morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-01-05
To: Washington, DC
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone.I've made it up to Washington, DC to visit and stay with some friends for the next two weeks. Then a train ride down to Gainesville and my hike start.My DC friends actually live just north of the city, in a suburb of Maryland. I was told it got pretty cold here this past week, but the next couple of days are supposed to be in the low 60's. Pretty nice. Can't believe they haven't had any snow yet.Tomorrow we are going to ride the Metro (subway) into the city and visit some of the tourist places. Way back when I was a kid I remember my Dad driving us up here for a vacation a couple of times. But that was a long time ago so I'm really interested in seeing everything again.I brought most of the gear I'll be starting with. A few things will come in the mail. Always some last things to be done (have you seam sealed your tent? Just because it is factory taped does not mean you do not need to seam seal). Thanks to the gang here for giving me unlimited access to their high-speed internet computer.I see Sgt. Rock has gone ahead and started his hike. Looks like he will be doing a series of mini flip-flops as he completes his discharge from the Army. When my tour was up in the Marines they just told us to "get the hell out of here." Or at least that's the way it seemed. Even though I'm starting about five weeks before most of you, I figure it won't take long for the speedsters to catch up. Probably meet around Damascus - hopefully during Trail Days.One suggestion - I know most folks are starting to get antsy about their upcoming start. But make good use of that time to really make sure your gear is ready. That you have what you really will need - and you don't have what you don't need. That seems stupid to say that - but it can be really hard to get your gear list finalized. I have re-evaluated and changed my mind on several things I am carrying.The other part of my suggestion - as much as possible, know your gear. Practice putting up your tent/tarp until you are totally comfortable with the process. Try to get out on a weekend and do a couple of overnight trips to check things out. See if anything looks like it may be susceptible to breaking - better now then later. AND - fully load your pack AND do some practice hikes to get a feel for the load. Next journal entry - some of my thoughts on what works well for conditioning your body before the hike starts.
Date: 2008-01-09
To: Internet locations
Miles today: 0.0

A brief deviation from my "war stories" to discuss a topic dear to many Trail Journal hiker's hearts: internet access. Here's a list for the first part of the Trail:1) Mountain Crossings (Neels Gap) has a internet pc in their bunk room. I think it has only a dial-up connection.2) Hiawassee has high-speed internet at their Library - short walking distance from Post Office. Couple of years ago they had the Trail Journals site blocked as being a chat site. I think this has been cleared up. There is another computer a number of blocks west on the main drag. Think it is in their Chamber of Commerce/Convention building. It only had dial-up connectivity in the past. The Holiday Inn Express probably has a connection in their lobby (not sure, though).3) Franklin - public library near the outfitter. Probably other places by now.4) NOC - they did have a internet kiosk in the outfitter store. I've been told it doesn't work anymore. You can also hitch into Bryson City and use their library.5) Fontana - as far as I know, the only internet nearby is the library in Robbinsville. It is high-speed.6) Gatlinburg - a number of places. If you stay at the Grand Prix Motel (several blocks from the outfitter) they have high-speed in their lobby.7) Mountain Mommas has never had internet (are they still open?).8) Standing Bear Hostel - has a internet computer in the little building that holds the washer and dryer (for real)(unless they have moved it). Dial-up connection. Curtis also has internet connectivity inside his house, but unless it's an emergency, I wouldn't bother him.9) Hot Springs - public library up the hill, next to the elementary school. The outfitter also has a internet connection - hikers can check their email (15 minutes).10) Erwin - public library located near the train depot. Close to Miss Janets. If you stay at the Holiday Inn Express, they have high-speed internet in the lobby.11) Damascus - public library - high-speed connection.As far as I know, all public libraries have high-speed internet. This is partially due to all the money/computers Bill Gates (Microsoft) has put into the public school systems.This list may need some updating.
Date: 2008-01-09
To: Watchout for those acorns!
Miles today: 0.0

I've been wanting to share this "hiking moment" for a long time - just keep forgetting it:I was hiking on the Trail in New York during the fall. The leaves had fallen everywhere, covering the ground totally. I was diddy-bopping along, carrying my pack, keeping up a good pace. Then, all of a sudden, my right foot slipped out from under me followed by my left. I fell forward, thrusting out my arms in a defensive gesture. I hit the ground so hard that I was in a daze for a bit. When I was able to finally think my first thoughts were (in this order):1) I hope no one saw me fall! (embarassment)2) I can't move.3) Did I damage any gear?4) Did I hurt myself?It took a full five minutes before I started moving my limbs to see if they worked okay. They did. I had some scrapes on my forearms, but that was about it. After resting a bit I looked for the cause of my fall. Turns out there were hundreds of acorns on the ground under the leaves. Those acorns were as slippery as ball bearings - that's what caused my fall. At least now I knew to be more careful moving forward.About 30 minutes later I managed to do the entire fall all over again. I guess somedays are like that.
Date: 2008-01-12
To: Initial Goals
Miles today: 0.0

Overall, I¢ve made plans for approximate dates, locations and maildrops between my start and Erwin. Erwin is doable in one month, factoring in a few zero days along the way.My planning pace (daily miles) consists of the maximum numbers of miles I need to complete to get somewhere by the expected date. So, my daily miles are pretty much a goal to work towards ¢ not a requirement. What works well for me is to average out at 10 miles per day from Springer to Hiawassee. That¢s a good ¢break-in¢ period. After Hiawassee I move the pace up to around 15 miles per day. The exception to this is between the NOC and Standing Bear hostel (including the Smokies). That area I only strive for 10-12 miles per day, due to the terrain. At that pace I can hit the Smokey shelters at a regular interval and have less effort carrying the extra food through the Smokey Mountains.I start out with just three days of food. I have a three-day food maildrop waiting at Neals Gap. That gets me to Hiawassee. Thus, for the first week I only carry three days of food at any given time. In Hiawassee I have another maildrop (5-6 days) that gets me to the NOC. I prefer to not go into Franklin for resupply because you usually wind up spending the night due to the time it can take getting in and out of town.At the NOC I buy enough food (3 days) to get me to Fontana. They don't have much food at their Outfitters but there's enough for three days. At Fontana I¢ll stay at the Hike Inn for the night and have already had a 7-day food drop mailed there. That will get me through the Smokies with a day of food to spare. At Standing Bear Hostel I buy local for 2-days food to get me to Hot Springs. A food drop at Hot Springs gets me to Hampton. There I buy local to get me to Erwin. At Erwin my wife arrives and we go hit the restaurants.I use the postal service for town maildrops - if for some reason I don't need the package I can then bump it up the Trail. Make sure to have it sent Priority mail (to allow bumping and ensure it arrives on time). For maildrops to private businesses, ask the business what they prefer. UPS packages cannot be bumped up the trail for free.My zero days (overnighters) will be in Hiawassee, Fontana, and Standing Bear hostel. The NOC and Hot Springs are good places to crash for the night ¢ but I¢m bypassing them on this hike.
Date: 2008-01-13
To: Why the AT?
Miles today: 0.0

I've been asked in the past why I continue to hike the Appalachian Trail over and over. Why not, folks ask, tackle the Pacific Coast or Continental Divide trails? That's a good question and I've tried to come up with a good answer.I guess part of the reason is that when I was growing up there was a Appalachian Trail to read about, desire to hike, dream about doing so one day. At that time the Pacific Coast and Continental Trails did not exist. The AT (to me) was a fabled myth that I felt was impossible for me to get to hike. It seemed like there wasn't enough time to take off. It would be irresponsible from a family and financial standpoint. There were more important things in life to do.Back in the late 1990's I told a good friend about my unfulfilled dream of hiking the AT. I must have come across to her as being really sincere about my desire. She looked at me and said, "If you really want to do the hike that bad, why aren't you doing it?" I didn't understand what she meant. She explained that life was about assigning priorities to things. What is important to us should be ranked appropriately on our "priority list." Maybe I'm not that smart because it took some time before I realized what she was trying to say. And that is when it hit me - I could, indeed, hike the AT if I really wanted to.I know you are probably thinking that I should have figured out all of this long before. Maybe so. It's just that I was raised that a man grows up, gets a job for 20-30 years, supports a family, gets the kids through college, and then retires before dying a few years later. That had been my mindset. But those scenarios did not apply to me. I only had to be responsible to myself at the time. Why not do what I really wanted to do?So, maybe that explains why the Appalachian Trail means so much to me. Why, even though I have through-hiked it, I still come back for more and more. If I lived closer to the Pacific or Continental trials who knows - I might give them a shot. But the AT will always remain my top priority.
Date: 2008-01-14
To: Final War Story ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ I Promise
Miles today: 0.0

After I left the police department in 1997, I went to work for a small company in Houston as their ¢network guru¢. During the next couple of years I learned more and more through on-the-job training. Based upon my technical knowledge and some leadership skills, I was offered a position in Herndon, Virginia as a network manager. This involved supervising about eight folks in the network operations center. I took the job and for a while actually lived near Harpers Ferry. After having lived all my life in hot, humid Houston, it was so refreshing to actually have four-seasons of weather and snow in the winter. In Houston, they average a snowfall once every seven years ¢ and it always melts within a few hours.As the network manager, part of my responsibility was to write technical documents, manuals, training materials, etc. I soon learned that I had a knack for this type of technical writing. I began to migrate more and more away from technical skills to writing skills. Eventually I began working exclusively as a technical writer.Over the past five years or so I have primarily worked as a contractor on government contracts. If you are used to working for the same company for a long time, contracting is not going to be your cup of tea. You do have to be flexible about things. But if you like being exposed to a diverse technical and writing environment, doing contract work is perfect. But that¢s not all. Most of my contracts in the past have lasted for a period of anywhere between six and eighteen months. Why is that so great? Because it gives me the opportunity to take off in-between contracts to hike the AT. Of course, I have to have enough money saved and have to pay for COBRA insurance (the premiums are not cheap). And most importantly, I have to get the blessing from my wife. Sometimes she gives her okay and sometimes she says ¢no¢. I¢ve never faulted her judgment. She knows what is best.
Date: 2008-01-14
To: New Hampshire Pics
Miles today: 0.0

Included are a few more pics from New Hamsphire - primarily of the White Mountains. A couple of comments about camping in the Whites:1) I was always able to do "work for stay" at the huts. Although the "crewes" normally just need 2-3 hikers, usually they will let others stay also (at least that was my experience). You won't get to eat until all the paying customers have finished (meaning there may not be any more desert). And you probably will not be able to leave very early in the morning because usually you have to do some chore first.2) If you are planning on leaving the ridgeline and go down into a forested area to camp (at a tent/pad site) or to get some water - keep in mind that the trip can be a good ways down. Then you have to climb back up. I know there are stealth camping sites but I just didn't look for them. When you are on the ridgeline all there usually is are a bunch of rocks/stones. Difficult to set up a tent/tarp/hammock.
Date: 2008-01-15
To: One week to departure
Miles today: 0.0

Well, only one week before I leave. As mentioned earlier, I¢ll be taking the Amtrak Crescent from Washington, DC to Gainesville, Georgia. There I have a shuttler to take me on to Springer. The train is supposed to arrive around 7am on Wednesday, 1/23. Hopefully it will be on time and I will have a full day to hike.I ¢wussed out¢ and paid some extra money to get a sleeper on the train. I figure I¢ll get a lot better night¢s sleep than sitting next to someone in the coach section. That reminds me too much of the Greyhound trips in the past. The extra cost isn¢t all that bad because it includes a free dinner and breakfast in the dinning car. And I¢m not talking about snacks or something cold. They have a full menu you can order off of. To top it all off, my ¢roomette¢ actually has a shower inside. So I get the last chance to take a hot shower before starting the Trail.I guess getting ready to leave on a thru-hike is kinda like your feeling when you finish the hike. You are both excited and kinda sad about leaving. Like I have said in the past, you just have to make sure your head is ¢wrapped¢ in the right direction. I guess everything is about your perspective.Not sure who I¢m going to run into during my initial hiking. Stumpnocker has already made it to the NOC. I think Sgt. Rock is still in the general area but ahead a ways. I think I saw in Trail Journals that a couple more will start the last week in January.It looks like the weather folks are predicting some freezing temps and snow for this weekend. But next week looks to be mostly sunny with highs in the low 50s and lows right above freezing. I¢ll take the weather however it is served up.
Date: 2008-01-16
To: One week to go
Miles today: 0.0

Wow ¢ it¢s hard to believe that in one week I¢ll be back out hiking. A winter hike can be something special for so many reasons. The lack of foliage permits a great view of the scenery. The cold, crisp air makes (for me) a more exhilarating hike during the day and I¢m less likely to perspire as much. In the evening and night that same cold, crisp air makes for some challenges: staying warm at camp (before getting into your bag); finding out how your compressed gas stove will fare; trying to assemble your tent with gloved hands because it hurts like hell not to wear them in the cold.Perhaps the biggest shock to the system is in the morning, when you know it is time to get out of that warm bag. I remember another winter hiker who would quickly unzip his bag, jump up, and go for a fast run around the area to warm up. He had more courage than I will ever have.Due to my older age, I¢ve discovered the inconvenience of often having to pee several times during the night. Before I began to use my brain I would get up each time and rush outside, shivering while taking care of business. Then I learned about pee bottles. Never again will I have to get out of my bag during the night ¢ at least not for that reason.When I wake up in the morning, the idea of being able to stay in my bag and lean over to make a cup of coffee sounds absolutely wonderful. And since I¢ve made the coffee, why not fix my hot combination of instant oatmeal and crushed-up pop tarts? But there are a couple of problems with that. Most importantly, I don¢t really want to risk burning my tent down. You might say to just be ¢careful.¢ I know better ¢ many a time I have knocked things over. The second reason I can see for not fixing breakfast while in my bag is that I¢m supposed to have all my food hung up in a bear bag. That means a mad dash to the bag, remove the things I need, and run like hell back to my bag. Maybe one day I will figure out a way to hang a bear bag so the release cord is within reach of my tent, and the bag will come down right next to me. But if I did do that, I¢d probably just be encouraging a bear to stand on my tent while reaching for my food bag.While actually hiking though, the cold weather is a delight. I¢ve mentioned before hiking in a short shirt and shorts down to the low 40s. Just have to put on a layer whenever I take a break. Anyway, next week starts it all. Hope to meet everyone down the road and hope your hike is as enjoyable as I know mine will be.
Date: 2008-01-16
To: Mail drop list
Miles today: 0.0

I'm in my final stages of planning. Just got my mail drops figured out between Neals Gap and Erwin. I've posted them in my journal if anyone is interested in seeing them.When I say interested, you know I'm hinting at the possibility that someone might want to send me something good to eat or maybe a paperback to read. If you do send me something (thanks in advance) I'll figure out some way to show my gratitude. If you click on the picture on this entry you will see some of the things I like to eat.I'm always an optimist. In the past I've only once received a "goody" box from someone. That's just the way it works. Heck, sometimes my wife even forgets to send me my regular food drops! (I'm joking, honey).Over the years I've made some folks upset with what I have written. So if they want to send me a package with something that really stinks, I will understand. I sure won't eat it, but I will understand. Note from UNK's Wifey: I have NEVER missed a maildrop. I IMPROVED the quality of his meals (better nutritional value) and I ALWAYS send him treats! And for now, (he's on probation) I'm even visiting him in Erwin. Hmmph!
Date: 2008-01-17
To: Trail Boss
Miles today: 0.0

Well, the other day my wife told me about a female hiker (Bananas) who will be thru-hiking in a couple of months. Her "support person" on her hike is her husband. What interested my wife is that the husband has been given his own "trail name"(Ground Control.So my wife asked (actually she insisted!) on getting her own trail name since she will be supporting my hike. I have to admit that she has been a superb support person on past hikes. She even drove to visit me every 4-6 weeks. She has learned about all of my gear and knows what I might need to be sent during the hike.So - I picked and had to decide on three, possible trail names: "Hamburger Helper"; "Food Flicker"; or "Trail Boss". Since I do value my continued marriage (along with the ability to complete this hike) I have eliminated the first two names. So she now has her official trail name of "Trail Boss". She's already the boss at home, so it seems only fitting to use Trail Boss.During this hike we are hoping to keep up a pretty good communication via cell phone. My only problem is that my cell phone battery is not removable. So I'll have to recharge whenever possible. But leaving it turned off except when needed will hopefully do the trick.In the past we have kept in touch by town pay phones. But those phones are slowly going to the wayside. I'm still carrying a phone card, though. And a lot of hostels, outfitters, etc. should let you use their phone as long as they know they don't have to pay for the call.I guess that's about it for now. Been watching the 10-day weather forecasts to see what it looks like for the hike start area. Just a few things left to buy - I want to get one of those little SD card/USB adaptors in case I run across a computer and can send some pictures back (some/a lot of the libraries block uploading pictures though). Otherwise, I'll have to mail the SD cards to Trail Boss and let her post them in Trail Journals.
Date: 2008-01-18
To: Gear Listing
Miles today: 0.0

At the request of others I've added some gear entries to the "Gear List" option in the left-hand column of my journal page. I'm not entering the majority of my stuff because it is too generic to be worth mentioning. The items I have entered have been used on a number of past hikes and I think highly of their suitability and performance. Gear is always a personal issue - but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the items I have listed.There are a few more pieces of gear I'll try to get entered before I head for the Trail next week. The weather in northern Georgia is looking like a rain event for my first few days, followed by snow afterwards. Whatever, I'm ready for the "experience" to begin.
Date: 2008-01-19
To: Unknown Hiker minus his paper sack
Miles today: 0.0

Okay, I guess it's time I go ahead and do this. I have received requests that I pull off my paper sack and let you see what is underneath. The idea being that we might cross paths on the Trail and miss out on the "recognition and saying hello" bit. So now the sack is removed and hopefully you won't laugh too much at what is underneath. For those of you looking forward to meeting me - I look forward to the same. Everyone please do me just one favor - have a fantastic hike on the AT. See you out there.
Date: 2008-01-20
To: Some winter pics & ideas
Miles today: 0.0

Added about 15 more pictures that cover a diverse number of scenes between Franklin and Hot Springs. Most are shots during the winter months of hiking conditions. It's worth noting, again, that while actually hiking during the winter you usualy don't need to wear that much in the way of clothes. My experience has been to wear shorts and shirt as far down as into the middle 40's (when there is little wind). Below that I put on a pair of stretch polypro pants (similar to biker pants) and a long-sleeve, polypro shirt. Also some type of wool/poly cap and light-weight gloves.Also, as suggested before, anytime you stop for more than say 5 minutes you should put on some additional clothes because your body will quickly begin to cool off. It can be a real pain in the ass to pull those clothes out of your pack and put them on, but it can be important. That's why I usually don't stop that much during the day's hike - eating lunch on the go.In the morning, when you are leaving camp, it works well for me to start hiking a bit cold and then let my body heat warm me up while hiking. Otherwise, if you start warm with extra clothes, you will get too hot quickly and have to stop and take off some items.But everyone is different, their bodies have different reactions to temps and ability to handle the cold. Clothing that works for me may be totally too little or too much for you. You will find out by experimenting as you hike. The goal should be to not perspire (at least not too much) with the clothes you are hiking in - yet stay reasonably warm. Sometimes it can be a difficult balance to maintain.