morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-12-22
To: Flexiblity
Miles today: 0.0

"I started this hike with 70 pounds and I finished it with 70 pounds, dammit." Garlic here. I climbed Katahdin once, with GreasePot at the end of her through hike in 2002. That quote came from one of that year¢s through-hikers I met at the summit. It affected me enough that I remember it clearly five years later. I was impressed with the feat, but somehow I didn¢t respect it very much. I just got an email from another AT ¢08 hiker. She read about my stoveless hiking, and is apparently thinking about it. Now that, I respect a lot. Change is tough.I stopped hiking at age 40 with inflamed tendons in heels and knees, after hiking the Colorado Trail. Tough luck, I thought, no more backpacking. When GreasePot planned her AT ¢02 hike, I didn¢t even consider putting myself through that kind of pain. But as she started sending home the gear she started with and telling me about all the cool new stuff she was using, like a field-made Pepsi can stove and a hammock, I was intrigued. Could I hike again?That summer I tried some light trips in Colorado. I used my old day pack and started over-nighting with it, using the kind of gear GreasePot had been telling me about. The extra range I got, the amount of fun I was having just flying over passes and peaks, I couldn¢t believe it. So I joined her at Crawford Notch and hiked from Washington to Katahdin, over 300 miles of tough terrain, no pain at all. My life changed again.Yesterday's storm gave us a nice 8" coating of fresh powder, hopefully more in the high country. I'll be heading up to the James Peak Wilderness tomorrow for some skiing from the Moffat Tunnel TH, I think. I need to work on the skis today, got a loose binding the other day and I hit a rock.
Date: 2008-01-01
To: SOBO or NOBO?
Miles today: 0.0

Garlic here. I started planning this AT hike while still in the early stages of last summer¢s CDT adventure. After Pickle and I got through Glacier NP and entered the Bob Marshall wilderness, and it became apparent we were able to maintain progress through the fire season and the heat, I started thinking of what¢s next.My first thought was about a SOBO (southbound hike).   As a mostly Western hiker, I tend to enjoy wilderness experiences more, hiking in packs less. Hiking north with the "pack" of hikers did not appeal to me. (GreasePot laughs at that, because she sees me as a very social hiker.)I started thinking of a pretty late start from Maine, late July/early August. In my ignorance, I assumed I could probably keep or even increase my average pace on the PCT and CDT, about 20 miles per day. So I started thinking of a 100-day pace for the AT. I figured starting in late July would get me to Springer by Thanksgiving. I could miss the New England black flies, the mid-Atlantic summer heat, enjoy the fall colors, and miss the crowds mostly. I started shopping for a better head lamp for more night hiking in the short fall days. I questioned Pickle extensively about best times to hike certain areas of the AT.Back home, I read Karen Berger¢s book about hiking the Triple Crown. I think she did what I¢m doing, hiking the AT last. She warned quite vehemently against underestimating the AT. Some of my fellow Western hikers referred to the AT patronizingly as ¢that training trail out East¢. I started to find myself thinking that way, too. Karen Berger certainly put the record straight on that account! She explains clearly that the tread is very much rougher and much steeper than the pack-animal tread of the PCT, that a PCT pace is nearly impossible on the AT. And here I was, thinking of notching it up. She even has a section about NOBO vs. SOBO, very informative. (Post-hike edit: As it turns out, I DID increase my daily pace on the AT. The rough tread and increased climbing were offset by more experience, easier resupply, and lighter water carries--at least for me.)I finally realized that my plan would pit me in a race against time and the seasons. I would have to make 25-mile days continuously, to allow time for resupplies and emergencies. I would be rushing over rough and beautiful terrain, with no time to enjoy it.My closest through-hiking companions, GreasePot and Pickle, both with AT through-hikes, also lobbied heavily against a SOBO. Their main argument is that you don¢t want to miss the social aspects of the AT, it¢s what makes it unique. I agreed, finally. And, I thought, it would be a shame to have to rush a trail that can be taken at relative leisure. And, as Karen Berger concludes, there must be a reason most hikers are NOBO.So, with absolutely no time goals at all, we go NOBO in March.And Happy New Year!Garlic
Date: 2008-01-08
To: For Meredith
Miles today: 0.0

Garlic here. I woke up very early this morning, disturbed by thoughts of Meredith Emerson¢s murder near the AT in Georgia. To take my mind off things, I picked up an escapist novel, as I often do. I fell asleep last night on the final page of ¢The First Law¢ by John Lescroart, in my opinion one of the best legal/cop thriller writers around. This is what I read this morning:(The two characters, Gina and Michelle, have just survived a long episode of danger and intrigue, and have both lost loved ones to violent crimes in San Francisco. They¢re hiking a section of the JMT/PCT out of Tuolumne Meadows, in June.) ¢Now, well in to early evening, the two women had been hiking in long shadows for an hour or more when they came around a bend in the path and found themselves suddenly squinting into the sunlight that reflected off a field of ice that covered the entire trail.¢¢At least now we know why we haven¢t seen anybody coming the other way,¢ Gina said. She unshouldered her pack and took a long drink of water. Grimaced. ¢This iodine pill thing. I don¢t think I¢m getting very used to the taste.¢¢¢I stopped using it,¢ Michelle said.¢Gina stopped in mid-drink. ¢Then why am I still gagging on this stuff?   I thought there was giardia¢¢a particularly unpleasant parasite¢¢everywhere up here.¢¢¢There is, I suppose. But my dad used to hike up here all the time and he never used it, either. And never got sick.¢ She shrugged. ¢If I¢ve learned anything the past year, Gina, it¢s that the world¢s a dangerous place. It¢s never really been safe, although it¢s comforting to pretend it is. But really there¢s risk everywhere. Might as well embrace it and enjoy the days. So I¢m going to drink the goddammed good-tasting, non-iodized water.¢¢Gina took another pull at her canteen, made another face. ¢Will you think I¢m a wimp if I don¢t?¢¢¢Absolutely.¢ A big grin. ¢But who cares what I think? You do it your way; I¢ll still like you.¢¢Michelle stood up, brushed off her bottom, stared at the ice shelf looming up ahead of them. ¢Talk about risk,¢ she said. ¢Do you want to go for this? Maybe we should give it up?¢¢Gina, too, was on her feet. ¢And miss the best view in the Sierra? I¢d rather die trying.¢¢¢So we go on?¢¢¢Lead on, girlfriend, lead on.¢¢(On my PCT hike, I was in the same place at the same time, and I can verify that Lescroart got the hiking part right on. And I didn¢t treat water there, either.)The reward is what it¢s really about, and it struck pretty me hard first thing this morning and gave me the shivers. The rewards are simply too great to tremble in fear and stop hiking.
Date: 2008-02-07
To: Hello from the beach
Miles today: 0.0

Garlic here. It seems strange to update a journal for the Appalachian Trail while relaxing on a beach in San Diego. But GreasePot and I just finished hiking ¢the toughest hike in San Diego County¢ and I¢m really psyched for the upcoming long distance hike.We hiked up to El Cajon Mt and El Capitan, a lower nose on El Cajon¢s ridge, for a total of 15.2 miles and 5,200 vertical feet. GP left her GPS on (she was geocaching the entire route) so I know these surprising numbers are correct. I had estimated less than 10 miles and under 4,000¢. Luckily it was a beautiful cool day and we got an early start, and we had just enough water. We took a lot of side routes up steep inclines on the way in to find some caches, and that really added to the total. But we got to see some really interesting stuff. And the little bit of bushwhacking we did wasn¢t too tough due to the ¢03 Cedar fire which cleared out the chaparral. We got filthy with wood ash, but nothing like the ¢04 PCT hike when we were battling the ash blowing in the wind from the same fire. The route was also a little muddy from the recent heavy rains and snow in the area. All the canyons were flowing water. And it was greener than I¢ve ever seen it out here.That was the nicest hike I¢ve had for the week I¢ve been here. Last week I arrived feeling just a little weak, whether because of the remains of a sinus cold (thanks, Saunter!) or giving blood right before leaving, or a combination of both, I don¢t know. Yesterday I felt very strong, ready to continue on after the hike.We finally heard from Pickle, after a couple of weeks of no internet access on his trip through Mexico. He was on the beach as well, on the Gulf of California, getting ready to ferry across to Baja. He was raving about the bioluminescent surf he¢d seen the night before. And about a 22-mile hike he took down there recently. I¢m glad to hear he¢s getting some good hikes in, since that was one of his concerns about the trip. He reports that he¢s feeling very strong, too.We just met a few members of our PCT '04 "trail family" here in San Diego over the weekend--Buzz, Izzy, and Tall Paul (with spouse Born-to-Be). I remember a trail veteran advising me as I hiked the PCT that your trail family will be your most important gain on the hike, more than photos or journals or any other mementos. I agree.
Date: 2008-03-03
To: GarlicÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs first ruck
Miles today: 0.0

Garlic here. I just got home from my first ruck, organized by PMags in Leadville, CO. The Rockies Ruck took place at the Leadville Hostel, which is situated on three major trails¢the Continental Divide Trail, the Colorado Trail, and the American Discovery Trail. Wild Bill and Kathy, the hosts, see many hikers at their hostel. I was amazed to see the hugs and warm greetings as hikers came in.It was good for me to get more advice and mental preparation for the upcoming AT hike. And I was able to give a little, too. I made some pepsi can stoves for a couple of young guys attempting the CDT this year as their first through hike.Three triple crowners were there. Four hikers are heading out on through hike attempts this year. So it was a very active group. I probably shouldn't mention the chocolate cake female food fight, but it's hard not to. If word of that gets out, Wild Bill will have to buy a bigger hostel for next year's ruck.A real bonus (besides the chocolate cake) was getting to see the annual Leadville ski joring competition. This has to be seen to be believed. A horse pulls a skier at full gallop through a course consisting of jumps, gates, and rings on poles that have to be speared by the skier¢s free arm¢yes, the skier is holding on to the tow rope with one hand!One of the reasons I made the 90-mile drive to Leadville was for some backcountry skiing. There is much more snow out there than we have here in the Front Range. On Saturday, five of us skied a short tour on a free groomed trail around town. On Sunday, a decent winter storm came in and most left early to start the long drive home over mountain passes and through ski area traffic. But I was staying an extra day, and Skygod, an expert skier, lives nearby in Avon. So we took a more advanced tour and found some great glade skiing near Tennessee Pass. I am still amazed that I just went skiing with a CDT hiker I met in Yellowstone last summer.Today I made an attempt at Elbert Peak, Colorado¢s highest summit at 14,433¢. But I got beaten back about 1000¢ below the summit by winter weather up there. No matter, it was a great ski descent in yesterday¢s fresh snow. I kept Reinhold Messner¢s mantra in mind¢¢Getting up is optional. Getting down is not."
Date: 2008-03-19
To: Delayed start
Miles today: 0.0

Garlic here. We're going to delay our start date a little, some necessary personal business for Pickle. Right now we're looking at April 3 to start hiking, instead of March 21 (which was always a "soft" date anyway). Pickle is a little disappointed because he wants to try to beat summer into New England, and I'm all for that. But I, on the other hand, am fine with the delay. I didn't really want to hit the cold March snow, either. GreasePot has always told me that March is too early to start anyway, in her opinion. She started April 15 (tax day), and was fine with that. I think she'll be happy, and it will give us a little more time together when she comes home from San Diego. I stopped by the new Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in Golden yesterday. It shares the building with the American Alpine Club and Outward Bound. It¢s an interesting, active place with a great aura. I parked behind a car that had an AT window sticker, and saw another one that had a Colorado Trail sticker. I enjoyed the history displays, and how American climbing is shown in relation to the rest of the worlds¢ exploits. There was even a mention of lightweight climbing styles and of the trend of not even carrying a stove. The display ended with, ¢Cold Beef-a-roni, anyone?¢ I enjoyed that!Pickle has been touring New York State, sending interesting emails about day trips in Syracuse, NYC, etc. It sounds like he¢s having a great time. We¢re very close to finalizing our arrivals into Atlanta on April 3.Pickle has been getting in some amazingly long hikes, including a 32-miler the other day! I¢ve been getting some great workouts, but not by hiking. I¢m a member of the local volunteer fire department, and have been striving to complete most of my year¢s required training before I leave for the AT. So I¢ve been helping teach this year¢s fire academy class. The last couple of sessions have been grueling, including a live burn day and firefighter rescue¢heavy stuff. One of my great concerns is spraining something or hurting myself and I¢ve been very careful about that.
Date: 2008-03-22
To: Pickle checking in
Miles today: 0.0

Pickle here, checking in and starting to get serious about the adventure ahead. The winter has been nice for me¢traveling through Mexico while the folks back home were enduring a doosy of a winter. Actually, I was missing out on some great skiing, but such is life. Mexico was a memorable experience.   I was able to get in some good hiking down there in Mexico so I¢m well on my way to being physically prepared for this hike. I¢ll be whipping myself into better shape over the next couple weeks. I also need to get used to being miserable at times (cold, rain, etc.)¢part of the AT experience.      I¢m pleased at the response to my offer to folks to participate in this hike in a way that will benefit certain charities. The pledges totaling well over $2 per mile will provide good motivation to me to get my butt out of the bag and onto the trail every morning, especially on days with miserable weather.      I had a great experience in 2002 hiking the trail, so I¢m looking forward to getting back out there. The best part of that trip was the people I met¢fellow hikers, trail angels*, towns people, etc. Another good part was (what I call) the serendipity of the trail. By that, I mean the positive experiences that occurred frequently and unexpectedly. They would usually make my day and keep things fun and interesting. And of course, there is the beauty of the trail. I¢m hoping for all that magic in this year¢s hike, for all of us out there.
Date: 2008-03-31
To: Rarin' to go
Miles today: 0.0

Garlic here. Over the weekend I finally felt like I got some real hiking in, thanks in part to PMags who included me in a CHAOS (Colorado Hiking and Outdoor Society) hike in Eldorado Canyon, a 14 miler with 4,000' elevation gain. The next day I hiked from the town of Morrisson, CO back to my home in Evergreen, a 12-mile walk through mostly county open space park land on good trails, with 2,500' gain. I had one close call with a slip on some ice. I do NOT want to injure myself trying to get into hiking shape! I felt fine after all this, relieved that my program of backcountry skiing kept me in hiking shape, after all. It sounds like Pickle has been doing much the same in the Pennsylvania hills.I got my pack put together today, assembled from various drawers and shelves and boxes around the house. No surprises. I added my wife's down vest, at 12 oz, bringing the pack weight up to almost 10 pounds. I'm not sure about the vest, considering the April start. I just checked northern Georgia weather for this weekend, and it looks warm and rainy, not exactly down vest weather.We have plane tickets for this Thursday the 3rd and a plan to get to Springer on Friday. Pickle's AT '02 companion, Blaze (whom I also met with Pickle on the CDT in New Mexico), has very kindly offered to shuttle us up there.Getting excited!
Date: 2008-04-02
To: The Big Green Light!
Miles today: 0.0

Pickle here, just back from the surgeon's office. She gave me the green light to head out to the trail. I'm happy!   The surgery, which occurred a week ago, was minor. A parathyroid gland had become hyperactive; it was releasing too much calcium into my system. The simple solution is to remove it (there are three others to do the job). So it's gone, and I will be gone in the morning, heading for the Trail via Atlanta. Blaze has graciously offered to get us to the Trail, which Garlic and I are happy to accept. It will be fun to see a hiker friend once again. That's part of the fun of doing this.
Date: 2008-04-04
From: Springer Mountain

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

Garlic here. Misty, rainy day today. We got pretty soaked right at the end of the day by some good thunderstorms, otherwise we stayed somewhat dry. Tomorrow will be a cold start with wet clothesWhat a great start to the trip with Blaze's help. It couldn't have gone any smoother.GreasePot's rain hat really saved the day for me, a great last-minute addition to the pack.I got a cloud in the tent when I took off my rain coat inside, it was so damp. Heavy rain right now, with thunder.I was surprised to see what looks like holly trees out here. I also saw a pilleated woodpecker, old growth hemlocks, and water falls, all surreal in the mist. Gooch Gap shelter was packed. We got water from the spring and ate dinner, then hiked a little more the the eponymous Gap and camped. What a great day of hiking, some good miles.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Gooch Gap

To: Swaim Gap
Miles today: 16.4

Garlic here. It stayed wet again all day. I got a little damp in the tent last night from the heavy condensation from the wet clothes. I should be fine for at least one more wet night and it's supposed to clear tomorrow.We walked through Walasi-Yi at Neels Gap. Cool place, and we got a free burger meal from the Trail Dames. Wonderful ladies, even had Boca Burgers for me. Our climb of Blood Mt was nice, no rain on the climb, but no view either.I bought $9 of food at Walasi-Yi to try to make it to Franklin, 77 miles away. If so, that'll be our first town stop. We didn't need any amenities yet, good thing because it was packed with hikers sitting out the rain.We heard some very sorry stories from wet, sore, hurt, and sick hikers, as we walked out into the rain.I hope my body heat will dry out my damp down bag a little bit. There's much lighter rain tonight. If it gets no worse, I'll be fine.We're both in great spirits, enjoying even the mist and rain. We got nearly five mile views this morning. Everyone on the trail seems to be happy.
Date: 2008-04-06
From: Swaim Gap

To: Cheese factory site
Miles today: 21.7

Garlic here. We got payback this morning for all the rain--gorgeous blue sky with fog in the valley below. It rained lightly all night again, but stopped just before dawn. I had some strange dreams, all with rain noise in the background. We had a nice long walk today, uninterrupted by rain. I got a hot spot on one toe, probably from skin softened from being wet for so long. Gotta watch that.We camped socially in a group of through hikers for the first time, around a campfire. Everybody's enjoying the nice weather, and Pickle and I enjoyed some leisurely breaks sitting in the warm sun, drying our gear.I saw a woodpecker, hawk, deer track, grouse. I'm enjoying the trail route so far, not as much needless climbing as I'd envisioned. It's very nice, challenging route on excellent trail tread so far.
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Cheese factory site

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: light rain

Garlic here. I think I'm falling in love with this trail. Got into beautiful rugged country today, but still on excellent trail. Wow! Wild turkeys, a hawk, a pilleated woodpecker, lots of friendly hikers, great springs every few miles, blossoming trees.... Nothing is really trying to hurt us out here, either.This is feeling much more like a wilderness hike than I expected, at least the way we're doing it. We skipped Hiawassee, and will have 107 miles before our first town stop--not bad. And the walking, at least the grades, is challenging enough.The Deep Gap Shelter where we had lunch today was beautiful, of very old construction with heavy beams, doweled joints, oiled timber, filigrees, great craftsmanship. All of this was in a quaint little clearing. It's nice out here.We got into North Carolina today! Only four days to cross 76 miles of Georgia.
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Bly Gap

To: Big Spring Gap
Miles today: 22.1

Garlic here. This is cool, 3% of the AT done in the last three days. We're both going strong, no pains at all, even the feet feel fine. Yesterday was a little fatiguing, but today was payback. Easy cruising except for two climbs like bookends at each end of the day.We stopped in a couple of shelters to socialize, eat at a table, and use the privies. We still haven't stayed a night in a shelter. Neither of us sleeps well on plank floors nor particularly really likes mice playing around at night, or sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder with a donzen of our closest friends. Also, we like early starts and there's no way to pack up without waking everyone up. And the camping out here has been really nice, with soft soil, deep duff and leaf litter (I'm feeling alliterative today), very well-drained.Light rain this morning cleared nicely by noon. We got great views from the Mt Albert fire tower.We're continuing in very high spirits. It's wonderful to be out here. We are so fortunate to be healthy and whole.We will both eat our last crumbs of food tomorrow at breakfast on our hike out to town. Great planning! I did trade one set of Aquamira for a cup of kung pao chicken at dinner, though.Saw one grouse and lots of juncos today. Fine spring water all day. We haven't had to purify water yet. We got a good bath in a nice creek in the sun today. That improved my already great mood.
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Big Spring Gap

To: Winding Stairs Gap
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

Hello from Franklin, NC, where they call you "darlin'"! Garlic here. We just pigged out at the BBQ chicken place. The hot soup was heavenly. I ate a salad plate full of tomatoes. Some trail angels even greeted us at the road crossing. Nice! Laundry, groceries, and more eating filled out the day here nicely.It's back out to Trail again tomorrow morning after a complementary pancake breakfast at the local Baptist church. We hope to be in Fontana Dam and Village in three or four days, then into the Smokies. I am really looking forward to that.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: Winding Stairs Gap

To: BurningTown Gap
Miles today: 20.0

GreasePot here. Garlic called this morning. They had a lovely breakfast compliments of the Baptist Church Thursday morning that allowed them to climb 10 miles up hill with no stopping. They are really enjoying the trail angels. Garlic had pancakes, egg casserole and orange juice. They saw their first balds - and are really enjoying the scenery. They are in very high spirits - joking around about how nice the AT is - there is nothing out here that is trying to kill them! No cactus, barbed wire, no trespassing signs. They are hearing rumors of snow in the next couple of days.