morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-17
From: Justus Creek

To: Jarrad Gap
Miles today: 11.7

Left Justus CreekArrived Jarrad Gapmiles today 11.7total mileage 25.3 Quote of the day after being asked the question why are you walking to Maine? "I have a hankerin' for lobster" Brian "Boo-Boo"' Left Justus Creek in sunshine that stayed with us for a great hiking day. Made Woody Gap for lunch. Found JoAnne, the 72 year old woman we met at StoverCreek. Joanne took a fall at the creek and is ok. She met the owners of the Hiker Hostel at Horse Gap and stopped by Woody Gap to assist hikers. Joanne said that she is fine and those of you who hiked with her can follow her on her web site which is www.joanne.com. Had some great views on Preacher Rock. Somewhere north of Woody Gap I finally found a use for the noise of a prop airplane. From far away, the drone of the airplane is a great musical note to listen to for meditation in this quite wilderness. Made camp at Jarrad Gap and shared a campsite with a father and son, John and AJ from Orlando, who already had a fire going. AJ, the son, said his friends call him AppleJack so Brian and I told him that was his trail name. AppleJack was so excited. The night was so beautiful I cowboy-camped under the stars. After getting into my sleeping bag I looked up to see a sky full of blinking diamonds. Can you tell I'm having a blast?
Date: 2004-03-18
From: Jarrad Gap

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Jarrad GapArrived Neels Gap - Walasi-Yi Centertotal miles today 5.4total mileage 30.7 Left Jarrad Gap around 8:00am and reached Blood Mt. at 9:30. All I can say to future hikers is if you take your time, don't rush the climb and descent, the mountain is yours with little effort. Great panoramic views of the mountains. Hiked into the Walasi-Center and will spend the night in a hostel full of other thru-hikers, each with a story to tell. Right now the talk is about equipment, sore knees, blisters and food. Everyone is in good spirits and looking forward to be in the mountain forest again.
Date: 2004-03-19
From: Neel's Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Neels Gap to Low Gap ShelterToday's Mileage 10.6Total Mileage 40.3After taking a group photo at the hostel one by one we left Walasi-Yi heading north. I started at 8:00. The wind was blowing a chill that felt like you were walking in a huge and very efficient air conditioning, compliment from Mother Nature. The sun broke over the mountains revealing a crisp, beautiful day with overlooks that were spectacular with grandeur. Meet our first trail angels (people who help hikers by doing deeds to make life on the trail special). It could be a ride into town, a cooler left full of drinks, fruits or cookies at a trail intersection or just drinks left in a creek. In this case it was "Trapper" and his wife from Atlanta who had a set-up of lounge beach chairs, assorted drinks, fruits and sweets. "Trapper" has hiked the trail before and gave good information as to what we needed to know up ahead.Made Low Gap shelter at 3:00. Great little shelter nestled in a little valley with two mountain streams intersecting in front of the shelter.Tonite at the shelter is Bryan, now known as the "Weatherman", Paddler, Bear Track, Eagle Eye, Happy, Dutch, Blue Bell, Adventure, Adam and Road Kill. Roadkill hikes with a furry tail sticking out of his pack. Well this krispykritter will stay well away from Roadkill. I don¢t want to be a trophy for Roadkill¢s pack.After each day's hike I am starting to develop a routine of resting and taking care of feet, getting water for the next day's hike, supper and breakfast. Next is setting up camp or a spot in the shelter. Fix food for dinner. Talk with other hikers on just about any subject that you can think of - equipment, where everyone is going the next day, food, sex, more food and past experiences. Then as it gets into dark thirty everyone climbs into there sleeping bags. Some pass-out while others journal.It was interesting to see everyone break out their new equipment they bought at Walasi-Yi. Walasi-Yi is the first civilized stop after leaving Springer. Winton and his crew help hikers go over pack and gear to eliminate needless weight. Some hikers have trimmed 15 to 20 pounds. Keep up the good work Winton, you are making some very weary (for you Jax and Dale) hikers happy.From Trail Widow: Krispy's walking stick caught up with him at Neels Gap at Walasi-Yi. (It made even better time than he did!) With rumors of the cruel Smokie mountains, he¢s glad for the reunion. Krispy and I would like to thank everyone who has been cheering him on via e-mails. He said he may not have the time or sometimes energy to reply but know that it spurs him on, lightens his heart, and invests a little bit of each of you into this incredible endeavor. So cudos to all and keep those e-mails coming!
Date: 2004-03-20
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Tray Mountain
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Low Gap Shelter to Tray Mountain. ShelterMiles Hiked Today 14.9Total Milage 56.2Joke of the shelter: What do you call a hiker on lithium with two hiking poles? Bipolar.Woke up this morning feeling like a survivor. Slept in my first shelter. Now, I know I snore. I did not know if I would wake up being thrown out of the shelter, wake up with a dirty sock in my mouth or duck tape across my mouth - or both. Turns out we all snore and no one was louder than the other. Guess we are just too tired at the end of the day.Left Low Gap shelter in a drizzle that turned into a fine mist and by noon, sunshine. There have been so many views! I am just awe struck and so stoked to be out here. At Unicoi Gap we got a weather report that said a quick moving front was coming in with thunderstorm, lightning and high winds. With this good news, the decision was made to hike up Tray Mountain and try to land a spot in a shelter. Reached the shelter at 5:30 and found space. Paddler, Boo-Boo the Weatherman (Bryan) and myself with another hiker named John are in the shelter.   Out towards the west the skies were lighting up as dark thirty fell over the mountain. Could be fun tonite.
Date: 2004-03-21
From: Tray Mountain

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

Tray Mountain to Deep Gap ShelterMileage Today 7.1Total Mileage 63.3Quote for the day: I am not here on the AT to break records or bones.krispykritterWhat a night! We had a light show that was unbelievable. During the storm the rains came along with the wind. The rains left but the cold wind stayed and steadily grew in intensity. The roar of the wind blowing through the trees was deafening. Woke up to a howling wind so cold that it made getting out of a perfectly warm sleeping bag a feat. After bundling up, packing and eating breakfast the best we could, we took off for Deep Gap shelter. The day itself was sunny, beautiful and clear, however the chilly wind made going down hill cold and up hill colder because of sweat. It was a constant battle to regulate body temperature and we are getting acquainted with the layering system of wearing clothes. Reached Deep Gap shelter at 1:00 and found a great looking shelter that looks like a cabin with a second story sleeping loft. Deep Gap was picked because it is close to Hiawassee, our next trail town for re-supply. Our group has dwindled into a group of five.   Boo-Boo the Weatherman, Bear Track, Paddler, and myself.Boo-Boo the Weatherman is Bryan, soon to be shortened to just Boo-Boo. He comes out at 6:30 in the morning and tells everyone the weather forecast for the day. He got the ¢Boo-Boo¢ for being very good at Yogi-ing (a person who acquires food from other people). A hiker named Adventurer said Bryan could predict the weather by the flamingo he carries. If the flamingo is dry we will have a good day. If it is wet we will have rain. If the flamingo is white, snow. And, if the flamingo is swirling around, a windy day. No matter where we spend the night that bird is watching over us. And so ends another day in paradise.
Date: 2004-03-22
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: clear sky

Deep Gap Shelter to Dicks Creek GapMiles Today 3.5Total Miles On The AT 66.8Burrrrr! Last night was one cold night. The temperature inside the shelter was 25F. Those that left filters and water bags outside were frozen solid. I slept with my water. You learn lessons quickly here on the trail. The wind did not stop until late last night making it a cold, cold, did I say cold? night. Everyone had their own story how they dealt with the night. Bear Track unzipped his sleeping bag and we all started laughing. He had his gloves on his feet. What a sight.Everyone was anxious to get to Dick¢s Creek Gap and into the trail town, Hiawassee. Staying at the Holiday Express who are very friendly to hikers. Everything that we need is within walking distance.While walking I was thinking about the word challenge, "a call to engage in a contest." Everyday the AT challenges you and in order to make it you must win the challenge. This could be the next mountain ascent or descent, the elements of nature, planning for food and water, keeping your body temp regulated, where the next foot falls and the list goes on. The bottom line is to have a positive attitude towards what ever confronts you, get it done, put it behind you, learn from it and plant the next foot forward.Just another day in paradise.From Trail Widow: What Krispy hasn't mentioned is that five of them, Adam, Bear Track, Paddler, Boo-Boo and KrispyKritter, are sharing a room tonight ... only two double beds ... one guy wears his gloves on his feet ... the other talks to his flamingo. Now THAT's what I call a challenge! Temps are dipping into the teens tonight. I'm relieved.
Date: 2004-03-23
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: clear sky

The tears of goodbye I had in Georgia are now behind my backpack as the tears of joy are celebrated as I hike into a new state, North Carolina.krispykritterYou should have seen the room we stayed in at the Holiday Express. All five of us stayed in the room and each picked out a piece of real estate to unload our gear. Clothes were flying into piles for the washer and dryer, equipment checked for damages and re-packed, pots were cleaned, bodies washed and re-washed. The room looked like the aftermath of a category 5 hurricane. Then it was off to the food store for re-supply, post office to mail or pickup mail drops, then to the library to go online. Finally after all was done and we had town food and a good night¢s sleep.We left the town of Hiawassee around 10:30 and were back on the trail at 11:00. Keep getting word Peak-a-boo and Cuppa Joe are one-two days behind. It is truly amazing to me how word travels up and down the AT. The original plan was to hike to Plumorchard Shelter, however we got there at 1:30 and decided to have lunch then press forward since it was such a spectacular day weather wise. We crossed into North Carolina at 4:20. No bands playing or fireworks going off to celebrate our first milestone. We gave each other a pat on the back, high five¢d our walking sticks, looked up the trail and said, "13 states left"!As I write this entry I am being serenaded by two coyotes howling somewhere behind me in the dark mountain distance. I close with this thought: As the world below me entertains themselves tuning in their stereos and TV, I have a front row seat, under a magnificent diamond studded sky, listening to Mother Nature perform a live duet in concert. Now that's entertainment.
Date: 2004-03-24
From: Bly Gap

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Just when I thought I was getting my hiking legs, BAM! "Holy blisters, Batman, we¢re in North Carolina¢.krispykritterWe had the best night¢s sleep at Bly Gap. The temperature was in the mid 30's during the night with very little wind. Left Bly Gap at 8:30 and made our way to our first 5,000 ft. climb at Standing Indian Mtn. The day was sunny and cool, another great day for walking in the mountains. We are starting to stay at higher elevations which mean steeper climbs and descents. We are now officially in bear country and take very serious precautions not attract their attention. There was a sign posted in Standing Indian shelter that a bear in the area has taken backpacks from hikers and is not afraid of human contact. We hang our food bags, cooking gear and cook meals away from our sleeping area.Word for the day - drive, "to push, propel or press forcibly." During my hike today I wondered what the difference was between thru hikers that made it to Katahdin and those hikers who go off trail. The word that came to mind was drive. Even though we have a common bond as hikers, each has a different drive for hiking the AT. Each with a different reason to make Maine. I have always been a person with drive, to push the challenge, to succeed in any endeavor through improvising, adapting or overcoming obstacles. It was at this moment when I finally realized with gusto, "I'm going to Maine"!
Date: 2004-03-25
From: Beech Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

The night at Beech Gap was uneventful and quiet. Left camp at 8:15 and shortly after had my first fall. Coming up to a tree across the trail, I was concentrating on the tree and didn't see the root. Both feet were taken out from under me. I landed face down, bent over the tree and gasping for air. I took a quick survey of possible damages which resulted in minor bruised ribs and pride. Another valuable lesson learned on the trail - one can never let their guard down without consequences. Reached Carter Gap Shelter and found Adam. He told us that the shelter was full of very noisy Boy Scouts. Turns out we made the right choice by setting up camp in Beech Gap. Just before the climb up to Albert Mtn. a trail angel by the name of Berry from Rainbow Springs campground decided to picnic with the hikers. Berry was located in a car camping area just off the trail. He had a fire going for hot dogs and coolers of cold drinks to wash away the trail dust. This was an unexpected surprise that was enjoyed by everyone.The best way to describe the ascent up Albert Mtn is to look straight up and see boulders and rocks of various dimensions and slowly scramble up, over and through them. In less than a quarter of a mile the trail raised up 500 ft. Once at the top the views were spectacular.Today was a day unlike any other day so far. The weather was at its best, we past the 100 mile mark, we survived our first 15 mile day! We had excellent views of the world below and we paid our respects to the second largest living yellow poplar tree in the world called the Wasilik Poplar. It is days like today that makes my spirit rise and give thanks to the "Spirit That Moves Through All Things."
Date: 2004-03-26
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Rainbow Springs Campground
Miles today: 0.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Knowing it would be a short day, we slept late. Walked .7 miles for the day to Rainbow Springs Campground. After the 15 mile day yesterday everyone had an assortment of aches or pains and all agreed to take a slack day. The campground built a Yurt that is sleeps 20 and sits above a creek. It was truly a wonderful day to relax.My thought for the day involves the word - balance "to bring into equilibrium" To me, the civilized world is calm when it is balanced. There are different names for this balance: Ying/Yang, positive/negative, hot/cold, good/evil etc. I found this same balance on the AT and I call it punishment/reward. The punishment could be a hard climb with the reward a breathtaking view of the world below you. Rainy days that turn into glorious sun filled days or miles and miles of tired legs, drenched, soaking with sweat from the endless ups and downs to find a little piece of paradise in the middle of nowhere. I have tried to find this balance in the civilized world and so, too, on the AT. That is how I find peace.
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Rainbow Springs Campground

To: Wine Springs
Miles today: 11.3

Wallace Gap (Rainbow Springs Campground) to Wine SpringLeft some mighty fine folks at Rainbow Springs Campground. If you get a chance stop in and say hi. Berry and Terry are friendly and will do just about anything to make your stay a memorable one. Stayed in the yurt that sleeps 20 and had a fantastic time. The best part was clearing the skin pores in the wood-fired sauna.Left Wallace Gap and hiked to Siler Bald elevation 5216 feet. A bald is a mountain top void of trees with a ground cover of grass. With a bright, clear sunny afternoon we had 360 degrees of incredible views. The mountains seem to go on for ever in different shades of blue and purple. The scene before me looked like huge, endless waves, each one bigger than the one in front of it, about to crash on some un-named beach below me. All the hard work of climbing paid off in this magnificent display of Mother Nature.The four guys I have been traveling with Paddler, Boo Boo, Adam and Bear Tracks and I had lunch at the foot of the bald and rested in the sunshine and mountain air for several hours. Letting our private little world go by, slowly we finally packed up and headed for our night camp destination, Wine Springs. Found the springs but couldn't find the wine.My word for today is paradise - a place of beauty, peace and tranquility, almost heaven- like. I started thinking (because you do that a lot while walking up and down mountains, going to Maine), what makes a paradise? Some people think of paradise as an island beach, a cabin in the mountains, a homemade waterfall in your backyard, or a dream. For me paradise is where I am right now. But more importantly, my paradise is my life with Jacquie, my wife, lover, best friend and soul mate. It is sharing my family and friends, playing with my grand kids. Then, I realized paradise can be whatever you want it to be. My thought for the day is this. wherever you are, down below in the civilized world, or on the AT, YOU can make tomorrow your paradise. Then, when someone greets you and says," How is your day?" You can reply, "It's great, just another day in paradise!"
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Wine Springs

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Left the camp at Wine Springs around 8:15 and shortly before 9:00 on Wayah Bald. Wayah is the Cherokee name for wolf. The views from the old stone tower at the bald continued to amaze me. Each time we are punished by a grueling hike up we are rewarded with vast views of purple mountains. It just seems the higher in altitude and the further north we go the better the views get. At the end of the day we climbed another tower at Wesser Bald and found even more 360 degrees of mountain beauty. The day ended at Wesser Bald shelter. Since no one has really complained about my snoring I challenged another night in the shelter. The shelter can only fit 6 people so the rest of the thru-hikers have made a temporary mushroom city in front of our shelter. I find it hard to put into words the mountain scenery. The closest saying I could find to express my feeling of the grandeur I see is from William Bartram who traveled through the area in the 1700's. He said," I behold with rapture and astonishment a sublimely awful scene of power and magnificence, a world of mountains, piled upon mountains."Good night from heaven's door.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Wesser Bald Shelter was at the 4600 feet elevation. Looking at the maps everyone knew to get to NOC would be a steady hike down. Left the shelter at 8:15. Sure enough the hike was mostly down hill punctuated with a few VERY steep descents. This type of hike brought a new awareness to calf muscles, knee joints ligaments, muscles, and to the muscles of the ankles. Hearing the Nantahala River and Highway 19 made you pick up your step, because at the bottom of this descent was NOC! Waiting there were the best cheeseburgers and fries this side of the Smokies. As we trekked in we noticed an assortment of backpacks lined up against the wall as the restaurant filled up with hungry hikers in cheeseburger paradise. After lunch Adam decided to push on with some of the others. Since rain was in the weather of forecast, I decided to stay at NOC. The remainder of the day was relaxing, mostly sitting on the wall watching the rafters and kayakers play in the whitewater.Some of you have e-mailed me asking, what the trail is like? So far, in Georgia and North Carolina, the trail is a dark brown path anywhere from 18 inches to 24 inches in width. Mixed on the trail are rocks and boulders of every size imaginable, roots, trees that are alive, dead and/or fallen across the trail and the dead leaves from last fall camouflaging the rest. The path winds around the sides of mountains, passes directly over cliffs, rides along the ridges and slopes down into the gaps, all within the naked (so far) forestry of the mountains. Those like me who hike the AT are nomadic. Most days you are on the move going from one shelter or campsite to the next. There are many times when each hike in solitude but catch up at a predetermined point. The movement is mostly north, with just a few hiking south bound, all with the common goal of finding the last white blaze. Much like a nomadic community, communication is by word of mouth, reading the registry notebooks in the shelters, or reading other journals when we get to the internet at trail towns. Hikers come from all walks of life and countries.Instead of using real names everyone has a trail name. There's "Spoon" from New Zealand, "Simone" from Canada, "St. Rick" from England. There are hikers who bring their dogs, which I envy because they have a companion and a warm body to sleep with at night. At first I was leery with all the dogs but they have been well behaved and their handlers courteous to fellow hikers. There are senior hikers in their 60's and 70's: "Joanne" who I met the first night out, "Sarge" a 72 yr. old man who first thru-hiked in 1997, "Grizzly Dave" a 68 yr. old former state senator from Iowa. The majority of the hikers are young adults who quit their jobs, are in between jobs or school and decided to go on this adventure. Each year more and more females join the ranks of thru-hikers with the same drive and determination as the males. All in all the nomads of the AT are a diverse group of individuals with their own reasons and stories for being on the trail.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

All the cheeseburgers were getting to me, had to leave burger paradise. Paddler's foot is twice its normal size. He thinks it might be broken again, so Paddler is off-trail for a while. Boo Boo stayed behind because his package had not arrived yet. At 10:45 Bear Tracks and I left the NOC to tackle the nasty climb out of Nantahala River Gorge. The climb was a steady upward walk. Every time you thought you came to the summit, BAM the trail turned and you were looking up still more trail. These false summits went on for several hours. I would normally have a Snicker's candy bar for an energy boost before tackling a steep ascent. This climb was rated a two snicker bar climb. Finally reached Sassafras Gap shelter around 2:00. Was thinking of going on to the next shelter, but decided to stay here to see if Boo Boo made the climb up. Rumor has it to expect snow, showers and cold temperatures tonight. Boo Boo made the climb arriving well after dark. Just as he came in it started raining/snowing. It's going to be a chilly night!