morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-11-20
To: YMCA 4-miler
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday Nov 20thI awake @ 6:30am (thats sleeping in for me!)...& shower & get ready for theBeth Null DOrris/YMCA 4 miler Run today (of course...i'll be race-walking the course)...This should be interesting today...to see how I do...i've only been attempting5K competitions...(3.1miles)...today its a 4 mile course...I arrive @ Travis Price Park here in Springfield & check in...grab my goodie bag (yes, another t-shirt)& i see Jerry Dixon (friend & coach) as I walk to the registration table...we warm up together...none of the other "usual walkers" are here today...guess they had other plans for their Saturday...After a few instructions...the race started @ 8am...Sunny skies...no winds...good conditions...abt 39 degrees...I have my underalls on with shorts & a T-shirt over top...We're off...I start my stop-watch (out of habit)...but they (Nashville Striders Running Club) gave us timing chips to put on our running shoes...to give a more accurate read out of the "OFFICIAL TIMES".At the first mile...my time was a bit slow....11:20...i need to speed up...I'm wearing a new t-shirt of mine...it has RaceWalking...an Olympic Sport since 1908 on the front...& on the back it has:"If you can read this...you're getting beat by a race-walker!"I love it!...walk...walk...walk...walk fast....@ mile 2 ( the half-way point)...i checked my time...24minutes....I need to speed up....on the way back...i pass quite a few slower runners & joggers...some laff & my t-shirt....truth hurts!...hehehehehe ;0)mile 3...34 minutes 57secs....i've gotta speed up a bit more...to stay under 48 minutes...my goal for today...another half mile...keeping up the pace...walk fast...walk fast...walk fast...i see the home-stretch...in sight....keeping the pace up....I cross the finish line...& click my stop-watch...47:30.51The officals a few minutes later start posting the "chip" times...(the OFFICIAL times)...the chip gave me a 2 sec faster time @ 47:28....I'll take it!....weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ;0)thats 11:52 per mile averageMore stats: I was # 136 overall to cross the finish line (out of 153 particiapants)...79th man to cross the line...17 males in the 55-59 age group...I came in 6th in my age group...Its a good day...Sunny skies & I made my goal of 4 miles under 48 minutes...so, I'm feeling good abt it...They dont give out awards to RaceWalkers...so, i head home for a quick shower before heading to Greenbrier & an Arts & Crafts fest @ Loushouse Coffee...Good times...See Ya'll up the trail!
Date: 2010-12-11
To: SNOWFLAKE 5 K
Miles today: 0.0

Sat.Dec.11thI've signed up for another competition on this day...this one, the SNOWFLAKE 5K, benefits the Prevent Child Abuse in TN organization...(P.C.A.T.)...of which one of our fellow NewsChannel 5 employees (Bethany Davis)serves on the Board of Directors.I arrive @ Shelby Park abt 8:30am....(race starts @ 9am)...loads of folks already here & warming up...I check in..grab my goodie bag...& head back to the car...get my shoes on (Mizuno Renegade 4s)...& put my bib # on & warm up a bit...about that time I see Steve Hayslip & son, Paul...they plan on running the course...I'll be race-walking it...At 9am...its partly cloudy & slightly windy...& the temperature is dropping a bit...They blow the start horn & 350 (approx) people take off....I click my stop watch as I pass thru the starting gates...walk....walk....fast...walk....we hit the greenway....lots of runners...pass me....no biggie....just keep my pace high....i hit the one mile marker...ck my time...11:01...not bad....walk...walk...walk....race...walk....loads of young girls & their sponsors running today....the organization is "Girls on the Run"...sorta like a Big Sister organization that keeps younger girls active & moving...good idea...walk...fast walking...walk....beautiful scenery here in SHelby Bottoms...the park has been around for over 100 years...& has a small pond here that is stocked with fish...the train tracks run across the park as well....in fact we spot a train coming thru while the competition is going...walk....walk....fast...walking...we walk down for a slight ways...(1/4 mile maybe?)...then around the pond....I almost hit the wall here....running outta steam....then its up a slight hill heading back....gotta make myself...keep it high....mile marker 2...24:12...ouch....I've slowed considerably.....need to crank it up a notch...several joggers pass me as we hit the final stretch....I see the finish...in sight....walk...faster....fast walking....walk....i hit the finish line & click my stop-watch....ouch!....36:14.50...I am very slooooooow....today.... i blame the ducks quacking @ me during the last mile...hehehehehe ;0)that time is over a minute off my personal BEST....& abt 20 seconds slower than my time last week in Cadiz,KY......post race we get a photo taken with all the NewsChannel 5-ers that participated, (see photo above)...this was my last competition for the year...need to get some more weight off & hit the treadmill more often...I've got a New Years Day hike with friends from Clarksville over @ Montgomery Bell Park...stay tuned for that...See ya'll up the trail...
Date: 2011-04-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

When it rains on the trail, I like to be in a tent that doesn't leak, don't you?I just hit mine with a hose, and it immediately got damp inside at the top seam. This *seam taped* tent was recently purchased, so now it is being express-mailed (at my expense, which doesn't seem right) to the vendor for review.
Date: 2011-04-30
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 68.1
Weather: clear sky

4/28: Major storms all around overnight, but nothing much happened in HS. Awoke to partly cloudy skies. Happy that the diner opened at 0600, loaded up on pancakes and headed for the trail at 0715. Bit of a false start, as the trail jumps a guard rail heading out of town, and I didn't notice. An uneventful day, high point was taking 75 minutes to stumble the rocky 1.5 miles over Firescald Knob. Camped near Jerry Cabin Shelter, about a 27 mile day.4/29: A cold night. Didn't get going until 0730. Wearing three layers. The cold is compounded by the wind. Figid, windy high point of the day was going over Big Bald. These bald spots are a nice though temporary liberation from the green tunnel. (Or the 'gray cage' when things haven't leafed out yet.) There has been a nice display of flowers now, some with alternating green and white petals, some alternating burundy and white, others all pink, yet others all white. All seem to have a simalar leaf structure. And there are several smaller varieties of different colors. The ever-present rhododendron bushes/trees are not doing much of anything. I've seen only a few cream/yellow blooms. Anyway, camped at Whistling Gap, a 29 mile day.4/30: The frigid wind disappeared overnight, leaving just the cold. But I got a better start, 0630. The 14 miles into Erwin were covered by noon, just in time to catch the Uncle Johnny's Hostel dinner shuttle into mid-town. I had thoughts of staying at the Best Southern, but the people running the place didn't seem so great, so UJ's it is. The Piza Plus has a great AYCE pizza and salad bar for $7.50. Bought most of what I needed for resupply at the dollar store. Then back to UJ's for shower and laundry. Got a private cabin. Some confusion as to the price (the AT Guide isn't even close), but worked out to my satisfaction. We'll see if I actually get any sleep, between the trains and the guests. Back to the trail in the AM.On thing I forgot to mention. Back at Birch Gap in the Smokies, I heard the damnedest thing, just after sundown while in my tent. At first I thought it was some arriving hikers being jerks by making weird noises. But I don't think that was it. It sounded like chimp (as in monkey) noises. What the heck? If it was coyotes, then coyotes here sound nothing like west coyotes. After leaving there, I saw something about wild hog pens, do they make weird noises?
Date: 2011-06-11
From: US 11, near Carlisle, PA

To: Swatara Gap/PA72/Lickdale, PA
Miles today: 53.2

06/09: Hiked to Clarks Ferry shelter, 22.3 miles. Forecast was for stupid hot, so got on the trail by 0530. Farmer field walk for first several miles. Later on supposedly 'very rocky' (per the AT Guide) trail from mile 1132 to 1138 was only mildly rocky, didn't slow my pace. But the heat was impressive. In to Duncannon by noon, chugged a couple liters of Powerade. Stopped at Mutzabaugh's for resupply and ice cream, then headed out of town. Felt a craving for Subway, stopped there on the way out, bad idea, that sandwich didn't ride well. Stiff climb out of town, followed by extremely rockey 1-2 miles not mentioned at all in guide. Not sure how far to go todday, as thunderstorms are forecast. Reached shelter before 1700, but decided to tent there as safe option. Happily, it had good spring with very cold water. This is the hottest day so far, must be well over 100 on heat index.06/10: Hiked to Lickdale, PA, 30.9 miles. Thunder but no rain. Very hot overnight, but cooler in morning and less humidity. Hiking 0600. So far, more like 'Flatsylvania' than 'Rocksylvania'. Keep expecting for extended rocky trail, but none so far. Wished I had pushed farther yesterday, so today not so long. First rattler encounter, hissing, but hiding under rocks. Made it to Swatara Gap before 1800, thought I would also have to walk the 2+ miles into Lickdale, but got hitch in 5 minutes. I guess it helps to be old sometimes. Got Days Inn down to $60 from $70 after whining (rates go up on weekend), so staying there.06/11: Zero at Lickdale. Strong storms moved through overnight, they blew the sirens here at 0330. Only cheap 'hiker discount' rooms at Days Inn are in the basement, no windows. But the worst is no sound insulation between you and floor above, upstairs activity kept me awake until midnight. Will probably move across street to Best Western which will cost $10 more. Should make it most of the way to Port Clinton on Sunday, then pick up my box at P.O. on Monday. Forecast is for better weather the next few days, hope to make it to Wind Gap (mile 1269) before stopping again.
Date: 2011-06-15
From: Swatara Gap/PA72/Lickdale, PA

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 95.6
Weather: few clouds

06/12: Hiked to a few tenths past Philipps Canyon Spring (1205.0) 31 miles, plus 2 bonus miles to get back to the trail from Lickdale. Up at 0330, breakfast across the street at Hess (leaving too early for 'free' motel breakfast), out the door at 0515 and back to the trail a bit before 0600. Long day of mixed rocky trail, boulder stumbling, and good trail tread. At first fog, then fog rain, then showers, then cleared up and humid. Stopped at 1900, about 4 miles before Port Clinton, where I have a box to retrieve from PO.06/13: Hiked to Allentown Hiking Club Shelter (1231.6), 26.6 miles. On the trail 0600, hit the Port Clinton PO at 0800, packed up and on the trail an hour later. Rock and boulder stumbling turned up a notch today, weirdly combined with the clean flat road walk-type walking. Felt quite drained by the time I reached shelter. 'Spot', six-time AT thru-hike attempter was there. I first met him a few hundred miles back near Woods Hole Hostel. One of the few hikers I have seen more than once. 06/14: Hiked to about half a mile past power line at 1253.3 (1253.8), 22.2 miles. Knife Edge, Bear Rocks, Bake Oven Knob, and then an afternoon jog north out of Lehigh Gap. Boulder stumbling up the a**. Nicely, rain blew through about an hour after I cleared Lehigh Gap. Found tent site just short of Little Gap about 0600. I had thought to go to Palmerton, but threatening signs all over the place, including trail to town (talked about falling rock risk, maintenance beng done) convinced me not to. Just as well, glad I got LG over today without incident. Really funny to read signs talking about hiker risk after being routed over things such as Knife Edge and climb out of LG, high-risk is gross understatement for those and other areas on this stretch of the AT. 06/15: Hiked to Wind Gap (1269.5), 15.7 miles. More boulder stumbling to get out of Little Gap, then better trail. Still a lot of sharks-tooth, ankle-twisting trail tread mixed in. Got to WG and got hitch in less than two minutes. It is 2.6 miles to Travel Inn where I'm staying, $53+ with tax, but all hiker needs in the area. Kmart has free internet kiosks, which is where I'm entering this. (But only one of many terminals is working.) Will take tomorrow off.
Date: 2011-07-07
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 130.2
Weather: scattered clouds

06/30: Hiked to just before Upper Goose Pond regulated area, 25.4 miles for the day. Lodge shuttled me to the trailhead, back to work just after 0730. A nice day, temps in the 70's, a rarity. Have to measure out miles as I don't want to get to Williamstown/North Adams until the fourth day out, when there are rooms available and rates go back to normal.(Kept no notes for the next few days, so even less color than usual.)07/01: Hiked to Dalton, MA, 22.7 miles. I tented in Tom Levardi's yard. When I found out others were slackpacking south from Wmstn/NAdams back to Dalton (Mr L. does this drive, free) the next day, I signed up for that.07/02: Southbound slackpack from 1584.7, 23.5 miles. Steep up and over Mt. Greylock. Yeah, you can see a long way from up there, and on this weekend, you do so with a lot of company.07/03: Zero day at Williamstown. There is is a 'Super Stop and Shop' on the way to the Williamstown Inn, huge supermarket. Williamstown Inn $59.07/04: Walked back to the trail in the AM, only took me 30 minutes so it's not that far. Seems I've got Giardia, took some meds, feel better pretty fast. I was in a bad mood, severe rocky descent to VT 9 pushed me to bail into Bennington. First car after I stuck my thumb out stopped, weird. Autumn Inn is $65 not $55 as in guide (no single rooms) worst place I've stayed so far. 07/05: Hiked 22.4 miles to Stratton-Arlington Rd, where there is a trailhead and tent sites. In VT now. Vermont has endorsed the received wisdom of 'Vermud'. Trail has made transition to considerable bits of mud and roots. Muddy spots made huge by hikers trying to skirt around the edges. The genuine AT experience. And there hasn't even been any significant rain for a few days.07/06: Reached Manchester Center, VT after 17.6 miles. Up and over Stratton Mountain, the easiest hike in quite a while. I made it harder by missing the turn left on the top and walking out to a ski lift, wasting 45 minutes of town time. At VT 11, took 10 minutes to get a hitch, twice my average, I blame the other hiker who was there with me. Thank goodness for huge gas-guzzling pickups with large beds. Picked up my box at Mountain Goat and had them replace one trekking pole tip, only cost $5 for the one. I had thought to stay at Carriage House on edge of town that quoted $58, but after I walked there I said this is nuts it's way to far from town. The only two lodging choices that are viable here for those on foot are the Green Mountain Hostel and Sutton's Place. The latter I chose, it's just a big house with upstairs rooms, $55 for a single, TV but no cooking possible.07/07: Zero day. Walked the 1.1 out to library to enter this nonsense. Indeed this town is too spread out for foot traveler. Called the Green Mountain hostel to see if they might give me a ride to TH tomorrow, if they passed through town with their guests. Seemed offended by the inquiry as I hadn't stayed there. Found another service for a reasonable price.
Date: 2011-07-10
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Mountain Meadows Lodge (Killington, VT)
Miles today: 53.8

07/08: Shuttled from MC to trailhead by Leonard's Taxi Service ('hiker friendly') at 0700, after hotcakes at McD's. Nearly knocked myself out, as I was passing Peru Peak shelter, as I was on a boardwalk that led straight at a new bridge handrail. As I looked up from the end of the boardwalk, I smashed my forehead into the too-long handrail. Star in the daytime? Anyway, rain is in the forecast. It held off until just before my objective of Greenwall Shelter. The AT guide says it didn't have tentsites, but I was hoping it was wrong as it often is about shelter tentsites. Well, The rain came as I was about .5 from the shelter, and I found a rare flat spot. I quickly put up the tent, and just as I did, a lady from the Green Mountain Club walked up. Bottom line was that she wished I didn't tent here, but it was OK. Great. 24 miles for the day.07/09: Tent leaks from one end. Not sure where exactly, so many things come together there. Didn't notice til I woke up. Not that much water in, but not that much rain to begin with. Made the .5 side trip to Whistle Stop restaurant, well worth it. Two nice-size bluebery pancakes $3.50, other stuff reasonably priced, not normal for VT. Gassed up for huge climb coming. This was quite a draining experience, then they hand you nasty 'flat' root and rock jumble walk at the top. Planned to stop at Churchill Scott shelter as the guide said it had tentsites, well it had one wood platform with a tent on it. Heading back out the access trail noticed flat spot and pitched a tent there. )nly 23.9 for the day, but hard work.07/10: Counting 5.9 miles for the day, to Mountain Meadows Lodge at 1697.1. Taking the rest of the day off. I would have preferred to go another day or two, but I don't see good choices for time off coming near future. First went .6 up US 4 to find Killington and stuff guide said was there. Found the Base Camp Outfitter, who clued me in that 90% of stuff in guide is closed/too far away. But showed me how to get to MML by using trail behind outfitter. Fortunately the store/deli is still there, so paid a visit then headed for lodge. Where this is being entered. Today is nice, but chance of showers and 90 degrees the next two days, oh well.
Date: 2011-07-21
From: North Woodstock, NH

To: Crawford Notch/North Conway, NH
Miles today: 44.4
Weather: broken clouds

07/21: No day-to-day summary this time. These White Mountains are something else. Much straight up or straight down, always on rocks and boulders, roots and tilted rock slabs. Very difficult. And all of my experience has been in good weather. The slabs up here have a much more grippable surface than in earlier territories, and you are pretty much forced to walk up and down at angles on the slabs where you just have to pray your shoes will hold. The trail finally got it's desire, as I took a quick down escalator coming down the north side of Mt. LaFayette. Smashed into rocks and opened a nice split on my forehead. Lots of way cool blood. Not to mention sore ribs, nose, thigh, etc. I peddled on, later stopping at Galehead Hut where one of the croo cleaned up the wound and told me I needed stitches. Advised me to hike out down a side trail right away, as stitches need to be completed within 24 hours of the event. I was unwilling to go down at night as that entailed even more risk than usual. Decided not to leave the trail in the AM either, I would hike 16 more miles to Crawford Notch and figure out what to do from there. Along the way, I stopped at another hut and a croo member informed me of the hospitals/clinics at Littleton and North Conway. Continued on and reached CN at mid-afternoon. I was going to call AMC's Highland Center and see what they suggested for transport options, but phone not working. Walked down to Tilley House historical site and asked if anyone would take me to North Conway for a fee. (Picked North Conway because an AMC shuttle stops there, and because guide listed a private party shuttler nearby.) A facility manager arranged for an emplyee from the nearby campground to take me down to NC at no charge. After usual bureaucratic headaches, saw a person at the walk-in clinic. Said I didn't need stitches. He put some thin tape strips on the gash which hold the thing together. That's it. I also asked about headache, lightheadedness, and fatigue which has persisted for a couple of weeks now, but blood tests found nothing interesting. (Well, my sodium level was low, not surprising as I had just come off the trail on a very hot day.) I checked into a motel near the hospital and took today (7/21) off, yet another zero, as there was forecast for possible thunder showers. It turns out the AMC shuttle leaves NC at only 2pm, and can stop right at the AT crossing if you ask, but I didn't want to head out so late in this heat. So I called the fellow listed in the AT Guide, and he will take me back to the trail early tomorrow for a fee, should be going again by 0730. Three days of no rain forecast, hope that holds.
Date: 2011-07-26
From: Crawford Notch/North Conway, NH

To: US 2/Gorham, NH
Miles today: 46.8
Weather: fog

07/25: I survived the White Mountains. But it took a while to get through. I had no clue how difficult the trail would be. Huge ups and downs on rocky/bouldery/rooty trail tread. It's more about rock climbing than backpacking. The huts played a key role int getting through, as I stayed the night at Galehead and Lake of the Clouds, and stopped for snacks and water at all the others. I got out of work for stay at Galehead thanks to my then-fresh headwound, and cleaned a fridge at LOTC. The food provided was excellent. The sleep provided was lousy, as I had no where to escape the snoring at LOTC, after sleeping on the porch at Galehead. My final stay was at the Imp tentsite, where a very nice guy named Matt was caretaker. He was instrumental in getting my tent up on the wooden platform, I hope I can repeat this in the future. The exit to US 2 was on tread that was like a dream, so easy and smooth you can't believe you're on the AT. At at the trailhead I encountered the absolute worst biting fly attack. I was going to make some phone calls to lodging but the attack was so bad, I just put on my headnet and stuck out my thumb. Thank god a local picked me up immediately and I got out at Burger King to sort things out. Staying at Northern Peaks Motel (forget communal sleeping for me) for $43+tax, would be a good room except it smells of smoke or something. Anyway, back to the trail tomorrow, and the fun time with Mahoosic Notch and Arm. Severe storm watch in effect right now, but tomorrow is supposed to clear up and then next day is OK, then rain again. Can I get the notch/arm done before then? I have no clue what the trail is like between here and there. Plodding on...