morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-02-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello from the Smith Family again. We finally got our computer back from the computer hospital. But, now our so called "High Speed" server is having major problems and we can not recieve email. We want to thank all of those that have read our journal and those that have sent us messages. We want to apologize for not being able to answer you right now. We are enjoying reading all of the entries for the class of 02 and look forward to following a great many of you as you move up the trail. For what it is worth: I have noticed that a lot of hikers seem to be really worried about pack weight, to the point that I feel they could do more harm to their hike than good. Amost half of the time you spend on the trial is in camp and you need to be able to rest well during that time. I recall leaving out of Gorham,NH with about 10 northbound thru hikers (all of whom made it to Katahdin) and we all were still carrying pretty good loads even that far into the hike. Lower pack weight is good no doubt, but less is not always best. As if anyone has asked, but if I could give any advice to anyone it would be: Start slow and end every day for the first few weeks feeling as if you could have gone further. I think trying to do too many miles too soon sends more hikers home than a heavy pack does. Anyway, as I said. For what its worth. Waterboy
Date: 2002-02-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Diane and I have had a very enjoyable couple of days these past two days. I have been following the journal's of JO JO Smily, Megellan and B of B&B as they move up the Florida Trail and the Eastern Continental Trail. I hiked with Megellan in 99 a good bit. As they got close to our area I went out to the FT trailhead and put up a note telling Megellan if we could be of any assistance to give us a call. Much to our pleasure, they did call and we drove up to Defuniak Springs, Fl to the Student Conservation Corp trailer where they were staying. We all went out to supper and then we arranged to meet them in Holt, Fl on Hwy 90 and take them back to our house for supper and trail talk on Friday . Diane grilled steaks and made a great meal for them (and me). On Sat morning she cooked breakfast before we drove them back up to Holt to start back on the trail. Megellan, Jo JO Smiley and B of B&B are really nice and if you have a chance to meet them as they move north through Alabama and then on to Springer Mtn, I would suggest you take the opportunity. I think all three may someday be legends in the hiking world.         Hi, this is Diane. As Bob has said, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit with these great ladies. It's so inspirational to see how much they enjoy what they're doing and it makes me even more excited about hiking the AT next spring. I hope we'll have the opportunity to see them again, maybe at Trail Days 2003.
Date: 2002-02-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello from London! Well, I just spent the past week in Scotland and Ireland. I did a good amount of day hiking in both countries. I do believe that this time off in the country made me realize how much I want to hike. I feel like it is where I am myself. I have had a hard time with the city life in London. The fact that my "fresh air" consists of exhaust, trash, and human waste, is pretty distrubing! I also never realized how much I enjoy silence. It is something you don't enjoy until you get none! One positive thing about being over here is the amount of great outdoor shops. They carry tons of European and American name brand packs, boots, tents, etc. I haven't bought anything because I don't know much about them. So, if anyone knows of something "I just gotta have" from Europe backpacking stores, let me know. I know my parents had some hikers over this past weekend and REALLY enjoyed their company. My mom said that B made her homesick for me. One of my favorite things about the trail is that people invite one another into their homes and spend time together soley due to sharing the common bond of thru-hiking. I can't wait until I get to be a part of it! We've now got 1 year and 15 days until we set off from Springer, I'll be counting down the days!
Date: 2002-06-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello from the Smith Family once again (this is Bob). We are happy to report our plans for our 03 thru hike are still a go for Mar 16. Christine graduated a little over a month ago and is committed to hiking with or near us. She has taken a temp job at an outfitter and is learning a great deal about gear(packs, boots. socks. water filters, tents, stoves, etc).One sad note, I stated in an earlier entry that about the only thing I was not able to accomplish on my hike in 1999 was growing a ponytail. I did not start soon enough back then so I started about 4 months ago so I would have plenty of time this time. However, I could not stand it and it was driving me nuts, so I had it all cut off and thats the last of my efforts to grow a ponytail. I sort of hated to cut my hair because I work for the State Health Dept and I am the only guy in a dept with six wonderful ladies and for a while I was able to "talk hair"with them. They had all planned to braid a bead into my hair just before I leave, so I do miss the hair talk and now no beads. Diane is down to 8 weeks before retirement and is still excited about our hike. We have been real busy latly and have let our training go a bit but will be getting serious again soon.I am really enjoying reading the journals of the class of 02. I am still hearing from people that read my journal in 99. Now that is a real treat.Take care and see you up the trail.
Date: 2002-06-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

On Father's day, Diane and I drove over to Bristol, Fl and met Christine. We then went to the "Garden of Eden" trail also called the Bluffs and Ravines trail. For Florida, this trail (appx 3 1/2 miles round trip) has about the most and steepest climbs I think you can find in a mostly flat state. It did remind me a good bit of the AT.The high point on the Garden of Eden trail is where the trail reaches the Appalachicola River. At this spot you are about two hundred feet above the river and can see all the way from the Eastern Time Zone to the Central Time Zone !.For Father's day Christine got me one the new water purifer Exstream squeeze bottles. I have been interested in them for a while now, so now I excited aboutusing it .Not having many hills to climb in our general area, the Garden of Eden trail sure did cause a good deal of gasping for air for a little while. But as we climbed more hills I think we got better and better at the climbing. We are still enjoying reading the class of 02 journals and I have gotten several people at work hooked on the site. One lady yesterday said " I can't wait to get home and start reading". There sure are some great photos on the site also and I sure do get excited looking at them.Take care and see you up the trail.
Date: 2002-08-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is Diane of the Smith Family. Well, today has been a very big day for me. After 28 years at the same job, I have retired! It was happy and sad at the same time. Work becomes your second home and saying goodbye to the "family" I have been with for such a long time was hard. As I drove into the yard, a smily-face balloon was waiting to greet me, tied to the wheelbarrow. Then, more smily-face balloons were waiting on the way into our house. Inside, Bob had beautiful flowers on the table and I could smell boiled shrimp. Steaks were also cooking on the grill! What a welcome home! The best surprise of all was a card that said "Don't Look Back" and showed someone hiking down a road following a road sign that said "The Rest Of Your Life." Let me be sentimental here and say I feel incredibly lucky to have spent the last 30 years with such a wonderful man! To think we'll be hiking the AT in less than 8 months from now is so exciting!We have more news to share. Christine (our daughter) had been working at an outfitters after graduating from Florida State Universitiy. It was a great job for her, however, she has embarked on another adventure before starting the AT with us in March 2003. She has now taken a job with a cruise line that will take her to Alaska, the Columbia and Snake Rivers of the Pacific Northwest and after a break, to Baja, California for whale watching. She'll get back home a month before we start the AT. She is quite an adventurer and we're happy that she has the spirit and love of life that carries her to these places! We read Poetry In Motion's journal (2002 AT Journals) every day and see that same spirit of adventure in her. I'd love to get together with her parents someday because I know we'd have a lot in common as parents. To happy days ahead!!
Date: 2002-09-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It was appx 20 months ago when Diane said that she wanted to thru-hike the AT. Now, it is only 6 months until we depart home and head to Amicalola Falls, Ga and then on to Springer Mt on the 16th of March. We are going to be real busy these next 6 months and I am sure we will be standing on Springer Mt wondering where the time went to before we know it.We ordered Diane's sleeping bag yesterday, it is a Feathered Friends Great Auk. Its the same bag that I used in 1999 on the AT and it served me well. Diane used my bag a few times when we were camping and liked it, so soon she will have her own. We have deceided on a tent and we are going to get a Stephenson's Warmlite 3R. I talked with a few hikers in 99 and they loved their Warmlites and I sure liked the looks of them. We are also going to get the Stephenson's Down Air Mattresses. I still have most of my gear from before but Diane and Christine still have a good bit to get yet. So we are going to be real busy with that. We have been taking our backpacks out for a bit latley and I can see now that Diane has a longer stride than I do, so she will probably walk off and leave me in the rock dust. Our daughter, Christine is still working on the cruise ship and is getting to see so much,lots of animals, She has had a couple of too close encounters with bears (at least as far as her mom and dad are concerned)but that she was excited about. Her time in Alaska is over but now she is in British Columbia for awhile then on to the Columbia River Gorge and then later to Baja and then home to hit the AT with us, quite a year!Diane and I are going up to a state park in Ga and do a 23 mile hike on the Pine Mt trail in early Oct, really looking forward to that even though it means missing an FSU football game. Just for fun, I (Bob) am taking a course in Astronomy at the local college and hoping it will help me understand what we will be seeing at night as we camp. I have always enjoyed looking at the stars but never really knew what I what I was seeing, so maybe now I will have a little better understanding of what I am seeing.We are still enjoying reading the Class of 02's journals and really enjoying the photos. Well, everyone take care and see you up the trailSmith Family
Date: 2002-10-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is Diane of the Smith Family. Last week, we took a trip to Roosevelt State Park in Georgia to backpack and just enjoy being outdoors. The park has numerous loop trails which include portions of the Pine Mountain Trail. Our initial plan was to hike the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail and tent camp; however, drought conditions and not wanting to miss the FSU/Miami football game caused us to alter the plan. Each day, we hiked loop trails. The longest single loop is about 8 miles with relatively gentle ups and downs. It was good backpacking practice for me, but I learned one valuable lesson. Tie your hiking boots securely to protect your ankles! I had tied mine loosely and on the first day I turned my ankle stepping on wet leaves. This contributed to a knee injury on the same leg the next day, but I continued to hike to prove to myself I could endure. After our stay at FDR Park, we went to Warm Springs GA for a couple of days to watch the game and enjoy great food at The Bullock House and Mac's Steakhouse. The town also has many unique shops with arts and crafts. From there, we traveled to Atlanta to a huge REI store to buy some gear for our 2003 hike.   How long can you stay in one store? Well, we were there six hours and walked out with a lot of bags. The last stop was a trip to Trail and Ski in Tallahassee FL. Our daughter, Christine worked here before her current job on the expedition cruise ship. My former coworkers had given me a gift certificate to the store, so I used it to buy Montrail hiking boots. If you're near Tallahassee and need gear, JC, the owner, is so very nice and helpful. We highly recommend this store. To update, Christine has completed cruises in Alaska and British Columbia and is now on the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the northwest. She'll come home for 10 days in November, then return to the ship for whale watching in Baha CA the rest of the winter until time to start our hike. Bob has only 5 months left on his job and is looking forward to the hike in March. I have an appointment with the orthapedist next week to evaluate my knee. It's still hurting and I'm anxious to find out the extent of the damage. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. Thanks.   Diane
Date: 2002-11-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Since our last journal entry I have been to the orthopedist and am awaiting knee surgery this Monday to repair two meniscus tears in my left knee. I've been assured that recovery is relatively quick and I'll be ready to start our hike in mid-March 2003. It's amazing how easily an injury like this can happen with just a simple twist of the knee. Our daughter, Christine, celebrates her 23rd birthday on Monday, too. She's still working on the cruise ship, now in the Great Northwest. We look forward to her 10-day visit this month, then she'll rejoin the ship in Baja California for whale watching until mid-February. Bob only has four months left to work, so we're all getting excited as March 2003 quickly approaches. Diane
Date: 2002-11-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

In my previous entry, I was awaiting surgery to repair my knee. Well, I'm happy to report it went even better than expected and all there is to show for my surgery are three bandaids covering the small incisions! It will still take time to fully recover and I'm being careful not to overdo it. Bob took off a few days this week and has done a super job taking care of me. Even though our hike is a few months away, I've already experienced "trail magic" right here in my own hometown. (Trail magic is when a person you don't even know does something nice and helpful. On the trail, it may be a ride into town, snacks in a cooler or drinks left in a cold stream). The day before my surgery I went to the video store to get the their "five movies for five days" special. A young couple overheard me telling the cashier about my upcoming operation and it led to a conversation about his own knee surgery. He said he had a Cryo/Cuff (a unit that runs cold water into a cuff around your knee, lessening swelling), that I could use. By the time I arrived at their house, he had it in hand. I tried to give him a slip of paper with my name and phone number on it but he said it wasn't necessary. I knew it was expensive and yet he trusted me to return it. Greg and Leslie, you are truly good people and I'll remember you as my first "Trail Angels" when I begin this journey of a lifetime. Thank you. Diane
Date: 2002-12-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. To the Class of 03: OUR YEAR IS NEAR. We are in full prep mode, our new tents have arrived, gear all over the house and we just confirmed our travel plans to Atlanta and then to Springer Mt.Diane and I have about 98 % of our gear but Christine still has a good bit to get when she gets home. But, she know a great deal about backpacking gear so she should be ready to order as soon as she gets home. Santa brought us a scanner so we hope to be able to post some photos soon. We find ourselves getting butterflys often now. Our start date is fixed (99%) for Mar 16, hope the weather treats us well the first day. Potato Picker, one of my great friends from my 99 hike will be stopping by for a couple of days later this week. It will be real nice to see him. He plans to hike the PCT in 03 along with Sheltowee, also a great friend from 99. Well once again, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all and to the Class of 03: Take care and see you up the trail !The Smith FamilyBob, Diane and Christine
Date: 2003-03-17
To: Packing Up and Moving Out!
Miles today: 0.0

So... we are finally beginning our much anticipated trail journal in order to share with you the joys and pains of our much MUCH anticipated trail journey! We are going to try our best to keep up with this journal thanks to good ole Tim who has agreed to help us out by being our journal transcriber extraordinaire. Our mail drop boxes are packed up and ready for our sweet Deniz to send to us along the way (THANK YOU!) and we are almost ready to head on out. We have had two spectacular going away parties, thrown by John and Angela at my work (Kayak Carolina) and by our good friends Andrea and Chris. We will try to put some pictures of the parties in our photo album on this site. We are definately sad to leave all of our friends (and especially our dog Emma), but are also extremely excited for our new adventure. We will be leaving for Clemson tomorrow to spend some time with Jonathan's family and do whatever last minute things come up. They will take us to Amicalola State Park on the 23rd and we will start hiking the 24th!Friends and family, please post us messages on this site, or email us and we will try to keep in touch!Tressa and Jonathan:)
Date: 2003-03-19
To: Walking in Clemson
Miles today: 0.0

Well we are here in Clemson, visiting Jonathan's parents. We just got back from walking up and down the area hills with (almost) full packs on in the rain. Tested out our new pack covers, and they seemed to do well!We've been packing and unpacking our packs and playing with all of our gear, and we are definately getting excited. It looks like it will rain for the next several days, which means maybe it will be clear on Monday! We'll see:)Everyone keeps commenting that it is a good time to be going out into the woods for awhile. We agree, although I'm sure war talk will abound in the shelters and along the trail. Our thoughts will be with those around the world affected by the upcomming events.Tressa and Jonathan
Date: 2003-03-24
From: Springer 

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

So, we started walking to Maine today. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! Sunny & 70 with a cool breeze. We stayed at Amicalola lodge last night and after Pam & Larry (Jonathan's parents) took us out to breakfast, they drove us up to within a mile of Springer Mountain and hiked to the terminus with us. The trail today was relatively easy, but that doesn't mean that we aren't exhausted, or that are feet aren't sore as heck! We arrived at the shelter at 3:30 and Dan (the flip flopper) took off our packs for us! He and a few others were already here. Now there are at least 15 of us. Here are a few names (no one really has trail names yet). Dan from Chapel Hill, Kevin from DC (hikes FAST & in sandals!) Michelle & Mike (bro and sis from FL) & their aunt Adrianna from Long Island, Nate and Leigh from Columbus, Jonathan from Atlanta, a father & son from Birminham, a couple from spring-breakers , and 2 or 3 others. We laughed all night, had a small campfire, ate burritos and are now going to sleep at 8:15 pm! What a wonderful start to our trip :)
Date: 2003-03-25
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter 

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

After a night with the mice we got off to a beautiful start. Today was just as nice as yesterday. We hit a few massive mountains; one in particular Sassafras mountain; and they kicked our butts. We arrived at the Gooch Gap Shelter with similar pals there. New members included Brent and Crystal from Virginia. We set up our tent and slept a litter better. Again we had great fellowship with our new trail friends.
Date: 2003-03-26
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter 

To: Woods Hole Shelter 
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Hell of a day! Today was the longest and hardest by far! After the first of the nine hours of walking, every step hurt. Butt¢¦ on the happier side, there were beautiful views and we made it to the shelter with all of our new friends! We all started between 6:30 and 8 am and Kevin, the "DC Flash" arrived here at 11 am and the rest of us between 3 pm and 6 pm! The "crew" consists, currently of J & I, Kevin, Jonathan, Danny, Leigh, and Nate. All of us but Kevin plan to stay at Neels Gap tomorrow. We'll see. All 7 of us are in a shelter together that sleeps 6, so we'll see who the mice pick to torture. We also have 2 other thru-hikers tonight names Muddbutt and Bumpkin (they have "trail journals" too).
Date: 2003-03-27
From: Woods Hole Shelter 

To: Neels Gap 
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: clear sky

Today we spent a short day hiking (~4 miles). When we arrived at Neels Gap, the Walasi-Yi center greeted us with open arms. We put down our packs and entered the store and immediately bought us some snacks (JAH - Doritos and cherry coke, TLH - cheese nips and diet coke). We checked into the hostel, took showers and washed our clothes. Hallelujah! Tressa ended up getting new boots because her others were too small, a good thing, it ended her blistered heels. I got some help with my feet too. The rest of the night we chilled until we went to a buffet (country style) and became glutinous. After dinner we watched Kansas whoop Duke. That night Hank snored so loud we slept marginally. The next day he was nicknamed "Hammering Hank".
Date: 2003-03-28
From: Neels Gap 

To: Low Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy Birthday Dad! Today was a great day. And that is because I got NEW BOOTS! That was the last think I thought I'd buy yesterday, but I am soo glad I did. I felt like a new woman today! And, since I got my old boots at REI, I can send them back and get my $ back! We cruised here to Low Gap Shelter with Jonathan (Showerboy?) and Danny (Apple Chillin') in 6 hours which is fast for us now but I can tell we'll be picking up the pace a little each day as blisters heal and feet toughen up a little bit! There are several thru-hikers here so far (4 pm), all male, and a group of girls on spring break who are keeping to themselves, playing guitar, and singing songs. They sound pretty good!
Date: 2003-03-29
From: Low Gap Shelter 

To: Cheese Factory Site 
Miles today: 13.0

Today we breezed into the Blue Mountain Shelter, our original destination, at 12 pm, had lunch and decided to keep going since we felt so good and it was so early. Got to the campground at around 5 pm. Long day! But very fun. There is some bad weather blowing in, so we had a quick Mac & Cheese dinner and are in our tent at 6:30ish (don¢t know exact time because our cheap watch broke today!).
Date: 2003-03-30
From: Cheese Factory Site 

To: Dick's Creek Gap 
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

Wow! Woke up to several inches of snow covering our ten. Last night was so windy we were afraid our tent would blow away, or a tree would fall on us! Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep. But we got up and got moving to stay warm. We hiked pretty fast while enjoying the winter wonderland. We made our destination by 2 pm. There were two girls on spring break from Alabama, our first "trail angels". Not only did they have Chex mix (which I'd been craving), but they had a cell phone. So we called Larry (Jonathan's dad) and he was already in the area, so.. we hiked 3.5 miles more and he picked us up at Dick's Creek Gap! We stayed with him in his camper at a campground where we had hot showers, cold beer, salmon patties and asparagus. Yum!