morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-01-16
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Well Mr Happy spent his first day and night on the AT. Yesterday he completed the first 7.6 miles and spent the night at Hawk Mountain Shelter. When I talked to him this morning he was in good spirits and looking forward to another day on the trail. Another hiker named Zero was also at this shelter last night and they will probably be shelter buddies for the next two or three nights given the space between shelters. If Mr Happy continues to learn at the rate he did yesterday he'll be a wiz by the time he finishes. Here is what Mr Happy learned yesterday.1. A mile on the AT is further than you think.2. 7.6 miles is a LOT further than you think.3. Don't whittle while walking4. Keep your Iodine away from the stuff you mix into your water after or you end up with salt5. A waterproof wallet has to be waterproof in order to work7. Bring wet wipes for that after the event hand wiping ritual8. All the mice from Maine, NH, Mass, and VT are taking winter vacation in Georgia and party every night with the local mice.2,167 miles to go and still walking!
Date: 2007-01-19
From: Neels Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Mr Happy will attempt 20 miles today. When we spoke around lunchtime he had already done 13 for the day and was making for Unicoi Gap. When he gets there he will be at the 50.5 mile mark. He took a zero day at the hostel at Neels Gap yesterday and did some odd jobs in return for accommodation. They had little in the way of food available but Mr Happy picked up his re-supply that he had mailed and sent some stuff home. His pack now weighs 34 lb which is very light with winter gear included. He felt strong hiking this morning after his rest day and was also enjoying the beauty of the Georgia mountains on a sunny clear day. He's decided that his thru hike will probably not change him much but that he will learn a lot of things he can use in life. He's finding that deprivation is teaching him to appreciate more, that pain is showing him joy, and that suffering is teaching him to appreciate inner peace and solitude. He said some people say you learn determination and perserverance from tackling a thru hike but he disagrees. He says you have to have those qualities to begin with or you would drop out soon after you started.
Date: 2007-01-22
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It was long day with lots of hills. Feeling tired sore and a little bit cold but not too much. Feeling a lot better today after being sick yesterday. Special thanks to Cornbread, Felicity, and Winton at WalasiYi and also to Zero (my psychiatrist hiker buddy) for helping to get me back on the trail.
Date: 2007-01-24
To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Stayed at Cloud 9 last night after short hike in from Deep Gap. Its a great place and wonderful people.   Shuttled back to the trail this morning and completed a 14 mile trek to Muskrat Creek Shelter and crossed the state line. One down.   Hiked today with Hikernutt.
Date: 2007-01-25
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Deep Gap - Kinsey Creek Tr. - Franklin
Miles today: 4.0

Got pretty cold so Hikernutt called for a shuttle into Franklin and I decided to to too.   We had to hike down the Kinsey Creek Trail as the road to the Deep Gap was closed. Was a pretty cold night and good to have a warm bed.
Date: 2007-01-27
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap - Franklin
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Back In Franklin, Found my Mojo I've got my momentum back. 11.3 miles yesterday and 16 or 17 miles today, into winding stair gap, where I hitched a ride into Franklin. I've ordered a Pizza and after devouring it I'm going to walk over and get groceries, then head back out tomorrow morning. I should be nearing the Smokies next weekend. Also, today I passed the 100 mile marker!! I climbed Albert Mountain, my second 5000 footer (first was Standing Indian mountain yesterday) and it was a hell of a climb but worth it for a hell of a view. I spent the night at Carter Gap last night with 9 "weekenders" from northern Georgia. They'd built a fire and provided entertainment throughout the night. This morning I passed 6 day hikers (3 couples). I guess it gets crowded out here on the weekends when the weather is nice.I bought a little FM radio, and while I feel guilty about the extra gadget, I love the thing already. Today I listned to a lot of classical music (Bach and co.) and then som classic music (The Beatles, etc.)Also, I've been hiking at a speed of 3-3.5 mph today, which is BLAZING.Mr. Happy is happy, after a day of sunny views and good walking with some (though not much) company. In fact, I'd say today was my best day on the trail so far. I'm actually excited to get back out there tomorrow (though my legs do not share my enthusiasm. Ibuprofen may be in order).Happy Trails,Mr. Happy
Date: 2007-01-28
From: Winding Stair Gap - Franklin

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: clear sky

Waiting out the Weather Sunday night was f****** cold. I'm sorry about the language -- i'm trying to keep this journal clean -- but there is just no other way to describe how cold it was. My thermometer read 0 degrees F at 9PM, and it got town to -10 at some point in the night. A water bottle that I had in my sleeping bag with me was FROZEN SOLID in the morning. Needless to say, it was a rough night and I didn't sleep at all. In the morning, I walked about 6 miles trying to warm up, but couldn't get my core temperature up. I also couldn't melt the ice in my water bottles. I called Ron Haven from Franklin -- he is an absolutely awesome guy who will do anythign he can to help out hikers -- and he brought me back to his hotel where I'd stayed last time I was in town (uh, saturday night). He'd even told me not to go out, it would be to cold, but typical me, I didn't listen. If you're reading this Ronnie, I just want to say thank you again. You've been a life saver for me this past week.Read more details at my website: http://2000miler.net/Quote of the day: "Hiking is just walking where it's OK to pee." -- From Demitri Martin's "Person."
Date: 2007-01-29
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Wayah Bald - Franklin
Miles today: 7.5

Cloud 9 Again I am back at Cloud 9, hanging out with Crutch. Zero was here, he left this morning. I'm going to meet up with him in Franklin and we'll have a brief "trail marriage" through the Smokies. He can't get rid of me... hope I'm not annoying. Anyways, he should get to Franklin on Saturday, so I'm doing work-for-stay here until then, and then I will have to hike 10 miles over again from Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Bald, but it was a beautiful 10 miles so no complaints.http://2000miler.net/
Date: 2007-02-04
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Franklin, AGAIN I am back at the Budget Inn in Franklin. I came up yesterday with Crutch and met up with Zero (he bailed at the Kinsey Creek Trail just like I did a week ago). We're going to hang out today, watch the big game, and then in the morning I'm heading North from Wayah Bald and he's going back to Standing Indian Campground. I will be trying to make Hot Springs by the 17th. If I leave tomorrow, thats 155 miles in 12 days. We'll see if I make it.
Date: 2007-02-05
From: Wayah Bald

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Brrrrrrrr! Mr Happy made a brief call tonight to update. It was brief because his cell phone wouldn't work if he stayed in his sleeping bag, in his tent, in the shelter, and he didn't really want to be anywhere else but in it all. He was boiling water with his jet boil to make hot water bottles for his sleeping bag. He's at Wesser Bald Shelter after an 11.5 mile afternoon hike from Wyah Bald. The temps tonight will be in the low single digits at that 4,115ft elevation. The good news is it's supposed to get much milder (dare I say warmer) over the next few days and the overnight lows will only be in the teens and maybe even in to the twenties. Send him warm thoughts.
Date: 2007-02-06
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. Took care of the first one with a hamburger and a couple of eggs carried from Franklin. Not so angry now. Don't have to spend an hour getting set up to sleep and an hour in the morning to pack up again and use frost bitten fingers to light a stove which won't light cos there's no fuel. Very lonely here at NOC. The only hiker here. Tired - yes. Legs in particular. Spent a lot of today sliding down steep grades covered with two feet of snow. It was great to go uphill for a change. Tomorrow - Stracoah Gap and a shuttle from the Hike Inn at Fontana then a slack pack the next day from Stracoah to Fontana. That's the plan anyway.
Date: 2007-02-07
From: NOC

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

A warm day on the trail at last Left NOC around 9am and made it to Stecoah Gap (13.6 miles) by 4.30pm for ride to the Hike Inn at Fontana. Pretty good time but tough hiking. Met southbound hiker "Early Bird". Conversation went something like this:EB: Hi where are you headed?MH: Maine. How 'bout you?EB: Georgia.MH: Well you are almost there.EB: Yep. There are a couple of others going Northbound that I passed but they are way up there the other side of Hot Springs.MH: Thanks.EB: Well I better get going. Gotta get to Georgia.MH: Yep. Bye!Mr Happy plans on slack packing tomorrow. Tomorrow he plans to once again spend the night at the Hike Inn in Fontana and will slack the 15.5 miles. Then the SMOKIES! That's as in "mountains" just in case you were wondering.
Date: 2007-02-08
From: Stecoah Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

Today was great. A fairly easy fifteen mile "slack pack". Staying tonight at the Hike Inn at Fontana and tomorrow head off into the GSMP. Have a good seven days of food just to be safe and in case Rte 441 is closed. If it's open Gatlinburg TN will be next off trail stop and hopefully by Sunday or Monday. Thanks to everyone for the re-supply and also the good wishes. I need all I can get right now as I set off tomorrow with just a little fear and trepidation. For the last 70 miles I've been looking at Clingman's Dome sticking up there snow covered on the horizon. I heard from my hosts here at the Hike Inn that about two thirds of the hikers who make it here to Fontana also quit here when they see what lies ahead. But I'm moving on. Tomorrow I'll be able to stand in NC and pee in TN as the trail follows the state line for quite a ways. My third state coming up!
Date: 2007-02-09
From: Fontana

To: Home
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: few clouds

Guess what!I'm home, in the Berkshires. I am going back to the trail in two weeks, on March 2nd. Doing the trail in winter was cold and lonely, and an amazing growth experience, but it isn't what I was looking for in this hike. Also, going into 70 miles of wilderness (the smokies) alone, with snow on the way, did not seem to be the wisest decision. It turned out that coming home to wait two weeks, as I've wanted to do for sometime, was hardly more expensive than staying for a few days. Being home will give me a chance to earn some more funding as well. When I go back there will be more people, and even if it isn't much warmer, at least I will have company, and feel as if I am part of a community instead of feeling like the only person on earth. More on that story later. I'm working on a full write up of what happened since I left Franklin, and will post that later today.Finally: to those of you who may wish to call me a wimp. You may call me a wimp, or whatever else you want, but only once you have met certain requirements: You must have hiked 175 (or more) miles over the mountains of Georgia and North Carolina, in January and February. Also, anybody who has been on an arctic expedition may call me a wimp. The rest of you? bug off!
Date: 2007-02-13
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: light snow

Went for a day hike with my Dad and little sister today, up to "Black Rock" on the north east face of Mt. Everett. A nice little 1 mile loop with my little sister on my back. She's a bit heavier than a pack and a lot squirmier. I'm feeling a little sick (no doubt from the long bus ride) but I will definitely be doing more day hikes and probably a few overnights once I'm feeling better. I have to whip my Dad into shape so he can do the Smokies with me. Thanks to everyone who has commented. I feel almost like a celebrity, with 17,000 hits, having my every move and decision scrutinized. It's my hike and I'm not supposed to care what you all think, but it's nice to know that I am supported in my decisions, as I seem to be. So, thank you all. And please don't stop reading my journal even though I'm home -- it will still be interesting. I'm not one to sit around and let life get boring.
Date: 2007-02-14
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

It's snowing at an insane rate outside. I'm at the Shaker Mill Inn for a few days to help my Brother out, shoveling snow, installing DVD players, that sort of thing. I've already been out and shoveled once (took me about 70 minutes) and in an hour or so I'll have to do it all over again. Oh how I love New England Winters... no, really. It's quite beautiful, and having a warm building to retreat too makes it actually fun. I am in super shape after just 175 miles on the trail... a lean mean snow shoveling machine. And I'm having a blast playing with my niece, who is 2.
Date: 2007-02-15
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Typical of me, I come north to escape the cold... should have gone to Florida. We've got over 20 inches of the beautiful fluffy stuff up here in the Berkshires. It was fun to look at this morning, but as the day passed I realized why kids enjoy snow so much more than adults. For them, it means no school, snowball fights, sledding, skiing, and hot chocolate. For me it meant shoveling for almost four hours. Actually, I rather enjoyed it. After a month of walking, it was good to give my arms some exercise. Shoveling, for me, is almost a zen activity, similar to hiking, mowing the lawn, painting, and other repetitive tasks. It occupies your body completely, but requires little attention from your mind, and thus has a meditative effect. Also, I got lunch at an all-you-can-eat indian buffet -- one of my favorite restaurants -- something I've been craving since leaving for the trail.Most of the blister scars on my feet have healed and they look healthy, clean and normal: a sure sign that I need to get back to the trail as soon as possible. I'm going to try to get back as soon as I can. I miss it so much already after only 3 days home. I could even handle ramen again. This weekend I will try to take a day off and do a long day hike, and next week I may squeeze in an overnight, but there is a lot of work to be done.
Date: 2007-02-18
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

One of the nuisances about being home in the MIDDLE of an AT Hike is explaining it to people. Most of my family and close friends have been following my journal, and so they knew to expect me back, and actually welcomed me. But last night I went to visit my old highschool to see their winter play. There were three levels of response. Friends would mock me, "Oh, did poor little Joshy get cold and decide to come home?". They were just joking, and hey, that's what friends are for. Then there were the people who knew I was supposed to be hiking, but didn't know I'd come home. They would look at me, say "hi", then a second later do a double take, look back at me and say "what are you doing here?" I'd have to explain the whole thing. I probably explained it about 20 times last night. Of course, the final level was the people who barely knew me and would ask questions such as "Which college are you at?" Answering all of the questions of people back here is akward, and while I don't mind what they think or care much about their opinions (it's my hike), it does get annoying at times. I really can't wait to go back to the trail! March 2nd can't come quickly enough! The good news is, I'm managing to work and make some money, to make up for all those nights in hotels and hostels in Georgia.
Date: 2007-03-01
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last week I went back to my old High School again, this time to go rock climbing with some of my old chums and my Biology teacher. I ended up on belay duty all day but it was still fun -- beautiful day too. The short hike out the cliffs felt great!Then earlier this week I went to EMS with my Dad, Fly By Mike, to get him all suited up for a week in the Smokies. I got a few items -- a down vest, a new headlamp, and a belt strap for my nalgene, among other things. We also got a bunch of Mountain House meals on sale, which will be tasty. We had been planning on leaving today and starting to hike tomorrow, but we couldn't fly due to weather (I was slightly miffed but there was nothing to do about it). We're leaving on Saturday now, and Dad and Domino will only hike with me for the first day. I've already packed up my pack with food for two people for 4 days, so I've got enough to get myself all the way to Standing Bear Farm without stopping in Gaitlinburg if I so choose. I guess we'll see how I feel.I'm starting to get anxious. My pack is sitting in the corner of my room, all loaded up, beckoning me. "Let's go Happy. We've still got 2,000 miles to walk. What are you doing sitting you your ass?!"In other news, I saw a nutritionist. I apparently react poorly to carbohydrates, specifically processed ones. It will be difficult to change my diet much on the trail, but I'll be staying away from really bad stuff like little debbies. I'm also allergic to hops, which means no beer for me. I guess I'm safe from a freshmen-15 next year, though after being emaciated on my thru-hike I'll probably need an extra 15 pounds.As much as I want to go back, the more I think about it the more I realize I made the right decision. Actually, the right decision would have been to just start in mid-late february, not January, but hey, that's okay. Coming home now I've been able to completely reanalyze my gear list based on my experience, come to terms with my personal goals and my reasons for doing this, and also get a little work in to make up for all of those nights in hotels.In about 48 hours I'll be in Robinsville eating a last supper before heading back into the wild. I can't wait.P.S. I'm working on uploading more pictures, but the internet is very sketchy. I'll post again if I get it to work before leaving.
Date: 2007-03-03
From: Hike Inn - Fontana

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My Dad and I left Saturday in his plane to get me back on the trail. We flew from Great Barrington to Raleigh-Durham to pick up Domino (AT05) but decided to stay the night as the weather in Knoxvile was really ugly - winds and severe turbulence over the smokies. Next day we set off again - unfortunately without Domino (long story) - and made it to Knoxville in time to rent a car and drive to Fontana. What a road - 300 or more hairpin bends in less than 50 miles - but really beautiful. We were greeted by Jeff and Nancy and immediately introduced to Juniper, Backyard Boogie, and Salamander - who were also staying there that night. We went to dinner with them in Robbinsville. It was great to know I was not going to be alone this time at the start of the Smokies.
Date: 2007-03-10
From: Grand Prix Motel, Gaitlinburg, TN

To: Knoxville, TN
Miles today: 0.0

I really, really, really want to hike today. It's beautiful and sunny and my pack almost looks comfortable. But I can't. My leg still hurts whenever I move it or walk. The pain is excruciating on uphills and steps, but otherwise quite bearable. I am under instructions from two separate Doctors to give myself at least a week to heal. So in a few minutes I'll be getting a ride to Knoxville, whence I can get a bus to either Johnson City where my friend Wentworth lives, or to Jackson to visit Margaret. I will take a week off, and then head back to Gaitlinburg to resume my long march North. I plan to be back in Gaitlinburg next Wednesday or Thursday. I'll have to get a ride to the Elkmont Campground and hike back up the 9 mile Greenbrier trail. I'll then backtrack .1 miles to the Derrick Knob Shelter where I stayed on Tuesday, and take it easy for a week or so to get my leg back in action safely.I spent yesterday riding the Trolleys around Gaitlinburg. I went to the post office and sent some of my warmer clothing home, as well as my faulty headlamp. I sent Salamander his shoes... I meant to include a thank you note but the woman in the post office sealed the package before I could slip it in. I guess I'll send a letter later. I am so grateful to the "fellowship of the egg". I probably could have made it without them, but it would have been much more miserable. The Guadiness of Gaitlinburg is a HUGE shock coming from the woods. Ripley's Belive It Or Not and amusement park rides, ice cream stands, tatoo parlors, indoor ice skating rinks, and motel upon motel upon motel advertising perks such as "Coffee, IN ROOM!" or "No Cleaning Service on Sunday". The Trolley drivers each felt the need to talk to me. I wouldn't have minded a conversation, but I think they couldn't hear me due to the engine noise, and so I just listened to stories about their grandchildren.One man told me about Gaitlinburg 40 years ago, when it was just becoming a tourist attraction. Apparently it all began after World War II, when hiking became popular as a recreational sport. All of a sudden the Great Smokey Mountains weren't just for hillbillies and moonshiners, but a vacation destination. It is interesting to me that Gaitlinburg, which became a tourist town before the Automobile Age, is all accessible by foot, and packed in to 8 tight blocks, whereas nearby Pidgeon Forge, which developed later, is strip mall paradise. Truely, technology has brought us forward. When I realized this, I also realized part of the beauty of taking six months off from it all to live in the woods. I am assuming that the "living in the woods" part of my hike will come later. So far, and this isn't a bad thing at all, but really a marvelous thing, my hike has been not about mountains or miles, but about the people: Zero, Winton, Cornbread, Felicity, Cardboard Princess, Crutch, Laura & Frank, Hikernutt, Ron Haven, the Albany Georgia Boys, Jeff & Nancy, Domino, the Fellowship of the Egg to name a few.Dam. I can't wait to get back out there.
Date: 2007-03-14
From: Jackson, MS

To: Chatanooga
Miles today: 0.0

I'm going back to the trail, finally! My groin wasn't very sore yesterday, just a little stiff, and so today I am driving with Margaret to Chatanooga to visit her sister, and tomorrow the two of them are going to take me to Gaitlinburg. I'll be hiking tomorrow afternoon! My back, legs and feet are less than thrilled, but I am uber-excited.