morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-24
To: Hiker Hostel, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0

Hi all, as my mother and Brenda both pointed out it has been awhile since you have heard from me.All I got to say that until you have been to London you will never understand. There is just so much to see, it is an amasing place, from Westminster Abbey, Parliement house, to the London Eye, in every direction you look there is something amasing to see. In the evenings I was in a great hostel, Made so many friends, and on my final night they gave me a sending off party. Got home a bit late, and got up a bit late, but just enough time to get my plane.It was snowing rather heavily with sleet when I left London, it was a good time to leave. The night before I had been hailed on, and got rather wet. Had a good flight to Atlanta, massive airport. Was very easy to get through passport control, customs etc. Josh here at the Hiker Hostel said that if you are from Ireland, Great Britain, NZ or Australia, you pretty much get through hassle free. They tend to leave us alone, if you are from another country even a european country then they scan your retina. for me it was just my finger.Spent a night in Atlanta, had to catch a taxi out ot the travelodge, not the best hotel I have ever stayed in, and it was in a real shitty area of the city. We really have no idea what a bad part of town is in Australia, not compared to here.THe people here are so freindly, there is nothing they will not do for you. Every question is answered with such enthusiasm, an Australian accent is like a passport to being treated like a king, their friendliness is incredible, it is so refreshing compared to Europe. The food is fine, it is cheap and there is lots of it. The hiker Hostel is something else, best hostel I have stayed in thus far, and the people who run it are just grand. Stunning place, so much living space. I have a great feeling about the journey ahead, everyone I have talked to has been so fascinated with where I am from, they are all so kind. Have a few people here who are all doing the same thing, the AT, and there is already 600 people out on the trail in front of me. Got my new gear posted here, and it is great. Forget all the rubbish you may have heard about americans back home and the typical stereotypes. You have to experience it for yourself, so many of my friends have enjoyed their experience over here, and I am beginning to understand why. On the trail tomorrow first thing.Y'all write now.
Date: 2008-03-25
To: Approach Trail
Miles today: 0.0

Hi allSorry it has been so long since I wrote, but i have had no internet access until now.I completed the approach trail to springer mountain. It is not officially part of the AT, but about half the people hike it, it starts down at Amicola falls and heads up to mount springer. It was a rather vigourous walk, including many stairs up a huge waterfall, great walking. Finally reached the summit, took some pictures, saw my first whiteblaze, they are the marks on the trail that you follow, mostly up on the trees. Walked about 0.2 miles to the shelter and spent the night in the shelter. There were a few others camping out that night, and I was joined by Colleen in the shelter. She told me dont try and touch her as she sleeps with a knife, she sure was a character. I should have said "that is not a knife, that's a knife". It was a very cold day, and an even colder night, and shared the shelter with many mice, they were running around everywhere.Walked 9 miles.
Date: 2008-03-26
From: Springer shelter

To: Hawke Mt Shelter
Miles today: 7.8

Made it into the next shelter, the day was thankfully warmer than the day before. Made a whole heap of new friends at the shelter, everyone is fantastic. Got given the trail name Kennedy, after President Kennedy, they told me I looked and acted like him. Slept in the shelter again and there were many more mice again, but put the ear plugs in so did not really hear them.
Date: 2008-03-27
From: Hawke Mt Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather was perfect, and had become part of a group of other hikers. The best part of this experience is the wonderful comraderie experienced between all the other hikers. it is an incredible experience, and it has drawn together such an eclectic group of people from so many different walks of life. There are ex military people who have served all over the world, recent university graduates, people who live on communes, a journalist, an electrician, just to name a few. A number of the people that I have encountered have travelled to Australia. Today had a number of climbs up and down, which added to the test. It is not as hard as the Australian Alps Walking Trail, it is probably more similar to the hiking at Wilsons Prom, as the trail is so well made. On most climbs they are made much more gradual because of all the switch backs, the quality of the path is the best I have ever hiked on, we are being spoilt. So many thousands of people walk this section of trail that it is really well maintained.Camped a mile or so past Gooch Gap shelter, and it was my first night in a tent, my new tarptent, and had to throw a line over a tree to hang the food from the bears. There has been one bear attack so far which happened the day before I passed through the area at three forks. A bear cirlced a group of hikers and they made a ton of noise, but it came back 15 mins later and grabbed one of their bags. They found the backpack later and it was totally shredded, so I guess the bears are a real threat.
Date: 2008-03-28
From: Gooch Gap

To: Woods hole Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Made it to woods hole shelter, and it was a day with lots of climbing agian. Most of the hike seems to be either up or down, it is a test upon ones legs. I am super suprised how I have held up thus far, was thinking it was going to be hell, but the muscles seem to be lose and ready to go the next day. The weight i Lost and the fitness I gained in Europe seems to have made a real difference. I am hiking with some great people. Mittens, Bria, who I call Maid Marien, Mooch and Buffet, Dr Vapour, Bobcat who I renamed Pussy, Fish who i renamed Barramundi, Ian who I named Bondi, and Jackeroo who of course I named. They all tried to give me an Austalain name to begin with, like the Vegemite boy, and they could tell from my cringeing it was not going to stick, now I have given everyone I come across and Australian name, just trying to leave my mark on the US.They are still many others that I have run into on the journey thus far, there is no shortage of other hikers. Been so much fun, was joined in the shelter by many of my other hikers tonight, as the weather has changed for the worse and begun to rain.
Date: 2008-03-29
From: Woods hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: moderate rain

Short day, but it was up Blood Mountain, the biggest climb so far, but it was rather easy to get up. The weather turned nasty just as we reached the top and a thunderstorm broke over us. We all jumped into the shelter, but the rain had set in, so we did the decent into Neels in the rain, it sure was slippery and very rocky, and a bit dangerous. There is a backpackers here, and an outfitters. They went through my gear and gave me a shake down, this is when they look at everything you have and give you advice and try to shave some weight off your pack. They did not take too much out of mine, but I did have to add a few things, like 50ft of rope for hanging a bear bag, a book that gives details on the trail, and a few things like that. I did dump my red fleece as now it is many sizes too big, my rain pants as I never seem to use them, and repleced it with a much lighter rain skirt. Yes I have a skirt. My gear with 5 days of food, and 3 litres of water all adds upto 33 pounds. I went to the backpackers and I weight 205 pounds, my big guts are so much smaller, I am starting to feel so much fitter. We watched a movie called Deliverance, I must say to mum you should hire the movie, take it around to brendas and Vickis and all watch it together. it will give you a great feel for what the region I am walking through is like. It is an older film with Burt Reynolds, and comes recommended by one of my lecturers in Rod Deakin. So mum pick up the movie and take it around and watch it with the faimly, give you a taste of what life is like in the mountians of Georgia.Took a shower and cleaned my clothes, feeling fresh again, and ready for the next day ahead, with all my new hiking buddies.
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

This hike was much easier than the past few days as it was rather flat, but still undulating, or maybe I am just getting stronger. I was one of the last to leave, and got to the shleter and it was full. it had rained for much of the day, and was so cold. set up my tent and just got inside it to warm up in my sleeping bag, I have a great bag, and it is the envy of all others. I have purposely kept the mileage low to give the body a chance to break in and not get injured, going to keep up with relatively slow pace until i get past the Smokies. My hiking mates are a brilliant bunch, the less people have the more they are willing to give. Everyone has a smile on their face, and we are all enjoying each others company. i am the only foreigner i ahve met on the trail thus far, everyone one else is a yank. So different to travelling aorund Erope where it was so hard to meet a local. They do tend to make me the butt of many jokes, and it is all rather funny. They all try to take off my accent with little success, but the efforts do have me in stitches. They are always wanting me to do a line out of a movie, or some other stupid thing, I am sure you can all imagine what it is like back home. I must say though i am pretty good at giving it back, and it is all such fun and great banter. The country side is fabulous, so different to back home. No smell of eucalyptus, and very few leaves. The bush is so open, almost no ground cover, bushwahcking would be such an easy experience. The forest looks very similar to what it would back home after a bush fire. In the last few days that has started to change with the first few leaves and green shoots starting to appear. It is so different, mum says she has a few pictures from a magazine if you get a chance drop in and have a look. You can see why they have less rugged and lighter backpacks, they do not have all the foilage and shrubs they we do, you do not have to swim through the forest like you do back home. Their backpaks would be torn to shreds back home, what i am carrying is a bit of overkill, and far too heavy. I have a pack that is designed to carry 25 kgs plus, and I am carrying about half that once I have drunk all my water. The water here is so plentiful, it seems to be running out of the ground everywehre. Back home you might get one water source a day, here you get one just about every mile.The tent worked in the rain ok, although most things are a bit damp, but that is because of the weather the humidity must be close to 100 percent. They do not get the dry cold we get, the weather is so different.
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today everyone planned to walk on much further except me. I got out of bed rather late, and planned on a short day. Yesterday the weather had been bad, the fog is so thick that seeing past about 5 trees distant is impossible, and today was no different. Once agian we had a few climbs, but I managed them just fine. I was last into the shelter, and there was room, but I decided to camp as everything was so wet thought I would set it all up so it could dry. You know what happened next it started raining, and it was off and on all ngith. A few of the hikers had hiked on, but a few of the regular crew were here, and some new people had arrived. Everyday we seem to meet someone new, it is one of the best parts of the hike thus far. There are lots of people on the hike. It was a good hike, but the views thorugh the trees were negligible once again because of the thick fog, never had so much fog in my life, dont get it like this back home, atleast today was a bit warmer. Before I went off to my tent for bed, i did some exercises in the shelter, put on a great show, felt so good and flexible again, hardly know myself.
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Blue Mtn Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: light rain

The day from hell, every hikers nightmare, INJURY. Got up and had a slight pain in my knee, went down and used the privy, walked back up the slight hill and it was a bit more sharp the pain. Packed away my tent, all of my friends had just left, and I was not too far behind them. Hiked off, slight climb, just expected the knee to warm up and it would be fine. Got to the top of a hill and then started a steep descent and the knee got worse and worse. Soon I was favouring my left leg and avoiding all pressure on my right. Sat down on the road at Unicoi Gap, knew the town of Helen was just 11 mile hitch hike down the road. After about 10 mins thoguth I would get up and continue on my hike, but no good, my knee was stuffed. Stuck out the thumb for the first time in my life, and about 5 cars later 2 through hikers picked me up, a young couple. I have forgotten their names, but thank you so much for the lift. They knew who I was even though they were hiking in front of me, they were having a few days off the trail themselves. Some people who I had stayed with at the Hiker Hostel had talked about me on the trail, they simply knew me as the Aussie, except they all prounouce it Auzzie, like hearing finger nails down a chalk baord. There is so much gossip up and down the trail, this si what happens when you sit around with a group of hikers each ngiht and there is no tv, oh it is so great, and very comforting. The bush telegraph spreads up and down this trail so fast. Stayed at a great hotel, better than anything in Europe, in fact everything here is better than Europe. You do have to give it to the yanks they sure have built a great country, almost as good as back home. The people here are so freindly, everyone does everything they can to help me, it is bloody amasing.My knee got worse and worse, and eventually I could not walk on it, and it was completely frozen. I was so scared this was the end of my adventure, really thorught I had done something so bad. I forgot to mention that up at Blue mountain shelter, the Twynman had a mouse land right on his head, and he felt its little paws run across his forehead. I laughed and laughed. I am really depressed today, and in lots of pain, never had an injury this bad in a very long time. I have loved my expereince so far, it has been unreal, and had made such great friends, and was so loving the mountians and even the cold. Now what am I going to do. At a pretty low point right now, never thoguth this would happen to me. Im off to lay in my bed and rest up back at the hotel.
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Helen
Miles today: 0.0

Went and saw the chemist, he looked at my knee and said it was very swollen. Suggested i take it easy for a few days. I told him that I had not noticed any one point where I had pulled it or anything. He just said that what I was doing was very strenuous, and most likely all I had done was strain it. It was the best news I had heard, and my spirits went right up. So hopefully after some bed rest I will be back out on the trail within the week, fingers crossed. Maybe i will have to get a set of girlie sticks to walk with. I am really missing my crew, all my new freinds, hope they are all safe and well, and made it to Hiawassee. I may not catch up with yo for some time, but I must say it had been a great time together, it was a real pleasure to meet you all. Helen is a great little town, so that is one consolation. America is dirt cheap compared to Europe, and even a bit cheaper than Australia. The food is as cheap as home, and in large amounts, in fact the prices generally seem to be cheaper here than back home. THe food is great, some memebers of my family told me it was going to be real crap, not sure where in the US they have been, but totally different to what I am experiencing. It is the people that I love, even the people at reception at my hotel are so polite, it is just like being at home. They are so interested in me cause i come from Australia, and have a strange accent. This town is a tourist town that gets about 1 million visitors a year, it is a fake german town, and it is so funny, very amusing. The Americans are very entertaining, and sure do love to drive great big cars. Everything is bigger in this country including the people, but out on the trail, most of the people are thin and very fit. I was so worried I was going to become a statistic, between 10 and 20 percent of the people drop out of the hike by Neels gap, 4 days walk. By the Smokies it is 50 percent that have dropped out. I do not want to be one of these statistics, I am missing the trail so much sitting in my hotel room, I am determined to make it all the way, just going to take a bit longer now. Hopefully the kne will get better sooner rather than later.Oh yes another thing I fogot to mention, in some parts or Europe I was almost paing $12 an hour for computer access, in this country it is free, God bless America. Still have not met any bible bashers yet, but I am hopeful.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: One more day in Helen

To: Tray Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Hi all, just come to inform you all that I am about to head off. It is pouring with rain, and thunderstorms are expected. Ihave some big hills to go up and down, and then a relatively short distance and I should beat the shelter for the night. Thanks for all the advice withthe knee.Last night I went to a Frat party, when in US you must get the full cultural experience. Even got a few free beers. it was mostly boys and girls between the ages of 18 and 24, it was suprising how well I fit in. They were a great bunch, and some of them were giving it a real nudge, it was fun to watch. Was I ever that crazy. When i was at the supermarket yesterday, I walked in the store and the lady at the till gave me a huge smile. As I walked around the aisles people smiled and nodded, Igot out of the road of older people, and some of them even tapped me on the shoulder and thanked me for my good manners. The check out chick was on for a good chat. It is this type of general interactin that I missed so much when I was in Europe. People here always give you a big cheesy smile and say have a nice day, and they actually mean it. It is so nice to be amongst people where they have such a similar culture to ours. Travelling in the US is such a breeze, it seems like everyone is here to help. Really enjoying myself.Hopefully I will meet some new hikers at the shelter tonight, time to make some new hiking friends, as all mine are many days ahead of me now. YOu will hear form me in about a week.
Date: 2008-04-06
From: Tray Mtn Shelter

To: Tray Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Got a ride up from the supermarket to Unicoi Gap, and began my hike to Tray Mtn Shelter. The knee was real sore, but my hiking stick sure did help. The rain was on the increase, the temperature was dropping, and visibility was limited. The climb was real steep, and it was very slippery, it sure was a challenge. About a mile or so short of Tray Mtn Shelter was a group of boy scouts offering trail magic. They had hamburgers, cheeseburgers, soup, hotdogs, candy, cookies, etc. A warm fire, and lots of good company, many hikers had stopped here, all potential thru hikers, and sat around the fire under a tarp strung above out of the rain and the cold. I sure did eat my fair share, and then climbed up another hill, then a short descent and into the shelter. Unbeleivably there was room for me in the shelter, and I shared it with two sisters, bone lady and Oatmeal, also Maniac, and a girl who had spent 3 years teaching in England Bear Bait. A great bunch of peope and we would all camp together for the next few days. Many people did not make it to the shelter, they camped at the boy scouts, who got up in the morning and cooked them breakfast, pancakes, coffee etc.. I love this trail magic, and a sspecial thanks to the scouts.
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Tray Mtn Shelter

To: Little Bald Knob
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

Tonight was some stealth camping, that is where you just pick a spot in the bush and make camp all by yourself. It was a big days hike, and was the most miles I have done thus far. There was a long gradual climb upto Kelly Knob, some gorgeous views just off the trail not far past the summit. The weather was much warmer, and the rain had cleared. Not far past Tray Mtn Shelter saw some turkey hunters, two young guys all dressed in military camo gear, carrying huge hunting guns, I was a little terrified. They were waving their guns about and at one stage the gun was pointed right at me, can see how hunting accidents occured, it is not a sight you would ever see in an Australian setting, it really was something. From Powell Mountain to Dicks gap it was a steep descent and very taxing on the knees, many people were catching a ride into the town of Hiawassee to do a ressuply. I walked on another mile or so until I found a suitable water source and camp area. Camped up on a ridge, and was soon joined by some Canadians from Nova Scotia, they were a great bunch, one now has an Australian name thanks to me, Mick Dundee. It was a super steep climb down to the water source, and I was pretty tired at the end of the day, and was very appreciative of the extra company.
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Little Bald Knob

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

One of the hardest days of hiking thus far, all we seemed to do was climb up and up. Stopped in at Plumorchard Gap Shelter to lighten my load, and caught up with Rough Rider and Teddy Roosevelt. TR is in the navy, and was a great guy, full of some great stories, continued on and soon past over the boarder from Georgia into North Carolina, that is one state down. The climb up from Bly Gap to Muskrat Creek shelter was huge, and it really took it out of me. I was so stuffed, and my knee was really annoying me, it was such a big day of climbing, here in North Carolina, there are no switchbacks, just straight up the hill, very much what we normally have in Australia.The shelter had a great crowd at it, some new people, there were a large number of girls, including Neon and Trout. There were some couples hiking together, just great to meet so many new people, it has been so much fun, it is such a great community out here on the trail. There was some rain overnight, and once again my little contrail tarptent kept me dry, rather cold pakcing up in the morning, but got away to an early start. Watching the girls this night hanging there bear bags was hilarious. They all hike faster than me, they do everything better than me, but they are hopeless at getting a rope over a tree branch. Girls just cant throw, they just dont cock the wrist or something. You have to tie something like a rock to one end of the rope and then throw it up over a tree branch, it can be a bit tricky, but watching them do it is hilarious.