morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-01-20
To: OK, I'm In
Miles today: 0.0

I decided to wait until after New Year's before starting a journal for this year's hike. It would be too easy to write 100 preparation entries... although I vastly enjoyed reading all of Certain's in 2007. I plan to stick with one a week until I leave. The Plan is as of today, my husband will drive me to Springer Mt. on March 7th, weather permitting.This will be my second attempt to thru-hike the AT. I first tried in 2004. I hiked about 1,000 miles from Davenport Gap (after the Smokies) to Delaware Water Gap (PA/NJ state line)...in 5 months. Remember...I'm Slow Barbara. I had already section hiked everything from Springer to Davenport Gap, so I tried to get a jump start. Since 2004 I've been slowly working my way north to Maine. So far, I've made it up to Manchester Center, VT. as of last summer. Even though this is good in my book...something inside of me wants to complete the trail in one season. I've been wanting to do that ever since I got off the trail in 2004. My best daydream this year is to complete a thru-hike AND yo-yo the 537 miles I have to go to finish my section hike. Then I would have completed two hikes in 2008!I knew it would be possible to attempt a thru-hike this year ever since the 2006-2007 school year. For 14 years I taught First Grade. It was my vocation and my love. Then I got a new principal, the evil Mrs. S. who for some unknown reason made my life a living hell. I decided to take a year's leave of absence instead outright quitting. But when August rolls around this year, I think I'll mail the School Board a postcard from the trail. (Teehee)It was a big decision for me to put my journal on TrailJournals. Not only do I hike slow, I write slow, type slow, etc... I wanted to make sure in myself that I will stay committed to an online journal. So folks, I'm in.
Date: 2008-02-24
To: A One Digit Midget
Miles today: 0.0

A one digit midget is military-talk for having less than 10 days to go. (My husband is a retired Navy Chief.) I'm feeling the pressure now. I haven't packed yet. Can you imagine? Actually, I haven't done anything to get ready yet.The dining room is covered with my husband's dissertation project. Since that is not the table's primary use, I had to pile the clean clothes to be folded on the coffee table. It's not big enough and the towering pile is leaning.In one corner of the dining room, I have all my Walmart purchases in bags ready to be distributed into maildrops. I have a stack of unfolded Priority boxes from the Post Office. One thing I don't have is chocolate. The last time I had maildrops, my husband helped himself to all my M&M's and my maildrops arrived sans chocolate. But he is really good about mailing things on time.In another corner of the room I have all the other stuff that isn't major pieces of gear. I still need to sort through it and decide what stays, what goes, and what goes in a maildrop to be shipped to me later.In the foyer blocking the dining room entrance is 3 black foot lockers and 3 big boxes holding all my brother's worldly goods that he had with him in Iraq. They just arrived 2 days ago. I need to sort through it all and decide what stays, what goes to the thrift shop, and what goes in the trash.I'm also working almost up to the last minute at my temporary part-time job. Starting tomorrow I have to train the New Guy, my replacement. And help my niece and her roommate with their taxes. Oh yeah, I still need to do ours...
Date: 2008-03-05
From: Springer Mountain

To: Stover Creek
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: clear sky

Oh joy, oh glorious day! After an all day drive to GA in pouring rain yesterday, I woke up to a magnificent sunrise at the Hiker Hostel in Dahlongega.It felt like Christmas. I was so excited to be there. My good friend and ride, Claudia, and I stayed in a room with V-8 and Auntie Mame who are twin sisters. They quickly formed the 57 Club and included me because I was close enough. Claudia and I left at 9:00 am while the other hikers were loading up for their shuttles. We went to the Visitors Center at Amicalola Falls State Park to weigh my pack (37 lbs.) and sign in. I'm #127.We then drove up to Springer Mtn. Or as close as you can get, to Big Stamp Gap. I was glad Claudia hiked south with me to Springer Mtn. Although it was a push for her, she made it. She longs to hike the trail with me and is unable to at this time. The day was beautiful. The sun was shining and the trees covered with white sparkling rime ice. It looked like a fairy land. Tiny pieces of ice were falling like snow. After awhile the trees became like the trees in the Wizard of Oz and instead of throwing apples, they were throwing chunks of ice like snowballs. By the time we made it back to the parking lot, the trees were bare again.While we were at the summit and taking pictures, Claudia presented me with a surprise. Knowing I like and collect elephants, she handed me a tiny yellow foam sponge elephant to take to Katahdin instead of a pebble (a hiker tradition). Claudia is expecting a picture of the elly on the Katahdin sign. She took pictures of him on the Springer sign.I left Claudia and Big Stamp Gap around 2:15 pm. I stopped at the new Stover Creek Shelter for a snack. I was so disgusted with several whoevers who left their trash. Are they expecting their mothers to hike after them to pick up after them?I was down on myself for forgetting to sign the register at Springer Mtn. I wanted to state there at the beginning of the trail that I'm dedicating my hike to my brother Richard. Stover Creek had to do. It was to early to stop and from experience I know that there are several campsites along the way. However, a mile later when I crossed Stover Creek, I realized that I was tired. So I stopped at 3:30 and set up my tent at a campsite next to the creek.After 6:00 pm...the sun is gone but it is still light out. I'm cosy in my tent and I'm cooking Ramen just outside of the tent. It is below 50* inside. I'm writing with my luxury item #1 - a special space pen that writes in the cold, upside down, underwater, etc. etc. It weighs a 1/2 oz. more than a regular pen. I just noticed that my 4 liter bag that I use to collect water is leaking. I'll have to get a new one when I can.8:54 pm. I woke up for a pee run. 40* in the tent. I'm sleeping with long johns, 2 long underwear shirts, fleece hat, and gloves. I wish there was a nose warmer.11:41 pm. Second pee run. Just wait until you are older my dear. It is below 40* in the tent. I can't tell you exactly because it is one of those tiny lightweight thermometers.
Date: 2008-03-06
From: Stover Creek

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 6.4

Awake before 7 am. A cold restless night. Below 40 degrees in the tent, and around 30 degrees outside.Glow-worm (¢06) came by to chat as I was tearing down the tent and packing. Nice guy. Here I am leaving before 10 am. Slow Barbara. Glow Worm stayed at Stover Creek with 20 spring breakers in ¢06 and couldn¢t believe I had the place to myself.Beautiful sunny day. I was wearing short sleeves and the flies were out. Only four guys passed me today besides Glow Worm. Where are all those thru-hikers?I stopped to fill up my water bottles at Hawk Mountain Shelter ¢ 2 quarts = 4 pounds. I was so surprised by how heavy my pack felt. Also at Hawk Mountain, someone left a note that Army Rangers passed by and said that bad weather was passing through but should clear up by Saturday. Later, over a rise, I was surprised to see cars driving by. I didn¢t know how close the trail was to a road. When I hiked through here before, there was lots of green vegetation. Now there is nothing but bare trees. Read between the lines and figure out where the ladies room is. Non-hikers: no, you don¢t hold it until you reach a privy. Pitched my tent at Horse Gap. It was already 5:30 with Sassafras Mountain ahead of me. Alone again.
Date: 2008-03-07
From: Horse Gap

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: moderate rain

I woke to RAIN. This so-called experienced backpacker will demonstrate how to pack up her stuff in the rain. I was warmer last night. It was below 50 degrees in the tent. Success! Everything was packed in the pack while I was in the tent. Everything went inside the garbage bag I lined the pack with. The pack cover kept my pack dry while I tore down the tent in the rain. I closed up the garbage bag and laid the wet tent bag on top before closing up my pack.My main mission in life today was to make it to Gooch Mountain Shelter. Nothing else mattered. When I get to Gooch Mountain Shelter, I'll make myself hot coffee. When I get to Gooch Mountain Shelter, I¢ll make myself a hot dinner. When I get to Gooch Mountain Shelter, etc., etc. I saw no one today. Only a set of boot prints in the mud (When did he pass me?). When I got to the shelter after noon, there was no one there. I made myself at home and spread out all my stuff. It had stopped raining and now there is just fog. The temperature is supposed to drop and snow showers are in the forecast. I¢m unsure of what I¢m going to do tomorrow. Stay here or camp at Woody Gap. The next shelter is 12 miles away. I can¢t do the miles (yet).Some hikers physically prepare themselves for the AT. I belong the small, select group that believes that nothing prepares you for hiking on the trail except hiking on the trail. All I did to prepare myself for the trail was to eat lots of chocolate. I should get in shape in a couple of months.I fell in love with my gloves today. Although they were wet, they kept my hands warm. At times I would take them off and wring handfuls of water out of them. I got them on sale at REI last year. They are Polartec in a large girls size (I have little hands). They are black and painted with pink flowers and dots. New hikers are showing up one at a time ¢ all guys. We have six of them now. 7:00 pm ¢ I had fallen asleep and just woken to hard rain followed by thunderstorms. There are even more guys in the shelter
Date: 2008-03-08
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It¢s after 7:00 am and it just started to snow ¢ pretty. I had a restless night but didn¢t have to get up (Thank God. I even got hot enough to take off pieces of clothing (scribe¢s note: SB informed me that to keep warm, she sleeps in all her clothes). Then later towards morning everything went back on. Only one guy, Thorny, is up and getting ready to go. I was a bad girl last night. I didn¢t hang my food on the handy bear cables. Mice don¢t usually get in my stuff and my food bag will get wet (lousy excuse because everything is in ziplocks). Well, they crawled into my pack hanging on the wall, chewed through the garbage bag, found my food bag, chewed two new holes, chewed several holes in the big ziplock holding my snacks, and went straight to the peanuts and the gorp. Lesson learned.I think I¢ll go to Woody Gap today (5 miles. I¢ll either tent in the snow or hope the Hiker Hostel does pick up at 5 pm as the handbook says. It was a beautiful day with the snow falling. After the snow stopped, it continued because the wind was blowing it off the trees. When I reached Gooch Gap I saw Leigh from Hiker Hostel. I waved at her and asked if there was any room there tonight. She said no, they were full. I was glad that I saw her and learned that. She said to me that she could take me to Dahlonega at 5 pm. That daydream of staying at the Hostel was busted. I spent my time hiking wondering what I was going to do. Tent at Woody Gap? Hike a little further? Make it to the next shelter? No way. I kept telling myself, ¢It will work out.¢When I reached Woody Gap, it was freezing cold and windy. I saw a hiker on the other side of the road. He yelled something but I couldn¢t hear him, so I went over to talk to him. Rob was trying to hitch to the Hiker Hostel (the wrong way, we found out. I decided then and there to hitch with him and perhaps stay in a motel tonight. We got a ride to the Hiker Hostel. When I walked in, Josh said, ¢Slow Barbara, we had a cancellation. Leigh was going to pick you up at Woody Gap and tell you.¢ Is this a great place, or what?Bathed, shampooed, cleaned clothes. Good company. Met Bananas and Newt. V-8 and Auntie Mame are still here ¢ they have been slack packing. Josh reminded everyone to change their watches ¢ spring forward. P.S. My gloves were still wet this morning but kept my hands warm.   And my water hose was frozen by the time I reached Woody Gap. P.P.S. I decided to name my yellow elly Claudia. Now my friend can hike the trail with me, even if by name only.
Date: 2008-03-09
From: Woody Gap

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

I woke this morning with yellow mucus clinging to my eyelashes. Pinkeye! Oh, no, I¢ve got to go to the doctor. One of the guests at Hiker Hostel happened to be a P.A., and she didn¢t think I had it. I got the sense from everyone that pinkeye was no excuse for not hiking. Leigh from Hiker Hostel gave Newt and me a shuttle to Woody Gap this morning. It was so freezing cold and windy. It seemed worse than yesterday. I had to run into the ladies room located at the trailhead and put on another layer. Newt and I kept passing each other. We were enjoying each other¢s company. The day started out so windy and cold. The trail was crunchy with ice. The ground had squeezed out frozen water in interesting four inch long ice fibers. As the day warmed up, the wind stopped and the trail melted and became mucky and slippery. It was a beautiful day. The landscape looked strange to me with thousands of barren trees and no color. Only small pockets of snow were left. Woods Hole was my goal today. Newt wanted to go ahead to Blood Mountain Shelter. I kept giving her grief about getting there. Our plan is to briefly stop at Neel¢s Gap, get supplies, and continue onward. I was planning to stay there at first. But now I don¢t need to. My clothes and myself are clean for now. My next goal is Hiawassee. It will take about six days, I think.I¢m here at the shelter with all guys again. Grandpas, grandsons, college kids, and no thru-hikers except for me. I¢m so cold.
Date: 2008-03-10
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Bull Gap
Miles today: 4.8

Last night I opened a Mega Warmer. It¢s bigger than a hand warmer and its supposed to give 12-plus hours of instant heat when air activated.   It didn¢t so I just thought that is was a dud and threw it inside my sleeping bag in case it generated any warmth. This morning it was cooking like a hot potato and kept cooking until I reached Neel¢s Gap in the afternoon. It took me four hours to hike the three miles to Neel¢s Gap. Of course, I had to hike up and over Blood Mountain. I didn¢t get going until after 10:00 am. I first woke up after 6 am but it was still dark out, so I went back to sleep. I bought about 10 pounds of stuff at Mountain Crossings to get me to Hiawassee. I already have buyers remorse even before putting it in my backpack. I¢m sitting here trying to eat some of it. Before leaving Neel¢s Gap, I weighed my pack ¢ 39 pounds. Not too bad, I can live with that. Oh yeah. A gentleman greeted me here and asked if I was a thru-hiker. He is starting next week and his name is Walky Talky. He talked to me because he said I was closer to his age. I was hoping to make some miles to catch up to Newt. After 6 pm I found a clearing with tents. It looked like a good place to stop for the night. I was disappointed to find out that it was only Bull Gap. There are three guys here from Tennessee and they are thru-hiking.I¢m using a Jet Boil to cook with. My last fuel canister only lasted three days. Not good. I¢m going to Hiawassee on one canister that I bought today. I like the Jet Boil because it is so compact. Fuel, stove and pot fits all together. I¢m going to be keeping track of how long my fuel lasts. The three guys hung their food. I didn¢t. I don¢t usually unless I see signs of bear. Yeah, we all are thinking about what happened with the mice at the shelter¢¦Oh, remember me packing away my tent in the rain? The next night I hung the tent bag upside down to drip out. The following night I was at the hostel. It was too windy to take it outside, so I just kicked it to the side. Last night, before the sun went down, I had laid it out on the ground hoping that it would dry. Tonight when I put it up, it was still wet. Maybe it will dry out.
Date: 2008-03-11
From: Bull Gap

To: Hogpen Gap
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: overcast clouds

6:41 am. I got up for pee run and then looked at my watch. It is so dark out. The last time I went back to sleep, I got a late start¢¦ so I¢m having breakfast in bed ¢ oatmeal and instant coffee.Today I was a woman with a mission. I was going to hike until 6:00 pm and camp there. In my heart, I wanted to be able to get to Low Gap Shelter to catch up with Newt. I counted the young men who passed me today ¢ 16! No old guys, no chicks. Number 14 would somehow get behind me and pass me again a few times. I only counted him once. I even learned his name ¢ Sean.Weird factor: when I was crossing Wildcat Mountain there was a bundle of clothes with boots laying on a rock. I didn¢t know if someone was trying to fake out hikers with stuffed clothing, or if it was a dead person. I had to go check. It was a young guy sleeping face down on a rock. He wasn¢t bothered that I disturbed him. He wasn¢t a hiker.5:00 pm ¢ I called it quits. I didn¢t want to push on. Five years ago I did this section and I had more stamina, I think. Is it the age difference?Today was gray all day and it sprinkled a little. While I waas eating dinner (Sante Fe Chicken), I noticed it getting lighter. I looked up and saw blue sky with white fluffy clouds. There is no sun where I¢m at. Oh yeah. This isn¢t a listed campsite. I¢m not calling this stealth camping when my bright orange tent is in plain view.
Date: 2008-03-12
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: clear sky

I am so cold and miserable, and lonely. I woke up before 7 am and it was still dark. I¢m still not used to the time change. The plan for today: see yesterday¢s. I wish I could do more miles¢¦I¢m in no hurry today. I¢m having a long, leisurely breakfast of oatmeal and instant coffee, while selecting snacks to eat during the day and duct taping my mattress pad. Let¢s see what else I can do to delay packing the pack and losing my comfortable bed¢¦The trail will provide ?. After I crossed the road, I found a couple setting up ¢trail magic¢ ¢ giving away drinks, fruit, and cookies. I was their first visitor.After hiking for a while, Jerrard and Colin passed me. I first met them Sunday, right after Newt and I passed Jarrard Gap. I was surprised those two weren¢t among the 16 I counted yesterday.Later I heard someone call my name. It was Pips and Butterbean (now Butters). I first met Butters right before Hawk Mountain Shelter. I thought for sure he was done for (I was wondering why this guy was wearing a fleece jacket on a hot day). It was my 1st time meeting Pips. Somehow she knew it was me. She had been following my shelter register entries.She hiked behind me to Low Gap Shelter. Everyone was noticing a forest fire on the mountain to the east of us. We are sure that the forest rangers will come rescue us if we are in danger. A crowd quickly filled the shelter. I saw a dozen people come and go. I was going to eat ramen and try to put in more miles. But after eating and feeling full, all good intentions went away. I decided to stay. There was room still in the shelter. Remember Rob from Wood Gap? His trail name is Ruby Tuesday. He was so pitiful at the Hostel and now he remains the center of attention. Also from the same hostel visit ¢ Peacock and his father, Daddy-O, and Michael who looks just like Harry Potter. All he needs is some duct tape on his glasses and a magic marker zigzag on his forehead. Guess what he doesn¢t want to be called? He now has a trail name too ¢ call him Ishmael. He is carrying Moby Dick with him. Also here are Dakota, Hacket, and Circumstance. Tenting nearby are honeymooners Ky and Sunkist with their two beagles. Also nearby is Handyman and ¢Stake and Shake¢. P.S. Ruby Tuesday and Peacock worked at the same camp last summer and didn¢t know the other was going to do a thru-hike. Small world.
Date: 2008-03-13
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

10:11 am. Finally everyone left and now I can have some peace and quiet. I didn¢t realize that I need that too. New rule ¢ pack before having coffee. I tend to linger too long over coffee ¢ make that several cups of coffee. Pips took a group picture before leaving. She¢s going to Unicol Gap and into Helen today. Most of us are headed to Blue Mountain Shelter today. It will be a push for me (7.2 miles).It was the most beautiful, warm spring day. I was wearing shorts and short sleeves. All the trees were leafless and dead asleep. Beyond the trees I see lots of mountains around me and nothing else. The trail was easy and the day couldn¢t be more perfect. I felt so happy, and then for the first time I really missed my brother. Before, I would just miss being able to tell him something or razz him about something. I cried a little while hiking.I¢m back in a shelter with Ruby, Butters, Dakota, and Hacket. Ky and Sunkist and their beagles are tenting. Also here are four spring breakers. I don¢t think they know how to take these thru-hikers. The guys were playing a game of fart tag (Don¢t ask). They made a fire and the spring breakers supplied everyone with marshmallows. The fart tag guys were singing Queen. I¢m amazed how well they sing together. They didn¢t know each other before.After lights out, they sang American Pie, Simon and Garfunkle, songs from Grease, etc¢¦ And Mr. Sandman in three-part harmony. And then they made up their own words to these songs.
Date: 2008-03-14
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

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

Oh rats, one of my gloves is missing. I looked everywhere. I think the mice took it. It would make a cute mousie nursery. I really love those gloves. We had a lot of mouse activity last night. Hatchet was seeing them and hearing them and freaking out. Showers were forecasted for today. The whole day was drizzly, gloomy, foggy and spooky. The rail was one be W ¢ down, up, down, up. I saw Ky and Sunkist at the cheese factory site. No evidence of the cheese factory ever being there, but it is a level campsite. Ky and Sunkist saw a campfire going and decided to stay. It looked like a tent city. Because it was only two more miles to the shelter, I knew I could do that. I like shelters. Trail Truism: The last mile the longest. I used pure determination for that last mile. When I arrived at the shelter, I saw more tents and several unrecognizable dark clothed figures in the gloom. I heard, ¢Slow Barbara, we saved a placed for you!¢ Then I saw Peacock, Daddy-O, Ishmael, and Handyman. Wow, I caught up with them. I¢m not so slow. I made Lime Shrimp ramen and added tuna. Either that was the best tasting food ever, or I was really hungry. When I got in my sleeping bag I found my other glove! I am happy.