morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-03-23
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Today I met Psycho Man on the trail; I will call him PM for short. He was coming the opposite way from me, running, carrying 10-pound dumbbells in each hand. He had a bit of a crazy look in his eye, although I didn¢t really notice that until I stopped and started to talk with him. PM started out by saying that bad things were coming. I said oh you mean bad weather? He said, no, the world is ending in 6050 and there is nothing we can so to stop it. That everything and everyone in the North American governments are part of some big conspiracy. Very odd. Then about 10 minutes down the trail I start hearing crazy sounds. I wasn¢t really sure if they were animal or human. It sounded kind of like drums mixed with some strange animals fighting sounds. Then I looked off to the side on the trail and saw a large wasp¢s nest. It was almost too crazy to be true and it felt like a dream. I was a little bit shaken up by all of it. But I¢m happier now and feel like I¢m really not crazy.Today was a tough 15 miles. Miles 13 & 14 was hard, they were along a ridgeline so the views were beautiful but it was rocky! Mountain goat skills were required and in a couple parts I thought it was especially sketchy. Like if you fall you might be done. The funny thing is that I saw a group of weekenders heading South and they asked me about the rocky section I had just done. I said, well it's a little sketchy but you should be fine. They told me that the section they had just done was really, really scary and that I should be careful. I proceeded, with caution but the section they said was so scary was actually quite pleasant! However, they probably didn't think too nicely of me, if I said the section up ahead wasn't so bad when obviously it was compared to what they're just done! Anyway, I'm learning each day that a weekenders and a thru-hiker's perspectives are very different things. I saw a phantom shelter not too far away but my eyes deceived me and my spirits fell. The last mile to the shelter was more of a trudge then a walk. I¢m here now so I feel happier. I have a feeling there was a re-route or something and the mileages were off. There's no other thru-hiker here so who can really know. Oh well, who cares I guess.Today was my second longest day of the trip. My body feels pretty good. My legs are tired but whose wouldn¢t be after 15 miles? My feet were a little sore for the last couple of miles but the shoes seem to have helped. I can start out in the morning now and after breaks and not limp anymore. It makes me happy. My pace may also have quickened now that it doesn¢t hurt to walk anymore.I¢m hungry. I need to cook supper and get ready for bed. It¢s been a long day and I¢m tired but it a good kind of tiredJB - Tell It Like It Is....
Date: 2004-03-24
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hog Back Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today¢s climb kicked my butt. The first nine miles or so were pretty easy walking but the last six were not a happy time. There was one long nasty uphill and then a series of shorter up and downs. I¢m thankful that my legs and lungs are at least in some kind of shape after a month of hiking or I might have been down for the count. Before I left this morning, I was contemplating coming here and then if the weather was nice walk a few more miles but my legs and feet are done.I just ate 3 packages of plain instant oatmeal; I got out of the hiker¢s box at Elmer¢s. It was nasty and I had to choke it down with water. I now know why it was in the box. However, my stomach is full and I shouldn¢t complain about free food. I wonder how some people can eat it every morning.Last night I was all-alone at the shelter. I expected Pilgrim Soul and Little Lulu to show up but they never did. I wonder what happened to them and hope they are okay. Three guys from South Carolina were camping at the shelter. They come out every year for a week or two of their vacation and hike the AT. They gave me some strawberry kool-aid, which was extremely enjoyable. They seemed happy to lighten their packs. They lit up a blazing fire, which was nice because I¢m usually too lazy to do it myself. A couple of them were working class guys who are supporting families and working in factories and I can't help but see how different my life is from theirs. I wonder what they think of me...irresponsible, lucky...who really knows? Who hikes for 6 months? Who can afford to? I stayed up past my 7:00 pm bedtime. Talking to them, finally heading to bed around 8:30 p.m.I¢m now lying on the picnic table in front of the shelter in the sun. It¢s getting harder and harder to stay awake¢¦ I think I will just give in.JB ¢ Tell It Like It Is...
Date: 2004-03-25
From: Hog Back Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.7

Yesterday I got to the shelter at 3:00 or so and wondered if there would be any other Thru-hikers. At about 5:00 pm or so they started pouring in, Little Lulu, Pilgrim Soul, Haiku, Fireball, Pa Kettle and Red Beard, along with lots of new faces, for me because people are traveling fast.Today was one tough climb. The hike up Big Bald was big, not really any other way to describe it. However, the view was awesome and made it well worth the effort.Today was my first 20 miler, although it happened somewhat unintentionally. I planned to hike to a road crossing at mile 15 and then hike a mile or two into the woods and set up my hammock. When I got to the road a Forest Service lady was waiting and re-routed me up the forest road because the area of the trail was being burned. Both sides of the road were steep and then the section of trail after that was cut into the side of a mountain, not really ideal for camping. I got a second wind at mile 16 and kept moving. Now I am exhausted and my feet ache. I hope I can walk tomorrow. At least it¢s only a short 6 miles into Erwin. So 20.7 miles later I¢m at the shelter with Pa Kettle, Red Bread, Fireball and Haiku. Everyone is beat!JB ¢ Tell It Like It Is¢¦
Date: 2004-03-26
To: Mail Drop
Miles today: 0.0

Just a quick note everyone...thanks for all your maildrop packages! I love it! I am really, truly, extremely thankful to everyone who took the time to send me something. Here's another spot for those who want to send me something. Things that I would really appreciate are: things with protein/iron/calcium in them (ex. beef jerky, yogurt covered raisins), granola bars, ***dried fruit***, homemade anything and whatever else you think I might like.Jackie Bolen (AT hiker)c/o Relax Inn7253 Lee Hwy., Exit 54Rural Retreat, Virginia245368ETA: April 8
Date: 2004-03-26
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Miss Janet's House
Miles today: 6.3

These last 2 days have been hot. What we in Canada would call scorchers but for those down South just a warm spring day. I think people who start 300 miles south of here in late April or early May are partly insane. Maybe they think the same about me though, starting in February. Being from Canada, I think my body is better adjusted to cold then hot. I still get annoyed though when people think I should never feel cold or uncomfortable in nasty weather because I'm from Canada and that I should feel sorry for them because they're from Florida. How stupid! They are usually even warmer because they're more scared of the weather than I am and have a bunch of excessive gear. My body felt pretty good after the 20 miler yesterday. I hiked the 6.3 miles in about 2 hours, coming into town is some good motivation to pick up the pace. The trail comes out at Uncle Johnny's, which we all know to avoid and hitched into Miss Janet's house, the ultimate in trail goodness. I washed clothes, took a shower, went to the P.O., and got some tasty eats at Erwin Burrito. Everything in town is so much more enjoyable when you deprive yourself of it. I had quite the surpise waiting for me when I looked in the maildrop closet. Everyone here the night before was checking out all my goodies and waiting for me to see how much I got. Melissa and Charlotte from Austin and Mushroom from Illinois sent me enough food that I didn't have to go to the grocery store. Amazing kindness from total strangers! I also got a letter from Leanne from Memphis and letters from friends, Sally, Ryan and Crystal...you guys are awesome. Also waiting for me was a little treat from Cairo and Ty, my friends from the first couple weeks on the trail. I love trail magic. There are a lot of benefits to having an online journal. Here today are: Pilgrim Soul, Lulu, Heald, Red Beard, Gapper, Hustler, Deja Vous, Sugar Daddy and a few others. It's busy! I got a ride into Johnson City to the outfitters and picked up a pair of Superfeet insoles because my feet have been sliding around a bit in my new shoes. Hopefully they help...I've heard lots of good things about them.
Date: 2004-03-27
From: Miss Janet's House

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1

Good times at Miss Janet's. There was a full house and it was a bit chaotic but Miss Janet is the queen of Southern hospitality. Breakfast was supposed to be at 8:30 but time kept creeping on and it started to become more of a brunch event. I was a little bit anxious about getting back to the trail but I decided not to stress about it and just get to the trail whenever it happened. Red Beard, Pilgrim, Lulu and I got back to the trail at about 12:00. We stuck together most of the day and I hiked a lot with Red Beard. While it does make the miles go faster sometimes, I think I'm definitely more of a solo-hiker. We hiked 12 miles to a campspot and I set up my hammock for only the 2nd time...rain is in the forecast and I don't want to pack up a wet hammock but I wouldn't have made it to the shelter before dark. We're camped with some weekenders and one of the guys asked me if it was my first night on the trail. I said, "No, actually it is my 5th week!" It was some laughs all around. He was a little embarrased. It's getting dark now because of our late start and I need to do camp chores. Then sleep.
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Deep Gap

To: Ash Gap
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a long, tough, tiring day. I pushed myself harder than I have ever pushed myself on this AT hike.   I am exhausted but know that I have another long day tomorrow. I hope my body can recover while I sleep, it has so far but I know I can't count on that forever. I hiked on and off with the 2 sectioners I camped with last night but preferred to hike alone. I found their paces quite slow, especially going up the hills and began to grow impatient. Not annoyed, but just knowing that I wanted to hike alone.It's a bit of a mystery what happened to Red Beard. He started out after all of us but was all packed up and ready to go when we were. We thought he'd catch us when we stopped for breaks but he never did. He's a fast hiker, quicker than me so it was a bit odd. Sugar Daddy was doing a slack-pack southbound so he'd said he'd keep an eye out for him. I hope he's okay.My tentative plan was to push all the way to Roan High Knob Shelter but I stopped about 2 miles short because the climb was brutal, my legs were tired and there was a nice camping spot. I'm here with the 2 sectioners from last night, expecting Pilgrim, Lulu and Red Beard to make it here as well. I'm tired and need to get ready for bed. Setting up a hammock throws a little curveball into my well-oiled operation. I suspect my journal entries were better before I started doing big miles. Update: Red Beard just showed up. He said he just felt like going slow. He was pretty easily convinced to camp with us tonight.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Ash Gap

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 17.2

Today was a day of beautiful hiking. The climb up Roan Mountain in the morning sun was inspiring and I was happy to do it with fresh legs. If I had done it yesterday while I was tired, justice would not have been done. The air was cool and I got a good 3 hours of hiking in before the sweat started to sting my eyes. I crossed paths all day with Red Beard and the 5 section hikers. Most days I enjoy having a little bit of company as I hike the trail but today I was just annoyed. I craved solitude but found it impossible to find. Maybe that's an oxymoron if there ever was one. The climb up the Hump Mountains was tough but I had some incentive to push myself. Ahead of me, from about 100 yards to about a 1/4 mile were the 5 sections hikers. I said to myself that I would pass every one of them before we got to the top. So I passed one within a couple minutes, then another, then finally the last one at the crest of the hill. It was satisfying, although maybe childishly so! I don't know if it was pride or stupidity but a couple of them started running down the mountain. Their poor knees...I see a trip to the knee specialist in their futures. Rain is in the forecast for the night and I think there will be about 10 people in the shelter, including 6 middle-aged men who probably snore. However, it is a toss-up as to what's worse: camping in the rain or listening to snoring all night. My stomach is calling...time to cook for the first time in a few days. Hovering over a stove, finding rocks for a stand and cleaning my pot are starting to annoy me. I'm considering going stoveless...I guess I'll see what the future holds. Update with the shelter...Lulu and Pilgrim came in late. Lulu wasn't feeling well so we made room for her but there was no room for Pilgrim. However, he made room and forced his way in much to the annoyance of everyone there. They all thought he didn't have a tent but he does, he was just too lazy to set it up. I actually briefly considered getting up and setting up my hammock but it was too dark by then to find good trees. If I had a tent I for sure would have left and set it up. Shelters are making me into an angry person...maybe it's time to sleep more in my hammock.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Last night was some good entertainment worthy of an Oscar. The cast memebers included the 2 section hikers that I camped with for a couple nights: Kristen and Faux Pas (given the name because as we were falling asleep I overheard him saying, "Faux Pas, my life is a series of faux pas"), the Self-Apointed Backpacking God (SAB-G for short), and his posse of 3. Kristen and Faux Pas were originally part of SAB-G's posse but were a bit behind for a couple nights but now finally caught up. Kristen and Faux Pas like to have a good time backpacking but the other group takes their backpacking really seriously. As Faux Pas and Kristen were making supper, the SAB-G posse came over to inspect what they were doing and make little comments about how they knew what they were doing (like they needed his approval!) While I was cooking my supper, I had 4 pairs of eyes glued to my every move. It was a little bit intimidating when it was happening to me but quite amusing watching the scene unfold when others were experiencing it. I'm not sure what SAB-G was thinking, whether he really thought he needed to give everyone his approval for them to feel good about themselves or if his social skills are lacking so much that his attempt at friendly conversation. Bizarre.The first part of today's hike was in the rain and it was hard. I'm not a happy hiker in the rain. But then it stopped and my spirits improved considerably. It's amazing how dependant we are upon the weather out here...although it is to be expected. The hike was fairly easy, mostly flat and no major hills. I almost like a good hill thrown in there for the challenge...anyway, the legs are happy so I shouldn't complain. The hike was actually 18 miles instead of 14 because of some relocations away from hostile locals but for the sake of convenience I'm just using the old mileage from my 2003 book.
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Kincora Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 6.1

The saga of SAB-G continued last night! There was room in the shelter for 7 but only 6 of us had our stuff set out. Pilgrim, Red Beard and I were on one side and SAB-G and his posse on the other. When one more girl showed up, the 3 thru-hikers all moved our stuff over but SAB-G made no attempt to move. So the end result was 4 of us crammed into 1/2 the shelter with our pads overlapping while the other 3 had a few inches between all of their pads. So, Tell It Like It Is, told it like it was and told them to move on over. Nicely of course! They were quite cooperative but how rude not to have moved initially! I'll be happy to never see that guy again. Some other thru's got a bad vibe from him too. Last night the weather was a bit extreme and it made me thankful that I was in the shelter... thunder & lightening, hails, rain. Then finally in the morning we awoke to half an inch of snow on the ground. I was happy to be only six miles from refuge. As I write this snow is still falling. How lucky I have been to be within a day or half a day from a hostel when bad weather has hit. I am thankful. Tomorrow I will do an easy 10-mile slack-pack (carrying only a day pack) and then spend another night at Kincora. My body feels good (Superfeet are awesome) but mentally I think I need a bit of a break.The Kincora Hiker Hostel is a sweet place! Very enjoyable and relaxing... Places like this make the trail bearable. I love the wilderness but I definitely need a break from it once in a while. I went to town and ate at the Chinese food buffet and went to a REAL supermarket for change. Glorious selection! Fresh fruit! Now it is time for relaxing, eating and visiting friends. Pilgrim Soul, Lulu, Huster, Sugar Daddy, Deja Vous, Captain Hook, Flashback, Red Beard are all here. Another full house... Flashback is a 16 year old who dropped out of high school and is hiking the AT. A bit of an odd character.I feel satisfied.JB ¢ ¢Tell It Like It Is¢¢¦
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Mail Drop

To: US 321 to Dennis Cove Road (Kincora / Slack)
Miles today: 8.9

Today was a delightful day; really it almost could not have been any better. Bob Peoples (owner of the hostel) dropped Lulu and I off at the road crossing 9 miles north of the here and we hiked southbound back towards the hostel with only a daypack. Oh, to be a day hiker again what a great experience. And to only walk 9 miles! It was sleeting for most of the time and then at the higher elevations it turned to snow but I walked the whole day with a smile on my face. It was the first time in a few days where I truly enjoyed walking. The trail was awesome¢¦ Following a river and then ending at a beautiful waterfall.I got back to the hostel, where Red Beard and Pilgrim Soul were hanging out after taking a zero day. I joked with Red Beard about having lunch ready when I got back and he actually did it! What a nice guy! Then I dried my clothes in the dryer. Took a shower and headed into Arby¢s for lunch. Bob Peoples ate with Red Beard and I. He told us some of his war stories. That got the topic of politics into our heads and when we got back to the hostel Pilgrim and I started debating about the Iraqi War and George Bush. Red Beard agreed with me but was reluctant to get involved. Tell It Like It Is, isn¢t afraid to debate about politics so I started saying some extreme things like ¢George Bush is the terrorist¢. Pilgrim started to get a little bit angry. I like debating but not with people who get angry! So I stopped. I¢m ever in search of intelligent Americans to debate with who don¢t get overly emotional about it. I think that¢s it for now, just relaxing at the hostel for the night. Red Beard said he¢d play Monopoly later because he knows how much I love to play it.JB ¢ ¢T
Date: 2004-04-02
From: US 321

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6

Good times at Kincora last night. I beat Red Beard twice at Monopoly and just hanging out, reading magazines and talking. In attendance were Pilgrim, Red Beard, Deja Vous, Flashback, and Captain Hook and in late was the Wicked Lobstah with his dog Buddy. The Wicked Lobstah leaves crazy cool messages in the shelter registers, so I was excited to meet him.I very reluctantly left the comforts of civilization and got shuttled to where I slack-packed from yesterday. I dreaded leaving the truck because I knew it was cold and snowy outside. The others tried to convince me not to leave but I was strong! So on I trudged 15 miles. First in rain, then in snow. Watauga Lake, created by a dam was beautiful; I just wished it wasn¢t so cloudy higher up so I could have gotten some views of it. The walking today was quite easy, mostly flat but covered with a couple inches of snow. I¢m worried there might be 2 feet of snow by morning because it is coming down pretty steady.By the time I got to the shelter I was pretty cold. My hands and face had lost most of their feeling. I got into my dry clothes crawled into my sleeping bag and I started to get warm again. I just cooked dinner and I feel pretty cozy right now. It will be hard to get going tomorrow but I have to because I don¢t have that much food. Plus the delights of Damascus await.Fireball just showed up at the shelter. He¢s an older guy with one monster pack. He¢s a smaller guy so his pack is almost quite literally bigger than him. Every step must be torture but he covers big miles so all the power to him. I guess it¢s nice to have company.A quick hello to Georgia and Troop 222 of Syracuse, New York. Thanks for the card, Happy Hiking this summer.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abington Gap SHelter
Miles today: 15.9

This morning I was rudely awaken at 4:30 by a headlamp shining in my face. It was Fireball not just getting up to take a pee but to eat breakfast and start the day. Red Beard awoke before that to the sound of Fireball¢s alarm going off. For future thru-hikers please note: This is a sure way to make sure no one will ever want to hike with you or spend a night in a shelter with you ever again!! Unbelievable. The funny thing was that he didn¢t start hiking until almost 7:30. Three hours to get ready! He does have about four times the stuff to deal with compared to me so I¢ll give him that. I later found out that he didn't want to have to break the trail in the snow so he was waiting for Red Beard or me to get up and do it. That's fine, I don't like breaking trail either but only a jerk would purposely try to wake us up.The first 10 miles or so were a nightmare. I wondered what the heck I was doing out here. It was cold and there were a few inches of snow in places. Putting on wet cold clothes in sub-freezing temps does not make for a happy hiker. I got through a few miles of it by reminding myself of all the crappy jobs I have had over the past few years and however bad this is, it¢s better then a day at one of those places. Then I had some little Debbie Apple Streusel cakes and I felt happy again. Little Debbie does good work but sadly I don¢t think we have then in Canada. Then I thought about what I've become, when a lot of sugar and chemicals put in a piece of plastic can make me so happy. Disturbing. Whatever, maybe when you're at your lowest point anything will make you happy.I saw Walks Alone today, heading south. I spent a night with him before Clingman¢s Dome way back in the Smokies. He¢s in training for the PCT. It was good to see a familiar face. He told me that there were a lot of people in Damascus taking off because of the weather. I wonder whom I¢ll see tomorrow. I¢m hoping I¢ll run into Ty & Cairo because they¢re suppose to be taking a couple to visit people there. Tonight at the shelter it is just Red beard and I. Fireball said he was going to be here but I¢m happy not to see him! Red Beard is good company at the end of a long day. Plus he gave me a Little Debbie, what a nice guy! He says he only does good deeds for me so I won¢t write bad things about him in my journal.JB ¢ ¢Tell It Like It Is¢¢¦