morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-08-17
From: FULL GOOSE SHELTER

To: GENTIAN POND SHELTER
Miles today: 9.25
Weather: broken clouds

RAIN DURING THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT- STOPPED BEFORE MORNING. AWOKE TO HEAVY FOG AND STRONG WINDS. THE WINDS BLEW ALL DAY AND ARE BLOWING STRONG TONIGHT. TEMPS ARE IN THE 40'S NOW AT 2200 AS I WRITE. ENOUGH ABOUT WEATHER FORECASTING- NOW ABOUT TODAY! TODAY WAS A LONG TOUGH DAY, WE LEFT CAMP AROUND 0730 THINKING WE COULD EASILY MAKE GENTIAN POND, AFTER ALL WE DID THE ARM AND THE NOTCH YESTERDAY. WELL THE TRAIL WAS NOT ANY ARM/NOTCH, BUT SEVERAL SPOTS BARED A CLOSE RESEMBLANCE. WE HAD SOME TOUGH ROCK CLIMBS TODAY UP SOME BIG MOUNTAINS. MOST WENT ABOVE TREELINE FOR A TIME. THE WIND WAS REALLY TOUGH UP THERE. THE VIEWS WERE SPECTACULAR. WE CROSSED INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE TODAY- THAT WAS A MILESTONE. MACK SAW ANOTHER THRU HIKER HE HIKED WITH IN THE SPRING. HIS NAME WAS "UNKNOWN". THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF. NOW ABOUT THE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE TO HAVE HAPPEN. I TOOK TWO FALLS TODAY. IN ONE I FURTHER INJURED MY ALREADY INJURED LEG AGAIN (CAN BRUISES GET BLACKER?). THE OTHER FALL FRIGHTENED ME BADLY. MY BAD KNEE IS COLLAPSING ON ME- I FELL DOWN A STEEP DECLINE AND LANDED ON MY BACK. NOTHING BROKEN BUT I HURT ALL OVER. MACK TOOK A FALL TOO TODAY. WE ARRIVED AT CAMP (FINALLY) AROUND 2030-ALMOST DARK. IT TOOK US 13 HOURS TO GO 9.25 MILES. THIS TERRAIN IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL I HAVE EVER SEEN, BUT THE MOST CHALLENGING TO SAY THE LEAST. WE PUT UP OUR TENT IN THE DARK AND CRAWLED OUR ACHING BATTERED BODIES INTO OUR SLEEPING BAGS. I'M TAKING A ZERO DAY IN GORHAM IF WE GET THERE TOMORROW, THAT'S ABOUT 12 MILES FROM HERE. WELL I AM TURNING IN. MAY GOD GIVE US ANOTHER SUNNY DAY AND PROTECT US FROM INJURY. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.
Date: 2005-08-18
From: GENTIAN POND SHELTER

To: GORHAM NH
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

THE WIND BLEW HARD ALL NIGHT AND THE TEMP DROPPED INTO THE LOW 40S. WE AWOKE TO A BEAUTIFUL DAY. SUNNY AND THE WIND DRIED UP MOISTURE ON ALL THE ROCKS WE WERE TO CROSS AND CLIMB TODAY. WALT AND HIS TWO SONS WERE CAMPING NEXT TO US. THEY FIXED PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST AND WERE WILLING TO SHARE. YOU MEET THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WOODS. WE LEFT CAMP AROUND 0800, STOPPED ADN FILTERED WATER AND WERE ON OUR WAY TO GORHAM. WE KNEW WE HAD ABOUT 12 MILES TO GO TO GET THERE BUT OUR TOPO MAP SHOWED THE TERRAIN TO BE A LITTLE MORE FORGIVING. WE SAW SOME BEAUTIFUL VIEWS TODAY. MOUNT WASHINGTON LOOMED IN THE BACKGROUND LIKE A GIANT DARING US TO CLIMB IT. SO BEAUTIFUL. YOU COULD SEE FROM MAINE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE TODAY ON MANY MOUNTAIN TOPS. MACK RAN INTO VAPOR TODAY, A GUY HE HIKED WITH OFF AND ON DOWN SOUTH. HE'S DOING WELL. WHAT A GOOD CHRISTIAN YOUNG MAN. THE WALK WAS GREAT TODAY BUT MY LEGS ARE HURTING FROM MY KNEE-JAM AND THE FALLS I TOOK. THERE IS ALOT OF LEG SWELLING GOING ON. WE WENT INTO GORHAM TONIGHT FOR A ZERO DAY TOMORROW TO TRY TO RE-COOP. MACK IS HURTING ALL OVER TOO. WE GOT TO THE HOSTEL, TOOK SHOWERS, WENT TO DINNER AND PIGGED OUT. WALT AND HIS TWO BOYS TOOK US TO PNKHAM NOTCH TO GET OUR TRUCK SO WE COULD HAVE IT WHILE WE ARE IN TOWN. WE GOT TO GORHAM AROUND 1700. MACK TOOK PICTURES OF MY LEGS OR NO-ONE WOULD BELIEVE HOW BAD THEY LOOK. WE ARE NOW SNUGGLED IN BED WITH IBUPROFEN IN OUR SYSTEM. IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY- GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
Date: 2005-08-19
From: GORHAM NH

To: ZERO DAY IN GORHAM NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

WE AWOKE TO A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT ABOUT 0800. MY LEGS ARE SWOLLEN AND BLACK WITH BRUISES. STILL PAINFUL. WENT TO THE HOSTEL BREAKFAST AND WHILE WE WERE THERE WE MET NEAL. HE HAS A SMALL FARM ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM HERE IN VT WHERE HE AND HIS FAMILY MAKE HOMEMADE CHEESES AND HE INVITED US TO COME OUT TO SEE HIS PROCESS. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING . IT'S A SMALL OPERATION WITH ONLY ABOUT 12 COWS, BUT VERY STERILE AND WELL ORGANIZED. THE CHEESE WAS EXCELLENT TOO!! WE ALSO SAW YARD SALE (WHO WE HIKED WITH IN THE SOUTH) AND RADIO HITCHING A RIDE TO THE GROCERY STORE IN GORHAM. WE PICKED THEM UP AND TOOK THEM GROCERY SHOPPING AND THEN BOUGHT YARD SALE LUNCH AT MCDONALDS- RADIO NEEDED TO GET BACK TO HIS GIRLFRIEND AT THE LAUNDRY. GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ALLOW US TO RUN IN TO SO MANY PEOPLE WE SAW IN THE SOUTH. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA. WE WENT BY AND SAW BROOKS AT THE OUTFITTERS. HE INFORMED US ABOUT THE STEEP AND DANGEROUS TERRAIN AHEAD OF US. THE FORECAST IS FOR RAIN THE NEXT FOUR DAYS. WE ARE GOING TO WAIT OUT THE WEATHER ANOTHER DAY AND ALLOW FOR MY LEG SITUATION TO HEAL SOME MORE. THEN WE WILL DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO. WE CAN'T RISK TERRAIN LIKE THAT WITH MY KNEE BUCKLING ON ME. MACK HAS SOME PAIN IN HIS RIGHT KNEE FROM A FALL HE TOOK BUT HIS IS NOT AS BAD AS MINE. THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY AND I AM SO THANKFUL TO GOD FOR THE WONDERFUL THINGS I HAVE SEEN. JUST TO KNOW GOD IS GOOD ALLL THE TIME MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING.
Date: 2005-08-20
From: ZERO DAY IN GORHAM NH

To: HOLLY SPRINGS NC
Miles today: 0.0

WELL, WE AWOKE TO RAINY SKIES AND MY LEGS STILL SWOLLEN. WE DECIDED THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO HEAD SOUTH TOWARDS HOME. THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE WANTED THINGS TO GO, BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS. IT'S OKAY THOUGH, WE HAD A MARVELOUS TIME AND WALKED THE TOUGHEST MILES ON THE WHOLE APPALACHIAN TRAIL. WE MET SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE (LISA, AMANDA, WENDY, WALT, JAMIE AND SCOTT). WE HEADED FOR HOME AROUND 1000 AND DROVE STRAIGHT THROUGH- GOT HOME ABOUT 0530 THE NEXT MORNING (ABOUT 17 AND 1/2 HOURS). WE HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES AND HAVE ALREADY STARTED MAKING PLANS FOR A SPRING HIKING TRIP IN VA. MAYBE BACK TO NH IN AUGUST 06 IF THE LORD IS WILLING. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE AWESOME TIME WE HAD TOGETHER. THERE IS NOTHING I LOVE MORE THAN HIKING WITH MY BELOVED LUMBERMACK, MY BEST FRIEND, MY DARLING HUSBAND. GOD IS TRULY GOOD ALL THE TIME.
Date: 2005-11-10
From: DALEVILLE/TROUTVILE AREA

To: WILSON CREEK SHELTER
Miles today: 9.75
Weather: few clouds

WE LEFT HOME AROUND 0600 AND ARRIVED IN TROUTVILLE/DALEVILE AROUND 0930. ME, MACK AND LEE LEFT THE PATHFINDER IN THE 24HOUR KROGER PARKING LOT (WITH THE MANAGERS' BLESSING) AND WALKED UP TO THE TRAIL. WE HIT THE TRAIL AROUND 1000. THE TERRAIN IS GREAT HERE. WE GOT TO FULLHARDT SHELTER AROUND 1230 AND ATE LUNCH. WE WERE BACK ON THE AT BY 1300. MY KNEE STARTED ACHING AND CAUSED ME CONSIDRABLE PAIN. IT REALLY STARTED SLOWING ME DOWN. I THOUGHT IT WAS A RESIDUAL PROBLEM FROM WHERE I INJURED IT IN MAINE BACK IN AUGUST. (upon returning home I saw the orthopedic doc and he said it was ITBS, or iliotibial band syndrom- something to do with a muscle/tendon issue that runs from your hip to your knee- very painful but treatable and a common injury among hikers and long distance runners) THE WALK WAS BEAUTIFUL. WE SAW SOME DEER- THE ONLY WILDLIFE WE ENCOUNTERED TODAY (THANK GOODNESS). WE STOPPED TO FILTER WATER BEFORE ARRIVING AT WILSON CREEK SHELTER. WE PASSED SOME SOUTHBOUNDERS BEFORE ARRIVING WHO TOLD US THAT THE WATER SOURCE WAS LACKING AT THE SHELTER SO WE WENT AHEAD AND FILTERED SOME. WE ARRIVED AT THE SHELTER AROUND 1630- LEE WAS ALREADY THERE. MY KNEE WAS KILLING ME- I TOOK SOME 800MG IBUPROFEN AND IT FEELS BETTER NOW. WE HAD MAC-N- CHEESE AND TUNA FOR SUPPER WITH HOT CHOCOLATE. THE WIND IS PRETTY STRONG AND THE TEMP IS DROPPING. AFTER SOME CAMPFIRE TIME WE ARE NOW IN OUR SLEEPING BAGS. IT'S IN THE 30'S NOW- COLD TONIGHT WITH CLEAR SKIES. ONCE AGAIN GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH A BEAUTIFUL DAY. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. OH YEAH- I HAVE A NEW TRAIL NAME: LAB RAT. I WILL EXPLAIN THE STORY BEHIND IT IN OUR 2006 PREP- ENTRY. WE HEAR COYOTES HOWLING TONIGHT - HOW INTERESTING!!
Date: 2005-11-11
From: WILSON CREEK SHELTER

To: COVE MOUNTAIN SHELTER
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

WE GOT UP AT 0630 WHEN LEE INFORMED US THAT SOME EYES WERE STARING AT US ABOUT 100 FT OUTSIDE THE SHELTER JUST BEFORE DAYLIGHT. NEVER SAW WHAT THE EYES BELONGED TO, MAYBE THAT'S BEST. MY KNEE WAS ACHING PRETTY BAD SO I DECIDED TO CALL THE TRAIL ANGEL LISTED IN THE THRU-HIKERS COMPANION TO MEET ME AT BLACKHORSE GAP 2.5 MILES OUT TO PICK ME UP. HIS NAME IS DEL SCHECHTERLY (540-529-6028). DEL SAID HE WOULD MEET US THERE SO WE STARTED WALKING AROUND 0800. WE MAD GOOD TIME AND ARRIVED AT ABOUT 0915. MACK AND LEE KEPT GOING AND I WAITED FOR DEL. DEL PICKED ME UP AND CARRIED ME BACK TO TROUTVILLE/DALEVILLE. HE PULLED SOME STRINGS AND WORKED IT OUT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A HOT SHOWER AT ONE OF THE MOTELS IN TOWN. DEL REALLY CARES ABOUT HIKERS- HE IS TRULLY A "TRAIL ANGEL" AND HAS A HEART FOR HELPING HIKERS. HE HAS JOURNALS THAT DATE BACK TO WHEN HE STARTED HIS TRAIL ANGEL WORK. I TRIED TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THE AT FROM A TRAIL ANGELS' PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT! PLEASE LOOK DEL UP IF YOU ARE IN THAT AREA. HE IS A GREAT GUY WHO WILL BLESS YOUR HEART!! THANKS DEL!!! I MET MACK AND LEE AT BEARWALLOW GAP/VA43 AT 1415. I BROUGHT MACK A BURGER FROM BURGER KING SO THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO COOK SUPPER THAT NIGHT. DEL TOLD ME ABOUT THE BURGER KING SO I STOPPED IN TO GET A TREAT FOR MACK. I AM TRYING TO TALK MACK INTO USING THE TRAIL NAME OF "SNICKERS" FOR 2006 BECAUSE HE HAS AN OBSESSION WITH SNICKERS BARS. NO-ONE IN THE WORLD LOVES THEM MORE THAN MACK. MACK HEADED FOR COVE MT. SHELTER AND LEE AND I HEADED FOR HOME. MACK ARRIVED AT 1530 AT THE SHELTER. VINCENT (SWEET BEE) AND LORETTA (MOLETOE) WERE THERE. THEY ARE BROTHER AND SISTER FROM THE BEDFORD AREA. MACK CHANGED CLOTHES WHILE THEY GATHERED FIREWOOD. AT 1715 IT STARTED GETTING DARK. TURNED IN EARLY FOR AN START EARLY TOMORROW. GOODNIGHT.
Date: 2005-11-12
From: COVE MOUNTAIN SHELTER

To: CORNELIOUS CREEK SHELTER
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

UP AT 0630 AND WALKING AT 0734 LEAVING COVE MT. SHELTER HEADING TO CORNELIOUS CREEK SHELTER. STOPPED AT JENNINGS CREEK TO FILTER WATER. STOPPED AT BRYANT RIDGE SHELTER AND MADE AN ENTRY IN THE SHELTER REGISTER. MET A WEEKENDER HEADING SOUTH. MET TWO DEER HUNTERS JUST BEFORE GETTING TO THE SHELTER WHILE CLIMBING FLOYD MT., TOUGH CLIMB. ARRIVED AT THE SHELTER AT 1415, FILTERED WATER, ATE SUPPER OF RAMEN NOODLES. VINCENT AND LORETTA CAME IN AT 1600. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THEM. A GOOD DAY TODAY. A LONG STEEP CLIMB TOMORROW. MARK, A WEEKENDER, CAME IN AFTER DARK USING A HEADLAMP. HE WAS CARRYING A FULL SIZED AX WITH HIM. I WOULD GIVE HIM THE TRAIL NAME "AXMAN" IF I SEE HIM AGAIN. HE WAS VERY NICE. GOODNIGHT.
Date: 2005-11-13
From: CORNELIOUS CREEK SHELTER

To: THUNDER HILL SHELTER
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: few clouds

DID NOT GET UP EARLY TODAY. JUST 5 PLUS MILES TO GO TODAY TO GET TO THUNDER HILL SHELTER, LEFT ABOUT 0815. HAD TO CLIMB APPLE ORCHARD MT. TO START WITH. SAW SOME KIDS AT RADAR INSTALLATION WHO WERE OUT FOR JUST LAST NIGHT. THEY WERE PREPARING TO HEAD BACK DOWN TO THE PARKWAY. I ARRIVED AT THUNDER HILL SHELTER AT 1100. UNPACKED, CHANGED CLOTHES AND ATE A SNACK. I DON'T FEEL GOOD TODAY. I HEAR VINCENT AND LORETTA COMING NOW AT 1211. VISITED WITH THEM AND THEY LEFT ABOUT 1445. AT 1520 A COUPLE (GREG-KOKO AND CATHY-STUMBLEFOOT)STOPPED BY HEADING TO CAMP FURTHER DOWN FOR THE NIGHT. I MAY BE ALONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT. A SOUTHBOUND THRU HIKER STOPPED BY GOING ON TO CORNELIOUS CREEK FOR TONIGHT. IT WILL BE DARK WHEN HE ARRIVES. GOODNIGHT.
Date: 2005-11-14
From: THUNDER HILL SHELTER

To: JOHN'S HOLLOW SHELTER
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

UP AT 0630 AND WALKING BY 0730. MUST MAKE 16.3 MILES TODAY. BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE WITH PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. SPRINKLED AGAIN DURING THE NIGHT. I DID NOT SLEEP WELL BEING ALONE. THE WIND HOWLED ALL NIGHT AND EVERY SOUND WOKE ME WITH ME THINKING IT WAS A BEAR OR SOMEONE WANTING TO PUT ANOTHER NOTCH IN THERE KNIFE HANDLE. MICE ATE A HOLE IN THE TOP OF MY PACK AND DESTROYED THE LAST BIT OF TOILET PAPER I HAD. MADE GOOD TIME AND ARRIVED AT THE JAMES RIVER AT 1330. I CROSSED THE FOOTBRIDGE AND MOVED ON TO JOHN'S HOLLOW SHELTER- ARRIVED AT 1445. FILTERED WATER, HUNG CLOTHES, BUILT A FIRE AND COOKED SUPPER. I CALLED LAB RAT AND TALKED FOR A SHORT TIME, MY BATTERY IS GETTING LOW. GOD BLESS AND GOOD NIGHT.
Date: 2005-11-15
From: JOHN'S HOLLOW SHELTER

To: BLUE RIDGE PKWY CROSSING
Miles today: 9.5

AWOKE AT 2130 LAST NIGHT BY HARD RAIN ON THE SHELTER ROOF. SLEPT BETTER LAST NIGHT, NO MICE GNAWING ON MY PACK. UP AT 0530 PREPARING TO START OUT IN THE RAIN. PUT ON RAIN GEAR AND OFF AT 0715. STEEP CLIMB UP BLUFF MT., COLD AND WINDY WITH RAIN. CALLED LAB RAT AT 0930 AND TOLD HER THAT I WAS GETTING OFF AT THE PUNCHBOWL CROSSING AT THE PKWY. STOPPED AT LITTLE OTTIE'S MONUMENT ATOP BLUFF MT. AND TOOK A PICTURE. THE ONLY ONE I TOOK TODAY- TOO COLD AND RAINY. ARRIVED AT THE PKWY CROSSING AND STARTED TO TRY TO HITCH A RIDE TO THE MAIN ROAD. NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. CALLED DEL (THE TRUSTY TRAIL ANGEL) BUT HE WAS ON THE WAY TO HELP A HIKER IN CRISIS, A GIRL WHO HAD BROKEN HER ANKLE- HE WAS PICKING HER UP TO CARRY HER TO THE AIRPORT. DEL KEPT IN TOUCH WITH LAB RAT AND I BOTH TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THINGS TAKEN CARE OF- HE IS A GREAT GUY. ABOUT 1325 AN ELDERLY COUPLE, AND I MEAN VERY ELDERLY, PICKED ME UP AND CARRIED ME TO BIG ISLAND VA. I GOT A HOTDOG AND FF AND CALLED LAB RAT. SHE LEFT RALEIGH ON HER WAY TO PICK ME UP, I STARTED HITCHING TO LYNCHBURG. I GOT A RIDE TO THE BOONESBORO FOOD LION WHERE LAB RAT MET ME. I WAS GLAD TO SEE HER AND WE HEADED HOME. NOW WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR TRIP IN THE SPRING. WE WILL PICK UP WHERE I GOT OFF AT THE PKWY CROSSING AND HEAD NORTH. HOPEFULLY MAKING IT TO GORHAM NH AND COMPLETING THE ENTIRE AT IN 2006. THE LORD WILLING. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST ENTRY IN THE 2005 JOURNAL. LOOK FOR OUR ENTRIES UNDER 2006. GOD BLESS AND HOPE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES FROM THIS YEAR AS WELL.
Date: 2005-02-04
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

As you can see I am leaving the trail2/31/04 in less than favorable conditions! (See Mailar 2004)It looks like I will be coming back. If all goes well in the next month I plan to return to Little Laurel Shelter to resume my hike March 3rd or 4th. I am getting antsy and walking in Maine in the winter is not as fun as it might sound. Wish me luck and god speed!
Date: 2005-02-07
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I got good news from my Friend Tennessee Jack whom I hiked with a little last year. Seems he has a few weeks the 1st of March and might be able to join Chief and I for a some hiking. Boy am I going to be in great company! All hikers that have finished the trail. Maybe if all goes well I will be able to fix this flaw in my character this year. I am getting great encouagement from trail friends and can't wait to get started.
Date: 2005-02-07
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

This entry is mainly so I have three and will get posted on Trailjournals. I hiked 8 Miles today with a 25 lb. pack. I have been increasing slowly from 4 miles the beginning of January and plan to be up to 10 miles the last of this month, so it will not be as big a shock on my body getting back on the trail. It is sometimes difficult to find days to hike in Maine. I am planning to bring my vehicle down and move it up the trail with me. Is there anyone in The Harpers Ferry area that would let me park a vehicle for a month or so? Probably around April or May?
Date: 2005-02-28
To: Almost hiking
Miles today: 0.0

This will me last entry before I am on the trail. The prehiking has gone well and I have reached the 10 mile mark I was shooting for. I will be meeting Chief and Tennessee Jack at Ms Janet's between 12 and 4PM on March 3. We are planning to be hiking the next morning. If The Lord of The Rings (Bill and Rebecca) should read this I would love to hear from you. You were two of the toughest kids I saw on the trail last year. Also Boxtop. I think Tennessee has your phone number so I will be getting in touch with you if he does. Also Hogar (I think that is right) and Bunny. Are you going to come out this spring? How about Satori (sorry about the spelling)? Going to let the old men have the trail to them selves? We promise that you don't have to hike with us. We know thar 1/2 mile an hour is a little fast for you. At least come out and give us support. How about the Hobbits, the twins from Vermont, that I was talking to near Barren Mt. in Maine?(trail magic not hiking) I can't forget my Maine buddies Dave and Meranda. It would be great to see any that I was hiking near last year. That of course means you Xena and maybe Bloody Cactus if my timing is right. I am off and with God's help I hope to make it a lot further. Maybe home by trail.
Date: 2005-03-03
From: Home

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I had left Maine just after a storm had past. I drove through some snow, but finally made it to Erwin at 10:30. I followed Bruce Wingfoot's map but had a hard time finding Ms. Janet's, because he had the hostel on the wrong side of the road. I finally found it and went in to introduce myself but she said "You must be Mailar!" We had a great chat waiting for Chief to arrive around 2 P.M. Tennessee Jack showed up around 7 P.M. After working on her bathroom until 8, we had Big G's sandwiches from Maine, said to weigh 3 1/2 lbs each.
Date: 2005-03-04
From: Erwin

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: scattered clouds

We got up at Ms. Janets to a beautiful sunny day. Ms. Janet tried to find the owner of the cabin on Log Cabin Road to get permission to leave the vehicle. It was going to be as close as we could get to Little Laurel Shelter. Finally we left Ms. Janet's at 10 A.m. and headed to Hot Springs. It took 2 hours to get Chief out of the outfitters there but Jack outspent him. After lunching at Smokey Mountain's we got to the trail head at 2:30. After a long 3 1/2 mile hike we stopped for the night. The sight of the shelter brought back less than fond memories. Pictures of me were taken (still standing). It is now 9 and we are trying to stay awake another hour so we are not awake at 4 in the morning.
Date: 2005-03-05
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mountain
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: few clouds

We got under way at 7:40. We walked all day through snow from a trace to 18 inches. The walk to Jerry's Cabin took 4 1/2 hrs. less than 1 1/2 miles an hour. After eating lunch we had to decide if we wanted to stop early or push on another 5 miles. Stopping and tenting between shelters in the snow was not an option. The extra mileage this early in the hike had me concerned and my back was bothering. Chief assured me it was an easy hike, so I took a pain pill and we took off. We made it to here by 5 PM although showers were predicted for the day, we barely got 3 in. of hail. It is now 7 PM and it is raining. It was great having Chief to to know the terrain because there was no way that I would have done the extra mileage. He amazes me with his ability to remember the trail. Tennessee Jack lead the whole day. It was not easy because not only did he break trail but had to be careful because of the roots and rocks buried below the snow. If he has lost his trail legs it has not been by much. It is great having the experience and friendship of these great hikers with me.
Date: 2005-03-06
From: Flint Mountain

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 11.2

We had a friendly skunk join us off and on thru the night. T. Jack and Chief each got pictures because he was on my side of the shelter. I didn't get my camera because he was that close to me. I didn't want him to spray. Later when he was on their side they didn't say anything. He later crapped next to one of the other two of our group but I will not say who. We didn't start hiking until 8:50. The other two hikers with me stayed in their sleeping bags and was talking while I had put on frozen shoes. We again hiked in snow although it wasn't as bad as yesterday. We did walk through 12" near Frozen Knob. Again I had a hard time to keep up with the two vets, but they would wait for me to catch up. It was 4 when we got to Hogback Shelter. We tried to call Ms. Janet's for a ride to Erwin but she still had not got back from Springer. We then decided to stay at the shelter but there was a couple there with two dogs. Chief pointed out that the dogs would probably be walking over our gear with muddy paws. He suggested we try to contact Uncle Johnny's. Great decision! We are now dry, warm, and clean. Life is good!
Date: 2005-03-08
From: junction

To: Damascus
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light snow

When we got up in the morning and it was snowing a wet slushy snow. As we watched the weather forecast we weighed our options. There seemed like there was no hiking around Erwin safely. Rather than take another zero day we took our chances up in Damascus. It was after 12 before we finally started walking. Chief volunteered to drive us to the trail head. We ended up walking in an inch of snow and it was so beautiful with not a track in the snow. After hiking we returned to Erwin and we are hoping for a short hike tomorrow. If we don't walk we will have to go play. A dirty job but someone has to do it!
Date: 2005-03-09
From: Spivey Gap

To: Erwin
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

We got up to a cold windy day but it wasn't snowing so we decided to walk. We left Spivey Gap at 8:15. There was a beautiful new snow of 1 to 2 inches. It was great looking at the different animal tracks. We made it to No Business Shelter by 10:45 and took a break for water and candy bars. This is the shelter where a friend of mine Jerry (Russ) Desmond walked in to surprise me at last year, although I was actually over at Standing Bear Farm. After the confusion was resolved he drove over to visit. We walked into Uncle Johnny's and got into dry clothes. We went to lunch, then back to get my vehicle at Spivey Gap. We still had time to post some of my journal at the library. Slow typing or I would have got caught up.
Date: 2005-03-10
From: Sam's Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

We left a vehicle at Spivey Gap and brought the other over to Sam's Gap. We started hiking at 8:30 and immediately ran into snow on top of old snow. Since Big Bald is at 5516 we were climbing most of the morning. As we were walking towards Big Bald we saw new people tracks in the snow coming from the left. Curious we followed them, less than 50 yards away there was a road with some very plush homes along it. We finally made it to Big Bald walking through and over drifts of 2-3 feet. We stopped for a 20 min. lunch and got to Spivey Gap by 4. There seemed to be more snow north of Big Bald and we never did walk out of it. New trail term: Post Holing. Making holes and walking in them in deep snow.
Date: 2005-03-11
From: Iron Mt. Gap

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

We weren't sure if we were going to hike today so were slow getting started. It was 9:20 when we left the trail head. The snow was bothering Chief and he decided to go home. T. Jack and I walked into snow immediately. We had other people tracks to Cherry Gap Shelter, where we met Wee Willie, the Prince of Wales. He had been there since Monday and didn't seem to be moving soon. Neat guy to talk to! We then started up Unaka Mt. The snow was deep and wet making for some slow walking. There were no tracks to follow and we had to be very careful not to lose the trail, which we did at least 6 times. One time it took over 15 min. to find where the trail went from the last blaze. Although I am sure it is easy to see on clear ground it wasn't in the snow storm. A little extra white paint would have been greatly appreciated. We finally found our way by sawed stumps and limbs. Two tired hikers came out at 4:30. Some hot food and a shower has helped a lot. Laundry and bed are the only things on our mind now.