morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Cove Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

The trail doesn't get easier. I may have said that before and I'll no doubt say it again. The trail does NOT get any easier.   See?   This is one of the biggest challenges I'm finding about the trail. I'm starting to think the damn thing is alive, constantly watching and listening. Waiting for you to conquer the most recent obstacle just so it can throw you a new one.   He made it to Springer after a 9 mile hike on the dreaded Approach Trail; Let's see how he fairs without his Leki's.   He made it through Day 1 on the actual AT; Let's see how he fairs when it rains all Day 2.   Still doing okay? Let's see how long he lasts after his injured knee forces him to fall behind the friends he's made.   And now let's strike him with Homesickness after talking with his ex-girlfriend on the phone.   And now how about cold?   And now wind.   Now snow.   Hail. Mud. Ice. Mountain after mountain. After mountain.   The rocks don't get easier either; Your feet don't get used to them. At the end of the day, my feet were killing me. No huge surprise.   And now with the warmer weather here, most might think that at least that will be easier to deal with. Sure he'll still have mountains to climb, but at least he won't be cold.   Let me tell you something. Hot is worse.    Cold you deal with in the morning as you pack up camp, and in the evening almost ready to head into your sleeping bag. The many hours in between are spent hiking, which keeps your body nice and toasty.   Hot you deal with all day.   And with it comes bugs.   Of course, there are good things that come with the warmer weather: Wildlife.   Saw my first wild turkey today. And another deer. And two snakes, one of which was at LEAST 5 feet long and as wide as my wrist, and almost got trampled by Camel and me.   Oh, and we saw some crazy Robot Beetles. Never saw anything like them, and they really freaked us out.    Think the heat and cold and rocks and steep climbs were challenges? Try putting up with Robot Beetles.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Swift Run Gap
Miles today: 11.6

The deer are not shy here. We watched as they visited the shelter area last night as we made our dinners. One came within a few feet of Q-Tip as he stood by the edge of the woods urinating.   ¢Hey! Get out of here!¢    You would think a popular national park would train their wildlife better than that.   Q-Tip attempted a thru-hike last year. He got sick along the way and found himself running into the woods to take care of business more often than he would¢ve liked. Then, one day in Pennsylvania, he had had enough. Up to that point, he¢d been sick for about two months straight. I think about this and about the stomach issues I¢ve had to deal with in the past couple of weeks and wonder just how strong-willed I¢d be if ¢couple of weeks¢ turned into ¢couple of months.¢   This year, Q-Tip has returned to the trail as a Ridge Runner¢outdoor enthusiasts who are assigned a section of the trail to hike back and forth, reporting any blowdowns blocking the trail, recording the number of hikers they see on the trail and at the shelters for purposes of acquiring government funding, and acting as Leave-No-Trace ambassadors. One thru-hiker is apparently unaware of this and flings his used teabag into the fire pit¢a Leave-No-Trace ¢no-no.¢ I secretly wish Ridge Runners had the authority to issue fines.   In the morning, I take my time. I¢m planning on being picked up at Swift Run Gap, less than 12 miles away, by Carol Hensley, Joy¢s mother. She and her husband have offered their home to me for another night. Perhaps if I were a stronger person, I would¢ve declined. But I¢m not a stronger person.   I reach a vista known as Hightop and witness an awesome sight. Half of the 180-degree panoramic view is blanketed by a dark, low-lying storm cloud while the other half is brightly illuminated through a thin sheet of white sky. I take my pictures, and a few moments to breathe it in, and then move on.   Not surprisingly, the rain shows up soon afterwards. After putting on my Precip and packcover, the rain stops. Why do I bother sometimes?   Carol picks me up at Swift Run Gap, runs me to an outfitter where I pick up new socks and a fuel container, and takes me back to their home. I talk to my friends JT & Shaun to make final plans about them coming down this weekend. We plan to meet at Lewis Mountain Campground tomorrow evening.   During dinner I think about how fortunate I am, having friends that will drive down from Delaware because they know how hard a time I¢ve been having, depressed from being alone and discouraged from a persistent stomach ailment, and meeting the most amazing people along these first three months of my journey, even willing to take me into their homes and share their food. I don¢t stay up long after we eat, with a mattress in the basement calling my name.   I sleep well.
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Compton Gap
Miles today: 22.6

Bear #3 was uneventful.    A few minutes after turning right off the blue blaze trail from the shelter, I hear a sound to my left, stop, and look to see a big, black spot bouncing away in the distance. In a few seconds he has vanished, camouflaged by the shadows of an early morning forest.   I left the shelter fairly early in an effort to pull big miles today. I'm glad I slowed down in Shenandoah National Park, as I enjoyed my time with the people I met here--Q-Tip, Prozac, The Pokey Puppies and the Falls Church boys--but I still cling to an undying hope that I will catch up with those friends I made earlier in the trip. Friends with whom I share fond memories and feel a deep sense of camaraderie.   Less than 8 miles into my hike, I stop at the final SNP wayside--Elk Wallow. I devour a burger and blackberry shake, blackberry being the flavor of choice for all things ice-cream-like within the park. I sit with Sweet Cheeks, Walk Softly, and The Pokey Puppies and tell them about the bear I saw glipsed this morning, complaining about the low quality of the sighting. Walks Softly is unsympathetic, though friendly, when he gives me some perspective: he has not yet seen even one since he began his hike in Georgia. I hope he gets his bear-sighting. Every hiker should have at least one good one.    I say goodbye when I leave, unsure when, or if, I'll see them again. They are stopping at a shelter less than 6 miles from here. I, on the other hand, have decided to try for the hostel just outside the park. I still have over 15 miles to hike. I better get moving.   The weather is beautiful all day with just a small period of light rain. Before dark, I reach the trail that I believe (you're never REALLY sure unless there is a posted sign) is to take me to the hostel. The painted sign in front of a house reads "Terrapin Station Hostel" with two turtles depicted--one dancing while the other plays the banjo. On the same post as the painted sign and just below it are four more signs, the first of which directs hikers around back.   The second sign reads: "Mt Katahdin, Maine. 1223 mi."   The third: "Harpers Ferry. 58 mi."   And below that, the fourth: "Springer Mt, Georgia. 948 mi."   It's been three months so far. I won't be finishing anytime soon.
Date: 2004-07-31
From: Appalachian Trail

To: Appalachian Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hello everyone...   First of all, I want to apologize for the long wait for updates. I understand that there are more people out there reading my journal than I originally realized and that there is some disappointment when, day after day, an update doesn't appear on my journal. Here's what's up.   It is not easy to update this thing. At the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is...well...anything. Your body and mind is usually so spent that you only want to eat and sleep. Of course I could find time, but you never really know when you're going to see the people your with again, if ever. So, to make the most of your time with these friends, you talk and laugh with them instead of burying your nose in a journal. I've tried writing some after everyone goes to sleep, but being the only headlamp on, it attracts every mosquito and moth for 5 miles around.    I know. I could just set up my tent, right? Then that ends up being an extra thing to take care of in the morning that I don't want to deal with if I don't have to, and putting an extra step into my morning also means usually leaving after everyone else. And that sucks.   I could give you excuse after excuse. It all adds up to this. Doing journal entries out here is a pain in the butt.    I am planning on posting an entry for each day after this trip is over. I do keep notes every day; I just don't write the full entry. I hope you'll still find them entertaining even if they are late.   So, how am I doing? I'm okay. I just hate walking right now. I can't wait for this damn thing to be over. I hate walking. I hate climbing. I hate poptarts and ramen noodles. I hate sweat. I hate being hot. I hate being cold. I hate being wet. But I love the people I've met. They make the misery worthwhile.    Wish I could give you more, but I'm at a hostel and the owner is going to bed and wants the computer off while she's not around. I don't get it either.   Love you all.    Leki (Chris)
Date: 2005-01-31
To: I had a dream...
Miles today: 0.0

Know those dreams that occur JUST before you wake up? It's still fresh in your mind and you think about it all day long?    I had a good one this morning.   I remember waking up (in the dream) on the slope of a mountain somewhere. There was no tent, but my sleeping bag and I were layed out on a tent platform. Apparently I had cowboy-camped along with a girl who was now waking up next to me. We turned to each other and smiled. I could smell that cool, fresh air that comes with waking up outdoors-quite a change from the stale, recycled air in my small suburban bedroom.   In the dream, this girl was my girlfriend and I knew we were falling in love with each other. But more than that, I knew deep down that this was my future bride. In real life I have no idea who this girl was, but I hope to meet her. With both of us standing now, we held each other tight not wanting to be anywhere else in the entire world.    I had wondered if being back out there for the first time since leaving the trail many months ago would seem strange or unfamiliar. Standing there in that moment, however, it seemed like the only thing that made sense. I felt like I was at home out there and the idea of waking up in a bedroom with four walls, a floor, and a ceiling is what seemed strange.    At the beginning of the dream we were below the cover of trees but as the dream went on...it changed. I would alternate between talking to my beloved and taking in the scenery around us and everytime I looked around things were slightly different, as if the mountain we were on was increasing in size with the landscape around us simultaneously expanding. By the end, we were looking out at a scene that was all too familiar. Mountain peaks shaded blue piercing the low-laying clouds of early morning. Everything was perfect.    Everything.   And then I woke up...
Date: 2005-02-02
To: Updates?
Miles today: 0.0

While I was hiking the trail, I took notes in a small notebook to remind myself what happened on each day. With these notes, I was able to later write a full journal entry for that day. Just by reading the few short lines I had written, I could remember the entire day. The ups. The downs. Literally and figuratively. The actual FEELINGS that I had that day would come back to me, making the writing of the journal entry an experience in and of itself.I know it has been three years since I last updated my journal, but I suppose better late than never. The sad thing, though, is I'm afraid the opportunity to experience most of those feelings may have passed. I hope not, of course. Maybe it'll come back after a few entries. We shall see.So, in case you think the entries from 6/03/04 on have a different feel to them, this is likely the case. I do enjoy looking back at my journal entries, though. It makes me miss the trail--miss the whole experience. Especially now with March 1st just around the corner...02/03/09--Added entries for 06/03/04 and 06/04/0401/11/06--Added entry for 06/02/0401/06/06--Added entry for 06/01/0401/02/06-- Added entry for 05/31/0412/21/05--Added entry for 05/30/0406/02/05-- Added entry for 05/29/0405/31/05-- Added entries for 05/27/04 & 05/28/0405/30/05-- Added entry for 05/26/0403/26/05-- Added photos for 05/0803/11/05-- Added entry for 05/2503/10/05--Added entry for 05/2403/09/05-- Added entry for 05/23 (Long, but it's a good one!)03/02/05-- Added entry and photo for 05/2203/01/05-- Added entry and photo for 05/2102/28/05-- Added entry for 05/2002/26/05-- Added entry for 05/19 and photo for 05/18
Date: 2004-03-26
From: Opening Entry

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

Alright First day on the trail. So we will start with a little back story about how i got to the trailhead. When i left MA i went down to venice florida to visit my grandmother and see my sister before i began, a little vacation before my big vacation. I had a fabulous time down there as usual, all the way until i was getting ready to go to the airport. As my grandmother said when i was there, "Everything is great until you are going to the Airport." So as i am packing my bag and getting ready to go when i pulled the cinch strap to close my bag the grommet ripped out of the bag. we all went into crisis mode and got some duct tape and fixed everything up. From there is was smooth sailing all the way to Atlanta. which was a short two layovers and a train ride away. In Atlanta Tom Raymond ("Blue Streek") picked my up at the trainstation and brought me to a bar where we met some of his friends and watched the St. Joseph's/Wakeforest basketball game, St.Joseph's won by the way. Then back to Tom's house and a couple hours sleep then on to Amicalola state park and the approach trail to Springer. The Approach trail was 8 1/2 miles long and took me until noon to get to the top. Once there I met some past thru-hikers, Pot-holder, swift, and spiderman, some current hikers Gator-Gal and Old Man, and the springer shelter caretaker Gizmo. And i got my first bit of trail magic from Gizmo. I had forgotten to get matches or a lighter on my way to the trailhead, but luckily Gizmo gave me a pack of matches which has lasted me until i am writing this which is five days later, and i still have almost half the pack left. After lunch i was itching to officially start the trail so i took off and headed out. another 8 miles later i finally stopped at Hawk Mountain Shelter for the night and met a whole bunch of past and present thru-hikers. We all ate dinner lit a fire and sat around the fire talking until way past dark, and Arms took out his guitar and gave us a little background music. I crashed that night in a full shelter and dreamt sweet dreams of miles yet to come.
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Day 2we woke up and people started to head out on the trail, i was in the middle of the pack departing at about 9 to another beautiful day, probably in the 70's and sunny. Mid morning i saw pretty cool little cave like area with a ledge next to it so i stopped for a break, while there i spotted a hawk soaring around, and while i was watching the hawk 4 more joined and they were all weaving around in the sky, it was a very spectacular sight. unfortunately i was only able to get a picture of one of them, and a pretty poor one at that. I continued on and at lunch time i arrived at Gooch mountain shelter with craig, chris, and arms. After taking a break and eating some food craig and i decided to push on toward woody gap since it was still early in the day. On the way to woody gap i met a day hiker who recommended i push a few miles beyond woody gap and camp on a rock ledge called preachers ledge, well i made it there just about when my energy ran out so it was the perfect time to set up for the night. I got to watch a beautiful sunset off the ledge and meet a few friendly day hikers up to see the view. Well im gonna leave it at that for now, i know i am leaving you a few days behind, i will try to catch up in the future. I still need to hike another five miles today to the next shelter, and it is raining right now so i best get moving. talk to you all later. Kirk
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a pretty good day, unfortunately i woke up a little to late to see the sunrise off preachers ledge, but it was still a beautiful morning. After packing up and getting myself some water i was cruising along toward Blood Mtn. when i came upon a plastic bag hanging from a tree. A past Thru-hiker had baked a bunch of cookies and hung them in the tree for other trhu-hikers. So i got to the base of Blood Mtn. filled up on water and braced myself for a tough hike up the highest mountain on the AT in Georgia. less than an hour later i was at the top, honestly compared to the white mountains i thought it was cake. So at the top i met some locals who gave me some sausage and cheese. The view was beautiful, the worst part of the day was going back down Blood. All the little aches and pains that i had from the previous two days decided to gang up on me. At the bottom was neels gap and the Walasi-Yi center. Everyone there had emptied their packs and were trying to lighten their loads. Since most of my weight is food there wasnt much i could do. but i did weight my pack. 15 lbs without food and water, 28 lbs with. I took my first shower of the trip, which felt great, and continued on another mile up the trail to set up camp. On the way i scared two white tailed deer, which then proceeded to bound off the trail in front of me. I got to my campsite and had myself a little campfire and looked at the stars before calling it a night.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Neels Gap

To: Blue Mtn.
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Since i camped away from a water source last night i started off the day with only 1 liter of water. Normally this would be fine since you cross a stream every few miles, but today was different. Walking along the raven cliffs section of the trail there was no water source for about ten miles. So i am cruising along feeling pretty good, but i notice that my water is getting a little low. As im looking for a water source i bump into Gadget, this guy is carrying every type of electronic gadget you could possibly want to carry into the woods, he even had solar panels on his backpack to power them all. Talking to him i find out that there arent any good water sources in the area at all. So i take off hoping to get lucky and find a nonexistant stream, which wasn't going to happen. As i pull into hogpen pass i meet these two very nice old lady section hikers named the grandmas. I do a little Yoging and ask them if there are any good water sources in the area. Since they had just finished their hike and were heading into town, rather than send me off with nothing they gave me their left over water. So i continue on well hydrated now another four miles to low gap shelter where i meet turtle don, coyote, opelika, and gadget. So i filled up my water in the stream, ate lunch and decided to push on another seven miles with 3 hrs of daylight left to Blue Mountain. It was an easy 7 miles and i pulled into the shelter with time to spare. There i met a past thru-hiker and his friend from Belgium and to other thru-hikers, pipesmoke and Hawk who were already in their sleeping bags for the night. So i talked with the section hikers as im cooking dinner and get a glowing recommendation to go to Miss Janet's house when i get to Erwin TN. We continue talking until the stars come out and that means its time to retire for the night.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Blue Mtn.

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

It rained last night even though the sky was clear when i went to bed. Turtle don says it started at about 1:30, he was caught out sleeping under the stars. I had a nice slow start leaving at around 9, which was actually to my advantage since the rain stopped just before i was ready to leave. It turned into a beautiful day, slightly cooler than the last few which makes it easier to hike for me. My body is starting to feel the miles so i took it easy and only went 14 miles today, which was just right. Had lunch on Tray mountain which has a beautiful view no matter which way you look. I passed Pipesmoke at Dadis gap where he was setting up camp. I also passed the grandmas again, they have been leaping ahead and southbounding for their sections. tonight i am staying at Deep gap shelter just a few miles from the hitch into Hiawassee where i am headed tomorrow. Hawk and Radar are sharing the shelter with me tonight. Hawk is thru-hiking this year and Radar Hiked it in '02 and is getting warmed up to hike the PCT this year.
Date: 2004-03-31
To: Opening Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi all,This is my first entry, trying to set up my journal so everyone can follow me on my adventures. To start you are going to have to look for my name which im sure you all know, until i get a trail name then i will add that to the entry. For now if you want to communicate with me you can send me an email at Klimbkirk@aol.com I hope you all have a great summer, i know i will. Peace.Kirk
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Deep Gap

To: Plumorchard Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

A cold night last night, I wore almost everything i brought with me. I woke up after radar and hawk had left, Packed up and headed out. Had a nice warm up climbing Powell mountain, on the way down though it started to Hail. It wasnt consistant, off and on, but when it came down it came down hard. Closer to the bottom of the mountain i noticed a whole lot of disturbed earth and sporadic holes a couple feet across. I think they were dug by a bear looking for roots to eat, since no human would dig that randomly and no other animal would have any reason to dig holes that big. So for the next mile or two i was looking around for bears, but no luck. By the time i got to Dick's creek gap the precipitation had changed to a pretty consistent drizzle which made hitching kinda miserable, especially for my first time. After about 15 minutes of trying Pipesmoke came down the trail as did two day hikers. they offered us a ride into town so off we went. They dropped us off at the supermarket in town and we did a little shopping then went to the GA moutain diner for lunch. After the food we headed to the library and i started this journal online. Finished up with that and headed back to the trailhead. The owner of the Hiawassee Inn picked us up in his van which he uses to transport hikers to and from the trailhead. 4.5 miles up the trail i stopped at plumorchard shelter. there i met Nightwalker, Sunshine Man, Mouth(13yrs), and the Garland Five(A family from North Andover with 3 young kids). During the night one of the Garland Five kids accidently left a bag of sunflower seeds in the shelter. And obviously a mouse found it and grabbed a whole bunch of seeds, the funny thing is the mouse decided to leave the seeds in the mothers shoe. Im not sure why it thought that was a safe place to store them.