night.I was getting a few things ready and 6 Pack came walking over to the truck. I talked to him a while and gave him a coke, then I hopped in the back of the truck and wrote my journal entry.Today was the warmest day that I've had on the trail so far this year.It was 88 degrees when I got to Groseclose.
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Bland, Va

To: Bland, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I got up at 6:30am to start packing Shortcut's stuff into the truck to take her to Roanoke Airport. She's flying to her mom's home to help her out for a while. I had arranged with Hokey Pokey for a ride back to the trailhead in Bland for tomorrow morning, so today is going to be a zero and a catch up and planning day for me. Shortcut and I had breakfast in the lobby, but I made Starbuck's in the motel room. I know I'm spoiled :-))) I finished taping up a box that Shortcut was shipping to NC in hopes of walking the Bartram Trail later this summer. We went to the PO and mailed that box off, then I drove her to the airport. This morning happened fast and before I knew it, I was on my own again. :-((( I came back to the motel and sent in a journal entry, then spent some time answering emails before dozing off for a short nap. :-))) I brought my hiking stuff into the room and went through all that. Hopefully I've got everything I need for now. I made a few long overdue phone calls to family, then went to Bojangle's for dinner. It may be 7 or 8 days until I get any fried chicken again. :-))) I've got everything pretty well organized and just took it easy this evening. It was a good zero.