morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Baldface Mtn

To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: broken clouds

We had a nice hike today. We stopped at the campground for a late lunch at the grill and ran into Aussie Bill. We haven't seen him in a long while. We had a long lunch together and waited for the rain to stop. Then we just decided to stay the night. We just got back from dinner at the lodge. We had a nice dinner, then we shared a dish of blackberry ice cream. Yum.                                             L
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

we a an enjoyable breakfast this morning with Aussie Bill, then said goodbye. I have decided to end my journey here. My asthma is not going to allow me to finish, it gets worse with the heat and humidity. I hope i don't disappoint too many of you. I never thought my asthma would be a major factor,boy has it suprised me. James has chosen not to continue without me so we're heading home today.Good luck to all those we've met along the way, we enjoyed meeting each one of you. Oh yeah, I saw my first bear this morning. I guess that's a pretty good way to end. God Bless                              L
Date: 2004-06-04
To: New York (no, not the city...)
Miles today: 268.0

So, driving zig-zag style across Pennsylvania today I think I crossed the trail at least three times... I'm trying to make all those stops that I need to and want to make before departing for Maine in, wow, a week and a half! But driving on the interstates, 80 and 81, and even the smaller roads up through Port Clinton it is somewhat heartening to know that hidden within the leafy green walls that line the highway is a whole different world, in some cases just meters away. I have been far too disconnected for far too long, and look forward to getting on the trail. Now if only I could finish that thesis...!
Date: 2004-06-11
From: New York (no, not the city...)

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Finally! The thesis is finished, or at least close enough for me to move on to other last-minute preparations.   Mail drops? Food for ten days in Maine? Oh, and wasn't I going to do one of those trail journal things?!Bear with me, I promise better entries later on (I say now, from the comfort of an indoor space!). But in the vein of the AT, I did stay last night in the best "lean-to" in upstate NY... my friends' own timberframe, two-story, screened-in playhouse, camping out with a four-year-old telling stories until we were both too sleepy to know what we were saying beyond the excitement of sleeping outdoors. Yay...
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Haverhill, MA

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

My brother-in-law just stuck his head in the door and said, "last chance to shower for six months!". Guess I'm actually going... gotta catch the bus in a few hours, but the ride with my sister to the bus station starts early (5:20am!!). I'll sleep on the bus, I'm sure, and rest up for the big day tomorrow. Left my computer in NY, my car in PA, and my pets are parceled out between PA and Mass. Somehow it still doesn't seem real. My backpack is waiting in the hall, the trail is waiting in the mountains, and six months from now I'll be wondering what happened, one way or another. Wish me luck... I'll be thinking of you all!
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Mt. Katahdin, Me

To: Monson, Me
Miles today: 118.0
Weather: mist

Checked in with l'il sis... I'm in Monson, ME! 117.8 miles in about 10 days. --------> 325 miles til the NH/VT border hopefully to meet up with Ray... ----------------> 475 miles til the VT/MA border, to meet up with Mary, Fred, and Mona....... ** Only 2,056.3 miles to Spring Mtn, GA **
Date: 2004-08-01
From: Woodstock, VT

To: south
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After quite an adventure I (and Turtle)caught up with Patty and Ray just north of Woodstock. We ended up spending a good part of the day back in New Hampshire at Friendlies for breakfast and ice cream and EMS for misc. supplies. We didn't get back on the trail until the afternoon and only hiked 4 miles to the shelter. We met Gimli and Gandolf at the shelter from Hawaii. The next morning we decided to test Ray's legs and put in a godd 15+ miles. Spent the night at Gifford Woods state park. We camped next to a family from Connecticut who were kind enough to share their beer as well as playa few tunes on guitar with Turtle. In the morning we hiked up route 4 for breakfast then back to the trail. We stopped a few miles down the trail to hike back to route 4 for the alpine slide at Turtle's urging. Hooked up with the long trail just before crossing route for again. The hike up Killington was hastened by an approaching storm and we arrived at the shelter just as the rain ended. The following day our destination was Ray's truck. Along the way Ray aquired the trail name "Dr. Thunder" thanks to the generosity of the trail gnomes and not because of the byproduct of the dehydrated food from the night before. We also ran across meanderthal (also on trailjournals) who was a reporter from Maine who recited the column he wrote for this week. After finding the truck we took a brief (2hour) detour to Burlington to spend the night at Patty and Ray's apartment. Ray drove us all the way to Manchester to pick up a mail drop where we ran into the dysfunctional family. Then back north to the trail and the wonderful mud of Vermont.
Date: 2004-03-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Four days to go! I need to do a few last-minute bill-paying chores and other stuff like that, make a couple of goodbye visits, and finish getting my bounce-box and mail-drops organized. Got my tent seam-sealed with no trouble. I probably over-did it, for there were only a few seams that were critical. It wasn't drying outside but we took it inside and strung it up, and the baby powder helped too. Saturday I went to the Westfield Galyan's and Trip gave a talk and presented a slide-show of his AT thru-hike. The pictures were gorgeous and got me more than a little excited, especially the ones of New Hampshire and Maine! I'm thinking the Whites could very well be the highlight of the trip.Treebeard of TrailTalk will be transcribing my entries from the trail. My first civilization stop will be Neels Gap, which I expect to reach on the 24th. I will mail my first batch of journal entries then, so look for me again around the end of the month if I do not make any more prep entries.
Date: 2004-03-17
To: What's so civilized about civilization, anyway?
Miles today: 0.0

In two days GForce (Gary) and I will be on our way to the southern terminus of the AT. I cannot wait to get away from the ills of modern society. The barrage of buy-this, buy-that, watching the sheeple eat themselves into heart disease and morbid obesity because they think a whopper is a food staple, the constant competition to be the alpha male or female, political bickering (I am glad that I am doing this during an election year), religious intolerance, creative stagnation in movies, music, and television, traffic, the uproar over Janet's breasts, stupidity in general, "The Littlest Groom", Ryan Seacrest, Paris Hilton, snipers, vanity surgery, and a million other things. I better stop before I start to sound bitter : )Who am I to talk? There is a lot I need to improve about myself. Hopefully, on this trip I can find my center, shed off the layers of b.s., and be a better person. It's going to take lots of meditation and reflecting. I need to be a changed man.
Date: 2004-03-20
To: Springer Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up in Amicalola Lodge this morning. After breakfast, checked out the falls, then went to the Visitor Center and weighed packs. Even after removing some items, with G-force¢s encouragement, it still weighed in at 50 pounds! I can still lose some weight.Drove to Three Forks Trailhead, 4.1 miles from Springer. Did a section of the Benton MacKaye Trail. Met Dirtnap, who started at Key West on January 2nd, and Sylke, a German woman out for about 10 days, at Springer shelter. Also met the shelter caretaker at the summit, Glenn. The sun will be setting soon and Glenn says it is really something. It was so unbelievably warm today, 70 degrees. My body is still acclimated to cold Indiana weather. Just last week, we had 6 inches of snow! I¢m going to put my Kitchun away now and put on some slightly warmer clothes. As we were standing around the fire, Glenn (Gizmo) named me ¢Falls From Tree.¢ That is my AT name now. But, I will probably return to Stormbringer after the AT.
Date: 2004-03-21
From: Springer Shelter

To: Sassafras Mountain
Miles today: 11.0

I am happy to report that the tarp tent held up well to the strong winds on top of Springer last night. I¢m pleased with its performance. Made my last visit to the summit this morning and hiked down the mountain. When we got to the car at Three Forks, I shed some more weight: camp shoes, some food and gaiters. It was only a few pounds, but it felt like a dozen. As a matter of fact, I felt so light, I reached around to see if both water bottles were there. And sure enough, one was missing. I must have left it at Stover Creek. G-force gave me one of his, so I was ok. Stopped at Long Creek Falls, first really scenic view after the Springer summit. Ran into Pele at Hawk Mountain shelter and met some other north-bounders.   I had stopped there for lunch. I am eating more as a thru-hiker than I normally do on short backpacking trips.   I¢m finding that having one of those mini spice carousels improve the taste of the freeze dried meals, and thus make them less tiresome. I figured out more weight that I could do without. My pillow. With all my rain clothes squashed into my lid, it is a better pillow anyway.I suppose that it is appropriate that my first night is alone. I could have stopped at Hawk Mountain shelter, but it wasn¢t far enough, and Gooch Mountain shelter is too far. I like to camp high, so I can start my day with a great view and a downhill, so I made Sassafras Mtn. my goal. And it is a good distance for my first day. The wind is blowing really strong again, but shouldn¢t be any rain like last night. Even though this is not extremely remote land, the rushing winds make it seem desolate, especially in the cold, and with most vegetation still not back yet.
Date: 2004-03-22
From: Sassafras Mountain

To: Big Cedar Mountain
Miles today: 11.0

Amazing! Saw only one hiker today, and he was not a thru-hiker. All the other thru¢s that I have met seem to be faster or slower than I am. There is one thru-hiker that, by the description, may be Pele. Whoever that person is, she¢s somewhere behind. I would imagine Redhank is behind and Dirtnap ahead. Already, I am of a mindset that the journey is more important than the destination, whereas, two nights ago, I would have not felt the same. If I run out of time or money, so be it! I had fun. I almost veered from twice from tonight¢s plan of sleeping on Big Cedars and I am glad that I stuck to the plan, because it is not that cold and the view is great! I can¢t wait to get rid of more weight at Neel¢s Gap: pillow, mug, food meals into townbox (???) and a possible switch to a lighter mattress. Tomorrow, Blood Mountain shelter and Walasi-Yi Inn the next day. After that, I need to pick up the pace and start churning out the miles.
Date: 2004-03-23
From: Big Cedar Mountain

To: Top Of Blood Mountain
Miles today: 7.3

Original intent was to stay in Blood Mountain shelter. Walked in and it was just too cold. Walked on about 75 yards and set up on a grassy slope with a good view. There are some college students going from Amicalola to Unicoi Gap just down(hill) from me. They¢re up on the rocks with their free-standing tents.Earlier this morning, as I was packing up, a man and his dog walked up. The dog rushed up at me and barked, scaring the hell out of me. After I cursed and yelled at the dog, I met his owner, and he was a really nice guy by the name of Cameron. We chatted for a while, then he gave me a bag of trail mix. My first trail magic! Later on, I stopped for water and met three other thru-hikers, one man from Australia, one from Maine, and Little Chicken from Texas (who had goose bumps all over her legs). I leapfrogged them for a while, until I stopped for lunch at Jarrard Gap, when they passed me for good.
Date: 2004-03-24
From: Top Of Blood Mountain

To: Walasi-Yi Inn At Neel's gap
Miles today: 2.4

Was visited by local skunk last night. Wasn¢t sure if it was the wind or an animal, but then the guys down from me said it came into their vestibule twice. Talked to a south bounder today! I believe he started on September 15. He¢s had nothing but cold weather the entire way. Guess some people want to do it the hard way. Hitched into town for an all you can eat Chinese/Thai, then got a shuttle for all you can eat home cooking at the Cookie Jar, and woke up the next morning starving! Got to talking about daylight savings time with the guy who gave me a ride back to Neel¢s Gap, and he recounted an old feller who wouldn¢t change his clock because, ¢the government don¢t tell me how to feed my chickens.¢ I¢m actually writing this a day late as I wait for the store to open, so I can re-supply.
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Cheese Factory Campsite

To: Powell Mountain
Miles today: 12.3

Large panoramic vista from this campsite. I¢m surprised to have it all to myself. I am, however, glad to be away from the hustle and bustle of sleeping & camping in a large group. I like everyone in our loosely formed group, but I prefer the calm of being by myself or with just one or two others.Tomorrow morning will mark a full week on the trail since leaving Springer. I¢ve been making good mileage the last few days, but it is going to drop tomorrow since I have to stop at the Blueberry Patch, a delight available only to long distance hikers.For those keeping score on my names, I came to the trail by the name of Stormbringer. Gizmo, the caretaker of Black Gap, Springer and Stover Creek shelters named me Falls To Ground after I fell out of a tree on Springer. Then, Moo-Juice named me Crash-Bang for my noisy arrival, which also suits the crash-bang out of the tree.   It¢s kind of funny referring to people by such colorful monikers. Kind of like being in a community of super-heroes, or wrestling stars.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

The pancakes this morning were the best I have ever had. Light, fluffy, and a little larger than a silver dollar pancake. The breakfast bell rang at 8:30 am and no one wasted any time getting to the table. Gary and Lennie are some of the nicest people I have ever met. Before they switched to donations, they charged $17, but I gave them $20.I am now at the point where sleeping inside feels strange. I almost need the noises of the wild to relax me. It could be the room full of people rather than being inside. I'll find out when I go to a motel, probably in Fontana.I took a picture of Beagle and Moo Juice today. I had a feeling it would be the last time I saw them for a while, since I didn't figure on them making it to Muskrat (they didn't).Crossed the Georgia/North Carolina state line, and it was like stepping into another country. The trail got more rugged but less hilly and the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere was stronger than it has been this whole trip, especially on Sharp Top, which was a steep and desolate climb.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Been staying at alot of shelter sites, but have yet to actually sleep in one, either because of the cold, or too crowded. Was going to tonight, since it was just Speed and Breathless besides myself, but it will be cold tonight and my tarptent will be slightly warmer.Last night I did a dumb thing. After I realized I was already in bed, I realized I had trash and a granola bar that needed to go in the bearikade. I got out of the tent, but could nt find the bearikade in the dark. So, I left it under a big rock just for the night, figuring it would be alright. Well, last night and this morning, it rained, and the rock sucked down into the mud, and I wasn't sure which rock it was anyway. So I had to leave it, even though I wasn't happy about it.The walking is on much more level ground than in Georgia, though a little more rugged at times. It's also living up to its reputation of a "green tunnel" more. Probably because of the rain. I walked all the way through Georgia, from Springer Mt. to Bly Gap without a speck of rain, but since getting into North Carolina, it has rained at night, in the morning, and at night again. Someone left 4 packets of ramen at the old Carter Shelter, so I snagged them. Hooray for trail magic!
Date: 2004-04-06
From: HogBack Gap

To: Fontana Dam Visitor's Center
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

After a brief climb, downhill all the way. Unfortuneately, downhills are not good on my right knee. Temporarily lost the trail when path veered away from the white blazes, right before started heading down for good. That section gets many hikers. Ran into Little Tree and Walking Stomach at Highway 28. Walking Stomach is a very attractive woman of 50 who does not look a day over 40. She does AT trail maintenance in Connecticut, the infamous "Connecticut Ledges". Walked a mile them to the Fontana Dam Shelter. The elevation profile lies! There isa a big up and a down between the highway and the shelter that does not appear on the profile. Arrived at the shelter, famously known as "The Fontana Hilton", because it houses 20 hikers and is new and nice-looking. Probably the only shelter on the AT close to civilization. Walked down to the dam to use the phone, and ran into Mouse, then got a shuttle into town, where I ran into Cricket and 2Cents and a few others. Got a few food items and went back to the shelter for the night.
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Fontana Dam Visitor's Center

To: Fontana Dam Visitor's Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

First zero day! Shared a room with Rob at the Fontana Inn. Showered (nice hot water), picked up town-box (or bounce-box for those who know what one is), did laundry, picked up groceries and supplies, checked email and trailtalk (the greates forum on the net!) got dinner, re-packed, went to bed. whew! I thought zero days were supposed to be a day of rest!
Date: 2004-04-08
To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

First day in the Smokies. Feeling strong after taking a day off, and knee feels good. Mostly an up day, so that will be even better on my knee. Starting elevation is 1710', 4.4 miles later at Shuckstack, 4020', plus a climb up the lookout tower, with a good view of Fontana Lake below. After getting up to Shuckstack, it was back to the regular up and down rather than just up. On top of the ridges were small pretty bluish-white wildflowers which made the walk even more pleasant. Got to the shelter at 5, a half-hour before I expected to (I love it when that happens). I was amazed that I did that last 5 miles in 2 hours. A wild turkey was strutting about 150 feet from the shelter, and I got a few decent pictures. Heard him gobbling in the morning but did not see him. Also have seen more bear scat than before, but still have not see an actual bear.
Date: 2004-04-10
From: Fontana Dam Visitor's Center

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took my time getting up and ready since today was to be a short day. I was the last one out, shortly before 10. Hiked 1.7 miles to Double Spring Gap Shelter. Watched a deer for about 40 minutes, got to about 20 feet once, saw him in the clearing as I stood next to shelter at another. Made good time up to Clingman's Dome. Was able to maintain 2 miles/hr despite uphill all the way. It was a gentle uphill for the most part, some rugged but never really steep, some good views on the ridges. Fontana Lake was still visible, lots of blue ridges to see. From Double Spring up to Clingman's, the trees were practically all evergreen. Clingman's was disappointing with all the tourists. Coming down the other side was very treachorous with the unmelted snow on the rocks. I fell on my rear once. After several minutes of thinking I should be at the side trail to the shelter, I finally found it. Got to the shelter and found TRAIL MAGIC! Someone had left three bags of dehydrated food: instant potatoes, apple cobbler, and maple syrup. I made the mistake of bragging about it to some later thru-hikers, because one of them came up and started rummaging around and took one of them. I know I shouldn't be a greedy hog, but the food was laying amongst the rest of my gear, not separate. I had obviously claimed it. I thought he was a little rude, but I didn't want to look like a greedy jerk, so I didn't say anything. It was free anyway. I was the first person here, but now there are a blue million people here. Vocal is the funniest guy with the best stories. I changed my mind about plowing through the Smokies without re-supplying. I filled my Bearikade and my pockets with food at Fontana Dam, but my appetite is just growing exponentially. There is no way I can make it all the way through on the amount of food I packed. I am just eating like a horse. I would have no problem consuming 3000 calories a day. Time to read and go to bed.
Date: 2004-04-11
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Ice Water Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: moderate rain

Hit the road crossing at Newfound Gap before anyone else, but almost didn't get a ride into town. Fortuneately, some nice tourists/hikers gave me a ride to Shoney's in Gatlinburg AND gave me $10 for breakfast! After the AYCE (all you can eat) buffet, got groceries and hitched back to the trail. It was a steady climb up, but only 3 miles. Set up my tent in a really prime spot amongst some pine trees. The Offense Six (Vocal, Flippy, Opie, Norway, Big County, and Speedstick) showed up late and drunk, Speedstick being the drunkest. He left his food at the bar and was too drunk to carry his pack up the mountain, so Norway carried it for him after he brought his own up.
Date: 2004-04-18
From: $5 campground in Hot Springs

To: Spring Mt Shelter
Miles today: 10.8

The hike out of Hot Springs was nice. It paralleled the French Broad River for awhile, then climbed up to Lover's Leap Rock, with a good view of the town. Caught up with Little Tree and Walking Stomach while Katie and Andrew took an extra zero day. Cowboy camped at the shelter, lots of stars in the sky.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: HogBack Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: overcast clouds

My one-month-out anniversary AND my first 20-miler of the trip. Hiked it in approximately 10:45. Enjoyed the hike up Big Bald, as did one of the Hobbits, who remarked in the shelter register she wanted to do cartwheels and just play on the summit all day long. Was glad for the easy traversing to finish the day, as I was going purely on adrenaline, although I was feeling good enough to hike the last 6.3 miles to the road into Erwin, although there would have been no point in it. Someday, I want to hike 26 miles so I can say I did a marathon with a 45 pound pack on my back. Got to the shelter a little earlier than expected. I was hiking up the last switchback to the shelter, expecting about another 10 minutes, when I see someone walking down the hill without a pack. That must mean I'm close! It's Holly Hobbit! I yell "Hobbit!" and run to greet her with a big hug because I'm so happy to see the end of the road for the day. After a very satisfying dinner of salmon with cayenne pepper, I retire for the night under the stars.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Miss Janet's, Erwin, Tn
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: broken clouds

Great views of the Nolichucky coming down out of the mountains. Thirsty walk most of the way because I didn't take enough water. Walked/hitched into Erwin and picked up bounce-box at post office, then headed for Miss Janet's, the nicest lady in Tennessee. More later.