morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

What's in a name,I can't tell. For one hiking the GA-ME,a lack of self I must quell.Moose has been taken,Xander¢s just lazy.Wolf leaves my friends shaken,and Vagrant sounds crazy.No name hence will I embark,my civilized self left to flail.But not lost in the dark,I leave it up to the Trail.
Date: 2005-03-13
From: Spring MNTN Summit

To: Three Forks Campground
Miles today: 5.1

Day one and a whooping 5.1 miles down, 2,169.9 to go We had a late start from extended goodbyes. I will miss my family. We didn't make it to Hawk MNTN shelter has we had planned, as we could not pass up the picturesque location of this campsite near the babbling Long Creek. The bags are definitely too heavey! Calicoe's is 42 and mine is 51lbs! There is much to send home at Neels Gap 30 miles up the trail. Met Eric, "Badger" AT 2002 thru-hiker with brother Mark talking to Jerry Boone at Amicalola Falls State Park where we registered to hike the Trail. Jerry is Daniel Boone's direct descendent according to Gizmo, ATC Ridgerunner. More nice people we've met are Leanard and Betty Clayton who were eager to help and gave us Spam. We gave Badger and Mark a ride up to Springer Summit and Dad hiked in with us for pictures near the plague. Seth was there from Maine, here to hike home. Awesome first day, 70 degrees under sun and blue skies! Tonight we fall asleep to the sounds of the creek, anticipating bears! Bird of the Day:Dark-eyed Junco; Springer MNTN
Date: 2005-03-14
From: Three Forks Campground

To: Justus Creek Camp
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: broken clouds

A good start to the day today despite torrential rains in last night's thunderstorm. We emerged dry from an only slightly moistened tent. Breakfast went along smoothly as we continue to familiarize ourselves with our gear. We got going around 9:30am and stopped to snack at the Hawk MNTN Shelter, a double decker which was apparently full last night. Once again nothing but the nicest people on the Trail. Bear Bait and Foot Loose and Fancy Free are across from us here at Justus Creek campground. Calicoe and I are here with another hiker, Joe enjoying the stars and our fire. Funny story about the fire. The three of us were having a terrible time getting it started as all the tinder in the area was still wet from the rain. It was thus decided to add just a little stove fuel and that I should be the one to do it.... Long story short we got our campfire, the whole campground got a little entertainment, and I got my trail name. -TorchBird of the Day:Hairy Woodpecker; Approaching Hawk MNTN Shelter
Date: 2005-03-16
From: Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega

To: Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega
Miles today: 0.0

It was a zero day today, our first after yesturday's 6.3 miles from Justus Creek to Woody Gap. Gooch MNTN Shelter was really neat. We stopped there for breakfast and enjoyed the covered picnic table, shielding us from the rain. We ended up at the Hiker Hostel on Hwy 19 between Suches and Dahlonega. Funny, we started out from Dahlonega and three days later here we are, back... in Dahlonega. Foot Loose and Fancy Free joined us for our first hitch down the road; Calicoe got us a ride in a pickup truck in no time. We were dropped off a mile short of the hostel but luck was on our side once again as three nice guys in a mini-van on springbreak from Indianapolis made two trips to take all of us the rest of the way there. The Hostel is beautiful. A big brand new log cabin run by Josh and Leigh Saint www.hikerhostel.com There was just barely enough room so Calicoe got the last bunk and I took the fold out; more than enough after a good meal at the Italian restaurant at a table surrounded by jovial hikers.But that was all yesturday. Today we decided to stay and make some executive decisions about the gear in our packs. 9.0 lbs of excess are going home and several more go into the bounce box at Neels Gap. We'll slack-pack the 10.5 miles over Blood MNTN tomorrow and Pittsburgh will drop our packs off for us at the Waslasi-Yi Center, also at Neels. From there we will resupply and see to getting Calicoe a warmer sleeping bag. Part of the reason for staying in today is because of the rain here and the snow at elevation as there is no restful sleep for those in the cold. We resume fresh on Friday, and onward to North Carolina.Zero Day, no birds
Date: 2005-03-17
From: Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega

To: Neels Gap/Blood MTN Cabins
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light snow

Well rested and lite footed is how we began our ascent over Blood MTN this morning. Our last night at the Hiker Hostel was great. We ate our left over pizza from lunch for dinner and talked with fellow hiker Chestnut. Chestnut (like the tree he always says) is on his third thruhike after successful journeys from Georgia to Maine in 2001 and then from Georgia to Quebec on the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) in 2004. You can read all about Chestnut's hikes and most of the other hikers we've met at trailjournals as well. Everyone has been so nice, put some faces to the trail names After a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and oatmeal...mmmmm breakfsast, Paul from the Hostel drove us back to Woody Gap to begin our hike to Neels Gap over Blood MTN. Hiking Blood was great Fun. The fog was thick and the air was heavy with snow, sleet, and rain, but it all just added to the mystique of this place. We saw deer from the trail moving through the haze like ghosts, and stopped for pictures of the Blood MTN Shelter. Its stone facade and dark interior conveying the character of this MTN where a battle between indian tribes raged so fiercely that the mountain side ran red with blood. We took in the sights of snow and ice as it lay sculpted by the wind and descended into Neels Gap. Along the way we saw a Hermit Thrush which was good enough to sit still on a strand of rhodedendron (spelling ?) while we got the book out and identiied him. Following the trail through the Walasi-Yi center, it literally goes right through the building, we gathered our packs from our day of slack-packing and procurred our first mail-drop, before hoofing it down the road to our cabin for the night. Foot loose and Fancy free (F&F) and Bearbait(BB) are with us and have enjoyed our antics as we reconcile our food from the bounce box. Everything is covered in sugar from the exploded tube of lemonade mix. We share our cabin with three taxidermized racoons mounted to the chimmney; they're, creepy. All is well however with warm showers and soft beds. Good Tidings.Bird of the Day:Hermit Thrush; Blood MTN
Date: 2005-03-18
From: Neels Gap

To: Whitley Gap
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: overcast clouds

There was a lot to do this morning! We settled up with our mail drops, more efciently I hope, and saw to Calicoe's new sleeping bag. Turns out she got the same one I have and it should be much warmer. We reunited briefly with all out hiker buddies who stayed at the Hostel in the center and got some brownies from somebody's care box from home. One guy in particular Bones, was hillarious when he called it another episode on the AT show. He's right, so many stories, you never really know what each day will bring. I added a new metal to my walking stick for the AT in Georgia; hopefully the next few months will see 13 like metals added along the way.We hiked 6.3 miles over Levelland, Corbin Horse Stamp, and Cowrock MTNs. Calicoe and I spent much of the day hiking separately due to a little farse that we have since resolved. Just afterward however, we met Jeff sprawled on a rock awaiting some friends, completely in his element. A posetively delightul and encouraging young person, his was exactly the kind of persona that we each needed to lift us up from our day. From there we diligently hiked up Tesnatee MTN on our way to Lowe Gap shelter but were advised to spend the night right where we were on the ridge above Whitley Gap Shelter by day-hiker George Owens. Our chance meeting with George facilitated his coincidental meeting with friends further back on the trail that he hadn't seen in ten years! Crazy good timing, tonight he gets to catch up with his friends at dinner, while we enjoyed a truely fantastic sunset on top of the mountain. We fall asleep tonight to the lyrical songs of Rufus-sided (Eastern) Towhees, a first for Calicoe, and the official Bird of the Day.Bird of the Day:Rufus-sided Towhee; Tesnatee MTN
Date: 2005-03-19
From: Whitley Gap

To: Blue MTN Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

What a day, our longest to date. We started fresh with good tidings from Trail Angels Bruce and Mertle Eure. Just down the MTN from where we camped they greeted us and other hikers in the parking area at Hog Pen Gap with cookies, fresh water, fruit, and smiling faces. They drove 50 miles to be there early this morning and they do this for the hikers several times each year. We meet so many nice people out here every day, it's really incredible.Hiking today we passed the spring at the start of the Chattahoochee river, and pressed on as were pushing ourselves to get to a campsite 10.7 miles from where we started out. Getting there however, it fell well below our expectations. The ground was knotty and full of rocks, there looked to be an open toilet pit, and the "water source" was little more than a trickle and a muddy spot on the trail. I urged to go on to Blue MTN Shelter .9 miles away. Even as we passed another, better campsite on the way, Calicoe diligently followed me at the end of this very long day. I owe her a milk shake when we get into town, she's really been a great hiking companion.The shelter was definitely worth it though. Afore us were Gray Beard, Sunshine, Rabbit, and brothers Mike and Steve. Steve was just up for a couple of days and he brought steak which he shared with everyone. My hat's off to them both. They are both of them Eagle Scouts as well and we all had a good time trading stories from our days in the BSA. We've had a happy evening with our new riends on Blue MTN, and as we bed down for our first night in a shelter I hope we run into them again up the trail.Bird of the Day:Eastern Phoebe
Date: 2005-03-20
From: Blue MTN Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap/Helen GA
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: scattered clouds

So this is what's called a nero-day, or so we've been told. Luck was on our side as we climbed down from the MTN and walked right into a mini-van unloading a family. Father Daniel, son David "Motormouth," and old man thru-hiker "Boot-man" gave us a ride into town and we were there in front of our Super 8 no later than 8:30 am. Thus, a nero-day, low mileage at the start into town with the whole day in front of you.Helen is a trippy place, like a theme town. Calicoe and I were unaware that you could hike to East Germany on the AT but, here we are. Breakfast first we threw down our gear and walked over to Hoffer's Bakery and restaurant. We had a stellar meal at Hoffer's, buttercrust bread, ham, swiss cheese, eggs, fruit, juice, and coffee, mmmmmm. We'll stop in again tomorrow on our way out. From there however it was off to Beatty's grocery for lunch and trail resupply, a quick dip in the Chattahoochee to cool our heels, and back to the hotel for showers and laundry. That's about it for a town day. We did some treking to find new rain gear, still no luck. Otherwise we ate, cleaned up, and chilled out. For now we're writting in our journals before bed time, in front of an Animal Planet special about Dragons. Like I said, trippy.Bird of the Day:Blue Jay; Helen GA
Date: 2005-03-21
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray MTN Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: overcast clouds

A quiet, dreary day after yesterday's bright sunshine and 70 degree weather. We started slow, after another excellent breakfast @ Hoffer's. I like breakfasts Our bounce box didn't show up til moments before we were to leave town; UPS sucks by the way. So we had to re-send it even as we had spent much of the morning resupplying at Beatty's. No worrys though, soon thereater a nice man who manages the Chattahoochee Bar-B-Q in town saved us from the police for hitch-hiking in town by picking us up beore they could. His name is Tom, whose last name escapes me, and he drove us all the way to Unicoi.Today we hiked over Rocky MTN and Tray MTN, both are over 4,000 feet in elev. We hiked well however, completing the day's 5.5 miles in three hours approx. The shelter here is already full with several tents out on the ridge. We met "TentShaker" on the way up but he promises not to shake our tent in the morning. The big sighting of the day was a Red-headed Woodpecker, my first to date. Not a rare bird, but certainly not common and oh so beautiful. Calicoe spotted it, she has a good eye for birding. I wonder if her trail name couldn't be Hawkeye, or something to the like. For now we're around a good fire with Gypsy lulu, her sister Touk, and their friends Jax, Bottom's up, Baseline, Crazy KT, and Radio. All of them super nice kids. It's been a good day, but I think I'm ready for bed.Bird of the Day:Red-headed Woodpecker; Tray MTN Gap
Date: 2005-03-22
From: Tray MTN

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It's raining, windy, cold, and dreary. We're out of food and feul to cook it with. Spirits are high though as we are warm in the shelter, anticipating mice from our nest in the loft. Ah Youth and Runaway have spent the afternoon with us. We hiked the 7.1 miles from Tray in 3:20, awesome! Just waiting out the weather and the other hikers for a chance at a spot at the Blueberry Patch Hostel tomorrow. We'll do another nero-day either to the hostel or to Hiawasee, and then probably take a zero-day to see what the town is all about.We can definitely start pushing ourselves for hiher mileage days though. Seven miles in just over three hours over Kelly Knob (4,276' from 3,304' in .7 miles) is wicked good. We had all afternoon to nap and write. Ten-twelve miles a day out of Hiawasee is a good goal to shoot for I think, 15 miles isn't out of the question. Not that I want to power hike the trail, I love taking the time to stop and see all there is to see along the way. But I also want a shot at Katahdin within the confines of what time and money will allow. It is day 10 after all and we're 63.1 miles from Springer. Our hiker's legs and hiker's bellies are starting to kick in. North Carolina is just 12.1 miles away! I expect Friday's journal will be written from new soil.Bird of the Day:White-breasted Nuthatch
Date: 2005-03-23
From: Deep Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap/Blueberry Patch Hiawasee
Miles today: 3.5

It rained, and rained, and rained all through the night. We were dry however, in our loft in the shelter, dry and hot. It was sweltering up there which, coupled with the early bed time and yesterday's nap made for a long and sleepless night. Things got interesting though around 2:00am when the mice came out for their nightly raid. It didn't sound like there were many of them, that or they were being stealthy. Still you could hear some of their rustling amid the periodic eruptions of the thunderstorm outside. They were nice mice I guess. Calicoe calls them the Christmas mice because while they took what they could get, and got into everything they could find, in the morning everyone found something in their boots that the mice had given back. Runaway got an acorn and Calicoe got a walnut that had been pilfered from Ah Youth's pocket. Ah Youth promptly ate his reaquired stores. Nice as the mice were howerver, it didn't stop me from sending one flying when I felt it running across my sleeping bag.I was up with the sun and ready to go. My sleeping pad does not stay inflated for long and each morning brings a new assemblage of kinks that need to be streched out. We skipped breakfast as there really wasn't anything left to eat anyway and hiked on into Dick's Creek Gap. There were some fantastic vistas on the way. Being on top of the MTNs meant being above the cloud line as well, and it was incredible to watch the sunrising over the mist shrouded hills and valleys. It was an easy hitch into the Blueberry Patch. We weren't sure if we'd stay, but this place is truely something special. Gary and Lennie Poteat run the hostel by donation out of their house on a blueberry farm nestled in the MTNs. It's picturesque beauty and their kind and welcoming demeanor make it a wonderful stop on the trail. I will accompany them tonight to a Baptist sermon that promises fellowship and free bar-b-que. What better way to meet more of the nice people who have thus far made this a spectacular journey?Bird of the Day:Carolina Wren; The Blueberry Patch Hostel
Date: 2005-03-24
From: Blueberry Patch Hiawassee

To: Bluberry Patch Hostel Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

I feel as I have been blessed to spend this time with the Poteats. One can hardly help but feel that way after a Baptist sermon though. That was a big and heartily appreciated meal last night. I ate two full servings but after Gary Poteat finished his third he turned to me and said"Alex, you don't know nothing yet. you'll get to Damascus and say surely this is it, this is my Hiker's appetite. Then you'll get through PA and say now surely thist MUST be my hiker's appetite. But then you'll get to Maine and say surely I'll stop saying surely," you get that exponentialy hungry. I am inclined to believe him for sure.Waking up this morning at the Patch was even more special. The light streaming in through the windows as the sun rose over the MTNs, the birds singing in the fields, the creek coursing by the east end of the farm, Calicoe and I took an early morning walk just to take it all in. Gary and Lennie joined us around the table for the breakfast they had prepared for us. We joined hands as Gary said grace before enjoying the buttermlik pancakes, bluberry syrup fresh from the farm,cheese biscuits, sausage, eggs, and coffee laid out before us. We hitched back into town to use the internet to update our trail journals at the library. Lunch was caught at the Maine St. Gifts and Sweet Shoppe which had the most excellent pie. I had a giant slice of Blueberry while Calicoe chose the German Chocolate, all of it made right there in the store. Our hitch back to the Patch is thanks to a couple of college girls, Jeana and Kristy, on their way back to school who thought Calicoe looked like a "cool hiker chick." For now we're all sitting around the table with new friends Ranger and Grunting Bear, Captain Chaos, Domino, and a south-bounder named Scooter.   Domino made chili which apparently brought out our more eloquent sides as he, myslef, and Captain Chaos were soon recieting poetry. Robert Frost, the Desiderata; I recieted Shakespeare's sonnet 116 "Let me not onto the marriage of true minds admidts impediments..." This, is a happy place.Bird of the Day:Northern Mockingbird; Helen GA
Date: 2005-03-25
From: Dick's Creek Gap/Blueberry Patch Hiawasee

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Woo hoo! Our first state line. We're 78.2 miles from Springer MTN and three miles over the North Carolina border. Pictures abound as we crossed the line and then came upon the gnarly old oak that has come to symbolize this first landmark on the journey north. It's been a long day but oh so good. We began with another Blueberry Patch breakfast in the morning light of a new day. Gary dropped us off at the trail head at Dick's Creek gap with hugs and kind words of encouragement all around. We struck out in beautiful weather that carried us through the day, right over the last two MTNs that were an abrupt but scenic introduction to the NC. Tonight we tent outside the Muskrat Creek Shelter along with a whole new group of people, our tent nestled in among the rhododendron bushes across the Trail from the creek. the sounds of jovial hikers echo through the trees from around the campfire near the shelter. It's been almost two weeks and I feel that I am finding my place in this element, happy to be here.Bird of the Day:Red-bellied Woodpecker; Blueberry Patch Hstel
Date: 2005-03-26
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: few clouds

Now this is cool. After much deliberation and thoughtful observation, Calicoe and I identified a brand new bird today. It's the Appalachian Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius alticola, so you know that's gonna be the Bird of the Day for sure. We've seen them fliting around singing to each other all day yesterday and today, and as today was another loong day on the trail we're now well acquainted. It was rough going to get here later in afternoon. Now that we are here in the shleter however, away from the threatening weather, I think it was worth the haul. Calicoe had wanted to camp at Beech Gap 3.2 miles back but I had it in my head to keep going. I used my indeleble charm (pouted) to sway the flow of events to my ideal, and we will therefore stay dry tonight. For now we are with KTR, his twin brother Solace, Cupcake, Walk-about and Sassafrass celebrating her 30th birthday around the fire. KTR just told his story from a camping trip up in the Adirondacks when a mama bear stuck her head in on him while he was on the privy, and he fortuitous nature of his position at that time. It was, a vexing story to say the least. I'd like to see bears, and I'm sure we will, just not in the kind of proximity or anything like it. Bird of the Day:Blue-headed Vireo; Standing Indian MTN
Date: 2005-03-27
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Albert Arms Trail Magic
Miles today: 5.8

A dreary day with an unexpectedly cheery ending as we dry our gear and warm our bodies next to the fire of the Albert Arms MTN hostel and trail magic. It rained through the night and into the morning. We made our breakfast under the watchful eye of an opportunistic ground squirrel waiting to snatch unprotected morsels. The weather worsened as we gained in elevation toward Albert MTN. The Trail was slick and at times treacherous over the rocks and boulders festooned across whole sections of it. We were cold and tired and dreading the last mile before the shelter where we would wait out the storm, when the smell of a cherrywood campfire greeted us from around the bend. We came through the fog and haze to a campground with a huge tent to one side and on the other, a sign that read "Trail Magic." We stumbled through a tunnel of rhododendron into the dry warmth of the campfire under an immense tarp to find three grisely looking guys with big smiles drinking coffee in lawn chairs. They were Barry, Gatoraid, and FishinFred there to aid hikers on their journey. Barry and his wife Terry had only recently operated the Rainbow Springs campground before the land was pulled for development. Without their hostel they instead took to the MTN with their camper and there they had been since March 15th, hoping to remian there through April. We couldn't have found them at a better time. Cold and hungry as we were, we suddenly had coffee, corn chowder, roll-your-own burritos, and a dry place to stay, all of it on Easter Sunday of all days! Domino and Bearbait were already there, we were later joined by Trip, Jake, and Turbo Joe. What had begun as a forced march through the elements ended in the most comfortable of circumstances. All of it out of the goodness of their hearts and the willingness to help others. So often we have encountered that on the Trail. I hope I can reciprocate the same kind of good nature and facilitate a similar experience for those with whom we share the Trail. Literally, I am in awe of their kindness.Bird of the Day:Eastern Bluebird