morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-06-12
To: Hot & Humid
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it appears as if we've settled into a typically June pattern here in Mississippi with clouds strengthening in the early afternoon followed by early evening thunderstorms. That's okay. We need the rain. But it has forced me to reshuffle my walking schedule. Whenever the day's activities permit, I now try to get out in the morning hours to log in my mileage. Actually it's nice as it tends to be a little cooler then. Of course, the humidity is ever present. So the sweating doesn't diminish at all. But hey, no one is making me do it, right?Actually I just try to imagine that I'm on the Trail and sloggin through the upper mid-Atlantic states, and it is June or July and it's hot and buggy, and I tell myself that I'm preparing myself mentally for that stretch. Occasionally I even think it's working and I'm actually enjoying my walk.I have a friend who is a long-time hiker. He was always quoting the old adage, "Ten before Noon." -- Get ten miles in before Noon. It certainly makes sense to me in these hot months -- get up early, head out for your walk, get in your mileage before the heat becomes unbearable. Makes sense. Especially when those boiling clouds start to mount up on the horizon. Which brings me to ask, have you ever been caught up on a ridgeline or peak by a sudden lighting storm? It's not a pleasant event. One of my most frightening experiences was when I had already pitched my tent atop Cheoah Bald, north of the NOC, when the storm broke over me. All I could do was crawl into my tent and hunker down. Lighting was popping all around me. You could smell it. There didn't even seem to be a gap at all between the flash and the boom. I was scared. Fortunately it didn't last long and I was uninjured, but I was shaking for quite some time even as I lay there listening to the storm as the moved on down into the valley below. Perhaps I can take some time this summer to better acquaint myself with the art of reading the clouds. Then perhaps I won't get caught unaware along some ridgecrest next year. There's always that hope!Take care everyone!
Date: 2014-06-13
To: Trailside Refreshment
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It's just one of the little things that seem to make the miles a little less burdensome. In this case, I'm not referring to 'trail magic', but rather 'trail providence' as God, in his infinite goodness, caused this fruit to grow up within easy reach of anyone walking by. I couldn't resist. I just dropped my pack and went to town foraging the sweetness of these wild berries. In no time at all my fingers were stained purple, as well as my tongue. The natural sugar seemed to flood my tired body with renewed vigor and energy. It was great. I hardly noticed the pricks and scratches or the chigger bites. Those minor afflictions were nothing compared to the blessedness of the surprise bounty discovered along my path. A little further on, I took time to survey a large patch of scuppernong grape vines that I picked from last Fall. Sure enough, the tiny grapes were forming nicely and it looks as if I can anticipate another large harvest of these delicacies in a few months. So, you see, there are rewards for all of us as we keep our eyes open along the way.Heard from Bounder today (Class of 2015) and it looks like plans are coming together for the upcoming fun hike targeting next year's class of hikers. I wish I could join them. Sounds like fun. According to Bounder, the participants will start at the I-40 crossing of the AT just north of Davenport Gap. Over the next five days (August 4-9) they will hike together through Hot Springs and on north to Allen Gap -- a distance of about 50 miles. It's a nice section of the trail and they should have a great time. It isn't easy. Right off the bat there the climb up and over Snowbird Mtn, an ascent of 2,863 feet. But I remember it as a section with plenty of water and lots of beauty. I particularly love Max Patch Bald and the climb up Lovers Leap Rock just north of Hot Springs. Hot Springs itself is a wonderful trail town and the folk at the Bluff Mountain Outfitters are just the greatest. They should be able to find an abundance of wild blueberries along that section the first week of August. So, all in all, I'm sure those who can go are in for a treat. I envy them the chance for early fellowship and wish them all the best. I'm hoping that Bounder is able to post lots of photos of the excursion.Okay, take care all!
Date: 2014-07-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Just got back home after two glorious weeks up in the much cooler North Carolina mountains at our cabin. I must confess that I was very lazy there. Somehow, sitting up there in a rocker on our deck resting my eyes on our mountains, it seemed the appropriate thing to do. The coolness under the trees was a wonderful respite from the extreme heat and humidity of the Deep South. We timed our visit perfectly and found the Mountain Laurel in full bloom. Was able to spend some time in the area outfitter shops. Met up with 'Mama G' in the REI store and learned that she also is planning to join our class of 2015 on our pilgrimage to Maine. Purchased a new pair of Merrells for the trail. I'll wait until February to break them in. Also picked up a few more pairs of Injinji socks -- hard to locate here in Mississippi. Continue to enjoy reading the journals of this year's hikers. My buddy, 50/50 is back on the trail and hopes to finish the trail this year. I wish him, and all the rest, all good success. Take care out there everyone!
Date: 2014-07-14
To: More Hot Training Miles
Miles today: 0.0

It's HOT! HOT! HOT! -- down here in the Deep South. I mean, these folk really know how to do up Summer right. I drove past a bank the other day and the temperature gauge out front indicated that it was 111 F. Now, I don't doubt that it was somehow wrong as my car gauge only said it was 98 F. But I have to tell you -- just seeing that reading didn't make me feel any cooler.Besides that it's HUMID! HUMID! HUMID! I come back home from my training walks and I am completely drenched -- heat to toes. The rest of the evening I sit around and drink water like it's going out of style -- can't seem to get enough of it.But I'm pleased with my training. My minimum is six miles a day. From there, depending on how much time I may have or the time of day, I will add more miles. I've decided to keep my distances below twelve during these terribly hot days and then try to pick it up a bit in the Fall. And granted, we have no mountains down here, but this heat and humidity has to count for something, right? Anyway, the legs and feet feel good, so all is well.Had a whimsical moment while walking today. Happened to be looking down at the path and noticed a small stick about three inches long. There was nothing unusual about it really -- until it began to move!!!Well, that certainly caught my attention. Of course, I saw that it was some sort of caterpillar or worm -- but camouflaged so as to appear as a stick. It was amazing!Ever so slowly it would inch up its body and then stretch out again, each time gaining some distance toward its chosen destination. I noticed that when it moved, it seemed to do so as quickly as it could, and then when it stretched out flat, it seemed to pause -- giving any nearby prey the idea that perhaps their eyes were playing a trick on them. It seemed to work. It hadn't been eaten yet!I couldn't help but think about the wonder of our God's Creation -- to adorn such a small and relatively insignificant creature with such an amazing defense system. Just seeing this wonder put a spring into my steps for the remainder of my walk. I felt a part of something larger. I found myself wondering what else was out there that I was missing every day. We look -- but we rarely see! I'll have to get better at that.Had to get me a new daypack for my walks. The weights I was using finally wore out the bottom and were about to fall out. So, I found a nice, rather inexpensive one at Wal-Mart. I also decided to fill several bags with sand to use for the weight inside. I don't know why I hadn't done that earlier. It rides better and feels softer against my back. So, I'm good and just have to keep loggin' in those miles between now and next March!Take care everyone!
Date: 2014-08-06
To: Less than Eight Months!
Miles today: 0.0

Hi Everyone! I can hardly believe it now is less than eight months until I may yet again begin a slow pilgrimage north from Springer Mountain. Maintaining a tight grasp on my dream of hiking the entire trail has been hard, especially in these months since my last failed attempt in 2013. I came off the trail so despondent having my dream dashed so quickly and so early on in my hike. But the Good Lord has enabled me to hang on and not lose sight of the goal. I do believe my earlier mistakes and failure has made me wiser and I've every reason to believe that this next time around I'll meet with better results. At least, I pray so!I don't even know from whom I borrowed this photo -- some fortunate hiker who woke up to this beautiful early morning scene up near Madison Hut in the White Mountains. But I just had to copy it and I look at it often. Somehow it signifies why we punish ourselves -- all the sweat, all the blisters, all those long climbs -- just to get up to the peaks and enjoy views like this one. It truly makes it all worth while and I can't wait to see this very scene with my own eyes. Gorp Gobbler and I have been trading information and swapping proposed hiking plans since we both are looking at an April 1 start date. We both realize that any tentative plan we adopt almost certainly will be tossed out the window once we hit the trail -- but it is fun to figure and re-figure the proposed daily mileage and it gives us both something to do while we wait.Still waiting for Bounder or others to post some photos from the shakedown hike this past week in and around Hot Springs, North Carolina. I wish I could have joined the fun, but alas, some of us still have to WORK! Hope they all enjoyed good weather and discovered that their gear choices were satisfactory. Look forward to hearing of their experience and I thank Bounder for organizing it.Was able to drive up to Oxford, Mississippi yesterday to visit with my good friends, Andy and Chet. Both Andy and Chet started out from Springer back in March of this year but an injury to Chet's knee interrupted their hiking plans. Andy hopes to get back on the trail in the Fall and cover the miles to Damascus. Chet just had total knee replacement surgery and will have to undergo lengthy rehab before he can get back to hiking form. But it was great to see him in such great spirits and to hear him also expressing his desire to hang onto the dream and return to the trail ASAP.Well, it's still hot and humid down here in the Deep South. I'm still churning out my minimum of six miles almost daily with a ten miler or so added in once in a while. All the while I look forward with great longing for the cooler days of Autumn. Hang in there fellow classmates! 2015 is just around the corner and it will be our turn before you know it!
Date: 2014-08-07
To: WM's and MW's
Miles today: 0.0

Something happened to me the other day that brought back a memory from an earlier hike. The place where I go almost daily for my training walks winds in and out of woods along a nice path. I suppose I've walked under this tree countless times without considering it to any degree -- other than being thankful for its shade on these HOT summer days. Anyway, suddenly and without warning, this sizeable limb came crashing down hitting the ground with a resounding THUD! Almost immediately my mind jumped back to 2008 at which time a friend of mine, Rick, and I were hiking along the section of the AT between the NOC and Fontana. At the end of a long day we had reached Cody Gap and decided that was as far as we wished to go. So we set about putting up our tents. BTW, Cody Gap is a nice place, capable of accomodating a number of tents and there is a nice water source just down the hill. Anyway, at some point after we had set up our tents, Rick happened to look up and, lo and behold, there was a huge tree leaning right over his tent being held up by another tree with the slimmest of branches. I mean, this thing was a Widow Maker in the making if I ever saw one. Well, as tired as we both were, it was a no gamer to get busy right away taking down his tent and moving it to a safer location. I could't help but imagine what might have happened if we had arrived at Cody an hour later, after it had gotten dark. Perhaps we might not have even noticed. It has always served to remind me of the need to LOOK UP before selecting my tent site. And that crashing limb over in the park the other day reimforced that practice.Then a little later I stopped to ponder another potential danger -- at least down here in the Deep South. Yes, I'm referring to the dreaded MW's -- Misery Makers -- Fire Ants! You can find their mounds everywhere down here and believe me, you do not want to make the mistake of stumbling into a camp late in the day, and carelessly setting up your tent on top of one of these mounds. It will certainly make for one miserable night filled with a lot of pain. These critters just swarm all over you in seconds and their bite really puts a hurting on you. While the Fire Ant is not a danger AT hikers encounter, as they are pretty much restricted to areas south of the AT, there are certainly other ground dwelling dangers to keep an eye out for. I once almost set my tent up near a yellow jacket nest but was fortunate to spot them flying in and out of their hole before making that mistake. Anyway, let's be careful out there, looking up for the WM's and looking down and around for the MW's. You'll be glad you did!
Date: 2014-08-10
To: Labor Day Weekend
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

HAPPY LABOR DAY to all of you! I hope your day is filled with fun, food and family fellowship. My wife and I are awaiting the arrival of a portion of our children along with our two g'children. Of course, grilling hamburgers will be the order of the day. Don't imagine spending too much time outside, however, as it is so very humid here. On my training walk yesterday (eight miles) it was so humid that I believe it may have been possible to reach out in front of you with both hands, grab some air and literally squeeze water out of it! Well, maybe not. But it sure felt like it out to be possible.But surely cooler and less humid temps are just around the corner even down here in the Deep South.I've begun to notice a number of different blossoms beside my hiking trail as of late -- colors I have come to associate with Fall. It is a welcome sight, for sure. Give us hope that Autumn truly is on its way. At the same time it was a subtle reminder that I needed to get back on my allergy meds or I'd be coughing and sneezing my way over the trail in the coming weeks.Have lately been considering the purchase of a small bear canister. Don't really like the idea of carrying one -- the space it would eat up in my pack as well as the added weight -- but neither do I like the end of the day routine of finding the right branch and playing target practice with my bear line, trying to get the bag hung in just the right location. It often is a very frustrating experience, and the older I get, the harder it seems to be to throw that rock over the limb in just the right spot without said rock coming back down and beaning me in the head. I'll keep mulling over the option of a canister for while yet before making a decision. But any advice from you other hikers will be appreciated.Hey, a big CONGRATS to the large number of 2014 hikers who are beginning now to finish up their respective hikes. I've followed a number of them and have learned a good deal vicariously through their experiences and I rejoice with each one whenever that traditional photo is posted by that familiar sign on top of Katahdin. Sure hope to see it myself one of these days!Okay, time to break out the eats and get down to some serious Labor Day celebrating! Take care and God bless you all!
Date: 2014-11-03
To: Getting Closer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I've delayed making any additional entries to my journal for a while as I was experiencing some technical difficulty with Aurigma and was unable to upload photos. But Leif has been great and it seems the problem has been resolved. Wanted to post these photos taken on a recent trip my wife and I made to North Carolina. We always enjoy getting back up to our Mtn cabin. There is always tons of work to do around the place but it is joyful work. Was able to harvest more stones and work on a new set of steps up a steep bank into the woods behind the cabin. And the amazing thing is that I didn't injure my back in the process. Five months left before my projected start date. Gorp Gobbler and I are chatting back and forth and both getting excited. Plans are falling into place. Have settled on the initial number of drop boxes I plan to use --- only three between Springer and Damascus. Got all my gear in place. While up in NC I must have gone into eight outfitter stores and the only purchases were a pair of socks and a pair of light weight gloves. So I must be pretty satisfied with what I already have. Oh, and I did pick up this neat clothesline. It only weighs an ounce, I think, and it is so small. So it should take up almost no room in my pack and might just come in handy. Okay, take care all of you. Hope the SOBO's were able to get off trail this past weekend and avoid the nasty blast of winter which hit the mtns. A friend told me they got 14 inches of snow on Roan Mtn. See you on the trail!
Date: 2014-11-09
To: A Sad, Sad Journal Bomb
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well we were warned, weren't we. Leif told us of how the journals of some hikers had been attacked -- as one or several sick individuals with more time on their hands than sense in their heads somehow choose to get their jollies by logging into our Guest Registry to leave us inappropriate and nasty messages. I had no idea this would happen to me -- but now it has. Some spiteful, unnamed coward has chosen to leave me the following:"I seen you going south bound on the approach tr in February and I was hiking north and you asked me why I was starting early because u were starting when all the hikers were for the big party u said.Then I seen you signed another mans journal stating u wanted to have a group of guys start with you.Now looking back talking with you on the approach tr was a waste of time.That day u played it off like u a party animal and really u need some guys to hold your hand.I was hiking north and u looking for posers.Good luck with your party of fellows "Anyone who knows me knows these comments to be absolutely false. I am certainly no 'party animal' and I was no where near the trail back in February or at any time (unfortunately) in 2014. Can't really figure out the purpose behind this sick attack. Perhaps it's simply to elicit a response -- in which case I will have played into their hands. In any event it has made me more sympathetic for other TJ users who have suffered in like manner. All we truly want to do is post entries on a hiker- friendly site and share our hiking adventures and dreams with other enthusiasts. I'd hate to pull my journal or shut down the Guest Book but I may have to if such assaults continue. In the meantime-- to my friends-- let me extend the warmest of greetings.
Date: 2014-11-17
To: Cold Man Walking
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Just got back indoors from a rather chilly walk. It was quite 'air-ish' as some hereabouts might say. But it gave me a chance to test out my neck gaiter and some warm biker sleeves and some new gloves. It all worked fine and I was quite comfortable in spite of the wind. Wasn't interested in miles today -- just out to enjoy Fall here in the South. Took the time to work up some Artwork using persimmons from a Trailside tree. This is my favorite season. I love the changing of the leaves -- all those beautiful colors! I read somewhere of how, in the Fall, a layer of cells forms at the base of the leaf stem. It's called a layer of separation. Once this happens, there isn't "a moment's reversal of decision" for the leaf. It is inevitable. The leaf will fall off and die so that new growth can occur. I thought about that -- and wondered if the same principle didn't apply to me and my hiking plans. It seems that from the moment I injured myself in 2013 and was forced to abandon the trail -- there really hasn't been "a moment's reversal of decision" for me. I was going to give it another try if at all possible. I am extremely thankful to God, my wife, and my church family for giving me the green light to pursue this dream once again. Let's pray that my effort meets with better results this time around. Take care everyone!
Date: 2014-11-25
To: The Old Fencepost
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

THE OLD FENCEPOSTIt's quiet here, along this stretch of the winding path, beside which stands an old fencepost, long abandoned, here among the brambles and briars. It looks to be of locust. Long it has stood here; longer still it will remain. Broken strands of rusty wire hang down -- an enduring link to a forgotten usefulness. It leans against the trunk of an old oak, the bountiful fruit from which lie strewn about beneath. It's indeterminable which arrived first -- the old fencepost or the tree. But inseparably do they share the present -- the post having become encased by the protective wrap of its companion. I wonder about its origin. Could this old post be a faithful sentinel still marking the furthermost boundary of some vast estate which no longer exists? Was it never informed that its duty was long since fulfilled? In any event, here it continues to stand, staking down the roots of its shading friend -- the very tree which holds it in place; each now dependent upon the other; sharing a common bond, a lasting companionship in this lonely part of the woods.
Date: 2014-11-26
To: Leaf Catching
Miles today: 0.0

Here's proof -- I caught one. FINALLY! It doesn't matter that I've gone nearly this entire leaf-falling season with dismal results. Today's walk was not in vain. I FINALLY CAUGHT A FALLING LEAF!!! And I did it without killing myself or using my hat. Okay, one leaf doesn't speak highly of my hand-to-eye coordination. I'll agree that I need some lessons from the experts. But none of that matters to me today. ONE LEAF -- I finally caught one!! :-)Hope that all of you have a great time tomorrow with family and friends. My wife has been baking all day. The house smells wonderful. Early tomorrow she'll start the turkey baking. Man oh man, I can hardly wait. Gorp and I are coming up on just a little over 100 days before we head to Springer. WOW! The days are slipping by so quickly and the next six weeks to the end of the year will simply fly by. I think all my gear is in order and Gorp tells me he only needs to add a couple of more items. So we are almost ready. Can't wait!Don't know if everyone will enjoy the postings of some of my own Prose Poetry. But hey, I write it for myself, not really for others. Even if no one liked it, I'd still write. Anyway, it may be that my thoughts will resonate with someone. If so, let me hear from you. Take care!