morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-12-31
To: To Drop or Not to Drop, that is the question.
Miles today: 0.0

One of the things I quizzed the thru hikers who were on my trail crews about was mail drops. The universal answer was, don't do it---except perhaps at Fontana Dam and way up in Maine. As it happens, that's the answer I was hoping for. I don't want to be so tied down to a schedule that I have to get to a town before the Post Office closes or worse stayover a Sunday in town to get the drop. I am planning to use a bounce box for some supplies such as prescriptions since I don't want to carry 6 mos. worth. I'll carry 2 or 3 weeks worth of the pills so I shouldn't have to get into the BB in every town where I'm planning to stop. I'll be using the USPS' flat rate priority mail box and as long as I don't crack into it I can forward it free to the next town. And I am planning to meet up with my wife at some of the trail towns, so there will be a vague plan.I found Jack Tarlin's and Weather Carrot's articles on whiteblaze.net very helpful in planning how much to carry and where to resupply as I did some planning. I've carried the plan thru to Bland, Va and will just add to it as I go. Am planning re-supply stops at Hiawassee(Blueberry Patch), NOC, Fontana, Hot Springs, Erwin (hopefully Miss Janet's), Kincora, Damascus, Konnarock (where I'll do a volunteer week or two if possible), and Bland. Hope to meet up with Carol at Fontana and at Bland. My New Year's resolution will be to rough out the rest of the itinerary and get it down on a spreadsheet, but I don't want to get hung up on the dates.Happy New Year to all you out there.
Date: 2006-01-07
To: Gear adjustments 
Miles today: 0.0

I'm making a few minor adjustments to my gear. I've even started weighing things to count the ounces---using a postal scale. Perhaps I should get a kitchen scale that can go over 3/4 lb.I found some midweight smartwool on closeout sale at REI that will replace the lightweight versions for the first part of my trip. I'd been a little chilly in the lightweight long sleeve top and bottoms in 28 degree weather in Oct in the Smokies---while resting, not while hiking with a full pack. These will replace the lightweight smartwools and serve as camp clothes/pj's until around Waynesboro, then I'll switch over to the lightweights. I'll be hiking in shorts, a smartwool T-shirt and, if it's windy/rainy my Precip rainjacket. I'll swap the midweights out for the lightweight top and lose the bottoms after Waynesboro and bring them back in Glencliff NH.I also got in some silnylon ditty bags and stuff sacks that will replace much heavier sacks. And I got a clikstand pot stand/wind screen combo that is really sturdy. This will mate with the penny alcohol stove that I made and tried out today. I took it outside in the drive at 25 degrees and it performed well, bringing 3 cups of water to a rolling boil in about 7 minutes with enough fuel left over to simmer (actually) for another 12 minutes on a full charge. Really neat and I enjoyed the two cans of Heinekin that it was made from. This will replace my MSR Simmerlite. I also decided to take a different pot and made a pot cozy for it. The cozy will let me trade wait time for fuel weight. When recipes call for simmering, I'll bring back to a rolling boil and let the pot sit in the cozy. Overall, I think I dropped about a pound with this kitchen change.The final change is still up in the air. I'm debating using Aqua Mira in lieu of my trusty MSR filter. We used it on Rocky Top trial crew for drinking water and there was no taste. The debate still seems to be leaning toward the filter---I like that it's field maintainable and my being able to drink water right away as soon as I've filtered. It would knock about another pound off though, so the debate continues.Need to score a good container for 1/2 lb. of butter or for olive oil to boost meal calories. I'll add to my hot cereal and to my lipton's. Also need a good container for stove fuel. This coming week I'm going to experiment using the cozy for some Lipton's noodles and rice meals just to get the timing down. I may also set up my tent and try out sleeping with the lows outside in the high teens or low 20's, since I'm sure we'll have some of those on the trail.Getting pumped up now. Only 67 days.Handlebar
Date: 2006-02-26
To: Training Hikes
Miles today: 0.0

I've retired {again} and spent a few days in FL spoiling my grandson and enjoying the sunshine. Donned the boots and did some long walks with the baby jogger.Noticed a lot of snow in the montains of NE GA as we approached ATL airport. I hope it melts off over the next couple weeks and weather turns pleasant for my 3-15 start. Made the reservations at Amicalola Lodge this morning and will be slackpacking the first mile {and 1000 vert ft} of the approach trail before checking in on March 14.At home have been doing 5 mile practice hikes the last two days on trails in Youngstown, OH's beautiful Mill Creek Park. Increased the elevation gain by dropping in and out of the creek gorge as much as possible. Am feeling really comfortable with the pack; and my feet and knees are holding up well. Plan to keep up this regimen rain or shine for the next couple weeks, and may even set up my tent and eat from the foodbag for practice.Got a few more gear items:a compression stuff sack to tame the volume of my Mtnhardware 15* synthetic bag, a windblock fleece toque, and, from ebay, the pocketmail composer on which I'm writing this entry.Can't wait to get going.
Date: 2006-03-04
To: Plan
Miles today: 0.0

Carol and I drive to Springer in just 9 days. I'll be on the trail in 11 days. Seems a long time, but I know the time will fly by.I'm doing practice hikes still. Today's was around 8 miles, including the gorge area of Mill Creek Park where I shot the photo of me near Lanterman Falls. I've taken out of my pack some items of extra clothing (zip-off legs, extra smartwool T, and Smartwool lightweight long underwear set) as I find that hiking in shorts and a t-shirt and microfill vest under the Precip jacket was A-OK for my hikes at 25*. I'm keeping midweight Smartwool long underwear set for camp wear and to wear in sleeping bag. Still looking to lighten the load further. I finally got busy with my handbook and speadsheet and put together an end-to-end plan. This wasn't an issue for maildrops as I don't plan any. I will, however, post some maildrops for towns where I'll be midweek to allow some postal trail magic. I'll be coming off the trail twice--Konnarock trail crew followed by my daughter's graduation and friend's wedding. The schedule provides where/when locations to meet up with Carol along the way about twice a month. Using the spreadsheet program made adjusting the plan easy. If all goes to plan --- which I think it will on average, I'll be finishing up around Sept 20. That's a little over 6 mos. I'll have 31 zeros including 10 days for the events and 7 days for a Konnarock trail crew week. For the 176 hiking days, my average will be 12.35 miles per day. Now to work the plan.
Date: 2006-03-08
To: Final shakedown
Miles today: 0.0

Went for another shakedown cruise yesterday. It was sunny and cold--about 30. Glad I had my leki's when I came across this icy patch in the shade. Other sections had a slick coat of mud atop the frozen ground.Decided to set up camp on the "north forty" after my 8 mile hike and spend another night out to check out all the gear and such. All is well. Slept like a baby, getting up only once for the call of nature and waking to full daylight at about 7:30. Cooked what will be my standard trail breakfast (tea and oatmeal) on the simmerlite. Have decided to go with the simmerlite, but will have the penny alcohol stove as a backup.Hard to believe the time is all but here. We leave in 5 days for Springer. I'll be at the Springer summit in less than a week.Cheers!
Date: 2006-03-11
To: Ready-Set
Miles today: 0.0

One more day and then we leave for Amicalola Lodge. Thought the wait would drag out but I've been busy doing last minute stuff. Got some late season ski days in and I prepped and posted the income tax returns. Arranged for financing to keep operations at home and on the trail in funds. Printed out directions to each of the locations my wife Carol is meeting me along the way. We've got 8 rendevouz scheduled about twice a month and the final pickup after Katahdin. Counted out 2 weeks worth of my prescriptions and packed those into the first aid bag, then put the 90 day supplies into the bounce box that Carol will be bringing to our trail meetings. Repacked the pack for the Nth time and all I have to do now is add the bagels I want to carry out of Springer. No matter what I do to shed weight, it seems to hover at around 40 pounds with full meals and 2 liters of water. Set up to visit with Carol's cousin Maria and her husband Jim in Harper's Ferry, and planning a rendevous at my sister Deb's in the Shenandoahs.Have also been doing the last minute things around the house to make it easier on Carol and daughter Candace who'll keep the home fires burning. I'm thankful to both of them for liberating me from the home maintenance responsibilities for a summer season.My REI dividend was burning a hole in my pocket, so I got a few last minute gear items. New lighter weight gaiters to keep the rain out of my boots. I'll have to decide whether to keep them or the rain pants after Mt. Rogers when I'll send cold weather gear home. Also, got a Marmot Pounder synthetic summer bag. I think the 40* rating is conservative and it will be OK for me down to 30 or so. Nice and light too---just over a pound for the "long" size. Debated adding some maildrops to trailjournals, but decided not to. I'm resupplying in towns along the way and for the few places supply is an issue like Monson, I'll maildrop myself some stuff up the trail or Carol is meeting me. I just don't want to have to go into post offices. Maybe I'll change my mind and post some maildrops from the trail. I'll be using my pocketmail for communications and can get guestbook entries on it wherever there's a cell phone signal. The cell phone will be off and in my pack. I'll only turn it on at ridge tops to check messages. For the most part I'm going to try to communicate via email from towns and via pocketmail. Tomorrow I pack for the trip to Amicalola and for the week I'll be at my daughter's graduation from Duke. Then Monday, we're outta' here. Time is flyin'.
Date: 2006-03-15
From: Amicola Lodge

To: Campsite on Chester Creek
Miles today: 4.0

4.0 miles on AT plus 7.6 on approach trail. Beautiful day, clear skies, cool temps. We're the 20-40-60 crowd tonight with 24-year-old Howdy, 40-something Sully, and 60-year-old me. We are tenting beside a burbling stream among hemlocks. Had a little campfire to use up some of Howdy's overfilled fuel bottle as a boyscout fire starter. I then showed him how to light his whisperlite. I had cheddar-broccoli macaroni with a packet of tuna. It tasted so-o-o good and a nightcap of sleepytime tea. Excellent views thru the trees. Many Sleeps, the ATC ridgerunner, was at Springer and he took my pic. He pointed out Blood Mtn in the distance. I then took a pic of a couple from Quebec & MA and met Sully who also started from the lodge. This is his first backpack trip so he's doing great.It's almost 9 so turning in.
Date: 2006-03-16
From: Campsite on Chester Creek

To: Justus Creek campsite
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

Doesn't sound like many miles but we had 3 major mountains. The day started out cloudy, but as we were eating lunch at Hawk mountain shelter the sun burst through. Temps very comfortable for hiking. Hiked today again with Howdy and Sully. We were joined at lunch by Adam, who had started the day at Amicalola visitor center--another 20 year old. Hiked from 9:30 to 6:15 with hour break for lunch. Pulled up 1.3 miles short of Gooch Mtn Shelter which was our goal.Sully has gear problems and will probably only go as far as Gooch Mtn Shelter tomorrow. He's done really well and I will miss him. Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-03-17
From: Justus Creek campsite

To: Slaughter Creek Campsite
Miles today: 13.7

What a day! Got up at 6, cooked and ate my oatmeal and was on the trail by 8:30. First one out, figuring all the others would pass me. Bid farewell to Howdy who is going into Suches. Sully is taking a nero and must get new shoes. The trail tore up his trailshoes. Adam passed me by at Woody Gap headed for Blood Mtn. I stopped just .8 mi short at about 5.30. Wanted to get my tent up as we had high wind and it was getting cold. Supper was gorp, 2 snickers and a power bar. Too cold and windy to cook. Got cell reception at Ramrock Mtn earlier in the day. Called Carol in FL. Met local hiker Jeff who said on a real clear day you can see Atlanta skyline from there. It was hazy but still a great view. Also good views from Big Cedar mountain. Hiker midnight came at 7:30 with me snug in bed.Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-03-18
From: Slaughter Creek Campsite

To: Rock Spring Top Campsite
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: clear sky

The wind was blowing hard when I got up at 6:45, so I had a bagel for breakfast and headed off at 7:30 for Blood Mtn Shelter, hoping to catch up with Adam or some others who had headed there. Glad I tented as a skunk visited the shelter--no one got sprayed and only Adam saw it. I got the story later, and by the time I got to the the shelter it was empty. If anything it was colder there than where I camped. Took some pics then headed down, soon coming across Snowho's cousin who had wrenched his knee. I had lent him my ace bandage when he passed my tentsite. He was going slow but arrived at Walasi-Yi, an outfitter/hostel in Neels Gap where US19 passes thru the mountains. I got a shower at the hostel, washed all my clothes, lunched (hot dog, ice cream, thin mints cookies, and some trail magic chicken), and resupplied. Altogether spent $45.85. I passed on the beer someone had brought, knowing I'd wind up staying if I didn't get back on the trail.Although the day started out cloudy, the sun had broken thru and I had a very pleasant 2.8 mile hike up to this campsite. On the way I passed about 20 trail maintainers from GATC. I told them they were doing a great job. The trail so far has been in great shape and you can see where the maintainers, all volunteers, have been working.I got cell reception and called Carol. Also spoke to my daughter and grandson.Got up to the campsite about 5PM. I'm alone here, but there is another guy just about .1 miles back in the gap. Made Lipton side Chicken noodles and tea for dinner which I ate with a bagel. First dinner I could eat without my headlamp. Sunset was beautiful but it's now nearly 8PM---well past hiker midnight. Goodnight all.Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-03-19
From: Rock Spring Top Campsite

To: Campsite before Cold Springs Gap
Miles today: 11.6

Got up at 7 to a beautiful sunrise. Slept very well. Made usual breakfast of oatmeal and cocoa, then felt cold so jumped back in the bag to warm up. While I was there the hiker who had camped in the gap walked by then Mad Dog who had stayed at the hostel at Walasi-Yi. They succeeded in shaming me to get packed up and finally at 9:30 I was en route. Before long Snow-ho, G-man, Eric, and Half Pound and Old Goat caught up with me. They had also stayed at the hostel and got an early start. I caught up with them at Testnatee Gap, famous because John Muir hiked thru there, and hiked with them to Hogpen Gap where we took group pictures using the self timer. I had sent pocketmail earlier and fell behind when my phone rang. It was Carol but I didn't get to it in time. When I tried to call her I got voicemail because she was leaving a message. I tried to call but the battery was low.I caught up to everyone at Low Gap Shelter where I ate a lunch of bagels and cheese at 3PM. Since it was early and tomorrow's miles are long, I decided to continue a ways, first getting water as there was no telling where I'd be when it was time to make camp. Started looking for a site at 4:30 and found a nice one under some pines. Dinner was salmon and noodles stroganoff--yum. Weather so far has been great. Though today started out cloudy, the sun broke thru by noon with temps in the 60's. Tonite is cloudy and rain is forecast for one or two days. If so I may adjust my schedule to take my planned zero sooner!Hiker midnight again at 8pm.Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-03-22
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap - Cloud Nine Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

We woke up late and packed up at the Hiawasee Inn. We had a continential breakfast, did a few town chores including internet at the library, and a few incidental purchases at the pharmacy. Met Ron, one of the Hiawassee Inn co-owners with Sam, who shuttled us into town yeterday. Ron is just a few days post surgery for prostate cancer so we had something in common in addition to being only a few months apart in age. Ron's pleasant demeanor is a nice contrast to Sam's orneriness. At noon Frank or Fran from Cloud Nine hostel arrived to shuttle us out to the hostel which is on the south side of the road only a mile from Dick's Creek Gap. On the way we got a subway sandwich for lunch and arrived at the hostel. It really is Cloud Nine! Fran and Laura have 11 acres with trout ponds and a guest house that they operate as a hostel during prime northbound season from Feb thu May 25. The rest of the year it's a vacation cabin. Today is bright sunshine with a temp of about 45* and FiveWay (note corrected spelling)and I spent an hour lazing in the hot tub. What a way to zero.We're riding into Clayton, GA 30 min east of here with Frank who's doing a pool tournament at his "local"--local pub that is. Frank is a transplanted Welshman who consults in electrical engineering about half the time. We'll have Mexican and drive back around midnight when the tournament ends.All in all, a great zero day.
Date: 2006-03-23
From: Dick's Creek Gap - Cloud Nine Hostel

To: Sassafras Gap Tentsite
Miles today: 10.7

FiveWay and I made a hearty breakfast of bacon & eggs with english muffins at Cloud Nine hostel this morning, and it looked like it was going to be a good day. Frank Jones, the proprietor, shuttled us the mile to Dick's Ck Gap and we ran into TJ, a pro photographer from Columbus, OH. We hiked with him at our slow uphill pace out of the gap. Sure is different with a full pack. Before long it clouded over, proving the weatherman right for a change. Rain and snow were predicted by late afternoon. I wound up having to slackpack backwards 3/10ths mile (6/10th roundtrip) to retrieve my gloves, which I left on a log where we snacked. Along the way today most of the hikers from Tray Mtn passed us by. They too had zeroed at Hiawasswe.Had some lunch out of the wind during the climb out of Plum Orchard Gap. Just after MarcoSolo passed us. We met him again at the GA-NC border where we broke out the cameras and took pics, and again at the famous Bly Gap tree for more pics. Since it was getting late and we felt Muskrat Creek Shelter 2.8 miles on would be full, based on how many had passed, Fiveway and I filled up with enough water for dinner and breakfast at the spring below Bly Gap. Then we headed out planning to locate a campsite after 4:30. Wow! Water is really heavy; and we had the worst climb of the day out of Bly Gap over Sharp Top. It wasn't long, but it was steep and we'd just added 10 lbs to our packs. Found a good camp site out in the gap before the climb to Courthouse Bald, just in the nick of time. As we started to set up our tents, the predicted snow arrived. Temp was 28*. While I tossed the line for our bearbag, FiveWay rigged up his tarp against a log to give us a place out of the wind and snow to cook and eat dinner. Dinner was a chicken noodle side with foil chicken and tea. We cleaned up then hoisted the bear bags and crawled into our tents. I got into my midweight longjohns and crawled into the bag. Soon I was toasty. On a whim I tried for a cell signal and got 4 bars, so I called Carol and chatted for a few minutes, letting her know I was fine. Then I turned in.Hiker midnight at 8pm.One state down! Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-03-24
From: Sassafras Gap Tentsite

To: Sassafras Gap Tentsite
Miles today: 0.0

It was a real blizzard when I awoke at 7 this morning with 3 in of snow and snowcicles extending in the direction of the wind. Fiveway and I decided to zero. We didn't want to take down our tents and then find no space in the next shelter, as everyone there decided to stay. I saw two hikers, Josh from Boulder and Will from MA, who started out for the Blueberry Patch Hostel this afternoon when I got out of the tent to look around. I couldn't believe they were hiking in shorts and a light jacket until I recalled how much heat my body generates when hiking. Well, they were about 40 years younger than me. I'll stay in my nice warm sleeping bag in my much-warmer-than-outside tent until the wind dies down and the snow threat passes, thank you. FiveWay has a maildrop in Franklin and I'll hike with him at least that far and share a room again. Hopefully he can resolve his boot issue there. On the downhills, his right boot is irritating a bunion or bone spur. This has really slowed him down, as he used to make up on the downhills for his extra rests on the uphills. The sun peaked thru the clouds briefly today, giving a preview of what tomorrow will be like, I hope. One way or the other we'll be making miles. It's full dark now at 7:30--what I've been calling hiker midnight and my torso wants to get back into the sleeping bag, so I'll sign off.A temporary reprieve in Onward to Maine!
Date: 2006-03-25
From: Sassafras Gap Tentsite

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: broken clouds

Short miles today. Next shelter/camp location is beyond Standing Indian Mtn at almost 5500'. When we got up at 6:30 this morning it was just as cold as Fri AM and blowing hard through the gap. We needed to get moving and packed up, and were underway at 8:15 after a cold breakfast. The sun did peek through the clouds today, but temps have been near freezing all day, and by 5:30 the water bottles were freezing. Our progress was delayed when FiveWay realized he'd left his tent poles after a mile of steady uphill. I went ahead to Muskrat Creek Shelter and waited there for him about an hour. Day before yesterday I had to backtrack .6 mi. to retrieve my gloves. Glad I did, as I've really needed them with this cold. We were first to the shelter at about 3:30 and thought be would be alone, but there are six in the shelter and 5 or so in tents. Since FiveWay and I arrived first, we have the prime locations on either wall. Among those here are Hellbender and Dinosaur from Raleigh NC. Also here is Triscuit who gave me his business card---a Triscuit, naturally. The temp as I journal at 7:30 is about 24*, so it will be quite cold tonight. Everbody is turning in now and I'm going to hunker down into the warmth of my bag soon. Looks like 2 days to Winding Stair Gap where we'll hitch into Franklin for a motel night. Onward toward Maine! Wildlife today: one field mouse that we startled when it came from its den to get some sun. FiveWay bult a nice fire.
Date: 2006-03-26
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Betty Creek Gap Tentsite
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: few clouds

Slept in to 7AM as it was very cold overnight in the shelter. On cold nights it's definitely warmer in the tent. Had hot breakfast (cocoa and oatmeal) and got underway again with FiveWay. Turns out the summit of Standing Indian Mtn was fairly easy and the weather today was pleasant with lots of sunshine and gentle winds. We made good time and caught up with the Aussie girls, WaltzingMatilda, Bluey, and Vegemite. Had a nice campfire which took the chill off. Tomorrow we hope to get to Winding Stair Gap for a hitch into Franklin, NC, so I'll keep this short as it's 12+ miles and we want an early start. Onward toward Maine!