morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-15
From: cincinnati

To: Asheville. Home
Miles today: 0.0

I had my backpack ready to resume my hike and we left Cincinnati with the trail juction at Dickey Gap in mind. Somehow the closer we got, the less willing I became. I talked my wife into letting me come home for a week, go to the beach with her for a conference she has to go to, and then resuming my hike on 4-23-07. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, I'll admit. My knee is a bit sore from hiking too fast last Thursday and the snow and rain is not very inviting. I bought a bunch more Mountain House meals and I'm going to work on some mail drops.
Date: 2007-04-17
From: Asheville. Home

To: Asheville. Home
Miles today: 0.0

what the heck did I do today? Ate, ate, ate. It takes a lot of time to eat seven meals plus snacks. I'm still hungry. My belly looks like I've figured out how to swallow a whole watermelon.My wife says I'm depressed. I say I'm sedated by food.We go to the beach and then I resume my thru hike on Monday. I promise.
Date: 2007-04-18
From: Asheville. Home

To: Asheville. Home
Miles today: 0.0

I will come clean. I bought more stuff. I don't know how long this can go on. I was over at the nearest backpacking store trying to buy a 3/4 inch three prong clip that broke off of my vapor trail backpack. I had been trying to decide if I could go with the thermarest sleeping pad I had used in past years in order to reduce weight. It is long enough to carry my hips and shoulders but not my legs or head. While I was at the store, learning they didn't have the clip I needed, I saw a Big Agnes uninsulated air mattress. I got them to knock 20% off of a floor model for me. It weighs the same as the thermorest I was talking about but is thicker and longer. I suppose the downside is that it is an airmattress and I will have to blow it up. It is worth the effort for me. I have been blowing up a 78 inch insulated version of the same mattress and loved sleeping without hip pain. My insistance on cutting weight already had the heavier Big Agnes mattress on the shelf. Anyway, I'm down to about 13 pounds base weight. I'm sure I will run into some more cold weather but I'm willing to suffer a little so I can hike longer miles without endangering my new knee's health. I also bought a lighter version of my polar fleece sweater as well as a smartwool longsleeved underwear top. I'm ready to hike with a lighter pack. I'm hoping to put together a number of 20 mile days back to back in order to cover a big chunk of ground. I mention this only so you the reader have a frame of reference as to what my plans are and whether or not I am able to stick to them.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: Wilmington, NC

To: Wilmington, NC
Miles today: 0.0

I had a hard time getting out of the hotel room. I finally put on my wetsuit and got the kayak out in the ocean. The waves were too big today. It was a surfers dream come true but for me in my little kayak it was a bit unsettling. I paddled down the beach a little bit and then turned around and tried to paddle back. It took about a half an hour to return to the point where I had started five minutes before. I decided to try to ride the waves in and was scared by the enormity of the waves. Soon I was kissing the sand on the bottom of the ocean, more worried about what was going to happen to me than I was about the kayak. I had strings tying on my hat and sunglasses or would have lost them for sure. The kayak went to shore and stayed there. I waded into shore glad to be in one piece.
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Dickey Gap 508.7

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'm back on the trail. It took some will power, on my wife's part, but I'm back in my tent and preparing for my first night of sleep in the woods in about ten days. What did I achieve in my prolonged vacation? The most important thing is probably a change in the weather. It is absolutely balmy tonight and I am sans clothes and in my one pound bag. That would be the second most important thing I have achieved: I have dropped several pounds in pack weight. No more cell phone, no more heavy polar fleece, no more 35 degree bag or two man tent. I even bought a lighter Big Agness air matress. I'm hoping I have only the bare essentials, and I'm hoping the rest of my nights beteween here and Maine are as warm as tonight.
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm having a hard day. I miss my wife and I am paying for all the crap I ate.I had tea for breakfast and lunch. Now I am having some miso at three oclock before I push on for the final eight miles. Maybe I will be revived.I arrived at a popular new shelter where the local pizza guy makes deliveries. Too bad I had plenty of pizza over the weekend.I was happy to have miso. I couldn't find a good reason to stay, so I'm pushing on.I arrived at the next shelter.I am totally worn out. There is no one here, which is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that I can do whatever the hell I want. The curse is that I will be talking to myself as I do it. Writing an email seems much more normal though I'm not sure why. I set my tent up in front of the shelter on the only piece of flat real estate available. The prospect of fighting mice is a powerful motivator to be in the tent.My new boots seem to be doing alright. They are a tad heavier than the hush puppies since they have steel shanks but they are not causing blisters so far as I can tell. The teriyaki rice is as good as ever and I am sitting at a picnic table typing and eating. The sun went down a half hour ago so I am using the trusty headlamp. I managed 20 miles today. I am going to try to keep it up until I get to Pearisburg. I have a strong desire to go to church. I will take a zero day on Sunday if my plan works out.johnnymud
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather is calling for rain but so far all I am getting is high humidity. The new boots are testing me. I must not have laced them up tight enough after lunch yesterday. After Climbing Big Walker Mountain and at least twenty fence ladders I started to notice my toes were jammed up. It was late in the day and I was too tired or too afraid darkness would fall before I reached the shelter. At any rate I continued on when I shouldn't have. I doctored my toes this morning but I'm afraid I am sure to lose the toenail on my left big toe. I had breakfast, took two ibuprophen, and now I am ready for a 19 mile day to Jenkins Shelter if all goes well. If all doesn't go well then it will still be good and I will still be happy to be out here.I'm about half way to jenkins. This shelter is full of Ladybugs. The ladybugs drop from the ceiling onto arms and legs and uncovered pots. I managed to make it through lunch without eating one. There is a section hiker with me in the shelter. He only has three hundred miles to go until he will have completed the whole trail. He is sixty eight and seems miserable. I hope I never feel like I have to finish the whole AT because I started out wanting to. I hope I want to continue hiking even after I finish. I have read about people who hiked to Maine and then turned around and headed toward Georgia. I have to admitt I was ready to throw in the towel on Monday night, when my knee felt so bad, but now I'm feeling good and feel happy to be out here. johnnymud
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Jenkins

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm up early, but reluctant to get on the trail. I need to sit a spell and get my thoughts together. There were two other hikers at this shelter last night . One of them appears to be older than me, but beat me here from the last shelter by four hours, he is already up and gone. The other guy, who is from Georgia gave me some of his food he is not going to need. I like the guy from Georgia! He just left too. I will follow their lead and head out. I met a trail angel as I was beginning a long ascent, he was restocking a cooler he keeps filled with Gatoraid. I drank one on the spot and took two more for later. He assured me it was OK to take as many as I could carry. Well, it is later, I ate the Lazagna dinner the section hiker gave me and washed it down with the two bottles of Gatoraid.I am stripped down to my shorts, airing my toes and wishing I didn't smell. My plan is to make it to Pearisburg some time Saturday. Lunch break is over.Later Again.Just after I packed up and left the place where I had lunch the skies turned dark and it began to rain. I had to make a choice whether to go into Bland and get a motel room at the "Big Walker" or keep going. I didn't feel like hiking in the rain. I stuck out my thumb as the one and only car passed me by and then found myself following the white blazes away from the motel and toward the shelter. So, here I am in the shelter. It is raining off and on. There are two other hikers in the shelter: "Ranger" a retired policeman who is Northbound like me and "Blueskies" who is a woman from Denmark and who is Southbound.Two other hikers have arrived. They are Stoneage and Tripple Duese. They are young long haired guys who roll their cigarettes and have a smoke before turning in. Darkness has finally arrived and it is time for sleep. It is still raining, and I am dry and warm in the shelter.
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Helveys Mill Shelte

To: campsite 5999.7
Miles today: 18.2

I had a restless night. Not a night without sleep but a night where I woke up from time to time and could not get comfortable. No doubt it had to do with the giant bottle of Mountain Dew I drank most of yesterday. The sky is overcast and we had a short sprinkle already. "Ranger" has already headed North and "Blue Skies" South. The two twent-five year old hikers got up and had breakfast and now are back in bed. It just started to drizzle again so I am back inside the shelter with them. It could keep up like this all day except if I am going to get to Pearisburg I am going to have to get on my rain gear and go. More later.I hiked sixteen miles to get to a small restaurant with a pay phone. Alas, they have no alcohol for my stove. I aim to get to Pearisburg tomorrow.
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was up and on the trail early this morning, trying to go too far, too fast. I've slowed down some but I'm still committed to reaching Pearisburg tonight. Not for any other reason than wanting to be clean enough tomorrow to go to church. If I don't get there tonight maybe I will be close enough to hike the rest of the way in the morning and will still be able to clean up for church. I suddenly feel like taking a nap, but I'd better get going instead.I took it easy, stopped often and eventually ate the rest of the food I was carrying and I made it to Pearisburg at eight o'clock just as the sun was setting. I took off my hat, combed my hair the best I could with a little water and my fingers, stowed my trekking poles and stuck out my thumb. The seventh or eighth car stopped. They were thru hikers who had rendezvoued with the car owner, a girlfriend. They took me right to the hostel. It would have been a two and a half mile walk for me if they hadn't picked me up. I know I must have smelled terrible. The first thing I did was take a nice hot shower. It was fabulous. My first shower in six days. I did wipe myself down a couple of times during the week, as much as I could, with the wet wipes I carry. I went to the Super Walmart that is about a quarter mile from the hostel hoping they would have the Mountain House Dinners I have been relying on but they didn't carry them. I bought some other supplies: alcohol for my stove, oatmeal and granola bars. I also bought another pack of the wet wipes, I'm going to try to sponge bath more and wash out my clothes more often. It is almost midnight, way past my bedtime.johnnymud
Date: 2007-04-29
From: pearisburg

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

I talked to my wife on a pay phone a couple of hours ago. What a treat to hear her voice. It is as though the cell phone is too easy and finding a pay phone too hard. I have carried a cell phone up until now, and called home often. In an effort to cut as much weight as possible I am now hiking without it. I think the last time I spoke to my wife was Sunday night when she dropped me off at Dickie Gap, near Troutdale. Anyway, it was wonderful to talk to her and to know everything is right with the world. I was also able to send and receive some emails with my PocketMail Device. A big shout out to Dan Nihiser who is my oldest and most loyal friend on Earth.I hiked two miles up the AT from the small country store where I pigged out and phoned. It was nice not to have to cook tonight and to have my stomach completely full.johnnymud
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Pearisburg

To: campsite past Rice Fields Shelter 
Miles today: 8.1

Pearisburg, VA 622.1 to Campsite Past Rice Fields Shelter 630.2 total miles 8.1I'll be honest. It was 85 degrees, there was the usual big climb comingout of a trail town, I over ate all weekend and I didn't leave until noon. In short I only managed 8.1 miles and it was a struggle.Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter. I will try to get an early start.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: campsite past Rice Fields Shelter 

To: Bailey Bap Shelter 
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

Campsite at 630.2 to Bailey Gap Shelter 645. 0 total miles is 14.8A new month and I am feeling good. We are all up early, (4 of us) 7:00, and one guy has already packed up and left. It is going to be a hot one.I am still struggling to get back to my normal pace. The water was scarce today and when I finaly reached the shelter where there was water I drank down a quart and a half without stopping. It feels good to sit in the shade. I reached Bailey Gap Shelter at about seven. Still dragging and listless. I've decided I am having the same symptoms I had a few weeks ago when I had strepp throat. I suppose it will either leave on its own or I will drag myself to Daleville and see a Doctor on Monday morning.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Bailey Bap Shelter 

To: Keffer Oak
Miles today: 18.3

Bailey Gap Shelter 645.00 to Up with the dawn again. I am concerned that I might be battling an infection judging by the way I have struggled to make miles. I had a twenty mile day scheduled for today but I am reluctant to make any predictions until I put on the pack and start doing some climbs. I will be the last to leave again, mostly because I am having to boil water twice. I threw out all my empty Mountain House Envelopes so I don't have anything to make oatmeal in while the tea is brewing. I have to take turns using the one pot I have. I had a 7 AM start but now I am sitting in a shelter enjoying being dry and warm while I sip hot tea. The temperature has dropped to 55 and with the drizzle I became soaked and cold. I want to go about 15 more miles today and I can't do it sitting here.I am at the next shelter and it is still raining. I had a bowl of noodles and some tea. I am ready to hike 10 more miles. I passed a tree that had been hit by lightning and was still smoking. The lightning blew the tree apart. All that was left was the trunk, shorn off like God had given it a mighty Karate chop and a pile of ashes where the burning tree had hit the ground.I hiked through the rain the ten miles to the next shelter only to find it full. I'm in my tent now, dry, but surrounded by my very wet things.Night time and a pervasive rain drove me into my tent like a 10 penny nail hit with a sledge hammer. I wedged myself into the depths of my sleeping bag until morning light and the song of a bird pried me out.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Catawba
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: mist

Pickle Branch Shelter 681.9 to Catawba 696.5 total miles 14.6Up at six. Everything is wet except what I have on and my sleeping bag. I tented up the hill from the shelter as a matter of comfort to me. Again, the shelter occupants would have made room for me, but I would have felt like a wet pair of socks in a sock drawer full of wet and dirty socks. As it was, it quit raining while I put up my tent and I know I have to be extemely grateful for that. I am back by the shelter now, sitting on the picnic table while Bushwhacker feeds a roaring fire. It is tempting to try to dry something out but I'm sure as soon as I start hiking it will all get wet again. The weather forecast calls for rain today and tomorrow.I am sitting barefooted on my foam pad, enjoying a reprieve from a constant drizzle, hoping my feet dry enough for me to put tape back on my toes. The tape had stayed on four days but came off last night when I pulled off my soggy boots and socks.Today is the day when I will reach Catawba and the all you can eat restaurant. I'm a bit fearful of going since my appetite seems to be growing by the hour.I managed to catch a ride to the restaurant and didn't overeat too bad. There were ten or more other hikers at the restaurant and when someone offered us a ride we jumped at the chance to sleep in a warm bed at a motel.I am now at the Econolodge in Daleville, VA. I've eaten the wonderful brownies my wife sent to me in a care package and trying to prolong this visit to warmth and comfort without spending too much money.Arrived at Catawba, went to the Family Style restaurant and met Wirenut and his wife who volunteered to drive me, cocoa, and monkey to Daleville. Registered at the Econolodge and picked up the care package, my wife Ingrid, sent me. Ate all the brownies.johnnymud
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Catawba

To: Asheville
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday, I decided to rent a car and drive home. I arrived at home around three and spent the rest of the day reading trailjournal entries and moping about. There is so much to do and so little time. I grilled a steak and had a large salad. Ingrid made a wonderful strawberry rhubarb pie and we took it over to a good friends to share. I took two hot baths in epsom salts.johnnymud
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Asheville

To: Asheville
Miles today: 0.0

A zero day at home. I enjoyed going to church at my home church. It is such a wonderful church and our minister is such a wonderful person. We went to dinner at a good friend's house. Three couples, we call ourselves the six pack. We have been geting together for five or more years. Our friendship grows. johnnymud
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Catawba

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

I set the alarm for 3:30 and was out of the house by 4. I arrived at the the Econolodge a little after 8, picked up my camera battery and charger and dropped off my backpack to be kept while I slack pack for the day.I took the rental car back to Enterprise and they drove me to the trailhead at Catawba. The view from McKafee Knob was spectacular, the best visibility and clearest air I can ever remember. It was a pleasure to hike the 20 miles to Daleville with a light pack. Back in Daleville I made a beeline to the Krogers and ate sushi, cottage cheese, crusty buns, an apple,, a snickers, and a pint of OJ. I hiked up the trail about a half mile and put up the tent. The roar of trucks along I-81 was close and loud but I was quite tired and slept well. johnnymud
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Daleville, VA

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: few clouds

Up early but moving slow. It is a beautiful day. No hurry, yet, I want to get there. Wherever "there" is. I'm carrying a heavier sleeping bag than I had last week and a heavier tent and I'm not happy about it.I arrived at Bobblets Gap Shelter around dusk. I'm tired but not sore. No ibuprophen for me. There are four section hikers at the shelter as well as one other thru hiker. The section hikers have all thru hiked in the past. They are carrying next to nothing. They passed me early yesterday and have been at the shelter for several hours.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: campsite 749.1
Miles today: 16.3

The section hikers pack up their few things and depart without heating anything. I can't believe there is not a coffee drinker among them. I'm guessing none of them has a pack that weighs over 15 pounds. I cook four packs of oatmeal and make a cup of tea. Beachbum, the other thru hiker agrees to give me a little alcohol for my stove. I already have about five ounces but another two ounces gives me a little insurance that I can make Waynesboro without running out. I will resupply in Glasgow, VA so there shouldn't be a problem. I stop for lunch at Cove Mountain shelter, one of the few shelters without water. A crew of four members of the local hiking club, who maintain this portion of the trail arrive and we enjoy talking about the trail. I thank them for their much needed and much appreciated efforts. This portion of the trail is in excellent condition due to their efforts. They give me an apple and a pear and I think I should be giving something to them instead. I hope a sincere thank you is enough.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: campsite 749.1

To: campsite at 769.6
Miles today: 29.5

Only made it sixteen miles yesterday but I see in the shelter register that others had problems with all the climbs as well. I camped at a nice campsite a couple miles short of the shelter near a small spring. I was up early hiked the two miles to the shelter and now I am having breakfast and tea while my tent dries out. There was a bit of rain last night and the tent was waterlogged this morning. The Hubba Hubba is so comfortable to sleep in, I hung a clothes line in it last night. There is a lot of room! Still, I can't wait to change back to the smaller Hubba tent. The more I hike the more I think of ways to reduce weight. I always come to the same conclusion... why do I need to go so fast? It would be so much more enjoyable to hike 15 miles a day instead of 20... well, I need to go back to work to pay for this is why. I am shooting for a mid August completion... this means I am going to have to actually do some longer days instead of just talking about it. I continue to plug along and when I arrive at the shelter there are at least 12 other hikers already there with more due to arrive. I make a quick decision to hike another mile to a campsite. It turns out to be both a good decision and a bad one. On the good side, I am all alone and I don't have to contend with other equipment strewn about, snoring, odors, or inane discussions about how far this or how far that. On the negative side: I realize at about two in the morning that I am very close to a railroad track. The first train that comes scares the hell out of me, this from a guy who worked 10 years on the railroad. I was sure a dam had broken and the roar I heard was a wall of water coming down the James River. johnnymud