morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-09-03
From: White House Landing

To: Crescent Pond
Miles today: 11.7

We both slept very well last night. We got up and got everything packed before heading to the AYCE breakfast. We ate very well, settled our bill and headed down to the dock to get ferried back across the water. The owner took us about a mile down the shoreline from where he picked us up, meaning we didn¢t have to hike that extra mile. We were all very grateful to him for that! Once we got dropped off, Stacy and I found a spot where we could work on her ankles and try to get her ready for another day of hiking. We tried all the things we had been doing the last several days, but her ankles were clearly getting worse and she was clearly in greater pain each day. I had just about come to the conclusion we were going to have to go back to Whitehouse Landing and arrange to have her taken out when the owners went back to town the next time. When Stacy realized she might have to quit, she broke down and started crying, saying, ¢Daddy, I don¢t want to quit!¢ Let me tell you¢¦a Dad¢s heart aches just as much when his 29-year old daughter is suffering from pain and/or disappointment as it did when she was 1 or 2 or 3 years old. I knew we had to find a way for her to finish the 100-mile wilderness. We brainstormed a while and came up with the idea of seeing if she could walk in her water shoes. The pain in the ankles seemed only to manifest itself when she had her boots on. So, we took the insoles out of her boots, built up the heel area of the inserts a little with some moleskin and put them in her water shoes. Fortunately, the water shoes were high quality with some pretty good soles and rubber toe guards. We agreed to go a mile or two and see how they were doing. If it didn¢t work we¢d return to Whitehouse Landing to make other arrangements. Well, long story short¢¦it worked like a champ. As a matter of fact, when we got to Wadliegh Stream Lean-to (at about the 8 mile point) where we had intended to spend the night, Stacy was feeling so good she recommended we go further. So we climbed Nesuntabunt Mountain and hiked an additional 4 miles that afternoon so we could camp at Crescent Pond. We found a great tent site and were joined later by the family we had sheltered with a couple of days before. Stacy and I cooked supper down by the pond and went back there later (after dark) to get a good view of the stars. As we were lying there taking in the beautiful starlit skies we saw a shooting star. I was a very happy and content Dad at that moment. I was glad we had found a way for Stacy to stay on the trail and I was really proud of her for fighting through the pain these last several days. I am incredibly blessed to have the family and friends I have. Cheers¢¦357 Magnum
Date: 2007-09-04
From: Crescent Pond

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

We slept very well last night. No rodents, no condensation, no noisy neighbors¢¦just peace and quiet. We had coffee/tea and ate breakfast and got a pretty early start. We knew we had another big mile day (almost 16) ahead of us today. At least there were no major climbs, but it turned out to be pretty rocky and rooty¢¦we were following along the edge of Rainbow Lake much of the day. That many miles and the rooty terrain took its toll on Stacy¢s ankles again, but she did very well. The highlight of our day was several hundred yards before we got to the shelter. We saw three moose! Stacy had been hoping to see one before her trip was over and she got her wish today. We decided to tent again because two other hikers arrived at the shelter at about the same time we did. They were going to stay in the shelter so we opted for the solitude of our tent. We cooked and ate our supper at the shelter and visited with them for a while, but retired to our tent soon after supper.
Date: 2007-09-12
From: Winter Harbor, ME (Tim and Layne's)

To: Amelia, OH (Cris and Nate's House)
Miles today: 0.0

We made a big loop from Winter Harbor down to Washington, DC then over through Harper's Ferry, WV and finally over to Amelia, OH near Cincinnati. We spent two nights with our daughter Cristin before heading north to our home in Saint Paris, OH.
Date: 2007-09-13
From: Amelia, OH (Cris and Nate's House)

To: Saint Paris, OH (Home)
Miles today: 0.0

We're home! Feels great too! This is a pre-shave photo Kim took of me. I'll add a post-shave photo when I remember to have Kim take one of me. Check out the shirt she bought me at the ATC HQ in Harper's Ferry, WV. Anyone who has hiked the entire AT will really appreciate it. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-09-20
From: Saint Paris, OH (Home)

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Speaking Engagements:4 Oct, 1100; lunch served at Noon:A. B. Graham Memorial Center8025 E. US Rt 36Conover, OH 45317(let me know if you're coming to this so I can give head count to lunch makers)24 Nov, 1100; will last about an hour:Saint Paris Library127 E Main St (US Rt 36)Saint Paris, OH 43072I'll keep this page updated with additions/changes.I've been off the trail two weeks toady and have had absolutely no problems integrating back in to "normal" society. I don't really "miss" the trail...I can go for a hike just about any time I want (but haven't yet). I gave myself about two weeks of "freedom" with respect to what, and how much I ate. I am now officially being much more deliberate about my food intake. I'll let you know how it's going in a couple of weeks. So far, so good though. I went fishing for the first time since returning home the day before yesterday. I went with Uncle Hap and my Father-in-law. Between what we caught and what my brother-in-law and his Grandad caught we have enough for a fisf-fry. So...we're having one on Saturday. It's good to be back home! More later...Cheers...Dan
Date: 2008-05-08
To: Gonna Do It Again
Miles today: 0.0

If you had asked me on 6 Sep 07 if I'd ever hike the entire AT again, I'm pretty sure I'd have said no. But time changes things. I've decided to hike the AT again in 2009 as a fundraiser for a local non-profit organization. Please visit www.abgraham.org to find out more about the organization I am supporting. My early plans are to start in late May or early June somewhere near the middle and hike north to Maine, then go back to where I started and hike south straight through to Springer. If you look at the menu on the left you should be able to toggle between my 2007 and my 2009 trail journal. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-01-17
To: Decisions, Decisions
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it's always a chore, a fun chore, but a chore none the less to decide what trail to hit for my big summer hike, and as of right now it is looking like it is going to be the Benton MacKaye Trail. Many say it is throwback trail, akin to what the AT must have been like back in the day....more of a wilderness experience if you will. At about 280 miles and only two shelters it should be a much more rustic hike. The trail starts on Springer and diverges from the AT completely until the Smokies where it will again cross the AT before ending at Davenport Gap. I am really excited about this hike. I hopefully will have two friends, one new and one old to join me on this hike. One being NoWorries who has journals up here at trailjournals and the other is Little Bear(not Jeff Hunter). I have all of my gear so no worries there, except maybe a new pair of trail runners, all I need is the guidebook and maps and then it's prep time. Seeing as I need to post three to get this up and going, I will post more thoughts in the coming days, but I wanted to get this going so I feel more official about my hike and the fact that it is going to happen. Less than six months to go...
Date: 2007-01-18
To: A Wilderness Experience...Bring the TP
Miles today: 0.0

Well, today was the first day I really started to dig into some of the info on the BMT. As I got more and more into it I found myself getting more excited about my hike this summer. This trail should be far more of a wilderness experience than any of the hiking I have done on the AT so far. Two shelters...and zero, that's right ZERO privies!!! This means I gotta make sure I have the TP with me. Thanks to Sgt Rock over on WB I have a data book to take with me, so from here it's a matter of ordering the maps and then I can really get into my planning. The fact that this trail travels through designated wilderness area means that you really need to be on your game when it comes to navigating the trail as there will be zero blazes while in the wilderness area. I have also figured out that there will be 6-7 days before I can hit a shower, this will be different from my AT experiences where I can always make a shelter, privy...and can get a shower it seems just about every three days. So I ask myself why do it??? I want to thru hike something, and I want to try something a little more challenging. Not to take away from the AT, I love it, but being honest with oneself, other than the mental aspect, I can't really call it challenging, fun yes, but challenging...no. Does this mean that the BMT will be a total challenge...I don't know, ask me in July, but I think it should be at the very least, a different experience than the AT, in the sense of solitude and the need to really pay attention to where I am going. Aside from all of this I am stoked at the idea of doing this trail with good friends. It's been awhile and hiking with Worries again will be a great time I am sure...the hardest thing about this trail may be that traveling through dry counties will mean...no beer on the few zero days we take, but I guess I can make up for it come July. Anyways, I am simply working my way to three posts and so that leaves one to go.
Date: 2007-02-13
To: WOW!!!
Miles today: 0.0

No photo, because after the last month I have become fat and happy, you people only get to see my "after" photos as I get ready to get back into my workout schedule. Just a thought but does it bother anyone else how someone who has yet to hike even 50 miles has over Ten thousand hits on their journal...oh yeah and they haven't even started their hike yet...kinda funny to me as all of these people are women...guys quit looking for the super model hiker. That being off my chest I figured I would post another journal entry as now everything is appearing up in the air for this summer's hike. Oh, I still have the time and I will still be hiking but it is looking like one of my partners in crime will only be able to hike a section, and the other may not even be able to make it, so I may end up having a "special guest star" for each section and that way I don't have to thru it completely alone being the social hiker that I am. On top of this I have to say I am not happy with The Police deciding to play Bonnaroo. The wife is now adamant about going and that would be smack dab in the middle of my hike, so I have to figure out what to do about the situation. See I don't want to start a hike at the end of June in the southeast, this would mean if I go to the festival with her then I could start as planned and take a break, or I could end up hiking somewhere else. The whole plan was to be done by July 4, but if I play hero and take her to the festival I could end up hiking out in Colorado, maybe do half of the CT this summer, so I am not saying good by to my aspirations of hiking this trail, but I do have some serious thinking to do now. Anyways, just thought I would post this thought.
Date: 2007-02-23
To: Fat and Happy!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Damn! I was in such great shape on my hike in December...since then I haven't worked out and I have put on about 8lbs. That being said I think I have finalized what my hike will be this summer and the way is clear to go ahead and do it. I am going to go ahead and do the southern 48 miles of the BMT starting around April 1st, I might have someone with me and then again I might not. I have arranged my shuttles and so the plan is to start at Springer and hike north to where the trail crosses 76/515 near Blue Ridge. Should take me about 3-4 days to hike it and then the plan is to pick it up from where I ended in June and finish the trail completely. Still a thru hike, just with a two month break in the middle. I am actually really looking forward to getting away from the AT and hiking something a little different. Anyways, gotta go, someone's calling.
Date: 2007-03-08
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 294.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, it was decided today that I will be hiking from Davenport Gap to Damascus on the AT, yep, I won't be doing the BMT due to family conflicts. I have rides lined up if I have to hike solo, and if I have a friend or two joining me, I'll be all good as well. So why the change??? Well, I hate hiking solo, especially on a primitive trail, just me but part of my hiking is the social experience, even if I am only camping with people at night and hiking solo during the day, besides I like my zeroes with beer!!! I may hike with 3 different people this summer, so we'll see how their schedules end up, there's Sprout and Magic Thumb from last year's hike, and then my new bud Little Bear the Younger(not Jeff Hunter, although he's ok in my book too.) Now that I have settled on where I will be hiking all seems to be fitting into my picture of how the universe should be. I plan on heading out the first week of June and should be out for 2-3 weeks. I am looking forward to the stays at Hot Springs, Miss Janet's, and Kincora. I have never stayed at Hot Springs or Kincora, but Miss J's is a must whenever I am passing through and near Erwin at night. I love that lady!!! Anyways, on top of this I will be doing a shakedown hike starting on March 31st, I already have my reservation for the Hiker Hostel as I will just park at their place and have them shuttle me to start my shake down, haven't decided if I am going to hike the approach trail or not, if the weather is gonna be nice, I just might as it will add a day to the hike, and I have never done it. As for planning gear, etc. Screw it, other than minimal planning part of the joy is playing things by ear. The other exciting thing about this is it will get me over the 500 mile mark for my section hiking of the AT. I'm looking forward to the summer now even more as my plans are finally set, now it's time to just sit back and wait to see who will be hiking with me and where they will join me. In closing, I just want to say good luck to all who have yet to start your hike!
Date: 2007-03-09
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So why this particular picture? Well, because I have decided as my prep hike to do the fifty miles from Springer to Unicoi Gap starting March 31st. I wanna see how bad I can punish myself and if my body can take it! Shouldn't be a problem as I have been working out regularly and I know my flexibility and strength is definitely there, however, the lungs are never there when you start hiking...so we shall see. I am allowing 3.5 days to do this hike and should be done by Tuesday morning! You scoff? or question my ability with some of this year's thru hikers taking 4-5 days to get to Neel's. Well, the difference is I have done it before, and I understand the suffering involved, doesn't make it easier, but I know what to expect and so I take it in stride, this is "MY" backyard after all. It's simple, the first several miles to Hawk are mostly downhill with minor elevation gain just before Hawk, after that two big climbs and you are at Gooch Shelter for the first night. The 2nd day has 3-4 decent climbs, but to me nothing like central Va and it's forever climbs to the ridges. Should make Neel's the 2nd night, which will be nice as some friends work there, gonna have to see if they can hold some beer in the fridge for my arrival. After that it should be about a day and a half to Unicoi as the last time I hiked this section I made it to the campsite just before Blue Mountain shelter in a day, and was in the gap by 11am the next. The plan is to hike with my buddy "Just Phil", we'll stay at the Hiker Hostel and get shuttled to Springer, leaving one car at the Hostel and the other at Unicoi Gap for the end of the hike.I have missed the trail and am looking so forward to getting back out there, I am psyched to meet some of this year's thru hikers as my hike this summer shouldn't bring me in contact with many like last year's, but that's alright as I am looking forward to all of the great balds and vistas I will get to see this June. Anyways, I just thought I would post quickly as I was thinking about this hike, maybe I'll see some of you out there!
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, things are beginning to shape up nicely for the hike this summer. I will be starting around the 8th of June from Standing Bear Hostel and the plan is to hike north to Damascus. My buddy Lone Wolf will be shuttling me down to the start of my hike. Originally my other buddy, Little Bear, was going to be hiking most of the trail with me, but it looks like he's off to Afghanistan for a year to train police officers there, so that means I will probably be solo till I get to Erwin where Magic Thumb may join me for the end of the hike. After a crazy school year this is one hike I am so looking forward to. Anyways, I wanted to give a current update, I may add something in the next week or two.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I am a week away from leaving for my "big" hike of the year. Yep, I will be setting sail, ok, not setting sail, but hitting the road for the great town of Damascus, Va., where I will meet up with my good friend, Little Bear. From there I will leave my car and head back down to Erwin where we will stay with Ms. Janet, before being shuttled to the start of our grand adventure. However, Little Bear is simply the first guest star on my grand adventure for the summer as he will be killed off and forced to leave the show just after Allen Gap, leaving me, the intrepid adventurer, to go it alone until Erwin. In Erwin, I will be meeting up with the second and final guest star of this adventure, my hiking partner from last summer, Magic Thumb. From there we will finish the grand adventure together by finishing in the magical land of Damascus.So...I am a week away and here's the good, I have kept lifting weights throughout the year and I am stronger than I have been in years, I haven't lost any weight, but I am better shape right now than when I was ten pounds lighter so that's ok. Now the bad is that I haven't quit smoking yet and I haven't been keeping up with my cardio. All that being said, I figure the trail is the best place to quit smoking and get my cardio together, so what the heck, it's time to suffer that first day again. Anyways, I'll write once more before I set off, but just figured I'd put the gameplan down now that I know what it is!
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I set off tomorrow for my big hike of the year, all plans are set, the bags are packed, alright the pack is packed, and it's just in time for the oppressive heat of summer! I touched base with my hiking partners for this year's hike and we are set to go. Anyways, I won't be posting regularly while I am out on the hike, but I may get the chance to do so when I zero. Anyways, it's time to head back into nature and recharge my batteries, so Davenport Gap to Damascus here I come!
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Davenport Gap

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

We started out the day at Ms. Janet's and seeing as we had the farthest to go, we were the last to get going. We dropped Little Bear's car off at Hemlock Hollow before heading off to begin our hike. 1st day hiking always sucks and today was no exception as the climb up Snowbird SUCKED!!! However, it was awesome up top as we chilled for an hour by the Mothership. We thought about going for Max Patch, but instead opted to do lunch there tomorrow. Little Bear hurt his groin muscle near the summit of Snowbird, so we ended up hitting Groundhog Creek around 8pm...and found out bears have been visiting the shelter. That being said Little Bear is a cop and carries a gun, so we can definitely scare a bear away. Also, geniuses that we are, we are sleeping with our food bags, just to spite the gods of nature. Well it's hot, I'm tired so I am going to bed.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Lemon Gap-Hot Springs

To: Hot Springs and Home
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, Little Bear decided he was going home today, but not before he slacked me into Hot Springs, so after getting the Police Chief to drive him to his truck in the wee hours of the morning, I made killer time with no pack on my back other than lunch and water. After finishing, we headed up to Damascus for my Jeep, yep, I am headed home for a week until Magic Thumb can join me at Erwin, leaving Hot Springs to Erwin still to do, but that is ok, as the bear activity is crazy after seeing over 20 piles of fresh Bear Krap and no one else on the trail in 3 days time, I do not relish hiking a week by my lonesome as Little Bear cannot go on. Don't feel sorry for me though as my wife is opening up her new Training Center and so could use my help this week anyways as she is feeling overwhelmed, so I will be back on the trail, a week from today, I will post again the day before I head out. Catch ya later!
Date: 2007-06-18
From: Nolichucky River

To: Beauty Spot
Miles today: 10.6

Well....let Chapter 2 begin and welcome Magic Thumb to the game. You might remember her from last year's central Va. hike. We started from the River as usual after Way Back shuttled us to the trail from Ms. J's. (On that note we may have been the last people to stay at Janet's House as it is closed for good.) Anyways, back go the hike...the moral for the day was climb as we made great time to Curly Maple, but slowed down on the way to Beauty Spot where we are camped with a couple from Ohio by the name of Nikki and Michael. Well, I wanna chill and drink my drink so, Good Night!
Date: 2007-06-19
From: Beauty Spot

To: Greasy Creek Gap(Hostel)
Miles today: 12.7

Woke up last night to Nikki screaming her head off, we all woke up afraid a bear was attacking her...but it was just a nightmare. In the morning I told her she had her trail name and dubbed her "Sweet Dreams." Hiking was rougher than I thought it would be. I knew Unaka would be rough, but what I wasn't counting on was how rough some of the little 250-500ft climbs wouwith ld be. We made great time to Cherry Gap for lunch, and then to Iron Mountain Gap. We slowed down some on the hike from the Gap to Greasy Creek, partly because there were more summits to cross than the map told us, and fro me partly because I tweaked my quad int he same place as last year. That being said we have decided on an ambitious day tomorrow to head for Overmountain Shelter. For now we are staying at the Greasy Creek Friendly. Great hospitality, good people! It rained tonight and so we are staying here with Mike, Sweet Dreams, D-Licious, and Shaggy. Rain should clear up for tomorrow, G-Night!
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Greasy Creek Gap(Hostel)

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: scattered clouds

What an awesome hike today. Bitch of a climb up Roan Mountain followed by Beautiful balds and a descent into one of the great camp/shelter sites on the trail. Camped here with Dreams and Mike again. Waiting to see if D-licious, Shaggy, and Scoopy show up. There are also three women in the shelter with two dogs. Of course the dogs aren't on leashes. Also got bad news from Erin which totally crashed a great day, but then again when you love someone so much their triumphs and tragedies are yours as well. Tomorrow looks like a big mileage day to Mountaineer shelter. If things shape up the way I hope we will finish next Tuesday and I could be home that night, making the hike an 8 day hike of over 100 miles. We'll see I guess, G'night!