morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-12-26
To: Gear Update
Miles today: 0.0

I added some gear reviews, it accessible on the left side of the screen. My most important advice is this: The only person who knows what will work for you is you. Don't let anyone, not matter how impressive they sound, get you into something you don't want. I ran into lots of people (especially outfitters) who tried to tell me what I should be using and I honestly had more experience than almost all of them. Some people just like to talk, I guess.I was surprised at the variety of gear that worked for different people. The ounce counters always complained about weight while other people carried bear canisters and 8 lb packs and never seemed to notice the extra weight. The thing is: they found out what worked for them and it didn't really affect their hike.Just don't wear cotton, cotton bad (on a AT thru-hike, at least).My other loose recommendations include:-trail runners, superfeet inserts, smart wool socks with liners. As long as your pack is under 40 lbs, you shouldn't have ankle problems. Believe in the trail runners.-contractor grade garbage bag liner. This is the only thing that will keep your gear dry. Nothing else is waterproof.-quality sleeping bag. Lafuma bags suck. I was always impressed by Defaults 40 degree bag that kept her warm well past the time it should have, I think it was Western Mountaineering bag? It was worth 10x what any lafuma bag cost. Also, be sure to get a full length zipper for max flexibility.-seriously look into a six moons designs lunar solo for a one person tent. Mine was HUGE, light, and always kept me dry. The once exception was when I woke up in a 6 inch puddle. It kept things dry long enough for me to wake up and move things on top of my sleeping pad. Still didn't let in a whole lot of water, very impressive for what it is. I miss sleeping in it.Thats all for now, be sure to check back for more updates!
Date: 2009-01-11
To: PCT
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I'm not sure if I confirmed it on this journal yet, but my latest adventure will be thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Best part is I get to hike it with BooBoo, I can't wait!We decided to do a joint trail journal under this link:http://www.trailjournals.com/rebeccapct09/We plan on taking turns journaling, hopefully that way I wont burn out and stop writing like I did on the AT.Hike on!
Date: 2007-10-22
To: Prep # 1
Miles today: 0.0

I left my apartment in New England and headed south to Florida in my brother Kevin's truck and trailer. I had been preparing for a possible personal 'doomsday' scenario in that Imay be homeless and need to find a way to survive. I've had lots of hiking and camping experience over the years so I was confident that I could manage a plan to survive. I used the internet to shop for backpacking/camping equipment. I already had a backpack that I had purchased five years earlier and had not used yet. That was my starting point. I had purchased a North Face 75 liter pack from the local Eastern Mountain Sports. At the same time I bought my two sons packs and we added items such as Camelback water bladders and many other items. During the time I did research, I made a list of items I would need as a survivalist. I carried that list with me on the trail. I used my experience backpacking in the eighties and camping in the nineties to develop my plan and list. I also had taken a backpacking course way back in 1980 as a freshman at the University of Arizona. Before I left my home in New Hampshire I had my pack loaded, torn down and reloaded several times to adjust the weight and pare down items I did not think I absolutely needed or wanted. I would guess that my pack still weighed over eighty pounds.
Date: 2008-03-02
To: Prep # 2
Miles today: 0.0

Pressure from my ex-wife and her lawyer to provide more unnecessary information and to attend another court hearing push me into a decision to rebel and not accpet any more of the BS I was being subjected to. I've had enough of a biased court system that takes all that is important to me away only because I am a man. My children belong with me just as much as they do with her and I don't accept the court's ruling giving her twelve of every fourteen days with them. I love my kids, they love me, and no one should have the authority to separate us. My ex-wife's spiteful rampage causes so much damage that I cannot continue to bear it.I leave my mom's home in Florida with my backpack ready to go but not really knowing where I will go or what the next day or hour may bring. All I know is that I have to get away and repair my mind, my life and my sanity. My heart aches for the cryptic message I leave for my mom in a note left on her nightstand. I know how much this will hurt her as well and I see no other way but to leave stealthily as to avoid any chance of being talked out of my decision or in a very messy goodbye. I also want to leave without any knowledge of where I will go to give my family plausible deniability in the case my ex tries to extract my whereabouts from them. She has a very passive-aggresive way of interrogating people and I don't wnat anyone to fall prey to her methods if I can help it.
Date: 2008-03-16
To: Prep # 3
Miles today: 0.0

After a few weeks spent in Florida trying to get together some financing and testing my travel path along with walikng ten to fifteen miles daily, I hop a bus and head to Tucson, Arizona. I planned to hike up into Mount Lemon and continue northward with a possible goal of reaching Montana'a wilderness. The bus trip is monotonous and I end up losing my iPod down the bus toilet. This is a great loss as I had organized my music over months and the tunes ahd been a great comfort to me in my despair.
Date: 2008-03-23
To: Prep # 4
Miles today: 0.0

Spent a week in Tucson researching the Arizona trail, visiting the UofA campus and doing more trail shopping. I decide that there is not enough reliable information water sources to confidently hike out. So...I jump a bus back east and head to Atlanta. I'm more familiar with eastern climates and terrains as well as the Appalachian Trail (at least I think so) and am more confident in striking out in a northward hike in the eastern mountains and woods.My time in Tucson is not wasted however, as I spend some time reminiscing over my time at school twenty-eight years earlier. I spent time walking around campus and the city and felt an ever increasing sense of relief in my respite from the attacks of my ex and the pressure and sadness of the past few years.
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Amicalola Falls/Gainesville GA

To: Frosty Mountain
Miles today: 4.8

Started out at the base of Amicalola Falls after taking a taxi in from Gainesville. Wasn't sure what to expect other than I was beginning a new journey and phase in my life. I thought I was out to 'survive' and my pack showed it. The customer service reps at the visitor center looked at me funny with all my gadgets. Once I took a step onto the trail, there was no turning back. I was determined to see it through whatever 'it' was. The emotions were raw and I struggled to hold it together. The weight of my pack and the strain of the hike must have kept me from losing it alltogether. Climbed the 600+ steps up 850 feet. It was such a struggle the whole way. Most of the way I could only go fifty or so steps and had to stop to catch my breath. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but this was ridiculous. I found myself getting angry at my lack of condition and then turned that to a "nothing's going to stop me" kind of anger and determination. Realistically, I couldn't believe how difficult this was. Could I really keep going struggling as mightily as this? So many times my mind wandered back to my kids, my situation with my ex-wife and how did things go so wrong. I think my mental struggles outweighed my physical struggles. By the time I reached the top of the falls I was exhausted. But...I made it! I looked around and saw that I was near a parking lot and tourist area. I didn't like seeing that I was still so close to people and wished I were far into the woods. I stopped only long enought to catch my breath and recover my strength and then continued on into the woods and up the hill. I met a young kid from Philadelphia as I ventured on. I felt more comfortable with less tourists and more individual hikers. Somehow I could relate more to those pursuing a trek carrying similar burdens. Haflway up the hill when I stopped for a rest I saw a guy close to my age and skinny as a rail carrying a pack that looked as big as he was. He stopped and intorduced himself as Will and spoke for about ten minutes before moving on.As the day grew longer and I reached what appeared to be a significant peak, I decided to stop and set up my tent in a flat area that looked accomodating. Later on a few weekend hikers arrived and asked if it were okay if they set up as well. Even though I thought I was looking for seclusion, I was glad for the company and in my own way, tried to be social. During the night, I sorted through my pack once again and found eight ounds of tiems I was willin to part with to reduce my pack weight. The night began to get colder but I was appreciative of the fresh air of freedom.
Date: 2008-04-03
From: Frosty Mountain

To: Black Gap Shelter
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Will "Does It All" waited for me at Black Gap Shelter after watching me struggle the first day. After a few hours of listening to him I renamed him "Storyteller". Used the hatchet and saw for the first time on the trail to prepare wood to start a fire. This is the first time I ever stay at a trail shelter. Even though I have hiked in NH's White Mountains for years, I always stealth tented and avoided 'civilization'.A ridge runner, Many Sleeps, stopped in and was visibly irritated with Will and I thinking we had cut 'green' wood for our fire. After we talked with his companion for a few minutes, he calmed down and was even social with us when he realized we actually knew what we were doing and weren't irresponsible.Met Dave from Connecticut who later became "Thor". (When I met Thor two months later in Virginia he said he didn't bother remembering my trail name since he didn't think I would make it very far given th eridiculous items I was carrying including the bb gun.I set up my 4-man dome tent inside the shelter and shared it with another hiker since there were only four of us staying the night. I guess the drizzly and cold weather is appropriate for my mood and situation.
Date: 2008-04-04
From: Black Gap Shelter

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: light rain

Met Harve58, a very nice gentleman from Birmingham AL. Harve hiked with me and Storyteller for about a week. Harve jumped onto the trail with a similar hardship story as myself and Storyteller. I was so impressed with his quiet determination and laissez-faire demeanor. He didn't complain about his circumstances but instead talked about the opportunity to hike the same path as his paternal ancestor returning from the civil war. Although Harve struggled under the weight of older/heavier equipment he pushed on. I thought of him often as I continued along the trail and wondered at times if he was till on the trail.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Hawk Mt Shelter
Miles today: 5.0

Met Stickman and Shalako today on a very cold and rainy day. Also met Rebecca and Zemora (Feather and Freckle). Met Mike (aka Bourbon) during the days hike. I learned about water filtering from him as he had a Katadyn filter that worked very well and he allowed me to borrow it. This was never a concern for me since my experience was from the clear mountain streams of the north. I did have purification pills but hadn't used them yet.The shelter was filled with garbage but we managed and had a great time. A man with his two young children came and talked with a dozen of us huddled in the shelter. He was from Adventure Ministries and carried out all the garbage.While huddled, a man approached and said that he was expecting his son to come in from the north. He was hiking for a week and averaging thirty miles per day. this was inconceivable to me and I thought this kid must be superhiker or something. When he finally arrived after midnight, he was so exhausted that he couldn't find his fathers tent and collapsed at the entrance of the shelter.
Date: 2008-04-06
From: Hawk Mt Shelter

To: Gooch Mt Shelter
Miles today: 7.3

Met Becca, Sam and Maeve (Castaway and Kickit). Got a great fire going and sang the "Drunken Scotsman" for Shalako and Banjo. Asked Becca where the water source was and proceeded to fall in the mud on my keester. Was the last one to leave the shelter while my clothes dried above the smoky fire.I had set up my tent in a nice flat tent pad down a trail behind the shelter. Stickman and Shalako, Rebecca and Zemora, Gideon and a few others set up there tents near me. I was beginning to feel a real sense of community among these hikers as well as acceptance. Noone was out to put me down or take advantage of me but instead were all looking out for each other and feeling good about that.Later that day, Storyteller told how he heard local troops practicing in the field around us. We had heard heavy caliber gunfire during the day and new they were near. He saw a soldier approach the shelter to touch 'the enemy' and achieve a 'kill'. When he saw the soldier, he sat up and said "I see you". I also heard a touch on the side of my tent in the middle of the night. A little disconcerting for those looking to get away and to feel a measure of safety in the wilderness. Also, my first 'trail magic' as a 'trail angel' was at Cooper Gap with juices and took my 8lb 'CVS' bag of unneeded items that I had been carrying in my left hand for 16 miles. I would later meet Mt Squid again in Port Clinton PA and Dalton MA. He is a retired Navy man that enjoys tracking people up the trail. He tells me that my next opportunity for unloading items is 10 or 20 miles ahead at Woody Gap or Neel Gap.
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Gooch Mt Shelter

To: Dockery Lake Trail valley
Miles today: 8.2

The hike was difficult today and it took prodding from Storyteller to continue up the mountain for another five mile on the day. We met GT1 who introduced himself as Dan from Connecticut. Dan seemed like an odd character among odd characters on the trail. He is very hyper and looking to bum a cigarette. I immediately deem him 'the pain in the ass' and he seems to agree. Would later meet Dan as he bounds up a mountain in Connecticut and pops out of the woods to greet me and Thor with "Hey, I know you guys!". When I arrive at the campsite, I hear Storyteller, Stickman and Shalako call out "It must be Dave!". I had such a dour look on my face that I think I scared them off a bit. Fortunately, I was focused on the difficulty of the trail instead of the misery of my circumstances. Met Monster and Jules and spent the night by a fire by a stream also with Sam and Meave, Storyteller and Stickman and Shalako. Great company! After setting up my 'taj mahal' tent, we gathered at a fire ring close to a stream. Theeight of us hung out, told stories and generally enjoyed eah others company. What a great group of people. Maeve later recalls that she was looking forward to me tossing my bamboo beach pad, used as a chair, into the fire after I had trashed it by bending it in two. I saved the scorching for another time.
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Dockery Lake Trail valley

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Got to Neels Gap and had my first big trail meal - spaghetti and meatballs with salad. I went for seconds! Later the group (Storyteller, Stickman, Shalako, Monster, Jules and myself bunked in a cabin that had a full kitchen, showers, laundry and hibachi. After a day (6 hours) spent with Felicity at the outfitters getting 'shaken down' we all enjoyed steaks, corn-on-the-cob, garden salad, baked spuds and fruit salad. While at the outfitters, I was relieved of my BB gun rifle, metal hatchet, buck knife, utility belt, metal shovel with pick, 8lb 4-man dome tent, 5 methods to start a fire and many other non-essential items to reduce my pack weight from 72lbs to 34 (then I added useful items back and settled around 55-60lbs.). For weeks on up the trail people who met me said' "So you're the guy that had the gun.".Took my first 'zero' on 4/9. Storyteller decided to stay and work for the hostel for awhile. (Turned into five weeks.)
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Neels Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

First 'zero' day. Spent the day resupplying and being shaken down at he outfitter. Also had great time at the cabin with the crew. Storyteller becomes friendly with the people running the hostel and they allow him to shuttle hikers to and from the cabin property down the road. With the van we two took a trip into the nearest town, Blairsville, to get to a larger grocery store. I find out that Storyteller is not the most accomplished driver as he has a habit of turning his head to talk while driving and frequently runs the edge of the road.While at the cabin, Will is talking so much that I eventually say very loudly, "Will, shut-up, I have something to say!". This seems to shock everyone that I would be so brash but Will and I already had an agreement about my interupting when he was controlling the conversation. To his credit, he knew it and advised me to let him know when he was doing it. This was my first break on the trail and I'm beginning to have a different perspective on my purpose and method. So much for getting lost in the woods. This is a real social event.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Neels Gap

To: Whitley Gap
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: broken clouds

Most notable - noone believed the Appalachian Pages approximation of '1.2' miles off the trail for the shelter. Felt more like two. (Later told this to the authors at Trail Days in Damascus).Started the hike out of Neel Gap with Stickman and Shalako. Storyteller stayed behind to work. The hike down Tesnatee Gap was extremely steep but interesting as the side of the hill was covered with yellow and white flowers.
Date: 2008-04-11
From: Whitley Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: broken clouds

Meaghan's birthday. I miss her and the other kids more than I can adequately describe here.Met Freewil, Worldwide, and Green (later Prometheus). Freewil thought he found trail magic when I left my cheese to 'freeze' in the stream. This shelter was even more disgusting than Hawk Mt as the flies were everywhere and making more flies.I set up my tent up the hill away from the shelter and flies. I'm getting more and more used to the tenting and this was my first use of my new Big Agnes two man. So far so good.
Date: 2008-04-12
From: Low Gap Shelter

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

Still hiking with Stickman and Shalako. Met Bruce (Fedora). What a windy and cold night on the ridge. Good thing I had my saw to build a great fire. Two hikers that camped with us are from Claremont NH - Solar and Bender. We had quite a crew around the fire and noone wanted to move as it was very cold and windy.
Date: 2008-04-13
From: Blue Mt Shelter

To: Tray Mt Shelter
Miles today: 7.8

Getting Colder. Met Kevin from Jersey who hiked up from Key West. Kevin plans to hike through Katahdin and on up into Canada.Woke up with frozen sleet on the tent. It snowed during the night. Had to put lots of layers on for the hike today including the theraml longjohns.
Date: 2008-04-14
From: Tray Mt Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: light rain

It snowed heading up Kelly Knob. The ground was covered in a blanket of white. My first snow of the season since I spent the winter in Florida. Met Hobo Joe, Feral and Green T, Low Impact and Sherpa. Feral and Hobo are from Groveland MA 10 miles from where I grew up. This was another cold and windy night with a much needed fire. Sherpa was happy and impressed that I had pliers in my pack to help her unstick a zipper. First dealings with mice in a shelter. Shalako also heard wild boars around her tent.
Date: 2008-04-15
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap (Cloud 9)
Miles today: 3.5

Becca was recovering from a knee injury at Cloud 9 for the past 5 days. She met Crutch there and began hiking with him. Met Sunny, Hippie Chick, Poet, Tiger Bomb, Katahdin Kid and Geoff. All great people that I would continue to run into for hundreds of miles up the trail.Spent second 'zero' at the Holiday Inn Express and soaked in the pool as well as the jacuzzi. Very expensive but worth the extra luxury.
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: scattered clouds

My first day over 10 miles and crossed over the Georgia/NC boarder. Met Archeopterix during lunch break before the crossover. Also met Matt (later Matchstick) from 'team zero' at Muskrat Creek Shlter during a break. There was a plane wreckage near the shelter but I didn't want to stop long enough to view it.Met Spiller (Lindsay from Wisconsin) and saw Harve for the last time. Both were busy building a BIG fire. I would continue to see Spiller for the next few months and learned well what her trail name meant.
Date: 2008-04-20
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap (Budget Inn Franklin NC)
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

Had a GREAT Porterhouse T-Bone dinner at Cody's Roadside! Ron Haven was quite the host and tourguide. What an incredibly interesting man. Was a former professional wrestler and knew so much about the local history. Very accomodating.
Date: 2008-04-23
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoors Center
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Starting to pick up the miles. Passed right by the Morgan SHelter. Good thing. It was a dump. Archeopterix was at the river and told me to get a bunk from the general store. It was a nice bunk house but I was aggravated with the clerk who failed to inform me that I would need a towel for the shower and nearly had to travel back down a large hill but Matchstick offered his towel. Slurpee saw me here although we didn't meet until the next day on the trail.
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Nantahala Outdoors Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Met Start Slow (Tom) and Taper Off (Shiela), a couple from California that had hiked the PCT. Would run into them several times in the next couple hundred miles. Great people.Bruce was also at this shelter and I also met Jenn whom Bruce would befirend and hike with through Damasacus.
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Met Chief who was composing a song when I arrived and proceeded to belt out the tune. WOW! The shelter was the smallest I had seen (fit four) and Chief, Crutch, Becca and Happy Jack occupied it with me, Start SLow and Taper Off in tents.
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: moderate rain

Spent next three days here. Befriended Slurpee and socialized with a large group. A couple who planned to hike the trail in a few years bought breakfast for eight of us at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Best trail magic to this point!
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: broken clouds

Met Chef and Soupee (felloe New Englanders - Rhode Island) on the way up Shuckstack. Would hike along with them on and off through Hot Springs NC. Also met Day Hiker Dan, Pete's Draggin, Holly and Calvin and Jogle. The author David Brill was at the shelter and garhering interview info as a freelance journalist from U of TN Knoxville for a new magazine - Smoky Mountain times. Although I was reluctant to participate, I hiked with Dave for the better part of three days and we shared histories. He hiked in 1979 and wrote the book "As Far As The Eye Can See".