morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Plum Orchard Gap Shelter

To: Mystery Shelter
Miles today: 7.1

Had some very rude tourists at the shelter last night! Most racist bunch of jerks I've ever heard. At 9pm I finally got up and explained that people had been trying to sleep for the last hour and a half. At 10pm, even with earplugs in, I could still hear them. DIdn't sleep too well that night.Woke kinda late and got on the trail at 9:15. Did the 4.5 miles to the state like in about 2.75 hours - felt pretty good about that pace!Passed into North Carolina. The marker was kind of dissapointing - just a little sign. One of the hikers commented that he was expecting fireworks or hot air balloons or something But it felt great to hit that first big milestone.Was planning to try pushing on to Standing Indian SHelter, 12.5 miles from Pluum Orchard Gap. Knew it would be a lot but I"ve done 2 11.5 mile days so it seemed possible, even with the late start. BUT... when I got into NC, the climb out of Bly Gap was basically 2.5 miles of UGLY. It was, without question, the most difficult day I've ever had! The depths of my exhaustion were such that I actually began to doubt my ability to take another step without first stopping to rest for an hour. Worse than Kelly's Knob by exponential degrees.So, after nearly collapsing where I stood, I finally made it to Shelter Whose Name I Can't Remember, 7.1 miles from my start. Ate a huge lunch and tried to talk myself into moving on. When the trip to the privy, sans pack, up a steep but very short hill, made my legs scream, I decided to stay the night. Welsh Nomad came in perhaps an hour later, and also stayed. So did Old Fogies Ltd. & Kat, and a whole bunch of others who had also planned to push on but got punched in the throat by NC.When I woke up this morning, I didn't want to get out of bed. I had my first real thoughts of quitting since sometime around my second day. Guess it goes to show you how important good sleep is! Had to climb a friggin mountain just to get out of the shelter and back onto the trail, which didn't help the cause any. And yet, by 10am, the trail had worked her magic (despite being about 80% uphill today) and I was really loving it. Too hot in the sun but perfect in the shade, with the woods and the mountains all around me. Sometimes I'm so happy and at peace out here, my eyes just fill with tears.Trail was crowded today! Must be a weekend (by the way, that's the only way I can tell what day it is anymore.) Met 2 boyscout troops and at least a dozen thru-hikers, including running into Ray-L and Ice Break and meeting a nice woman named Laura, with whom I discussed literature until we ran out of air for speaking.I spent the morning believing I am getting stronger, but after the climb out of Bly and my inability to go on afterwards, I'm not so sure. Again, I tell myself I'm not racing, but I am a little bothered that I crapped out so early today. A little less bothered to see this shelter crowded with others who did the same for the same reason - welcome to North Carolina, folks!
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Beech Gap

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Here at Big Spring Shelter - 10 miles today and I could have gone on but all my friends are here and I wanted company tonight after being alone last night.Made excellent time today over terrain that was mostly flats and gentle ups and downs. A sheer pleasure of a walk! The trip over Big Butt Mountain (I am not making that up) was insane - should have been named Big Butt Obstacle Course. Took some pics, but it doesn't do it justice. Thank god for the hiking poles on that stretch, though longer legs and a prehensile tail would have helped, too. COuple views off the mountain were breathtaking.Next was the climb up Albert Mountain - over 500 feet in less than a third of a mile. So steep I had to put the poles away - needed both hands to rock scramble. It was actually a ton of fun, since you had to spend so much time planning the next move that you couldn't go quickly enough to get exhausted. I'd take the mad steep scramble over the steady steep plod any day!Went up with Corey, who is 6'8" (don't ever stand directly next to him, it does things to a person), and we sat on a rock expanse near the top for almost an hour! The view was breathtaking - at 5220 feet it was pretty much above everything. We talked about life and literature and politics, then went up to the top where there's an old fashioned fire tower! After climbing the equivalent of 50 flights of stairs, we figured what the hell's 4 more and went up the tower. You could see for maybe 20 miles in 360 degrees - so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Unfortunately, the tower room was locked, so we stood on the stairs in the wind until it was too cold. Check out the photos when they get loaded - it'll give you at least some idea, but obviously does it no justice.All in all, I'd say today was my best day so far. The two-week mark, too, and tomorrow I hit my triple-digit milestone! The weather was perfect, the views were beyond description, and even the ups were fun. I'm also getting stronger for sure, as everything has become a little easier than at first. Even slept well last night!
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Haven Motel in Franklin, NC
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up super early (this happens when you share a shelter with Kat) and was on the trail by 7:30. Did the six trail miles and one road mile to Rainbow Springs by 10:30. Met up with Fast Eddie and Icebreak at the campground and went into Mountain Crossing's second store. They had no issue exchanging my PL3 for a PL4, but didn't have the PL4s in stock. But they're mailing one to the NOC for me! When I get that one I'll return the other. Was very happy with the service. Also got a pair of Superfeet--$30 inserts that have since eliminated about 90% of my foot pain.Called the Haven Motel in Franklin for a shuttle--they give free rides back and forth to the trail head. Joanne and I planned to split a room for two nights, since we were going to take a genuine zero day the next day. Haven was a super hiker-friendly motel!! Stay there!Tried to take a hot bath, but Corey had showered for like an hour and there was no hot water left. Hung my tent out to air, walked to the supermarket (the desk guy said it was only two blocks and neglected to mention that each block was half a mile!) and bought all my favorite foods for the next two days so I wouldn't have to eat out. Carried back milk and rice crispies, strawberries, popcorn, and munster cheese. Also bought some ibuprofin for Bearbait, who was in a BAD way with what was probably shinsplints. I nursed him as best I could but he'll be off the trail for several weeks at best.Finally got my bath and even caught an episode of the X-Files (yay David Duchovny fix!)--though I must admit that there's no shortage of nice things to look at out here, and I don't just mean the scenery! :-)Informal party in Corey's room to watch the new "Passion" episode of South Park. Welsh Nomad showed, and I met 2 Cent, Andrew, and Subway. Had tons of fun and still couldn't keep my eyes open past 11:30.
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Haven Motel in Franklin, NC

To: Haven Motel in Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

My first real zero day! Well timed, too, as hikers came in from the mountain in drones, trying to escape about 9" of snow in the higher elevations. Was super lazy today and didn't leave the motel even once. Read The Footprints of God (great book!) from cover to cover.They found Slowpoke! He's been missing for five days, despite us backtracking to find him, leaving long messages in every register, and asking NOBO and SOBO hikers if they'v eseen him. Brandon eventually got so worried that him, Joe, and Pete rented a car and drove back to Bly Gap, where he first went missing. After an entire day of no success, they alerted the authorities. After 200 search and rescue guys were called, Slowpoke was found. Turns out he'd gone the wrong way at Bly, got bad directions from day hikers, and finally got good and lost. He came back to lots of hugs and several all-you-can-eat buffets.
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Haven Motel in Franklin, NC

To: Haven Motel in Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Decided to stay another day because of weather, so now it's a double zero. I'm going stir crazy but the trail is buried and it's rediculously cold. EVERYONE is staying, and every single room in the motel is full of hikers. Intents showed up from Rainbow Springs today.
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Haven Motel in Franklin, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

Finally getting out of here! Had to hit the post office again because they failed to give me something the first time, so I couldn't leave on the first shuttle.AFAIK, everyone was planning to come out with me when I left. Go to the PO and come back, and Welsh is back in her room. Knocked on Subway and Corey's door, an they're in bed drinking (at 11am!). I think they've been drinking non-stop since they got here three days ago! Subway, btw, could do all the lady hikers a favor and hike topless . . .So at noon, I go back to Wallace Gap and go the 7.1 miles to the Siler Bald shelter.Snowed on me in a desultory fashion all afternoon, but the wind and cold were awful. When I got to the shelter at 4, everyone was in bed and so bundled up that I didn't even recognize them.We shoved 11 people into the 8-man shelter. I got badly chilled and couldn't get warm again. Serious hypothermia; I remember very little about it, but I do remember this: Cameron made me cocoa and Pete made me a hot Nalgene bottle to put at my feet in my bag. One guy gave me an extra shirt and two others made room between them for my sleeping bag. I finally got warm. How do you thank people for saving your life?
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: few clouds

Woke up at 6:30 this morning, feeling kind of drained after my bout with hypothermia. Ate a cold breakfast and hit the trail--had 12.1 trail miles to the next shelter (Cold Spring) plus a half mile hike out from Siler Bald Shelter to the trail. The acutal Siler Bald came within the hour--our first Bald, and breathtaking all covered in snow! In some places, the snow was very deep, but for the most part, the trail was just slushy. Very tiring to walk on and very taxing uphill.This morning was very frustrating and unpleasant. Cold, windy, I had to take off or put on some combo of hats, gloves, and jacket every fifteen or twenty minutes; slush rained down on me from above as it melted off the trees; and there were at least half a dozen major uphills. After Wayah Bald (great view!), things went a little easier, but the 1.2 mile 700 foot elevation into the shelter may have been the longest 1.2 miles of my life. Tonight there's seven people shoved into a six man shelter. Everything, my sleeping bag included, is covered with mud. At the lower elevations, there's no snow, but up here at about 5,600 feet, it's everywhere and deep. Made it very pretty though all afternoon, when the walking was flatter and warmer.Supposed to be sustained winds of 30mph and gusts of 50mph tonight, with lows in the high 20s. Hopefully I can stay warm.
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Actually kept warm last night. What a crappy shelter, though! And with seven of us stuffed into a six-man space, I ended up half on Slowpoke's MASSIVE car-camping Thermarest--that may have helped with the staying warm. Unfortunately, that also put me on a tilt, so I kept sliding into the woman next to me. I probably woke up twenty times--ever time anyone moved around too much.Now that the clocks are ahead, we all got up so late! Hikers hike by the sun, after all, so we slept in til almost 8. The weather did not inspire any of us to get up. I ran into John at the shelter--him and I shared a room two weeks ago at The Hiker Hostel (stay there!). He is making SERIOUS tracks! Also met a girl named Kathryn who has done a lot of trail construction and maintainence, and a couple named Evelyn and Gary, of whom Gary is the World Champion of Shelter Snoring.The weather performed as promised all morning. Bitter cold, high winds, and icy frozen trails. Crunchy mud is fun! Slush and ice is not :-(Everyone said today was all downhill, except the climb out of the shelter and one biggie to Wasser Bald. Well, it was (for those who plan to hike this section in the future) most assuredly not! This stretch of NC was full of little steep hiccups--you'd go down some super down for several hundred feet, then randomly climb some absurdly steep incline for 50 or 100 feet before going right back down again. God forbid we ever went around--woulda saved at least 500 feet of elevation in both directions.Today's downs were the first multi-thousand foot descents we've ever done on the AT. By the end, my quads were a quivering mess, I formed a blister on my arch, and all my joints were complaining. I also took a tumble down a pile of wet leaves when my right pole collapsed on me, and I pulled muscles I didn't even know I had, like the left side of my neck. Two days ago I also pulled a muscle pretty badly in my left calf, and though I've mostly been able to walk it out, by the end of yesterday and today I was really hurting. In fact, the last half mile of today was so bad that I literally limped into the Nantahala Outdoor Center. May take a zero tomorrow if my calf demands it, but I hope not.Had a little adventure today--I got lost! Coming out of Telco Gap, the AT and the forest service road run paralell a little while. Was so focused on the ground and my rhythem on this big up (800 feet in 1.5 miles) that I neglected to see where I was going. When I reached a fork in the trail, I couldn't find any blazes. But up is up and I knew I was going to a fire tower, and since I could still see it off in the distance, I kept heading toward it. This, of course, after walking down and back up the same half-mile stretch of fire road twice to make sure I hadn't just walked past any blazes, and then sitting down for a short cry and some lunch in the hope that someone might walk by. Nobody did, but I made it to the firetower eventually anyway. Met up with some friends, was teased mercilessly, and enjoyed one of the most stunning views of the Nantahala valley I'd ever seen.
Date: 2004-01-15
To: Open Invitation
Miles today: 0.0

Welcome to my Trail Journal! Hello and welcome. You¢re invited to follow my progress northward through thirteen states, all kinds of weather, and all states of mind. I¢ll record daily notes on a "PocketMail" gadget, then email them home at every telephone opportunity. My wife will upload them to this site. She takes no responsibility for weird spelling, weird grammar, or weird commentary. Photos will be posted as chips from my digital camera arrive home by mail. Those intervals may be longer. Here¢s how to navigate this site. Let¢s start with the left hand column working downwards. ¢Journal¢ gets you to my daily journal entries. You can move around in it by clicking anywhere on ¢List¢ or ¢By Date¢. You can do the same by going to the top of each page and hitting ¢First¢¢ ¢Previous,¢ ¢Next,¢ or ¢Last.¢¢Gear¢ lists some of the stuff I plan to use. This is subject to much revision as the trip unwinds and as equipment functions well or craps out.¢Photos¢ shows everything I¢ve sent home, not just the daily photo at the top of each journal page.¢Mail Drop¢ is where I¢ll be looking for letters or packages from home. Anyone else can reach me the same way. Just add on the label ¢Please hold for AT hiker, ETA....¢ (Use the ETA date stated for that address). I¢ll also be checking my email at local hostels or town libraries. ¢About¢ is a brief bio. ¢Trail Name¢ gets into the trail naming ritual. Please sign my GuestBook!. Encouragement means as much as food does on the trail! It¢s great to know I¢m not just talking to myself, or for posterity. Or you can email me en route at rhnmd@yahoo.com or at ATthruhiker2004@pocketmail.com Across the top bar you¢ll see ¢Journals¢ That leads to a gigantic collection of accounts much like mine, assorted by year, and by trail (there are many others in addition to the AT, such as the Pacific Crest, the Continental Divide, and the Long Trail in Vermont). You¢ll find photos by the skillions in ¢Gallery.¢¢Home¢ takes you to forum sites on many trail topics. I've learned a lot here and on www.WhiteBlaze.NetEnjoy the ride!
Date: 2004-01-17
To: Early Stirrings
Miles today: 0.0

The first step of any journey begins with.....a journal entry! Now that I have resolved to tackle the AT, the scariest part is learning to use this site, and to express myself halfway clearly. That old schoolboy dread of composition writing never leaves!Why go thru-hiking? After all, it¢s a lot more comfortable around home. But after nearly a lifetime of enjoying the outdoors, my urge to hike the AT has set in over the past several years. One of my sons Rob (¢Speck¢) hiked it at age 23 in 2000. As we supported him from home and visited him at points along the trail, my interest grew. We were fascinated by his lifestyle and the cameraderie he shared with his trail friends.As more of my old outdoors buddies fetch up lame, the odds weren¢t good if I waited till retirement. That won¢t be for another five years or more (I'm 62 now), since I enjoy my work. Call this an advance against my retirement. It will cost me dearly in many ways, but I GOTTA DO IT.Other factors. I¢ve always had a thing about trails. One of my earliest memories was toddling behind my Dad as he mowed circular paths through the grass in our back yard in the Philly suburbs. Even then I felt an adventure around every turn. Is that weird or what? Even now, every time I come to an AT road crossing, say the one southbound in Gorham, I look into that green tunnel and visualize it twisting and winding, rising and dropping for over countless miles, with me on it. Then came summer camps in Maine and Minnesota from age 8 onward, then working in one. Then came marriage and family raising, and of course taking along the kids onto the lakes and rivers or into the woods. Their turn.Always felt a need to prove myself--an uncomfortable itch that was only temporarily filled by the latest accomplishment. Went into a serious marathoning phase in my late 30¢s and early 40¢s, then quit after breaking 3 hours. Kept jogging daily until the knees started complaining two years ago. So back into hiking, which I¢d never really abandoned. Only now I could give it my full attention. More about a trial run, next entry.
Date: 2004-01-18
To: Prehike Tuneup
Miles today: 0.0

Last August I hiked the 100-mile ¢Wilderness¢ from Monson to Katahdin with an old running buddy, Ron ¢Walkytalky¢ Paquet. It was a chance to road-test new gear (my old stuff dated from the ¢70¢s, including military surplus rucksacks, oiled-canvas tents, leaky air mattresses---yuck!). All went great--a real confidence-builder. Beautiful Maine late-summer weather.The trip ended a weekend later when my wife Gloria and I climbed Katahdin. It was her first time up, and the 50th anniversary of my first time! That mountain is my Mt. Fuji, my spiritual center (not counting music), the place I revere above all others. What a destination for a start from Georgia. I¢ll be feeling the pull all the way north! After that final climb we were fortunate to meet AWOL, who had just completed his thru-hike and needed a ride out of the park. He gave us many tips and put us onto trailjournals.com. His own account is beautifully organized and written. Must be his journalist background. We were impressed by his drive and fortitude in face of the hardships he had endured. Read his account and be educated.Also met a great assortment of section- and thru-hikers, all of whom were full of advice born of experience, and of general encouragement. Some of the cast of characters: Dan and Spiderman, Typhoon, Eric, Twofiddy, Tater, and Steve and his sister Mary from Boston. Great company, and just a taste of this year¢s companions.Fording at Gulf HagasWhite House CampThat section hike revealed many of the things I would face, except for prolonged stretches of foul weather. What the 2003 thruhikers faced in the way of endless rain and chill was horrible. If this were a hike-for-pay proposition, they all deserve double overtime. That¢s my biggest concern: how to keep my spirits up in the face of all that. The physical stuff I can cope with, if my resolve holds. Bill motoring us back to ATTo that end, I hope to become a kind of poster-boy for the Bangor Symphony, which I¢ve played with for 10 years. I¢d receive no financial backing, but donors would give so much to the Symphony per mile I¢ve hiked, upon my successful completion. That should motivate me through the harder moments, and there will be those. Still waiting to see if management and the Board are interested in this proposition.Noontime break on Rainbow Ledges with Mary, Steve and SpidermanAward ceremony for 100-mile hikeBest meal: Is there any? Time on the trail will tell.Worst meal: Chili/rice/beans with tuna added. Ack! Tasted that one for a day after.Best Snack(s): Snickers Bars. Sardines in Tomato Basil sauce, on crackers. Anything made by Little Debbie. She¢s my trail babe!Worst Snack: Trail mix. Just couldn¢t force it down in any quantity. Better experiment with ingredients.Most comfortable location: Tarping on the thick soft forest floor at Rainbow Stream campground. Softer than any futon.Least comfortable location: Leanto at Rainbow Stream, with baseball-bat flooring. I read on WhiteBlaze they were meant to have pine boughs laid across them for padding. Bring back the boughs!