morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-03-29
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Hogpen Gap
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

First whole day on the trail by myself. I miss the guys, but now I guess I can get into synch with the trail and the other hikers. Didn't get started until around 10 this morning...slow morning around the shelter. No rain yet, but very overcast and foggy/misty. First thing up this morning is Blood Mountain, the highest point on the AT in GA at 4,450 ft. I'd heard it was tough, so I was prepared and fresh for the battle. I guess it worked because it wasn't that bad and I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the top. Again, no good photo ops as the mist and clouds prevented it. Going down Blood was a lot tougher though...glad we didn't have to go up that side. At the bottom of Blood, there is an outfitter/hostel by the name of Mountain Crossings/Walasi-Yi Center. They offer a free service to thru hikers called a shakedown which is basically an equipment check to see if what you have is adequate for the trip or, as in most cases, too much for the trip. I was thinking my pack was weighing in around 45lbs and most of the experts say you should be around 35lbs, so I thought I would give it a whirl. My pack actually came in at 41lbs although I was down a bit of water, so it's probably around 43 lbs. After they were finished, my pack was down to 36 lbs or 38 with all water. 5 lbs. may not seem like a lot, but try carrying it 2,200 miles. I also hit my second trail magic just outside the outfitter's...a church was handing out free burgers and brownies as well as prayers...I got seconds on all...ok, thirds on the brownies. Finally got started again around 2, but I admit the hostel almost pulled me in again. I was going to stay at a campsite about 4 miles from the outfitter, but evidently I was making good time with my now lighter pack, I blew right by the campsite! The next stop was a shelter, but it was more than a mile off the trail...I don't want to walk any more than I need to...and the brownies were starting to wear off. So, I stopped at a designated water source and just set up camp a few hundred feet into the woods...a little stealth camping. Worked well and I didn't have to leave the trail by more than a few hundred feet. Cheers.
Date: 2010-03-30
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: few clouds

Sorry, for the slow updates...the library in my first stop was close on Friday to to the Easter weekend, so I had to upload what I did by phone...I'm not very fast with the text keyboard. In a library in Bryson City, NC right now, so hopefully can get caught up and get some pictures loaded.OK...first pretty boring day...for you readers at least. No good stories...just hiked the "roller coaster" of GA...lots of ups and downs, but none too bad. I actually made good time today...I kept going by places I was going to eat lunch or rest at because I thought I'd reach them at a certain time and I was already by them. It was a gorgeous day...in the 70s and sunny! I got to the shelter at around 4:30 today...so nice to get to the campsite in time to take a quick sponge bath, rinse some clothes, and enjoy the sun before it's time to cook and set up camp. I'm sure everyone appreciated the sponge bath...I was getting a bit ripe...got downwind of myself a few times to day and did not like it one bit. We've got 6 people in a 7 man shelter...nice to have a little breathing room. We've got Naptime, Dryclean, Snickers, Daytripper,and Shags...also Jason and Kristin (no trail names yet but are hoping to have some soon) are tenting here. Speaking of trail names, here are a few of the people I've met so far and hope to see down the trail later: Okie, LB, Country Gold, Captain Guts, Grits, Stumpy, the ones above, and few others I can't remember. Captain Guts is an old marine? who is doing the trail barefoot! I met him going up a pretty steep and long mountain and he was moving really slow. Stopped to talk to him and he said he had just thrown out his hip! There was a road back the way we came about a quarter of a mile, so I asked him if he wanted some help down to it to flag a car. He said going down would hurt worse (I didn't mention what was more than likely on the other side of the mountain once we got there). He then said my talking to him was cooling him down and he'd appreciate it if I just went on my way. Hopefully I'll see him again just to make sure he made it off that mountain. Cheers.
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

Everyone in the shelter was raring to go this morning evidently...they were up at 6 packing and cooking breakfast! Now, as many of you know, I am a morning person and I thought I would be one of these people myself...but I wake up in my warm sleeping bag and don't want to get out! Well, this morning, I did because it was a beautiful morning...well, and everyone else was doing it. Our shelter faced the east and it was a incredible sunrise...the day ended up being sunny and it had to be around 80! Today was GA at its best/worst...all ups and downs...no flat spots at all. Climb 1,000 feet, drop 900 feet, gain 700 feet, drop 800 feet...you get the picture. I was actually going to stop at a shelter about 8 miles in, but I got there around 2pm and it was just too nice a day to stop that early. So, I pushed on another 5 miles to this campsite with a water source. The water source ended up being about 3/10s of a mile straight downhill and there were zillions of mosquitos/no-see-ums/biting bastards everywhere...nice choice, Buzz! Even though there was still daylight and a few other people showing up, I said hi and told them I was hitting my tent to get out of the bugs. I heard lots of slapping and swearing as they set up their tents and then everyone diving in. The best part of today was lunch. I stopped in this clearing that used to be an old cheese factory/dairy (yeah, in the middle of nowhere in the mountains...thus the "used to be"). It was such a nice day with the sun out, I found a nice tree to lean against, took off my shirt, and had lunch. Evidently, I got a bit too comfortable after lunch and fell asleep for about 15 minutes...luckily not longer or there might have been some major burning that would not feel good with pack straps rubbing on it. This is what I envision the summer months of my trip to be like...finding a nice swimming hole for lunch and taking a little siesta afterwards...life is tough on the trail. Short day tomorrow as I'm about 6 miles outside Dick's Creek Gap where I can hitch a ride or find a shuttle into Hiawassee for my zero day on Friday. Really looking forward to a shower and sleeping in a real bed...and watching some tv...and having someone cook me a meal. Did I tell you I think I've cooked more meals for myself on the trail already than I did in the past two years? Kind of pathetic I know, but there is no cooking involved with cereal...I do miss my cereal. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: clear sky

Today was basically a half day of hiking as I was about 6 miles from Dicks Creek Gap which is where I will hitch a ride into Hiawassee for my zero day tomorrow. A few pieces of terminology: a zero day is basically what it sounds like - zero miles of hiking or a rest day. There is also its cousin the nero day - very few miles of hiking...I'm going to say under 3. I think this terminology can also be used successfully in the workplace. Ex. The Gamecocks were playing for the national championship last night and Marty had one too many Dirty Dustys while watching the game, so he is pulling a nero day at work today. Back to the hiking. It was an easy hike into Dicks Creek Gap...a small uphill to begin with and then about 3 miles of downhill. I got lucky; a shuttle was dropping off another hiker when I got down there and the driver was nice enough to give me a free lift into town...nice. So I got into town around 12:30 and was checked into my room at the Hiawassee Inn by 12:35...and in the shower by 12:36! Wow...that felt awesome! I also have to admit Days of our Lives comes on at 1, so I had to watch that before I headed out to lunch. It was nice to get into town early in the day so I could get a lot of my chore down today and then just goof around/rest tomorrow. As I was leaving the hotel for lunch, I saw a lot of other hikers checking in. Also ran into many of them as we were all getting our chores done: grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning/airing out our equipment. We all got that done and then everyone seemed to start congregating on Mad Dog's patio with adult beverages (gas station 50 feet away). Anyway, I joined in and we all stayed on the patio the rest of the night...ordered pizza for dinner and many more runs to the gas station...good times. I knew a few of the people, but the cast of characters included. Kristin, Jason, Catfish, Snickers, Daytripper, Dryclean, Sunshine, Naptime, Mad Dog, Zoe, McLovin, OffKilter,and a few others I can't remember names of. The big talk of the night was whether to go into Franklin, NC (30 miles down the road) the next day for a hiker's party being organized by Ron Haven. Ron owns a few hotels and other businesses in Franklin and had just bought the Hiawassee Inn a month ago. He's big in the hiker community and does a lot for us...very nice guy and loves to tell a story. The party is for past and present thru hikers, but the big bash isn't really until Saturday, so I'm not sure it's worth going on Friday. We'll see...maybe they'll talk me into it...cheers.
Date: 2010-04-02
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Aahhh...my first zero day...how relaxing! I did sleep in until about 8, but then had to get up because I was starving! Had a great breakfast at a little greasy spoon with OffKilter...just what the doctor ordered and OffKilter even picked up the tab...thanks, buddy! By the way, OffKilter was also there last night if I didn't mention it and, as his name may suggest, he's hiking in a kilt. Also checked into the shuttle to Franklin...lots of people were going, but all the particulars weren't making sense to me, so I decided to just stay in Hiawassee and relax for the day. My first and only real task to accomplish for the day was to upload my journal. Unfortunately, as I already mentioned, the library was closed for the Easter weekend and I had to resort to my phone. Another scorcher of a day here in Hiawassee...85 again! Hot weather to be hiking in this early, but it's better than rain. Other than that, it was a pretty boring day: made a few calls, shot out a few emails, took a nap, ate, and watched some tv (cliffhanger day on Days). How about an injury update. The knee is doing well...a bit stiff and some very minor pain especially after long days of downhill...but the cortizone shot and anti-inflammatories are working well. Not sure I put this in my pre-hike journal, but also ended up getting bronchitis the week I left. The drugs seem to be working, but the cough still persists, but is getting better. The feet are doing ok. Pretty sore in general and a few blisters...only ones that really worry me are one on the bottom of my right foot because it could go under a nice callus I already have formed and one on the top of the toe next to my big toe on my right foot. We'll see how those do, but nothing too bad. Duct tape and band-aids are getting me through. Back on the trail tomorrow. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-03
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

OK...back on the trail again. Actually pretty excited to get going again...rested up and feeling good (clean). Got the shuttle back up to Dicks Creek Gap and got started around 9:30. Weather was in the 70s, but there was teh threat of rain...never materialized...yippee! Started off with a good climb to warm up the legs...unfortunately, I believe my legs were still on their zero day...tough to get started again! Eventually got into the groove and cruised until lunch. Met Matt and McKinley (his dog) and had lunch with them and hiked the rest of the afternoon with them. Matt said he'd been trying to catch up to me the last part of the morning, so he thought we were going the same pace. Little did he know that I evidently slow way down after lunch because I'm TIRED...I had trouble keeping up with them most of the afternoon, but they were nice enough to wait up for me. Right after lunch we hit the GA/NC border...one state down, 12 more to go! Depending on the books you read, about 10-30% of the hikers that start at Springer don't even make it out of Georgia, so I'm feeling pretty good about what we've accomplished so far. What I will say about NC so far is that I'm not a fan even though I've been a Tarheel fan since I was a kid. As soon as we entered NC, there was a steep uphill climb for about a mile or two. Right after that...another steep uphill! Again, I definitely slowed Matt and McKinley down, but they waited for me and we got to the shelter around 5. Everyone else at the shelter was also talking about the rude welcome we received from NC, so I wasn't the only one. Jason and Kristin were also back on the trail...they had gone into Franklin for the hiker bash on Friday...didn't sound like I missed much. A lot of the others were actually staying in Franklin another night for the Saturday extravaganza. Jason finally got a trail name: Conan (he looks like the O'brien type)...Kristin is still looking for one. Also at the shelter tonight were: F'ing Tired (McLovins dad), Ratman, Tumbler, Sid, Adam, and Budweiser hat guy (don't know if I got his name or just forgot it). Feet update: blister in the middle of my right foot flamed up today. Lanced it and it feels much better...we'll see how it goes tomorrow. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-04
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy Easter! Alright, NC, I don't like you and you don't like me so far, so why don't you do something to change my mind! This is what I was thinking when I got up this morning especially as we were to go up Standing Indian Mountain (5,500 ft) today about halfway through the day...lots of elevation gain and I wanted it to be a bit easier than yesterday. The hike started fairly easy and then we started going downhill for quite a while...not looking promising for our climb up Standing Indian...not a good sign for my opinion of NC changing. As we entered the gap before the big climb though: EASTER SUNDAY TRAIL MAGIC! I put it in all caps because it was the best trail magic I've seen so far and I can't believe there can be anything better out there (please keep trying though). The Omelet Angels have been doing trail magic at this spot for 19 years. Yes, I said Omelet Angels! You have never seen a bigger omelet or tasted a better one! They actually give you a menu when you show up so you can mark down what you want in your omelet and what sides...then you sit in a chair and they basically wait on you! Tarheel, Cook, Raven, Repeat, Di, and Weatherman...Thank you very much and god bless! Also on the menu were sandwich fixings so they could make you a sandwich to go for later...it was all incredible. What a great Easter surprise and such a great group of people. They also gave Kristin her trail name: Ass Backwards or AB. Although she decided to change it to just Backwards as she doesn't want to put Ass Backwards on her Christmas card...I'm not too sure about this change...I don't think it's legal. It was hard to move on after that, but we had Standing Indian Mountain to do battle with. The Omelet Angels were really helping NC out, but it could be short lived. Fortunately for me, the climb up SIM was actually pretty tame compared to what it could have been for the elevation gain. It was basically an old logging road most of the way so it was a steady uphill vs a steep uphill. It was a fun day as most of us from the shelter the night before kept passing one another back and forth depending on breaks and such. We all ended up at the shelter again tonight and had a good fire before we all hit the sack. Tomorrow we climb Albert Mountain (5,300 ft) and everyone is a bit intimidated by the stories we've heard...there is even an alternate route you can take part way up if you want to go around instead of over...we'll see. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-05
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Once again, a beautiful day! Now that NC and I are friends again, I thought we may have a test of that friendship today with Albert Mountain. The first 5 miles were pretty easy...mainly downhill after starting with a good uphill. We all started at different times out of camp, but ended up taking a break together right before the big climb up Albert: Ratman, Tumbler, Sid, Conan, and Backwards. Also, got a bit of a push at the start thanks to Frankenfoot: PBR trail magic...thanks, Frankenfoot! Albert was a lot of elevation fast...about 500 ft in elevation over 3/10s of a mile...but it was actually fun. It wasn't just trudging up a mountain...there was some rock scrambling where you had to use your hands and feet to get up. And the view from the top was unreal! There was a fire tower on the top which made the views even more specatular. We all ate lunch at the top and even met up with Adam and Budweiser hat guy. Fairly easy walk into the shelter...maily downhill/flat. Got to the shelter around 4...great time today because of all the downhill/flat. Everyone from the last couple of nights stopped at the same shelter again, so we've spend the last 3 days/nights going back and forth on the trail and camping together. Have another good fire tonight...definitely helping with the bugs...man, they've been bad...just swarms of them around your head. So, again tonight we have Ratman, Tumbler, Sid, Conan, Backwards, Adam, and Budweiser hat guy...as well as a newcomer called Fog (fat old guy...he's not really either). Fog did a thru hike in '08 and is doing another one this year. Nice guy and giving us a lot of good advice. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Wayah Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Another gorgeous day...I hope I get to keep saying that! Most were up and out early today. 17 miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) where there are cabins/diner/pub and most are planning a zero day there. It's also where you catch a ride into Bryson City, so I'll pop I there tomorrow around lunch time and have lunch/beers before heading into the big city. I'm not as ambitious or young as Snickers/Daytripper/Conan/Backwards, so I'm going to do my 11 miles today and then a half day tomorrow. My thought today was it was going to be a nice easy walk...only 11 miles...two weeks ago that was a full day. A lot of today was downhill except two big hills, so I was going to take it easy and enjoy the day. To help me out with that, about 3 miles into the walk, Grits was at a gap with trail magic! I'd actually met Grits earlier when he and a group of '09 thru hikers gave me, Mike, and Todd burgers and beers after Sasafrass Mountain at the beginning of the trail. He didn't have the whole group with him, but he did have burgers, beers, and cookies. An aside: along the lines of it's 5 o'clock somewhere or it's always 5 o'clock in Margaritaville...it's always 5 o'clock on Buzz's AT walk.) I was the only one at trail magic, so I sat down for about an hour and BS'd/ate/drank with Grits. Thanks again, Grits! Right after second breakfast with Grits, there was an 800 foot climb over 1 mile...the burgers/cookies were feeling a bit heavy then. Last climb of the day was to Wesser Bald which was another 800 ft climb over a mile. Wesser Bald had a nice fire tower for great views, but not as good as yesterday's at Wayah Bald. Got to the shelter fairly early about 3:30...nice to just relax before dinner. Dryclean popped in and said hello...he was looking to catch up with Snickers and Daytripper. He moved on to try to make it to the NOC...asked me if I wanted to join him, but i'd already taken off my boots and was pretty relaxed. Bobcat from last night made it in and then John and Skippy...first time meeting them...nice guys. Ratman, Tumbler, and Sid were going to try to make it to this shelter tonight, but evidently they didn't make it. Looking forward to a half day of hiking tomorrow into the NOC, having lunch/beers there, and hitching a ride into town for my zero day. Cheers.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: moderate rain

OK, thought it would be a nice, easy, 6 mile downhill walk into the NOC this morning...forgot to check with Mother Nature. Actually, I did, but nothing I could really do about it. Rain was supposed to start around 9am...our first rain in a long time and I only had 6 miles, so I'm not complaining. You'd think the timing of the rain would speed up my morning process or get me out of the sleeping bag a bit earlier, but it didn't seem to affect me in the least...left camp at 8:55. So, I got about 20 minutes of hiking in before the skies opened. As luck would have it, I was also on the top of the mountain at the time...I was really hoping the rule of thumb about seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder was true because the lightning looked really close. Both Bobkat and I donned our rain gear and headed down the mountain. It was a lot of downhill...to much downhill...very slippery as it was fairly rocky and lots of roots...managed to catch myself a few times or I would have been one muddy hiker. It rained the whole way down. Got down about 11:30...just in time to see the smart ones who pushed on yesterday to get to the NOC before the rain: Conan, Backwards, Snickers, Daytripper, and Dryclean (he didn't make it all the way yesterday, but was only a mile out). They were headed up to their cabin to watch the Masters...I went into the restaurant and joined Skippy, The Mad Scientist, for a burger and a couple of beers...good stuff. As there was no shuttle, I had to try my first shot at hitchhiking. I was very doubtful as it was still pouring out, but the guy at the NOC outfitter said it wouldn't take more than a half hour to get a ride. So, I stand...with my thumb out...in the rain...and wait. No one would stop! At a half hour, I was going to give up, but then I saw a pickup go by the other way, turn around in the parking lot, and come back to pick me up. Thank you, Red! Red is a river guide and said he had nothing better to do with the rain and all, so he gave me a ride into town even though he wasn't going that way...even gave a me a ride around town...took 2 minutes. He dropped me off at the PO and I picked up my bounce box and then went and checked into the Relax Inn...exactly what I was looking for. A bounce box is a box of stuff I mail myself about every two weeks that has stuff that may be harder to get in some of these small towns or come in larger quantities than I want to carry at one time: prescription meds, batteries, vitamins, etc. I just keept forwarding it to myself and take stuff out when I need it. Thanks for getting it started, Heather/Todd! Did some of my chores (laundry, groceries, mail, shower) so I could relax and watch the Masters on Friday. Caught up on the Masters and had an awesome calzone at a little Italian joint and called it an early night. Cheers.