morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Unaka Mt. 

To: Curly Maple Gap
Miles today: 0.0

When we woke up this morning we discovered that the eggs I have packed in had been crushed when the branch that luaghtrack attempted to use for a bearbag fell. The eggs were salvageable however and we used them for egg and sausage pita¢s. YUM! During breakfast and interesting character came walking by. All of his gear was made from Tyvek construction tape; it¢s the stuff they use when building a house. His backpack, sleeping bag, tent, was all made out of it. The strangest part was that he was barefoot. He said he had been hiking for a year and that he had started in Maine! He asked us to check out his website www.thelongwalkhome.org to support his cause of getting counseling, etc. for veterans. After breakfast we headed down the mountain and came upon many more beautiful sites. The Rhododendrons were just beginning to bloom, which excited me greatly! We also saw Azalea¢s in bloom, and mountain laurel! It was great! The hike down the mountain was steep, I was glad to be walking south at this point! Eventually we came to Beauty Spot, which is a bald mountain, and we could see for miles! It was awesome! There we fixed chicken curry salad pitas for lunch and enjoyed the view. After lunch we continued on to Curly Maple Gap Shelter. We passed lots of purple rhododendrons along the way. When we arrived at the shelter we joined the man with no shoes and a NOBO thru hiker named Big Cat. We learned that the man with no shoes has two trail names; Tyvek and Holy-Shit-Man. The second name is because this is what most people say when they see him. As it turns out, Tyvek was great company. He was extremely witty and kept us laughing well into the night. He also seemed to be very intelligent and well rounded. I wish we could have run into him again, his company was truly a pleasure. Actually, all of the characters at this shelter were fun. Big Cat and Tyvek seemed to play off each other and really kept us laughing! Squirrel came along eventually, she is a US citizen, but she grew up and currently lives in Ireland. She hike 25-30 mile days most of the time! Paintrain was a section hiker who was also very humorous! We laughed a lot, needless to say! The people on the trail continue to be one of my favorite things about the AT, besides the trees. For dinner we had some dehydrated spaghetti sauce with angel hair pasta, it was gross. I¢m not sure what we did wrong, but I could barely put it down. Oh well. The homemade dehydrated apple crisp for dessert made it all better. As we were cooking dinner and hanging out with our new friends for the night Tyvek decided he would try our spaghetti sauce. Here is how the conversation went:Tyvek: ¢It tastes pretty good to me!¢Big Cat: ¢Yeah, but you¢re sleeping in construction paper, that doesn¢t say much about your standards!¢ Later, Tyvek explained that he only wears shoes for special occasions when someone asks him too¢¦¢¦like court or jail. I thought that was pretty funny!Short Stix went to bed early tonight while laughtrack, light rain, and myself stayed up laughing for a while.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Curly Maple Gap/Roan Mt. 

To: Roan Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

The whole group woke up pretty early today. We had oatmeal and bagels and cheese for breakfast and got on the trail. As we were leaving Big Cat said he would like to hire me to be his trail chef and laughtrack to be his trail mule. We hiked the 4 short miles to Erwin today. We again hiked through some huge Spruce trees. I love big trees like that; they make me feel so small! We followed a small stream from our campsite to the Nolichucky River. Laughtrack had paddled that river a few times, so he was happy to be near it. Before we hit town the trail became rocky and followed along a step cliff. We enjoyed peeking through he mountain laurel at the river. We also saw tiny Bluets all over the trail, those are some beautiful flowers! The last few yards of the trail were COVERED in poison ivy. I kind of wondered if that was the trails way of warning people who don¢t respect the trail, who will litter it with trash, to stay away. Nature always wins. Once back in town we ate lunch at Sonic and light rain and Short Stix shuttled laughtrack and I to the top of Roan Mt. Light rain and Short Stix had to get back to Nashville for work, but I was able to stay on the trail for a few more days. So, we said goodbye to our friends and I laughtrack and I headed down Roan Mt. We again enjoyed the tall Spruce trees and I again felt like I was in the NW. We only hiked a short distance and set up our tent at the Roan Mt. Shelter. This is an old fire wardens cabin built in the 1930¢s and the area is beautiful. There was moss covering everything and it looked like something out of the movie Lord of the Rings. This shelter is the highest and notoriously the coldest shelter on the southern half of the trail. It was indeed chilly and the register spoke of snow in April and May! Bluesong was enjoying lunch/dinner when we arrived. Laughtrack has been running into him on and off the trail for a while now. Bluesong decided to move on to the next shelter and we wished him well. During dinner, Iron Will stopped by to fix himself a meal. He is form Iowa and he said he is writing a book about the AT. He was a very nice guy and very intelligent, but also decided to move along. Longstar, another thru hiker, stopped by for dinner and moved on. It was chilly up there, so after a meal of rice, lentils, and tomatoes with seasoning, we hit the tent early.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Roan Mt. Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Today we hiked down the rest of Roan Mt. To Carvers Gap and then headed up towards the beautiful balds. This area has replaced other areas as my favorite along the trail. Laughtrack said he still favored the Highlands, but he also enjoyed it. Bluets covered the balds along with lush green grass, it was simply beautiful! The bright blue sky with the small white clouds and small breeze made it the perfect day! We descended the balds into what looked like a typical southeastern forest. We had lunch at the Stan Murray Shelter and then pressed on to the Overmountain Shelter. This was the best shelter location I have ever seen on the trail! It is an old barn just a short walk off the trail. The barn was given to the AT to be used as a shelter; you could probably fit about 50 people in there! The best part was the incredible view! It is perched right on the mountain with no trees in front of it and you can see for miles. I will add some photos so you can check it out for yourself. Laughtrack was not a fan of the mice in the barn, but it was still wonderful. We had black bean soup, pita, and cheese for dinner, all cooked over a stick fire. We didn¢t see any thru hikers on this day and we were the only ones at this awesome shelter. The shelter was named after the mountain men who defeated the British at this site many, many years ago.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mt. Harbour Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

My last day on the trail we hiked up Hump Mountain, which is yet another beautiful bald area. I found this mountain to be rather tough. Laughtrack seemed to summit it with little effort, it was impressive. The view from the top made it all worth it, it was incredible! Again, it was clear as crystal with a slight breeze, simply awesome! Once we hiked down the mountain we were in a southeastern forest for the remainder of the day except for crossing Doll Flats. This was basically a small field on the side of a small mountain over looking some farms. It was nice, but not so impressive after crossing over Hump Mountain. We saw some daisies and iris here. Doll Flats is the last time the trail crosses into NC. Another state gone! We stopped for a brief break at the Apple House Shelter, which was not nearly as bad as the trail talk had made it out to be. We then headed to the Mt. Harbour B&B and hostel. The hostel was a beautiful one, complete with some horses, goats, a stream, and happy children. Rambo Rob, a SOBO who had been hiking for a year with a 75-pound back, and Bluesong were both staying there. This has to be one of the nicest hostels I have ever stayed in. My car was here, so I drove the 3 hikers into town for a good southern bar-b-que dinner. We then stopped off at the store for a resupply. Laughtrack was excited to stay under his budget! Being that all four of us are originally from Midwestern states Bluesong decided that we simply must play some Euker. So, we played a round of it and enjoyed some chocolate ice cream and fudge, compliments of Rambo Rob. We also enjoyed looking at digital pictures and hearing Rambo Rob¢s stories of his yearlong adventures on the trail, starting at Katahdin. Again, the people you meet on the AT are simply awesome! We all awoke in time for a wonderful breakfast prepared by Mrs. Hill at the hostel. It was complete with blueberry pancakes, cherries, muffins, cheesy potatoes, scrambled eggs, and even star fruit! Laughtrack attempted a few phone calls to his folks and raindrop before we left the hostel. Then, after a quick run to the post office, I dropped the guys off at the trail. It was an awesome 5 days for me, I just loved it. They say every day you spend on the AT adds another day to your life; I think they might be right! And I think those extra days are added due to the happiness that being on the trail brings you! Thanks for allowing me to share in your experience, laughtrack, it was awesome! p.s. My drive home, across the great state of Tennessee was covered with smoke. I later heard that due to the fires in Georgia and the Smoky's, the whole state was covered with smoke. It was an amazing and sad site!
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Mt. Harbour Hostel

To: Abby's Place Hostel
Miles today: 11.9

I said goodbye to Jody this morning after an amazing breakfast at the hostel. Took a nice, long break at the first shelter and met some section hikers. Birchbark caught up to me after being down and out for a few days with shin splints. Claims he is 100% recovered. I walked on to the Abby's Place Shelter where I payed $2 for a tent site and had unlimited phone and internet access. Caught up on some phone calls, emails and trailjournals.I am making plans to get off of the trail again next week, as I have a graduation party and some job stuff to take care of.All of this off and on the trail is kind of annoying, but I guess it is better than getting bored on the trail.I saw two deer today, the first of the trip.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Abby's Place Hostel

To: Laurel Fork Lodge
Miles today: 11.9

I can't believe its June already! time is flying by on the trail. I talked to Alex on the phone today and she is coming down to the trail to join me for the weekend. I am so excited! I am looking forward to seeing her tonight. She should arrive around midnight.I saw more deer again today, rhododendron, mountain laurel and azaelas are all in bloom. Met some section hikers from west of Asheville.Tenting tonight at the Laurel fork Lodge, waiting on Alex. The guy running the place bought me a pizza for dinner, we had some good conversations for the evening's entertainment.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Laurel Fork Lodge

To: Laurel Fork Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Stayed up last night anxiously awaiting Alex's arrival, she arrived well after I had drifted off to sleep. I reckon she rolled in about 2:30am, she blames google maps for the late arrival time.We talked the guy running the lodge into giving us a free shuttle to Lake Watagua, from there we will walk back south to the lodge and Alex's car over the weekend.Alex mistakenly only brought one hiking boot with her, and consequently walked today in flip-flops. she handled the flip-flops no problem.Alex spoiled me all weekend with fresh fruits and veggies, high-end cheeses, hummous and breads. Feebee is Alex's roommates dog. Feebee joined us for the weekend. Feebee takes prozac and normally sleeps on velvet pillows. Feebee seemed to enjoy herself as we let her lead the way and set the pace most of the trip. We walked just over 7 miles today and spent the night at the Laurel Fork Shelter. A stone shelter with limited tent sites.
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Laurel Fork Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Feebee had a few long barking outburst over the night, we mostly just ask her to quiet down and then rolled over and when back to sleep. At breakfast this morning we realized we forgot to hang Feebee's food in the bear bag. It is now gone, totally gone, no trace. I reckon it was just a racoon or something boring, though Alex likes to imagine a big, scary bear took Feebee's food. We will never know. Either way, velvet pillows Feebee was stuck eating corn grits and table scraps for breakfast.Whatever got Feebee's food, also got a single dose of prozac. I like to imagine some bear, being unreasonably happy, just walking around the woods with a new bounce in his step.After breakfast, we hiked down to ghe falls, enjoyed it for a while and then headed on the 2 miles or so to retrieve Alex's car from the lodge. Alex drove us into town and treated me to Mexican for dinner. Then we went to a Native American festival we just happened to drive by and enjoyed some fine flute playing and storytelling before going for ice cream on the way back to drop me off on the trail. I went for the bannana split.After saying goodbye to Alex, I walked 2 miles to the shelter, seeing a rattlesnake along the way. Met some friendly and hilarious southbound section-hikers at the shelter. I enjoyed their company, had some late night peanut butter and crashed after a long and amazing weekend.
Date: 2007-06-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Here's the story from last night, I slept through it all, so can only tell the story second-hand from the guys staying in the shelter, who told me all about it. At about 3:30am they heard some folks that were camping down by the lake (less than 1/2 mile away) yelling and screaming and banging pots and pans together, this went on for more than an hour, ended and then started back up again for a bit longer. Apparently there was a bear in their campsite that just would not leave.I spent some time walking today with blue, paintrain, big cat and unicycle. They all pushed on to the next shelter after 5pm but I stayed, content with my days adventure. I cooked some rice with split peas and over a small stick fire and met Grits, a northbound thru-hiker.Grits carries a jar of mayonaise with him and says he adds it to everthing, he goes through a full jar of mayonaise between each resupply. Grits shared some good stories, including "how to build a fire" by Jack London.It was an early night in the tent because it was really cold out.
Date: 2007-06-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Grits had already broke camp by the time I crawled out of my tent, it rained heavy last night and most all things are damp.I saw another rattlesnake on the trail and also had my first bear sighting of the trip. A little bear, which I didn't see until he started running away from me. Happy to see a bear afraid of humans.I haven't seen anyone else all day today and my first night by myself at a shelter. This is my first day on the trail without any other human contact. I had an early night in the tent as the rain was starting. caught up on journaling and wrote a letter.
Date: 2007-06-06
To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Made it into Damascus and found 'The Place' hostel, not as nice as my memories recall. Checked emails at the library. Returned a call to a guy about the Antarctica job and got a phone interview on the spot. Says he will let me know early next week.Received a surprise package from my brother and sister-in-law that was full of goodies including, but not limited to, hummous, cheeses, chocolate and summer sausage.Made a few more phone calls and found a ride to the Langenkamp family gathering/graduation party. Uncle Joe picked me up from Damascus late this evening, I will spend a few days at their place in Harlan, KY until they head to Ohio for the family gathering.
Date: 2007-06-28
From: Damascus

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I've been off of the trail for 3 weeks now, my how time flies. I made it to the family gathering. After that, I went canoeing in Missouri for a week with Jody and the Nashville Canoe Club. Next, I spent a week in N.C. with Alex and now I am at my folk's house in Ohio. I got a job offer as an alternate in Antarctica, which means I go when other folks get injured or have to leave for whatever reason. So I've been busy since the canoe trip getting paperwork and medical/dental clearances completed, (mostly just waiting for my scheduled appoitments). If all goes well at the Dentist tomorrow I should be finished and ready to get back on the trail. I have enjoyed my time off the trail, it's been like a vacation that just keeps on giving, but I am anxious to get back on the trail. I turned down the job offer at the camp in Indiana, choosing Antarctica over Indiana, and am currently looking for temporary work near Chapel Hill, NC.All is well.
Date: 2007-10-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I was off the trail a long time ago, but failed to finish journaling the last two weeks of my time on the trail. Thank you to so many people who made this summer such an incredible, life-changing experience for myself. Most notably, Alex, whom I met on day 3 of my summer adventure and is now the love of my life. Also, many thanks to my parents, David and Gigi, Jody, Trapper James, the folks who gave Alex and I the brie and all those who supported me along the way. I would not have had nearly the experience without the kindness of my family, friends and complete strangers. Like many have said before, it is the people of the Appalachian trail, that makes it a place I will surely spend many, many more months of my life.Blue, Needles, Pitstop, Tennis, Lifesaver, Jeff with a G, the best buddies from New York, all of you make the trail. I thank you.The trailjournals turned out to be more effort and more shallow than what I had originally envisioned. I am now living and working in Antarctica. I have a new blog.http://antarcticaforthesummer.blogspot.com/The people here are all great and the scenery is like nothing else, to say the least. I will try to figure out how to get some pictures on the blog within the next week or so.thanks for checking it out.Lucas
Date: 2007-01-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

First things first: the paraglider in the thumbnail photo is NOT me but I desperately want it to be. After the AT, that's goal number 1.Second things second: I've learned that SoRuck does not mean a gathering of AT enthusiasts (as it bills itself). Rather, SoRuck means homework. I received a book to read (it's good so far), recommendations on trailjournals to read, commands (more like strong suggestions) to set up a journal about my own adventure, and many new friends to correspond with. All wonderful things taken separately, but a lot to juggle all at once while trying to maintain a somewhat normal life for my last 80 days in the countdown. But, how could I possibly complain about any of those great things? And now on to my first journal entry...Lots of people seem to keep TJs online. It's not something I'd planned to do. It just seems like you're putting out there for general consumption such intensly private matters. Your emotional state, your thoughts, your failures. That's probably the worst. The failures. Well, that and just can't really avoid The Real Me while journaling for 186 days. If the journal is a reflection of my thoughts, my struggles, my learning, my ego, my weaknesses, my self... well, then someone might actually get to know The Real Me. Major scary shit. Much easier to just share the good and keep the rest hidden away and hope no one notices that junk. But if a journal is going to be of any value to me - and, ultimately, that's the only thing that would make it worth it doing - it can't just be a superficial reporting of mileage and food intake. Big problem here. Don't really know if I can be that vulnerable with myself and especially not if there is any chance that my friends and family would be witnesses. Ouch. So, don't know if I can go there. For now, I think I'll get a journal started and just see what evolves. See where it flows. If I'm able to go that deep and bare, that would be pushing against a lifelong "privacy please" sign. If not - well, I guess the time just wasn't right.
Date: 2007-01-15
To: can't sleep
Miles today: 0.0

2:35am - dining hall at NOC Can't sleep. Mind just racing. Mostly good, but geez, I'm a Reed family champion sleeper. Blue ribbon and all. What in the world am I doing up at this hour without a book in my hand?! Tomorrow's a long haul back towards home. Well, later today really. It's Monday. Last day of the SoRuck. Being here has been amazing. I guess being in the right community really does make a difference. To look around and see all these people who are living the lives they want on their own terms. Don't think I've felt this relaxed and at-home since my last UU-YAN gathering way back when. The people here are incredible. Oh, I know they're just hikers, just a small group at that (maybe 120 or so). And I know they're just your average, everyday hikers. That's what makes it and them so incredible. They "get" why people hike. They "get" the need for travel. They don't all hike the same, certainly, but they get there and they value the journey.   The journey is why I'm doing it. Well, that and the completely rad accommplishment of doing a thru. Yeah, that 2nd one is a biggie. The challenge. The conquering. A 2006 SOBO named Marta just finished a couple days ago. You could just glance over at her and see the strength of self emanating from her. The other women too. Jan, Ready, Ginny, Sue. They knew what they were made of and they were cool with it. Probably (rightfully) proud of it. No one can take that from them. They earned it the hard way and it's always theirs. To know that you really are that much of a bad ass. Whatever you decide to do after a thru just aint out of reach. Sure, it may be difficult but not insurmountable. My own personal superman cape. Jump tall buildings in a single bound. I want that. It's worth the risk. Bye-bye job security as a unionized guv'mint worker. Bye-bye steady paycheck and not-too-horrible healthcare. Hello unknown world and unknown adventures to be unfolded one at a time. At least for a while. I need to do this for me. If I don't do it now, I would carry something everywhere much heavier than a backpack the rest of my life - regret.