morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-01
To: Jacob
Miles today: 0.0

Jacob, Thomas and I went out last night to Applebee's where they both work. We also went to The Big Apple Cafe where I met Jackie who was a ridge runner in Shannondoa last year. Some of you may remember her she gave out lots of fruit. She just took a job at Glacier National Park. We all had a good time talking about our hike.Can't wait till the 11th. Looking forward to a nice relaxing start. I know the Approach trail is going to be pretty tough, but Jacob and I are planning very conservatively for our first few weeks. Hopefully we will get to the shelters in time to get a spot inside every night. I would probably sleep better off by myself, but I really look forward to meeting some people. I have been planning this hike since last summer. Thomas¢s friend Jacob (www.trailjournals.com/jacobhowe) mentioned that he was interested in the trail also and asked if he could join me in the early fall, and we have been planning together ever since. Jake is a tall skinny guy with long hair who walks about twice as fast as I do. I figure I¢ll get an earlier start than he does most days so he can catch up with me. He¢s a colorful character who has lots of personality and likes to go out and have a good time and really doesn¢t just want to be another thru hiker. He truly wants to make a fashion statement and stand out. He¢s talked about wearing pink socks or a crazy ski hat. Jacob is not one to blind into a crowd. I think he will keep the trail very interesting for me and everyone else who meets him. Another think I think is so great about him is that he shares my same interest in frugality on the trail.RAZ
Date: 2005-03-15
From: Woody Gap

To: NeelsGap
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

It¢s been a great start with much thanks to Jacob¢s dad Skip. He has brought us Cokes, pizza, and some Coors Light, he also traded his better headlight for mine. I have hiked about 30 miles so far and everyday has been better than the last. We have now stayed in 3 shelters, and last night we tent camped. I got a much more sufficient sleep under the tent. I have been surprised how many people started at the same time we did. The second night the shelter was very full, with probably 10 tents outside. You spend all day in the wilderness then cram into one little shelter. It makes for a very social trail. Many people are already racing each other to the shelters. That is not how I want to kike the trail. I want to walk at my own pace. I have met a lot of cool people though. I think I have enjoyed the company of the older hikers more than the kids my age. I don¢t have much time to type, since we are trying to make it to Neels gap today. Thanks to Skip for posting this for me. I have heard that as many as half of thru hikers quit by Neels Gap, so it will be a small victory for me. One mile on this trail is not like walking around town. Many places I am satisfied with one mile per hour. Sassafras Mt yesterday was probably even slower, but I am satisfied with my progress. I have also already noticed that I am hiking faster than at the start. Hopefully eventually that will give me more time to take breaks and pictures and hang out.   I have taken about 50 pictures so far, and Skip (again) downloaded then to his laptop, which I am typing in now. Tonight I plan to stay at the hostel at Neels Gap. It will be nice to lie in a bed, wash clothes, and take a shower (I really stink). Well thanks for reading my journal and I hope to update again soon. Make sure to check out www.trailjourmals.com/jacobhowe for a different perspective of our hike.
Date: 2005-03-21
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Holiday Inn Express
Miles today: 0.0

Everything on the trail is going great. It just keeps getting better and better everyday. Right now I am at the Holiday Inn in Hiawassee Ga. Tomorrow I will be going into North Carolina. Every excited to be done with a sate. Life on the trail is taking some time to adjust to, but it is well worth it. The people out here are amazing. I met a guy on the trail yesterday named Corsican who offered to give me his car to use today in town to run errands. Awesome! He's a great guy in his 60's who has thru-hiked a few times. I am shocked how nice most people are. where else would someone let you use there car for a day? I am getting more and more antsy when I go into town, it just doesn't feel right. I enjoy putting in the miles everyday. Can't wait to make it to the Smokies. They are so beautiful, and I will have friends and family meeting me in Gatlinburg for a few days. I hope I will be able to relax and not be so eager to get back on the trail.As for the trail itself, we are potting in just under 10 miles per day. I really don't want to overdo it at the start and get burnt out. Plus our schedule with meeting people we don't want to be too far ahead of schedule. My feet are toughening up just in time for my knees to start hurting, so I guess its good that i'm just hanging out in town today. I am starting to sleep a lot better outside. It took some time to adjust to the sleeping conditions, especially because I sleep on my stomach. In a few weeks I think I will easily be doing 14 - 16 miles per day, but there is no need to rush into it. That would mean I get done faster and have to get back to the real world.Thanks to everyone who signed my guestbook. Make sure to look at the other journals on this site, because just about everyone I am out here with has one. Take care everyone.
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Moose Lodge Cabin

To: Moose Lodge Cabin
Miles today: 0.0

Went to church this morning in Franklin, North Carolina. It was a nice service and the people were very excepting of casual appearances. This is our second zero day here, and I¢m excited about getting back on the trail. People in the area have said this is the hardest part of the trail. I find that hard to believe, but I think I am prepared.Bruce Spruce (Jacob) and Bruce Moose (me) have now hiked all of Georgia, and over 100 miles. We have been hiking at a very moderate pace, and I think it has been good to gradually get into this new lifestyle. We have already taken 4 days off in town. I think its neat how people hike at different paces, so you meet lots of different people.
Date: 2005-03-28
From: Franklin, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: light rain

I had a great time here in Franklin with Bruce Spruce (Jacob), Skip, Ruth, and Brit. We had lots of laughs. Next town stop will be Gatlinburg in 2 weeks. Thank goodness it stopped raining, but it will probably start right back up when we hit the trail. We planned a short day out of town today to the first shelter, because Jacob is tent-less. So only 3.7 miles out of town today, nice because we have lots of food to carry. I¢ll update as soon as I can and hopefully include a little more sustenance next time. Take Care
Date: 2005-04-03
From: Fontana Inn

To: Fontana Inn
Miles today: 1.4

Talked to Raz (now Bruce Moose) on the phone.They hiked today, just a short distance to get to where the shuttle will drop them off tomorrow. He said that there were still reports of heavy snow in the mountains and that several hikers had turned around and returned to Fontana until the weather improves.Skip
Date: 2005-04-17
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Everything is going great. Computer opportunities are few and far between, but I¢m still updating when I can. When I come into town the last thing on my mind is getting on the computer. I usually want to eat and sleep in a bed. Hot Springs is an awesome town, and I really enjoyed spending all day yesterday here hanging out. I never made it to the natural hot springs, but I Heard good things. It is a very quaint town.My dad surprised me on Friday. I was walking down the street with Jacob, and I saw a car that looked like my dads, and I said to Jacob- ¢That looks like my dad. Hey that is my dad!¢ Gatlinburg was a great time! Jacob¢s mom came down and rented a chalet for the weekend and Thomas, Cassandra, and Kacy all came down and hung out. We wanted them to hike a short section of the trail, but they hiked up to the top of Clingmans Dome and chickened out after the .5 mile walk up to the top.I¢m looking forward to coming home in a few weeks to go to Thomas¢s graduation and my cousin Roberts wedding. It will be really weird to come off the trail and go back to my previously life. It is such a tragedy that it¢s the same weekend as Trail Days in Damascus, Va (huge trail party). Everyone will have to excuse the FUNK that will be accompanying me to both events. I am contemplating actually wearing deodorant (its been a while)Take care
Date: 2005-04-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My first zero day in Erwin and there is talk of snow. We may stay an extra day to see what happens. I was planning on sending some clothes home, but I guess I will have to carry them up the trail a little farther with all this talk of snow. I an looking forward to lightning up my pack some. Coming out of Hot Springs it weighed 38 lbs, and when I started it weighed 29 lbs (only thing I¢ve added is food). Actually I have sent some clothes and a water filter home already.
Date: 2005-04-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I¢m now in Erwin Tennessee at Miss Janet¢s house. It¢s an awesome hostel that really feels like a home. Since the snow is about to role in I decided to stay another day here and work for stay. This morning I made French toast for about 20 people. We had a good time in the kitchen cooking. Yesterday I was really antsy and eager to get back on the trail, but today it is really cold and rainy. I guess I don¢t mind waiting another day. In a few more weeks I will be done with my 3rd state and heading into Virginia! Last night I ate the biggest burger I have ever seen in my life up the street at Elm¢s. Everyone is talking about how much weight they have lost on the trail. I think I¢ve only lost 5 or 10 lbs, but I eat all the time. I really don¢t want to loose too much weight this early in the trip. In a few more months I may try the one gallon challenge! One gallon of whole milk in one hour, then keep it down for an hour. It amazes me how many calories I can burn during a day of hiking. It sometimes feels like I can feel the food digesting in my stomach. The last day into town it almost feels like I am starving. Then I get to town and gorge out. When we first arrived here in Erwin we went to Erwin Burrito and ate a ton. While we were there a girl actually ate too much and threw up in the bathroom.So I¢m now 338 miles into the trip! For sure the longest I have ever walked, but I am not satisfied yet! Lots more things to see and do along this trail till I¢ll be content.Take care,
Date: 2005-05-04
From: The Place

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I finally made it to my 4th state, Virginia!! I hiked 25 miles yesterday to catch up with Spruce, Piker, and Mileage. They hiked 33 miles the day before yesterday. I decided to hang back and play catch up. I¢m really happy that I have made it this far, but there is soooo much more trail ahead of me, and Virginia is the longest state with over 500 miles.The trail is starting to feel more like routine now. It¢s starting to feel normal to be hiking everyday and sleeping in shelters. I just hope that the trail doesn¢t get mundane and boring. Next weekend I¢m going home for a few days! It will be a culture shock to be back with the family and off the trail. It will be nice, because Trail Days is the same weekend, so no one else will be hiking either.It¢s been really cool lately. Yesterday morning when I started hiking at 5 am it was 30 degrees. It took me 13 hours and 25 miles to hike into Damascus yesterday, and I am already getting antsy and ready to take off again. My clothes are washed, I¢m feed, and stocked up with trail food.Some gear malfunctions:The grip on my left pole came loose ¢ Repaired by the outfitter here in DamascusMy shoes have eaten 3 pairs of socks because my heel slides too much ¢ I am still determining if I should send them back to REI or if I should just let them ride.
Date: 2005-06-07
To: Dutch Haus Bed and Breakfast
Miles today: 806.0

Greetings from Montebello Virginia! Been a while since my last updated. Figures I had a few free minutes here at the bed and breakfast. The hike is going well, and I have completed over 800 miles of the trail. The weather has drastically changed in the last week. With a few days with temperatures up to 90, you start to love the rain! I never knew that my body could produce so much perspiration. Since I was sweating when the temperature was in the 30¢s wearing shorts and a t-shirt, I don¢t know what I was expecting for the summer. The bad part is that it¢s going to get much warmer this summer. I think I may try to change my hiking schedule so I don¢t have to hike during the warmest part of the day.I¢ve been hiking with Bruce Spruce, Piker, Mileage, and Squid Jerky. Squid¢s brother decided to get married in a moments notice so he got off the trail to attend the wedding this weekend. I have really enjoyed my little AT group. We have a good time on the trail. We carry a chessboard, Frisbee, and hacky sack to enjoy some of our non-hiking time. My beard is getting really big, I¢ve lost 20 lbs, I¢m getting heat rash on my back from my inferno of a pack, and I can drink 5 liters of water and still be dehydrated. But I would still be here if it was twice as hard. I think everything about this experience is amazing.
Date: 2005-06-27
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Last week was my roughest week on the trail by far! I was ready to be done with the state of Virginia. I also discovered that I have a poison ivy phobia. I have poison ivy from my feet to the back of my ears, not to mention some other areas of sensitive skin. There is around 17 miles section of northern Virginia known as the Roller Coaster. It¢s probably my least section of trail so far. Its not that the climbs were really big, its just that you go straight up and straight down for 17 miles. The corridor of this section is only 1000 feet wide, so they really had no other choice, but it¢s kinda ridiculous. Before the trail everyone said, ¢Virginia is flat and you can do huge mile days.¢ For the record it isn¢t that flat, and it¢s like they wanted to prove it to you at the very end of the state. I sometimes wish I wasn¢t a purist and didn¢t mind if I skipped a few sections, but I would feel that I shorted myself part of the experience. Now on to the good news! I have walked over 1000 miles!! That¢s a lot of zeros. I finally finished the longest state, and I am in Harpers Ferry, WV right now. The next few states will go fast. West Virginia and Maryland combined are less than 50 miles, then I¢m into Pennsylvania. Less than 1200 miles left to hike! HahaWarlock and I went into Washington D.C. today and had an awesome time. I even got to see some family. My cousin Mia from Minnesota who attends Notre Dame is doing an intern in Washington. We had lunch and hung out on her extended lunch break. She sounds like she is doing really well. It¢s always nice to see some relatives, and Spruce asked if he could marry her so he could join the family. We also did the touristy stuff in D.C. including Arlington National Cemetery, Natural History Museum, the Capitol, and the new Native American Museum closed before we arrived.The march continues to Mane. Take Care
Date: 2005-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It seems like it was only yesterday that this whole hike was just something I was planning on doing. Now it seems as though the time is here. I will be on the trail in less than two weeks. I have spent the past week or so trying to line out everything, and make sure everything is in order. I think I have everything I will need, with the exception of maybe a couple new pairs of socks. I was happy when I weighed my gear out last week and it looks like my base pack weight will be around 21 pounds without food and water. It looks like I will spend the next week and a half working trying to save up as much money as I can to pay for this trip.
Date: 2005-03-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I think the my dad is more excited about this trip than I am. That seems to be all that him and I talk about. He is excited. He is taking William and I to Georgia and is planning on doing the approach trail and maybe a couple days of hiking with us. My mom on the other hand is just worried about me starving out there. She bought me enough food to do the first leg of the trip. What would I do without her!
Date: 2005-03-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I got go get out and do a little hiking today. I went with a guy I met at work. We had an awesome time. Nothing to major just mostly sight seeing. If just felt good to get out of the house and away from my daily life and hit some trails. I was going to carry a full pack for a good workout but decided against it when I rolled out of bed. I don't guess I will have that choice in a week when I am ON THE TRAIL!!!! I can't wait.
Date: 2005-03-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well I am off. I will be leaving around 6 tomorrow morning. My Dad will be driving william and I down to Georgia. I think that we are going to hang out on Friday when we get there, and just stay in the shelter there, because it is supposed to rain on Friday. Plus I am sure we will not be able to get a good start on the approach trail. So bright and ealy Sat. morning William, Dad, and I will be starting the 8.8 mile approach trail to the start of the trail. dad is planning on doing the approach with us. Then when we start the trail on Sunday, he will hike back down the approach and drive ahead on the trail. He is going to then hike southbound until he meets us on the trail, then he is going to turn around and hike back to his car with us. It will be good for him to be able to hike some of the trail with us. I am really getting excited and a little nervous. I have done alot of things in my life, but it is really starting to hit me that this is the single biggest task I have ever taken on. I have heard from many former thru-hikers that it was the best time of their life, but I wonder if they were thinking that through the rain, snow, and blistering winds.
Date: 2005-03-11
To: Amicalola Falls Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

We left Cadiz around 8:30a.m. We had to make a quick stop at REI in Nashville to pick up the last few items that we had been putting off. I got a pair of trekking poles and a couple stuff sacks. Raz decided that he did not want to wear the shoes that he had so he picked up a new pair of Montrail trail runners. We arrived at AFSP around 4:30 this afternoon. We signed the hiker registry in the visitor¢s center, and weighed our packs at the scales outside. My pack weighed in at 35 pounds without water. I was a little disappointed, but I am sure that I will be able to shave some weight in the next few days.        We grabbed our packs and headed to the shelter behind the visitors center to stay the night. There were two guys there from Canada that are planning on hiking for three months. Seem to be nice guys. No trail names yet, still just Ryan and Ian. We talked to them for a while then Dad and I went to the lodge there to grab my last real meal for a while. After that we headed to the shelter to grab some shuteye. We got there about 8 and everyone was already asleep. We tried to be quiet, but the beds had a wire bottom so every time we moved they heard. Should be a good night. Can¢t wait for the start tomorrow. I have heard that the approach trail is really hard.
Date: 2005-03-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Jacob & Raz started the approach trail around 8AM and arrived at Springer near 2:30PM. They said that it was a tough climb but were excited to get to the shelter and take their shoes off. The shelter had 10 hikers and there were many tents (Scouts & hikers) set up in the area. Very windy but temperature was good and the view from the top was beautiful.Entered by Jacob's Dad (Skip)
Date: 2005-03-12
To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

We got up early and got ready to head out. Everyone started to stir about the same time. All 5 of us got up and cooked some breakfast. Some oatmeal should give me the energy to make it the 8.8 miles to the summit of Springer Mt. and the official start of the Appalachian Trail. We headed out around 7:30 or so. About a quarter mile into the trail Dad decided it would be better for him to drive to the summit of Springer rather than suffer, so he turned back. From that point the trail just got harder. After about 3 miles Raz stopped because he was already getting a blister. Guess that is what happens when you have brand new shoes. While he stopped I went ahead. After a few miles of hiking I ran into Echo. (For those of you that are reading and are not familiar with the trail, most long distance hikes on the trail will have a trail name. Usually earned later in the trip.) He had thru hiked in 2002. I hiked with him for a while which was nice because he slowed my pace. After walking with him and his sister for a while, I continued on with Ian and Ryan when they caught us. I asked then about Raz and they said he was ok, but was going to take it easy to avoid making the blister worse. The three of us grabbed lunch on top of a ridge. I just rolled some tuna in a tortilla with a little cheese. When we were finished eating we were packing up to head out and here comes Raz around the bend. So the Canadians headed on while I waited on Raz to finish eating. After I helped myself to some of his beef jerky, we were on our way again. Raz and I hiked together for the remainder of the ascent. We finished the last grueling section of the approach trail and were on the summit of Springer Mt. At 2:30 this afternoon. After a few pictures, we made our way just down the trail to Springer Mt. Shelter. We stayed there with several others, including the two Canadians, Ian and Ryan, Two characters from PA. Named Wyatt and Travis. A few others came in during the day. It was a lot of people and a lttle overwhelming so I did not get everyone¢s names yet. We hung out, got some water, and cooked some dinner. I am trying to eat the heavy stuff first, so I had come chicken marinara that my mom picked up for me before I left. I was satisfied and was asleep as soon as the sun set.