morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Well today is a new day and I am a new man. The whining guy from yesterday is no more. We did 13 miles of incredible trail and I felt strong and happy the whole way!   Don¢t Mind set a great pace and we cruised along at 2 miles an hour. I know that sounds slow to you car drivers, but it is flying out here on the AT: The blahs from yesterday must have evaporated during the night. We spent the whole day singing and talking about all the things we are looking forward to seeing on the trail.    We are sleeping in the shelter tonight with about twenty other hikers. It is pouring rain outside, but we are snug and dry. Hopefully, the heavy weather will blow through by morning. If not, I guess we will be singing in the rain tomorrow.   I spend a lot of time out here thinking about the people I love and miss back at home. Today, I spent a lot of time thinking about my niece Nanette who I miss so much. I feel her presence when I think of her. I know she is walking with us everyday.                                                   --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: moderate rain

It poured all night. Everyone who tented around our shelter was soaked. It was just too much rain for any tent to handle. We were dry and snug in the shelter and it was a bit difficult to drag ourselves off of our air mattresses and out into the storm. After a breakfast of hot oatmeal, however, Don¢t Mind took off like a bullet. The trail was flowing like a trout stream and our feet and boots quickly filled with water. Sounds much worse that it was and it was a lovely hike with the wild flowers celebrating the rainfall. We went further than we had planned to get to the Standing Bear Hostel. It is a really cool place with all the modern conveniences with a very rustic flair. Curtis and Maria are great hosts and everything is on the honor system. I highly recommend this stop. Everyone spent the evening sitting around the campfire drying their boots and swapping stories. Great Day!                                 --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Campsite by stream
Miles today: 15.0

Each day there is a moment that makes all the effort worthwhile. Today is was reaching the summit of Max Patch Mountain. Although the wind was easily at hurricane force, the view was amazing. Each direction provided breathtaking views of mountain ranges. From Mt. Mitchell to the Great Smoky Mountains from which we had just climbed, the sun and shadows played along the curved canvas.   Don¢t Mind and I were stunned by the view. It is by far the best view we have had on the hike. I had never heard of Max Patch Mountain, but now I will never forget it. I think it makes it more beautiful that the summit is a large natural bald. We seem to have finally found our trail legs. We walked 15 miles today in 8 hours over Snowbird and Max Patch Mountains. Don¢t Mind has a few small blisters, but otherwise is doing great. I have a few nicks and bruises but I feel great! Hello to all of our friends back home! Send cookies!!            --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Campsite by stream

To: Campsite by Lamb Knoll
Miles today: 13.0

Well, what can I say, another beautiful day and another wonderful hike. Make no mistake, hiking the AT is by far the most difficult thing I have ever done. It is never easy, just less hard. However, it is also the most rewarding endeavor I have ever undertaken. At the end of each day I am tired beyond belief and my feet feel like they¢re going to explode, but I have a wonderful sense of accomplishment and physical well being. It is a truly magical experience. I am so glad that there is such am amazing place as the AT. Just think of a path through the mountains from GA to MA. Now go walk it! This hike would not be possible with out lots of loving support from our families.   This time I want to thank Mom and Dad for coming to see us. Rick, Mary, Adam and Allison Owens for the fireballs and sweet-tarts, Anna Foley for the beautiful Easter art work.   As always, thanks Roger , Mabel, Carl and Jennifer!                                                      --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Campsite by Lamb Knoll

To: Hot Springs, N.C.
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: broken clouds

When is a 5.6 mile hike a long hike? When there is a spa, massage, and huge lunch waiting at the end! Welcome to Hot Springs, N.C., a one horse town to people in cars, but a roaring city to folks on the trail. This is really a nice place where the trail goes directly down Main Street and everything is in walking distance. I went to the outfitters today and checked on the journal. Roger is doing a great job. The messages in the guest book made our day. I am sorry that I cannot reply, but please keep them coming. It is so cool to receive news from home or to hear from new friends who are enjoying our journal. By the way, why is Delores in a cast? It is just like her to drop that nugget and not explain. Everything is great with us out here in the wilderness. Tomorrow we intend to sleep in, take a shower, and head for the hot springs for a dip before enduring an hour long deep tissue massage. It is so difficult roughing it like this day after day!                  --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Hot Springs, N.C.

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was our first ¢zero day¢. We are a long ways into our trip for our first one compared to the other hikers on the trail. If we took zero days any more frequently, we would not be able to make it to Maine before winter because we could not increase our daily miles enough to compensate. However, zero days are NICE!   We slept in this morning and walked over to the diner around 9am. We had breakfast and then walked back to the hotel for a 10am haircut. Our waitress last evening also cuts hair, so she agreed to come by the hotel and give us trims. After our haircuts, we went to the post office and mailed off our skip-ahead box, old maps and journal entries. It was then time for lunch at the ice cream shop and off to the hot springs for a massage and a hot tub. A two hour nap afterwards followed by a movie and dinner capped our day. We are all packed up and ready to hit the trail again tomorrow. Next zero day in Damascus!                                -- Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Hot Springs

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

The pull of town is difficult to break. You have to open your hotel door, put on your pack and run out and never look back. The plan was executed to perfection today and we left Hot Springs behind after a small breakfast of 3 eggs, sausage, hash browns and French toast. I definitely take full advantage of diner quality food when I¢m in town. Hot Springs has three quality restaurants. There is a beautiful Victorian Home that is now the Magnolia Inn, an excellent wood oven caf© called the Bridge Caf© and Grill and, of course, the requisite huge meal diner called The Smoky Mountain Diner. Hot Springs is a small town with small town values. Everybody knows everyone else and they are all very kind and open. It is a wonderful place to visit, but after two days you have experienced it all. So it was time to move on down the trail.   The weather threatened all day long and it was extremely muggy as we hiked. We were covered in sweat and no longer shower fresh within thirty minutes of leaving town. Tonight, we are sitting by a fire in front of the Spring Mountain Shelter and we feel much more at home than we did in the hotel. Gotta love the AT!                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

Gloom, despair and agony on me! We hiked one of our longest days through some of the worst weather we have seen. It rained during the night, but had stopped by morning. However, once we were well underway, the sky opened up in a deluge. We were planning to stop for lunch at 2pm at the first shelter on today¢s walk. By the time we arrived, 20 hikers were stuffed into a shelter designed for six. As always, they made room for us and we were dry while we ate our peanut butter and jelly bagel. When it is raining, it is easy to get sucked into giving up on your day¢s plan and staying where you are, so we only stayed a few minutes before heading back out into the rain. The next mile and a half was an extremely steep climb that lead to a long rocky exposed ridge. It would have been spectacular except we couldn¢t see 50 feet. As you can see, there is no picture for today. This absence is explained by the limited visibility and overall lack of enthusiasm by the photographer. Oh well, we are dry and warm in our tent and tomorrow is another adventure.                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

The temperature continued to drop this morning. When we finally stirred at 9am it was 36 degrees and drizzling. Everything we owned was wet and we were freezing. WE put back on the wet clothes we wore yesterday and shivered our way down the trail. Before long the rain changed to sleet and snow. We walked 5.9 miles to the first shelter and stopped for lunch around 1:45 pm. Everyone was jammed into the shelter trying to get warm and eat and trying to decide whether to go to the next shelter 8.7 miles away. In the end, most of them decided to stay when the sleet changed to hail. Don¢t Mind and I decided to stick with our plan and headed out to battle Mother Nature. God must still love us because after we had walked about a mile, the sun broke through and the sky cleared. We had a beautiful afternoon of hiking and everything dried out. We reached our campsite just after 7pm and immediately set up our tent to let it dry. It is really cold tonight but we will be fine and sleeping very close. Just the way I like it!                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Whistling Gap
Miles today: 13.5

The sky is always bluest on the day after a storm. Today it was cobalt and the sun danced across its surface while we walked and celebrated the beauty it revealed. Every flower, leaf, and hiker perked up under it. We awoke to below freezing temperatures and all of the last two day¢s weather was frozen to all of our belongings.   When I got up last night to answer to nature¢s call, the full moon was shining almost as bright as today¢s sun. Everything was touched with frost and sparkled in the moonlight. Needless to say, this morning we didn¢t find it as attractive. It took an extra amount of courage to face the privy this morning even though the view is remarkable. One must understand that an AT privy is usually only three-sided and provides a view both in and out. Modesty is one of the first victims of a thru-hikers expectations.        We hiked to the top of Big Bald today and sat for an hour admiring the 360 degree view of the mountains.   The weather had softened and the sun felt splendid on our prostrate bodies. Afterwards, we walked the final 4 miles to our campsite at Whistling Gap. Another wonderful day.                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Whistling Gap

To: Uncle JohnnyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Hostel
Miles today: 13.5

There is a shower waiting over those hills. That was the single thought that propelled us to Uncle Johnny¢s Nolichucky hostel today. Don¢t Mind was on jet propulsion and dragged me 13.5 miles in less than six hours. Our reward was a wonderful shower, a real toilet, shuttle into town for a Mexican dinner, shopping at a full blown grocery store and a bed in a nice private cabin. By the way, Uncle Johnny¢s Hostel has a somewhat questionable reputation in the hiker community, but this is by far the nicest hotel in which we have stayed. Hillbilly, the gentleman who runs the place, is extremely nice and helpful and all of the facilities are in great shape. I highly recommend this hostel.        We spent the evening sitting around talking with our fellow wanderers and enjoying the pleasant company of people with the same simple albeit difficult goal. We called Don¢t Mind¢s brother Chris to make sure he is picking us up next week and called our folks. Another full day!                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Uncle JohnnyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Hostel

To: Beauty Spot
Miles today: 11.6

We are not at our campsite yet, and we will not make it today. We have just been invited to join a hotdog and smores party at Beauty Spot. It is a high bald with a spectacular view and great company. We have, in no particular, order, Pepe, Party Girl, K-Bear, Roaming Around, Eats, and Half Full who are the folks who brought all the food. The guests include, Don¢t Mind, Don¢t Matter, Myst, Daybreak, Impulse, Sleep Ninja, Java and Rooney Tunes. The hike today was great, but I think I will take a few lines from this page to mention some of the great people we are hiking with. These include, but are not limited to: Spirit Al and Goose- our friends from PEI, Java- An experienced thru-hiker who is just our for fun, Bones- A poet trapped in a WWF spring tight body, Myst-Cool dude who happens to be old like us, Rooney Tunes- A great young man whose parents should be proud, Mr. T and Flint - A pretty and bubbly brunette and the guy she is trying to constantly catch up with, Swan ¢ A concert pianist and vegetarian who is trying to relax and enjoy our perfect universe while bragging about her kids, April Showers - Another nice lady who is headed to France, and Bone Spur ¢ An ex-cop who is chasing Katadin like a felon. Great people and a great time.                        --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Beauty Spot

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Wow, did we have a great time last night! WE sat around a huge camp fire and roasted hotdogs and told stories. We even had smores for dessert. We stayed up till almost eleven o¢clock at night! The moonrise was spectacular.        Today¢s hike was a whole different story. The profile of the topo map showed our first climb over Unaka mountain to be long and difficult and the rest of the hike to be rather easy. WRONG!! The whole hike after Unaka was a series of straight up 200¢ bumps that just slayed us. It is very hard to hike the AT and almost every day seems to test our mettle to the fullest. Still, we are having a great time and loving every minute of it. I have not felt this fit in ten years. It is cool to know that you can climb the hill or mountain in front of you.        Tomorrow is Roan Mountain and it should test my new found confidence. All the experienced hikers speak in hush tones of fright and anticipation when they talk about Roan. We will put one foot in front of the other until we are over the top!                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Over Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: few clouds

We flew up Roan Mountain this morning! For the first third of the climb we followed an experienced thru-hiker named AWOL. He was able to effortlessly fly up slopes that I needed my hands and feet to navigate. It was all I could do to keep up and, after I started having chest pains, I thought I should let him go on his own.   Don¢t Mind and he were chatting and having a great old time while I was having a massive coronary just ten feet behind them. It is still fairly obvious that Don¢t Mind continues to be in better condition than me. However, when we arrived at Carvers Gap today, I took the lead and was able to fly up the hill to the bald. I know that two months ago the same hill would have been a challenging hike, but today it was effortless. I really do enjoy feeling my fitness improve.         There has been a relocation of the AT in the next few miles that I was unaware of when I planned this hike. It added four miles to the trail and therefore to tomorrow¢s hike.   To bed early tonight!!                                   --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-09
From: Over Mountain Shelter

To: Camp at Falls
Miles today: 17.0

A word about trail magic! Trail magic is when some kind person leaves food or drink on the trail, or gives a hiker a lift or any other surprise kindness.   We have been blessed with so much trail magic that I thought it was time to give a big thank you to all the great people out there who have been so kind to us. Especially the non-hikers like the ones at the top of Roan Mountain who brought us exactly what Don¢t Mind had been wishing for: Vanilla Cr me and Fig Newton¢s. It was a wonderful treat after such a hard climb.   I hope everyone who does trail magic knows that we hikers really do appreciate it.        Today was an amazing hike. We climbed bald after bald wit remarkable vistas in every direction. Last night, there was a tremendous thunderstorm that dumped quarter sized hail stones on the hikers like us.   We sat in the shelter and watched the light show, and afterwards, saw a double rainbow with lightning in the middle. Everyday out here is amazing.   We walked 17 miles today. Our longest day yet and we are worn out. Goodnight!                                   --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Camp at Falls

To: Mountaineer Falls
Miles today: 15.3

Go faster and drink less!   That was the order of the day.   Don¢t Mind¢s brother was expecting us between 2 and 3 PM at Dennis Cove Road and we had no way to let him know that the relocation of yesterday¢s trail section had added 4 miles to our required distance. So we woke up at 5:45 AM, packed up in the dark and hit the trail at full speed (2 mph) in dawn¢s early light.   We hiked over fifteen miles by 3 PM and made it on time.   It was great seeing Chris and our new nephew.   We came back to Chris and Misty¢s apartment and quickly cleaned up and started the laundry. It is such a simple pleasure to sit in a chair and drink a glass of ice water.   Misty gets off at 8 and then we are going out to eat!   Life is good.   Roger sent me clippings from the Masters and a great Dilbert cartoon. News from home is always great and I was happy to read about Phil¢s victory. Well, it is now time to go eat, so I must say goodbye for tonight. Tomorrow is another day and another mountain!                                           --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-10
To: Roger
Miles today: 0.0

I must admit that I'm settling into a routine.   Posting the entries into the journal is getting easier.   Actually, my wife Susan has been helping me with the last few batches of entries. In addition to posting the entries on the site, we're maintaining a journal in a Word document as a keep-sake for DM2.    I've been asked repeatedly since I started keeping the journal how and why I'm doing it. Well, besides the obvious reason that I consider Kit and Lisa good friends, I am intrigued by the journey. Having hiked about 25% of the trail over the years - the biggest section consisting of the James River to the PA-MD border - I have fond memories of those many weeks.   Backpacking the AT is more than sweat and tired, sore muscles!   It's a chance to experience life without the constant noise of the city, cell phones, traffic congestion, work, never-ending schedules, politics (in all forms), and yes, even computers. As I look at all the pictures and read the entries from DM2, it seems as though the theme from this batch of entries and pictures is centered on camaraderie.    The DM2 updates email distribution list continues to grow. Again, if you wish to be added to the list, please send a message to rmatscott1@cox.net.--Roger
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Dennis Cove Rd

To: TN 321
Miles today: 8.9

Slack packing is good. We went to IHOP for a huge breakfast this morning before Chris and Misty dropped us off, sans packs, at Dennis Cove Road. We slack pack 8.9 miles in just over 4.5 hours and headed back for a restful afternoon. My shoes are starting to give me a lot of pain when I hike so we stopped by the outfitter in Hampton, TN and bought new insoles. The old insoles looked like wet tissue paper, so hopefully this will help. Unfortunately, when we tried to meet Misty for a late lunch we found her very upset and waiting for us out front of her store. Her grandfather had taken ill and had gone to the hospital. We all piled into the car and drove to the hospital. Don¢t Mind and I stayed in the car to watch our nephew while Chris and Misty went inside. Fortunately, it looks like everything is going to be ok for now even though he is still very sick. Say an extra prayer tonight.                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-12
From: TN 321

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

Hello everybody back home! We are having the time of our lives but it would be better with home-made cookies. Contact my sister Karen or her husband Thomas to obtain the mailing coordinates. We have had 7 re-supply stops and not a single cookie. That is just sad. Well enough begging and on to today¢s hike.        Chris and Misty dropped us off back at the AT at 8:45 this morning. We spent the morning hiking around Lake Watauga and the afternoon climbing Iron Mountain. The day was beautiful and the hike was just as nice. We were rested after our visit with Don¢t Mind¢s family and we strolled through the 15.6 miles in time for an early dinner. All hikers are converging on Damascus for Trail Days and there are more than 20 hikers at our shelter tonight. The mood is becoming very festive and everyone is obviously looking forward to Virginia. Home sweet home!                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-13
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

The hike to Abingdon Gap Shelter was fairly easy and uneventful with the exception of getting 3 new blisters. We got caught in a thunderstorm for the second day in a row. This drenched the grass which in turn drenched my feet. Two days of hiking with wet feet combined with new insoles in my boots led to my current bout with blisters. No worries, however, out here we just drain blisters, patch them up and keep walking.        Tomorrow we reach Damascus and Trail Days. We are probably going to eat ourselves sick! There are supposed to be vendors selling everything you can think up. Saffron wants Cheese Curds but I think she may be out of luck. She¢s from Minnesota so I guess that explains a lot. On the trail, you think about food all the time. It is not that we aren¢t eating well, it just that the really good stuff is unavailable. Like grilled meat and fresh vegetables or fruit. So tomorrow is a big day.                Tomorrow We FEAST!!                                --Don¢t Matter
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Run, Run, Run ! We are heading to town. On the way to Damascus this morning we passed the Tennessee/ Virginia state line. We are in our 4th and home state. If this sounds like we are moving right along, it is important to remember that there are more miles in Virginia than any other state and more than we have done till now. Walking all the balds for the last week has reminded me of my favorite place on earth, Scotland. I would like to send out a special hello to all our friends over there reading our journal. To Art, Elaine and Samantha Matthews- I hope everyone is doing well; to Richard, Helen, Rory and Barney Alloway- We walked through a farm that reminded me of your Green Farm; to my long lost brother Ronnie Monaghan and his sexy wife Sheila- pack up Mike, Sofie and Kim and come walk some hills with us. Bring Art and Richard and we will whip them back into shape! Go Celtic!                                --Don¢t Matter