morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-04
From: Amicalola Lodge, Georgia

To: Springer Shelter
Miles today: 8.0

What a beautiful day for a hike! It was sunny and in the 60's all day with not a cloud in the sky. A persistent chill wind was blowing (and still is) which feels really good. Dinner was two packs of instant mashed potatoes and a Nalgene of water. Very good.The approach trail was a monster hike, though not quite as bad as it is made out to be. There are 8 or 9 other hikers up here with me, but they are mostly scattered around the tent-sites. Since I snore so bad, I have decided that I will tent whenever possible so as to not subject my fellow hikers to that experience.There are a couple dogs here with hikers, but they are being very well behaved.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: Springer Shelter

To: Sasafras Mountain
Miles today: 10.8

I should be thrilled! I just did an eleven-mile day on my very first official day on the AT. That's huge for a first day. Most people stop at Hawk Mountain Shelter for the night at mile 7 or so, but a few of my new friends had pushed on ahead to Justus Creek at mile 14. I decided to try and catch up, but didn't make it. I came across an AMAZING campsite on top of Sassafras Mountain. Right next to the AT, a super-soft tent area, a fire ring with wood already stacked, and the best campsite I've ever seen. I should be thrilled, but I put on the hat Jen made me, and now I can't stop crying.Later: I think I'm all cried out now. A nice campfire is very comforting. The people I wanted to catch up to are "Full Moon" and "Piglet". They are the two with the dogs. Two absolutely gorgeous golden retrievers.All my trail concerns have proven false. It's definitely the hardest thing I have ever done, but definitely also within my capacity. My boots were well broken in. There is not a blister on my feet.Last night on Springer it was FREEZING. Fortunately my down sleeping bag was up to the challenge. The stars are coming out and my campfire is going out. Time to take to my sleeping bag!P.S. Hiked all day with an elderly ex-military man named "Kojac". Hope he catches up to me, he's a hoot.
Date: 2006-04-06
From: Sasafras Mountain

To: Two Wheels Only --Suches
Miles today: 8.9

No crying tonight! I've just had my first real "Trail magic". After a big hike I found myself standing at GAGO on Woody Gap looking for campsites that were not there. Turns out I misread the Guidebook and the tent sites were two miles down the road in Suches.Enter Ross & Kathy Howitt, a pair of self-employed anesthesiologists who were hiking part of the AT just to see what it was like. We had chatted a bit while hiking, and when I couldn't find the campsites, they offered a ride. Turns out they were staying in the SAME place I was looking for. They drove me there, fed me, and made me "7 & 7's", all for just a few stories about the trail.So now I'm sitting here, freshly showered, nicely-buzzed, and listening to five bikers discuss motorcycles. Kojak caught up to me at Gooch Gap Shelter, right as a horde of Boy Scouts descended on the place. Fortunately, the Scout Leader said he was moving on to Justus Creek. Kojak said he was gonna stay @ Gooch. That puts him five miles behind me. That sucks. I might see him tomorrow night in Woods Hole Shelter if he puts in a monster day, but if not, I'll probably not see him again unless I take a zero at Neels."Six pack" and "Forty", (not their real names--I call them this because they packed a 6-pack of beer each), tell me that only minutes after I left Justus Creek, an entire company of Army Rangers came marching through! I knew they trained in the area--wish I coulda seen that.P.S. I just talked to Mom & Dad on the phone. Since I know Mom is reading this, please include Ross Howitt in update emails. He suggested it, and he's been so nice to me.
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Two Wheels Only --Suches

To: Hiker Hostel @ Neel's Gap, Walasi-yi
Miles today: 10.1

Huge day today! After breakfast the Howitts took me back to the trailhead at Woody Gap. I was planning to take a short day and hike 7 miles to Wood Hole Shelter, then tackle the 3-mile ascent/descent of Blood Mountain in the morning. However, when I finally got to Woods Hole, it was only 2 p.m., plus they are forecasting nasty storms tomorrow. Rather than wait and risk Blood Mountain in the rain, I bit the bullet and headed out.Unfortunately I pulled the muscle in the quads of my right leg. The muscle hurt like hell going downhill, which was a big problem since the last 2.4 miles of Blood Mountain are downhill. I limped my way down and finally arrived in Neel's Gap at 6:30 p.m, 30 minutes after Mountain Crossings, the hostel, closes. Fortunately, the staff was still around and opened up to let me in.They had one bunk left, and I got it. It's a huge two-person pull-out. I told everyone that that's what happens when you show up last, you get the biggest bed!Kojak is here and pleased to see me. Apparently he was a little worried because he hadn't seen me. I went further than he expected, and then when I was resting at Wood's Hole, he passed me.There are a tone of other hikers here, most of whom I've seen, usually passing me. But nothing feels as good as when I came down the stairs into the hostel to the warm greeting of my fellow hikers.My knee already feels much better, but I'll still probably take a zero day tomorrow just to let it rest. I was already planning to take a zero here anyway, so I¢m still a day ahead of where I thought I'd be.
Date: 2006-04-08
From: Hiker Hostle @ Neel's Gap, Walasi-yi

To: Blood mountain cabin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

No hiking today. I'm "taking a zero" in a cabin on the side of Blood mountain. the hostel was fun, but too much snoring means very little sleep. Besides, I can afford to stay in these cabins and most other hikers cannot, so I might as well leave the cheaper hostel beds to them. (hostel? hostle? no clue, no dictionary)The cabin is beautiful, by the way. Just a small loft apartment-sized space, but I would be happy living in this place. it's set right into the side of Blood Mountain, so it has a gorgeous view.I spent most of the day laying on the couch watching TV and resting my knee, though I ventured out to resupply earlier. Got my package from Mom & Dad. The trail mixes are greatly appreciated. I need that sort of variety.Knee no longer hurts at all, so I'll be heading out in the morning. Hoping to do 11 miles tomorrow, heading for a five-day trip to Haiawassi (totally spelled wrong)
Date: 2006-04-09
From: Blood mountain cabin

To: Low gap shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Not much writing tonight! It's already dark and getting cold. I got a very late start today and only just got to the shelter right before sunset. I considered taking a short day to try and go easy on my knee, but I just couldn't bring myself to stop short of my goal.Tomorrow I will make for Rocky mountain and a 10.7 mile day.Little bit of Trail Magic today. Ran into a guy who did the whole trail southbound a few years ago. He gave me an orange and offered tons more, but since I just came out of Neal¢s Gap today, I didn't need anything.
Date: 2006-04-10
From: Low gap shelter

To: Rocky mountain
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Last night was my first night actually sleeping inside a shelter. I can't recommend it, though I slept very soundly. It was VERY cold this morning and a three-walled shelter does not hold heat at all. At least in my tent, it's up to 10 degrees warmer from trapped body heat.Excellent campsite on top of Rocky Mountain tonight. Sharing it with a group of section-hikers that have been hiking at about the same pace as me since Neel's gap. They're not terribly interesting, though. They do tell me that "Librarian" is behind me though, which is cool. She's fun and I enjoyed hiking with her this morning. I thought she passed me when I stopped for lunch on Blue Mountain, though. She had been hurrying to keep up with "Rocky" and "Swamp Fox", an elderly couple from New Hampshire. I think she was going to go into the town of Helen via Unicoi gap with them and have dinner since they finished their section and are going back home. They gave me their number before they left, offering the use of their house to take a zero in once I get up that way.Anyway, if "Librarian" is behind me, I'll probably see her again at Deep Gap shelter, which is my next objective. It's 11.3 miles, making it my longest hike yet, but staying there gives me an easy 3 mile hike into Hiawassee the next day where I plan to stay at the "Blueberry Patch" hiker hostel.I tried to go further tonight. I wanted to go to the Cheese Factory, a popular campsite that's 2 miles further from where I am. Unfortunately, my knee started getting tight again from the nasty hike up Rocky mountain, so I decided not to push my luck.Title of book: "A Caterpillar Crawls North".
Date: 2006-04-11
From: Rocky mountain

To: Deep Gap shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Big mile day! But good grief, what a day. Two climbs of over 1,000 feet of elevation. Tary Mountain in the morning, Kelly Nob in the evening. Hardest day of hiking so far. There's a bunch of section hikers here at the shelter with me. Sitting around a campfire telling stories.No sign of "Librarian" tonight. I heard she was behind me, and I hike faster than she does. I hope to see her at the Blueberry Patch hostel. There's also no sign of the people from my own little group. They're all faster than me so I probably won't see them again until they start taking zeros.That's okay, the real groups form later once people start getting their trail legs. I am slowly but surely getting mine. Each day the uphills seem easier and I go further between breaks. They say that by the time you reach Fontana Dam, you are physically capable of finishing and only mental things will stop you.My plan to start in the middle of the week appears to have paid off. I¢ve really only met a handful of other actual thru-hikers compared to the hundreds I know are out here. It's nice to be able to plan a trip into a hike hostel and know I won't be racing dozens of other hikers for the limited space.Bed and shower tomorrow! Home cooked breakfast the next morning!P.S. The story of Daniel and I and the charging bear is a big hit around the campfire.
Date: 2006-04-12
From: Deep Gap shelter

To: The Blueberry Patch
Miles today: 3.5

So it says 3.5 up there but it's really 7. Just, 3.5 of them don't count because they were down the road to get to the Blueberry Patch Hostel. I didn't get a single ride offer until I was already within sight of the hostel.That's okay, I was still the first one here. I think most of the people I was hiking with went down into town to stay at an actual hotel. Crazy they are! A breakfast of blueberry pancakes I get!There are five other hikers here, though. None of whom I know, and who came from a lot farther down the trail then I could manage. No biggie. I won't see them again, likely. They're way faster than I.I hitchhiked into town today as well as back out. Both times I was picked up in minutes by some crazy guy (different guys) who complained about all the huge development that is going on in the Hiawassee area. There is definitely a ton of development going on, though. Lots of places where entire sides of mountains are being cleared and "Mountainside Estates" are being sold. "Everyone wants to live in the mountains, so they get rid of the mountains to make room for them" said one of my crazy rides. "Damn Yankees ruined Florida and now they're moving north." said the other.The Blueberry Patch is a Christian ministry owned by Gary Poteat, a '91 thru-hiker. There are more Bibles here than there are beds. There is no drinking, drugs or tobacco products of any kind allowed. That being said, the Poteats seem very laid back and aren't at all preachy. They haven't even mentioned religion except to let me know they were going to church and to watch for any stragglers for them. They also did my laundry for me, which is AWESOME. There is no charge for any of this. Apparently they take donations, but I see no donation basket. It's a missionary thing. Welcome to the Bible Belt. Now if only most Christians were like this, I might be interested in the religion. Which is not to say that I necessarily am not a part of it, per se, but the organizations associated with it tend to disgust me.My right arm is sunburned from holding up my hiking staff. I started carrying it in my left when not using it, but that just made my left arm start burning. Also burned are the backs of my calves. Hiking north, the sun is almost always at my back. My neck, ears, etc. are just fine, though. The decision to bring the wide-brimmed hat Mom bought me was a good one. For the rest I have bought SPF-60 sunblock at the grocery store in Hiawassee.One of the other hikers here "Yard Sale", just gave me his contact info. Seems he's just doing a section hike this year (he completed last year) and lives in New Hampshire and has offered help when Ii get up that way. Between him, and "Rocky" and "Swamp Fox", it seems that state is pretty well supported.And now another hiker has given out his contact information as well. Travis (no trail name yet) also lives in New Hampshire, but will help out if he finishes before we do.
Date: 2006-04-13
From: The Blueberry Patch

To: Muskrat Creek shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

My first state! So long Georgia! Hello North Carolina!I wasn't sure if I was even going to go very far today. I was considering just stopping at the first shelter I came to, which was four miles in. Since I didn't take a zero at the Blueberry Patch, a light day seemed prudent. Of course, that never seems to work for me. I got to Plumorchard shelter at around 1pm and, after eating lunch, got up and left. That state line was calling me!But the state line was at mile 9 and had a great campsite right there. So why am I at mile 11.6? Right across the state line were two tall and steep mountains that I had to cross. I HATE leaving a steep ascent for the morning. It makes me tired for the entire rest of the day. So I decided to make for the next shelter. I'm glad I did. There's a huge crowd of hikers here including "Librarian", "Turtle", "Walrus" and "Von Pepper". They're all making for Carter Gap shelter tomorrow. That's 12.5 miles. Looking at my maps, it seems that the next 40 miles or so feature really tall mountains, but very gradual climbs. 12.5 miles might just be doable.STANDING INDIAN MOUNTAIN, here I come!Going back to yesterday and this morning, the Poteats served an amazing breakfast of eggs, sausage, pancakes and homemade blueberry syrup. Next to each plate was a donation envelope, and they made sure that they were both out of the room at various times so we could donate without feeling self-conscious. I gave them a $20. They deserved it.Mrs. Poteat says that I remind her of her ex-son-in-law. That's pretty ironic, I thought. When I said I wasn't sure how to take that, they assured me that he's still one of their favorite people. "He's sweet", she says, and apparently he and I have similar mannerisms.A fact that I forgot to mention is that in the bunkroom at the Blueberry Patch, there were more Bibles than there were beds. This struck me as bizarre, but this morning Mr. Poteat said it was because they are there for hikers to take with them. I took one, a little pocket testament. This "Jesus" guy really had some good things to say. Check this one out:"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they have to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" Matthew 6:5-6 Have the "school prayer" people ever even read a Bible?
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Carter Gap shelter

To: Rock Gap shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Few things can renew one's faith in the existence of a higher power better than Trail Magic. As you might have guessed from my last journal, I was just a bit down last night. I was much the same this morning. I awoke and left second of our rather large group. I was just kinda glum for the first few miles when I came across three senior citizens hiking in the opposite direction.They told me they were members of the Nantahala Hiking Club, the local AT maintenance club. Then they handed me a bag of goodies and wished me a Happy Easter. In the bag were all sorts of Easter things like a hardboiled egg, candy, coffee, etc. There was an orange, which was totally awesome. I climbed another hundred yards and found most of the rest of my group (who had passed me) sitting in the sun. I joined them and we all ate the contents of our Easter baskets in the morning sun. It seems that the club members were just hiking down the trail handing out Easter baskets to all the thru-hikers. My spirits were lifted greatly to say the least.This is the true nature of Trail Magic. The serendipitous good deeds that show up when they are needed most. Just keep praying for me, I suppose, because it is apparently working.Regarding the group, I am apparently a member now as I am being included in decisions regarding things like how far we're hiking in the morning and such. It's nice, since I really wasn't sure if they considered me a part of their group or not. Granted I'm just kinda paranoid about things like that in general.Tomorrow most of the group is going into Franklin for supplies. I had been intending to join them, but I checked my food, and I have enough to get to the next stop, the NOC I mentioned yesterday. Also since the Easter basket this morning I don't feel the pressing need to make it to a phone to call home. I can hold out on that until the NOC as well. Instead of going into Franklin, "Librarian", "Turtle" and I are pushing on to a place 11 miles out where our guidebooks say there is good water and camping. We're the three slowest of the group, and all three of us intend to take zero days in the NOC, so it seems the group might stick together past this obstacle.If you look back to the top of this journal, you'll note that I have completed over a hundred miles so far. It feels great to have triple digits in my mileage numbers. It's like I said when we crossed that imaginary 100-mile line: "Only twenty more of these to go!" Somehow it actually doesn't sound so bad when put that way, as opposed to saying: "Two thousand seventy-six miles to go!"I apologize if this is harder than usual to read. It's getting dark and I don't want to use my headlamp and bother the others who are trying to sleep. I've never slept so much in my life, by the way. I usually go to sleep an hour after dark or so, and then sleep until seven or eight. There's just nothing else to do out here when it's dark. Goodnight!
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Rock Gap shelter

To: Below Wayah Bald
Miles today: 14.2

Holy cow! Just look at that number up there! Yeah, so we were planning to take an 11-12 mile day today while most of the group resupplied in Franklin, but a bit of a misunderstanding turned this into a monster mile day. It seems "Walrus" who is one of the fastest hikers in our group, was not going into Franklin with the others, so he started out, we assume, towards our intended campsite atop Winespring Mountain. However, when "Turtle" got there she didn't see him, so she continued on to our second "if we're feeling crazy" campsite two miles further. When "Librarian" and I got to Winespring, we couldn't find either of them, so we continued on as well.So, we still have no idea where "Walrus" is. We now think he may have actually gone into Franklin and not told us. But the upside is that now we only have to hike 11 miles tomorrow to get to Wesser Bald shelter, which gives us a five mile "nero" into NOC the next day. We'd go for NOC tomorrow, but 14 miles has left us feeling utterly drained, and we think 16 miles would be pushing our luck. Besides, there's no point in getting there after everything closes anyway.Minor Trail Magic this morning. Someone left hard-boiled eggs at one of the places where the AT crosses a road. They were decorated for Easter with little AT symbols.I actually made a few side trips today, which only compounded my tiredness. The first was to go .5 miles off the AT to see the second largest poplar tree in the US. It was definitely large, but it was also very dead. Definitely not worth adding a whole mile to my distance traveled today, even if I took my pack off to do it.The second side trip was to the top of Siler Bald. A "bald" is a mountain where the top is covered with grass rather than trees. The AT didn't go all the way to the top, but I could see it from where I was resting and ended up climbing barefoot to the top. Anyway, very tired. Done.
Date: 2006-04-18
From: NOC

To: NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Not a whole lot to write about today, though I'm sure I'll find a way to make it alot. Today was the first of two zero days that I have planned for here in the NOC. As such I spent the day doing such chores as laundry, equipment purchasing, and food supply replenishing.The latter task was accomplished through the simple expedience of paying an NOC employee to drive us into nearby Bryson City, as the stores in the NOC itself are geared more towards snacks. For $10, the NOC lady drove us all over town and waited while we did our various errands. For the next 30 miles into Fontana, I bought four day's worth of food, even though it should only take me three days at most.For breakfast I have a bag of bagels and a jar of pre-combined peanut butter and jelly. Lunch is found in the form of GORP and summer sausages. Dinner is a variety of Lipton side-dishes, two rice and two noodles. I still have generic snacks and stuff left from last resupply to cover me for random non-meal eating.We found "Walrus" today. He's been here a day already, having pushed way ahead due to his superior hiking speed. The rest of our group showed up throughout the day today. Unfortunately, most of them are pushing on in the morning. Dunno how group cohesion will shake out, but "Librarian", "Turtle", myself, and two others are committed to another zero here tomorrow. As I said before, making staying with a group your priority can make for unhappy hiking, but I am somewhat regretting taking a second zero.The main reason for this, though, is because with taking a second zero, I will be setting out for Fontana on Thursday morning. 30 miles is the distance, which I budget 3 days for. This puts me arriving in Fontana Saturday night. Unfortunately, I have numberous packages waiting for me at the Fontana Post Office, which closes at noon on Saturday and doesn't open again until Monday. Unless I manage to cover 30 miles before noon on Saturday, I will have no other choice than to take a zero in Fontana, which I don't want to do after taking two of them here. Looking at the terrain, I think I might be able to push big miles on Friday, but Thursday begins with a 3,000 foot climb out of a river gorge. A daunting prospect even were I not in a hurry. Still, I think I might be able to pull it off.Other than brief trail-related chores, I have just been laying around and reading all day. Tomorrow I still intend to try out a little white-water rafting. One of the shorter trips in an inflatable kayak looks like tons of fun.Having had leisure to peruse myself in the mirror, I believe that I have lost anywhere between 5 - 10 lbs already. The difference is only truly noticable with m shirt off, but it is most definitely there. Just a hint of loss to come, hopefully!See? I knew I could write a long journal based n a day theoretically spent doing nothing. I seem to be getting quite wordy as this journey progresses. Here's hoping that my penmanship improves as well.