morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-12-02
To: Cheeseland
Miles today: 0.0

Logistics...you keep asking...here's some of the answers!I will start in January; it will take about 5-6 months.About 2,165 miles, 14 states, Georgia to Maine.My pack will weigh anywhere from 25-40 pounds, depending on the season.I will resupply in towns along the trail, about once a week.I will mail about a dozen packages to post offices along the way when supplies are unavailable.10-20 miles per day, depending on terrain and what I feel like doing!!I will sleep in my tent, trail shelters, hostels, and hotels.It will rain (a lot), snow, be cold, hot, windy, humid.It will be dirty, sore, uncomfortable, bitten, tired....wanna come?I haven't seen much of the east, but I'm guessing the scenery is spectacular. I also look forward to the people I will meet along this adventure. About 3,000 people attempt to thru-hike the AT in a given year, so despite my lack of hiking partner, I think I'll see plenty of hikers out there!I know I skipped over a lot of details, but I think it will be more interesting to read about the actual adventure...stay tuned!! If you happened to be a book-type person (are there any of you still out there---turn off that reality TV show--for the love of God!!), these are my favorite AT books:Adrienne Hall: A Journey North   (This chick is seriously tough!)Bill Irwin: Blind Courage (A blind man the hiked the entire trail with his seeing eye dog!)
Date: 2004-12-24
To: Cheeseland
Miles today: 0.0

A journey of two thousand miles starts with a new years party at the top of Springer Mountain! My start date is months early than I initially planned, my AT dreams never included dilemmas on whether or not I would carry snowshoes! I am still undecided on that topic, but I will carry a pair of crampons for sure. I'm departing Wisconsin December 29. We are taking our time getting there--never could just get in a car and let half the US pass by without stopping for a few days. So my start date will be January 1, plus or minus a few days. My past weeks have been consumed with planning, and I must say that I am highly impressed by something I will refer to as the "Appalachian Trail Community." There is a great wealth of information out there, especially trailjournals.com, whiteblaze.net, and trailplace.com. Thanks to all past thru-hikers I have been pestering with questions (especially A-1, Comer, and Jean)! Hopefully I will play that role in future years! I would also like to thank Joe for the use of his entire AT map set! I've already experienced "trail magic" and I haven't even walked the first step!! The AT community rocks!!! Happy Holidays Everyone!
Date: 2004-12-28
To: Nancy's Challenge
Miles today: 0.0

This is my Mom. She is meeting my challenge. She hasn't exercised in months. Years maybe.Hi, I'm Heidi's Mom. I'm going to meet her challenge - or die trying! I am going to ride my stationary bike and walk the treadmill to equal the total length of the Appalachian Trail. I have a motivational problem - maybe this will help!! I figure it will be slow going at first - but by the end of the trail I should be jogging!!   I'll keep you updated as to my progress. Stay tuned to this page.Nancy's total miles: 28.5 (as of January 24, 2005) Nancy's start date: January 1, 2005Nancy's finish date:
Date: 2004-12-31
To: Approach Trail/Springer Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Man it's a long drive to Amicolala from Wisconsin! We broke the drive up into two days; this morning we left Nashville and drove to Amicolala State Park. We stopped in the visitor center to look around and I registered as a thru-hiker. The ranger on duty had a bad attitude. "You know, this isn't exactly the SMARTEST time of year to start a thru-hike," she pointed out. Immediatly I knew her image, her southern accent, and her unsolicited advise would echo in the back of my mind in the upcoming months. For now, I do nothing but give her a big grin and then look over at my stepdad and we burst into laughter. What can you say to that? I was on the Approach Trail (you have to hike 9 miles to get to the actual start of the AT), at 2:00. Mom and Lloyd walk the first 10 feet...sort of. I was following a yellow-blaze trail long enough to break a sweat when I realized I am on the wrong trail. A local from GA walks me back to the visitor center and sends me off on the right trail. Hopefully this is not an omen of what is to come in the next couple months! I got to Black Gap shelter at 5:00. I was tired and the sun was going down. I took off my pack and looked around. This is lame I thought: It's New Years and I'm not even ON the AT yet.   So I pushed on to Springer. Boy did that change my night!I summited Springer right at dusk. I am shocked to see a big group of people around a warm fire at Springer Mountain Shelter. "Are all 25 of these people starting a thru-hike tomorrow?" I think to myself. I better go tell them this isn't the "smartest" time of year to start a hike! Alpha, who is starting his hike tomorrow, is the first to introduce himself. Within 10 minutes he is going through my gear to see what is so heavy. I think it's the wisconsin cheese I stalked up on! A past thru-hiker called SloeToe and his twin sons have packed up tons of trail magic: food, candy, soda, beer, juice, and fireworks!! Just three others are starting a thru-hike, everyone else is celebrating the New Year on this special mountain. Most of us didn't make it until midnight, but it was still a great new years. I was surrounded by a wealth of AT info! Past thru-hiker, section hikers, people that live in trail towns... "Torch" a SOBO (south-bound thru-hiker that starts in Maine and finished in Georgia) just finished his hike today. He passed on his lighter to me, which will now be making it's third trip up the trail! Torch is interesting, but I try not to drill him with too many questions. He shows me digital pictures of what's to come, including some pictures of his war wounds: nasty feet blisters!! New Years on Springer was a great send off for my AT hike!
Date: 2005-01-01
From: Approach Trail/Springer Mountain

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Last night I snuck away from the wild New Year's Party to return to the summit of Springer Mountain. The second time that night I stood at the summit, this time I take more time to think. "Dear lord, what have I gotten myself into?" "What is going to happen to me in the next months?" "Can I handle the winter weather?" "Was the Amicalola Ranger right, this was foolish?" I pulled out the Springer Mountain Summit register and read some of the entries. Most are from dayhikers, but I stumble across a few poetic entries, hikers just starting or just finishing an AT thru-hike. I scratch in a few lines myself: "I can't believe I'm finally standing here." It is all I have to write. An unbelievable moment: I am about to begin living my dream.First day on the official AT. I felt lost in thought all day despite my good company. Thru-hiking still seems inconceivable. My company is three other thru-hikers Hercules, FAL (free-at-last), and Alpha. Hercules and Fal are repeat thru-hikers, and Alpha has hiked over half the trail. I find it comforting that everyone (besides me) has a lot of AT trail experience. It gives me more confidence about being out here in January. We left the shelter by 9:30 and hiked until 6:00 (dusk). We climbed a lot of vertical height today, a lot of quick ups and downs. This is not going to be easy, that's for sure! My body is feeling it by the end of the day.   I have to get used to carrying my backpack again.   Fal and Hercules stop early, Alpha and I push one. Alpha is pretty fired up about thru-hiking. He is telling me stories about New Hampshire, Maine, Katahdin. It is way to early to begin thinking about that, let's just get through Georgia!I learned today what "phantom shelters" are. When it gets to be the end of the day and you get to quit hiking at the shelter, you begin to see shelters through the trees, but when you get closer you realize you are just hallucinating! When we finally arrive at the shelter, Alpha and I cook dinner and move as little as possible. We are amused by a brave mouse that is scampering around the shelter and checking out our gear, particularly my socks. Sleep comes quickly...I feel sore and old!
Date: 2005-01-02
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

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

We woke up today at 7:00 and were on the trail by 8:30. I need to get used to living out of my backpack again.   This is a slow start, but the weather is so warm I take my time. I'm sure I'll be faster when I'm freezing my butt off---but the AM temperature is in the 50's. It is a perfect hiking day, temperatures in the 60's with only 30 minutes of rain. Blood Mountain was the major climb of the day.   The view was clouded up, and there were many day hikers at the summit to take our pictures! Alpha convinces me to push on 2 more miles so we can stay at the hostel at Neels Gap. There is no water on top of Blood Mountain, so I don't want to camp there anyway. Plus, there are rumors going around that the Blood Mountain shelter is rat infested. Not mice---RATS! It's only been a few days, but I'll take the shower and bed at the hostel! We showered and layed around watching the Crocodile Hunter on VHS in the PM. Sleep comes early. I again am very sore and I still feel old. But as alumni thru hiker Lonewolf says "Pain is just weakness leaving the body." Leave already then! We crossed paths with SOBO Phoenix who started in Maine in late August. He put on about double the miles we did today too! These SOBOs are crazy!
Date: 2005-01-03
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I rested in the AM at the Walasi-Yi Hostel. I slept 11 hours! My calves were killing me after Blood Mountain. Going downhill seems to be the most painful. I think after I get my "trail legs" going uphill will be easier and faster than going downhill. I left the hostel by 11 AM. Alpha stayed behind to sort through his new gear. The hostel sells just about any outdoor gear you may need. They also give great gear advise if you are having troubles. I should mention the friendly dogs that meander around the place. I am humbled to find out that the dogs have put in many more miles than me, and put my hiking experience to shame! I already needed to buy a new water filter. Mine died on day two. Though many springs probably don't need to be treated before drinking, I like to filter the water around popular camping areas. You just never know what people do out here. The shelter I'm camped at tonight has toilet paper flowers all over the place, and I already found one "turd sandwich" (use you imagination), so I'm definitely filtering here! There are just two others at the shelter when I arrive. At dusk I here someone yell "brats," so I know Alpha will be here shortly.One quick note on the Trail itself. Most of the 45 miles I have walked so far is extremely well maintained. Volunteers must have spent there New Years weekends doing work out here. Thanks to all that donate your time to the AT! Sometimes I walk behind Alpha---he does trail work too. Rock and small tree removal.
Date: 2005-01-04
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 13.0

I was looking forward to going to the Cheese Factory Site all day, and when we finally got there we were tired enough to camp there. There are no indications as to why this place is named the Cheese Factory Site. Quiet on the trail today. Saw "Mother Nature," a volunteer trail crew worker coming down from Tray Mountain. The climb out of Unicoi Gap was something fierce! It took just about every ounce of energy I had. That includes everything I ate for my three lunches today! We stop 2 miles shy of our goal, but who cares, there are no schedules out here! In the PM, just after dark, Alpha decides to leave the trail. He packed up and headed down a dirt road that hopefully leads into the city of Helen. He'll be back in a few months, next time with his wife. It was great to hike with Alpha for the short time I did. His previous AT experience taught me a lot. After Alpha leaves, I hear crazy noises coming from the woods. Something big is stomping around. Alpha, was that you? I also heard a baby-like cry. I might be mistaken, but I think that is what a bobcat sounds like. Not sure though.
Date: 2005-01-05
From: Cheese Factory Site

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at false dawn and heated up breakfast. Temperatures are in the 50's in the AM. I hike up Tray Mountain to start my day.   There are two college students camped in the shelter. They let me look at their guidebook and give me venison meat they just cooked over the fire---trail magic!! I hiked with no specific goal all morning, then thought about the creature comforts of Hiawassee and decided to hitch in when I arrived at the road crossing mid afternoon. Subway, laundry, groceries. My body also need some first aid. I've been hiking in my air-tight leg gators and have a heat rash down my legs. My toes each need to be wrapped in moleskin, then duct-taped, and my lower back has some serious chaffing action going on from my pack constantly rubbing. Am I soft or what?!! Better to fix your small problems right away. I'm tending to my war wounds at "Miss Cordie's" Mulls Motel. I got a ride into town from three high school girls. "We only pick up females," they tell me. I am thrilled that I still look female!
Date: 2005-01-06
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Muskrat Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Miss Cordie gave me a ride back to Dick's Creek Gap by 10:00 am. Today was my first taste of uncomfortable weather. It rained most of my hike but the views were cool--misty and cloud choked. I sent home a pair of fleece pants and jacket, so even though I bought food, my pack is lighter. The rain and cool air is chilling when I'm not hiking, so I keep moving until I get to the shelter. I cook dinner and jump straight into my sleeping bag. The end of the day was hard, climbing out of Bly Gap is straight uphill. Hurricane season 2004 has done some damage to this section too. Oh yeah---I'm not in Georgia anymore! I crossed into NC early afternoon. The night is filled with mice sounds again! I hear them, but every time I turn on my headlamp, Squeakers is incognito. Squeakers did play in my pack sometime during the night, shredding my toilet paper into small shreds. According to the shelter journal, there is a great overlook just above the shelter called "The Cliffs" but I can barely see the other side of this shelter in the fog!
Date: 2005-01-07
From: Muskrat Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The trail is NC seems to be more forgiving than the trail in GA so far, following ridgelines and hugging the base of peaks instead of summiting. Standing Indian Mountain is a gradual climb up an old road. The trail meanders through a rhododendron thicket most of the day--very green and H20 plenty! I drank about 7 quarts as I hiked today. As I entered the Northern end of the Nantahala Wilderness, I read a poster warning of a misbehaved bear in the area that has been running off with people's packs. Now a bear that shows no fear of humans is a troubling situation, but I still amuse myself with a fantasy of me taming this bear and having it carry my pack. I see fresh bear scat in the trail several times today. The rhododendron is so thick, wildlife uses our hiking trails too. I end my day with a climb over Albert Mountain, extremely steep coming from the south. It is exhausting after the miles I walked today. There is a boarded up firetower at the top, along with a fenced-off overlook. Twenty more minutes and I reach the shelter. I hang my food on the existing bear wires, keeping that friendly bear in mind. Tonight it all out pours!! It sounds like a marching band as the drops hit the metal shelter overhang! Does this stop me from getting 10 hours of sleep? Not a chance.
Date: 2005-01-08
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Beyond USFS road 69
Miles today: 16.8

After the rainy night, I awake to a foggy AM. It has stopped raining, but the winds are high, blowing water off the rhododendron. I feel like I'm going through a human car wash as I walk through the green tunnel of leaves. A light breeze sprays me with a prerinse, the full gusts slap me with the heavy duty scrub! Not that I couldn't use the wash, I'll admit that. I've had the Black-Eyed Peas song: "If It Smells Like Funk, it Must Be Us," in my head for days now. Except, sniff-sniff, there is no one else around, it must be me!The day turns out to be beautiful, by afternoon the sky is cloud free. I passed Siler Bald in the late afternoon and I would have camped there, but I was too low on water. Three more miles and I found an opening to set up my tent. No mice to worry about tonight! Someone is shooting the place up though, I hear gunshots from a few miles away into the PM. Gunshots are replaced by coyotes singing in the middle of the night
Date: 2005-01-09
From: Beyond USFS road 69

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: clear sky

Did I mention the beautiful weather I've been having? I read somewhere to expect uncomfortable weather 80% of the time on the AT: 20% too warm, 20% too cold...I guess I'm due for 40 days of misery so far!!I walk up Wayah Bald in the AM, there is a stone lookout tower. At 8:00am I have it to myself. I am about 1000 feet above the clouds--what a view! I wind up and down, mostly down, through the Nantahala National Forest. Cold Spring Shelter is jammed full of weekend backpackers and two SOBOs Dan and Mary. The weekenders take off, I speak with Dan and Mary for awhile. We talk about the trail of course, they speak of their 2,000 miles of adventure, I speak of....Georgia. There is one more SOBO I run into later in the day, Amazing Grace. She is full of energy after a day of rafting at the NOC. I get to the NOC just before the store closes. A hiker can stay at their "basecamp" hostel for $15/night. The lady with the room keys has already left for the day, but I am allowed to use the community area. This is great, I can shower, organize my gear and sort through my maildrop that I sent here, I just don't get a room or a bed. The community room is pretty much just a kitchen. There is a Wilderness EMT class going on, so it's pretty busy with people. People have been cooking great smelling meals for hours. This is slight torture, as all the cafes are closed this time of year and I dine on noodles again! Not only that, my gear is sitting in the kitchen area, soaking up food odors just as I am a few days away from Smoky Mountain NP, home of over 2,000 black bears with oversensitive noses!   I end up sleeping out on the deck tonight. No worries--I was not charged for using the facility.I hit up the NOC store to fill up on cooking fuel and snacks. My mom has shipped some replacement gear, but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm having it sent ahead because I don't want to wait around any longer. The weather is suppose to be nice for another week and I want to make it through the Smokies before winter sets in.
Date: 2005-01-10
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Spending the night at Brown Fork Gap Shelter. For all the easy downhill miles I had yesterday, I paid for as I climbed out of Wesser. I waited until the NOC store opened at 9:00, to buy fuel and m&m's, the essentials! My UPS package will be "bounced" down the trail to Hot Springs. "Bounce" is AT jargon--you "bounce" or mail stuff ahead that you don't want to currently use or carry. Can I bounce myself down the trail?I wasn't planning on hiking all the way to Brown Fork Shelter, but the spring at Stecoach Gap was dry, and I had to push on. After being out of water for 5 miles, I was miserable and sent into turbo hiking speed to get here before dark. I enjoyed a preview of the Smokies as the sun set.
Date: 2005-01-11
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Tonight I am staying at the Fontana "Hilton," the illegid nicest shelter on the trail. There is treated wood, raised bunks, no mice, a heated bathroom with electricity, and free showers at the Fontana Dam Visitor Center...this is living it up! I think someone might come and leave a chocolate on my pillow or fold my clothes up in the shape of a swam...I hiked 12 miles today, and it felt like a short day as the terrain was unchallenging. I met a Forest Service FMO out on the trail doing trail work to escape the office scene. This area also has damage from Hurricane Ivan---though most damage has already been taken care of. I met two thru-hikers today, Ce La Ve heading south, and Stomper who is a SOBO gone NOBO, also staying at the Hilton with me. I met Stomper as I started walking into town. He told me everything was closed except for a Texaco, so I didn't bother. I really just wanted a cheeseburger! Stomper entertains me through the afternoon and evening with stories of his southbound hike. He warns me of my thru-hiker appetite that hasn't kicked in yet, as he downs 10 sandwiches in the span of an hour! He also taught me what a "turtle" is. When you tip over wearing your backpack and your arms and legs are scrambling around in attempt to get up again, you just did a turtle. I teach him what the term "Yogi-ing" means, which he has done many times, just didn't know the term. Yogi-ing is when you get food or favors from strangers without directly asking for it.
Date: 2005-01-12
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Well I thought about moving into the Fontana Hilton and giving dam tours during their off season, but my craving for a cheeseburger will push this woman's journey north! I climbed out of Fontana and into the Smokies in the morning. There is a short side trail at Shuckstuck that leads to a firetower. It's well worth the view if you pass through on a clear day. The view is astounding--the best I've seen so far!The Smokies may be some of the highest elevations on the AT, but the trail fits NPS guidelines for grade, meaning there are switchbacks again! This is much easier to hike than heading straight up the mountains. The shelter I am staying at tonight has a metal cage over the front to keep out the bears. I feel like I am in a cage, because I am in a cage! This must be what it feels like to be an animal in a zoo. I share the shelter with three college students. No bear encounters tonight.
Date: 2005-01-13
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Siler Bald
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

First day of full blown, all out nasty weather. This wind is blowing something fierce and the rain is coming at me from the side. No joke, directly perpendicular to the ground. I have to walk leaning strongly into the wind to keep from tipping over! I got an early start, and I'm done hiking by 2:00pm. I come across this dry shelter, with two warm hikers writing peacefully in their journals, fire smoking. There is no way I can continue hiking! The hikers are SOBOs Pigpen and Celtic, the last two SOBOs of the year. Pigpen and Celtic are great company. The SOBOs I've been meeting this late in the year all seem to be taking their time and enjoying the trail and the trail towns. I'm glad I'm seeing that early, I can see how getting caught up in mileage can be contagious. "There's the trail, then there's the trail beside the trail." Here is some random advise passed on by Pigpen and Celtic: 1. Only buy King Size. Regular size snickers are now the halloween fun size to us. They aren't even worth eating.2. Don't listen to what anyone tells you about terrain or trail difficulty, times, etc.3. Whatever trail hygiene you have now will be greatly reduced.4. Only carry things in your pack that you use every day.5. There are shelters on the AT where pizzas are delivered.