morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Cheesecake Factory Gap

To: Hiwassee
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: broken clouds

6 miles. tenting in cheesefactory gap.we decided on an easy day today. Larry says it was one of my smarter decisions. we stopped at three. set up camp, I washed some clothes and got all my pieces parts clean. Larry is listening to his radio. Thank god we bought a new pair of headphones! Today we met Len. An older gentleman. He is a plumber in London. He says there are very few women in the building trades over there. I wonder what he thought of me huh? I also met a great young lady named Rachel and her bostonterrier Katy. She just lost seventy pounds and is getting in shape to hike the ozarks. That dog had the funniest grin. Today in blue mt. trail register the nice folks from Guernsey in the chanel islands, between England and France are just a tad ahead of us. They stopped in Helen today so we may be ahead of them. It turns out we are not going that slow afterall. These young kids fly by us. But as one gentleman today reminded me....one of the kids feet looked like hamburger. So, maybe in the lon!g run I am playing it smarter. I am feeling stronger everyday. I donkt think I am going much faster but I stop less and less which makes a big difference. Anf fewer and fewer people are passing us, so maybe that says something too. Larry has decided to go to the n.c. border and then stop. That is just like 21 miles away so not much longer of his stories. Today he told me that his mom, who had a masectomy years ago, gets ticked off because they still charge her the same price for her mamogram even though she only has one breast. I am going to have to remember that next year when I get mine. It is so beautiful here that it is indescribable. A section hiker today told me that the AT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN pEOPle aND I think he Is RIGHT. dAMN, THESE CAPITAL LETTERS DRIVE ME WHACKY! TOMORROW WE ARE GOING FOR 9 MILES AGAIN AND THEN A SHORT HOP ON SUNDAY INTO HIAWASSEE AND OUR FIRST HITCHHIKING. THAT SHOULD BE FUN.AS LEN SAYS"CHEERIO MATE"KAREN
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Addis Gap

To: Hiwassee
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

7 miles. Tenting next to a creek in Addis Gap. It was sooo hot today. I think the heat will be my biggest nemesis. 7 miles may not seem alot but that is up and down mountains. First thing this morning we climbed nearly 1,000 feet. And that seven miles doesn't include blue blazing to water. It is such a miracle when water is right on the trail and a royal pain when it isn't. Tonight we walked a half a mile steep downhill to get to water so tomorow morning it is up a half a mile just to get to the trail. And then it is a little over a mile to the summit of....hmmm....can't think of the name right now. something knob. We have 5.25 miles to get to DICK'S Creek Gap. ANd WE would like to get there as early as possible. Thunderstorms and a cold front are moving in tomorow afternoon. We will be in Hiawasse anyhow because the post office is closed tomorrow. So, I get a little forced rest. sounds good to me. I keep wanting to call susan but for the life of me I can't reme!mber her name. maybe it will come to me in a flash of brillance. probably not though. we didn't run into anyone while hiking today. That big bike race was going on so maybe that's where everyone was.over and outkaren
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Hiwassee

To:  R & R
Miles today: 6.0

6.0 miles. 68.00 miles so far. Hiawassee Inn.we had a great hike today. I saw two wild turkeys waddling up the trail this morning. I hate to say it but they were faster than me. We got to Dick's creek gap and of course I was scared to hitchhike. Well, It turns out I still hven't hitchhiked. There was a father and daughter who just finished a weekend hike and they offered us a ride. And of course we accepted. It turns out the 12 yr old daughter talked her dad into it. we had a great 11 mile ride and that little girl was something. She talked and talked. Her hair was short...turns out she just had it cut and donated it to locks of love. They dropped us off right at the Inn and he even carried my pack to the check-in desk. The owners....sam and ron were amazing. They greeted us and told us how happy they were to see us. After one of the best showers I have ever had I sat out front and Ron sat with me and told me hiker stories....and told me how to toughen up my feet. For 25.00 a night we have a great room...!.breakfast, a shuttle back to the trailhead and he gave us his car to take to dinner. He says I am doing great. He nurses lots of hikers back into trail shape. I am still slow but getting better. My pack is getting lighter and lighter and so am I. Thunderstorms are coming in tonight so we timed this prety good. If it is storming all day tomorrow I will just spend the night here and leave Tuesday morning. I have to pick up my mail drop tomorrow anyhow. I will be getting my smaller tent since Larry is leaving tomorrow. I will miss his goofy stories and his cooking. He is a natural hiker. He had his first poptart the other day. He wasn't too impressed. I've had plenty of poptarts in my life....I wasn't impressed either. It's noodles and cream of wheat and fruit roll-ups. I lovvvvve fruit roll ups right now. Time for a soak in the tub.over and outkaren
Date: 2004-04-26
From:  R & R 

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi Everyone- CHECK THE PHOTO SECTION!!Gert here giving you some info on Karensioux!!! She loves Hiwassee Inn and may never leave. She just had some hot, fresh from the oven banana bread, w/butter and tea prepared by one of the owners!! Having a great zero day. Larry has sadly moved south back to his car at Springer Mountain. Karen will miss his silly stories and his good cooking! She received her mail drop at the P.O. - included her new one woman tent, she sent the larger tent home with Larry. Karen has been waiting for a "trail name" to come to her and today she decided on "SparePocket". Since her masectomy April 30, 2003 Karen has had a spare pocket in her bra and now has found a great use for it. An extra bandana; a wet rag to keep her cool; her water bladder...... so on the trail she will be known as SparePocket!! Still Karensioux on this journal and you can email her at karensioux@pocketmail.com.It is raining in Hiwassee and Karen may walk to the library and see if she can long onto the Net.More laterGertie
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Hiwassee

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

4-26-04 0 miles hiawassee inn. It stormed last night and has rained most of the day. I decided to rest up and let the rain pass. Larry and I "borrowed" the car again and went first to the post office. I was expecting 2 boxes but only one had arrived. Thank God it was the box with the tent cause I didn't want to carry that six pound thing. I forwarded the second box to another stop. If you don't open the box they forward it for free. So that was nice. Then we had a big breakfast and stopped at the grocery store and I loaded up. It will be interesting to see if calculated corectly on the amount of food since Larry is gone. I know I am burning 5,000 calories a day but I get paranoid about what I am eating. I will be the one odd person who gains weight while hiking. I better not be! Larry left at 11:00 a.m. Joshua came and shuttled him back to Dahlonaga to pick up his car. Larry had a lot better time than he had planned. I will miss him but I am excited about getting back on the trail too.I was sitting in my room going through gear and the phone rang. It was Ron the owner telling me he had banana bread ready to come out of the oven and water on for tea. It was delicious. What a place huh? And while I was sitting there a cold wet and tired hiker came in and Ron gave him a room key said he would check him in after he got warm and dry. And then off he went with a pot of hot coffee and banana bread. This is such an incredible place. The Hiawassee Inn. Don't forget it! :-)over and outspare pocket aka karensiouxoh and p.s. hey to rick shoemaker and his wife Betty. He is staying next door and is starting at Dick's creek. Just like me. he is going to Bly gap. If I can make it there at least I won't be with strangers. It's only about 8.5 miles.....so if I make it there.....great.....if I don't, that's ok too. Hike your own hike!
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Hiwassee

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: few clouds

8.5 miles. tenting in bly gap in North Carolina. wooohooo! I actualy made it somewhere. and with other people. I must be getting faster huh? Shoe is here and wild thang and wayne and two girls from d.c who started in march but tok some time off trail cause of injury and then realized the trail wasn't all about the miles. Shoe told me I could make it here and he sure was right. They are doing 12 miles tomorrow and I am not so sure about it. I am feeling great though. It is so cold here and the wind is howling! I feel sorry for the guys who went onto the next shelter cause it is 800 more feet up and a whole lot more wind. I am huddled down in my tent and sleeping bag and typing with gloves on. This is the first night I am tenting with other people so I am not skeered at all. Shoe and wild thang were at the hiawasse inn last night so I already know. in fact wild thang was the guy who came in soaking wet and ron took him a pot of coffee and banana bread. it would be n!ice to stay with them for a while. They are both older and not sooo serious about big mile days. 12 miles maybe a tad too much for me.ok, I need to hunker down and get warm.over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Bly Gap

To: Beach Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

drum roll please! 12.1 miles today and that included some pretty tough climbs. I didn't think I could make it but at the last shelter it was 3:oo p.m and As I sat there wondering what to do I started to get cold and I said to myself.....self, you can sit here the rest of the day and be cold or you can hike and at least stay warm. It was a long climb up standinf indian mt. I was about ten minutes over the crest when wayne headed down and told me how beatiful the summit was. so, back up I marched and boy was he right. It was spectacular. I stayed for about and hour....keisha and her friend were up there and we all had dinner together and talked. Keisha was originally from ravenna and still has family there....right by where 76 and the mcdonalds are. small world hey sarah? Then I started the long descent....about 3 miles....I made it around seven....and wayne and shoe and wild thing were there plus yogi. it's a nice little group.....mostly older and not doing 20 mile d!ays. In fact only 10 miles planned for tommorow but the end is up albert mountain and that is supposed to be really steep with some rock scrambling involved. one step at a time.the guys built a fire tonight and it was fabulous! my first fire on the trail. shoe calls it the A.T. tv....so we watched tv for a few hours and then all headed in. no wind tonight so hopefully be a tad warmer.and have I mentioned how bad everyone smells?over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Beach Gap

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

10.00 miles.....staying in big spring shelter. I didn't think that I would be able to keep up with these guys but I did ok. today we did some big climbs. right up Albert mt. it was my toughest climb yet but the view was soooo worth it. It was incredible. And when I got to the top I had cheers from shoe, big foot (formerly wayne from florida) wild thing and yogi. It was the best summit yet. the views still would have been amazing had I done it alone but it was so great to share it with these guys. we took lots of pictures and climbed the firetower. Thank god I have a trailname because if not I would now be called blinking boobie.....I am not quite sure why but we laughed about it all day. Tommorow we are going into franklin and spending the night. and maybe an extra night if the rain comes like it is supposed to. These guys are fun to hike with so if I can stay with them I will. I am feeling stronger everyday. I am still the slowest but I get there. I am sure they did some waiting on my account so we could all be on Albert mountain together. thanks guys!time to go watch appalachian tv!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

april 30, 2004 7.1 miles. staying at a microtel in Franklin, N.C.We slept in the shelter last night. I stayed nice and warm all night. Wild thang snores a little bit but it was a nice rythmic snoring so it probably helped me sleep more than anything. And happy belated 36 year anniversary to wild thing and his wife Jean. Sorry if I am spelling the name wrong. He can't say enough nice things about you. And hey Betty....happy retirement!We awoke to the rain on the tin roof. I got out of camp first at 8:30. I try to get a head start since I am the slowest. I finally got to use my rain gear and my pack cover. It didn't rain all that hard and everything was damp anyhow so who knows how well the cover worked. We got to Wallace Gap and walked the mile and a half to Rainbow springs. I had a big botle of gatorrade right away and boy was it good! Then the owner drove all five of us into Franklin. Hot water is suchhhh a miracle. It fels so good to feel clean and with real food in my belly.I rammed the right side of my foot into a rock the other day and it is really hurting so I have ice on it and a day off will do me some good. I don't know when I will get to Maine with these days off but I sure am having a great time. And I am getting faster and faster and stronger and stronger. Shoe is kindof our tour director and guidance counselor. He does the planning and wild thang and I just try to keep up. But don't worry anyone....if I need to slow down I do. We are leaving Sunday morning for the trail. You should see this hotel room. I have everything out of the pack and hanging to dry. It looks like a tornado hit it. Well, time to go doctor my feet.over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Franklin NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

zero day. Franklin N.C. A zero day is when you have no hiked miles on the A.T. A zero day is NOT easy on the feet though. We have to walk to dinner.....walk to laundry....walk to the post ofice....and mostly on roads and sidewaks. My feet are killing me from this zero day!We have a shuttle coming tomorrow mrning at 10:30. I am all packed and ready to go. I have soaked my feet and rubbed my feet and they Still hurt. I'm sure they will feel better once I put that extra thirty pounds on my back. Ughhhh! And I LOVE IT!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Siler Bald
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: moderate rain

4 miles. winding stair gap to siler bald shelter. wet, wet, wet! and windy. I'ts one oclock and we are all wrapped up and dry in our sleeping bags. We got a shuttle this morning from George Gover....a member of the nantahala hiking club. He was soooo nice. He wouldn't take a penny for the ride and his wife sent THE most delicious snacks we have ever had. Thank you so much. over and out for now....I am going to stay warm!------------------------------
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Franklin NC

To: Natahala
Miles today: 0.0

Just info from me Gertie in Ohio.I have added some new photos - I tried to put them in by the date that "may" correspond with the Journal entry - so look for new photos all the way thru her collection of pix. She is coming up on Natahala in a day or two.REMINDER: You can email Karen directly at Karensioux@pocketmail.com
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Winding Spring Gap

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

12.1 miles. cold creek shelter. what a day! well, last night was cold! big foot, wild thing, shoe, atlas, jarod and another guy tenting but I can't remember his name. There was a mouse running around. I had my hand out of my sleeping bag and the little devil ran right over myhand! I took off at 7:30 this morning. The first six miles was tough. We got to Wayah bald and it was the most amazing thing. You could see Albert mt. where we had climbed earlier....it was incredible to see where we had been. I left in the morning with wet socks. I had a pair of dry socks but I wanted to save those for tonight. At wayah bald I took my socks and shoes off to dry and it started to snow.Snowing on May 3rd. And then the adventure began. Wild Thing and I were the last ones to leave Wayah Bald. We had probably went a quarter mile and we came to a cross road. We looked at the signs.....looked for the trail but all we saw was the road. We decided to take a right. Wrong!Wild thing saw a!white blaze. I think he saw some lichen on the trees. We went down hill for about a quarter of a mile and came to a bald with a hunting cabin. The cabin was all locked up and it was snowing and I must confess I thought about breaking in and spending the night and leaving 20.00 bucks. Later, wild thing said it crosed his mind too. The quarter mile up seemed like it lasted forever! And then when we got to the top the trail it seemed soooo obvious. Wild thing was hurting too. His feet were killing him and at that point we still had 6 miles to go. And boy was it cold. The last mile and a quarter was all up and I swear it took me two hours. Sometimes I was so whipped I would take 10 steps and stop.....10 more steps and stop. We thought we were going to have appalachian tv and I kept stopping to see if I smelled smoke. No smoke. I finally saw the roof to the shelter and I was never so happy in all my life. Wild thing was the only one there. The shelter register said!that everyone had gone on. They didn't want to stay there cause it was going to be cold. And boy was it! We think it went into he 20's. Rennasance man joined us for the evening. He is a retired guy from new hampshire. So there were only three of us in the shelter. I put my emergency blanket under my sleeping bag....I don't know if it did anything except make a lot of noise. I swear, if a helicopter landed on that mountain and offered me a ride out of there....I would have taken it!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

may 4th. 11.00 miles. cold spring shelter to the Nantahala outdoor center. We woke up cold cold! Rennasance man was the first one out. It was good to start hiking as it warmed me up. We saw wild azaelas in bloom. Wow, they were so beautiful. I took a ton of pictures today. It is indescribable. We did some steep climbs today too. Sometimes I had to put down my sticks and just slide down my butt. I started hiking my own hike again. Shoe is just a tad too fast and I always feel like I am trying to catch up. My feet are killing me. Everything else feels great. And as wild thing says....it's just the bottom of my feet. We got into the NOC and our friends greeted us. I picked up mail packages......thanks for the goodies mom and dad....they are perfect. we checked into the bunkhouse and went down for dinner. It feels like camp Wakonda! I had a big ol burger and onion rings.....I had been craving a burger the last 20 miles. There were 8 of us at dinner and it was so!much fun. I slept great last night and got up and we all had a big breakfast. Wild thing went white water rafting and I was so tempted but I was afraid it would be too cold. Lots to say but lots to do too. Shoe left us today.....he still wants to hike with us in the smokeys but I needed a day for my feet and he just hikes too fast for me anyhow. If we meet up at the same places that's great but I am going to hike my own hike and not hurt myself and have a blast! So, we will probably see shoe on saturday at fontana dam. oh, and rennasance man.......his sister founded the prosthetic business called "just like me"....which coincidently is where I got my spare part from. The guys laugh that I kept my boob home but it weighed over a pound......and a pound is a pound!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Natahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

5/66.9 miles. NOC to sassafras gap shelter. What a shelter.....a two decker, built in 2003. I learned a big lesson this morning. If you are going to hike don't eat a huge breakfast. Ughhhh.....that first hour was rough. We didn't take off until 9:30.....and it was alllll up.We got the news this morning that rennasance man was going off the trail and back to New Hampshire. Wild thing and I are/were sorry to see him go.Here's the shelter story. When we get here there are 3 retired gentlemen from Alabama. It turns out they are from Eclectic Alabama. A small town of 1200 people and wild thing has actually been there.....and then the army talk started. Wild thing was in the 11th air assault and one of the guys was there at the same time with him. A small world huh? The three guys here are Rigormortis, rockman and wayne with no name yet. It's a shame they are going south cause they are a hoot and going about as fast as us too.And a big bonus is that we get appalachian tv tonight.....alabama style!over and outspare pocket.
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Hogpen Gap 
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

5/711.1 miles.....sassafras gap shelter to somewhere.....I think I am close to hogpen gap but I am not sure. I am tenting alone for the first time tonight. wild thing went ahead with.....hmmmm....I forget their names......hunter was the sixteen yr old and his uncle....can't remember his trail name or his real name. He was the treasurer for howard deans campaign and he was the lt. governer in Va. All I know is they were real nice. 9.1 was to the next shelter and they wanted to move on to have an easier day to Fontana dam. Me too but I can't keep up. especially when it's hot. so I putz and take lots of pictures and even had a litle nap today. I will miss hiking with those guys but I really need to hike my own hike. Well, the sun is setting....and I am sleepy.....so off to bed and into Fontana dam in the morning.oh, by the way I saw my first snake yesterday.....not a very big one but it sure did scare me!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Close to Fontana

To: Fontana Village The Hike Inn
Miles today: 0.0

5/8 Sat12.0 miles.....something like that anyhow. somewhere to somewhere. Actually I ended at highway 29. What a day! I went to sleep watching the sunset and woke up to a sunrise.....somewhere up high in N.C. I FLEW today. I left at 7:05 and got to the highway at 12:30. maybe it was the coffee and oatmeal for breakfast. And I misread the map and ended up 3 miles past where I thought it was. I saw three snakes today. They were all small but I would prefer to do without them. I think I got a picture of one of them as he was moving away. I thought I would catch up to flyboy (hunter), his uncle and wild thing but I never did catch them. Well I kindof did. I got to the highway and stuck my thumb out. Oh, yes I did! It took about ten minutes.....and a guy on his way to work picked me up. David was his name. He took me 6 miles. I asked him if he was online so I could say thankyou on my journal and he started to tell me about the evils of computers. And how it was the work !of the devil.....he was actually very nice but he didn't get the web address. Lol.I got to the hike inn and sat in a rocking chair for about ten minutes and nancy hoch from the hike inn pulled up and who do you think hopped out of the truck?wild thing and flyboy and mule! I laughed and laughed! They walked the extra mile to the dam and then called the hike inn....but because I hitched and skipped that mile I beat them. Jeff and Nancy Hoch are great! And tis place is great. I got a great lesson on snakes today from Jeff. He gave me lots of good advice......the first was not to worry about the rattlers....the second was to worry about the copperheads but he told me just what to worry about and what not to worry about. I will be forever greatful. Wild thing is hopping 30 miles ahead with flyboy and mule and I am meeting Shoe tomorrow at 9:30 to start the smokies. Another milestone. woohooo! =nd I will start criscrossing the tennesee/n.c. border. so another state too!I feel good today.over and outsparepocket.