morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-11-18
From: Gooch Mtn shelter

To: Springer Mtn shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

18 NOV (14.5 mi)Using the emergency blanket as a bag liner again, because it is freezing (!!!), but in addition to the warmth it retains, the heat condensates on the foil and runs down towards my feet, creating a sweat pond, if you will, which is simply immiscible with the idea or warmth. Midnight and I book out before everyone else, on a flat, broad, handicap-accessible trail. No wonder 60% of the NOBOs quit at Neel¢s gap ¢ they are disillusioned by the easy going in the beginning, and then hit Blood Mtn head on, freak out, and go home. I¢m glad I didn¢t start here, or a similar fate may have awaited me. As it is the last day, Midnight and I walk about 50 yards apart, in silence ¢ we are re-capping, digesting, preparing, holding on, letting go. It is sunny and warm. The stream, somewhere behind this wall of rhododendrons, sings its tune in many voices. We take a lunch/nap break at a sunny spot on Hickory flats with Skippy and Wobbles. Then, 0.9 mi from Springer, we let them go ahead and smoke their commemorative cigars on the summit, while Midnight and I wait for Lazarus and sit some more in silence. I cannot really describe it, but it¢s a great feeling ¢ being in nature, being silent, and being near someone else who understands, who also loves being out there, who also prefers the silence, yet we have the comfort of each other¢s presence¢¦ it will be difficult re-entering the hustle and bustle of civilization, with folks that can¢t shut up, with those that just like the sound of their own voice, that cannot tolerate the silence or the solitude, with those that will never understand¢¦ do I care if they do?We get the car, some food and liquor, and join Green Bean, Skippy, Wobbles, Reader, and Spaceman at the Springer Mtn shelter. We are in no hurry to summit, so we wait for Wobbles¢ friends to arrive from Atlanta, grill steaks, drink champagne, watch the moonrise¢¦ from a tree. Lazarus and I summit first, around 11:30pm. Then, I return for Midnight ¢ we¢re supposed to summit at midnight. So, we get some more champagne and summit at midnight. Skippy and Lazarus hike up with us this time too, but we soon make them leave, and enjoy the bright moon, the night view into the valley, and another silent moment ¢ a silent forever. Back at the shelter (after Midnight¢s famous, long struggle with the bear cables ¢ you¢d think by this time a hiker would learn how to use them, right? A sober hiker, that is), someone is in my sleeping bag!! Actually, the guys moved all the stuff around so now my sleeping bag is elsewhere and there ain¢t no body in it, I just didn¢t see it, but for a while it had me stalling ¢ do I kick this person out or snuggle next to them?
Date: 2005-11-19
From: Springer Mtn shelter

To: Sylva, NC
Miles today: 1.0

19 NOV (1 mi)Great sleep, and awake just in time to watch the sunrise¢¦ from a tree. I¢m so glad I¢d taken the time to watch the numerous sunrise and sunsets along the trail. There¢s an incredible energy in each one, and watching them in silence is pure magic. Midnight and I mosey on to the summit once again ¢ we just can¢t let go, but the excuse is that we need to take ¢summit pictures¢. Sure. Wobbles ¢ our chef ¢ prepares an amazing breakfast of eggs, veggies, toast, and chocolate cake for all of us, and we skiddle skidaddle down to the parking lot area past dozens and dozens of day hikers. (Is it the weekend again?)We drive out in 2 cars to the SOBO HOBOs gathering in at Sidetrack¢s and Strider¢s house in Sylva. There are about 30 hikers there and another dozen of trail angels (Neen and Miss Janet included) and S/S¢s family. I did not expect such a gathering!!! There is food and a fire going, but the best part is the tree-boat. It isn¢t a tree house, it isn¢t a boat house ¢ it¢s a tree-boat, complete with life preserves and a steering wheel, should the tree fall into the nearby creek. Midnight and I cowboy in it.
Date: 2005-11-20
From: Blue Ridge Parkway

To: Rusty's
Miles today: 0.25
Weather: clear sky

20 NOV (0.25 mi)After an awesome breakfast and more chatter by the fire, we separate into our own directions. Took Skippy and Wobbles to Knoxville, and drove out to Rusty¢s on the Blue Ridge. It¢s important to keep hiking, to keep at least some mileage on the charts ¢ then the journey isn¢t over yet. We hike down Rusty¢s driveway (I didn¢t stop here on the way north) and giggle at the signs he¢s got all over the place ¢ even a phone (just for my grandmother¢s calm)! He isn¢t home, but we make ourselves comfy in the bunkhouse, and hope to see him in the morning.
Date: 2005-11-21
From: Rusty's

To: Blue Ridge Parkway
Miles today: 0.25

21 NOV (0.25 mi)It rains all night. I am glad to be indoors, but not enough indoors so as not to hear the rain, just enough to know that I don¢t have to go out into it, yet. Rusty is home and welcomes us to ¢his¢ rooms. He sits in his lazy-boy chair, like Santa, with all kinds of kerosene lamps, bottles, trinkets and tools hanging about the place. There¢s a call for him; ¢You should take a picture now ¢ it will the first of me on the phone! I don¢t even know how to use this thing!¢ He¢s great, and his rooms are warm and cozy that I almost don¢t want to leave, but I remember the rain, and Rusty remember his dental appointment, so we eat breakfast, sign the books, pack up and slowly walk up the driveway. While we¢re hiking, it isn¢t over, yet.
Date: 2005-01-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

i'm getting ready (again). i received an email yesterday from someone special to me .... "grits". grits started on springer with me and some other fine people last april. he was fast on the trail, so i didn't see him for long. and, at some point, he got off the trail. he gave me my trailname. i'm keeping it for this hike too. so, the email said he'd had some bad luck with jobs, and had joined the navy. he just finished boot camp. i don't know what's next. i just remember us all crammed into a shelter one evening in april, sampling walkabout's dehydrated icecream. we had so many laughs. this big group of strangers was a family. though some of us only spent a few days together, a year later we're still intouch. thank you to grits, rocket, walkabout, sassafras, solace, ktr, waker, sugarplum, jaws, up & down, and so many others ......
Date: 2005-01-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

for those of you interested in my whereabouts, i'm in raleigh now. i work part time at my lys (all the knitters know what that is). okay -- local yarn shop. i've been knitting up a storm, thinking too much, walking/hiking sometimes, taking trips, contemplating, planning, enjoying leisure, etc ..... it's not been a hayride though. there have been some serious rough spots, that make me really want to run into the woods. i realized recently that my mind is so clear when i'm walking in the woods. it seems i would had realized that much sooner, but i've always been a late bloomer.i'm living with a friend, so this time around, there is not an apartment to pack up. things are much more simple now. i appreciate the simplicity. and long for even more ....in preparations for the trail, i still have some decisions to make --- such as, my prolite 3 pad or ridgerest? spork or spoon? tarp or tarptent? what to sleep in? tear up my companion book for just the sections i need? buy the 2005 edition? liners with socks? maildrops? food choices? (yes, i am taking cheese!) mw capilene bottms vs. lt. fleecy bottoms? just your general thru-hiker junk.i walked about 140 miles last season, before blisters and tendonitis got the best of me. a couple of weeks after that, when i was about to leave to get back on the trail, i had an anxiety attack. i still don't know why. i have suspicions though. i'm starting back at springer. i will have anxiety when i get to the n.o.c. (where i got off the trail). i look forward to the smokies, and the mt. rogers area, and for many things beyond that. i hope i don't get too scared to continue. i still don't understand how i got siderailed last time. i have some hurdles.last season i carried pockemail. i don't know if i will this time. this time, i feel like keeping a paper journal. with pencil, and maybe watercolor pencils. it would be nice time to get back to drawing. last season, i would see flowers that i didn't know the names of -- it would had been nice to sketch them and identify them later though.so, who knows what this journal may turn into. maybe a little a la frida kahlo (the colorful parts).
Date: 2005-02-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

i made it to the computer today, to catch up, read some trailjournals, and got inspired to submit another entry. i'm still contemplating the artistic journal vs. the electronic. things are different this time. in some ways, i feel a slight panic that i'm not in olympic condition, though, probably better off than last time with all my time sucked into packing, etc.i spoke with an old trail friend yesterday evening -- mr. 'kick the rocks' . what a nice surprise, to say the least. we may try to rendezvous to start the trail together. i'm sure we have plenty of chatting to do between now and then to see if we want the same things as far as pace, goals, destination, etc. either way, it would be great to meet at springer. it seems we both want some of the same things ... such as taking things easier, slower, enjoying the trail more.i'm home visiting my family right now. i'm going to confiscate my 'old' precip jacket and perform some surgery on it. i'm going to take the hood off. i'd much rather wear it with my rain hat instead. i sort of shopped for a new jacket, but even an rei elements jacket on sale is more costly than my precip. so, hey, i'll just use what i have, with some alterations.my parent's live in a smallish north carolina city/town. there was a man written up in the local paper not too long ago that completed the a.t. for the _th? time in his 70's? geeezz. lee barry (please, i hope, i got his name right). that's inspiration.so, there's lots to do yet --- has 'gizmo' read me the riot act? you bet! all i can say is "hike your own hike". it's not a race. you don't get prize/trophy at the end. it's all about what's inside you. no one can see it, feel it. so, ___ them. (oops).
Date: 2005-02-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

i've been doing some dayhikes, but not necessarily with significant pack wt. oh well. (someone is going to 'kick my ass' for being so flip about that ---- IF he ever reads this.)what have i done lately? i've committed to a start date. i will arrive in georgia a month from today, and start hiking on the 14th --- with ktr. on my hike today, i had the opportunity to fret over layers. do i need a ss shirt, or just ls for now? what to sleep in? which sleep bag? pad length? tarp vs. tarptent? hammock later?it may be time to play scarlett and worry about all this tomorrow.things do feel different from last season. that's good. it's a motivator.i hiked today in the exact same clothes i hiked in yesteday. they reeeeked. super stinky. gotta love those odor-holding synthetics. my hiking partner wrinkled his nose, trying to be snobby. i didn't care. i won't have the luxury of picking and chosing my daily hiking outfits once i'm on the trail. oh, speaking of an ass kicking, i must include this postcard
Date: 2005-02-13
To: help me
Miles today: 0.0

i have this fascination with gear. maybe it's all the pretty colors, or the promises the tags make. i am not taking everything on my gearlist. just some of it (maybe). really. trust me, i will be freaking the night before tossing things in and out of the backpack. the backpack, by the way, is a 'go'. it took me a long time to figure out what would work, and the osprey fits like a dream, esp. at 25-30#'s. that's my goal, 30#'s or under. can you believe i considered taking a monopoly game today -- maybe it comes in a backpacker form, but i thought i could leave the game pieces, trim the board for only the edges with the properties, etc ..... crazy? i know.other things not on my gearlist --- maps. yes, i am taking maps. i like to know where i am. i like knowing where i can bail. i don't plan to bail, but who knows what the weather may do.
Date: 2005-02-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

holy crap! i'm online trying to take care of things --- such as my train ticket down to georgia. i would have to board the train in charlotte in the wee hours of the morning (ie: 3:25 am)(plus, it takes close to an hour to get to charlotte) to get to my destination. maybe i should look at bus schedules?
Date: 2005-02-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

i had my first (of the season) a.t. dream. it was sprinkled with fun and anxiety. i was down at the hostel in dahlonega, ktr and i were just hanging out, waiting for the next day to begin our hike. i decided to use the time to pack things up. but, .... what? i had left all my gear in raleigh? did i have time to rent a car and drive to raleigh to bring it back? could i call a friend and make decisions over the phone as to what pieces of gear/clothing that i needed? how was i going to break the news to my hiking partner? i woke up slightly panicked. it could had been worse --- i could had been dreaming of large bodies of water with huge freakish creatures, or of driving off a cliff.dreams seem so clear to some people --- maybe the obvious thing here is that i'm not totally prepared. i've been sick for days, and have made zero progress. i'm not worried about that, but i guess my subconscious is? i still need to make my travel reservations. i'll decide which mode, train or bus, when i decide which ungodly hour i'd like to arrive in georgia.the only trail prep i need to do is decide which gear is going into the pack. i found something i printed off the internet some time ago --- the 6x5 theory --- six major catagories of weight producing items in the pack ---none of which can weigh over 5 lbs. 1) backpack itself - 5lbs or less, 2) sleeping gear (bag, pad, tent) - 5 lbs or less, 3) clothing (all) 5 lbs or less, 4) boots, 5) food and water, 6) everything else ---- so, if footwear is only 2 lbs, then there's 3 lbs that can be applied to another catagory, such as food and water. i want to try to stick to this theory, as it's a 'skin out' weight goal. meaning, that with this method, my pack will be under 30 lbs, as i'd be wearing some of the things with weight measured. it's very easy to toss in some little something, because it doesn't weigh a thing --- but, we all know that if we weigh all those little somethings, they do indeed have wt. it adds up quickly.in the meantime, the most important goal is to get well. that approach trail is going to kill me if i'm hiking w/ remnants of bronchitis. i'll have to hire a porter.
Date: 2005-03-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

i start hiking in 12 days. i will finish my antiobiotic in 10 days.i've been sick. though my doctor is convinced i need to be on an antibiotic, i don't really feel as bad as i did when she wrote the script. but, i sure don't want to start my hike and end up worse than now.i'm just counting the days now --- i don't really feel like writing at the moment, but thought i should. the moments of writing hit me when not convenient -- ie: driving down the highway at 70 mph on a sunday night.i'm in my hometown now. mom has foot surgery in the morning. i'm going to be her feet until i leave for my hike. i don't have much left in the way of prep. maybe it's mostly mental prep, and last minute gear decisions. it's going to be cold here tonight. 25*. probably in the teens up in the mountains. brrrr. i'm considering my (in transit) 15* bag vs. my 0*. powerstretch vs. r1 or .... i am spoiled. i spoil myself. and sometimes, others spoil me.my last days in raleigh were nice. i had time to spend with most of my different friends --- meeting up for dinner, etc. it got me thinking about food. how much i'm going to miss certain foods. i'll miss pizza from lilly's and capital creations, i'm going to miss dalat, mo joe's, and the rockford. i'm going to miss whole foods, and nice dinners at dos taquitos, fraziers, and that old pizza place in cameron village (sigh). maybe it's ridiculous to miss food, but i've missed food before. i've obsessed. when i traveled in south america (an almost 6 month trip) i made a list of my favorite foods and would list the ingredients of the perfect pizza, sandwich, and salad.but, back to here. i'm ready to go. (mostly) i'm ready to stay on the trail. i'm ready for the next great adventure.it was sad leaving today (i left raleighwood). really sad. i shamelessly cry everytime i leave that place, those people, a person, .... since i don't know what's ahead, how things may change, when i will return.i like to think of change as opportunity. it IS an opportunity. but the new isn't here yet, and i need to let go of the old. or at least, loosen my grip.
Date: 2005-03-07
To: counting down
Miles today: 0.0

a week from today, i will be on the trail, or at least at the summit of springer. i (finally) bought my bus ticket today. it does not stop in my hometown, so i have to catch a ride to gastonia. i haven't ridden greyhound in years. i once took it cross country. i didn't sleep the entire way. on the way back i got kicked off the bus in texarkana because the ____ behind me picked a fight. i tried to ignore her, but the girl sitting next to me turned around and tried to punch her. so, off the bus goes the trouble. that was 10 years ago. i haven't been on the bus since then.trail preparation --- all my gear is downstairs, waiting to find out which pieces make the final cut. my scale is down there too. my goal is to have this all figured out by wednesday, so i can use the rest of my time for relaxing, food planning, etc. so far, i'm only planning on a drop to fontana dam. i will have maildrops here and there, to switch out my maps, get perscription refills, and whatever else i feel i "need".how i've been spending my time here in shelby --- crocheting. i started a big granny square afghan months ago when indian grandma was visiting. each square is about 18". each round gets progressively slower. i have 13 squares now, and will make it bigger. i am using cheap acrylic redheart brand. typically, i'm knitting up a storm, and DO NOT knit with dime store yarn. i'll try to shoot some pictures of my knitted goodies and post them soon. i did carry some knitting on the trail last season, but i'm going to try to cut that out this time as it's a luxury item, and i really want minimal pack wt. if i get desperate, i'll have yarn drops.
Date: 2005-03-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

it's been a good day so far, i banged my head on the ceiling downstairs, and i lost a completed entry due to windows closing on me. yahooooo!the head banging came from standing on the coffee table to aim the spot light at my 'work' area --- where all the gear, scale, notebook, etc, is piled up. i am a geek. i am weighing everything. i fear the outcome. i wish i had enough time to post my gearlist so it can be picked apart, but i don't think it will happen. we'll see. so, why the rush? that's how time is --- always running out. that's the nice thing about the trail -- so much time. there are things i should be doing. the photo is an example. instead of figuring out these things for my hike, i crocheted furiously on my afghan. i just felt a need to complete it before my hike, even though i won't be carrying it. don't ask. i think it's called 'avoidance behavior'.i also feel the need to put in a couple of plugs -- the first is for rei, specifically, andrew in customer service at the rei in cary. a mistake had been made in shipping, and andrew made a lot of phone calls and had the correct item overnighted to me. the second plug goes to mountain hardwear. their customer service and attention to design keeps me coming back. my two other favorite companies, on a smaller scale, are antigravity gear and tarptent. again, great products and customer service and support. (you'd think i'm standing at a podium accepting an award)(someday).so, yet again, i've procrastinated enough here and need to boogie. oh, i almost forgot --- funny thing --- it seems my hiking partner will be on the same bus i get on in gastonia -- he gets on the bus up in new hampshire. that's just good luck.
Date: 2005-03-12
To: snow delay
Miles today: 0.0

not here, but there, up in new hampshire. here, it's 71* and sunny. ktr can't get on greyhound until tomorrow, so i won't be leaving here until monday. that means i have more time to procrastinate. i should probably go "free" my down bag from it's stuff sack though. it's been crying, compressed, since yesterday afternoon. i'm going to try to pretend i'm really getting on the bus tomorrow, so i get everything ready to go before i'd have to leave for the bus. try to 'trick' myself.i'm not much into planning and preparation, and i don't know why. i think because i figure things just work out. i think about what i should be doing a lot, though i know it's not the same as actually doing it.i think i'm procrastinating due to 'fear of pack wt.'
Date: 2005-03-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

i swear by the pot cozy. i'm home alone, spending one afternoon on planning food for the next ? miles. i'll carry 4 days worth to neel's gap, get a drop there because their prices are outrageous. get another drop in fontana. so, i'm trying to organize meals prepared previously, and create new ones. i never tried any of these --- but, i put a dinner into the pot because it's way late for lunch, i'm hungry, and i may as well try it now. i boiled the water with 1/2 ounce of alcohol, dropped in the chicken w/ curry and rice, and when the flame died, put my pot into the cozy. it's been sitting there for 20 minutes and it's still piping hot, and all the rice and dehydrated chicken have absorbed the water, so it's not a soupy mess. hope it tastes good though
Date: 2005-03-14
To: the twinkie went down to georgia
Miles today: 0.0

well, almost. i head out in about an hour, to catch my bus. i do have some jitters. heebie jeebies. not too bad though. i weighed my pack. it's about 28 lbs w/ 4 days of food, 2 liters of water, and probably too much fuel. i added a couple of things such as my camp shoes and charger for my camera battery. i'm still debating on my cell phone. that's the danger in adding little things on the fly --- the wt. creeps up.i'll journal next from somewhere south of here. maybe from dahlonega.adios!
Date: 2005-03-14
From: on the road to georgia

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

ktr was on the bus as promissed! we chatted most of the way down to georgia until he got too sleepy and napped. i'm not a huge fan of the bus. there were some people at the back of the bus smoking, probably in the bathroom. it was stinky. ktr hollered out, "why don't you wait until you're OFF the bus to smoke! it stinks!" my hero. i could see the driver in the mirror --- boy, was he paying attention to things now. at the next stop he ordered the smokers off the bus. guess they were scolded enough to not do that anymore.gear news, my hair thingy broke when i fixed my ponytail! it popped off and flew behind my pack. i tied a knot in it to hold it together. i have more somewhere in my pack. i also forgot my "free" bottle holder i found last year in a hiker box. my pack has mesh pockets on each side, but i can't reach them when walking. i'll either figure out another method or have my old one dropped with my food to fontana.and, i'm hungry. we'll find a place in dahlonega to have a celebratory (?) beverage, and some dinner. later.it's later now. bedtime later. the bus was a little late getting into gainesville. almanac was waiting for us, then we all waited a few minutes more for tomato-head. gotta love trail names the hiker hostel is immaculate. profile and almanac really provide an affordable service. it is a deal for shuttling, bed, shower, internet, and breakfast.... even though breakfast is at some insane early hour! there's a full house here tonight. i'm not clear on how many are attempting a thru or are vacationing. i know there are some here that have been "slackpacking". lot's of interesting people here. okay, i'm tired. i'm going to take advantage of there being a shower available. nighty night!