morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-03-09
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Sleep was so warm! Bauman woke up early and went down to the visitor's center to take a shower. I value my sleep more and could care less if I'm clean most of the time so we decided to meet up a bit later after his shower. Once I woke up again, packed, and met up with him at the center, we took off with Mrs. Gorp across Fontana Dam. The thing is huge. It marvels me on what it must have took to build it. Today we entered the smokies and there were two deer that greeted us. One walked within 10 feet of Bauman. It was like she was taunting us saying, "Nah, nah you can't eat me or touch me because you'll get the biggest fine if you try." I kept my knife at bay. Today was all up hill for the most part, but not too bad. The grade was very tollerable. Today I felt like a soldier back in the day when there was hand to hand combat. You see, tonight there is suppose to be a severe thunderstorm. All day long it was like we were trudging forward to meet Mother Nature in a huge battle. The days hike was mostly silent in anticipation of what was ahead. A thunderstorm that big and we'll be sleeping up high in the mountains isn't a good combo. All was calm until our approach to Mollies shelter, where we ate dinner. Out of nowhere, 30-40 mph blasts of wind were knocking us around. I weight about 250 lbs with all my gear and it was pushing me backwards at times. AFter dinner we made it to Russel field shelter. Mrs. Gorp was alread there in her sleeping bag. Now time for the storm - let's roll!pop-tart packets x2---1/2 lbs summer sausage, cheese, on tortilla, wheat bagel---chicken teriaki - FD
Date: 2006-03-10
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Derek Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

Last night was a bit of a let down with the whole thunderstorm thingy - but I'm not complaining. There was for sure some wildlife activity going on for sur though. I was awoken once to what I thought was a lady screaming for her life. Shortly after the blood curling scream I heard a bunch of yelps, so I think a bunch of wolves or coyotes killed something. Either way, not a cool way to wake up in the middle of the night. Mrs. Gorp left the shelter before the sun came up, man she is motivated. And today, Braveheart and I both came to realize how unmotivated we actually were. Before, we could cruise pumping out as many miles as possible because we wanted to see our girls. Now that that is behind us, what will motivate us now? We quicly realized that many times in our lives we do things because people are watching. We don't really care who it is, but we've just been movtivated because of the attention. Whether it was in the form of girls, sports, doing something extreme - most of the time we do things for attention. Now that that source of attention is past, and the only other people seeing us on a daily basis are other A.T. hikers, where does my motivation come from? "To better yourself as a person, Josh". Errrrrrrrrr wrong answer. That doesn't really have the "umf" I need to make myself walk 2,000 more miles. If I cared to better myself I would have done better in school. LOL. So where do I get my next bit of motivation from? Encouragement can help, but that is few and far between days. What will daily lift me off my feet and consume me so much with a passion as to want to keep walking. On the flip side of things, I don't want to quit - the thought of that is equally as terrible. Funny place, isn't it? I don't care to move and I won't quit. Lovely. So we arrived at Derek Knob Shelter before the sun was down so that was nice. It was only about a 9 mile day, but we didn't care enough to go on. We really would like to go to church on Sunday so God is going to have to do something in us if we are to be able to get to a night service - and He's going to have to give us some motivation - God, please motivate me. Oh, I set a rock up as a witness to me thanking God for getting me this far in my journey. I kind of did it like they do in the old testiment. I would have annointed the rock with oil as well but I didn't have any. I guess I could have used some oil that my tuna fish was in but I'm not sure if God likes sunflower oil that had tuna fish in it...joking or course.2x pop-tart packets---1/2 lbs summer sausage, cheese on tortilla---chicken & rice - FD
Date: 2006-03-11
From: Derek Knob Shelter

To: Mt. Collin's Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Today we got up early because we wanted to go 13+ miles today to Mt. Collins shelter so we could try and hit up church tomorrow. We had breakfast, which I tried out my "bacon" strips which tuned out to be more salt than bacon. After we guzzled some water to battle the sodium, we took off. Today I wanted to hike with Braveheart the whole day to see if we could do any better together. Today's big challenge was Clingman's Dome - the highest point on the entire A.T. So that was our challenge and motivation. But even with that all in mind it still didn't push us hard, we definitely took our time. So I've been reading "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldrege and I was hit with quite a remarkable view of women from my reading last night. The book mentioned how we were made in the image of God and then drew connections between the characteristics of God and a woman and how you can see His image in a woman. It was really quite beautiful. The book mentioned things like how a woman wants to be the apple of a man's eye and wants his love to be only for her - like God, who is a jealous God and how He does the same thing, wanting all our love for only Him. How woman was created last in the climax of creation and how deep and lovely she is - like God is as well. Connections like that were just blowing me away and there a ton others that are mentioned. It is easy as a man to understand how a man was made in the image of God, strong, bold, ect... but I've never heard how a woman could be looked at in the same way.Clingman's Dome - sucked. We didn't have much of a view at all. I must say though, the kike leading up to it was rather pleasant due to the constant smell of fraiser fur - my favorite. Coming down from the top sucked even more. It was one huge chunk of ice we had to descend for about 4 miles. I did get a chance to listen to Don Miller talk, author of the book "Blue like Jazz", talk about his conclusions of God from the mp3 player that Braveheart had. It was an awesome lesson. It was when he spoke at UNC. I'll have to listen to it again and then write down my thoughts.We finally made it to the shelter and we did it without a headlamp - and it was crazy dark outside but we wanted to do something dumb, which I won't do again. But before it was dark, there was a time that I just felt the need to pray to God that he would keep me safe. No sooner had those words flopped out of my mouth did both my feet slipped from under me because of some ice but one of my poles caught solid ground and held me up, keeping my body in an almost horizontal position, levitating in the air practically keeping my balance just enought to scramble my feet back underneath me before I can crashing down on the hard surface insurring serious injury. Amen! Now we get to see what God has in store for us tomorrow. I pray for provisions. Let's see what's in His will.pop-tart, bacon & cheese on tortilla---tuna, pepperoni, cheese on tortilla x2---Beef stroganov - FD
Date: 2006-03-13
From: Allison's Apartment

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, last night Braveheart and I finally had a talk about money, how we spend it, yadda yadda...It took so long and both of us are stubborn and connecting both our points seemed hopeless. It was just all annoying but I'm glad we got it out there because we got to see what the other's perspective of the trip is.I slept pretty good at Allison's house on the floor. In the morning I got to do some trailjournals and reading and wrote a letter to Keri. Then we all went over to Allison's mom's house to do some work for them in their garden. It was pretty easy but they seemed very appreciative. They even insisted on giving us $20.00 for what we did, even after they have already done some much for us! Cindy told us that we have been such a blessing to them in more ways than I will mention, which just baffles me because we keep hearing that from people. Here we are, going into town and people open up their homes to us and feed us and take care of us like we are one of their own children and then see us on our way out and then tell us how we are a blessing to them! There are obviously inner workings that we don't see and can only hope that we are blessing them as much as they bless us. After we had finished gardening, we said our goodbyes and their ankle biter dog, literally, escorted us on our way out. I love that family and my heart cries out for them.Allison took us to the grocery store and then to the post office. I sent a fleece and my mug home. Hopefully one fleece will do the trick. She then drove us back up to Newfound Gap and we said our goodbye. The three miles up to the shelter we are staying at wasn't so bad. In no time I was at Icewater Spring shelter...and so were 30 other people! I was able to beat 4 other guys down the stretch to grab the last spot in the shelter, which I was so happy about because tonight is going to be a very windy and very rainy night. But it turned out they someone saved those other guys a spot so all was cool. Matthewsky, Gary's nemesis is here so hopefully we'll get the story of him and Gary's fight. And then we'll laugh.biscuts x2---Philly cheese steak and fries - Cindy---granola bar x2, gorp (aka trailmix)
Date: 2006-03-14
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tricorner Shelter
Miles today: 12.6

Braveheart woke up early today and wanted to leave before me so he took off about 30 minutes before I did. Even though there were a lot of people in the shelter last night, I slept very well, even with the heavy rain. I hiked alone most of the day, and then some behind a few guys that knew Jeff Walker, my buddy from Montreat. He was their guide on a trip in CO. I pulled into Peck shelter for lunch and was out before a helicopter drop that was bringing in a new privy. So I carried on to Tricorner shelter, the place where Braveheart and I had planned to stay the night. Two problems - there was no roof on the shelter, and there was no Braveheart. I thought that maybe he might have gone on to the next shelter thinking I would have done the same since there was no roof here, but I didn't. I also wondered why I was here before him and just thought that I might have passed him while he went to the bathroom or something. But he never showed up, so I assumed he went on to the next shelter up. But I waited there just in case or something else I wasn't thinking about. I checked the ledger, nothing. Asked people as there were coming in if they saw him, nothing. Hmm...I got to see two helicopter drops but the bad part is we couldn't unpack anthing until they were done. Got some neat pictures and helped move 50 lbs bags of mulch between drops. Met a few more people today - Matthewsky, Julieanne, Taco, Guns of Jesus, Dreamer, and Rambler. Guns is hilarious so I hope he stays around me for a while. The crew that is working on the shleter are real nice, one of them wants to follow me on trialjournals.apple cinnamin roll, donut stick---tuna & cheese on tortilla x2---beef stew - FD
Date: 2006-03-15
From: Tricorner Shelter

To: Painter Branch
Miles today: 20.4

So I slept with every bit of clothing on last night, except socks, and I was just able to barely keep warm. the temperature must have gotten down to the low teens and with no roof - yikes! So today I planned on checking all the shelters to try to find trace of Braveheart, Imean I have no clue where he is. I took off early and got about 7 miles in before 10:30am and stopped at Cosby Knob shelter to eat lunch, but no sign of Braveheart, nothing in the ledger. So I continued hiking all the way to Davenport Gap shelter and then on to Davenport Gap - still no sign. I'm starting to get a little worried. Maybe something happened that was an emergency that he just had to book in hard and leave the trail or something. Yes, I am very worried.At the Gap, I chilled with Tace and Guns of Jesus, Guns for short, Matthewsky, and Julieanne for a bit talking about where we would go next. Mt. Momma's is suppose to have these amazing hamburgers but no cars where there to hitch us in and I wasn't about to hike an extra 1.2 miles for a burger. So Taco, Guns, and I left as a group for Standing Bear to resupply, Matthewsky just ahead of us, and Julieanne off to Mt. Momma's to pick up her dog. That 2+ miles to Stand Bear was ridiculous. Here we are, just out of the Smokies and the GAp and enter in the most redneck trailing I've seen yet. The trail even goes under some telephone wire, using the supports as a gate that basically says "Welcome to Ugly", along with the trash that was everywhere. The climax of it all was when we had to hike on the road for a bit and saw a blaze on an interstarte sign that also had a couple round of shot gun blasts put into it. Gotta love Tenn. So we made it to Standing Bear, but man we were spooked a bit. The owner was real nice and the farm turned hostel was ok, but the drunk visitors, the deer jawbone, and just the whole feel like we were in the movie "Deliverance" really didn't do much for us. So staying there for the night didn't seem like a bright idea. A very "happy" Matthewsky thought it was heaven though, he'll probably be dead tomorrow. Oh, just before we got to Standing Bear we got some trailmagic left by Icecream who hiked in 2002. It was Mountain Dew, which I had two of, and Miller Lite. So anyway, we resupplied at Standing Bear and then got the heck out of there. We went another 2.3 miles to Painter Branch and camped there. Taco and Guns checked their phones for me to see if they had service so I could call Braveheart, but they got nothing. I hope Braveheart is ok. I have no clue where he is or what has happened to him. Today was a new record of miles hiked for me, 20.4 - wow!honey bun, donut stick---tuna and cheese on tortilla x2---red beans and rice with some noodles
Date: 2006-03-16
From: Painter Branch

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept real good last night. So we all woke up at the same time and ate, packed up, then headed out. I was hopefully going to be able to stay with the guys but that didn't happen. I don't know what it was but I just had a hard time hiking this morning, and I wanted to stay with them because they set a good pace and I knew I'd be able to pick up some ground on Braveheart and possibly use the guy's cell phone if they got service. Plus, it is just much safer hiking with someone, especially with a phone.The climax of the hike came at Max Patch Bald which was really cool. The entire top of a mountain for about 1/4 mile was all bare - and really high up. I guess that would describe a bald pretty well now wouldn't it.So I got word today from Old Cedar that Braveheart had gone 13.5 miles down the wrong trail in the Smokies! Well, I'm going he's ok and what a huge relief that was to hear. But I couldn't stop and wait for him because I didn't know if he got off the trail, hitched a ride forward, called Cindy to pick him up ect...plus my food was low so I planned on trying to catch him at Hot Springs.After that climb it was pretty much all downhill except the last 1.3 miles to Walnut Mountain Shelter which was a nasty uphill. The area up here is completely trashed. For some reason WASP, whoever they are, thinks restoring an area means clear cutting it. Hmm. So my old friend Wayfarer is at the shelter so it was good to see him. I hope my miles increase because I really want to make it to Matt and Jamie's wedding on July 22nd, but that is my prayer that God would enable Braveheart and I to push hard everyday.honey bun, donut stick---tuna and cheese on wheat bread x2---chicken and rice - FDJalepeno pasta and chicken noodle soup
Date: 2006-03-17
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite outside of Hot Springs
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

We all, Guns, Taco, and I, left swiftly in anticipation for Hot Springs. I'm glad that we are arriving today because I have no food left and only 2 snack bars for lunch. We were cruising. We went about 13 miles in about 4.5 hours. It was good to be in town again. I stopped by the post office and got 2 letters from Keri, one that I can only open in 4 days from now, some gorp from mom and then something else but I can't remember. I sent my Bible to Keri so she could photo copy some things and give me that so I could cut down on some weight yet still read some scriptures. I am also going to try using my tent fly only and see how that goes so everything else was bounced to Erwin. Then I sent off the letter I wrote Kaeli. I hope she enjoys it, it was straight from the heart. Next I needed a watch because I had a feeling I might be by myself tonight because Guns and Taco were staying at a hostel that cost $38.00 a night and I just don't have that kind of money and a watch would be my alarm clock and also just a good way to see how fast we are going throughout the day.So I went to the outfitter and bought me the cheepest digital watch they had which was still $25.00. After re-supplying and wasting time in town hoping that Braveheart would show up and not miss me, I headed to the phone to call Keri so she could relay a message to him for me. But on my way there Old Cedar caught me and told me that he had see Braveheart at a shelter before town and told him that I must have been behind him now because they didnt' see me pass them, which I indeed did. In fact, I went to the shelter that Old Cedar stayed out and took a break but he was out getting water and passed me a few times but I guess he didn't see me some how...even though I was 5 feet from him at times. So, that means that Braveheart could have caught up to me today but since he was given some bad information he was going to wait for me, which would obviously be in vain. Oh boy!So I ate lunch and called Keri to leave a message but only got her answering machine so I left a message. Then I took off to go about 2 miles outside the town to just camp. I was told that Braveheart had been putting in a lot of miles to catch up, I can't believe the irony that took place today so that he wouldn't come in to town.So I left town, out on my own. I'll be honest, I am very scared right now with no one around. I realized that I don't like to be around people constantly, but I like to know they are there. On top of being freeked out, I miss Keri terribly and my prayer is that God will just keep me - and heal my feet because they are banged up pretty bad. Alright, tarp time, we'll see how this works.donut sticks x2---burger, fries, oatmeal porter, galic ale by highland - paddler's pub---
Date: 2006-03-19
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: broken clouds

So I'm really starting to hate getting up in the morning. Getting out of the sleeping bag, putting on the damp hiking clothes, getting back into the sleeping bag to warm up the damp clothes so I don't die, not my idea of fun. Taco, a guy I'm hiking with right now, always is in shorts in the morning. It's pretty funny to watch him shake dramatically while he sings his morning tunes. So I yo-yoed with Walter and Brian today. The most annoying thing about today was the fact that my feet could not get fixed. For starters my achillies is pretty swollen so I put a sock in there to relieve some of the friction and preasure, but that only lasted so long. Then I had to unlace the top part of my boot so that no preasure was on that area, but that gives way to blisters on the toes. Let me tell you something, don't get a blister on your pinky toe, nothing stays on it to help. I could have flown today had I had good feet and didn't hae to stop 5 times to fix them. Today wasn't as bad lonely wise, I found myself praying a lot and I like that, I've even started praying out loud. I don't know if it is any better to do it that way but I feel like I'm really talking to God, it's probably all perception. So in my book "Captivating" Stasi Eldrege talked about spiritual warfare and how she used to get dizzy spells until she heard that maybe it was an attack. So she started to pray against demons from then on when she would get the dizzy spells and soon enough they stopped altogether. Well, I tried that concept out when my feet were hurting and I don't know if it was a mental thing but it worked a little. So at the end of the day I was alone, and i had about 4 hours left to finish my 21.5 mile day and let me tell you something I was going so fast - and most of it was uphill. I don't know if I was just worried that all the guys were ahead of me and I didn't have a phone or that there was a huge storm following me and if I didn't get to the shelter in time I would get stuck in it, but man I was movin'. I came across a couple with 2 dogs and in passing them one of the dogs came up to me, sniffed me, then took off up the trail, like I was playing a game with her. Lela was her name, and she just kept going up, up, up, up and up, much to the owners demise. I tried to help get the dog back but it just ran out of site. I hope that dog isn't lost for good. So I finally got to the shelter around 5pm, an hour early - and it couldn't have come at a better time. I felt like I was going to fall apart. My achillies is so swollen and I have a blister on my pinky toe. God, please heal me. Oh, new record on miles today with 21.5. Tomorrow I plan on only going 10 miles to the next shelter and see if Braveheart can catch up to me there.blueberry tart, peaches and cream oatmeal with gorp---1/2 summer sausage, wheat bread---chile mac - FDramen noodle - chicken x2