morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Campsite @ Bear Tree Gap to Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Campsite @ Thomas Knob Shelter to Iron Mtn.
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

I rose before the sun and read for a bit in my tent. The sky was bright, but the sun hadn't risen over Wilburn Ridge when I first got up and out of my tent. I noticed some ponies nearby and called them over. NoWhammies! was just getting up and they surrounded her tent sniffing it curiously. As she unzipped the door two ponies tried to stick their heads inside, I couldn't control my laughter. She called out for help, but I just laughed and snapped pictures. Eventually I went over to the tent to open up a path for her to get out. We played with them for quite a while and took a bunch of pictures. One of the more spirited young ponies snuck up behind me and bit me on the rear, it didn't hurt but it did get my attention. I think he wanted me to run around with him. After a spell the herd moved on, but we stayed put in no hurry to leave.Soon after we started hiking we came to the ridge and the AT connector. We wanted to see the Fat Man squeeze (rock tunnel) so we went down onto the AT, took some pictures and headed back to the ridge trail. There were more ponies up on the ridge, two of which were new borns that could barely walk. Fridge was right, this place is amazing. We'll be back here someday. We stopped to eat at Old Orchard Shelter with a handful of Nobo's. Diesel and Cargo stayed there. Danny, Chad, Big & BedBug all moved on hoping to close the distance to partnership shelter. A shelter like that with showers and pizza delivery gets lots of attention. We hiked a bit more and camped on Iron Mountain. It was just a small cleared flat area, I dug up the rocks that were poking out of the ground and made a little fire ring. I wrote in my journal and ate by the fire. After dark I heard a voice call out "Hey, who's down there?" The strange thing was the lack of a light accompanying the voice, I didn't answer. He called out again "its me DirtNap, is there room for a tarp?" I responded "Ohhh DirtNap, sure come on down." He was night hiking with no light.
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Campsite @ Thomas Knob Shelter to Iron Mtn.

To: Iron Mtn. Campsite to Troutdale VA
Miles today: 6.5

I had to get up in the middle of the night to put on the rainfly. I started a fire when I got up, and later in the morning DirtNap treated us to cupcakes and Chai Latte. We got a late start, leaving after 10 am. By early afternoon we were on the road walking to Troutdale. I had a big lunch at the General Store/Restaurant; bacon double cheeseburger curly fries, BBQ sandwhich, and a bloomin' onion. Cargo and Diesel are staying with us. Tomorrow we're shooting for partnership, showers two days in a row almost sounds like too much luxury.
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Iron Mtn. Campsite to Troutdale VA

To: Troutdale VA to Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

We had a nice breakfast at the general store, and it looks like Cargo is gonna have nightmares about gravy. We were trying to hitch to the trailhead and got a ride from the pastor that runs the hostle. We met Polar Bear, Deacon Blues, and Claire Bear at the trailhead as we prepared for our early morning start...11.15 am. The promise of pizza hurried us along. It was a little after 5 when we arrived at Partnership, Dirtnap was in the shower and Bugler was in town returning his boots. We waited a while for others to show up before ordering. Dirtnap started a fire while I gathered wood for the night. We ordered $150.00 in food and a lot of beer. Some of us waited at the gate for the delivery man, he was our hero. We practically ran back to the shelter. NoWhammies! and Z sat by the fire and had Pizza and appetizers, it was a pleasant evening. Cargo, Diesel, DirtNap and I were the last to go to bed.
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Troutdale VA to Partnership Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter to Atkins VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

We took it easy this morning. I relit the fire and read for a couple of hours soaking in the ambiance. That reminds me, I had a little trailmagic yesterday. I had been having the urge to read The Hobbit, and presto, someone had left a copy of it in the shelter. We stopped by the visitors center before heading out, which led to another start after 11. The plan was to stop in Atkins for a bite to eat, but we ended up staying there. Big & Bed Bug, Cargo, Danger Zone, and Diesel were lounging at the motel when we showed up. Danger Zone had just won $500.00 with a scratch off which in turn led to a night of scratch off madness. They ended up breaking even, but the entertainment was priceless. Cargo and Diesel joined us for dinner, and they to were amazed at my bottomless pit.
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Partnership Shelter to Atkins VA

To: Atkins VA to Campsite near Olystery Picnic Area
Miles today: 11.8

We slept in this morning. Cargo and Diesel were watching Holland play in the World Cup, (did I mention they are from Holland?) clad in orange as we said our goodbyes. They're staying another day for P.O. reasons. Like clockwork we hit the trail at the crack of 11:30. It was hot, especially walking through the fields. NoWhammies! has earned a new monker; she is now known as Tailgate. We perspired, took breaks, and then perspired some more. An agressive little black snake attacked me on the way up Gullion Mountain. It struck at my pole as I walked by and made me jump, Tailgate ran back the way we came in panic. It held its ground and struck successfully. Bob Peoples said that they wiggle their tail, mimicking rattlers. Sure enough, this one was wiggling. I finally managed to get it to move along. We took a break soon after so Tailgate could calm down after such a traumatic experience. Danger Zone, Big & Bed Bug, played leapfrog with us all day. Thunder approached as we stopped at a stream to draw some water. Tailgate found a spot nearby and we set up in a hurry. We ate and talked for a while, but the rain never materialized. I fell asleep while reading. Around 11:30 I was woken by a thunder storm, I picked up the Hobbit and read for a while with the storm for background music, sweet.
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Atkins VA to Campsite near Olystery Picnic Area

To: Campsite near Olystery Picnic to Chestnut Knob
Miles today: 11.1

It rained throughout the night into the morning. I woke up at 6 am and told Tailgate that we should wait for the rain to stop. I read for a while and fell back to sleep until 11:30. There was no water for miles and the heat and humidity didn't help. Big, Bed Bug, and Danger Zone were cooking dinner by the time we made it into the shelter. This is the first tottaly enclosed shelter we stayed in. Its an old fire wardens cabin with clear views towards sunrise and sunset. After dinner we all went outside to watch the sunset. It was beautiful. The alarm is set for pre-sunrise.
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Campsite near Olystery Picnic to Chestnut Knob

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter to Campsite.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up before the alarm went off and went outside to have a look at the sky. It was 5 am, the sky was almost cloudless and bright with a soft red glow on the horizon. The valleys were covered in a sea of fog. I went back into the cabin to get my mat, bag, book, and camera. I set up in a grassy area overlooking the valley, reading and waiting for the sun. Tailgate didn't sleep well and was in no hurry to wake up. I made some hot chocalate/coffee for us and had some breakfast while everyone packed up, we were the last to leave. Our food is running low and looks like time to resupply. Danger Zone, Big, and Bed Bug are camped nearby. I rebuilt pit #11 and we got a nice fire going. It still gets chilly at night even after getting so hot in the day. Big & Bed Bug are new to backpacking, surprisingly she had never watched someone start a campfire before and was quite curious.It's been quite a night with some tasty food combinations and good company. We're stopping in bland tomorrow to resupply. I hope the hitchin' is easy, I'd rather not have to walk the 2 1/2 into town. Tailgate is excited, Bland has a Dairy Queen.
Date: 2006-01-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The Decision.....I just couldn't get the thought of joining Jill on the AT this year out of my mind. It had been several years since I'd done any hiking (I've done about the first 100 miles of the AT in sections), and I knew what I really needed was to be out in the woods when it is cold and wet. Jill and Scott had been planning a short hike in late December, so I went with them. The purpose - to convince myself NOT to do this thing! I am quite used to the creature comforts of home. I like the house really warm. Certainly, being in the cold - and having no way to get out of it - would cure me!
Date: 2006-01-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Decision Trip - Day 1So, here's how the trip went...The plan was to spend 4 days and 3 nights on and around the trail near Springer Mountain. On the first day, which was beautiful I might add, my old boots - very good Salomons I got about 10 years ago - fell apart. The foam between the soles and the upper disintegrated. Over 3 miles into hiking, we had to turn around and hike back to Amicalola. I tried duct taping the soles back on to get me back, but that lasted less than half a mile, and I switched to my Crocs. Duct tape is a wonderful thing, but it can only do so much. I actually used my duct tape, Scott's duct tape, and then borrowed some that had been wrapped around the hiking poles I'd borrowed (this, by the way, is a great idea I may steal).We made it back to Amicalola, and drove to Neel's Gap to get some boots. Nathan, who helped me pick out the boots, was awesome. He was very helpful, and I believe I wound up with a pretty good pair of boots (see the gear section). I also bought a new 1-man ¢ excuse me, 1-person - tent (I had been carrying a 2-person since I hadn¢t yet decided on a long hike and didn¢t plan on spending money on a tent until I was sure. However, I already was looking for ways to cut my pack weight.)Too late to get back on the trail to find a place to camp, we went to Vogel State Park. Just so happened they had a cabin. Yes, our first night ¢out¢ was spent in a cabin. They were booked, but had just received a cancellation for a cabin. The guy at the desk snickered as he told us it was the only cabin on the lake. We thought he was just a bit giddy. However, we soon realized why he thought our scenario was so humorous.When we got to the cabin, there were 3 notebooks full of journal entries from previous guests. Apparently, Cabin 35 is the shiznit. There were statements like, ¢I¢ve been coming here all my life, and I finally got Cabin 35,¢ and ¢I stayed in Cabin 35 when I was a girl, and I finally have the opportunity to bring my children here.¢ The Cabin was fine ¢ at that point anything with heat and a shower would have been. Being on the lake, however, apparently made it the most coveted cabin in the area!
Date: 2006-01-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Decision Trip - Days 2 and 3We go to get back on the trail at Neel¢s Gap (it wasn¢t necessary to drive back to Amicalola, since we had no real destination.) It is cold, and it is wet. Quite. Constantly. I mean, it was in the 40¢s all day, and it rained all day. We were in a cloud the whole time, so even when the rain was just a slight drizzle, the space between the drops was filled with mist ¢ i.e., water. It was pretty miserable.We hiked to Whitley Gap Shelter and set up camp, hanging stuff up to dry. Went to bed at 9:30, and it was still about 45 degrees. Woke up, and it was 27. Yup, cold. The air was just as wet, but at least it wasn¢t raining. Once we packed up and started back on the shelter trail toward the AT, Jill convinced us (i.e., told us) that we should hike back to the car and find a hotel room in Dahlonega. Though it didn¢t rain all day, we were walking through pure clouds with gusty winds. The temperature stayed between 28 and 34 all day. The plants and trees we¢d hiked past the day before, which had been wet, were now covered with frost. You could tell by looking at the frost that it did not come from dew or rain freezing on the branches, but from the wet wind freezing onto them as it blew past.
Date: 2006-01-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Decision Trip - Day 4On what would have been our last night in the woods, we found a hotel in Dahlonega and ate steak and potatoes. It was nice. I realized I definitely had not been eating enough on the trail. I mowed down on that steak like a true carnivore, topped it off with Key Lime Pie, and could have kept on eating.Since we had plans to stay our final night (after hiking) at the Lodge at Amicalola (and it was too late to cancel our reservations) we spent that last day doing a day hike around Springer Mountain. The weather was beautiful ¢ in the 50¢s and sunny all day. For most of the day, we had the pleasure of being escorted by Katie, a cute dog that became our friend as soon as we got out of the car. After a few hours of following us around, she suddenly ¢ and I do mean suddenly ¢ disappeared, never to be seen again. We¢re still not sure if we were having shared hallucinations, but the pictures we took of her did come out, so we are able to keep our sanity.AND THE DECISION???? Well, the time we actually spent doing real hiking and camping was pretty miserable with the wet and cold (and did I mention, it killed my knees?). It was exactly the experience I¢d hoped for so that I could convince myself this is NOT what I want to do ¢ especially given that I would probably have to endure worse weather early in the hike.Fortunately (or not¢¦) this was not enough to convince me to give up the dream. So, I¢m doing it. I¢m K-Bound baby! (This may actually be my trail name ¢ we¢ll see.)
Date: 2006-02-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Less than a month to go. My knee is still giving me some problems (from my last hike!), but it's getting better. I've finished physical therapy, and am on my own with exercises and training. I am pretty nervous about my knee. While I recognize many people don't make it all the way, and that any number of physical ailments or injuries could send me home, I would be really upset if my knee just couldn't bring me more than a week or so into it. I am hoping this won't be the case. What's nice is the fear of being able to go very far has almost completely overshadowed any concerns I had about rats, bears, water-born cooties, etc. If I find myself 3 weeks into this thing without any issues that seem they'll prevent me from going further, I will be quite pleased to bag that food up and hang it high, again, only to drag it back down the next day, again.Mom always said, "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best." With this particular issue, there is not much preparation for the worst - If I go home, I go home. So, I am preparing for the best, and hoping for it. Jill and I have planned our mail drops (13 of them), and I'm ordering bulk food - dehydrated butter, milk, chicken, etc. I should start breaking everything into separate containers for mail drops soon.I am trying to finalize the details of what will and won't be in my pack, how it will all be stored and organized, etc. This is the hardest part. How much bug spray do I really need to carry? Will I really need it in March and early April? Is it worth the extra couple ounces? What about sunscreen? Purell for sanitizing hands? A great invention, but heavier than alcohol wipes. The windscreen for my stove? It adds weight, but should allow me to carry less fuel. Every ounce counts. It really is amazing how much a few ounces here and there really add up - to pounds! - and how pounds add up when you are lugging them up and down mountains for hours upon hours each day.What about fragrance? They say the bears and other critters are attracted to fragrance in many deodorants and other items. I've got fragrance free deodorant (mineral salts), lip balm, soap, and sunscreen. Hopefully I won't attract any"thing" and my BO will be enough to send any varmint with the simplest of nervous systems running away screaming.Overall I am very excited, and can't wait to get going and get the first few weeks under my belt.
Date: 2006-03-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I've been feeling quite overwhelemed recently with all the preparations both at work and at home. I keep thinking of things I need to do. I try to make lists, but then I'm somewhere without my list and make another list. I can't keep it straight. I also keep thinking of things to add to my pack. I DON'T NEED TO ADD ANYTHING! I weighed my pack for the first time since the Decision Hike. I'm at a base weight (no food or water) of about 27 pounds. I was hoping to keep my overall weight close to 30, but that isn't likely to happen (unless I want to die of thirst and/or starvation).I went to Sam's today and bought a bunch of stuff in bulk for my maildrops. I'm doing too much. I will be able to buy stuff along the way, but when I see a huge 2 1/2 lb. jar of cashews for under $10, I can't resist. I'm sure I'm going to find I've been excessive with the maildrops. I should just be sending things I need at each spot (like maps) and things I won't be able to find (like the pure butter powder and cheese powder). I feel like I keep getting stuff to organize, but can't get around to organizing it.One thing that's nice - With all the worrying about getting ready and wondering if my knee will let me go more than a few days, I haven't been worried at all about bears, mice, cold weather, etc. That's been a nice feeling....One week before I leave. Will I ever get it all done?
Date: 2006-03-15
To: Work Says Goodbye
Miles today: 0.0

We had a luncheon at work today, and they surprised me with a "trail cake." It was yamma jamma. It's really starting to feel like I'm leaving. Last Friday (one week before my last day at work), I sent mass emails to all the faculty, staff, and students I work with - probably close to 800 people. Clicking "send" suddenly made me realize I'm really doing this! I've been talking about it to people for months, but making a formal announcement to 100's of people was like jumping into the abyss - or insert a more appropriate metaphor here if you like.I've received nothing but best wishes and positive encouragement from everyone who has replied. I'm starting to realize just how cool it is that I'm doing this. I obviously thought it was cool (or I wouldn't be driving myself crazy trying to get ready for it), but the more I hear from people who wish they could do this - or do something else they always wanted to do - the more I realize I'm really DOING something. This isn't like going to see a good band I've always wanted to see in concert (Supertramp, where are you?). This is huge. This is something I'll be able to look back on for the rest of my life and remember - the good and the bad. This is going full throttle into life, as opposed to watching it pass idly by. John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." Well, on Monday, I'll no longer be making plans. I'll be living life. I will be happening to life, not it to me. OK, it's midnight, and I'm sounding weird....
Date: 2006-03-17
To: Goodbye...
Miles today: 0.0

I'm done with work. I have 0 emails in my inbox, my email and phone are forwarded, and everything I could do before I left is done. It's all out of my hands.Everyone stopped by today to say goodbye. Unfortunately, I was so frantic trying to get things done (as I usually am) that I felt I wasn't showing enough appreciation for all their support. I was in a hurry, trying to get out of there early (I got out of there late). I DO appreciate your support everyone! And I will miss you all!Leaving work was odd. It's the first time I've left the office since I started the job over 6.5 years ago that I didn't have to think about what I didn't get done that day. The first time I knew there was nothing waiting for me to do on Monday. I wish I could say it felt overwhelmingly liberating, but it just felt weird....foreign. Nonetheless, I forced my thoughts to realize just how cool of a moment that was, and gave it a bit of a smile. The "Girlies" took me out for dinner on Tuesday, and tonight friends took me out after work for one last drink (OK 2) before I leave for Georgia tomorrow. It was great to see everyone one last time before I'm gone. Now that I'm finally done with work, wrapping up my final preparations, and saying goodbye to people, it's feeling very real. Not that fact that I'll be hiking and having adventures, but the separation. I'm not only going toward an adventure - I'm leaving behind a whole life. I'm looking forward to being detached from the everyday grind of life, but I'm realizing how hard it will be to be detached from the people in my life. I've read a lot about the friends made on the trail - I'm sure looking forward to the comfort of new friends, which I'm sure we'll all need when we get out there.....
Date: 2006-03-20
From: Springer Mt.

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: moderate rain

Vernal Equinox Temp: 35 and wet   On Saturday, as we were getting ready to leave Gainesville, Jill called the house, I answered phone, "38.8". That was my pack weight-too heavy. By the time I got to the visitor center at Amicalola Falls, it weighed 35lbs. Of course, I had removed clothes to wear then, and drank some water.   We had a great weekend. Both of us had family cone to see us off. We ate a few buffet meals at the Lodge for Saturday night thru Monday morning, trying to put on those last few pounds before we started losing them.   We went to register this morning at the Visitor Center. I had already been feeling a little weird driving around the mountain to park .9 miles up the trail and hiking backwards to get to the beginning. I'm a bit of a purist, and felt like I was missing an important part by skipping the Approach Trail.We were doing it this way so our families could hike to the biginning with us.      Well I just learned that next year they are moving the beginning of the trail to the Visitor Center-at the beginning of the Approach Trail. That dug the knife a little deeper. Then the woman at the visitor center totally gave us a hard time for missing out and skippint the "hardest part of the AT".   Let me just tell you that getting to have out loved ones start the journey with us was well worth whatever flack we get for skipping a part that isn't even an official part of the trail(yet). We all made it to top of Springer Mountain, including Jill's 81 year old Dad! At the top of the mountain we filled out a survey for a sociologist who was doing a study on what factors determine the success of thru-hiking the AT.   There is horrible rain expected tonight-flood warnings infact. We decided to take a very light first day and spend the noght in a shelter-Stover Creek.   One of our shelter-mates, Old Drum, is thru-hiking at the ripe young age of 60. His name cones from a legendary dog. A former senator, in the 1800's, agve a speech about the dog, who was shot by the owner's brother-in-law. Apparently, the saying, "Man's best friend is his dog" is attributed to this speech! Now that's a cool trail name.   I've been toying with the name "Flat Rocks" - it's what I say when Hiking on level ground (as opposed to going up or down). It's looking like it will be my trail name. Well, Jill began reading a book by Jimmy Carter, and on the first page, the words "flat rocks" were used in a sentence. It is my destiny........