morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-01-27
From: Home (Preparation)

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection HikeSpring 2010Southwest Virginia and South Central VirginiaI just finished Jeff Alt's book, "A Walk for Sunshine" and found it absolutely marvelous.From late October until just a few days ago, I have been running up to six miles per day. I have been running up to five days per week. Well, the good old shin splints came into play. Too far, too fast, too quick.As I have mentioned in previous journal entries, I have, no kidding, some thirty percent grades in my neighborhood. I have turned my running into walking. My shins still hurt a little bit, but not nearly the impact that I was getting from the running.Starting somewhere around February 01st, I am going to load up fifty pounds in my backpack and add this to my morning routine. I plan on doing this for five days per week for sixty to ninety minutes per day.On this upcoming hike, I am going to really push myself and try and hike my longest section ever. As I have mentioned in earlier entries, I am going to hike over one hundred and sixty miles. With God's help, I know that I can do this. I am so excited!Mid May is still looking very promising.Between now and then I plan to go to the Walasi-Yi Center at Neels Gap and get fitted properly for trail runners. In addition, I plan on taking my full pack up there and have them evaluate what has to go. (at least in their opinion.)I plan on taking Bryson, Siler and Winzer with me to Walasi-Yi. From there, we will do a day hike of Blood Mountain or Brasstown Bald!By the time that I get to Pennsylania (in a couple of years) Bryson should be ready to put in some big miles. That will be the crown jewel.
Date: 2010-02-05
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

02-05-2010Fraser FirSection Hiker Appalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineToday is my youngest son¢s birthday. Siler Le Conte Little turned two years of age shortly before lunch time today.It is unbelievable how time flies. It is hard to believe that he is two years of age. Life is so precious and we try and take advantage of what every single day has to offer.For the last six months or so we have seen enough rain to put Lake Sidney Lanier over full pool. Creeks have re-appeared that did not exist. Grass has turned green again and we have witnessed stressed trees in the piedmont come back to life.When Bryson and I did a small section up and over Blood Mountain last September, we decided to do a ¢loop¢ and take the Freeman Trail back to the car. (I hope to have my entries posted from all of my section hikes with him by the end of mid-spring.)The Freeman Trail required some bush whacking and some minor creek fording. It was amazing to see a four year old with a pack on cross swollen streams. I was so proud of him.Looking back at that section hike, I cannot ever remember seeing that much water on the AT in Georgia. Earlier today, I spent just over one hour walking in the cold thirty seven degree rain. I have not felt all too hot, so it was questionable to do in the first place.As it turns out, it was a very enjoyable walk. I am attempting to stick to my pre-hike ¢routine¢ regardless of weather; fair or foul. While I was walking, I was thinking about how much snow must be falling up near Blood Mountain and Chestnut Knob, which I will be crossing over in Southwest Virginia here in the next three months or so. The creeks and water sheds must be overflowing with water. Within the next ten days, I should know with certainty as to exactly what day I will leave for Virginia. I am waiting on a few things to play out at work before I submit for my time off.I know that it must be getting close because I saw the first daffodils emerging out of the soil today. No blooms yet, however, it was great to see. Spring will be here soon enough.
Date: 2010-02-08
From: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)

To: Troutville, Virginia (Spring 2010)
Miles today: 0.0

02-08-2010Fraser FirAppalachian TrailSection HikerGeorgia to MaineI really think my wife got a big kick out of me walking into the house this morning. I was wearing my good old day pack from ten years ago or so.I had it loaded with about forty pounds worth of juice, spaghetti sauce, shorts, t shirts, hard cover books and some other good stuff.This pack can hold quite a bit of ¢stuff¢. I did a twenty mile in/out to the high elevations of Mount San Jacinto with overnight clothes and tons of water.I hiked thirty six miles across in one day from the Fontana Dam to Clingmans Dome. I have probably hiked at least seven hundred miles with this pack.I have taken my preparatory exercises to the next level. Sixty to ninety minutes per day of walking up and down the hills in my neighborhood with forty to fifty pounds of weight on my back.Virginia will be here before I know it and I cannot think of a better way to get ready for Chestnut Knob, Tinker Cliffs, Angels Rest and other areas of my next 165(+) mile section.My next entry should include an exact itinerary of starting and ending dates and a new and revamped schedule of overnight sleeping locations. I am not a fan of shelters so I will be in the tent-weather permitting!
Date: 2010-03-10
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (five weeks away!)
Miles today: 0.0

Section Hiker Appalachian Trail-2010Georgia to MaineI would like to thank Gary Beckley from Franklin, Tennessee for signing my guest book. Gary, sorry, I do not have email, so this is the best way for me to tell you ¢thanks¢ and I hope to see you out on the trail this spring!I am very proud to say that my section hike will begin on Friday, April 23, 2010!! I plan on hiking from April 23 to Saturday, May 01. Before I put one foot back on the trail, I have to thank my lovely wife for allowing me to make this happen.Being a husband, a father and working five long days per week makes it a challenge for certain!I have shifted my hike into late April due to some things going on at work. The excitement is growing each and every minute as the days get closer.I still have quite a bit of ¢work¢ to do:*Plan eight days worth of meals*Establish two shuttles. I will prepare one out of Pearisburg and another out of Troutville.*Take every bit of my gear and pack up to Neels Gap and have the folks at Walasi-Yi take a peek at what I have versus my intentions and see what we could cut. I will buy some stuff from them as well to continue to patronize the local merchant.*Exercise, exercise, exercise to continue to improve my stamina and try and loose an additional ten pounds. Size 36 pants are starting to fall off. As I stated in my last entry, I was at size 40 last fall when I started to try and attempt to get into shape!!This year, I will walk to raise awareness for social justice. I have never hiked to raise awareness for anything. It has always been pretty much about me.I will walk for children like Salim, a sweet boy in Ghana that myself, Bryson, Stephanie and Siler sponsor. We have the capability to end extreme poverty one child at a time throughout the world and bring much needed food, water, clothing, education and shelter to those who are in desperate need.I am very excited! Five weeks to hiking! Can you tell?
Date: 2010-03-16
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (only five weeks away!)
Miles today: 0.0

03-15-2010Fraser FirSection HikerAppalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineYear # Five(Started unintentionally in 2004)Upcoming Section: Please forgive me for any prior statistics in my 2010 journal, which may or may not be exactly accurate. I have two small children and when I am transcribing, it is between playing with them and cleaning house, etc!!USFS 222/Va.625 northbound to Troutville, Virginia (US 652)Total mileage anticipated: 154.6Anticipated start date: Friday, April 23, 2010.Anticipated finish date: Saturday, May 01, 2010.Anticipated days of being on the trail: nineAnticipated daily average to reach destination: 17.11Anticipated shuttles needed to finish section: two. Two drop off points will be USFS 222/Va.625 and US 652. The first leg of my trip will most likely be a north bound section from USFS 222/Va.625 to Pearisburg. The second leg will be a southbound section from US 652 Troutville, Virginia to Pearisburg, Virginia!I am getting excited. Five or so weeks away!Have a great day!
Date: 2010-03-23
From: Home-Gainesville, Georgia

To: Troutville, Virginia (getting closer!)
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection Hiker-Year SixGeorgia to MaineMarch 23, 2010.I wanted to thank Allen from Sarasota, Florida for signing my journal guest book. I am an unusual character in that I do not have email or internet at home. So, Allen, if you are reading this, thanks for the advice and you are right, I need some longer ¢hours¢ of continual preparatory excersice, but at this point, I will have to go with what I have, I suppose.My friend and physician of a general practice here in Gainesville told me that even with the extra weight that I allowed myself to accumulate in the past few years that I have ¢muscle memory¢ from my earlier hiking days of 2004 & 2005, which can help with my upcoming walk. Needless to say, life is always what we make of it..right? Well, I would be a fool if I told you that my focus for the last few weeks has not been all about getting ready for my upcoming section of Southwest and Central Virginia. There is the check off list of things to do in prepartaion. There is the calling of shuttles, buying food, checking all of my gear and continuing to get physically prepared. Reading this and that, etc¢¦So Stephanie calls me last Saturday as I am heading home from work and says that she has some bad news for me. ¢What could it be dear, is everyone ok?...¢¢Yeah, everyone is good¢¦but you are not going hiking the last week of April.¢¢huhh?¢¢David, you have been ordered to appear for jury duty as a traverse juror on April 19th (Monday) and we both know with your job, that even if you get dismissed from jury duty, by say, Tuesday or Wednesday, you cannot be gone for that long from your job.¢¢ohh, it will all be good, Stephanie.¢ I believe that I surprised her because this was a major set back. Even if I did not get selected for a jury, I would be on call every morning and that would put me at near two and a half weeks away from the rat race of work. Which would not be the worst thing in the world.¢huhh, you do not seem all that freaked out or anything¢¢no, it will all be good, I will figure it out.¢So I would be lying if I said it was not a punch in the gut. If anything, it was a wake up call. I went home and attempted to reschedule my section hike with my work calander and it was going to be the end of May until I could reconsider. Not that late May would not work¢¦.The pressures and constant demands from work make it appear as a fa§ade that ¢they¢; meaning my employer could not go on without me.I called the clerk of the court and told her that I would love to be on Jury Duty. I had one question: could I reschedule? If not, I totally understand, but if we do not ask, we shall not receive. Right?She resceduled me for the third week in June for Jury duty. You know what, it is all good and even if she could not have made it happen over a section hike in Virginia, it still would have been all good.Thank you Clerk of the Court, Maryanne. You are wonderful!
Date: 2010-03-24
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (only four weeks away!)
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to Maine ¢Year Six03-24-2010¢Daddy, when are we going back packing again?¢My almost five year old son asked me when we are going to go backpacking again.I told Bryson that it will be soon, very soon. I suppose that he has caught onto my trail fever and wants to ¢chime in.¢Bryson and I have talked about the fact that he will get his chance to go with Daddy for long hikes.In fact, time is roaring by so fast, it will be sooner than any of us would have ever of anticipated.Starting after his second birthday, Bryson has walked into camp sites on both sides of Woody Gap. On the second trip to Woody Gap at the ripe old age of two, he walked almost two miles with some assistance.He has climbed and slept on top of:Siler Bald (age three)Blood Mountain (age four)Standing Indian (age four)Siler, my youngest walked in two plus miles from Woody Gap last fall, so all four of us went out together and had the time of our lives. (Winzer included would make five.)So after my section in Virginia, I am looking at Mt. Leconte with Bryson. (stay at the shelter and then take the Boulevard Trail back to Newfound Gap-second night @ Icewater Springs Shelter.)Possibly Hughes Gap to Roan Mountain. Spend the night near the shelter or Tollhouse Gap.Possibly Cheoah Bald. (Southbound-he¢s not ready to come out of Wesser yet.)Last but not least, Max Patch Mountain, which all four of us could certainly hike and stay on top of!Excitement-excitement!With the outdoors, the possibilities are numerous at the very least!
Date: 2010-03-25
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (only four weeks away!)
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection Hiker Georgia to MaineYear SixSouthwest and West-Central Virginia03/25/2010It is due time to get everything out of the attic and make sure that I am not ¢too heavy.¢It is time to try out the old water filter and make certain that it is working.Time to load up the first aid gear.Wal-mart has a good deal on the spaghetti and lasagna freeze dried meals. Time to get those.Time to check my AAA batteries and my head lamp bulb.Time to calculate start/stop points for each day.Time to remind Stephanie that she is making me ¢homemade¢ pasta.Time to walk in the a.m. with the exact gear that I will be going up and down the hills with each and every day. Including my tent and food. Currently, I have ¢makeshift¢ stuff in my pack that is helping me get ready.I believe this will do for now.
Date: 2010-03-30
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (less than four weeks!)
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirAppalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineSection Hiker- Year Six03-30-2010I am about twenty five days away from my departure to Virginia. There is definitely excitement in the air as I am putting on the final ¢touches¢.A big ¢shout out¢ to my brother in law- Jeremy Warren-: he loaned me his backpack.Are you kidding me David? You have been hiking for how long and you do not have a back pack?Well, yes and no. I have a day pack that worked great for my in/out day section hikes of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. ( In fact it got me through a pretty tough 36 mile day in the Smokies!! Ha!!)I have a ¢sherpa¢ sack that I tote when the entire family goes back packing. I pretty much carry everything when I take either Bryson or the whole family out.The ¢sherpa¢ bag serves well when you are carrying ¢tons¢ of winter gear as well.This spring I have my bag below forty pounds, so no need for that old ¢sherpa¢ bag. Then I have my wife¢s back pack. It is too small for me. I used it in the Virginia Highlands and parts of Tennesse and North Carolina.So, thank you Jeremy. I will handle it as my own.I bought some nick nacks for my gear the other day. I got a new water filter for my pump, which I desperately needed! I got a new pair of light duty winter gloves and some wigwam socks. My favorite! I found out about those in Franklin at Three Eagle Outfitters one day when I was locked out of my car!The other day when we were at REI and a girl was on the climbing wall. My two year old wanted to get on the belay like you would not believe! I tried to explain that he was not ready.I took them to the Disney Store and got Siler a Buzz Lightyear $5.00 imitation cell phone and Bryson a Woody action figure from Toy Story. Stephanie knows how they love to go out with daddy!Time to put that pack back on and keep practicing for the end of April. The elevation profiles of Southwest and Central Virginia look pretty humbling. We will just see won¢t we?
Date: 2010-03-31
From: Home

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wednesday, March 31, 2010Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to MaineToday was a great day. Bryson, Siler, Winzer and I went to the mountains.We started the day off with a picnic lunch at Vogel State Park. The boys lost interest in their hot dogs and so Winzer ate his share and then some!After throwing rocks into the creek, we went to a playground that had a climbing wall; ate cup cakes that a lady gave us. Siler had those begging eyes!After all of the fun at Vogel, we went for a hike out of Neels Gap. We went north on the Appalachian Trail for a little while. It was my first time on the trail this year. Bryson and Siler hiked in their crocs.After our little hike, we went to Mountains Crossing and bought Stephanie a small gift for Easter and talked with some thru hikers.The weather was perfect and being with both boys and Winzer made it very special. Siler was keeping up with big brother the whole way up that mountain. Four weeks from tomorrow I leave for Virginia.
Date: 2010-04-01
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to Maine04-01-2010This is Year Six in pursuit of Katahdin.Less than four weeks away from take off!My gear list is as follows:¢Every ounce counts!¢¢¢        Compact book of Proverbs- Message Version-Eugene Peterson¢¢        Compact book ¢Bone man¢s Daughter¢ by Ted Dekker. I tried to rationalize reading material. I read every day, so I am going to make the compact books work. I may be ripping pages out of Dekker as I go along! Ha!¢¢        Valhalla-Rei- Men¢s Backpack (thank you Jeremy)¢¢        Ridgecrest sleeping pad¢¢        Katadyn water pump¢¢        50¢ light twine and Swiss army knife¢¢        Sierra Design ¢Hurricane¢ fast pack rain jacket¢¢        Mountain Hardware waterproof pants¢¢        Northface lightweight fleece gloves¢¢        Colombia full weather hat¢¢        Blacklite/Msr Pot and Stove¢¢        Northface shell-fleece¢¢        Northface winter slacks¢¢        Bridgedale, wigwam, smartwool socks¢¢        Northface Harrier Tent with half tarp. (cut the tarp in half to shed ounces)¢¢        North Face Ten degree bag with coolmax sleeping bag liner¢¢        Outdoor research bags.¢¢        Patagonia short/long sleeve polyethylene shirts¢¢        One cotton t shirt for camp¢¢        First aid¢¢        Food¢¢        One trekking pole- not two¢¢        Talked to a guy last week at Neels Gap who carries a $5.00 Wal mart Special Umbrella. Says that it is totally worth the weight¢¢        Northface gore-tex trail runners with Vibram solesSomething from this list has to go. I am working through it. My mother in law says that the Farmer¢s Almanac calls for heavy rain.In late April/early May in Virginia that is.We will just see, will we not?
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Home

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Fraser FirSection HikerGeorgia to MaineYear Six in my journey to Katahdin (Baxter Peak)04/07/2010-transcribed03/31/2010-actual date. Easter Sunday.Today was the best Easter ever. Stephanie, Bryson, David and Siler took Forest Road 42 up to Springer Mountain.We left straight from church and got to the parking area before lunch.We grilled out.Then we hiked.It was awesome. Siler did not ride in the pack at all.We stopped and looked at every bug and found tons of great hiking sticks.Talked with many great people.Fought off the bugs.Signed in at the top.Walked back to the car and relished every moment.I have less than four weeks until my section hike in Virginia resumes.This is the opportunity of a life time and I am so grateful.Also, I want to take a moment to reflect. A friend of mine sponsored a young girl from Indonesia. The young girl is named Mutaria. It was kinda cool because I helped my new friend choose Mutaria. I felt it to be an ¢honor¢. Mutaria will have a better life now because she will have clean water, food, medicine and an education to provide her with a better life. Many young children like Mutaria are subjected to human trafficking and unfair labor practices.Many parents in the West are concerned about buying toys containing lead. I wonder if some of these parents realize that children are making these toys? So, it is exciting to see my friend reach out to a total stranger and help her have a better life.I told you that this hike is dedicated to young people like Mutaria. We will keep the good stories coming.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Home

To: Troutville, Virginia (only a matter of days!)
Miles today: 0.0

Fraser FirSection HikerAppalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineYear Six04-13-2010I am about ten days out from my section hike in Southwest and Central Virginia.The weather at home has been beautiful.I have continued to walk in the early a.m. (like really early- like 5:00am early some days!) with my pack on.It is so funny when you walk with a head lamp on in the spring. The pollen looks like snow flakes! Especially here in North Georgia (pine country).I am looking forward to meeting some great people on the trail and in the communities ¢hugging¢ the trail. Hopefully, I will have time for one more entry before departing.Next Thursday, we will go to the Greenville, SC zoo! Only a few bucks to get in.Then, I will start hiking on Friday.I can hardly wait! Like Christmas in April!
Date: 2010-04-23
From: Ceres

To: Davis Farm Campsite
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Fraser FirSection Hiker Appalachian TrailGeorgia to MaineFriday, April 23, 2010 (entry #2)19 milesThe climb up to Chestnut Knob was very nice. It got easier as I kept on climbing.I did not stop at the shelter. I am loosing day light and want to get to the Davis Farm Campsite before it gets too dark.On the way up, I pass a pretty big lake off to the north. Overcast skies are holding back the rain while the sunshine fights to come through. Winter still lingers at the top of Chestnut. Hardwoods are bare; wild flowers are few and sparse. In addition,   the grass is still dormant. Views of Burkes Garden have been restricted by the cloud cover. As the fog attempts to dissipate and the sun tries to peak through, a hint of Burkes Garden is briefly revealed every once and a while.I stop for dinner and to filter water at Walker Gap.I had to back track a quarter of a mile or so to locate my camera, which had fallen out of my camera bag. It happened right at dusk and I knew where I took my last picture, so I was very fortunate.Artificial light (i.e. flashlight) was not needed until around 9:00 p.m.The blue blazes on the .75 mile trail to Davis Farm Campsite were difficult to see. I used the vegetation and terrain to navigate myself to the camping pad.A level camping platform over looking ¢God¢s thumbprint¢ and Burkes Garden loomed below the sleeping area, which sat at around 4000 feet above sea level.I had excellent cell service and called Stephanie to let her know where I was.The water source was not far away, so I had a late nite snack, got some fluids and crashed hard!!