morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-02-07
From: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel

To: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

      This morning, Bono and I woke at about 930 and ate a quick cereal breakfast. We had big plans today- hit the library and update the journals.       We arrived at the library about 1015, but they did not open until 1030. They had a sign in the window adversing a blood drive today at the First Christian Chruch. Bono and I decided they could probably use the thick rich blood of a couple strapping young hikers... but they could probably use ours too. Hahah.   We decided that we would both donate. So after we finished using the internet at the library, we went back to Miss Janets to eat lunch. Then off we were to get a half nalgene of blood removed (Bono and I figured out how much it was as we were donating). The folks there were real nice and made sure we got through quickly. They and many other donors were quite interested in our journey.      When we were done we headed back to the house. As we talked with Miss Janet, she brought up the subject of working for stay. We said sure, always looking to save a buck. She quickly named off a list of projects including ripping out the old carpet, taking down the Xmas lights, fixing the toliet, and hanging a curtain door.       Tomm when we go to Johnson City to take Bono to church, Miss Janet and I will go pick up supplies at Lowes. Also I plan on stopping at an electronics store to check the latest selection in camcorders.       After talking for awhile I walked ot the Food Lion and got more food- tonight with be TexMex. Beef quesadillas for me and spinach & mushroom for Bono and Miss Janet. After dinner Bono and I watch "The Thruhicks", a 2002 homemade AT movie about a couple of crazy northbounders. Seein this production makes me want a camcorder even more.          Another late night. We knows when we will escape the powerful draw of this town. I am enjoying myself here, but someday I ould like to hit the trail again.
Date: 2003-02-08
From: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel

To: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

   Woke up about 830 this morning and showered again. Ate a quick breakfast and BOno, Miss Janet, and I were off to Johnson City.   We dropped Bono off at church and Miss Janet and I went to Lowes home improvement store and wandered though the aisles for a couple of hours.   We discussed future plans and projects for the hostel and what projects we would be working on. When done at Lowes, we stopped to see if Bono was ready, but someone had offered him a ride home.   So Miss Janet and I hit the Cici's Pizza for a nice pizza buffet for only $3.82 including tax! Awesome. After that we went to Circuit City, Micheal's, and Office Max. I browsed the camcorders and got a really good idea of which one I want, but I want to scour the internet for a better deal.   So back to the house we went. BOno was there when we got there.   Miss Janet took a nap (She works third shift from 1030 to 630) and Bono and I made dinner- 3 cheese burgers for me and I am not even full.   When Miss Janet woke up I made her a burger to go. Tomm, we will be tearing out the carpet. So we moved some stuff around- namely the TV and VCR into the bunkroom. Now we are about to watch Mr. Deeds and go to sleep.
Date: 2003-02-09
From: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel

To: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

      We completed a BIG chore today. Bono and I tore out the old, nasty carpet from the living room and hallway. Underneath we found an old hardwood floor- just what Miss Janet wanted.   Its not in the greatest shape, but nothing a sanding and revarnishing couldnt help. The floor does not lack character, thats for sure.      I am really enjoying my stay here- I have definatly been sucked into the "Town of Erwin Vortex." I hope that I can escape soon. Not because I dont like it here, but I want to see more of the trail.       Tonight we watched dome more movies and another late night it will be.
Date: 2003-02-10
From: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel

To: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today we finished up the big project from yesterday. We also tore out some linoleum, hung a curtain door, and added transition strips between the new (actually old) hardwood floor and the carpet in the bunkrooms.Tonight, Bono and I think we will do some ¢freedom hiking¢ tomm. Freedom hiking (also known as slack packing) is basically day hiking a portion of the trail. Miss Janet drops you off at the start point and then at a prearranged time picks you up at the other end of the section. The advantage is that you do not have to carry a heavy pack (instead just a daypack with the essentials) and that you have a warm comfy bed at the end of the day. Anyway, Bono and I think we will do the 8.5 between Devils Fork Gap and Sam¢s Gap. It should be an easy walk without our packs.        Once again, we are up too late. It is nearly 100 and we are just lying down. I am actually watching videos with Katlin (Miss Janet¢s youngest daughter). Last night I fell asleep on the floor in the living room and I¢ll probably end up crashing here again tonight.
Date: 2003-02-11
From: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel (Devil's Fork Gap)

To: Sam's Gap (And back to Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel)
Miles today: 8.5

   Woke up around 1130 today. We planned on leaving the house about noon, buut did not until 1245.   This put us on the trailhead about 105. After helping Miss Janet get the van unstuck, we took pff about 115.    We decided to take Miss Janet's dog, Fabien, with us today. He has too much energy and he enjoys the outdoors. As the day progressed, he did lose a lot of his energy. Where the snow was over a foot deep, I had to use my feet like snowplows to clear a path for him to walk.   It was fun to have a dog along, but I dont think I could walk with one everyday.   He did slow me down a little and having a wet dog in the shelter (or even worse under my tarp) would not be any fun. But today I enjoyed having Fabien around; he is a good hiking companion.      The hike today took longer than we had anticipated. We asked Miss Janet to be at the road crossing at 5. We did not make it the shelter, which was 2.5 miles from the road) until 5. So Fabien and I trucked down to the road. I got to the van at 630 and Bono at 7.      When I got to the van, Miss Janet informed me that Paul, the Scottish guy who has been on our heels since the beginning, was back at the house. I was excited to finally meet this fellow whom I had heard so much about from O'man. So we got back to the house and met him. He is a real nice guy, and a strong hiker too. I will try to catch him and keep up with him on the trail. Bono doubts that he will be able to keep up with Paul, but we shall see.       Tonight, Miss Janet went and got the fixings for Veggie Lasagna. Yummmmm. Robin, a hiker who lives in Erwin, came over, ate, and chatted with us. Tomm I am not planning on hiking any and then on Thursday, I will hit the trail again for good and escape this vortex...hopefully.      Oh and I almost forgot. I bid on a camcorder and won. So, soon (a week or two), I will begin capturing my trip that way also. It will be nice to have a video to show folks someday. Well once again it is late and I am now going to bed.
Date: 2003-02-12
From: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel

To: Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

      Well today went good. We got up, hit the library (I helped Paul get his journal started www.trailjournals.com/bonniescotsman), and then we headed to the house. Today we did some work and then we went into Johnson City. We hit the Cici's Pizza Buffet again. And we also picked up the supplies that we would need for sanding the hardwood floor. We rented the sander and got some sandpaper and picked out some red paint for the living room. When we got back to the house, we tried the sander. We bought two different grits of sandpaper: the lightest and the medium. We needed the heaviest, but at the store no one was around to tell us that. SO no sanding tonight. Bummer. Well tomm that means we will have to work double time in order to finish before 10, when the sander needs to be back. Tomm it looks like I am going to hike a little more of the trail.   I am still stuck in this vortex and can not get out!!!!
Date: 2003-02-13
From: Sam's Gap (Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel)

To: Spivey Gap(Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel)
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Today I hiked a portion of the trail. I walked the 13.5 miles in about 8 hours. Not bad. The snow was deep and the trail was unbroken until I got to the shelter. There I met a southbounder, Mario, and we chatted for quite a while. Later, I met another southbounder, Gizmo. They are a rare breed and the is only one left that anyone knows about. We will run into him in the next couple of weeks, I am sure. Today I went over Big Bald, which had some incredible views today. I wish Bono would have come along to see it. He stayed at home (that's what I have started calling Miss Janets) and worked the wood floor. This morning after dropping me off she went and bought some of the heavy grit sand paper. The work could then begin. When I got back to the house, I was put to work. We decided that the sander was not heavy enough to do a good job in the bad spots. So I added my 160 poundes to it and rode it like a bull. I sat on it while Bono drove me around. Actually it was not that bad, as long as you kept a pillow under your rear end. We got some good pictures and they will soon follow. Paul, who has been given the trail name The Bonnie Scotsman by Miss Janet worked on prepping the walls for paint. He did a really nice job and the walls will look great. Tomm Bono is going to take off. He is going to try to cover the ground I did and be to Curley Maple Shelter on Saturday, a distance of about 28 miles over 2 days. Possible, yes. Will he make it, only time will tell. He is up late tonight (past 200) packing to leave early in the morning. I am still awake as I can not sleep with the light and all the rustling.
Date: 2003-02-14
From: Spivey Gap (Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel)

To: Erwin, TN (Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel)
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

      Today started out a little differently than planned. I had wanted to get an early start, but because we stayed up too late last night, I could not. So I hit the trail about 100. The roads were getting worse because a rainy, snowy mix was faliing. It fell all day ranging in consistancy from snow to rain to sleet and every mixture in between. Yuck. Still today was pleasant. I was able to keep a good pace (Over 3 miles an hour) and made it back to the road by 430. As I walked today, I startled many grouse, and if you have ever done that before, you will know what I mean when I say they really startled me! Miss Janet is going out of town tonight and I wanted to get back before she left. And I did. The first car to drive by picked me up. Nice guy.       When I got back to the house, the Bonnie Scotsman (BS) was painting the living room. It looks very nice. This house certainly has changed a lot since I first got here. Carpet taken out, hardwood floors sanded, walls painted, toliet fixed, and the living room rearranged. The BS and I went down to the store and got more food. We plan on leaving tomm together and doing the 4 miles to the next shelter. This will give Bono a chance to catch up (he didnt hike with me yesterday). We will see if he gets there.       We ate a huge dinner and have a GIGANTIC pile of dishes to do in the morning. We watched a movie and tonight we are hitting the beds at about 12. The earliest since I have been here.
Date: 2003-02-15
From: Erwin, TN (Miss Janet's Hiker Hostel)

To: Curly Maple Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: light rain

Ahhh....to be back on the trail. What a great feeling. I have finally escaped the vortex of Erwin.   This morning I woke up about 900 and made a breakfast of biscuts and eggs. Then I started packing up my stuff and cleaning the house. About 130 I hit the library to get caught up on my journal. I now have over 30,000 hits! Wow!   Who'd a thought that this many people had an interest in my hike?   When I was done at the library, I headed home. I gathered my pack and checked my email one more time. GREAT NEWS! I got the job in Maine. Starting on May 16th, I will be serving as an assistant crew leader for the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. I spent 2 months volunteering there last year and I am very excited to get back up there. This made my day.   Bono, who hitched back down from Sam's Gap, has decided to skip that section and hike with BS and me. So we headed out to hitch back to the trail. We had a GREAT (a bit extended) stay at Miss Janet's and suggest to anyone coming through to stay there. We all hit the trail together about 400. Bono and I got wa hitch with a couple of folks in a nice Lincoln Navigator. As we got out of the SUV, the lady asked us if we would have any use for some homemade brownies. Needless to say they made an awesome dessert. Ummmmm.   As we hiked, the rain picked up and the fog set in. BS led the way and is an extremely fast hiker. I hope I can keep up with him. We rolled into the shelter about 615 to find 6 others here filling the shelter. They have a nice fire going- a nice sight after the end of a short, cold, wet day. The shelter WAS full when we got here, but 3 of them were kind enough to set up their tents in the rain. So now thanks to Stella, Doc McCoy, and Brian, us three are laying nice and dry in the shelter. Real nice folks. Well its almost 900 and I need to get to sleep. Tomm BS and I have 20 plus miles planned.   PeaceRon
Date: 2003-02-16
From: Curley Maple Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: snow

Long day, but a good one. We started early and hit the trail by 730. BS gave Bono and me the motivation to do so. We put away 12 miles by 1230. We met 2 hikers just before the first shelter we passed today. They had left 4 big cans of chicken in the shelter. We ate 3 at lunch and devoured the 4th at dinner. Thanks guys! After lunch we cruised on into the shelter by 630. While we walked uphill, the fit BS discussed his view of the world stage and his travels. The last mile or two seemed to take forever. It is just at the end of the day, you anticipate the shelters so much. Especially in the fog. You start imagining signs and shelters through the fog only to reach the tree or rock that has the same outline. The trail today today was covered in a couple inches of slush and a layer of ice.   Slick walking like this makes the miles even slower.   No views today, but I am glad we were able to put away a big day. Tomm we will try to hike another 20, but the weather may slow us. It is raining as I write. There was no shelter register here so I left the notebook that I have been carrying for that purpose. I hope someone will send it back to me.    Well its about b830 and after a long day, I am ready to crash. PeaceRon
Date: 2003-02-17
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Although the miles do not show it, today was a loooonnngg day. The day started at about 720 for me. I woke up and the Bonnie Scotsman had already cooked breakfast and was half way packed. So I ate a quick cereal breakfast and packed up. BS hit the trail about 8 and I at 845. About 1115, I caught up with him. The trail in this section is steep, rough, and uphill and walking fast is not as easy. We rolled into Roan High Knob Shelter (an old firewardens cabin & the highest shelter on the trail) for a good lunch.      After lunch we took off over Roan Mt and the balds that cover it summits. At some point the BS and I missed a turn. And we were then lost at 6,000 ft in a cloud. For good. So what do we do instead of backtracking? We pull out the GPS that I was given for graduation and bushwhack to the Stan Murray Shelter-or at least where the GPS said the shelter was. Although the GPS did not get us to the shelter, it did get us to the ridge which the trail followed.   So after about 4 hours of being the most lost I have ever been, we found the trail. Good thing too. I was getting worried at one point. We wre somewhere on a 6000 ft mountain, with little visability, its cold and the slush has soaked my boots. Not a good situation. I am glad we found the trail again. After the ordeal was over, we were back on the trail and to Stan Murray shelter (which was about .75 miles south on the AT from where the GPS said it was). There BS and I snacked &then we pushed the 1.7 miles to !this shelter.    Today, the snow was as deep as four feet. I floated over the drifts with my snowshoes while BS postholed to his waist. There was nothing I could do to help. It reminded me of walking with Fabien.   Bono did not start with us today. In fact, he fell back asleep before I left. I hope he doesnt follow our tracks all over that crazy mountain bushwhack.    Tonight we are staying in what is probably the biggest shelter on AT- Overmountain Shelter. It is a sweet, old, renovated barn with plenty of space to spread out our stuff and sleep. BS and I talked logistics tonight and it looks like we can make it to Damascus by Saturday at 1130 if we push. PeaceRon
Date: 2003-02-18
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: 19E (Braemar Castle Hostel)
Miles today: 8.7

Today I woke up to BS rustling his pot and stove at 400. He was cold and rightly so. It was about 20* and 20mph winds were rushing over us & through the barn. While not cold, compared to the Smokies, all of our stuff was damp and covered in frost from sleeping in a cloud. BS drank a couple cups of hot coffee and under the light of our headlamps, we discussed our plans for today. We decided to go into Hampton from 19E and dry our stuff and stay the night at the AT famous Kincora Hostel. We both fell back to sleep for a couple hours and then got up and packed. Today was beautiful. Once we poked our faces out of the barn, sun rays beamed on us. Although windy, the temperature was plesant. There is an awesome veiw of the valley from this shelter.We hit the trail and headed up to the Hump Mountains. The views from there were some of the best so far. Spectacular. Blue skys above us, to the West clouds hovered below us covering the valley showing only the peaks of nearby mountains making them look like islands, and to the East a beautiful mountain range. As we pusheup the mountain, BS took off in a jog and hustled all the way to the top. About 10 minutes later, I met him up there. It was incredible and I will not forget it. Ever.After hustling down the mountains, we got to 19E. From here it was 4 miles West to the small town of Roan Mountain and from there 15 miles to Hampton. After a little waiting we got a ride in a pick up to Roan Mt. And after trying to call Kincora and getting a little grub at the gas station, we started hitching to Hampton. Just as I held up my sign a truck that was pulling into the gas station waved us over. Cody gave us a ride to the Brown's Grocery Store in Hampton. Here I bought some food to cook up and then called up to Kincora again. Still no answer. After 45 minutes of waiting, we decided to just stay at the Braemer Castle Hostel in Hampton. So now we are here.Sutton and Beverly Brown, the hosts are nice and have tried to help us with our requests. We cooked up some burgers and then took some luke warm baths (not very much hot water in this place). Our stuff is spread out all over the place drying out. Tomm we will hit the trail and walk to Kincora to stay the night, if anyone is there. It is nice to be dry again.PeaceRon
Date: 2003-02-19
From: 19E (Braemar Castle Hostel)

To: Dennis Cove Road (Kincora Hostel)
Miles today: 19.5

This morning we woke up and got out of the hostel by 830. We got fuel at the store and called Kincora one more time. This time I got ahold of the owner and host Bob Peoples. Bob has built up quite the reputation in the past 7 or 8 years of operation as the "King of the Trail". He answered the phone and let me know that he would be there and apologized for yesturday. He was out and did not get our message until late. He asked what time we planned on arriving so that he could have the wood stove heating up the place for us. Nice.So we started hitching at about 9 and it took over 45 minutes before a nice young woman picked us up in her very nice car. She drove us back to Roan Mountain and dropped us off at the gas station. She is a pharmicutical representative and was only going that far in our direction. As we chatted, she explained how she wished she do something like this someday, but that her job ties her down too much. I have heard this numerous times and I am glad that I am taking the time while I have it to take this trip. We got a hitch pretty quick from the gas station and were back at the trail around 1015. An hour and fifteen minutes later than we had planned this morning. So we took off. This is a whole different type of trail than we hiked yesturday. Today instead of going over awesome mountains we walked through pastures, grassy valleys, past a graveyard, near a christmas tree farm, and up and down some pretty wicked ravines. It was a nice day and I broke a good sweat. The late start messed up my hiking clock and it seemed like forever for us to get to the Moreland Shelter, still six miles from the hostel. Tired and anxious we pushed on to the hostel. We rolled in here about 730. As we set our packs in the hostel, Bob and some other guy were getting a dryer out of the back of a truck. That other guy was no one else but Bono. He made it to 19E and hitched here. So our trio is reunited for the night. We talked with Bob and he drove us the 25 minutes into Elizabethan to grab some pizza and hit the Winn Dixie Grocery. Came back and now we are up too late again. It is past 12 and to bed I am going.PeaceRon
Date: 2003-02-20
From: Dennis Cove

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 0.0

Just a note to all.Hey Everyone,   I hope all is well with everyone. So far, my hike has been incredible! Great people, great places, and great experiences. I have been trying to keep my journal up to date, but sometimes I get a little backed up. Keep an eye out for an update and more pictures- including the Smokies in the winter! I am trying to respond to all the email I get, but it may take a little while. Please dont be put off if it takes me a couple of days or at worst a week or two to respond.    All is well out here. I did find out in Erwin that I will be back up in Maine this summer working for the Maine Trail Crew. I start on May 16th so I have until then to hike. Only time will tell how far I will get. For those who wondered, I did not get hit with the snowstorm bashed the Northeast. It missed us. In fact we got two days of sunshine when that went through. So I am doing good and will keep on hiking. I hope everyone is doing well. Take care. PeaceRon
Date: 2003-02-21
From: Dennis Cove (US 321)

To: Dennis Cove Road (Kincora)
Miles today: 8.9

      Today we slept in again. When we finally got up and going, we decided to slackpack from US 321 back to here.... yes I walked south.   It was a very nice section and Bono & I covered it in about 3.5 hours. BS tore up and over the mountain in less than 2 hours. I hope that someday I can keep pace with him.   I took it slow because I am doing a bit of trail work for Bob. I am earning the Thruhiker-trail maintance patch that Bob's hiking club puts out by walking the trail and recording where and how large the blowdowns (trees and limbs that have fallen in the path) are. Easy job, but somebody has got to do it. This way he can carry the right tools for the right job when he goes out to clear the blowdowns. No sense in carrying a 7' crosscut saw when there is only 3" limbs in the way. Anyhow, I am doing this from his place to Damascus.    This section that we hiked reminded me of Maine. A place that I long to go back to. I enjoyed the Laurel Gorge area a lot and suggest that everyone get out to see it.       When I got back, I ate more food and hung out. We played a game of Jenga that quickly fell apart when the phone rang. It has been another long day. Whenever we are in town we always stay up too late. A tradition you could say. Its nearly 100.