morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-01
From: Dutch Haus BB

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 199.9

Hello from the halfway point of my journey!!! Well almost, its actually like 75 more miles, but close enough. Me and Voodoo got into Harper's a couple days ago, slept in a loading dock behind a building because it was raining and nothing else was available(it was pretty homeless) and then took the amtrak to D.C. where we spent 2 days soaking up everything we could, it was fantastic. Also, I did whats called an aqua blaze through the shenandoah's(waynesboro to Front Royal) on canoe with a group of 13 of us, it was amazing, ive got pics up on facebook.com and ill try to get some up on here next stop. We did flip our canoe over some small rapids and I lost some stuff but nothing to important. Harper's Ferry is a very historical location as well as home to the Appalachain Trail Conservancy since 72'. The last month or so has flown by, and I can at times I can really tell how much this experience is changing me, making me stronger, and helping to me to understand some things about myself I did not know before. Now its a few miles to Maryland, then into PA for about 250 some odd miles. Thanks for all the love and support! Thanks to Uncle Bill and Mike Saunders for the hospitality!P.S. some interesting facts,There is a guy ive been hiking around for a couple weeks, his names is Matt Sanders, and we have the same tents, shoes, and poles. Hiking poles don't float, neither do headlamps. Pop tarts taste like chalk. My feet have swollen up a size and a half since ive been on trail. 1 in 5 Americans believe that the sun revolves around the earth. Since on trail, gas has gone from 2.50ish to 4.00 in price, still far less than a cup of starbucks coffee. Gray Wolves and Bald Eagles are now off the endangered species list. I am sad to hear that george carlin has passed. I now weigh 18 pounds MORE than when I left georgia, and last but not least, VIRGINIA WAS NOT FLAT...love ya'll.
Date: 2008-08-01
From: New York City

To: New York City
Miles today: 87.0

Well guys, I dont even know what to say, I cant believe i am writing this. I am sitting at the NYC airport on standby for a flight home to atlanta. I had been waiting here in the city for the results of a blood test since I hadn't been feeling well, and the doc called last night to say that its not lyme, its mono, and that my spleen and liver are enlarged. He instructed me that it would be impossible to continue my hike, that i would most certainly bust my spleen. Furthermore, he wants me to get more tests taken and get to Atlanta immediately to be checked out. I am obviously angry and upset, I was moving at a fast pace, and felt stronger than ever, and was starting to feel the nearness of Maine. I wish I had control over this or that it was somthing I could blame myself for, such as a fall that broke a bone, or anything, but I have no control over this and feel such loss. Mentally I feel even more destroyed than I do physically, although I know that I cannot continue in this condition, I don't know yet how to cope with this change and going home after walking 1400 miles and making this life all I am used to. To all the people on the trail, I hope that you succeed in your trek, and have happy trails in all you do. I love all ya'll.
Date: 2008-08-12
From: New York City

To: atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

Hey yall, well i want to fill in the gaps since new york. Well I came home from New York City and have been here now for a week and a half. I have since gotten to feeling better, but I still dont know until I go see the doc later this week or monday next week if the swelling in my spleen and liver have gone down. IF they have, I have come to the decision that I WILL promply return to the trail, right where I left off. It might not be the best decision i know, and i may still have to deal with some issues of the mono, however, I feel it is one of the many challenges that I have had to face and I simply am not ready to give up on my thru-hike just yet. However if the swelling is still apparent, i will definitely not go back. Let ya know soon. Thanks for the love!
Date: 2008-08-25
From: atlanta

To: atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

I just got off the phone with the doctor's office and the second set of blood tests confirm that most everything has returned to normal with my white blood cells, liver, no anemia, no blood sugar problems, and they gave me the go ahead, with care, to return to the trail. So, I will be returning asap(by thrusday or friday), probably to Hanover, NH and meet up with VOODOO hopefully and pick up the trail due to time lost. Im so Excited! I'll keep Yall updated...
Date: 2008-09-15
From: Hanover Nh

To: Gorham NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Hey everyone, I just have a few minutes to update my story. Left atlanta, flew to boston, stayed with a high school buddy of mine(thanks to P.Murph) for the night, then hitched out all the way to lincoln, NH(with the help of the cops and some other good people), where I started back on the trail at the very beginning of the White Mountains National Park. It is the mountain range of famous Mt.Washington, home to the "worst weather in america" and highest recorded wind speed on earth, 231mph. Luckily I held up just fine, and the hike was everything I had been looking forward to since Ga. The Whites proved to be the hardest hiking thusfar, extremly treacherous and rocky, strait up and down mountains, no words can describe how the beauty matched perfectly with the challenge. We went up onto exposed ridges and rode them for miles, some days in the wind and rain and cold and fog, and other days, in beautiful sunny weather. But me and some freinds made it through in good shape and now I'm in a town just outside of the white mountains, and today after I get done hiking I should be in MAINE! Im really excited to make the push over the state line, and can feel the 281 miles left get smaller as days go by. I wish I had more time to talk about all the things that have been happening since coming back to the trail, but I will in the future. For now, the mono fatigue is still with me, but ive gained my weight back, im just as strong as everyone else out here, and its not going to stop me at this point. Love and Missing all.
Date: 2008-09-27
From: Gorham NH

To: Bangor ME
Miles today: 776.2

Hey everyone i just wanted to make a last post and let ya'll know if you dont already that I summitted Mt.Katahdin two days ago, and it was unbelievable, I walked up slowly and alone, and reached the top and walked a good portion of the Knife's Edge trail as well(beautiful). The National Geographic people were randomly at Baxter State park as I was coming off the mountain and interviewed me saying that they were making a documentary on the A.T. to be aired next year. Interesting...As for me right now I am staying with GREAT freinds of freinds here in Bangor, ME and headed south tomorrow towards Portland to check it out a little and make my way eventually to Boston where im going to fly home. Very awesome people here. I have wandered around and taken side trips all around Maine as well and it is incredibly beautiful and the people are great. I have no words to describe the last 6 1/2 months of hiking the A.T. This experience has changed me forever, I am returning home a very different person, and that is ok with me. I cant believe I came this far. Its hard to believe it is over for now but its time to move on to one of the many other things to come. Many thanks to everyone I know and met out there, be in touch and always remember the trail!"i never want to say that my best days are behind me"-me
Date: 2004-03-01
From: Amicalola Ranger Station

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 1        We began our adventure on March 1st, 2004 at the Amicalola Ranger Station.This is the theoretical beginning of the Appalachian Trail¢s 2160 mile course fromGeorgia to Maine. The plaque commemorating the start of the trail is here and yetthe first 6.2 miles is called the approach trail and doesn¢t actually count as part of the 2160 miles. Go Figure! There have been more than a few dropouts on this sectionof the trail; believe it or not. It is a very steep section by all accounts and so many hikersskip it and just start at Springer Mountain; but Bo and I want to do it all so Evelyn and Allyn kissed us goodbye after photos and we started up the mountain. We immediately met and walked with Paul; who lost his job at the Mack truck plant in Columbia, S.C. He is well equipped; but his wife made him wear blaze orange patches on his front and back.He will certainly get teased about those. We hiked past Springer Mtn Shelter to Stover Creek Shelter and I pitched my tarp by the stream so I could listen to the burble at night.Today, we have seen Robins, Titmice, Turkeys, Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers, anddeer. The climbing was hard; but I was pleased with my legs and feet so far. We went to bed as soon as it got dark around 7p.m. and I slept well until 1:30. The wind was roaring through the treetops until early morning and then we had a few patters of rain before dawn.
Date: 2004-03-02
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: light rain

Day 2        It is a fairly warm morning and Bo has just brought me breakfast in bed. OKhe got our bear bags off of the cables and just dropped mine off in front of my tent.We hiked to Hawk Mtn Shelter and had lunch and that afternoon, we met a pair of Army Rangers out stalking their counterparts. They looked pretty lean and tough.The day began foggy and wet; but we hiked in shorts and t-shirts until late afternoonwhen we ran into a steady drizzle. We heard Chickadees, Wood Ducks and flushed 3 Ruffed Grouse. We climbed Sassafras Mtn (a tough one) and then Justus Mtn. andgot to Gooch Gap Shelter to find in packed. People were everywhere and even beddeddown underneath. What a mix of smells and sounds that will be tonight! We set up camp in the rain; cooked dinner in the rain; and bathed in the rain BBBRRRR. This was one of the hardest times for me and I dreaded putting on my wet clothes in the morning. I am having my first serious doubts; but I will not give up yet.
Date: 2004-03-03
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Wood's Hole Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

Day 3        The weather was so much better today and we did another 12 miles to Wood¢sHole Shelter. Nice gang there: Dave and Melinda, Bloody Cactus (Aussie), Joy ( soonto become Xena-Warrior Princess), Haiku, and Mylar from Maine. Bo had a little moretrouble today; but tomorrow is shorter over Blood Mountain; the site of a Cherokee vsCherokee battle so bloody that the creeks ran red. We go down into Neel¢s Gap for a bed and laundry in Blairsville, Ga.
Date: 2004-03-04
From: Wood's Hole Shelter

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 4 . Blood Mtn wasn¢t as tough a many anticipated going up; though the descent wasparticularly steep and rocky. We immediately went to see Winton Porter at Mountain Crossings Outfitters and I lost over 12 pounds. He chucked much of my ¢worry clothes¢and I bought a lighter pack and sleeping bag. We hitched into Blairsville with Sarge; who was briefly a partner with the people who tried the Old Mill in Damascus. He wasvery entertaining! We ate lunch; did laundry and Bo got a haircut. We saw some of our new friends at the pizza parlor and joined them. I played with a waitress¢ 2 y.o son untilhe locked himself in the ladies bathroom. The manager had to unscrew the locks to get him out. I called home and though Evelyn sounds like she has had a tough time with the dogs. But I don¢t think she has much time to me miss so that¢s good.
Date: 2004-03-05
From: Neel's Gap

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

Day 5        I lost all my ID¢s last night and I don¢t know where. SIGH! My trail name is going to be Loser if I don¢t do better. We set off into a drizzly rain that lasted all dayso we are going to spend our first night in a shelter at Low Gap with Dave/Miranda,Chief( a famous trail hiker),Mylar and Tennessee Jack; an OR nurse from Nashville.I awoke at 1:30 am to a howling wind that cleaned off our clothesline. Now the clothesare wet and dirty and I¢m cold again
Date: 2004-03-06
From: Low Gap

To: Tray Mountain
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 6        It is still raining this a.m. so we headed out with ponchos towards Blue MtnShelter. We met a homeless man there named Buffalo who claimed to be learning hisnative tongue¢¦Iroquois. He was way too dark to be Iroquois. We descended into Unicoi Gap and then climbed to Tray Mtn. What a view! My best campsite ever!The Valley looked empty until dark and then it lit up with hundreds of home lights
Date: 2004-03-07
From: Tray Mountain

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 8        We finished breakfast and rode in the back of Gary¢s pickup to the trailhead and said our goodbyes. It was an absolutely blue sky day for hiking as we crossed into NC for the first time. Wow, did they ever kick our butts for the first two miles. Absolutelyvertical trail with no switchbacks. At the top; I photographed one of the most famous trees on the AT and then the trail leveled out at bit. We met a nice Father/Daughter at Muskrat Creek Shelter, but it was early and cold so we pressed on to Standing Indian Shelter. I am glad that we did; but Bo was pretty whipped. Swiss Miss and Jim were there as well as a contingent of students from Rabun Gap School. It was really cold; but the kids seemed to be handling it well. I finally got my trail name today..Lead Dog. Bo always insists that I go first so it seems fitting.. I can always change it to Hurting Puppyif I begin to flag. I feel more like a real thru-hiker now that I have a name. It is supposed to snow tomorrow and it is already 30 degrees at 7 pm.
Date: 2004-03-09
From: Rainbow Springs/Franklin

To: Cold Springs Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

        The weather was cool and clear the day we left the girls in Franklin and we hiked up to Cold Spring Shelter. It is old and rustic; but OK and we put our bags in to stay since there were no camping spots. Later we were joined by Stiffarm, a Minnesotan wholearned Russian in the army and is going to go to Law School and then work in Moscow.We also met Red Beard and Army Ranger from Columbus, Ohio and Early Bird from Wyoming. Red Beard was in Somalia in the fight detailed in Black Hawk Down. He was with the 10th Mtn Division.
Date: 2004-03-10
From: Cold Springs Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

Day 6 Red Beard and Bo talked about horticulture because RB has a degree in it that hegot on the GI bill. He wants to work at a major garden some day; but Bo didn¢t let on that he was a Callaway. We left for the day but met again at the firetower at Tellico Gapwhere Evelyn, Jarue, Jennifer and I hiked last summer. It was another gorgeous day and we were supposed to meet Paula¢s dad Willford Corbin coming up from NOC. We almost gave up on him; but his back was hurting and he left late; but he did join us for the last couple of miles. What a guy. He is so vigorous and vital. When we got to Nantahala we met Early Bird and Red Beard again and learned that the restaurant with the famous cheeseburgers that we had been looking forward to wasn¢t yet open for the season so we talked Willford into taking us all to Anthony¢s in Bryson City. We had great pizzas and BEER!!! I got Willford talking about his experiences in Alaska and Early Bird was so interested that Willford gave him an autographed copy.
Date: 2004-03-11
From: NOC

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

/14        The climb out of NOC wasn¢t too bad since it occurred over a long time and we enjoyed Cheoah Bald; but it was too cold to stay long. Once we dropped below that we had our warmest day yet. We missed some trail magic at Stecoah Gap by 1 12 hr. Shoot!We saw the first squirrel, snake(brown hatched back with longitudinal yellow stripes) anda couple of butterflies.
Date: 2004-03-12
To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

        We had a nice day after all. The hills were mostly rollers. We caught up with DS and some of the earlier starters at Cable Shelter and DS left with us. We went straight uphill and WOW could she fly. That is why they call her dragonslayer.We arrived at Fontana Dam in a drizzle; but the property manager brought a van and took us to the motel and promised to bring us subs and beer after he took his wife shopping. I hope he comes through! We walked from our room to a gas station and ate Hot Pockets and did our laundry. Later we found Jim French again and his girlfriend Janine and he has agreed to take us to the trailhead in the a.m. at 6. DS wangled a german chocolatecake from Ingles and they had a birthday party for two of the guys.. Slim and Patrick andthen they played putt-putt in the hallways. I don¢t know where they got the equipment and I didn¢t get to play because Tom called and is going to join us for the last week of thetrip. GREAT.
Date: 2004-03-13
From: Fontana Dam

To: Spence Fields Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 16        We woke up to hard rain and lightning and convinced Jim to wait a couple of hours before leaving. Our first challenge is Big Shuckstack Mtn and it is huge on the profile map! We said our goodbyes to Jim and Janine and headed up the mountain. Itwas a great trail so it made the climbing much easier. The firetower at the top was fogged in so there was no view. The trail beyond that; however, was just awful. Nothingmore than a soggy ditch! They needed dozens of water breaks to correct it.        Today we met Hippy Longstockings (Stumpknockers old girlfriend) and her newcompanion Tripod ( don¢t ask). We passed up Russell Field Shelter and stayed with HLSTripod, Red Beard, Early Bird and 5 guys from Miss. It has been a little over two weeks now and Bo and I have settled into our routines. We don¢t hike as much together and it seems more appropriate to just hike our own pace and reconnect as we go. I think we areboth enjoying our space.
Date: 2004-03-14
From: Spence Fields Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

I slept next to Wildcat last night and I think I¢ll change his name to Chainsaw!We woke up to a very cold morning and the trees are covered in a white frost like the clouds have condensed onto them. The ground itself is actually clear. Our first climbwas over Rocky Top. Bo and I are hiking together today and trying to calculate the ratioof the earth¢s surface to its atmosphere. I can¢t remember any of my formulas; but Bo didso we worked it out. The afternoon was beautiful and sunny and we have a great view of Clingman;s Dome¢¦.the highest point on the AT
Date: 2004-03-15
From: Tricorner

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Day 18        A bit of a tortured night. I woke up listening to a mouse in my pack and had to get up to be sure that all of my zippers were unzipped for him and it sounded like it rained off and on all night; but we actually woke up to a covering of fresh snow. The hike up Clingman¢s Dome wasn¢t bad since we were already up so high and we saw animal tracks ( bobcat? 4 front pads and one back) and grouse going in different directions. The upper portion of the Dome is all Spruce Forest with lots of moss and it was beautiful to see and smell. You could hear the wind in the trees; but we were pretty much protected by the firs. The far side of the mountain was another story altogether!!!The lower elevations turned the snow to water and ice and we finally put our Yaktrax onafter umpteen falls. Then as we went lower, it turned to cold slush and freezing rain. Ihad to run down the last part of the trail just to stay warm; but I knew that Allyn was waiting for us at Newfound Gap and that we would be warm in a motel in Gatlinburg before long.        She was there and we dried off at the motel and had a great lunch and beer sampler at the Smoky Mtn Brewery and Caf© and then did our laundry. Red Beard andI shared a room and I learned a lot about him. He is such a quiet gentleman. I like himas much as anyone I have met on the trail. I called Evelyn tonight and she isn¢t doing sowell anymore. She began by saying that she was too busy to miss me; but then she let me have it for being gone so long. I should be glad just to be here; but that does take some of the fun out of the adventure. It was a bad ending to a tough day; but at least it didn¢t ruin a good day. I have to be able to think about the good parts; because I really am making some special memories out here and it would never be something that she would enjoy.        I hear thunder and rain again. I am so glad to have a roof over my head! I would have trouble with cold, back-to-back rainy days on the trail.
Date: 2004-03-16
From: Newfound Gap

To: Tricorner
Miles today: 0.0

Bo had a good night so we aren¢t going to zero here. Allyn took us back up to the trailhead where we met Mello and his family from Alabama. He is a nice guy and it wasa beautiful drive up the mountain. We spent most of the day along knife ridges supported only by CCC rockwork and they were spectacular views. We stayed the night at Tricorner Shelter which though damp and sagging was adequate and had a privy.
Date: 2004-03-17
From: Tricorner

To: Standng Bear Hostel
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 20        The start was cold with a bit of ice and snow still around; but we were serenaded by winter wrens, pine siskins and I think; an orange crowned warbler. We stopped at Cosby Knob Shelter and met three kids from Manhattan on spring break and they had Bo¢s fanny pack which Allyn had hiked in for him when she found it in her car. Whata sweetheart! We flew downhill from there and hitched a ride to Mountain Momma¢sfor one of her epic cheeseburgers and our resupply package. The walls were decorated with photos of Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe and other memorabilia. Then it was off toStanding Bear Hostel run by Curtis and his wife and two daughters. She works at a Mexican bluegrass restaurant and D©j vu and Sugardaddy rode with her to eat and hang out. Red Beard was already at the hostel and he found Bo and Allyn¢s entry in a 2002 register. D and S slept in a bunkhouse right over a creek and we slept in the larger one next door.
Date: 2004-03-18
From: Standng Bear Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: moderate rain

I found Mello camped out in a hollow as I climbed up Snowbird Mtn and he was in good spirits in spite of a night in the rain. Deja caught me and we had a great talk and walk as we climbed up to Max Patch. She had a real crisis in U Mass when she gave up acct. to major in comparative lit. Her Dad is a big Boston businessman and his expectations were for her to follow him. Now she studies Simone Ray in French and Plato in original Greek. Boy can she fly! We met two guys on Max Patch in a howling wind flying radio controlled gliders that they had made. WWII replicas that were very well done and flew perfectly in what seemed like gale force winds. Next we were walking and talking so fast that we missed our trail and had to backtrack half a mile. Still it was fun. I took a good photo of Roaring Fork Falls and rolled into the shelter.