morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-27
To: tennesee
Miles today: 70.0

   Here we all are outside the park. It was a nice hike down out--and there was a nice farewell climb too. Said our goodbyes to Kentucky Blue, a very awesome ridge runner, and all our other fellow hikers who were stopping after the park. Mary and Charlotte, keep up the hiking and nice meeting you!   I know that us three our seriously wondering as to where Samsquanch is...hoping he is still on the trail though we haven't seen him sign in on the log books for a while. Motley Crew seems to have broken up, but I'm hoping he is still hiking with someone. Last sign in he was about a good 3 or 4 days ahead of us, so we probably won't end up catching up to him by the time we end our trip.    For anyone who wants to hike a smaller portion of the Appalachian Trail, you MUST do the Smokies! When I am done with this adventure, I am most definitely going to come back here with some people so they can an adventure of their own. Well, I'm going to let the other peeps have a say. Love ya'll, especially MOM!!~~Spring Leaf~~HI MOMWe were struck by an invasion of mice last night:WE like mice especially diced and placed in a mushroom sauce.we like mice , they are so nice over a bed of rice ;-)No new recipes, but:We love are cliff bars dipped in jellylove are cliff bars dipped in peanut-butterbut we especially love the in are bellyI think we should invite Mr cliff to speak at Emma's graduation!thinking of you allriding the peace trail      Quazi
Date: 2009-05-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 3.2

Lovely rest today. Planning on doing our first zero day. Pretty proud that we haven't done it yet. Enjoyed a really awesome hostel. For all other future hikers, stay at Elmer's, it's amazing. And stay for the dinner as well: the homemade meal was AMAZING. The dessert was by the far the best thing I've had in a long time =).   Rained the last few days, so we've been going to bed wet. Luckily here in town in sunny and dry so we can dry all our gear out. One thing really lovely about the rain though is when you get a slight reprieve and you can see all the low lying clouds in the valleys and around the tops of mountains. It's breathtakingly beautiful. You get used to the rain though...can't wait to get back home where it never rains haha =)   Well I'll let the rest of the Vontaps talk, so I'm signing off. Love you bunches mom, and a shout out to everyone back home!!~~Spring Leaf~~The laST WEEK OF RAIN HAS US ALL TALKING ABOUT THE PEW METER:A SKUNK WOULD BE ABOUT A 7- OUR SCALE GOES FROM1-10.wE ARE SITTING AT ABOUT 8 WITH GUSTS TO 9 PEEEEUUUUUWTHANKS mARTY FOR THE TRAIL MAGIC!!FAVORITE QUOTES FROM THE WALLS, JOURNALS, ETC:THE ROCK AT STANDING BEAR- IF YOUR LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE MOUNTAINS THEN YOUR LUCKY ENOUGH. gREAT PICKNICK SPOT-THANKSFrom shelter wall- It hurts, but I'm free. I would add- and happy.and from hot springs- I hiked the entire width of the AT!thinking of you alllove you MOMwalking the peace trail   Quazi
Date: 2009-06-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Here we are, dry and safe about to climb a huge ridge. Stayed the night in out tent in the hostel last night...I was hoping for a bed, but a nice shower and too much food is good enough for me. Plan on leaving this morning as soon as the tent is dryer and we're all packed, and knowing us slow pokes it'll be a while    Well, this stretch has been rather interesting. First couple of days were good minus sleeping near two grave stones in the middle of a field of stinging nettle. I know they were graves because a rectangle the size of a person was slightly sunk into the ground. creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy. and Stinging Nettle!! Love the stuff. I actually haven't gotten stung yet, though both dad and forrest have, and from the series of words that come out afterwords I gather it hurts pretty bad, though thankfully short lived. There was a creek there, so I got to take a very very very nice bath/wash. Did laundry as well with dad...and being my luck, it rained all that night. I've been carring sopping wet clothes since our second day of the 6 day stretch...yup, it sucked!    We had monster climbs too every day, always a 1000 feet or more. Only the last two days were pretty nice and flat, we were able to make really good time. Anyway, right as we were crossing Big Bald, which is a REALLY big bald, it started raining. No cover, just grass and the sky. We. Got. Soaked. We were supposed to stop at about 12 miles or so, but I ended up power walking/running to the shelter for a 15.4 miles day. It was worth it, got warm, and Jutebox and Hot Chocolate shared some of their extra food. It was really awesome. They were both really awesome people, I wish I had taken a picture of them. Hot Choc looked exactly like Heath Ledger too...Louisa and Taylor would be Soooo jealous! It rained that day, all night, and on into the next day...nothing dried out till we got into town, where we had blue skies and sun!!   Got to talk to mom for a long time on the bridge, and forrest got to talk to his best bud Stephen. Overall it's been a really nice stay here. I still didn't get pizza. I have a gut level feeling that I won't get any pizza till I get back to Montana...a very VERY depressing thought for me. Especially when you'vwe been craving pizza for over a month. You have no idea how torturous that feeling is. To have something you want more than anything (except going home), and having it be soooooo close! And then having your dreams smashed against the roof of a Mexican Restaraunt...where you get so filled you waddle for the next hour.    Good News!!! We found Mint Chocolate CHip ice cream FOR THE THE FIRST TIME SINCE LEAVING MONTANA!! We have looked everywhere for the stuff, evidentally the south hasd somethign against it. So we three shared 1.5 quarts of amazingness.   Well I'm going to sign out so Dad can write a bit. I'm goping to go pet Wolfy the hostel dog!~~Spring Leaf~~We are well- thinking of you allthe kids have been introduced to stinging nettle:-(passed six graves on the way to Erwin, makes you think a little. Glad to be alive taking a walk.Hi and love to MOMwalking the peace trail      Quazi
Date: 2009-06-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Quick stop here at the Lodge for some food. Not a lot of gluten free stuff here, but Speedy got some oatmeal goodness. I got my bagel and cream cheese craving I've been having. I think I just ate 1000 calories in about 5 minutes...YUM!!We were planning on going only to the next shelter, but now since we're rather short on food and time, we're off to the next town. We're leaving really soon, so I'm going to sign off now.Our trip is coming to an end. Either the next time I write on this or the time after that will be our last 'trail' entry. But I am very ready for some people I've known for more than 6 weeks and some good ol' homeyness. I am ready for to get back home and see my mom!! and of course Grandpa and Grandma (by the way, we're starting a list of must-have food...be prepared for some tasty cakes, cheese steaks and pulled pork serious food cravings). Right, well I am going to head off. See some of you in a week, see the rest of y'all in a week and a half or so.Love you all back home!!counting down the days: ~~Spring Leaf~~
Date: 2009-06-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Got into town a dy earlier than expected because the call of food was too great. Going to get a late start and just do a nero. It will be nice especially since we have to climb 2000ft, drop it and climb it again. Today is going to be great!Unfortunately, all of us ate too much food, and our stomachs suffered...mine the most =( It's a very weird feeling resupplying for your last stretch. I want to celebrate, but at the same time I'm really sad about leaving the trail. After 6 weeks of passing white blazes, the AT is beginning to feel like a home. Watch, I'll probably get watery eyed when I step off, propbably for the last time. I love the trail, but I prefer the 'camping' style of hiking as opposed to the 'hiking' style of hiking...that probably makes NO sense. Oh well. Only 4 more days after today...The AT hiker in me is starting to shake with fear of the 'real' world, while the 'real world' me is starting to shake with excitment and joy. I guess in 5 days we'll find out which one is stronger!Speaking of being an AT hiker, I thought I would mention this because I find it rather funny. In the first weeks of our trip I continued to introduce myself as Emma, and then Spring Leaf. Now, I only call myself Spring Leaf, as though completely forgetting my old name and self. Random thought of the day. Love y'all back home, and see ya G-pop and G-mom in just a few!~~Spring Leaf~~After being in town for a day it is nice to get back to the quiet forrest.Really looking forward to seeing the Grandparents.Thanks for the trail magic at greasy creek !!Virginia here we come!Thanks to all our hiking family that made the trail feel like our home away from home. Most of the people we hiked with are off, or will be getting off the trail soon. We will miss all of it, but are looking forward to, and have more appreciation of running water, love, and comforts of HOME.To work: Lots of medical students on the trail- I've been recruiting ;-)Hiking the peace trail      QuaziHi, it forrest here. all I really ever want to talk about is food so thats what you get to hear. Last stretch I didn't plan enough lunch food so i as soooo hungry when we got into town. I had a 10 oz hamburger steak with fries a quart of ice cream like half a bag of potato chips and several bowls of captain crunch it was so good. this stretch is short so we get to carry lots of food it will be great. other then being hungry alot the trip is going really good. A few nights ago our food bag got stuck in the tree, it really sucked but we got it down in the end. All three of us had to hang off the rop after i tied it up like a cloth line. It held about 450 pounds of weight for a few seconds then came down, so we didn,t starve. thatrs pretty much the only thing that has happened this last stretch that was really exciting.speedy gonzolas
Date: 2009-12-13
From: The End

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Merry ChristmasEnjoy the pictures. We started at Amicolola and ended at Damascas VA. We hiked from May 3 through the end of June. We wish everone, but especially those we shared the trail with- the best. Happy holidays!We are finally having a white Christmas here in Montana!We have one last recipe from the trail: A few times we tried our hands at backcountry cake, brownies, cornbread, etc. First- the ingrediants are optional. Second- you have to be willing to change the name of the final product i.e. cake becomes cookie, brownies become double chocolate chunk pudding, and cornbread become flapjacks. My kids still will not eat the pudding though.see yaquazi
Date: 2009-04-03
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: Stream just yards from Hawk Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

And so our adventure begins on a cold, cloudy day. We drive up to Dahlonega, GA with mom and dad (Steve and Judy Yost), and Rick, Betsy, and David Freeman. We stop in at the Dahlonega Welcome Center for directions up to Springer Mtn. We tell mom and Betsy bye and take off on some bumpy forest service roads. About an hour later we finally arrive at the parking lot to Springer Mtn. My dad is starting the hike with us from Springer to Neel's Gap. We gear up and meet 2 former thru-hikers (Mtn. Squid and Buttercup) who offer us a welcome and some advice before we begin. At about 2pm we set off on our first day of hiking (a bit behind schedule). We hike up about a mile to the summit of Springer to take a few pictures and meet Many Sleeps, the GA caretaker who tells us we're in the 600th of people who have started thru-hikes this yea. He tells us of hikers from Korea, New Zealand, Israel, etc. Who knew we'd meet people from all over the world in the middle of the wilderness?! After reaching Springer we trek back down past the parking lot another 8 or so miles. At about 6:30 we give up on reaching Hawk Mtn. Shelter and decide to tent beside a nice stream. We sleep on a hill which makes for an interesting night... constantly sliding downhill. Oh well you live and learn. Good first day!!
Date: 2009-04-04
From: near Hawk Mtn. Shelter

To: Big Cedar Mountain
Miles today: 0.0

After a cold night we wake up late and cook some warm oatmeal and hot choc. Yum, yum! Today's hike is much more difficult than yesterday. We have our first experience hiking up and down those tough GA mtns. Sassafras Mtn. is our first killer climb. Joey's developing blisters on his heels so he tries out an assortment of first aid materials (moleskin, duct tape, blister pads, band-aids). He finally discovers wrapping his ankles in bandages seems to work the best and his walks for miles in his crocs to give his feet some relief. You really learn to adapt and make-do with what you have out here. We plan on camping at Woody Gap, but discover there is only water here, not campsites so we have to push forward another couple miles to the top of Big Cedar Mountain. We don't have enough water to cook a warm dinner so we eat tuna sandwiches, snickers and poptarts for dinner, but its ok b/c we have beautiful mountain views to watch the sunset. During the night I wake up repeatedly to scratching around our tent. I wake up one time to see a little field mouse climbing up the side of our tent. My first of many experiences with mice, I'm sure!!
Date: 2009-04-05
From: Big Cedar Mtn.

To: Home Sweet Home (pick up at Neel's Gap)
Miles today: 0.0

Catch a beautiful sunrise atop Big Cedar Mountain. We plan to hike 10 miles today to Neel's Gap to meet mom who will pick us up and take us all back to Sptbg. I have one last day to work in order to get another year's experience teaching. I decide this works out well, b/c it makes this first weekend a bit of a trial run for us. The highlight of today is the views at the top of Blood Mountain. We have a beautifully clear, warm day to see some awesome views. It is very windy at the top of the boulders at the summit, but the wind cools us after a tiring, warm day. We take lots of pictures and linger, taking in God's creation on a beautiful day! Feeling good we take off down a steep 2 mile descent off Blood to Neel's Gap. We are greeted by mom, Rick and Betsy Freeman taking pics and cheering us on. We get our first dose of Trail Magic at the Mountain Crossings Outfitter. There is a group of women hikers the Trail Dames, who are grilling hot dogs for hikers. We get hotdogs fresh off the grill with all the fixings and homemade goodies to take with us on our trip back home. Its pretty touching the simple acts of kindness people do for hikers. We get in mom's mini-van and head back home for a couple nights in my warm bed and to tell family and coworkers goodbye one last time. I am not looking forward to this... I'm not so good with goodbyes, but I know its all just part of this journey.
Date: 2009-04-06
From: Home

To: Home Sweet Home
Miles today: 0.0

Our first zero day.. back in Spartanburg. I work my last day at the CDC and tell my kids and coworkers bye until I return in Sept. I tear up several times at school especially hugging my kids that I won't see next year b/c they'll be going to different schools. Joey has a busy day taking care of some last minute business ... taxes, downloading music,Bible on his IPOD, and getting some last minute gear and advice from our Greenville outfitter, Appalachian Outfitters. I cry some more at the prospect of telling my parents and Joey's parents goodbye and leaving the comforts of home as well as being a little scared of the unknown and wondering what I had gotten us into with my Big Dream!! :0 But we press on being confident that this decision and committment has been blessed by God and He will give us the strength to press on each day. On my desk at school I have the following verse framed that offered me some comfort today: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you whereever you go." Joshua 1:9
Date: 2009-04-07
From: Home Sweet Home

To: Hogpen Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

After a late start out of Spartanburg, we finally arrive at Neel's Gap at 3:30 to start again on the trail. Dickie and Jenny Dixon (Joey's parents) let us off and its snowing! We say our tearful goodbyes and I cry as we leave them behind and walk off into the unknown and the snow. It is beautiful and peaceful walking in the snow. We enjoy a short day of hiking, the cool breezes, snow flurries, and God's creation covered in white. We set up camp at Hogpen Gap beside a small spring. It is a good spot, sheltered from the wind and we are nice and toasty in our sleeping bags. We stay warm during the cold night. It was a good day, getting acclamated again to our new life on the trail.
Date: 2009-04-08
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Today we get a pretty late start... we're still trying to get used to our daily routine of taking down our tent, eating breakfast and packing up each morning. We hit the trail at 10:30 and walk for miles atop ridges where we have views off both sides off the trail. We stop at Low Gap Shelter for a lunch break.. tuna sandwiches (yuck! I've never liked tuna and don't think I ever will) We hike on and finally come across our first thru-hikers for 2 days (Shenanigans, The Kid, and Cappy). They're going to Blue Mtn. Shelter, our same destination. We make it to the shelter at around 6 pm, an early night for us! We have a leisure evening.. cooking dinner, seeing the sunset,meeting some fellow hikers, writing in my journal, and Joey and I read a few chapters in Psalm together. We decide reading Psalms in nature is a good choice! As the wind pounds our tent we read thes verses: "He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers, not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away." Psalm 1:3-4
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Steeltrap Gap
Miles today: 10.0

The snow is gone and the sun is out! Along the way we hear from a hiker that the temp has reached 70 degrees! Today's hike is pretty tough, lots of steep climps and descents. Our first descent down to Unicoi Gap is really tough on the knees. The climb up Tray Mtn. is not easy either, but at the top we get our first glimpse of Fontana Lake in the distance. We reach Tray Mtn. Shelter about 3:00 and had planned to stay the night, but decided it was too early to set up camp and pressed on another few miles despite some sharp pain in my right leg that had developed throughout the day. It started hurting pretty badly going downhill and my wonderful husband carried my pack along with his own during the steep downhills. I feel like I may have pinched a nerve or something and later find out that my whole right side is affected, probably b/c my pack wasn't balanced properly. Joey tells me I have to tell him next time I start feeling pain and for me to not be so tough and determined (stubborn). Lesson learned: listen to your body AND your husband. I am beginning to see just how much Joey and I are going to learn to rely on each other during this trip!
Date: 2009-04-10
From: Steeltrap Gap

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel, Hiawassee GA
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

Today we get up early, we break camp about 7:30 and hit the trail. We had heard thundershowers were going to start at around 7. We have a day in Hiawassee on our minds and motivation to push through the rain! Our goal is to make it to the Blueberry Patch, a hostel run by a Christian couple (Gary and Lenny Poteat). the rain starts shortly after we start walking and it rains steady for several hours. My knees are sore and my right leg continues to have shooting pain from my knee to ankle, but I learn a new way to walk down hill that that gives me some relief. We push on through the rain and finally reach Dick's Creek Gap at about 1:00. We meet "Tater" a thru-hiker from 2006 is waiting at the road crossing with his black lab "Springer" to carry hikers in to town. (Joey and I had chosen the name Springer for our black lab years ago). Tater loads me, Joey, Cappy and Skeeter and all our muddy gear into his truck and offers us a cold soda. He drops us off at Blueberry Patch and we are greeted by Gary who shows us around his bunkhouse. The house is decked out room to sleep 10 hikers (Joey and I get one of the double bed bunks), a small kitchenette with food in cubbards left by previous hikers, hiker boxes (left over food, gear), fuel canisters, etc. Gary tells us to leave our dirty laundry in a basket and he will do our laundry for us. We get HOT showers complete with shampoo, soap, conditioner, lotion, hair dryer, razor, etc.) It is amazing how pampered you can feel with clean clothes and a shower!! Gary is a hospitable, Christian man who feels led by God to minister to hikers. He is an encouragement and his humility are refreshing spiritually. We eat Mexican in town with Sleddog, Gaucho, and Skeeter. Then we had blizzards from Dairy Queen for dessert and resupplied at Ingles.
Date: 2009-04-11
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel, Hiawassee GA

To: Deep Gap campsite
Miles today: 16.0

Breakfast is served at the Blueberry Patch at 8:30. We are welcomed in to the home of Gary and Lennie and hear praise music playing in the background. The table is set for the 10 of us hikers and our meal is pancakes with homemade blueberry syrup, sausage, eggs, and cheese biscuits. Gary blesses the food as we all hold hands around the table. He is such a humble, devoted follower of Christ and I tear up as he prays. He wife is also a loving, servant who waits on us during breakfast and gives us each a hug as we leave. I tell Lennie what an encouragement she and her husband are and I tear up again. She tells me she could tell I was a believer and for me to continue to let my light shine. Gary drives us back to the trail and we hike a 16 mile day in the cool fog. We plan to stay at Standing Indian Shelter, but as we come to Deep Gap camping area we see 2 canopy tents set up and a large group of hikers gathered around a campfire. It must be TRAIL MAGIC (nice things people do for hikers)! Tarheel and Repeat are hikers who have putting on an Easter Breakfast for thru-hikers for 18 years and they had begun setting up. They offer us roasted hotdogs, chips, homemade breads, candy, etc. Then they give us a menu of what to expect at Easter Breakfast the next morning. Repeat tells us about his famous 5 egg omelets. YUM! We sit around the campfire for hours sharing stories with other hikers and I am given my trail name SIS (suffers in silence) from Tarheel. They laugh about me being married to Thunderpants and all agree my name should be SIS since I'm constantly walking behind him.
Date: 2009-04-12
From: Deep Gap campsite

To: Betty Creek campsite
Miles today: 13.0

Easter sunday! Its a beautiful morning for our feast! Carol Ann (Tarheel's sister) is the cook in charge of the event. She has started baking homemade breads and goodies back in February for this day! We have omelets with ham, cheese, peppers, onions, etc., homemade hashbrown casserole, sausage, fresh fruit, etc. Tarheel's daughter, Raven, packs us a lunch of our choosing (sandwiches on homemade sourdough bread, chips, salad, fresh fruit) that we take along with us. We get free massages from a registered masseuse. We thank everyone and set off on our hike. Its beautiful weather for an Easter Sunday. I think back to the rainy, stormy, dreary weather we had on Good Griday and think it is appropriate how even nature seemed to mourn Christ's death and rejoice with His ressurection. We have a breathtaking view on top of Standing Indian Mtn. and we set up camp at Betty Creek. I find the perfect spot to set up our tent right beside the river where we can hear the gurgling stram. The rain starts during the night. Oh well, I guess we'll be hiking again in the rain.