morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Damascus

To: 0 day
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day in Damascus. Had good breakfast at Victorian INN B & B...tea, fruits, waffles, syrup, whipped cream, oj, Scrambled eggs. I am eating (both on & off trail) at least twice what I eat at home. Went to ATM's after breakfast & visited with other hikers..one of whom was leaving Damascus after 4 days of recovering from norovirus. He was the hiker from Austin, TX. He had been very careful but probably got it from the used toilet paper his dog brought to him. The dog probably had rolled in whatever too! Yuck!! He had been sick on trail and had managed to get into town. I have heard that the health dept with volunteers have been sprayng shelter and privys between Hot Springs and Erwin with a bleach solution. That is a good basic move but does not address other issues. Hikers can be contageous for 24-48 hours after they are "better". Some hikers will carry the virus noth with them. Some have also hicked while sick. I'm sure there is virus deposits of various sort around shelters too. Also it turns out that the alcohol gel we all use (also detergent) is not very effective at prevention because the virus does not have a lipid sheath. Also the virus can survive on a hard surface for up to 14 days and possibly longer. And there appears to be a short lasting (about 12 hours)and a long lasting (about 3 days) virus and you could get either one or both and can repeat infections. Walked to outfitters this AM (about 1/4 mile) then to Cowboys for lunch. Had trouble getting there & back. I think that my index toe is brokern. I have been on ibuprofen for 5 days now & the toe is still red & purple & swollen. It still hurts and I think I am losing the nail. I may have done this when I stubbed the toe & fell forward twice in the last week. We all stubb our toes on pretty much a daily basis. The big & litletoes are purple too. I think that I am going to need to see a doctor. I know that I will not push til I basicly cannot walk like I did in '05. That is one of my rules of "hiking better & smarter".
Date: 2013-04-28
From: 0 day

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Left foot giving lots of trouble. There is no medical care in Damascus. Abington is recommended but I arranged a shuttle to Marion, VA. My wife is meeting me there in 3 days on her birthday anyway. We will be staying at the Gen. Francis Marion Hotel for a couple of days. I called the hotel and added 3 nights for myself. Going to Marion means one shuttle instead of two. Cost is $60 plus a $10 tip. Driver was a nice gentleman. There was a problem though. When we arrived at the hotel the driver locked us out of the van...with my gear still inside. He called the shuttle owner who decided to have a locksmith deal with the problem rather than send someone with a spare key. We had to wait about 35 minutes for the locksmith who took all of one minute to open the door. He used a plastic wedge and a shim. Cost= $65. Not my problem though. The driver was worried that I would be upset. EHHH. No problem..just part of the AT adventure. There are a couple of restaurants close. Japanese food: Yummy Yummy and Macados, an upscale burger/sandwich place. Almost everything else in town is 1-2 miles away on North Main St. I do not believe that I will be walking that far.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Marion, VA

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Well my hike is over. I have a broken toe that is still swollen & purple & red after 3 zero days and almost a week of ibuprofen. I have 2 other purple toes too but those just seem to be bruised. Three blisters too. Two on the heel and one on the ball of my foot. Also I have at times numbness & at times pain in all the toes. All this on my left foot. In addition, I have all the symptoms of a stress fracture in my left ankle. I did not opt for the scan as they are somewhat iffy anyway. I am good to hike for the first hour or two but then I hobble and limp & sometimes have to stop. I know that some hikers continue with worse problems. I did push it in '05 and paid the price of 6 months recovery time. I will not do that this time. This time my standard has been to hike "smarter". The smart thing is to stop.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Marion, VA

To: home in a few days
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

If I were to start all over again, I would use a different sleeping bag (not that what I have is bad). I would get a shorter bag more appropriate for my height and it would be a zero to 10 degree bag. I did use the excess length to store extra clothes, water bottles, water filter, etc. over night. It kept them warmer, dryer, and safer. I would drop the cotton sleeping pajama bottoms (drafty around the ankles) and substitute long johns which could also be used during the day. The Sawyer water filter is OK but the squeeze bags are not durable. I would switch it to gravity feed (as I did later) or go to a similar system not sensitive to damage from freezing. I would keep my light fleece top but not bring the heavy fleece top (for camp). The Montbell down top is much lighter & takes up less room in my backpack. I was not aware of their availabilty before Hot Springs. I would carry an extra smaller water container for dryer areas (sooner than I did). Ultimately the Lightheart Solo tent worked out fairly well for me although I was really not happy with it at first. The floor is really slippery making it very hard to keep a pad under you. Ultimately I became pickier about setting up the tent in a level area & added silicone seam sealer stripes to the bottom of my Thermarest pad as well as extra stripes on the tent floor. The tent kept me dry in the rain and with a modified stakeout it was less drafty and warmer. But the Lightheart reply to my complaint was still very poor on their part. They had no suggestions other than tough luck...replace it.
Date: 2013-05-15
From: home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: very heavy rain

THE DUMBEST THING I DID (but got lucky): I hiked about 100 feet off trail to do a woods deposit. You know what I mean. I found the perfect spot, stuck my hiking poles into the ground, and leaned my backpack against a nearby tree. I did not put the poles and pack together. DUMB! I opened my pack and pulled out the toilet paper, wipes and alcohol gel. After a successful (and urgent) deposit, I covered the area, put stuff back in my pack, put on my backpack and walked back to the trail by a different route than my route in. I had just gotten back to the trail and realized that I had left my hiking poles stuck in the ground back in the woods. If you have read my gear list you know that I use my hiking poles as tent poles for my Ligtheart Solo tent. Whoops!! Oh Damn!! Back into the woods. Where did I do the deposit? I did different routes in and out of the woods and really...after a while.. all trees look pretty much alike. I found (I thought) the general area but had done a good "coverup job". No poles!! Oh Damn! I started walking concentric circles in the area. No Poles! Did I mention that my hiking poles pretty much blend into the background...no bright colors or anything. Well it is a little late for some neon yello spray paint. And how embarasing would it be to ask other hikers (if any come along) to help find my poles? Can I find, cut and shape sticks to use for tent poles til I get to a town and buy new poles? I had just given up and turned to go back to the AT. When I turned, I saw my hiking poles about 8 feet away between me and the trail. I GOT LUCKY!!
Date: 2013-07-01
To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I have been home a couple of months now. My left foot is mostly better. I still have some numbness in the big toe and a black toenail on the index toe. My wife and I are back dancing but I find that my left ankle is sore the next morning. I think that I made the right decision to get off trail. In the meantime I got a call a few days ago from GOOSE who I had met just after Max Patch and a few other times & we had hiked into Hot Springs together. We both stayed at the Iron Horse and had several meals together along with other hikers. He was an interesting person & I wished that I could do the daily miles to keep up his pace. I would have liked to hike with him. Goose is currently hiking with ALL THE WAY. I had met All the Way a number of times at shelters. They were planning to reach Kent on 7-1-13 & wanted to know if I would like to get together with them. I was thrilled. They are both good, interesting people. I wished that I could load up my pack and join them but they are doing mostly 20 mile days now.....too much for me at my best. It is about a 2 hour drive for me to Kent but seeing them was well worth the drive. I met them where the AT crosses rt 341. It was raining and everyone complained that the mosquitoes were horrible. I arrived early and met BAKER and another hiker from Tennessee (whose trail name I cannot remember) and gave them a ride into town. I was back at the trail crossing as FATTY came out of the woods. I offered her a ride into Kent too. She accepted and needed to go to the outfitters. I know that it is not much of an outfitter compared to Hot Spring, Damascus, or any of the other outfitters in the south. Goose & All the Way arrived about 3PM. First stop the post office, the IGA for resupply, then B & B where they showered off their hiker funk. They had been pretty nasty smelling but I have been there too, so no big deal. Then off the the outfitters where they found nothing they needed or wanted then to the laundromat. After the laundromat we went to the Fife & Drum for dinner. It was good but be aware that it is an upscale place....good food..and you pay for it. I dropped them back off at the B&B about 2.5 miles north on rt 7 and then off to home for me. Great visit. Glad to help them ...and I am truely jealous. I'm thinking that I will only section hike now. I will not try a through hike again.
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Kent, CT

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I deleted my journal entries regarding a hiker that I had hiked with (2013, AT near NOC)for a very short time. That hiker later died near Damascus. I felt that the situation and experience (mine, his, and other hikers who met him) should be discussed and could be a learning experience for all of us both on trail and off. At the beginning I had stated that his death was a tragedy. I still believe that it was a tragedy regardless of anything else. Unfortuanately I just started receiving hate emails in addition to other emails regarding that hiker. It has become a real hornets nest that I choose not to participate in.
Date: 2014-03-04
From: Kent, CT

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I deleted my journal entries regarding a hiker that I had hiked with (2013, AT near NOC)for a very short time. That hiker later died near Damascus. I felt that the situation and experience (mine, his, and other hikers who met him) should be discussed and could be a learning experience for all of us both on trail and off. At the beginning I had stated that his death was a tragedy. I still believe that it was a tragedy regardless of anything else. Unfortuanately I just started receiving hate emails in addition to other emails regarding that hiker. It has become a real hornets nest that I choose not to participate in.
Date: 2014-07-01
From: home

To: Pinkham Notch, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

After 2 previous attempts (05 and 13) at through hiking the AT I have decided to try to finish by section hiking each of the next 3 years. I have completed about 1,400 miles. I have not hiked Harpers Ferry to Palmerton, PA and Kent, CT to Katahdin. I also skipped 30 miles in VA near the Homestead Restaurant. This year starting 7-12-14 I plan on starting at Pinkham Notch and continue to Katahdin. I chose this section because it is the most difficult section that I have left and I am only getting older (71).I am also short which seems to be a problem for hikers in that section. One of the trail guides indicates that sometimes you need to jump. Jump? You have got to be kidding! I have not jumped in years. THe older you get, the harder it is on your body. I am in very good health and pretty fit. With over 2,000 hiking miles on my various boots, I am fairly experienced but realize that I sometimes push too hard and too far. If I can restrain that I think that I will be successful and I do love advenure and challange. I had a hiking parter but he just got a job so I will be hiking solo. I am putting my gear together now. It will be mostly the same as in 2013.
Date: 2014-07-02
From: home for 8 more days

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I have my gear together now. In 2013 my base back weight not counting food & water was 18 lbs. This time 15 lbs. I will go over everthing again & hope I can get to 14 lbs but I am already at the can-I-do-without-it stage. My only "luxury" items are sleeping socks/t-shirt & underwear. I like to clean up for sleeping & it keeps my sleeping bag cleaner & not so stinky. I have decided not to bring Awol's 12 mile a day average guide. I do not think that I can do the for the first week and a couple of other days. In a way it takes some pressure off. I do a single digit day, it's OK. My earliest commitment is August 26th & that ould be changed if needed. But I will not miss the ZZ-Top and Jeff Beck show that we already have tickets for on August 31st.
Date: 2014-07-10
From: home

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well tomorrow is the day that we drive to Gorham, NH. It is about a 4 hours drive from home. We plan on leaving home about 9AM and spending the afternoon exploring the area around Gorham. All I need is some bread for my food bag. My pack weight is 19.8 lbs including 2 & 1/2 days of food but not counting water (and the bread). I plan on starting at Pinkham Notch between 8 & 9 AM on Saturday. The day starts more or less flat but shortly starts a long climb. I have been on a daily exercise regimin for over a month involving a hill and stairs. I know that exercise is never enough and only trail hiking prepares you for trail hiking. My breathing is definately improved. My first day goal is at least Carter Notch and possibly IMP shelter. I plan on being in Gorham again for resupply on Monday. I do not plan a zero day in Gorham and plan on packing 5 days of food out of town. My oldest son has volunteered to post Trail Journal entries as I mail them to him and my wife has an email and facebook list to let friends and family know how I am doing. (My wife has asked how I would like to have my remains disposed of it I don't live through the hike. Hmmmmm. I wonder if she is planning ahead.)
Date: 2014-07-11
From: home

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

My wife & I left home about 9:15AM driving to Gorham, NH. My plan is to explore that area and get prepared for being dropped off at Pinkham Notch between 8 & 9 AM tomorrow. We arrived at Gorham about 2:30 and checked into the Royalty Inn. We had chosen this place because it had the highest star rating in the area and was not expensive. It turned out to be one of the cleanest hotels I have stayed at in recent years and clearly our room had been maintained well. There was one issue that we did not complain about. The AC had a hand written sign on that said that it did work but should not be adjusted in any way......(it really did not cool the room) but we spent the (warm) day exploring the area & did not come back til it was cooler.First we drove down to Pinkham Notch where the AT crosses rt 16 and explored the visitors center. There was a moose in the bog across rt 16. It had been hanging around the visitors center earlier and a ranger had guided it across the road. We walked a short way north on the AT then drove over to where the AT crosses rt2. There is a parking area there. I planned to return to Gorham from there to resupply and possibly stay overnight depending on the time of day.Back to Gorham and a search for my wife's aunt's house from the 50's & 60's. With the help of a local man we found it. The aunt & uncle had been long gone but my wife enjoyed seeing it again. . Then it was time for dinner. We decided to try Mr Pizza as we were not very hungry & wanted a light dinner. I got a broiled halibut and (real) mashed potato dinner. My wife got a chicken something with mashed potatos. We had been a bit leary about eating there because of the sports bar signs and 8 televesions that were advertised. Both dinners were good. I did notice that they had a blue moon margharita listed on the drink menu. Maybe when I returned to Gorham but not today. Later we got ice cream from the stand outside the general store across the road from our hotel. To bed fairly early as We knew that the next day would be a long hard day for me.
Date: 2014-07-12
From: Gorham, NH

To: Carter Notch or IMP
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: light rain

Day 1: Started out with breakfast in Gorham then my wife drove me to Pinkham Notch (RT 16) to drop me off. No moose in the bog this morning. It was difficult to say goodbye. She always tells me: "You have to walk home from here". It is always difficult. There is a sign at the side of the road directing you to the AT. The trail started off more or less level for about a mile. Doesn't mean it was easy...just more or less level. It was quite rocky in some areas. Already I know that I am not on the AT in GA, NC, TN, VA, WV, PA, NY, NJ or CT any more. Then the climb started...about 2,000 feet to peak E of Wildcat mountain. This is really different from the AT in the south. I had spent 5 weeks training on stairs and hill climbing in preparation for this. It was not enough. My leg muscles are holding up pretty well. Still I sometimes had to stop about every 10 feet of climbing to catch my breath. I should have spent more time on cardio. Scrambling on rocks and boulders is not easy. So far I have a bit over 3 hours invested into todays hike and I have only reached Peak D (about 3 miles). Wow! Not even 1 mile per hour. I did notice that there are few white blazes to follow. Wildcat Mountain peak D is pretty interesting. The gondola is interesting and the views are good. The trail continuation is not too noticeable but I manage by watching other hikers. Next is Wildat Mountain Peak C followed by Peak A. I guess we do not go over peak B. The trail is very rocky and very difficult. There is a lot of ascending or descending of rocks and boulders. I think that I did actually see some dirt today though. That might have been wishful thinking. Since I am both older and shorter, this is beating up my body. The step up or down is frequently longer than my inseam. That means hand & knees. My knees are not happy with me. I realised that IMP Campsite is not going to happen for me today. Carter Notch Hut is my new goal. I hope they have room. I am absolutely not going to make IMP today. Also, I see no areas to set up a tent and really nowhere to bearhang food. The forest is very thick and overgrow. Impassable really. Wildacat peak C & A were next. Still very demanding trail. This is at least 10 times as hard as Blood Mountain in GA. (I have done that area twice.) FRom Peak A there is about an 1,100 descent. Still rocky. Still hard. Still banging me up. My knees are not happy. They are actuallt bruised and scraped from kneeling to get up & down some areas. Finally close to Carter Notch Hut. Ony about a 500 foot climb to go today. As you come into Carter Notch you go between 2 good sized ponds. Very pretty. There are people swimming and basking in the sun by the first pond. I am there! Carter Notch! Time to see if there is room at the inn. I really cannot make IMP today. I'm sure thatb they would not just cast me out into the wilderness. I would be willing to sleep on a floor. Time to check in. I'll plead that I am old if I need to.
Date: 2014-07-12
From: Carter Notch or IMP

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Started at Pinkham Notch about 8:45. Arrived Carter Notch Hut about 4 PM. Went into main hut & asked if there was room at the inn. There was! I got the Last available bunk. So I was assigned to cabin 2 in either room 6 or 7. There were 4 bunks in each room and a group of 7 had all of the other bunks. Whichever bunk was empty was mine. No one was in either room. Room 7 bunks were clearly taken. Ah, an untaken bunk in room 6. I put my gear down on that bunk then wandered the area. Nice mens & womens composting toilets with toilet paper, sinks, running water, soap, alcohol gel. Heaven! There were 2 nice ponds but I had no swimming wear and I hike in long nylon pants. I even go the beach in long nylon pants. Too much sun is not good for you and sunburns are bad for you...not to mention painful. I was back up on the porch of cabin 2 resting my sore feet & knees when a woman arrived & went into room 6. I followed her & asked if she was in that bunk room. She was. The other 2 bunks were taken by 2 other women. Obviously I was odd man out. Three women & me! We decided that she would check out accomidations with the others in her group. The other 4 in room 7 were men. We decided that however it worked out that we would deal with it. Obviously normal shelters are mixed anyway. I did warn her that I snore some but that I also do not sleep Naked and was brought up to be polite and considerate. (must of the time I am successful). Ultimately one of the guys switched into the womens bunk room and I bunked with the other guys. The bunk comes with dinner at 6 PM and an entertaining introduction and instructions by the hut crew. Dinner was coffee, teas, hot chocolate, really black bean soup, really excellent focaccia bread, salad, french style green beans, mashed potato, gravy, cranberry sauce, and turkey breast. The meal was served family style and was excellent! This was a lot better than my usual Mac & cheese or instant mashed potato. There was chocolate/almond cake for dessert. I skipped dessert because I really do not like chocolate. Take what you eat and eat what you take. All the food is packed in and leftovers cannot be composted and nobody wants to pack foodwaste out. By the way, whatevery you carry in must be carried out. They don't take trash! I sat at the table of 7 hikers that I would be joining for the night. Nice people just up to hike & explore for 3 days & a spend couple of nights at the hut. A fair number of hikers both NOBO & SOBO stopped by the hut to visit & have dinner but only one stayed. He ended up sleeping on a table in the dining room. They all seemed incredibly fit and young too. I am clearly the oldest person here. Lights out at 9:30. IT'S OFFICIAL! If you must stay up later you must not disturb others. Tomorrow is also supposed to be a hard day but not at bad as today. Today was a 5 ibuprofen day but not all at once. That would be an overdose.