morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-03-18
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Rog is back on the trail
Miles today: 11.8

I woke up feeling a little better so decided to try going to church with Rog at First UM in Franklin. Yesterday Sue at the antique store told me to look up Marti Patterson and, as God things usually are, she was sitting right behind us and was the first person to greet us! ( Aren't God incidents wonderful!?) The pastor started his sermon by talking about The Hunger Games series which I am almost done reading. He was making the point about gift giving (in the book the big sister takes the little sister's place in the Hunger games to protect her). Of course, the gift he referenced was Christ dying for us all. We met the man who is head of the hiking club that the church has and talked to Marti a bit. She gave me her phone number and offered anything that I might need. We left to get some breakfast although I am afraid to eat...tried oatmeal and dry toast which is doing well ao far! We realized that I was in no shape to drive Rog an hour back to his start point so we went back to the church and Rog went to the SS class where Marti said she would be. Rog explained that he needed a shuttle and Marti's husband immediately volunteered to drive him. Back at the room, Rog was gathering his things. Buck & NR and the rest of his hiking group will be happy to know that I was Trail Mama to him...helping him remember 3 things he was leaving behind before he got out the door....then I was watching them drive away when they turned around and came back...sure enough SOS had remembered 2 more things that he needed to have with him. It does take a "village"!! But I know that he will make it all the way...step by step God will lead him and the rest of us will help with keeping him organized as best we can! Rog just called from his start point. Peak Seeker was there again so Rog is having lunch there before heading up the hill. Marti's husband promised him that they would keep checking on me while Rog is gone. What wonderful people we are meeting! I am now going to try and figure out how to put pictures with this journal...Rog has been doing that so now I need to figure it out....we will see...stay tuned.
Date: 2012-03-19
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: I state down..13 to go!
Miles today: 16.2

Today I (Trail Mama) woke up in Franklin, NC and Rog (SOS) woke up in Muskrat Creek Shelter which is in NC also! Sometime yesterday he crossed the state line between GA and NC...so 1 down and 13 to go!!I decided that I needed to get out of this hotel room and get some fresh air so I went downtown and walked all over the place. I visited the art store and found the earring wires I was looking for, the yarn shop where I bought some more yarn (not that I needed anymore but when was that ever a consideration to those who love to knit?), and then went to the history museum which was very interesting. By now it was lunch time so decided to go back to the room and eat some more bland food (chicken noodle soup and mashed potatoes)since I am not wanting to push my luck with the food. Visiting the library was next on my plan. It turned out to be on the edge of town back on a long narrow winding road. The library itself was beautiful! New with a lot of lodge-like features including many comfy places to sit and read...aahh!(and I drove there and back with only one u-turn!)Rog called several times during the day and was doing well...plans to be at Winding Stair Gap sometime tomorrow where I will pick him up. Newest and 14th grandchild is arriving tomorrow so we are very excited. I talked to our daughter, Amy, and she said she was nervous so was doing shopping therapy to calm herself down..I said..whatever works!! My evening plan involves more knitting and more reading and waiting for SOS. If you are reading this, then we would love for you to sign the guest book on the left side of this journal. Thanks to all who have signed in and sent encouragement!
Date: 2012-03-20
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: He's here!! (the new grandbaby boy)
Miles today: 7.2

I got a text from son-in-law Dino this morning saying that the long awaited grandson had arrived. Stats: Healthy boy..8 pounds 2 oz... 21 inches long..name is Caden Dean McCorkle. When I checked my email this morning, there was an email from Lyn (our new friend who stayed with us at the cabin at Blood Mountain) saying that she was staying at the same hotel that I was and I didn't know it until it was too late. I looked out my window and saw her getting ready to board the shuttle so ran out and just had time for a quick hug before she was gone! Disappointing to not get to spend a little time with her.   After checking out of my home for 3 days in Franklin, NC, I drove to Winding Stair Gap and picked up Rog plus Wolf who needed a ride into town. We delivered him to a hotel and then headed for Fort Wayne, IN by way of Cincinnati. Plan to do a few things at the house here and then go on to Bluffton to see my Mom and then home to FW. News from SOS...two days ago he met 3 people who were day hiking from Ft. Wayne. One of them was in Bishop Mike's youth group in Peru so Rog called Mike and he talked to the now grown up man. Then he met two young people last ngiht who have been living 2 blocks from our Cincinnati house and the girl graduated from Adams Central HS...small world stuff. We arrived at the Cincy house about 11:15 and Rog is now drying out his tent, etc. An interesting note there...he woke up this morning with moisture inside his tent but the outside and rain fly were dry...maybe he is breathing too much in the night..:-) A mile south of Wallace Gap SOS, Wolf, and Dogger saw an ice chest hanging from a bear rope in a tree. Inside were brownies and angel food cake left by a thru hiker from last year. SOS says that toughest climb so far on this journey was today up Albert Mountain. It was a 460 foot climb in .3 of a mile. The view at the top was incredible.
Date: 2012-03-21
From: Cincinnati, OH

To: Encouragement comes in many forms!
Miles today: 0.0

We have been so blessed on this journey so far! There have been many kind people along the way who have provided information, food, friendship, prayers and good wishes. Trail Mama has worn her prayer bracelet, given to me by Shari, everyday without taking it off once. It reminds me of those who are praying for us. Shep, our mascot lamb given to us by Becky B., has been riding on the dashboard every mile of the way. Several people have asked about him so it gives us a chance to talk about our church and the ways that people are supporting us. Please remember however, that we are not the focus here. It is the children of Indiana who need updated camps so that more of them can experience the wonders of nature while surrounded by loving adults who will guide them on the path of following Christ. If you wish to be a part of changing children's lives, please click on the rightfuture.org link and see how you can help.
Date: 2012-03-23
From: Fort Wayne, IN

To: And the adventue resumes...
Miles today: 0.0

Rog and I have been home in Fort Wayne for 2 days to get some cuddle time with our newest adorable grandchild, Caden Dean. We made the rounds to see all 8 of the grandkids who live in town and got our hugs in with them also. Rog left this morning for Indianapolis for a meeting of the Lay Leaders in Indiana and I have been busy repacking, sorting, etc. to get things ready for the next stretch of time since we won't be back here again until early June. All of the dehydrated food that has been in the fridge is now packed into 6 large bags/boxes and will go with us on this leg of the trip. Of course, the plan for the next 10 days changed so now Nancy (our daughter in law's mother) and I are leaving at 4pm today and driving to Cincinnati where we will meet up with Rog this evening. After staying overnight, the 3 of us will drive back to NC where Nancy and I will take a rug hooking class at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown and Rog will get back on the trail where he left off on Tuesday. Nick, the camping director in IN, is coming to hike with Rog thru the Smokies. Rog, Nancy and I will then meet up again in 9 or 10 days and we will drive her back to her car in Cincinnati and then back to NC!!Being home was a whirlwind of activity with seeing friends, family and reorganizing our supplies so now I need to get back to NC so I can rest up.. :-) SOS is anxious to get back on the trail. A note to Buck and NR: Jon loved the trail so much that he talked our daughter Megan into celebrating their 10th anniversary with another hike with us instead of going to New York City! We are looking forward to them coming the first week of July! Anyone else who gets bored this spring/summer just let us know and come on over to hike with us...or just hang out with Trail Mama for awhile. It is an amazing journey!
Date: 2012-03-25
From: Cincinnati, OH

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rog, Nancy and I left Cincinnati around 9am heading back to North Carolina so SOS could get back on the trail. Nick Yarde left from his home in IN and was only about a 1/2 hour behind us so we decided to all meet up at the Kentucky Artisan Center near Berea. It is a wonderful place that sells crafts and art items made by Kentucky citizens. We met there, had a good lunch (3 of us had catfish!), and traveled on. After a harrowing drive on the most twisty, turny road we had been on yet, we arrived in Brasstown, NC at John C. Campbell Folk School. Nancy and I will spend the next 5 days here taking a class in rug hooking while Rog and Nick drove back to Franklin, NC to spend the night. Tomorrow morning they will get a shuttle to Winding Stair Gap which is where Rog left off on Tuesday. We will meet up again on Friday or Saturday. Nancy and I got here in time to eat the evening meal and believe me when I say...you don't want to miss the meals at this school..yum!! They grow lots of their own food and buy the rest from local farmers. After dinner, we met our teacher and the other 3 students in the class...two from Pennsylvania and one from Florida. We went to our classroom and started learning how to hook rugs. Our teacher told us people tease her about being a "hooker" so then she tells them she is a "stripper" also because that is the term used to prepare the wool for hooking...so I guess that now makes me a hooker and stripper also! Don't tell my MOM! Off to bed..morning will come early!
Date: 2012-03-26
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

I woke up in Brasstown in a shared room with 5 other women...think church camp for adults...and Rog woke up in Franklin, NC. He and Nick did a little business in town (like buying new poles for Rog since he left his in our car which is here with me...I know, I know, Buck and NR....but none of us were there to take care of him and Nick evidently doesn't know he is supposed to!) Actually that is not a bad thing since we will need another set when our daughter and son-in-law come to hike in July...at least that is the rationalization:-) Anyway I had a good day learning to hook rugs..got a small part of the rug done and am pleased with the progress. The teacher is very nice as they all are here. Rog called several times and reported in. The hike is going well and Nick is feeding him very well! He is not eating dehydrated food while Nick is around. They hiked 11 miles today and made it to Wayah Shelter where they will spend the night. Nick has a bad blister but Rog is still blister-free!! Need to get some sleep so I can strip and hook tomorrow. (Pictures when Rog gets back to the computer...haven't had time to master that yet)
Date: 2012-03-27
From: Wayah Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

God is Good...All the time...as we Methodists are fond of saying! Today at lunch time Nancy and I went into the lunch room and picked out our seats before I realized that the sun would be shining in my eyes so we moved to another table. I was then sitting beside a man and his wife...so we began talking. They were from Culver, Indiana. We had talked a little when I glanced at the man's name tag and realized that I was sitting by Dick Dugger. This is a man from Rog's past who along with his wife Jo has dedicated his life to the missions of the church and who was very active along with Rog and others in an organization called ECHO (Educational Concerns of Haiti...now changed to Ed. concerns of Hunger Organization). They made several trips to Haiti but hadn't seen each other in years! When I talked to Rog later and told him this he said be sure and thank Dick because he is the reason you and I met and got married!! I had never heard this part of the story before. It turns out that when Rog and I (not knowing each other at the time) both went on a mission trip to Haiti in 1976 Rog had no money to pay for the trip...so our pastor, Jim Jones, told Dick Dugger and Dick paid for Rog's trip!! WOW...and then I met Rog on the plane going to Haiti..in Feb...and then we had our first "date" at the end of May and got married 1 month and 12 days later. We will celebrate our 36th anniversary this July while on the trail somewhere. When I talked to Rog later in the day, he reported that just when he and Nick ran out of water on the trail there was a trail angel passing out ice water! They are staying at a hostel tonight at the NOC. Meanwhile I am making great progress on my rug hooking and meeting so very many wonderful people as we always do at John C. Campbell Folk School. It is a magical place. Dick and his wife Jo have been here 15 to 18 times...he couldn't remember exactly! Tonight was Contra Dancing with lots of local people coming to join in the fun. Nancy danced and I watched and missed my guy...
Date: 2012-03-28
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: overcast clouds

--------Two Empire State Buildings----------What a day Nick and Rog had!! They climbed UP all day the same height as 2 Empire State Buildings plus 487 feet...made me tired reading Rog's text!! Elevation 2987. Meanwhile at the rug hooking class, things are going well. All 5 of us are changing the pattern that our teacher made for our rugs. Today we learned some things about dying wool fabric. We have all changed our colors to fit with our homes...and all of us are saying that NO one is going to ever walk on these rugs because it is taking us so long to do them that they are becoming "precious" to us all. Tomorrow is our last real day to work on our rugs so I must now rest up...:-)
Date: 2012-03-29
From: Hitchin' a Ride

To: Yellow Creek Gap
Miles today: 14.3

Another beautiful day in NC...sunny and in the high 70's...great weather for walking around the beautiful grounds of JC Campbell Folk School and great for hiking. Nick and SOS got a shuttle back to Franklin today where they will shower and have a good nights sleep. Tomorrow Nancy and I will meet up with them close to Fontana Dam and the 4 of us will hike on what SOS promises to be a 3 mile downhill all the way hike.(a little better than 11 miles up and down, over rocks, streams and trees..right TB?) Sounds good to Nancy and I...we are looking forward to it! First we have to get there so got directions from our rug hooking teacher who lives in Franklin. She told us about several stops we should make on the way to pick up the guys...so who knows what time we will get there. We have "show and tell" day here at 11:00 to 11:30 and then lunch before we leave. At show and tell, everyone brings their projects to the main room in Keith House and displays them for all to see. It is fun to see what all the new friends we have made worked on this week. Nancy and I have already picked out several more classes we want to take here. I would recommend it highly to anyone who loves to create, enjoys meeting new interesting people, loves good healthy food and would love to create with no judgement and no interruptions. I am sorry the week is almost over but anxious to see SOS.A text just came in from SOS...they hiked 14.3 miles today to Yellow Creek Gap. Got some trail magic at lunch time...ice cold drinks..then met Donna who runs a hiker hostel and she shuttled them to Franklin where they both had big hamburgers at the Motor Company Grill. This is a diner in a former car dealership...therefore the name.
Date: 2012-03-30
From: Yellow Creek Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Rog wrote a wonderful entry for yesterday but couldn't get a connection to put it in the journal. So this morning I am trying but it is still not cooperating so will give you my version of yesterday and will post Rog's when we get closer to civilization! Nancy and I packed up, loaded the car, and then went to "show and tell" and the closing ceremony for our time at JC Campbell. We headed for Fontana Dam using the directions that the locals told us were the best route. This frustrated Rog who thought we went miles out of our way but we avoided the "dragon tail" road that everyone agreed we wouldn't want to drive. We got to Rog and Nick about 4pm with the intention of hiking together except that we got the 50% chance of rain instead of the hoped for 50% chance of NO rain. Nick and Nancy opted to start the drive back to IN by way of Cincinnati so Nancy could pick up her car. Rog and I checked into the Fontana Dam Resort which gives hikers 50% off their going rate. (So I guess you could say we got our 50%..just not the one we expected!!)After dinner, Rog repacked for the 3rd..5th..7th?? time...always paring down the pack weight. He is back to cooking for himself after being spoiled by Nick for 5 days (THANKS, Nick, for taking such good care of SOS!)
Date: 2012-03-31
From: Fontana Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: light rain

Alone AgainWoke up in our room at Fontana Dam...no rain..lots of sunshine! We drove two hikers to their starting location and then drove to the visitors center so Rog could meet up with Steamer from Pittsburgh who will hike with him thru the Smokies.THANKS, Steamer..I love it when Rog has someone with him. I left them there to hike across the Fontana Dam and be on their way. It was so beautiful that I decided to hike a little myself so followed a trail up to a lookout point where the view was outstanding...the lake down below, the mountains all around, birds singing in the otherwise total quietness, the trees leafing out, such a wonderous sight that I broke into song (in my mind)...For the beauty of the earth..for the glory of the skies. I "sang" a verse or two while contemplating the blessings of my life. One of the greatest is being able to share this adventure with the love of my life. It means so much to us both to read the guest book entries and to know that people are following along and wishing us well....so keep signing that guest book!! A note to Ann, my rug hooking teacher this last week. Ann is a wonderful Christian lady from Franklin, NC who loves the Lord and loves rug hooking. It was such a pleasure to have her as my teacher...she is patient, full of knowledge about rug hooking, fun to be around, and not afraid to share her love of Christ. It was a great way to spend a week...THANKS, Ann. We will meet again! Also if Delaine, Russell, Nancy and Iris are reading this...you made the week special also. It was a blessing to get to know you all,,,and Delaine, Rog sampled the chocolate and pronounced it wonderful! More later ...off to do laundry, get some more hooking done and READ!!
Date: 2012-04-01
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Silers Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I am journaling from my Hubba tent at the Silers Bald Shelter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The shelter is at an elevation of 5400+ feet. I had a delicious beans and hamburger dinner that Trail Mama dehydrated last winter. I cook on a pocket rocket stove - it gets its name because of the sound it makes when you light it. Each shelter normally has a source of water which is a nearby stream. I treat the water everytime with chemicals. My lunches are, when possible about 80% of the time, eaten with an incredible view from atop a mountain. I usually eat Gorp, Jerky and a dehydrated fruit all made by Trail Mama last winter. My favorite fruit so far has been a raspberry jelly - to die for. Steamer - George Williams from Pittsburgh PA has been a God send. He has literally been my shadow since we left Fontana Dam Visitors Center. He is a bear of guy 6 foot 2 inches tall 240 lbs. He is a great guy - you get to know a person pretty well when you hike 9 hours a day with him. Our best view today was from Rocky Top another 360. We will hike to Newfound Gap tomorrow - my cousin Jerry Chapman, who lives in Seiverville TN with his wife Sandy, will pick me up and I will take a shower and spend the night there with Trail Mama.Remember this hike is about HIM and the youth of the Indiana United Methodist Church and all of their church camps. Please make a pledge today at www.rightfuture.org.
Date: 2012-04-02
From: Silers Bald Shelter

To: Newfound Gap - North Carolina Tennessee Borders
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Off to a good start this morning left the shelter at 8:30 and arrived at Clingmans Dome at 11:00. We would average 2 miles an hour all day with 1,189 at climb to the Dome. It was misty all morning and there was no view at Clingmans Dome. The pine forest above Double Spring Gap Shelter was incredible and the green pines and moss everywhere was awesome. The mist was gone by the time we reached Newfound Gap - Jerry and Judy were late in picking us up because the traffic was backed up down heading to the top by bear gawkers. I had told Jerry to pick us up at 3:00 PM. We arrived 5 minutes early - pretty amazing when you think we had to hike 12.5 miles to get to the gap and we missed our estimated time by only 5 minutes.My cousin Jerry and his wife Sandy are fantastic hosts. They made Steamer and I 3 hamburgers a piece and Steam had his fill of baked potatoes. It was great to have a warm shower and to do laundry. It was even greater to see Trail Mama.
Date: 2012-04-03
From: Newfound Gap - North Carolina Tennessee Borders

To: Somewhere north of Newfound Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, I guess maybe we shouldn't have talked about how nice the weather had been for SOS hiking (only 2 partial days of rain) and how he had never gotten off the trail and had to backtrack...because he just called me and both things happened to him today! He is hiking in a lot of rain and he and Steamer just hiked 4 1/2 miles (9 miles round trip) on the wrong trail. Also Steamer fell and hurt his knee so things are not going so well today. And it started out so very well! Steamer spent the night with Rog and I in Jerry and Sandy's guest quarters after a great meal of hamburgers, beans, cake, etc. The guys watched the ballgame and I read. This morning Steamer fixed all 5 of us wonderful omelets for breakfast. The guys packed up and Jerry drove them to the NOC store in Gatlinburg to stock up on a few things and then on back to Newfound Gap after picking up two other hikers who needed a ride. There was a thunderstorm on top of the mountain but out of the car and on they all went.Meanwhile Sandy and I went to the Arts and Crafts stores at the Glades . The only thing I was tempted to buy (a set of wool carders for spinning) hadn't been priced yet so that saved me from a purchase! We ate lunch at a little Italian place after mailing off lots of postcards and buying more stamps. (We send lots of postcards to the 13 grandkids and hopefully they are keeping them in the treasure boxes we gave them for Christmas a few years ago.) After writing them all myself for several years, I finally asked Rog to take turns with me and now one of us writes to the girls and one to the boys so they get to hear from each of us. The rain has come down the mountain and is pouring down outside so guess I will just stay put and work on my hooking tonight. Heavy duty prayers for Rog, Steamer and all the thru hikers on the mountain would be appreciated tonight!PS Rog put pictures on all the ones without and showed me (again and I wrote it down this time) how so hopefully all journals will have pictures from now on.