morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

I seem to be the first one up and the last one in the shelter. It was another hard day because of my heal blisters. I found out one thing today. If I worry about mileage I don't seem to have any fun. I'm going to enjoy myself and not worry about mileage. I'm going to walk at my own pace even if it takes me as long as it takes me. A.T. will still be there no matter how long it takes me. Well, one more day and I will be North Carolina. One down and eleven to go. I arrived at Plumorchard about 3:00 p.m. Real nice shelter. Looks like chicken again. I should have paid attention to my food when I packed my mail drops. All I packed in mail drops was chicken ala king. BUMMER! I must have thought Mary was coming with me.(I'm there in spirit Dad) I know she would love to be here. There is seven of us in the shelter that holds fourteen. It is a three level shelter, real nice. I am going to have chicken ala king. Hee Hee. John and Inde showed up. They went to Hiawassee and John bought a bottle of wine. Between the eight of us it didn't go far.Red Hank
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

Up late at about 7:00 a.m. I had hot oatmeal. It rained half the night. I started out about 8:00 a.m. It was still raining and very foggy. It was a real hard day. Most of it was uphill. I think everybody passed me up. It was uphill all day and I had to take half a dozen breaks. It stayed foggy most of the morning and started to clear up around 11:30 a.m. Then it got cold, about 40 degrees. I made it to the shelter about 3:30 p.m. It was full so I had to tent for the first time since I have been out on the trail. I made lunch around 4:00 p.m. roman noodles. I then had supper at 5:30 p.m., chicken ala king. I am getting short of food I have to get to the trail head and buy about three more days before I get my next mail drop at Noc. I am in my tent inside my sleeping bag writing this entry and it is a 40% chance of rain tonight. There are a lot of people here today. I might make tomorrow a short day about five in a half miles. It's 6:30 p.m. and I have chores to do until tomorrow.Red Hank
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 4.7
Weather: light rain

I woke up this morning and had a surprise, it had snowed all night. There was snow on the ground and it was very cold. I had a late start about 8:00 a.m. I got wet and started to shake a lot. So, I decided to stay at the next shelter and get a hot meal and rest for the day. It snowed all day and was very cold. There is six of us in the shelter now. Vagerant caught up with me and is staying the shelter. I am writing from inside of my sleeping bag. We are having a good conversation between all of us inside our sleeping bags and one of us is already asleep. It is about 3:00 p.m. and it is alredy getting colder. There is lots of snow all over the ground.Oh, by the way I crossed my first state line. I'm in North Carolina.My fingers are getting cold so that's it for now.See what tomorrow brings.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: broken clouds

This morning it was about 30 degrees and the wind was blowing. We had seven of us in the shelter and no one wanted to get up, it was very cold. It was a very easy day but very cold. I met a few hikers who said it would be about 65 degrees out tomorrow. I sure hope it will be that nice. I got to Carter Shelter about 2:00 p.m. Palm Tree was there. Taiwan John, Vagerant, Walks Along all came. There were seven of us in the shelter. We decided to have a fire. It was real nice along with great conversations, laughs, and joking with each other to forget about how cold we are.I'll be short one meal before I get to Wallace Gap. But I think I can make due until the. If only it got a little bit warmer I could do better mileage. Walks Along let me use her cell phone. No one was home so I left a message not to send a mail drop until I call her. I need to change E.T.A.'s Tomorrow I will break the 100 mile walk with more to come. I think I'll know if I'm going to stay on the trail after the 200 mile walk. It's still lots of fun except for not making much mileage. So, I have to come to the conclusion that I will not have a schedule or mileage. I will do my own hike. It might take me more than six months. So be it. It's getting cold so that's it for now. It's 7:30p.m. and it's getting dark. Most of the young are still out at the fire. You can hear them talking and laughing.Till tomorrow.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Rainbow Spring Campground
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

Woke up about 6:30 p.m. to 30 degrees weather and wind blowing 30mph. It was very cold and I am down to one meal. I had oatmeal for breakfast. I packed up and was out by 7:30 a.m. It was easy all the way to Albert Mountain then it got really hard. It ws straight up. You had to grab tree branches, roots, rocks, and crawl on your hands and knees to get up the mountain. It was really hard. After that it was mostly downhill. I got to Wallace Gap and went the wrong way. Wouldn't you know it it was all downhill so I had to climb back uphill three fourths a mile to head the other direction. Not a car in sight to give me a ride to Rainbow Campground. I finally signed in for the night and went to buy food for three days. I ate a large deluxe pizza by myself and drank two 32 oz. gaterades. I took a long hot shower and did some laundry. I am eating an apple while writing this journal. There are five NOBO's and one SOBO's. It's a very unique building that we are staying in. It's round and shaped like an Indian hut. Depending on the weather if it warms up I'll head out if not I might just stay another day and use this as a zero day (means my day off). Right now it's snowing and very cold out. As I write we are talking about what we are going to eat tomorrow. I think I'll have a bagel and cream cheese right now and then head to bed. I have to change my contacts tomorrow like a good boy and I am taking all my medicine.Until tomorrow whatever it brings.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Wallace Gap

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: few clouds

I got up about 7:00 a.m. in a nice warm hut or fairly warm. The shower last night felt good after no shower for ten days. I packed my bag and headed for the office for coffee and a shuttle to Wallace Gap. Left Wallce Gap about 9:30 a.m.It was a hard climb all day. My blisters seem to be getting better everyday. I arrived at Siler Bald about 3:30 p.m. Only one other person in the shelter. There are five tents out, all day hikers. I am sitting next to a big oak tree taking in the sun which we haven't seen for a week. Who should I see but MoJuice and Beagle on the trail. They had a zero day yesterday at Franklin. They were always a head of me. They decided to stay the night here. The wind is starting to pick up and it's a little cool but the sun sure feels good on my bare feet and my face. I just ate the two bagels and cream cheese that I bought at Rainbow. You can see 360` and everywhere you look you see hills all around. It is beautiful. I just ran into an older lady. I think she is in her 70's her name is JoAnn. She just got here. Beagle carried her pack part of the way to the shelter. I think I'll have beef strogonuff tonight and a bagel and cheese.It's kind of early yet but should get more hikers coming in. I haven't seen Vagerant. He and three others stayed at Franklin. MoJuice said they had a late start. I am having Spaghetti with meat sauce. I am in my bag it's getting really cold. Time change is today. I think today is Saturday. I hope tomorrow is as good a day as today was. Only two of us in the shelter, me and JoAnn. She is 72, that's great! I hope that she makes it all the way. It's great to be here.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Lick Log Gap
Miles today: 8.4

Well, the time change and cold made me late getting up. I was up at 7:30 a.m. and out at 8:00 a.m. Most of the day was uphill but not too bad. My blisters are still bothersome but I guess I will have to deal with them. I went up to Wayah Bald. There is an observation tower. It was so beautiful and you could see as far as your eyes could look. As I was walking up to the top of the tower I could see a big banner that said, "Free food to thru hikers." Talk about trail magic. There was hot dogs and hamburgers along with all the fixings for the burgers. There was candy, potato chips, and candy. Thanks to Tom! He was a school teacher out on his day off with his kids. They are true trail angels. If you have time he has a web page for you to visit, foresthostel.com I ran into a bunch of hikers at Licking Gap and went with them in search of water. They had a GPS. It was only a half a mile for water, that's not too bad. One of the leaders name was Ken (he told me to mention him as one of the nice guys). I am going to share a fire with them. They were at the same shelter as I was at Siler Bald. They were tenting below us. My tent is up, I have water, and I am about to make supper. It's almost 5:00 p.m. and it's getting cold outside. It's suppose to be 20 degrees out here tonight and they say it is rare that it is this cold so late into the year. I am trying to make my zero day on Tuesday or Wednesday I should be at NOC Wesser North Carolina. Well, that's it for today. I will talk to you again tomorrow. Life is good.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Lick Log Gap

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: clear sky

Out of bed at 8:00 a.m., very cold and windy. I had a breakfast bar for breakfast. There were a group of Section hikers who built a big fire so I had to stop by and warm myself up by the fire. A very fine group of people. I hiked with them for two days. Today I had two big balds to climb. When I got to Wesser Bald I climbed to the top of the tower and I could see the Smokey Mountains. All the guys that I was hiking with went to the top of the tower and layed down on the platform and we let the sun hit our faces. It felt so good and warm we layed there for hour an hour. At the shelter I met High Traveler a through hiker and he was sharing the shelter with JoAnn (she is the 72 year old retired school teacher). Ken the leader of the group of guys that I have hiked with wished me luck in case he didn't see me again. He also has a web site to visit if you get a chance, The Blue Ridge Knights, home.comcast.net/~kennyg. They hike twice a year, they have to stop to teach their childern (good values). It's about 5:30 p.m. and I going to make supper and share the fire with the Blue Ridge Knights for the last time tonight. I have a zero day tomorrow at NOC. Two great days off. I will call my wife, talk to my kids, eat whatever I want, and sleep in a warm bed. I think I will try to reduce my pack again and send some stuff home. Try to get my cell phone back, I miss it. Till tomorrow whatever it brings. It's great to be alive.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC Wesser NC
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I was up about at 7:30 and had some oatmeal. Everybody was moving around and packing. Last night was nice and the wind wasn't blowing, but it was a little cool. I was the second one out of camp. You would think it was all downhill? Actually, it was a lot of ups and finally it started the hard steep decline which ws hard on the knees. I got to NOC around 11:30 a.m. I signed into a hostel even though I wanted a hotel, but the hotel was all booked so I had to stay here. There are four bunk beds with three old guys and one young through hiker. The young hiker is only sixteen and weighs about 120 lbs, smaller than Mary. Maybe they will have a hotel room tomorrow. I will use a zero day tomorrow. Tonight I will just hang out and eat. I am losing too much weight. I have to keep my weight up. It's too early to loose this much weight early in the hike. I may have to do a parkey diet. I'll have to squeeze parkey on everything that I eat. I ran into MoJuice and Beagle and we had lunch together. They are heading out tomorrow so they can meet a friend at Fontana Dam. It is really nice here. You have to cross a bridge to get to the base camp. They have white water rafting and the restaurant faces the rapids and there you can watch the rafters go by. All the hiker that are leaving tomorrow are already in bed. They will get up early at about 6:30 and be out of here by 8:00. As for me I'm sleepig in tomorrow and just hanging out to heal and eat. La vida es muy bonita (life is beautiful)Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-07
From: NOC Wesser NC

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up about 9:00 a.m. Did some laundry and cleaned my gear. I went to the restaurant and had some breakfast, eggs, sausage, homefries, and grits. Around here you get grits with everything. After breakfast I did some shopping at the outfitters store to try to reduce the weight of my pack. I also mailed a package with some film and smelly socks among other smelly stuff. I told my wife to be careful when she opens the box. I tried to get a radio station but I couldn't because I am too low in the valley so there is no good reception. So much for my MP3. So I listened to my songs that my son recorded for me before I left. It's just as good. Well, I started with 52 lbs. pack weight. Then when I weighed it at NOC it was reduced down to 45 lbs. with ten days of food and water. No scales here but I hope that I have reduced it more. Next week I'll have to climb the Smokey Mountains. I could see the mountains when I was on top of the Wayah Bald Tower. There was nothing but snow on top. So beautiful. I got to eat around 4:30 p.m. The restaurant closes at 5:00 p.m. It is about one fourth mile to the restaurant. Of course it's all downhill which means it's all uphill back to the basecamp. It's a nice walk without the pack. Last night I had a bunk house and four guys stayed with me. One guy snored so loud that he would actually scare himself awake. It was really bad. They were high travelers and a young man who was sixteen. His trail name was mouth. Nice young man but talks a lot. I asked if they would move me into a two bunk room. Small but just for two people. Nobody in here with me yet. I am sure that someone will show up. Tomorrow I will be climbing all day long. Looks like Sassafras Gap Shelter is about seven miles away. Well, that's enough for now. Till tomorrow enjoying my zero day. Isn't it great to be alive.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-08
From: Zero Day

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

I was up at 6:30 a.m. and I used my camp stove to make oatmeal and headed out at 7:30 a.m. It was uphill all the way to the shelter. I am still having trouble with my heal blisters. I hope for a better day tomorrow. I arrived at the shelter at 1:30 p.m. I decided to stay for the night. It calls for thunderstorms tonight and I don't have time to make it the next shelter it's nine miles away. There are three girls at the shelter, all through hikers. They were just stopping for water. Right now I am by myself. The sun comes out every now and then and it's not really cold at all. They have a privy with a door. It's the firt ime I have seen one with a door. I made lunch which consisted of spring vegetables with rice and tortilla. I am having mac and cheese for dinner tonight. I need to start picking up miles next week. It's so damn hard to make miles with two blisters that won't heal. Maybe they will be better next week. I will just keep on plugging along the best that I can. By the time I get to Hot Springs I'll know if the trail is for me or not. If I can't make fifteen miles a day next week then it won't be fun anymore. Now, I love every minute of it. I don't know if I mentioned it but three weeks ago I took my first fall. Right on my shoulder. It is still a little sore, but no damamge. I hope to make nine miles and in two days get to Fontana Dam and register for the Smokey Mountains. It is the only place you need a permit on the A.T. Then you have to pin it to your pack so rangers know you have permission to hike there. You can get a huge fine if you get caught without one. Plus you loose your pack. Right now it is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No wind at all. Well, that is all for now. Till tomorrow. Be all you can be no matter how old you are.Red Hank
Date: 2004-04-09
To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: clear sky

      I started out about 7:30am it was a nice day not to cold. Had lots of ups and downs. Had to stop my shoes felt rather tight so I had to check my feet they had been feeling really not sore but but tired feet. Took my shoes off they were a little bit swollen but my toes had very little feeling in them very scarey. I knew I had to get off the trail. I left my shoes loose and started out with 4 miles to the nearest road it was highway 28 and try to hitch a ride to the nearest hostel that would be Hikers Inn in Fontana Village. Made it to Hwy 28 there was a small parking lot and some benches there and several cars parked in the small parking lot. I set on the bench to rest when a car drove up and a lady went up the hill. She came back down we started talking about plants and backpacking in general and Smokey Mountains. I told her that I was looking for a ride to Hikers Inn,without hisitation she said I'll take you there We drove the the Inn and it so happened it was full. She got on her cell phone and called Fontana Village Resort she drove me to the village inn registered and she drove me to my room. Talk about trail magic and trail angles all in one. I didn't even know her name till she droped me off her name was Ila and she has a web site Ila@wildcrafting.com check it out. Thank you Ila you are truly my trail angel. My hats off to North Carolina you have truely wonderful people.       Called my wife,and she went into action got all the maps off the internet and 12 hrs later her and my two daughters were on there way to eather see me or take me hone.I turned out I made the call abut heading home and go to see the Dr.Its a long 10 hr. drive home. arrived at home on Easter Sunday at 3:30am slept few hrs. and went to church with my son and his wife.They came from Toledo to watch our dogs. They were very worried about me. Thats it for today will keep in touch                                                          SOMETIMES LIFE SUCKS BUT ITS NICE TO HAVE A GREAT FAMILY THAT CARES.                                                               REDHANK
Date: 2004-04-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

      Went to the foot Dr. about 9;30am. Not much help ,so I made a appoinment with my family Dr. Had to find out why I was loosing so much weight loosing some feeling on my feet,getting weeker as I went along rather then getting stronger. Blood work,see a neurologist and do some tests on my feet for circulation. Will have the test back by the 21st and hope to be on the trail by the end of this week. My family Dr. is also a avid backpacker and understands why I have to get back on the trail. Hope to have some news by the 21st of April and hop to be on the trail on the folling Sat. or Sun..      Nothing more anything else would be a bore. So till next time hope to be on the trail. think positive is my moto.                           LIFE IS SHORT SO LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST.                     Redhank
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Sweetwater Creek Road 

To: Back on the trail
Miles today: 0.0

   Well went to the Dr. yesterday to find out my fate, and find out when I can get back on the trail. Had the appoinment about 10:00a.m. Got out of bed about 6:00a.m. The longest 4 hours of my life. Well everything went fine and a change of medication, tennis shoes with big toe box, reduce pack weight. Have my pack weight down to 40lbs with 2 liters water and 10 day supply food, thats down to 12lbs started with 52lbs. Did the approach with that much weight, and also do my own trail rather then set a schedule.   Plan to leave Bellevue on Sunday April 25th, and on the trail the next day. Starting in Sweetwater Creek Road 14 miles South of Fontana Dam. First stop will be Cable Gap Shelter, then to Fontana Hilton and register for the Great Smokey Mountains.   Today had the home town paper do a follow up on me( Bellevue Gazette). Jessica asked all kinds of questions(of course I did most of the talking). I tried not to act too excited. It was a great interview. I got everything off my chest,or at least most of it. Jessica also keeps up with my journal. She just didn't expect to do a follow up on me in person. Well that's enough excitement for today, and will see all on the trail.                                  Redhank                           LIFE IS GOOD
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Sweetwater Creek Road

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We left home at 7:00 A.M. for North Carolina. It was over casted when we stopped to pick up Marylin about 7:00 A.M., and headed out. We had good weather till we got to Tennesee, and started to rain really hard; so we slowed down to 65 mph. As usual Marylin kept us awake all the way. We put her up front before we hit all the large curves,bends, hills and dips on Rt 129 in North Carolina(she gets car sick in the back seat).We arrvied at Fontana Village about 4:30 P.M.(made good time). I treated them to supper about 5:30 P.M.and back to our room to relax(we were all very tired). I was up before 7:00 A.M. They got up by 8:00 A.M.,and my wife and I went down for breakfast,but Marylin decided to stay in the room and have some fruit, because she didn't want to face those cruves on to full stomach. We where packed and out on the road by 9:30 A.M. to the spot where I was picked up when I had to get off the trail at Sweetwater Creek Rd. Oh, by the way it rained all night and was still raining when I was dropped at road crossing. I should make it to Cable Gap shelter the first night back.Hope I made the right decision about coming back. I knew I had to do it or I would never forgive myself if I didn't. It's in my blood now, and I can't get it out of my head. I asked my family to bear with me. I'm just an old man looking for a dream.Until next time.                           REDHANK         Dreams are what keeps you young.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Sweetwater Creek Road

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: light rain

My wife and Marylyn dropped me off at 10:00a.m. at Sweet Water Road. It was pouring down rain. Wouldn¢t you know it the first day out and rain. I don¢t mind the climbing but I would like to see what¢s on top. It was very foggy and rainy. It rained most of the day. I ran into a couple of day hikers and two through hikers. They were headed for Fontana Dam Shelter. It was good walking today. The initial climb was a little hard at first then it got real easy. I made it to the shelter about 3:30 p.m. It was kind of early but I have to take it easy for the next couple of days. No one is at the shelter right now but again it is early. I am going to make supper around 5:30 p.m. It¢s only 4:30 now so I figured I would get water and set up my bed then do some writing. The next shelter is only 6.8 miles so I will have another short day. I will have to register at Fontana Dam for, ¢The Smokies.¢ I met a young man by the trail name of Santa. He came on the trail with nothing but a bowl and a spoon. He said the God will provide him with all the things he will need. He came in with a day pack and a black garbage bag over his shoulder. That is why they call him Santa. In the bag he carries a blanket and nothing else. He truly had faith in God more than I ever will. I was very impressed with him. He is from New York. I had supper around 7 p.m. and now I am ready for bed. It has stopped raining but it still a little cold. Until tomorrow.Red Hank