morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Watauga Lake
Miles today: 10.5

The Mum, again....Buffalo called today, which surprised me! He was pretty excited about last night's stay at Kincora Hostel and his thoughts today of WHY he's doing what he's doing.But first, let me say that I don't know the exact mileage of where he's at. There is a Watauga Lake Shelter, which I used for the mileage, but he said that he's not at the shelter. He's at a site just past the dam. He did say that he took it easy today because of the high mileage he's done. Sort of got to him!He had a great time at Kincora Hostel. He said it was reminiscent of the Trail Angel homes on the PCT - a home that mainly makes space for the hikers, with an indoor area and lots of tent camping and taking minimal donations to help. He said he got in a little later than he'd wanted, but people were up making bread and decorating eggs for Easter! Everyone welcomed him when he got there. A pretty darn cool place!Since he's been hiking on his own, he's had a lot of time to THINK. He'd been thinking about his thru-hiking, why and how he got to where he is. He said, "Mom, I'm here because of all the Philmont stories that Dad told! I couldn't WAIT to get out backpacking when I was little. [He wanted to skip Cub Scouts and go right into Boy Scouts in order to go backpacking!] Then when I got to go to Philmont, I remember thinking that it was such a magical place, that I'm hiking where my Dad hiked and told stories about!" Now, if THAT don't bring a tear to your eye!"Michael, you realize that Dad probably only told a couple stories, but he told them again and again, over the years?""I don't even remember WHAT the stories were about, just that it was a 'magical' place! Then I got to hike Philmont, all those 50-milers with the troop, and now I'm doing these long distance thru-hikes, all because of Dad's Philmont stories, that I can't even remember! But it doesn't matter!"And that, my friends, is how it all started! Be careful what you reminisce about to your children! Good thing I didn't tell my motorcycle journey story too many times!The Mum of....
Date: 2014-04-29
From: Newport, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Trail Day 48: Tuesday, 29 April 2014No Buffalo update on this one. If you're disappointed, you can stop reading now!We're in the Nashville area to visit with Marty's brother John and his wife Kathy. Our drive here was uneventful, although there's a storm cloud hanging over Nashville.We did yet another 3-State Challenge (easy by car). We left Illinois, drove through Kentucky's western part, and into Tennessee. (The other 3-State Challenges have been ID-UT-WY our third day and KS-MO-IL our seventh day.) When we got into Kentucky, we were welcomed by the Kentucky Dam. Well, traveling with a card-carrying Dam Safety Engineer, we had to go see it. An interesting diversion for the day. Marty read that it is the longest dam under the Tennessee Valley Authority's jurisdiction. I guess that's impressive. This dam, on the Cumberland River, creates Kentucky Lake. Another dam just to the east creates Lake Barkley. Together the two lakes create The Land Between The Lakes National Rec. Area.We got to the La Quinta hotel east of Nashville. They are under construction. We wound around, following the pink duct-taped arrows on the floor to the little room that was the "Front Desk". The woman said that they like to put people with pets on the first floor so other rooms are kept for non-pet guests, but there was nothing on the first floor that was left. We got a king suite on the second floor at no extra cost, for OUR inconvenience! Wowwee! The dogs now have two rooms to run around in, plus the connecting bathroom to both outer rooms.For those of you who've seen our house (less than 1000 sq. ft.), the hotel room is just missing a stove and a bit more kitchen space, a dinner table, and a small laundry room, and our little "family" room. This is bigger than our house before the addition!We did some grocery shopping for possible Trail Magic tomorrow late afternoon/early evening when we meet up with Buffalo. Am I excited or what?!We were thinking we'd spend this afternoon and early evening with John and Kathy, but we didn't connect until early evening, spending about an hour and a half, sitting and talking over dinner at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Fortunately, we did more visiting than eating.We said our good-by's and we headed back to the hotel. The FAHthur is on the laptop, I'm on my smart phone, and the dogs are enjoying the couch! Home Sweet Home! (Without the clutter, Barb!)For all you Buffalo Groupies, (or maybe there's just one of you, I don't know), you'll be able to hear from Buffalo, directly in a day or two! I hope you all don't mind hearing about my "Yellow Blazing" across the country to meet up with Buffalo! It's been interesting to weave my Asphalt Trail Journal in with Buffalo's Appalachian Trail Journal.Thanks for Reading!The Mum and FAHthur of.....
Date: 2014-05-01
From: Dalesville, VA US 220

To: Lynchburg KOA 1st Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 50: Thursday, 1 May 2014 Lynchburg KOA Zero DayWe all slept in, even the dogs. We ventured into town, Madison Heights, just outside Lynchburg, to find breakfast. Lots of fast food chain "restaurants" but only saw one place that looked like a local, regular restaurant called Dudley's. Had toast, hot oatmeal with brown sugar, homefries and fried apples. Mum and I did Trail Magic at the James River Bridge [the longest footbridge on the AT]. We met Slowbro and Slumberjack (brothers), Joules, and Canary, who have been hiking together. All their friends zero'ed in town to dodge the weather, when it turned out to be beautiful! We sat around eating sandwich wraps, fruit, and Pirate Booty, talking about the trail. They're planning to go into Glasgow to resupply, so Mum drove them while I sat back at the trail head with the dogs.It was close to 5pm so we decided to pack up and go back to the KOA. At the cabin, Aunt Barbara Jean and her friends Evie and Deb joined us. The came from Maryland and are planning to stay two nights, although in town at a motel.I can't believe I haven't see Aunt BJ in over 15 years! [Actually, it's about 19 years. You were just a Little Buffalo of one when we went back East to New York to visit Mum's family and Maryland to see part of FAHthur's family.] Aunt BJ brought old family photos and some crazy family stories. I'm finally getting to know my dad's side of the family! [Since Mum and FAHthur are heading to St. Louis to visit with Marty and BJ's ex-sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, many of the photos are for them and of them.]Mum made vegetarian chili and salad for dinner and the six of us sat around the little cabin table to eat. The nats outside were driving Mum crazy. [Even though I'm from Upstate NY, it is easy to forget about the bugs after being gone 30+ years. Those darn nats!]Aunt BJ and her friends left for town and we made plans to meet for breakfast. Once again, another late night cleaning up after dinner and talking. [As a child, teenager, and now young adult, we always have had great conversations with Buffalo!]The Mum and, especially, .....
Date: 2014-05-02
From: Lynchburg KOA 1st Zero Day

To: Lynchburg KOA 2nd Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 51: Friday, 2 May 2014 Lynchburg KOA 2nd Zero DayWe planned to meet Aunt BJ, Deb, and Evie in town for breakfast. I needed to go to the grocery store to resupply, so Dad called Aunt BJ and told her that we'd be at the grocery store first. They met us there, then we all headed to Dudley's again, for breakfast. Had my 'usual', it was so good the first time! The 'fried apples' are like apple pie without the crust. Mum got them too, both days, and I had them as a side for dinner last night!We all drove back to the KOA. Aunt BJ built a fire in the fire pit to help keep the nats away with the smoke. Thanks, Aunt BJ! We visited for a while but I excused myself to go take a nap. When I woke up, the three were gone and Dad's friend Bob, wife Nancy and his Aunt Dot were there! They came from the Fredericksburg, Virginia, area. The Mum here - BJ and friends and Bob and Nancy are some of the people along the vacinity of the AT who were planning to come out to see Buffalo and me as we made our way north through Virginia. When I got off, Marty sent out emails that I was no longer hiking and that Buffalo would be much further north on the dates originally given. But, we were going to connect with Buffalo here at the KOA. Both groups decided to come down. This way, they got to visit all three of us! Maybe my getting off WAS a better idea than originally thought! Marty hadn't seen Bob, Nancy and Aunt Dot in almost 20 years! (Buffalo was a 6-month-old calf!)Buffalo - I had no idea that so many people would be interested in meeting up with me (and Mum) along the trail. This was so cool to reconnect with Aunt BJ (since I was only one when I first "met" her) and Dad's friends. Mum kept saying that we have a lot of friends and family on the East Coast who don't live too far from the AT!Mum started making a late lunch/early dinner while Bob, Nancy, and Aunt Dot were visiting. When I woke up, I helped cut up vegetables. It was a couscous, garbonzo bean salad, recipe from my Aunt Barb, Mum's sister. Thanks, Aunt Barb. It was really yummy! There was some left over with spinach from a salad, so that will be my lunch tomorrow on the trail!Unfortunately, they had to leave soon after to get Aunt Dot, who's 92, back home. We took the requisite photos and bid the long good-byes. WOW! What a great two zero days!Now the process of pulling my pack together. I think I have it way easier than Mum and FAHthur with all their stuff and the car! [Yup, you do, Buffalo. I did not spend a year scrutinizing over every piece of "gear" that we brought! Heck, we have a car, FAHthur will make it fit!]Mum - I can't believe the apex of this trip is rapidly coming to an end. Tomorrow Buffalo heads north and FAHthur and I head back west. We both still have adventures yet to come, however.Until the next.... From The Mum and.....
Date: 2014-05-16
From: Elkton, VA

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 62.3
Weather: light rain

Day 65: Friday, 16 May 2014 From Elkton, VA. (901.1) to Front Royal, VA. (963.4) Buffalo Bit via phone call (no more Mum and FAHthur travels!)Buffalo called from Front Royal, the northern end of Shenandoah National Park, with only about 40 miles left in Virginia!   ¢Hangin¢ out with my vegan friend, Violet! Oh, and Mom, can you look for and send those raw, vegan bars that you once got at the Co-op? They were pretty good.¢ [I AM going to the Co-op today, Mother Hubbard¢s cupboards are bare!]They saw 6 more bears! Buffalo said he got a ¢selfie¢ with a bear on the trail! [What did you do? Tell it to ¢sit and stay¢?] ¢It was pretty far away but ON the trail, so I turned and took a selfie!¢He saw a mama bear with a shaved butt then Violet saw 3 cubs. Eventually, they both saw the mama and three cubs!¢It had rained for 5 days straight. It rained pretty hard yesterday so we hung out at the shelter this morning to try to dry out a bit. I didn¢t bother with rain gear, got thoroughly drenched, then the shelter leaked. (Tom Floyd Wayside) Oh yeah, that¢s a cruel joke¢¦ We were thinking we¢d get into this ¢wayside¢ and buy some food, only to find out it¢s just a shelter! Why can¢t they just call it a shelter! We tried buying food from some of the other hikers but they wouldn¢t sell us any!I¢m still with the same group from Waynesboro, VA, but the other guys pressed on through the heat. Don¢t know how they did it! I took a 5-hour siesta, a bit longer than intended, but then Violet and I did some night hiking.¢Don¢t know if Buffalo will be able to connect with cousin Kathy, since her only available time is Saturdays, sometimes. Well, at least you tried. Next one to try is my cousin Lorraine and her husband Travis, near Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the halfway point and home of the Half Gallon Challenge and the ATC Museum.Buffalo doesn¢t think he¢ll be doing more than 20-mile days, sometimes less, but he did say that he is enjoying it a lot more. [That¢s the important thing, Buffalo!]Updates will be by phone, now, but we¢ll all have to wait for the pictures. Since we are not sending as many resupply boxes on the AT (only about 12 total) as compared to maybe 24 on the PCT, it creates longer stretches of time before Buffalo can get another memory card in order to send one back.
Date: 2014-05-26
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 70.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 79: Phone Update, Friday, 30 May 2014 Duncannon, PA (1140.9) to Port Clinton, PA (1211.3)[hello?]¢GOOD MORNING! Did I wake you?¢[Well, I was ¢awake¢ (sort of), just not out of bed! I¢m going to go up to the kitchen phone, so hold on.]¢Well, Mom, there¢s an incoming call and I don¢t know how to put you on hold and take it. And it might be from Violet. Call you back in a few minutes.Violet and the Herd stayed in Hamburg, in a motel, last night and I¢m in Port Clinton, in the free pavilion, so I could get my box today. Hamburg is in the same area, just a few miles away.   [Oh, sort of like Olympia and Tumwater?]I think I can keep on an 18-20 mile per day pace, so tell Aunt Barb that for meeting me in Massachusetts.   I don¢t know how closely the Herd will stay together. They seem to like to find motels and I¢m trying to save the money, but we¢re not too far from each other. The other thing, I don¢t know what kind of pace they want to keep. Like yesterday, we did 20 miles. There was still a lot of daylight and I could have gone further, but I DID need to stop here to get my box.I¢m planning to go to Wind Gap, about 20 miles after Palmerton. There¢s a rock gym there! [Oh, I see the correlation!] Well, I figure, where there¢s a rock gym, there¢s a shower! I can get there, get a quick shower, climb for a good part of the day, get another shower and be on my way! Besides, I met some section hikers here at the pavilion. They¢re planning to go all the way to Maine AND they¢re climbers! We might meet up at the rock gym!¢ [Oh, the places you¢ll go AND the people you¢ll meet!][Hey Michael, (I call him Michael when it¢s serious.), Macgyver is sitting at the door, whining. I¢m pretty sure it means something. And they didn¢t even have breakfast yet! No need to call back.] ¢OK, call you from the next town, about 3 days from now! Love you. Bye!¢[For all you West Coasters, Wind Gap is within a day¢s hike of Delaware Water Gap and the Delaware River, crossing into New Jersey! He will soon have the AT¢s third longest state done (Maine is the second longest to Virginia), with seven states down and seven to go! The next six, however, are pretty quick. When I got back with the dogs, there was a message from Buffalo.]¢Just want to let you know that I¢m sending a package home with journal pages and my camera¢s memory card. I¢ll call you from the next town. Love you!¢ [So, that means I ought to have pictures to post within a week!!!][I then left a phone message for him that he¢d gotten an email from a PCT 13 hiker friend, Beer Float. Oh, and MacGyver DID need to go out badly! What WOULD we do without cell phones?! We probably wouldn¢t have so many ¢important¢ things to tell people! Oh, and it sounds like the weather's been great, too.]Thanks for reading!The Mum and¢¦..
Date: 2014-06-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 83: Tuesday, 3 June Kittatinny Point, As the Transcriber, I had to put this in:I got another installment of Buffalo¢s pictures. For June 3rd, there was a short video of Buffalo talking about going through Kittatinny Point, which is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. On the video, he talked of meeting two of the nicest Rangers Bob and Kathy. Apparently, they gave him and whoever he was with, the best welcome to New Jersey. He got a ¢Junior Ranger¢ pin (he¢d gotten a few of those when he was more the ¢Junior Ranger¢ age!) and a patch.The photo of the patch is a ¢snapshot¢ from the video. The pin on the hat is a cropped photo from another day. In the video, Buffalo says, ¢They gave us the JR pin that you can see on my hat.¢ Well, one couldn¢t see on his hat, at least not in the video. Looking over other days for photos to post in Trail Journals, I found a photo that I COULD see on his hat!He said he was doing this video to remember what had happened, so I felt it worthy of an entry!Thank you for obliging me this creative license!The Mum
Date: 2014-06-04
From: Wind Gap

To: High Point shelter
Miles today: 60.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 84: Wednesday, 4 June 2014 High Point Shelter (1332.0)¢Guess where I am!¢In New York? (I thought it would be too soon for the Herd to be in New York, but since I¢m from NY, I thought maybe that¢s why he asked the question.)¢Nope. The New Jersey High Point! Were you able to go up the tower when you were here? It¢s all locked up now. [Well, it IS 9:00pm YOUR time!] Yeah, I did meet a ranger who said that the park was closed but I could go see the High Point. The sunset in the clouds is beautiful from here! (I was trying to explain where I remember the survey marker to be, but he didn't find it.) Well, I got THIS high point!Got off the phone with Claire, talking about our adventures to be. [I¢ve been thinking about her lately, and wondering how she¢s doing.] She says she¢s really busy, doesn¢t get paid much but loves what she¢s doing. (She¢s working on a farm in Colorado.) Oh, WOW! The tower just lit up! There¢s a bunch of lights that just came on, lighting up the tower.¢Are you camping in the park? (It¢s the High Point State Park.)¢There¢s a shelter not too far from here. Ah, crap. I just picked off another tick and it¢s engorged! That¢s the second one I¢ve picked off that was engorged.¢ (I¢m speechless. What¢s a Mother to do, 3000 miles away?! Send kisses and pray!)¢Maybe I¢ll come back here in the morning, before we leave, to go up the tower. It looks pretty cool.Saw a porcupine the other day. Decided to keep my distance from its quills!¢ [That¢s a good thing!]Probably ought to get back. Besides, I want to hear the guy play the guitar. (Sorry, I forgot his name.) I¢ll call from the next town. Love you!¢[We cut out about three times during the end of our conversation. He said he had reception bars, but we¢d lose contact. We are planning the Katahdin Rendezvous. Buffalo¢s Uncle Dave and Aunt Barb (Mum¢s brother and sister from New York) are definitely planning to go up to meet him and bring him back, an adventure for them!]
Date: 2014-06-11
From: Ralph's Peak Hiker Shelter

To: NY Rte 52 Stormville, NY
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

Day 91: Wednesday, 11 June 2014 NY RT 52 Stormville, New York (1428.0 miles)I hope I¢m not going to be a confusing Transcriber, but the mileage and place is for Tuesday, 10 June, where Buffalo got off the trail to meet up with Ginger Beard Man¢s (PCT 13) folks and then got back on this morning. The entry is what I heard back from Chris, GBM¢s mom, this morning after she set the Buffalo free! ¢After breakfast I got Michael back to the AT where he was able to meet up with ¢Gentle Spirit¢ to continue their journey to Maine.We had a great visit with ¢Buffalo¢, we enjoyed hearing about his adventures and it gave me great pleasure to be able to pay it forward. I also enjoyed coming up with vegan meals that were nutritious and tasty (well at least I thought they were tasty). When Buffalo was repacking his pack I tried to unload all the snacks I had in the panty, forgetting that weight is a big consideration when backpacking. It was a pleasure to have your son as an overnight guest.¢Thanks, Chris! I¢m sure he enjoyed it as well. And thank you so much for experimenting with a vegan meal. That is MOST appreciative! (See ¢Photos¢ for the kind of Trail Magic her son Ginger Beard Man got from us last year on the PCT.)
Date: 2014-06-13
From: NY Rte 52 Stormville, NY

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 33.2

Day 93: Friday, 13 June 2014 Kent, CT (1461.2 miles)Buffalo isn't really in Kent, he said he was in the woods, just south of Kent. But that was at the end of the day. A lot has happened today, so let me begin ....First, let me begin with a phone call on Thursday, June 12. "I think I may have Lyme's Disease. I've been having a headache, stiff neck, and a back ache. At first I thought the headache was from dehydration or hunger, but it didn't go away with water or food. I did the "cow/cat" (yoga stretches) to work out the backache but it didn't help. And I've also been having chills, then I'd get real hot. Are chills part of having a fever? These things are NOT going away, so...."As Buffalo was talking to us on our home line, I was using my smart phone to look up Lyme's Disease: STAGE 1: May have a rash, lack of energy, fever & chills, headache, stiff neck (Hmmm!). STAGE 2: May include memory problems and pain and weakness in arms and legs. STAGE 3: May include swelling and pain (like arthritis) in joints, not being able to control facial muscles, or numbness and tingling in hands, feet, or back.The problem with Lyme's disease and thru-hikers is that many of the STAGE 1 symptoms are common complaints of thru-hikers. (If I had stayed on the trail, I may not even recognize the STAGE 2 symptoms!) But fortunately, Buffalo seems to be more aware of his body signals- what's 'normal' and what is not. When he heard the STAGE 2 and 3 symptoms, and if left untreated it could have lasting affects, he said that he'd get to a doctor the next day.Friday morning he called from the doctor's office. Raven's mom gave him a ride to the doctor. (Raven is another thru-hiker, and Buffalo got to spend last night at their home.)"The doctor took a blood sample, but given my symptoms, hiking through 'tick country', and having picked off a couple engorged ticks, he gave me a prescription for the antibiotic and said I ought to be feeling better in three days, but I have to take the antibiotics for two weeks.I'm feeling OK, so I'm going to have Raven's mom take me back to the trail to start hiking. Maybe I can get in about 8 miles or so."And so it was, ticks brought the Buffalo down, temporarily!"I'll call Aunt Barb to let her know what's going on and that I won't get to our meeting point in northern Connecticut, since I'm going a bit slower for a while."Buffalo still sounded upbeat about all this, taking it all in stride. He did say that he can't wait to get back out on the West Coast!Thanks for reading and following Buffalo's trials and tribulations on the AT!The Mum and Transcriber, and....