morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-01-15
To: to video or not to video
Miles today: 0.0

I've been considering adding videos to my journal this year so I ran some test videos to see what kind of quality the uploading and downloading process would provide. I'm a bit disappointed in the result as the originals are fairly good but after going through youtube to trailjournals they appear pixelated and a bit blurry. It might still be fun though, as I enjoyed watching Doggiebags videos on his journal last year, ( he also made a video on how to put your videos on trailjournals that is clear and easy to follow, thanks Doggiebag!) and they do provide some atmosphere that just doesn't come through with only words and pictures. What I'd like to accomplish with my journal this year is to convey as much as I'm able what it's really like out there, adding more of the nitty gritty, the day to day joys and struggles of trail life. The videos might help with this even if they can't do justice to the scenery. I'd enjoy hearing everyone's opinions about this so let me know if you would like to see some.
Date: 2008-01-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I finally got around to telling my boss that I was going to be gone again this summer. She was very understanding and supportive and interested in my hike. I'm fortunate that we are always short staffed so getting hired back on is no big deal. I work at Jackson Hole Airport in security and with the big turnover in the job, there are always positions available so if you are looking for a job after quiting yours for a thru hike, come on out to Jackson Hole!    For some reason, taking this step made the impending trip seem much more real. Some part of me still can't believe that I'm going to do this again. So now the next step is to see if I can find some trust worthy person to rent my place. I was lucky last year but I can't expect that to happen again so I'm prepared to leave it empty if necessary.    I had fun making the video of my pre-work training climb up Snowking Ski area that I try to do twice a week. I feel I'm starting to get a little more comfortable in front of my self imposed camera. I'll be making a few more prep videos just to get used to it.
Date: 2008-01-30
To: Poles and Bears
Miles today: 0.0

I saw a few more bears than your average hiker last summer, and if you will bear with me, pun intended, I'll explain my theory about this. I'd also like to share with you my observations on black bear behavior, especially mothers with cubs, that might be useful to you in your bear encounters. I saw a total of 28 bears between Springer Mt and Duncannon Pennsylvania, where I left the trail. I've read several books on bear attacks and such, but none of them pointed out that a mother black bear's behavior changes depending on the age of the cubs. This was the most important thing that I learned by being blessed with so many sightings. What I had read in the bear books said that a mother black bear, contrary to popular belief, would generally run when encountering a human, rather than aggressively defend the cubs like a mother Grizzly. But what I observed was that what the mother did on seeing me depended on the age of the cubs. With older cubs, the mother would run, as the books said, even leaving the cubs behind. But with very young cubs, things were very different. The young cubs don't run, they tree up. And the mother won't run either but rather hang around to see that they are not threatened. She may even act a bit aggressively like the one in the photo on my prep 3 entry. My theory is that when they get older and capable on running, the mother takes off as a way of teaching them to run instead of tree, and isn't acting in a cowardly fashion as some books suggest. So if you see cubs treeing, my advise is to proceed with caution. If the cubs are bigger and running, no worries.   Now why was I seeing so many bears? I have a theory about that too. I always hiked alone and usually camped in between shelters. This put me in the gap between groups of thru hikers, so there were less people on the trail and the bears hadn't yet been scared off. Also, I don't use hiking poles. What could that have to do with bear sightings, you may be asking. I'll tell you, what it's all about is noise. According to the bear books, bears hear about the same as humans. It's their nose that's highly developed. So if you are upwind, especially if you are a thru hiker, the bear knows you are there. And some bears simply don't care and will go about their business regardless. But if you are downwind or it's still, the bear is relying on it's hearing to notify it of approach from that direction. Now I almost break out laughing when I see people with their little bear bells. You can't hear those things from any distance at all. Casual conversation is much louder. But what tells me hikers are approaching is almost always the clatter of hiking poles. My theory is that bears have gotten so used to being warned of approaching hikers by pole clatter, that when some old school hiker like me comes along without them, they are taken by surprise. I know this is a hokey theory but there may be something to it. Enjoy your bears!
Date: 2008-02-20
To: My friend the rock
Miles today: 0.0

I've been feeling good on my training climbs up Snowking mountain having added a little weight to my pack. For some reason my legs seem to like the extra 25 pounds of rock that I put in there. Go figure.    It's been fun watching the class of '08 depart one by one and although I'll be starting well behind the main pack, I'm sure I'll run into some of the hikers leaving before me and I wish you all good luck! See you up the trail and WAlK IN JOY, Monk
Date: 2008-03-11
To: Bird Song
Miles today: 0.0

I just added a video that I did as a sound test to see if I could capture quite birdsong with my little camera. It worked with no lose of sound quality. The birds here out west could use some singing lessons from their eastern counterparts. They have a tendency to squawk and chirp rather than sing. There are a few exceptions like the Hermit Thrush. I found the Eastern version had a tighter quicker spiral in its song than the Western one. Anyway, I do hope to capture some of the lovely bird concerts on the Trail. Especially the Wood Thrush song.   I spent some time recently uploading my trail photos from last year to the Picasa Web album. So now they are available in slide show format. Here's the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/srdyke/100CASIO.   I've been having a blast reading everyones journal now that the main pack is heading out. Good Luck out there! And walk in Joy
Date: 2008-03-29
To: Heading south
Miles today: 0.0

Tomorrow is my last day of work. Winter up here in Jackson Hole refuses to yield to spring so I'm very happy I'm heading south for a few weeks in my favorite paradise, St John. For all you campers out there there is a great campground called Cinnamon Bay in Virgin Islands National Park. So I'm soaking the winter out of my bones before hitting the trail on April 21st. This will be my last entry until I'm on the trail. My sister Claudia, who lives in Lyons Colorado, will be transcribing my journal for me. I'll be mailing her the journal pages and camera memory cards so there will be a delay from real time depending on the snail mail. Good luck to all of you on the trail this year and walk in Joy!
Date: 2008-04-21
From: Approach Trail -Amicalola Falls

To: Springer Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

What an incredible day so far! I got a shuttle to the trail from Atlanta from Leigh Saint of the hiker hostel to the approach trail at Amicalola Falls State park on an absolutely gorgeous spring day with brilliant blue skies, dogwoods in full bloom, and the trees all leafing out in the lower elevations. I'm now at my first rest stop on my way up Springer Mt. and the start of the AT. The new route of the approach trail goes up hundreds of steps as it climbs past the waterfall. It's actually a pretty good workout and I took it easy, no sense in overdoing it the first mile! It feels like coming home to be on the trail again, and I'm immensely grateful for the opportunity. And now onward to Springer Mt. and the first white blaze. Boy is it good to be here!I've now stopped for another rest on the way up Frosty Mt. A more perfect day I cannot imagine. I'm feeling both ecstatic and a bit overwhelmed by the vibrancy and glory of this spring day. Spring is about a week earlier than last year. Even up on the ridges there is the white splash of dogwood and spring green leaves scattered against a bright blue sky. Very quiet with only the occcasional bird song. I'm high enough now that most of the trees are still bare and creating their fantastic silhouettes, a frozen dance of infintie variety, I just can't stop looking at them. I'm feeling welcomed, embraced, and blessed by all this beauty. Now onward up to Springer.And finally, the start. I made my first video on arrrival at the first white blaze. Only one other thru hiker at the Springer Mt. shelter, a young guy from Virginia named Jeremy. I was # 591 signing in for a thru hike at the visitor center. And there are about a dozen thru hikers who started in the last 2 days. But all in all a quiet, peaceful, and beautiful day. And I felt good on the trail even after all the traveling and little sleep last night. Only my feet were a bit sore as they get used to the firmer footbeds. After I eat my mac and cheese I'll go back up to the summit and watch the sun set over the Georgia hills. What a great day!
Date: 2008-04-22
From: Springer Mt. Shelter

To: Justis Creek Camp
Miles today: 13.5

What a delicious morning! I got up to the sound of bird song after a good night's sleep using my new down pillow (thanks, Brenda!). It was 42 degrees F at dawn for all you weather geeks out there, I'm carrying a very good thermometer, one of my little luxuries as I'm a weather geek myself, because for some reason it pleases me to know what the temperature is. I'm resting at 3 forks creek after the downhill walk that passes through an old growth hemlock forest. The serene energy here is wonderfully refreshing. My feet are a little achey so I stuck them in the cold creek which they liked very much.    The miles I hiked yesterday, 8.8, on the approach trail, don't count so I started at mile 0 this morning with 2,176 to go. The trail is 2 miles longer than last year thanks to relocations. Now onwards up to Hawk Mt.   I wasn't feeling well when I reached Hawk Mt. shelter. But a nap and a nutty banana Probar got me gowing again. After the approach trail, there are no ascents of more than a 1000 ft. going north bound. But nevertheless, the Georgia mountains do have a bite to them and Sassafras mt. is where you start to see their teeth. Often fondly called "kick my ass, Sassafras", it's only a 650 ft. ascent but these are some steep pitches. I had no trouble as I stopped many times taking pictures of all the wild flowers. But I am tired this evening and am content at my camp at Justis creek. And just now two woood thrusshes, the most melodious of the song birds, have begun to sing for me. A perfect ending to the day.
Date: 2008-04-23
From: Justis Creek Camp

To: Slaughter Creek campsite
Miles today: 13.5

I awoke at bird o'clock and was happy to just lie there and listen to them sing. Even an owl got into the act. They will hoot anytime, night or day, and I often feel they are cheering me on my way up the trail. One flew right in front of me and convenietnly landed within camera range but only with full digital zoom, so we'll see how that one turns out. It was a fairly easy day with some good views and partly cloudy skies. (45 deg. at dawn). Not as hot as the last two so I kept my shirt on today. My body is holding up well so far with just a little soreness in my right shin. But no big deal, not the dreaded shin splints that have knocked more than a few hikers off the trail. I'm camped at the Slaughter Creek tent sites part way up Blood Mt., the highest in Georgia. The only other person up here is "Bush", a 60 something thru hiker from West Virginia who is not in the best shape and struggling more than a little but is none the less making pretty good time. The other thru hiker I met, Jeremy, is having a very hard time with a bum knee and may not go much further. I'll be at the Neels Gap tomorrow and mail these journal entries and a full memory card; I've really been enjoying all the photo opportunities. I'm finding it easier to slip into a state of mindfulness while walking this year, with many periods of presence and peace. I'm feeling very lucky to be doing this. "Manysleeps", the ridge runner who caretakes the top of Springer Mt., has a sign by his tent that says, "If you are lucky enough to be hiking at AT, you are lucky enough." I think I'm as happy as the birds are in the morning.
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Slaughter Creek campsite

To: Poor Mt. camp
Miles today: 11.5

The screech owls were out last night. What a sound! If you didn't know what they are they would scare the whatever out of you. A really wild, and eerie noise.When I reached the top of Blood Mt., this morning, I noticed someone had put up some Tibetan prayer flags, perhaps in honor and memory of the woman hiker who was abducted and murdered by a psychopathic serial killer not far from here. I resupplied at Neels Gap with laundry, shower, batter re-charge, etc. and am now on my way north again on another warm spring day. I just checked the temperature, that geeky thing again, and it's 72 degrees in the shade. 48 degrees was this morning's low. Just about perfect. I met another thru hiker named "Slow Turtle" and aptly so. He's overweight and so is his pack. It will take over a year at his current pace to finish the trail. After Neels Gap I went over Levelland Mt., nothing level about it, then Wolf Laurel Top, Courock Mt. with its good views. The climb up Wildcat Mt., though short, had some sting, so I was glad to stop for dinner at Hogpen Gap, much nicer than the name. So now I'm content to stop with relatively low miles today, as I'm keeping myself reined in, tolet the body adjust to the rigor of the trail. It's never easy for long out here but it sure is a blast.
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Poor Mt. camp

To: Rocky Mt.
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm taking my lunch break at Chattahooche Gap, the headwaters of the river that Atlanta relies upon for water. This morning I awoke with low energy and a headache, but am feeling good now. The fresh, lively spring energy with flowers blooming, the trees leafing, and the birds singing, revitalizes me quickly. The 14 mile stretch of trail that I'm on now between Tesnatee Gap and the Unicoi Gap is a very wild stretch with no road crossings at all. There is also about 10 miles of very easy walking, a real rarity on the AT. But that luxury is about to end soon with a 1,000 ft. descent to Unicoi Gap and a steep climb back up Rocky Mt. I don't think there is another 10 mile section this easy for several hundred miles so I'm enjoying it while I can! I got my tent up and myself inside it right before it started to rain. Perfect timing! I'm camped on Rocky Mt., which is not particularly rocky, but does have a nice view and a grassy campsite. I met 3 more thru hikers today, Izzy, Fatty, and Bear. Bear is a huge guy, dressed in black and looked just like his namesake. Fatty is overweight and like me is on his second attempt. He made it to New Jersey last time and his hike ended with a bruised foot. Izzy is also out of shape like almost all the thru hikers I've met so far, but has a good plan of easing into it. These guys make me feel like some kind of superhero as I breeze past them on the trail. But the reality is that I'm a slower than average walker compared to most long distance hikers. Now I think I'll just lie back and listen to the rain patter on the tent. It's a sweet sound when you are snug and dry.
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Rocky Mt.

To: Moreland Gap
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

I awoke to rain and thunder, but it was a small storm and quickly passed. 56 degrees this morning so the promised cold front for this weekend is not here yet. I've been playing leapfrog with Fatty as I caught up to him again at the Cheese Factory spring, where there is no cheese or any sign of a factory. After climbing Troy Mt. this morning I'm taking a break at Steel Trap Gap, sitting in the warm, humid sunshine. I met a snail on the trail this morning doing its own version of a thru hike. It was trying to go from one side of the trail to the other without getting stepped on. Trying to hike the trail end to end gives me the same kind of vulnerable feeling. Especially since what so much of this is about for me is to let the protective shell dissolve along the way. If something wants to step on you, a shell is not going to do you much good anyway. I was dragging a bit this afternoon but my feet aren't aching much anymore. I'm camped out at Moreland Gap just 1 mile above Dick's Creek Gap where I'll resupply tomorrow just 1.5 miles down the road at the Cloud 9 hostel. I may do a low mileage day tomorrow if my energy doesn't bounce back as my pack will be extra heavy with a five day load of food for the next section. And it's not an easy one as the trail will exit Georgia and move into North Carolina and the rugged Nantahalla Range. The going gets tougher. But I love it anyway.
Date: 2008-04-27
From: Moreland Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

I'm pleased to be sitting in my camp in North Carolina at Bly Gap. One state down, 13 to go. But really, there is a feeling of satisfaction on completing the Georgia section of the AT, and a sense om momentum and flow in the hike starts to emerge. As I was walking down the road to the Cloud 9 hostel, it stared to rain and it was mostly light rain on and off all day. There were four young guys, one of whom was nursing a bum knee hanging out there, as well as Bear, and Fatty showed up with a bad knee as well. All are staying put tonight so there is no one here at the Bly Gap campsite which is popular with thru hikers as it's just over the border. And it has the famous tree. Well, famous with thru hikers, anyway. It's cool, and damp, and very quiet. Last year I camped here as well and there were at least 10 others with me.With five days of food my pack was the heaviest yet, and I sure felt it on the ascents, but my energy was good today so I didn't mind much. Once a pack gets over a certain weight its always reminding you that it's there. Despite the cloudy and sometimes rainy days there were times that I felt transparent and felt the joy just radiating through me as if some magic switch had been turned on. Joy like that isn't dependent o circumstance, it appears as if by a will of its own. I feel that the magical mystery tour is really about to begin.
Date: 2008-04-28
From: Bly Gap

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: broken clouds

I've got sleeping bag, tent, and ground sheet all hanging from branches in the sun, drying out after the torrential rains last night. My MSR Hubba tent did its job and I only got my sleeping bag a little damp, not soaked. But now the cold front has come through and the dense fog of the morning has lifted making for a much nicer day. The trail started steep and hard this morning with the ungraded climb up Sharptop and Courthouse Bald, and then the easy climb up the 5,400 ft. Standing Indian Mt., the highest on the trail so far. The trail now stays high, between 4,000 and 5,500 ft. for the next 40 miles so I've left much of spring well below.It will be a cold night tonight as the temperature is dropping fast. I made it to Carter Gap Shelter with 1.5 miles being my longest day yet. Not too tired though, my energy is picking up. Four others at the shelter including a thru hiker Englishman named Long Man Walking. I'd been seeing his entries in the shelter registers and finally caught up to him. It's his very long legs that give him the name.
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rocky Cove Knob
Miles today: 15.0

The wind started to howl, the temperature plummeted, an some freezing rain blew in as the muscle behind to cold front moved through. 24 degrees this morning with a strong wind making it difficult to fold up my tent as it kept flapping away. All last week as I was hiking in just shorts without a shirt I kept wondering if I really needed all the cold weather gear I was carrying. The question is answered. I had every layer on this morning and was comfortable, not cold at all. But I'm a bit concerned about other thru hikers who may already have sent their warm stuff home. The wind chill temperature I'm sure was in the single digits.But now I'm sitting in the sun sheltered from the wind with a great view. I'll be climbing Albert Mt. soon with its lookout tower and it's a great day for it. I'll see if I can warm my camera up enough to take some photos. Chicken and Goat, who were camped at the shelter with me, just showed up to share the warmth. They are section hikers from Vermont. I'm camped again in the same spot I did last year, for the third straight night. I'm up on a ridge above Winding Stair Gap and can see the cars winding their way up the road in the distance. My legs were strong today but my mental energy is low with feelings of melancholy and loneliness which is unusual for me when I'm outside. But I work with all of it during my walking meditation practice, it's all grist for the mill as Ram Dass would say; difficult feelings, and icy winds, are all part of the journey and add to the richness of the experience.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Rocky Cove Knob

To: Licklog Gap
Miles today: 13.5

I'm taking a break on Siler Bald, with its 360 degrees view, on this cool sunny spring day. It only went down to 34 degrees last night and I had a great night's sleep and am full of energy now. When I got to Winding Stair Gap there was a church group setting up a trail magic station, with hot coffee and various goodies for any hikers coming by. I met a young thru hiking couple, Funky Monkey and Arrowhead, and later a section hiker named Sparticus who has only two sections of trail left to complete the whole thing. All three were getting back on the trail after a stop in Franklin, a town 10 miles down the road and a common resupply point. I breezed right by it as I'm carrying enough food to make it to the N.O.C. (Nantahala Outdoor Center). For some reason, when I was packing the mail drop box for Cloud 9, I forgot to put the Probars in that I'd use for lunches, but by digging through the hiker box (which is a box everyone puts unwanted food and equipment in) at Cloud 9 Hostel, I came up with enough to get me through this section.And no loneliness today! I stopped at the new Wayah Shelter for a diner stop and a bunch of thru hikers showed up all at the same time. It was the Franklin effect as resupply points tend to concentrate hikers. Some of the trail names: AT Red (a 12 year old boy with his father), Waffle, Stubs, Always Changing and Never the Same (a young couple), and Mash. I've stopped for the night at Licklog Gap after a day of great views and interesting fellow hikers.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Licklog Gap

To: Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

There is a great 360 degree view from the Wesser Bald fire tower where I'm resting for an afternoon break. It was fairly warm last night, just 44 d. and the good weather is holding for today. I'm about to begin the 3,000 ft. descent to the N.O.C., and resupply tomorrow. It's a steep and long descent that will plunge me deep into spring, which is as much a vertical phenomenon around here as it is seasonal.I made it down the knee banger, my legs did fine and it was helpful to stop and take photos of all the wild flowers, blooming dogwood trees, and fresh greenery. The air is so fresh and alive with the subtle scent of all the new leaves. This is one of my favorite things, to descend from the cool early spring ridges to all this vibrancy below.   I'm camped near the Rufus Morgan Shelter just above the NOC, where I'll have breakfast and resupply tomorrow. And then the big climb back up. I'm loving this life on the trail. It always continues to amaze.