morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-01-05
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Thought I would make an entry to let everyone know I plan to be back out on the AT in 2011. My intentions are not to Thru-Hike the AT this year; however, complete the trail in two years. Being out in the woods for 5 months is just a little two long for me.My plan is to start from Springer and hike to Harpers Ferry and then complete the second half in 2012. Since I'm only doing half the trail next year, I can start later in the season so I won't have to carry heavier winter gear. Around May 1st sounds good to me. During my 2009 hike, I always woke up early thinking I had to make big mileage every day in order to get to Maine by October and always felt guilty when taking a zero day. I won't have those pressures next year. I can sleep in, hike slower and do shorter mileage days which I think will help reduce some of those overuse leg injuries. In 2009, I had 22 days where I hiked in excess of 20 miles and 45 days of near 20 miles. Also, if the weather is nasty I can just stay put wherever I might be.I will also get the benefits of a three month hike meaning losing a bunch of weight and getting back in shape while eating everything in sight while in trail towns. Also, starting late in the season I will be behind the Thru-Hiker crowd making shelters and the trail less congested; however, I will miss not meeting the Thru-Hikers of 2011. It was always neat in 2009 to meet Thru-Hikers in the southern sections of the AT only to bump into them again in NH or ME.The hike will also get me out of the house, my confort zone and away from the computer and TV. I will likely not keep a daily journal, but just summarize sections I have just completed when I get to a trail town computer. Keeping a daily journal requires a great deal of time and effort both for the hiker and his/her journalist. Since I will be hiking shorter days I may need something to occupy my time so the jury is still out on the daily journal thing.Why the AT again? First of all because I can! Second, because of all the rain and fog in 2009, there were many sections I just did not see.I invite any of my 2009 hiking friends to come join me for a day, week or whatever this year.Life is always good on the AT.GA>WV 2011
Date: 2011-01-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

As I read journals of hikers preparing to hit the trail this year I thought I would talk about mail drops versus no mail drops of food. I prepared for a year for my 2009 AT hike. I had hiked Virginia and the 100 mile wilderness in 2005, so I knew a little about hiking. I thought mail drops would be the sensible way to go so I prepared an itinerary and how much food I would require between towns and/or mail drop locations. Subsequently, I prepared over 40 small drop boxes which contained stuff like Mountain House dinners, trail mix, pepperoni sticks, power bars, beef jerky, tuna packs, honey stinger packets, biodegradable TP, cocoa mix, peanut butter cups, emergen-C vitamin packets, vio net packets and guide pages.Turned out I gave most of all this food away to other hikers and spent nearly $1500 on the food and postage. Everyone said I would not be hungry at the beginning of the hike. Newness of the trail, exertion and sounds of the woods. They were right. Did not get my hiker appetite until 5 weeks into the hike.I would suggest saving the cash you would spend on food drops and postage and use it to buy food along the way and there is plenty of it to buy perhaps at a slightly higher price than the big supermarkets.At the mental half-way point in Harpers Ferry I sent my stove home and ate cold food the rest of the way. There are few spots along the way that a food drop box might come in handy, but many boxes are just not needed. If you do send boxes make sure you send them to a motel or outfitter and not to the the US Post Office. Motels and outfitters are open 7 days a week while the US Post Offices are closed on Sundays and have shorten hours in some small towns.I'm no expert, but this is what I learned in 2009. I'll start this year's hike with no stove and just eat cold food along the way and save the hot dinners for trail towns. Many hikers say oh, I just can't get by without my morning coffee or hot cocoa. We'll, yes you can and you'll learn there are lot of "other things" that you can get by without.I could be wrong, but this is just my opinion. So save the time and money on many drop boxes and it was alot of time. Hundreds of hours perhaps filling, and labeling. Each box was numbered so I would just call home and say send box number 6. It was efficient, but totally not necessary.
Date: 2011-01-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Thought I'd talk about some tested and untested gear.I'm a big fan of ULA backpacks. In 2005 I used the ULA Catalyst for my 700 mile hike. It was outstanding. In 2009, in efforts to get lighter, I went to the ULA Circuit that was 11 oz's lighter and 400 cu in smaller. It was a solid performer and I saw many on the trail. However, during the summer months my gear barely filled up half my pack so I'm thinking about going to the ULA CDT pack for this year's hike. It weighs 17 oz's and has a capacity of 3200 cu in. Also, I don't use a pack cover as they don't keep your internal pack componets dry. I use an internal dry pack liner. Eliminates the need to stop and put on a pack cover when rain comes.In 2005 and 2009, I used the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 tent without a footprint (Pictured). I'm a tent person and only stayed in three shelters my entire hike so I needed a good shelter. It's a solid shelter and very light for a two person, three season tent. I did get a few holes in the bottom of the tent, but duck tape and tenacious tape handled those punctures. I also liked the ability to pick up the totally free standing tent and move it around to find the most level ground. This past year The Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 caught my eye. It has the same square footage as the Seedhouse SL2, but is over a pound lighter and takes up way less space. I keep the tent and poles on the outside of my pack. I use two water proof Sea to Summit 2L stuff sacks. One for the fly and one for the tent body. The stuff sacks filled are about the size of two large fists. The fly is always wet and I like the ability to take a break and quickly hang my fly out to dry on a breezy mountain top. I'm looking forward to using this tent on this year's hike.Sleeping system. In 2009, I used three different sleeping bags. A big Agnes 20 degree Mystic, a 40 degree Yampa and a 50 degree Lostdog. They all performed great; however, the summer on the east coast in 2009 was so cool I froze on many nights in the Lostdog bag. I even had to put on my rain gear to stay warm on a number of nights. All three of these bags work in conjunction with an insulated air mattress that slips into the bottom of each bag. There is no rolling off your air pad at night. Also, these bags have a sewn in compartment for a pillow. I used an air pillow that was definitely better than a lumpy clothes bag. I've tried all sorts of sleeping pads, closed cell, half pads and the air mattress's are certainly king on the trail. I did get several punctures not using a footprint which led to a sleepless night, but these punctures were easily repaired the following day.Since I'm starting this year's hike later in the season I will likely start with the Yampa bag. Pack weight at start should be about 20 pounds.
Date: 2011-01-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Bounce box versus no bounce box?In preparation for my 2009 AT hike, I thought I would need a bounce box. A bounce box is essentially a box of replacement items that you continually send a hundred or so miles ahead of you so that when you get to that location you can access the box and replace items you might have lost or pick up items that you now think you need.I prepared a box that had absolutely everything imaginable that I thought I would need. Stuff like ziploc bags, garage bags, Aqua Mira, razor blades, sissors, body glide, nail clippers, sharpies, shipping tape, Q-Tips, bandaids, toothpaste, floss, bio TP, batteries, moleskin, shoe laces, duck tape, deet, an extra kerchief, socks, clothes, tent stakes, rubber bands, extra guide pages, pen, paper, mailing labels, fuel canisters, stamps, power bars, and more. You name it and it was in that box.I used it once!!!!!Anything you think you will need you can easily find along the way. The few items in the box I used were some new socks and smaller hiking pants. Most guys can expect to shed a pound a day once you start hiking especially if you are over weight. I lost ten inches around my belly and fifty pounds during my 2009 hike and that's while eating everything in sight while in trail towns.So forget the bounce box. You will need to change from winter hiking gear to summer gear along the way. I started hiking April 8th, 2009 and changed to my summer or lighter gear in Pearisburg, VA on May 26th.
Date: 2011-01-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Thought I'd talk a little about clothing and the things that worked and things you don't need.In 2005, I used short gaiters; however, in 2009 I left them at home. If you start out in the colder months they might help keep your feet warmer, but after March you don't need them. Leave them at home.A good rain jacket and pants are a must in cold weather. My Marmot Essence was just OK. It did not have wrist closures which caused rain water to travel up my arms while hiking. Annoying! Some hikers send the rain gear home during the summer months and just used rain storms as a daily bath. I actually slept in my rain gear on a number of nights during the summer because it was an unusually cool summer in 2009 on the east coast and my 50 degree bag didn't keep me warm.Exofficio make great hiking pants. Make sure you get the convertable ones. I used them with Capilene long underwear. I would take off the lower part of the hiking pants while still wearing the long underwear. While climbing you can roll up the long underwear when you are hot then when on top of the mountain where it's cold you can roll them down while taking a break. I also, used a clean light pair to sleep in with clean socks. Gotta keep you sleeping bag clean so keep a separate set of clothes just for sleeping. Keeping several sheets of Bounce fabric softner in your bag will help keep it smelling nice.Attach several large safety pins to your pack so you can hang small pieces of clothing like socks or a kerchief to dry while your walking.I didn't used a pack cover because they don't do a very good job in keeping the stuff in your pack dry. Make sure you keep your sleeping bag in its own dry bag. You bag is your lifeline in cold weather and if it gets wet you could be in trouble. I used a pack liner and used diffrent color Sea to Summit light dry bags for my different pack componets. It was somewhat redundant, but when my pack liner developed some holes you will be surprised how much water can get in your pack during a heavy rain storm. I was glad for the extra water proof protection.The different color bags made it easy in packing and unpacking your backpack. Sleeping bag and pad went in first and was at the bottom of your pack. Next, my heaviest bag sometimes the food bag or sometimes my clothes bag with all my gadgets was next situated in the center of the pack. Small first aid bag at top of pack. Tent componets, rain gear, and other jackets on the outside of the pack. I did have a down jacket that was my most favorite piece of gear. It was the first piece of clothing I would put on at the end of the day and the last piece to shed before hiking in the AM. Kept it in a ziploc. No stove. Duck tape a must! It fixes everything. I used it to cover tender spots on my feet, patching holes in my tent, sleeping pad and holes that developed in my backpack. Tried different places to keep it. Around water bottles and such, but best place was still around hiking poles. Yes it made your hiking poles heavier, but I did not notice the extra weight and it was always handy when you needed to cover a developing hot spot on your feet.
Date: 2011-03-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Decided on a starting date. I fly to Atlanta on April 25, 2011 and take the MARTA to the North Springs station. There I will be picked up by Josh & Leigh of the Hiker Hostel of Georgia. I'll spend the night at the Hostel and be driven to the trail head the next day. I have to hike .09 miles south to reach Springer Mountain. I'll then turn around and start walking north for the next three months.If all goes well I shoud make Harpers Ferry sometime in mid to late July where I'll end this year's hike. I'll then hike the second half of the AT from Harpers Ferry to Maine in 2012.
Date: 2011-03-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

As many of hikers that have said before me and will say after me don't forget to take pictures of the people you meet during your hike. Pictures of the spectacular scenery along the way will always be cherished, however, pictures of the people you meet will leave a larger impact on you after your hike is finished.Some people only get one chance at a thru-hike so make the most of it. I came home in 2009 wishing I had taken more pictures of people I met. When I listed all the people I encountered on the AT I only had a few photos of a selected few. Also, don't forget to take pictures of non-hikers that helped you during your hike. You don't have to be a hiker to make a lasting impression.
Date: 2011-03-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Less than thirty (30) days to the start of this year's hike. Starting to get a little excited. Looking forward to closing up the house and getting into the woods again. It will be nice to get away from the computer and TV and listening to all the political disharmony and unrest around the world. It will be nice to hear the morning cacophony of different birds as they wake you to a new day on the trail and the ever distant hoot of howls as you close your eyes at hiker's midnight.I've been out walking in efforts to get my feet used to being upright for hours at a time; however, it is flat here in Texas and there is nothing to challenge one vertically so like in 2009 I will have to walk myself into hiking shape.Pack is already to go. Will be starting out with spring gear since I'm starting out late in the hiking season. Spring gear means a lighter pack. Yea! Have not weighed the full pack yet but it should be less than 20 pounds as I try to follow the hiking school of Garlic, Pickle and Stumpknocker which also means no stove. I have a new lighter tent and new hiking poles, but rest of the gear was all used in my 2009 hike. Flatlander and NedtheFed at the 1001 mile marker in 2009Vertical Eddie, Stops a Lot and NTF at the ATC in 2005Bear in SNP 2005
Date: 2011-04-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Two weeks from today I start walking north from Springer. All my gear is ready to go; however, I did make one last minute change. In 05, I hiked with a ULA Catalyst backpack. In 2009, I downsized to the ULA Circuit. I was planning to using the Circuit again for this year's hike, but after looking at my gear I thought I could go even smaller and lighter. So I ordered the ULA OHM at 17 ounces. All my gear fit perfectly and weighed in at 18 pounds with some food, but no water.I'm taking a few pieces of cold weather gear just in case the weather in the Smokies might be a little chilly in May. However, once through the Smokies I should be able to go really light, like Garlic & Pickle(08)light.
Date: 2011-04-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Tomorrow I fly to Atlanta. Thunderstorms predicted for Georgia next week. Rain or shine I will be walking north on Tuesday. Thanks to those of you who provided input on journal topics. I will try to include all of your suggestions into my journal content. I have what I can best describe as excited apprehension. This all will pass after a few days on the trail. Let's get going and getter done! As we all know it's about the journey and not the destination.
Date: 2011-04-26
From: Springer Mountain, Georgia

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

Got to Atlanta around noon and was picked up by the Hikers Hostel of Georgia. The 60 mile drive was in a torrential Texas like thunderstorm. Riding with me was Brad aka Caver from Indiana, and Mike aka Bobcat from PA. When we got to the hostel the power was out until about 8 pm.It was a sleepless night and we all got up for an 8:30 a.m. breakfast followed by an hour drive to the starting point .09 miles north of the Springer Mountain terminus of the AT. We walked to the top of the mountain, but there were no views today as the mountain was fogged in. We started walking north on the trail at 10:30 am. It was overcast and thunderstorms were in the forecast. The first four miles were really easy even for an out of shape Nedthefed. However, the last four kicked my royal behind. It was hot today and I gushed sweat. Not wanting a repeat of 09's hike I drank three liters of water and Gatorade, but it still was not enough. I got to the shelter about 2:30 pm and started drinking as much water as I could stomach. It took three hours and four more liters. I was finally able to pee some, a good sign. Three hours after reaching the shelter my heart rate was still 102 lying down.Many people were at the shelter tonight. Severe thunderstorms forecast for tonight and tomorrow with possible tornados. I'm tenting. AT Trailhead AT Trailhead
Date: 2011-04-27
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: light rain

No sleep again last night even though I spent 14 hours in my tent recovering from yesterday's hike. It rained on and off through the night, but no major storms. Got up and was walking north at 8:32 a.m. Again the mountain was pee soup shrouded in fog. Today would be a very tough day and I knew it from my 2009 hike. It rained on and off all day with periods of rain, wind, and a few rays of sun. My destination was a camping location at Gooch Gap. We were told by some local hikers that severe weather was headed our way this evening to include tornados. When I finally arrived at my destination around 3:15 p.m. there was a gathering of hikers at the nearby USFS road 42. They were leaving the trail because of the upcoming weather so I jumped in the van too. There was no room at the hostel so they drove me into Dahlongnea to a hotel where I write this journal entry.I didn¢t take any photo's today because of the weather and me sucking wind all day. Tornados are everywhere on the map right now but I'll be back hiking tomorrow. However, I lost my guide pages on the ride into town. I'm screwed until I can get a replacement set.
Date: 2011-04-28
From: Gooch Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night at the hotel in Dahlongnea was freaky scary. Sirens were blasting all night because of all the tornados in the area. No sleep for the third straight night. The hostel picked me up at 8 am and took me and all the other hikers that bailed from the trail back to Gooch Gap. It was a nice clear day after yesterday's devastation. We first went over Big Cedar Mountain. I had to make the decision to stop and camp at Lance Creek or go all the way to Neels Gap. The US Forest Service has closed the last 7 miles from Jarrard Gap to Neels Gap from tenting because of high bear activity. I got to Lance Creek at 1 pm so decided to go for it. It was a long friggin day but I made it over Blood Mountain and down to Neels Gap by 5:45 pm. Blood Mountain is the highest peak in Georgia. Called Keith at Goose Creek Cabins, one of my favorite places on the AT, and he came and got me. I was dead tired after 14.2 miles on my third day of hiking. Hope I can sleep tonight! View from Big Cedar Mountain Views from Blood Mountain View from Blood Mountain
Date: 2011-04-29
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

Today I decided to slack pack, carrying just a little food and water and hike back to Neels Gap from a road that crosses the AT 6.4 miles north of Neels Gap. It was another great day for hiking, but I was running on low energy levels even though I did manage to get my first good night's sleep in the last four days. My GI track is still all in a mess because my body does not understand what I've done to it; putting it through torture the last few days. Feels like constant indigestion and has not gone away since I started hiking. Hope it goes away soon because I hate feeling this way. I ended the day back at Goose Creek Cabins resting after having dinner in Blairsville. Looking back at Blood Mountain, the highest mountain in Georgia View from Cowrock Mountain
Date: 2011-04-30
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Keith dropped me off at Hogpen Gap at 10:33 am and I started walking north on the AT. Again, it was a very nice, sunny, cool and breezy day. It was one of the easiest morning hikes since the first day. Again I walked further than I intended and made it to Blue Mountain Shelter by 5:00 pm. I did have one highlight of the day though. As I was walking around the side of a mountain that sloped down from right to left I heard the leaves rustle and thought to myself that's a big chipmunk making all that noise. I then saw something grey pass by a tree. All of sudden standing 20 feet directly in front of me on the trail was a Bobcat. It looked at me like a big house cat wondering who you are. I don't think it had ever seen a human up close and personal like this before. I thought camera, but no way is this cat staying put so I yelled gotch ya and the cat was 50 yards down the mountain in a blink of an eye. My Tent Contents of my tent
Date: 2011-05-01
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Swag of the Blue Ridge
Miles today: 11.4

It was cold on top of ¢Old Blue¢ last night; about 40 F with light winds. I wore long johns and my down jacket in my sleeping bag. It was the best so called sleeping night on the AT so far. Tough hiking day going over Rocky Mountain with a 1000 foot ascent and Tray Mountain with elevation at 4,430 feet. I have a 7.4 mile hike to Dicks Creek Gap. I plan to go into Hiawassee for 36 hours of R & R.