morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-20
From: Home

To: Boston, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Brian has made it to Boston, and is taking today to wash all the stuff in his pack, and make sure he has all the food he needs until his next mail drop. He will start where he left off tomorrow morning. Looking back of the last weeks events I am left with an incredibly content feeling I cannot quite explain. I think I needed him as much as he needed us. I realize everyday how much more I love my husband than I did the day before. And though it has been hard and I have complained alot, I think this has been a journey for us all. I know now more than ever before that he needs to finish this. And knowing that I am content with it. Six weeks isn't that long. Brian and I went through so many emotions in the last few days deciding what he should do, but we ended up with the only emotion that matters. We love each other.
Date: 2007-07-23
From: Boston, MA

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Brian hitched into Great Barrington, MA today to find some better bug repellent, and a knee brace. The mosquitoes have been awful, and he hurt his knee somehow. But he is great spirits now. And let me tell ya, I am diggin this cell phone idea. I like that he call call when he has a signal. I feel much better about the whole thing. And I think maybe he does to. I know some purists don't like it....But I do...all is well, the kids are on vacation with Brian's parents, and no one will answer a phone. So I guess they are having a good time.
Date: 2007-07-29
From: Into Vermont

To: First Wedding Anniversary
Miles today: 0.0

Today is our First Wedding Anniversary! Though I secertly wished for some miracle that would bring us together today, I knew better. I sent a piece of our saved wedding cake in his last mail drop and we will both take a bite of our piece together today a 5pm. Silly I know, but hey what else can we do? I am really sad, I never thought when I got married I would spend this day without Brian, but I am ok considering. The kids came home from vacation last night so that helps alot. They had a great time. The spent a few days in the Outer Banks and a few days in Washington, DC...They are exhausted and are still asleep. SO we will just hang around the house today. The yard needs to be mowed so I guess I should get moving... Brian, I love you more than you will ever know....Happy Anniversary!
Date: 2007-08-02
From: First Wedding Anniversary

To: Newport, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Well after 3 days of lying to my husband, Lee-Anne and I, with the help of our mothers and a few friends also willing to lie. We pulled off the surprise of the century. Brian hiked into hanover Tuesday night, and was taking a zero day Wednesday with Lee-Anne in newport about 30 minutes from the trail. Unbeknowst (sp?) to Brian my flight came in at 11pm Wednesday night, and around 12:30am when Brian came out on the front porch to smoke there I sat at the table. It was priceless, it took him a few minutes to see me in the dark, but when I spoke he knew, and he was happy, VERY HAPPY, he was taken by total surprise, the last thing he thought to see here in NH was his wife.....Today we are spending together, and tomorrow I go South and he goes North......What a great day!LIFE IS GOOD!
Date: 2007-08-04
From: Newport, NH

To: Home, Again
Miles today: 0.0

What a wonderful last few days. The surprise went off without a hitch....Thank god, I felt so bad for lying to Brian, it would have really sucked if he found out before I got there.....But, Anyway, my friend Lee-Anne and her love Steve, were so wonderful, without them it wouldn't never have happened. They picked Brian up in Hanover and fed him and let him shower and wash his funky clothes,and then lied to make the surprise complete. We had a great time, we went on a sunset dinner cruise on lake Sunapee, it was just beautiful. Alas it had to come to an end and I had to come home, by way of flight delay after flight delay, I made it nonetheless. So now Brian is back on trail and on his way north. This will all be over soon, and I find myself a little scared. This trail has consumed so much of our lives for so long, I hope going back to normal life isn't to hard...............................................................................................Brian, I got your message, I love you and I hope for a call tomorrow....be safe my love.
Date: 2007-08-08
From: Home, Again

To: Lincoln, NH-Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

UGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.....Brian has had a rough few days, Monday coming off Mt. Moosilauke, he fell. He doesn't remember hitting his head and feels sure he didn't with the pack in the way, but he was most certainly shaken. He sat there a few minutes, dizzy with blurry vision. He managed to hike down to N. Woodstock, where from there he was able to catch a ride to the Hostel in Lincoln. Where he has been since. Yesterday the dizziness was gone but the stiff neck and headache were still pretty bad, enough to keep him from hiking, Yea Yea, I asked him to wait another day, I was really concerned about him being on the toughest part of the trail and not being 100%. He agreed, he rested yesterday. So today a new day feeling much better and you guessed it, really nasty weather. His first 10 miles when he goes back take him over Mt. Lincoln and Mt.Lafayette, tough climbs in clear weather, down right dangerous in bad weather....So he waits again. Tomorrows weather looks much better and the next few days are not bad either. So hopefully back to hiking again tomorrow. Me? I'll just sit here and worry.
Date: 2007-08-11
From: Lincoln, NH-Hostel

To: Mount Washington
Miles today: 0.0

Brian was at the Summit of Mount Washington today. He had to go stand in front of the web cam 3 times to get the shot it did get, the cam only takes pictures every 15 minutes. It isn't great because of the wind and fog but it is Brian. The wind speed was 38 MPH while he was up there. It was nice to see him up there.
Date: 2007-08-14
From: Mount Washington

To: Monson, ME ??
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Brian expected to be in Monson, ME today, everything from Mt. Washington has been a blurr, he fell on his hiking pole outside of Gorham, the pole broke and he hurt his thigh, got his pole replaced and should be in Monson, ME today, which means the 100 mile wilderness is just ahead, which means this is just about over. THANK GOD. We have been through so much, I am thinking too much more and I will just lose it.
Date: 2007-08-21
From: Monson, ME ??

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Brian has completed his journey! He hasn't had a chance to update his journal yet, but he will in the next few days. I will wait to get into everything until he has had a chance to post his thoughts and feelings, this was after all his journey, the kids and I were just along for the ride. I would like to Thank a few people, who have made this trip possible, My children, they had it harder than everyone else, but they dealt with everything with grace and maturity, I am so proud of all 3 of them, My mother and father in law, without them so many things would have been impossible, they took care of the kids so I could see Brian, and countless other things that made me feel very loved. Thank you Cindy and John. My mother, with our her, I wouldn't have seen Brian the last few times, and without her listening to my endless whining I would have gone totally nuts.Thank You Mom! I will write more after Brian has posted his end.
Date: 2007-10-29
From: Katahdin

To: Home....
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

First let me apologize for not updating this sooner. Since Brian has returned home, so much has happened. He has gone back to work, I have changed jobs, we made the trip to Gettysburg for the Gathering with the kids, and spent 3 days on the battlefields. I had a hard time adjusting to him being home at first, well not so much that, but that I didn't have to track him, dehydrate food, put together mails drops or any of the things that had become almost habit. I guess I had gotten a little used to him being gone, or more particularly me being alone. The kids and I had developed a routine over the six months he was gone, and now we had to come up with a new one. I have been a little suprised at his reaction to what he has done. He didn't really talk about it, and still hasn't finished his journal, and he kinda moved right on the next thing on his list of things to do, Reenacting has become the center of his energy these days. When I asked him why he hadn't finished his journals, the look on his face explained so much, he doesn't want to think about it, it's over he has done it, and he doesn't want to face the reality that it is in fact over, in his mind if he finishes the journals it really is over..Final! The kids have finally gotten comfortable with him being home, they were leary at first, they were convinced he wasn't staying. They know his home for good now. So they are doing well. The summer was tough for them, but they we so supportive, and gaveup so much, I couldn't be more proud of them. So now several months later we have all adjusted and have gotten back to normal, well as normal as we get. I am so sorry to those who read this journal for not having updated before now, I guess for me this makes it final as well. Thankk you to everyone who made this all so much easier for me. I have my huband back, the kids have their father, and we are all closer than ever.
Date: 2007-03-12
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I've heard a lot about trailjournals.com since I've been on the trail and was encouraged by fellow hikers to create a journal, so here I am. I was going to spend the night at the Blueberry Patch Hiker Hostel, but when I got there, the owner told me there was a sick hiker inside and he had no idea whether he was contagious or not. So, I decided to join Beach Bum at the Holiday Inn Express in Hiawassee. Glad I did...very nice place to stay and the AYCE at Daniel's Steak House was great as well. Was able to resupply at local groceries and am back on the trail tomorrow. I'll add pictures and write more when I can...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-03-13
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 78.2
Weather: broken clouds

OK...I didn't do 78.2 miles today...but I needed to get my accumulated miles up to date. Here is what I did each day since 3/5/07:3/5/7 Springer to Hawk Mtn Shelter...7.6 miles (7.6)3/6/7 Hawk to Gooch...7.3 (14.9)3/7/7 Gooch to Woods Hole...11.9 (26.8)3/8/7 Woods Hole to Neels Gap/Mtn Crossings Hostel...3.7 (30.5)3/9/7 Neels Gap to Low Gap Shelter...10.6 (41.1)3/10/7 Low Gap to Blue Mtn Shelter...7.2 (48.3)3/11/7 Blue to Tray Mtn Shelter...7.7 (56)3/12/7 Tray to Hiawassee...10.6 (66.6)3/13/7 Hiawassee to Muskrat Creek...11.6 (78.2)OK...now I'll add an entry at a time whenever I get some computer time. Can't wait to load some pics too...maybe in Erwin, TN?Cheers...357
Date: 2007-03-14
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Saw a white tail deer this morning about half an hour out of camp. Pretty sight. Made some soup I got at a grocery in Hiawassee for supper tonight. Put some of Kim's beef jerky in it. Man it was good. Was treated to more bluegrass music tonight by 5-string and guitfiddler...what a treat.Cheers...357
Date: 2007-03-15
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Longest day yet. Pushed on into town ahead of rain. Supposed to meet Kim and Juva in Franklin tomorrow. Shower and a hot restaurant meal never felt/tasted so good. Just beat the rain too...rained most of the night and into the next morning. Good to be in a hotel at the time.Saw Warren Doyle for the third time in four days on the trail today. Think he's out meeting a lot of the AT Class of 2007.Got some trail magic at Bear Pen Trail, just before Albert Mtn. I was there pretty early, so I got some cookies and a coke. Had I arrived an hour later they would have had hot dogs on the grill. Very much appreciate the kindness of Fishing Fred and Gatorade...the location was perfect for getting sugared up to climb Albert.Celebrated briefly at Glassmine Gap...the 100 mile point on the trail.Cheers...357
Date: 2007-03-18
From: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin)

To: Burningtown Gap
Miles today: 14.6

I had intended to go to Cold Spring Shelter but ran in to Apple's Trail Magic Orange Dome at Burningtown Gap. What a blessing it was too! I ate well and spent the night in the dome. There must have been nearly a dozen of us in there that night.Thanks for the hospitality Apple!!!!
Date: 2007-03-19
From: Burningtown Gap

To: NOC near Bryson City, NC
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Had some donuts and coffee before leaving Apple's Orange dome. Had a great day of hiking, rolling in to the NOC about 2 or so. Went to the outhitter and bought a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and sat outside on a bench airing my feet, watching the stream flow by and eating the whole pint. Had a great supper at the restaurant that night. I got the Wesser Burger w/ cheddar and fries. It all was very, very good. I did a load of laundry that evening and talked to some volunteers who were out maintaining the trails in that area. They were from a local college out on a service project. I thanked them for their work...the trails are maintained by volunteers all the way from GA to ME and the trip would be much more difficult without them.
Date: 2007-03-20
From: NOC near Bryson City, NC

To: Stecoah Gap, NC
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Had the breakfast bar at the NOC restaurant before hitting the trail. I had intended to get to Brown Fork Gap Shelter today, but decided to stop when I got to Stecoah Gap. There was a nice water source there and a Forest Service Road that wrapped around the mountain out of site of the road. I thought this might finally be the night I would be camping alone because it was not a designated camping site. However, as I was pitching my hammock Dirty Blonde and backbender came around the corner with the same idea. It was kind of nice to have someone else there to eat supper with. I heard more owls that night than I have ever heard at one location in my life. It was pretty cool to hear them calling back and forth to each other.
Date: 2007-03-21
From: Stecoah Gap, NC

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was my first night sleeping in my hammock and it went pretty well. It is a little tricky getting in and getting settled, but that will probably get easier with practice. I packed up and went back up to the road at Stecoah Gap to fix some oatmeal at the picnic tables. Good thing I had a hot breakfast because I had a strenuous day ahead of me. The trail seemed less traveled today. Don't know if it is really thinning out that much, or if I just got out of sync with the other hikers. It was kind of nice to have a more solitary hiking day though. I got to NC 28 and decided to get a ride into Fontana Resort and get a room for the night. I had an awesome Cajun Chicken Pasta dinner with fresh homemade bread for supper. It was either out of this world or everything is tasting so much better when you're not eating trail food. I met Hikernutt and her husband Tim at supper that night. I'm actually using their laptop as I type this in Hot Springs, NC 10 days later. Hikernutt had section hiked portions of the trail and was starting out from Fontana, headed for Maine, the next morning. They were happy to meet some folks who had been at it for a while and would be on the trail with her in the days ahead.
Date: 2007-03-22
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Birch Spring Gap Campsite, GSMNP
Miles today: 7.0

Went to the restaurant for breakfast. Sat with Hikernutt and Tim. After breakfast I headed to the outfitter to get the rest of the supplies I needed to get all the way through the Great Smokey Mountain National Park (GSMNP) without resupplying. They finally opened at about 9:15 and I grabbed the few things I needed and haeded back to the hotel to catch a shuttle to the trail head. As I was waiting there, Tim pulled up with some hikers he had brought back when he dropped Hikernutt off. He offered to run me back to the trailhead, so I hopped in and off we went. It was about 10 before I stepped foot onto the trail. Not bad really for staying in a hotel and doing some resupply in the morning. I entered the GSMNP today and let me tell you it is quite a climb out of Fontana Dam. By the time I climbed to the top of the Shuckstack, I had decided that I was going to camp at the first spot available that day. Turns out I'm really glad I did. Almost everyone else went on to the first shelter and I stayed at a shelterless campsite with only two other hikers. It was a great spot to camp and spend my second night in my hammock. Turns out it is the only place in the GSMNP you are allowed to camp where there isn't a shelter.
Date: 2007-03-23
From: Birch Spring Gap Campsite, GSMNP

To: Spence Field
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Second day in the GSMNP was much easier hiking than the first. There was still a lot of climbing, but the grade was usually such that you could still stretch out your lrgs and take nice strides vs lifting your lrgs 90 degrees up to climb a stair. The difference was very noticeable for me. I started seeing lots of Robins today. I was setting on a hillside during a short break and saw a dozen or more around me rooting through the leaves for something to eat. Made great time today...almost 11 miles in 6 hours with breaks. Got into camp early enough to spread everything out in the sun to let it dry out really well.
Date: 2007-03-24
From: Spence Field

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Missed a water stop today. There was supposed to be a source at Buckeye Gap, but I somehow missed Buckeye gap. I don't think there was a sign, because I keep a pretty good lookout for signs along the trail. Anyhow, as a result I was running pretty low on water by the time I was able to refill. When I did get to my destination there was a Boy Scout Troop from Montgomery, AL there. Still plenty of room in the shelter though. They were all very nice and the boys built a very nice fire for us that night. The only drawback was that I think every one of them snored. As a result I finally vacated the shelter at 1 AM and went outside to sleep under the stars. It was a beautiful night and I slept like a baby for most of the rest of the night. The boys were heading back home that next morning so they gave me some leftover drink mixes they hadn't used.
Date: 2007-03-25
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Well, my first stop today was only about 2.5 miles after I started at Clingman's Dome. I got there at about 10 and was there all by myself. The road wasn't open to traffic yet, so the only people there this time of year are hikers. I stayed 30 - 45 minutes, read the bible and prayed some, then headed down the trail. Clingman's Dome is the highest point on the trail, so the standing joke is that "it's all downhill from here." IT'S NOT!!!! Right after leaving the dome, I came upon a huge section of iced-over trail. That section must not get any sun. You had to be careful where you stepped or you'd be down the hill a lot faster than you had intended. I got to Newfound Gap that afternoon at about 2. I had a nice long lunch break planned there before tackling the last three miles (uphill) to the shelter I was going to stay at. Turns out, Newfound Gap has a huge parking lot with beautiful views and there were hundreds of people there on that sunny Sunday afternoon. It was kind of fun, because I turned into a sort of instant celebrity as people learned there was a guy there hiking from GA to ME. I had a blast talking to folks and answering their questions. One couple spent quite a while with me and offered me a cold soda. I said I'd love a cold soda, so the woman headed back to the car. When she returned, she had 2 Sprites, an apple, an orange, a banana, a hoho and a jello fruit cup. I thanked her profusely and ate it all. Well...I saved the apple and orange until I got into camp that night. I got their address and intend to send them a postcard from ME. I also got the address of a young boy scout and told him I'd send him a card from ME as well. It was a fun stop. I ran into Rebel Yell on my way to Icewater Spring that afternoon. He had been at Springer when I started and we had seen each other off and on since then.
Date: 2007-03-26
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, the day didn't start out all that great. Someone had stolen some food bags in the night. We found out later that it was actually a man and a woman that were staying in the shelter with us that night. Even later on I found out that the park ranger had caught up with them and took them into custody. I hope they throw the book at them for stealing peoples' food in the backcountry. Most of us gave some of our food to the ones who lost theirs so everyone could continue on and not have to turn back to resupply. Less than a mile up the trail I stopped at Charlie's Bunion. The place was named by Horace Kephart when he and Charlie Conner discovered it and Horace mentioned that the formation looked a lot like the bunion on Charlie's foot. Anyhow, my pastor had asked me to say a special prayer for him when I got to Charlie's Bunion, so I spent some time there this morning praying. There were some spectacular views there, and near there. I'll add photos as soon as I can. Oh...today was another milestone day. I completed the first 10% of the trail today!
Date: 2007-03-27
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: light rain

I had originall intended to just go to davenport Gap Shelter, but once I got there I decided to push on in to the hostel tonight instead of tomorrow. It was only an additional 3.3 miles away. Still, it was the longest day I have hiked so far and I was glad to get to the hostel when I did. Kim had mailed a box to me at the hostel, and it was there waiting for me. I ate like a pig that afternoon, evening and the next morning because there was a pretty good selection of food available at the hostel. My favorite was a pizza I cooked for supper. I saved half of it for breakfast the next morning. There were a lot of drinkers there that night, and they had lots to drink, so it stayed pretty noisy until way after midnight. I had an easy day planned (only 7.2 miles) for the next day, so I didn't mind too much. I got some pretty good sleep once everyone settled in for the night.
Date: 2007-03-28
From: Standing Bear Farm Hiker Hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

Took it easy this morning. With only 7.2 miles to go today I decided not to leave right away. I watched everyone else get ready and go today. It was kind of nice. I saw a lot more evidence spring is springing today. More colors on trees (flowering dogwood) and more greenery popping up through the forest floor. Also saw my first tick today, so it's time to be ever more vigilent. Had some nice spring thunder showers roll through about an hour after I made it to the shelter for the night. Talked to Kim on the phone for a while this afternoon. Looking forward to seeing her the next chance we get.