morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-03-05
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Bull Gap
Miles today: 5.5

It's 11:20 and it just started to rain. This should be a good test of my tent. Hopefully it passes. The rain seems to be passing too. Even better. My worry about rain is my down bag getting wet.Up and over Blood Mountain today. The bare top and beautiful views made us all compare it to New Hampshire. Nice comparison. Our group has 5 out of 7 from New England, so a natural comparison. Country around us is green and spotted with barns and farm houses. Posed for pictures at scenic views. Took our time on descent.Destination was Walasi-Yi Center for resupply, laundry, showers, phone, mail. They cater to hikers with a hostel and outfitter. We all took advantage of their pack examination service. Explode your whole pack and they go through it piece by piece and tell you what gear is unnecessary. Mine passed the test pretty well. I only sent home my cleats for ice protection, a cloth map and 2 tent stakes. I defended and held on to the scarf. It's my pillow right now. Also made it clear from the start that Grease Monkey stays. My pack was lightened by 3 lbs. Others lost between 10 and 20 lbs. Amazing to see what people think is imperative. Milk Dud sent home a complete manicure kit. Monk sent all 14 maps and guide books. Jazz emptied out a giant first aid kit. The store made a bit more off us too. Jazz spent $200, Shane (now Train) spent over $600. Damn lucky I did my research. That would have broken my budget. All I bought gear-wise was a tiny bottle to replace my larger one of camp soap. Also got food and stove fuel. We all stuffed our faces while there. I had a salami and cheese sandwich, a hot dog, two orange juices,chex mix and a free coke and McDonalds chicken sandwich. Skipped dinner later at camp.Called Andrew from there. Told him he's been in my dreams. Called Mom and left a message. I'll try again in 30 miles.We moved on 1.5 miles up the trail to a tent spot. So far we haven't used a shelter. Fine with me. They're packed with people and gear hanging everywhere, uncomfortable, a little smelly and mousey.People keep asking us where we're from and assume we all started together. We're happy that we met on night 2 and have become an informal unit.Another campfire tonight. Pretty much a staple. All 7 of us were summer camp counselors back in the day. We were joined by Coconut Monkey who carries, duh, a monkey made from a coconut. I introduced him to the Grease Monkey. He's traveling fast and intends to finish in June. I'll probably be somewhere in Pennsylvania. Baby Van will be waiting.Rain's passed. I'm dry and going to sleep.
Date: 2006-03-08
From: Cheese Factory

To: Hiawassee Georgia
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The day started at 6 am at the Cheese Factory when we broke camp. Ended at Holiday Inn in Hiawassee. Rest of the crowd is sleeping and I'm in the lobby examining my scrapes and scabs as I write.Had an amazing hiking day. After yesterday's leisurely 13 miles, I poured it on today for another 12.5. Hit a hiker's high, so pure and clean and just had to follow it to the end. Much like flying with my pack keeping a rhythm on my back. Passed folks and chatted a bit on the way. Figured the gang wasn't far behind. When I readched Dick's Creek Gap, our goal for the day, I stretched out in the sun on my Thermarest. Was a ful two hours before the others got off the trail. Amazing! Along the way, I encountered one of the toughest climbs so far. Blood Mountain may be the highest peak on the Georgia trail, but the trail up Kelly Knob is probably the steepest. Elevation gain of 1000 feet over one mile. No switchbacks, just straight up. At each bend I was sure I'd see the top. Was amazed at the effort it took to get there. As I'm climbing the trail that never ends, I knew that every step was the reason I came. I still get that feeling of awe when I think, Damn, I'm really here. Hope that doesn't end.Today was day 8 on the trail. We are 8 miles to South Carolina. About to put our first state behind. Honestly, I'll hate to see it go. I love it out here so much. I'm in no rush to get home.Still no new shoes. I checked at the Hiawassee post office. Hopefully tomorrow before hitting the trail again. Our next stop won't be for five or six days. I did some good damage to my left foot today, far surpassing the crammed toes on my right one. The full speed ahead day put major strain on my toes in those cramped shoes. Nail on big toe is black and I'll probably lose it. Means good pain and slower days for me. Lesson learned. I've heard and heard that the most important thing out here is to take care of your feet. Unfortunately, I learn best from experience.AYCE. All you can eat buffet in Hiawassee, the reason we chose this town for resupply. Everyone filled plates 2 or 3 times and we don't even have our official hiker appetites yet. Train didn't even speak before finishing two plates full.The group wanted to toast our success so far. Gee, what a shock, they drink like teens and twenties drink. I said cheers with a cup of wine and settled in to share company. Ajax, Monk and Milk Dud headed for the hot tub. No was to pass that up. Eased all my aches, including the knot in my back.Would be loving getting back to the trail tomorrow if not for the bum foot. Have to get out of town though. Sleeping in a bed and eating non-instant food feels like luxury, but even this early in, the trail is starting to feel like home. Walking and a pack on the back feel natural now. Sleeping on the ground nad waking to sub-freezing mornings is just what you do. This is not really a trip, and certainly not a vacation. It's just what you do.
Date: 2006-03-09
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day of heavy guilt. We did not plan on taking a zero day, especially so early in the trip. Just as we were finishing loading food bags in the parking lot someone, maybe Ajax, came out with the evening's weather report. Heavy rain and high winds. Winds dangerously high with thunderstorms by midnight. After much deliberation, we decided to stay in Hiawassee for another night. We're all feeling odd about it. Had we alreday been on the trail we would have faced the unexpected like we do every day. I'd rather have feet on the trail now. I miss it, but have to admit that the picture of falling tree limbs and a soaking wet down bag got the best of me. Plenty of others are out there now and will be just fine. If there is a storm they'll have stoies to tell.Prime example of the dangers of town stops. The trail becomes your world, but the big world exerts power right away when you come off it. Thinking now of the folks we know out there; Dan who we lost at Gooch Gap. We saw him yesterday afternoon. He was getting out of a car at the trailhead a we were hitching into town. The big group of 9 or 10 who also stayed last night headed out this morning. They included Caption, Curley, Swanson, Tofurkey, Pinky, Sunny and Buddy. To tell the truth, even though we have found great camraderie on the trail and you feel close to strangers right away, members of THAT group are rather unpleasant. That does not mean I want them to be hit by lightening or falling trees.Today started so well. We were in good spirits and ready to take it on again. Errands consumed the morning. Joy at the post office when my shoes finally came in. Lunch followed by a group shopping at the grocery store. We each picked up what we needed and then combined stuff like Stove Top Stuffing that one person would not carry and eat. Best was communal trail mix. We each picked up an ingrediant and threw it all together. Much cheaper than buying prepackaged.We'd already checked out of Holiday Inn, but we gathered in the parking lot, food spread over an acre of pavement, filling bags and discarding the unwanted. All of us left oatmeal in the hiker box, always the first thing to go.Hotel has been great to us. Sign on the door welcomes hikers. They love to watch us eat the free breakfast buffet. They comply with even the oddest requests. The manager even offered a free ride to the trail head eleven miles away. So, they're more than happy to put us up another night. We all agree the weather better be damn bad tonight.So, I'm journaling. I'll read, check email, reorganize my pack and wring out the socks soaking in the sink.The younger members of the team, meaning all of them, are lounging around playing "Screw the Dealer" with a 24 pack. Oh the surprises you find in the hiker box. These folks are great on the trail. Can't wait to get back there.
Date: 2006-03-16
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Full shelter after a tiring day. There's about 20 people here. For once, I'm in the shelter, not the tent. It was still wet from yesterday and needed some drying. Besides, I'm really tired and just wanted to slip into my bag. Write. Read. Sleep.The mileage wasn't great today, but was pretty strenuous. Besides, I didn't leave NOC until 10:30. Usually I'm on the trail by 8:00. I might have gone further, but this section of trail was a killer. NOC, on the Nantahala River is in a low valley. We climbed back up into the mountains, a rise of 4000 feet. There were a few switchbacks and a few level ridge walks, but mostly it was up and up and up. North Carolina is definitely a challenge. I was alone for most of the hike. Bushwhacker left pretty early and I thought I might catch up with him but never did. I leapfrogged with Thumper and Tree Girl. She was making good time and steady pace up the slopes. I was doing baby steps and granny walking sometimes and steady uphill strides at other times. Thumper was stopping a lot. He's usually pretty quick and steady but today let me pass several times.They were both at the shelter when I arrived. Bushwhacker was here too along with several others. The sun was going down so I quickly hung my wet tent, socks and shirts. Bushwhacker is worried about reaching Fontana Dam in time to get his mail drop before the post office closes. He decided to push on to a campsite 2 more miles up the trail. Good for him. This from the man who was ready to quit last week. He's a 55 year old grandfather and retired postal inspector and now he's having the time of his life. He's hanging with teens and 20s and they think he's great. Last night he was missing from the campfire. Everyone started screaming his name when his headlamp appeared in the dark.Thumper, Tree Girl and Little Brother all decided to push on another 6 miles. More power to them. Whitey, a guy in his 60s, is doing the whole 22 miles to Fontana Dam. He's a power hiker getting into shape for the Pacific Crest Trail. He did the AT last year in 5 months.Now I'm torn. I'm the guy who's been pushing for lower mileage and time to enjoy the trail. Several people have turned to my way of thinking. Suddenly at Ajax's suggestion I'm up for a big push tomorrow to see how close I can get to the dam. We may all separate tomorrow and reunite at the Dam on Saturday.There are a couple of interesting guys closer to my age who just pulled in. I'd like to try to keep pace with them tomorrow. It's good to see another demographic besides late teens and retirees.My goal for today was to get to the shelter, dry my wet stuff, journal and read. Three down.
Date: 2006-03-17
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I hiked over 20 miles today, the last 4 in the dark. I'm pretty beat. Didn't get into the shelter until around 9:00, and 8:30 is a hiker's midnight. Reached Fontana Dam, the southern gate to Smokey Mountain National Park. Taking a zero day tomorrow and into the Smokies on Monday. Will put more of today's details in tomorrow's entry. Great day, but I'm exhausted.
Date: 2006-03-17
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Shelter
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Long hiking day. Felt so good to finally get off the trail, but a great day.First day I hiked over 15 miles, first 20 mile day A day on the trail is not all sunshine and roses. It's damn hard work. It's satisfying but damn hard. The uphills are exhausting. The downhills are worse. They jar my knees, rub in my blisters, twist my ankles and throw me off balance. My sense of balance. Today my total falls hit 14. I bent a pole on the first one. On the trail, you start hiking in the cold. By midmorning you're sweating. You remove all your layers so they don't get drenched in sweat. Wet clothes are the enemy. As soon as you stop for a break you're cold and have to cover up. You're colder in the wind and there is always wind.There's a pain in my back and shoulders. I need that new pack belt very badly. I hope it really helps. The new pain is in my left thigh. It's a throbbing ache from cinching my pack tight enough to relieve teh other pains. I'm nursing my blisters, luckily my only foot pain.North Carolina is tough and will get worse in the Smokies, the day after tomorrow. More of yesterday's steep ascents. The toughest one is on an unnamed mountain, unofficially known as Ass Kicker Mountain. Just when you think you are at the top of a rise it goes up some more and around another bend. You look out over the landscape though and know why you're here. As your path goes up and up you're in the highest spot on the landscape. You look down on the farms and fields and cars and out at the surrounding mountains. When you do, you are glad there's a trail and glad to be on it.I'm not always glad. I'm sore and very tired. I see more hills coming and say, "Not again." I talk to myself when I'm alone. Sometimes I curse and scream. I get worried that I'm overheard or that I'm too cold or too wet. I shift my pack and readjust every strap to give some relief. Glad I haven't cried yet, but know I will.Those are my pains. Everyone has their own. We're starting to talk more about them. Interesting admissions. I feel better when I hear it's universal. Even the strongest hikers are suffering from something somewhere.I'm too tired to write more, but will add a few details in tomorrow's entry.
Date: 2006-04-04
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today was officially a zero day. I was packed up and ready to hike when Sprocket, a professional river guide, came up to the porch and said, "boulder, they turned the water on."I hesitated for just a minute then said what the hell. Can't pass up an opportunity when it falls in your lap, a new philosophy for the trail.After last nights heavy rain they opened the dam on the Pigeon River which coincidently flows off Cold Mountain.Sprocket gave me a dry suit and loaded his raft in the car. The river was rushing when we got to the landing. I swallowed my fear and we pushed off. I don't remember the names of any of the rapids, but we hit them right away. After the first hit I was flying on adrenaline. We crashed through a few and I paddled hard when instructed. When we hit the next one my side of the raft lifted up and caught on a flat rock. As we were about to flip he yelled, "Lean to the high side!" Water rushed under the low side and set us free. He warned that the next rapid had a curl like Hawaii Five-O. It did and he aimed the raft for the center. I lost my balance and almost fell in. I grabbed for a rope and he grabbed my shoulder. Whooping and high-fiving all around. Quote of the day came when Sprocket said, "boulder get in the water." He said it again for emphasis. Still in what-the-hell mode I slipped over the side. We were coming to a small rapid and I was going to ride it and catch the raft on the other side, testament to how much I trusted the guy and my new found thrill-seeking side. On my back, feet first, I rushed over the rocks through the whitest water. My head was under and all I saw was froth above my face. Gasping for air I came up on the other side. I'm howling and he's dragging me back into the boat. Baptised by the river god. Great way to zero.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: Campsite 29

To: Cosby Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Back on trail and great to be here. Just short day about 7 miles, fewer on the AT. It's 1pm and I'm settled in. Plan to work on lapsed journal entries. Time flowed differently on the farm. Have Cold Mountain here with me too. Can finally get back into it. Setting is perfect. I saw the mountain the other day on a contour map. I'm near it, but probably won't be able to pick it out.I left the campsite this morning before the Michigan family was up. No need to impose further. I thanked the father right before I hiked out. Cold but very sunmny. Reminded me of those bright, chilly morning hikes in Georgia.I stopped to cook hot breakfast at the trail head where Snake Den meets the AT. Felt like being back home. I celebrated with oatmeal, wheat germ and powdered milk, a very good start. I'm definitely taking time to cook hot breakfast when I feel like it from now on. Nice to hike a few miles, then park and light up the stove. Ate with a nice overlook of North Carolina.My pack feels ten times better thanks to Jeff's packing tips and strap adjustments from Heald. Walking and taking my time this morning was a real pleasure. I stopped for all the views and to warm in the sun. I'll be out of the Smokies tomorrow and want to remember what I'm leaving behind. For all the tough going through the cold, ice and snow, I'm glad I did it and also got to see the contrast. This ridge is now clear, warm, sunny and green. Minus shin splints, this has been an experience I'm glad I didn't miss. I try describing it to folks who came behind me after the strom, but you really had to be there. Amazing experience. Cosby Knob Shelter is in a great setting.   It's on a slope with a wide view of the mountains, green grass, rhodadendron and soft moss. The spring comes out of the ground near the shleter and streams down the slope as it passes the fire ring where I'm tenting. So far I'm only sharing with one person, but it will fill up. There were 20 here last night. I'm being caught up in the next and bigger wave. When I got here a woman from Waterville Maine was eating lunch. Talked to her, Old Goat and Snowho. Probably won't run into them again but hope it means the wave behind are nice folks. Don't mind not seeing a few folks who passsed through the hostel over the past few days. Gathering wood for a fire tonight, then reading.
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Good hike in hot weather, at least when I started. Began with a long uphill with sun beating down through bare trees. Halfway up, I pulled over into a clearing with a cold stream running into it. Soaked my bandana to mop my face and head. Sat to chat with 2 recent college grads, also from Portland. One of them went to USM. I told him I hoped to work there at the end of the trail.As I proceeded to the shelter, I passed the men's retreat again and stoppped to talk. They had set up a little tent city. They told me about an approaching cold front, thunder storms and possible hail. Three cheers to them for tenting.As I got to the tent I heard a sound I hate on the trail, dogs barking. As I walked in I saw a pit bull and a pit bull mutt. Three yahoo looking guys were riling them up and sending them running through the woods. I decided to tent near a fire ring way to one side. A couple from Indiana set up there too.When I went down to the shelter to cook, they guys told me there was a space in the shelter if I wanted to get out of the rain. I politely declined. The guys were from Kentucky. Two in their mid-fifties and a younger one in his 20s. Turns out they were father, son and uncle, all 3 tattooed, father and uncle with shaggy hair and beards. I was probably being judgemental but my New England sensibilities told me I should avoid them. Strange after spending 12 days with folks at Standing Bear.They predicted rain and rain it did. I counted 5 thunderstorms passing over. Tent was pretty dry. I have to seal the seams at the foot of it. My bag was getting wet and I curled up at the front. An interesting, if not great, day on the trail.
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Damn hard day. Hardest one I've had so far, no contest. Beats out the 22 miler into Fontana Dam.Not much to say about it. It wasn't very scenic, lots of Rhododendrons, not many views. It seems like the 15 miles was all uphill. The few downs were just teasing and followed by steeper ups. The only points of interest today were the gravesites. The first was the Bassett memorial for a 1968 thru-hiker who died in the early 80's. He was among the first. Thru-hiking didn't pick up popularity until the 90's. His ashes are interred there along with the marker.Two miles up the trail one of the graves of 2 Civil War soldiers, an uncle and nephew. The graves face each other in a wide open field and are marked with their original military headstones. There is a more recent stone between them marking the grave of a 13 year old boy also killed in the war.After Flint Mountain Shelter where I stopped for lunch there is a small plot on a hillside with two graves, one for a hundred year old woman. They date back to the 30's when the area was farmland not trail.Total elevation gain for the day was 2030' most of it in the last 8 miles. I was exhausted and beat down when I got to the shelter. Ozzie, Chill Out, and Long Haul were there. Sputnik arrived after me. A little later the 20 milers who started at Little Laurel rolled in. All of them, including Natty Bo, I had met in Hot Springs. I've met so many in the 10 days at Standing Bear and then in Hot Springs that it's hard to remember all the names and faces. A good crowd.It's late, I'm tired, the coyotes are howling. Back to sleep.