morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-10
From: Hiawassee GA

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: light rain

Today was an easy day, following a zero day. My knees are creaking but I'm feeling ok. Here in the shelter are 'dragon, nuts, twigs, groovy, dutch, lone wolf, kathleen(soon to be martha graham, or MG for short), T1 and T2, happy feet, cinderella, and haywire.the temperature is 40 degrees and is supposed to drop below freezing. however i'm hoping i'll sleep comfortably, between the shelter, my bag, my liner, my long johns, and my (popped) sleeping pad.Most people got in early. snacks, dinner, and the temperature started to drop. people are swapping stories, especially lone wolf, who could tell stories all day and night.nuts and twigs are planning a short day to the next shelter, about 7 miles. i was planning a 12.2 to the shelter after that. i'll go to the first shelter and see how i feel. it is only my second week so i'm still building.lone wolf is annoying me. people who talk non-stop annoy me, usually. i'm wondering now how long our crew will be together, since already we are planning different distances. thinking of a zero day at NOC. I worry about my body failing, about my feet hurting too much or my knees breaking down. but so far i am only uncomfortable. the weather has been rainy since saturday and for the past few days (one of which i spent in a motel) has been cold too. though i hear next week will be warmer and more importantly, dry! i really am chilly.not much to say about today's hike. dropped off at dicks creek gap by the nice hiawassee inn owner. set off in the rain, over some small ups and downs, mostly up, until the shelter. the rain stopped a little while after we reached the shelter. i was really suprised and happy to see kathleen, who i thought was far ahead. the bad news is that the reason she's not ahead is that her knee is hurting. this reminds me that i am not invincible and that these first few weeks i should take it easy.athlete's foot not bothering me. my poo was a little runny. knees hurt a little. bursitis was quiet. heels hurt a bit. arches a bit. toe "ridge" hurt a bit. otherwise i was running smooth for the 4 miles to the shelter.it is amazing to be surrounded by people stuggling and enduring, all of us out on a pilgrimage to Katahdin. Some people seek god, others greater connection with nature or with themselves. I seek an understanding deeper than words, an acceptance of this awesome univers that might free me to be yoself. I'm already there, but I don't realize it yet. I may be one with god, but my mind is still that of an animal that perceives itself as separate in order to "survive". I am thankful to my trailmates for their kindness, encouragement, and humor. tomorrow i try for muskrat creek or standing indian, and i enter North Carolina.
Date: 2003-04-11
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm separating gear, pains, and what's happening. skip whatever you'd like.GEAR:my platypus bite valve is leaking a bit. thermarest is STILL flat, not having magically healed.PAINS:right knee, below kneecap is hurting, especially on downhills. left achillis tendon hurting. backs of knees (hamstrings?) a little achy. both arches aching, esp. left. outside of left foot (the blade) hurting, acutely for a short while. knee really slowed me down for last 1/2 of day. arches and blade hurt more or less all day. my left ankle was hurting a little for a short while, maybe b/c i was compensating for my other foot pains.Woke up in the middle of last night, to puke and piss out my anus. felt better, so went back to bed. now i feel ok. woke up lots last night, to the sound of at least FOUR different snores. ahhh, the joys of shelter living.easy hike to NC/GA border, where nuts, twigs, dutch, 'dragon, haywire, T1, and T2 all showed up. photos snapped. then off past the gnarled oak which traditionally marks the border. then up, up, up into the rhododendron tunnels, snow all over the ground, mist wafting through the trees. ran into dutch and boy was he hurting, just grimmacing in pain and determination, hiking slower than me. but he trudged on past muskrat creek shelter, refusing to do only 7 miles. When i reached muskrat (after stopping to chat w/ groovy) i felt so good that i went on. well those last 5 miles were tough, especially on my right knee. finally make it to the shelter, where kathleen and mike and marco were also staying. a while later dutch finally rolled in. now we are all bundled up for a cold night. marco and mike are full of good ideas, like pouring boiling water into a nalgene bottle, which stays warm for hours. perfect for cold feet. i like them. wonder if they are a couple.tomorrow, on to carter and if feeling really good...big spring shelter (14.4)
Date: 2003-04-12
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

GEAR:Saw 2 people using Polar Pure -- does 500 gallons for $13 bucks. compare to Aqua Mira at 30 gallons for 13 bucks. I like my new alcohol stove. my poles (my good legs, my front legs, etc.) are still saving my arse. all gear functioning acceptably, except of course the popped thermarest and "20 degree" bag, which is really a 30-40 degree one.PAIN:Ugh, I'm not gonna type all this in. Many varied pains in feet and knees. Some neck stiffness. Doped up on Vitamin I (aka Ibuprofen), taking 1 every 3 miles or so throughout the day, and more in the morning and evening. I do it for the anti-inflammatory effect, not for the pain. ;-)Well, it's true. Last night was freezing cold, though probably not less than 30 degrees, since only a little bit of water froze. dutch gave me a coco puffs cereal bar for breakfast. yummy! since it was so cold, i took about 1/2 hour to get out of bed, carefully warming my clothes under my legs before donning them. then i packed up and headed for Standing Indian mountain, up, up, up the frozen trail and then down down down until i entered a world of warmth, sun, and no snow! then i busted out about 11 miles of rolling hills to betty creek gap. spoke with an old guy who started last saturday from springer. he's been getting rained on for a week. :-( but obviously he's doing some kickass miles. the last 3 miles, up albert mountain are brutal. consider yourself warned. at one point i was using my hands to haul myself up. but the view from the top of the fire tower is really outstanding, a panorama of mountains stretching way back to blood mountain and maybe beyond. so here i am, at big spring shelter with dutch, kathleen, and a few others. i miss the gals but hopefully will see them at NOC, since i am planning a zero day there, and maybe at fontana too.today i feel like Katahdin is possible, like i'm getting stronger and soon a day like this will be a regular occurrence. i hope so. i just need to remember to take it easy, not burn out. spirits are good around me too, especially dutch wo likes the weather and especially likes the big miles. he's driven.i miss my friends and family back home. for all its intensity, the relationships on the trail can be tenuous and superficial, or at least not having the depth that time brings. it can be hard to meet so many new people. i think dutch and i will part ways at NOC, since I don't think he will be taking a zero day. maybe i'll catch him later. hope so.anyway, ever northward. tomorrow i will try for siler bald shelter, a 12.8 mile jaunt. nothing compared to today's 14.4 miler w/ the killer ending. did i mention that i didn't pack enough food? duthc has helped me out some, but it is kinda cool to be cutting it really close, feeling a little hunger. peace and enjoy!
Date: 2003-04-13
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Siler Bald
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

PAIN:kness, arches, blade, right hipGEAR:props to my custom insoles for making this trip possible. since they were too small for my new size 11 boots, they are now even more custom, having glue, tape, and other insole scraps attached to them. ahh, life on the trail.Spoke with Mountain City today about religion and freedom, which he sees as the central teaching of many religions. right on! scored some trail magic in the form of 2 little bags of doritos, at rock gap shelter. end of day was long and hard, especially last 2 miles. i just ran out of steam.when i reached the shelter, 1.2 mile off the trail, guess who i saw? mike and marco! they rock! then i took a cold stream bath, washed some clothes and went up to siler bald. the view is AWESOME!!! simply the best view i have seen. panoramic mountains, lake in a valley, word's most perfect sunset, nearly full moon, orion shining bright, and the north star pointing to katahdin. not a cloud in the sky. cold, but beautiful. spent the night swapping adventure stories with mike and marco, who have both hiked and done other stuff (no, not drugs, silly) way more than me. they are both nerdy in a super cool way, the tupe of people who say, "cool!" when they heard I drank my own urine in the woods one time. we swapped emails. they rule. i wouldn't mind hiking with them some more.dutch. dutch is hurting, bigtime. his ankle was swollen thsi morning and it took him all day to get to the bald. i caught him on the way to the shelter and made him walk up to the bald. there are 9 of us up here on this perfect night. dutch was limping big time. i hope he slows down or heals or both. he was in his own world tonight and then went to sleep. right now he's snoring away.tomorrow, cold spring shelter, 12.1 miles. wish us luck. life is good. all good.
Date: 2003-04-14
From: Siler Bald

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: few clouds

Massive day, kicked my butt. My knees are killing me. my bursitis is back, my arches and left blade hurt. I'm HUGE! my poles are blistering my palms with their lame handles. the moon is nearly full and the weather still sunny, as my sunburn proves. my poison ivy is drying up. yes! the path today was about a foot wide with steep hills on either side, one dropping down about 100 feet. scary. telico gap beat me down and when i was lying, bloody, on the ground, begging for mercy, it kicked me in the face. that was how i felt about that killer descent. tomorrow is like one long descent to NOC. my knees will be shredded by NOC at this rate. dutch looked like shite today, hiking like a snail and being not his usual cheerful self. his ankle must be brutalizing him. and i'm not at the shelter (cold spring) to greet him. i'm sure he'll make it without me, but i'd like to be able to cheer him up. i'll see him at NOC. and mike and marco and loser and maybe big E and eventually nuts and twigs and dragon. sweet. to bed now, to heal. NOC manana. Peace.
Date: 2003-04-15
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: few clouds

Yay! I made it to NOC, in time to see cloudwalker, mike, and marco before they headed off for the next shelter. my feet are hurting a bit and the knees too. they need rest. my left blade (of my foot) is aching. i'm bummed that my blade is hurting so much. wish there was a podiatrist around. i'm worried that it is a stress fracture or some other serious condition. otherwise, i'm doing good.ARGH! Stayed at the Hiawassee Inn. Accidentally took the key when I left. Just got in to NOC today and found out that they charged dutch $186 for having to replace the locks because there were 3 missing keys and for time lost since they couldn't rent the room. This makes NO SENSE, since dutch and I had one key between the two of us. So essentially the most they should be able to charge us with is copying one key, about a $1.25. Ergo, dutch has to call his card and dispute the charge for services not rendered, and hopefully get this resolved in his favor. One more thing for him to do and sorta my fault (for not returning the key). They have no record of giving us 3 keys (since they didn't) so we should be fine. But it sucks that dutch has to deal w/ this. I feel bad.Anyway, NOC is chill. there are hot showers and a cold river for icing feet, a good outfitter store, laundry, restaurants, and a lawn. more than that, loser is here as is 'dragon, dutch, boat (who i stayed with last night), bandana man, buffalo bob (who found my databook which i dropped on the trail. thanks!), collin, ryan, erin, and erica (aka the twins), baltimore jack and many others. maybe nuts and twigs'll roll in tomorrow, though from what 'dragon says it doesn't seem too likely. i guess nuts' ankly is still hurting pretty bad.baltimore jack rocks! he's on his 8th thru-hike in 9 years. he was a suit and tie before. now he looks like a biker, smokes, drinks, carries a big pack and makes many miles. BUT what is really special is the intelligence and kindness he brings to everyone he meets on the trail. i think he might be a bodhisattva. today he arranged a ride for dutch and cinderella to the hospital. he's my hero.
Date: 2003-04-16
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

zero day at NOC. ahh, there's nothing as sweet as sleeping on a mattress, even if it is only a 4 inch think, plastic covered, cot sized one. i'm practicing sleeping on my back, to give my arms a rest--they go numb sometimes when i sleep on my side. also, if i can perfect back sleeping, i think using a ridgerest will be comfy. think of the weight savings! for me it helps to have my knees a little elevated, to they don't hyperextend.today, i felt like getting back all the peeps hwo have given me food, which is a lot of people. i hope i can return the favor down the line in one way or another, connecting the circle of kindness.this morning at breakfast i met ken, and saw happy feet and cinderella and martha graham (kathleen's new name). apparently M.G. was the name of her motorbike which helped pay for her hike. a lot of people coming and going at NOC. I'm amazed at how many familiar faces there are and how many trail names i met who were a day or so ahead of me. I'm glad for the rest and know i need it, but my heart wants to head north, to fontana dam, and beyond, to the smokies. myt knees ache a little. i've got minor runner's knee but the rest should help cure that. that and keeping my mileage low, which can be hard. i'll zero again in fontana before hitting the smokies.dutch. he was crying out in pain today. going to the e.r. this afternoon for his ankle. he needs it. i hope the news is good, like he just sprained it and a few days rest will help him.
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light rain

"Escape from NOC" by Reason:The call of the North --How sweet it is to be here,On the trail again.Stopping in at Sassafras Gap Shelter for dinner. no pain, argon, troy, 'dragon, dutch, nuts, twigs, john, squall, easy street, ryan, toby, psycho pat, laughy taffy, cinderella, happy feet are here. maybe more.   i'm headed on, to locust cove gap for the night, thinking of taro, a former thru-hiker i met who doesn't often stay in shelters.here in locust cove. i pitched my too small tarp over my bivy-less sleeping bag, which is resting on my brand new full length ridgerest, which also now serves as my groundsheet. simple...but effective?i'm all alone here in this gap. there is no shelter or any people other than me. will a bear eat me tonight or will the hillbillies get me first? i'm nervous but will just see what happens. hopefully i'm not making any catastrophic mistakes.on the climb out of Nantahala Gorge, i hiked with laughy taffy for a little while and then woodsdragon, nuts, twigs, and goofy joined us. there were some deep conversations along the lines of what does hiking the AT mean to us? I like the simplicity of this linear life and the thoughtfulness it brings to the people within this transitory community.i really dig the energy of the people around me. taro is someone i would like to meet again. he's hiking a bit of the AT in preparation for hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). I'm out here alone because of hime. Now the stars are out and animals are rustling around my tarp. there is much beauty here in appalachia, filling me with love. of course i still have much of the same desires, fears, anger, competetiveness, etc., but being out here alone is expanding me. peace and love.
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: few clouds

well, no monsters ate me during the night. what a let down. but my golite lair 1 is still to small and short, and my bag did get a little damp without a bivy around it, so everything seems to be S.N.A.F.U.i just finished my first breakfast of peanut butter covered pop tarts, part of a nutritious breakfast here in linear land, where so many things are different. did you know that peanut butter is one of the most calorie dense foods out there? it has almost 200 calories per ounce, whereas a power bar (and most foods) are only a little above 100 calories per ounce. when you mix M&Ms and honey into the PB, you get a delicious snack straight off the spoon...no need for those pesky slices of bread which are always getting smushed or crumbly tortillas which weigh too much. well, time to hit the trail....made it to cable gap shelter. spent a long lunch break at brown fork gap shelter, cooking, napping, drying gear and washing socks. here at the shelter are 2 section hikers, Jim and Carol, carrying a Kurt Russell sil-nylon, hiking pole tent. also here are most of the people who stayed at Sassafras Gap Shelter last night.Off to Fontana Dam tomorrow, a short 7 mile day. I'll resupply there and head into the smokies the next day. The smokies, one of the most dreaded stretches on the trail: big ups and downs, cold and wet weather, and the highest peak on the trail, Clingman's Dome.   To be continued...
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: broken clouds

Resupplied in Fontana Village Holiday Resort -- cheap powerbars, expensive batteries. the "fontana hilton" truly is the swankest shelter on the trail so far. bathrooms, tap water, showers, and room for 30 hikers, overlooking Fontana Lake and the Great Smoggy Mountains beyond.
Date: 2003-04-22
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Knees are keeping my pace slow. Today was like a walking meditation. Thank you, Taro, for lifting my spirits and expanding my sense of mindfulness. Thank you, Dutch, for a breakfast of moons-over-my-ham-i. Thank you, Woodsdragon, for you loud, joyous laugh which warms my heart. Thanks, happy feet, for a warm fire. and thanks everyone for the cameraderie and generosity that have marked my journey so far.i'm here at mollies ridge shelter with dutch, 'dragon, cruiser, sketch, barking spider/odwalla, taro, happy feet, and famous shoes. my first night in the beautiful, high Smokies promises to be cold. these mountains do have a reputation to uphold.props to meat in a packet, which i never knew existed uptil i saw 'dragon eating it on day 2. it makes every meal tastier and is much lighter than canned meat. buy it today at a supermarket near you!
Date: 2003-04-23
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

Cruiser, thanks so much for keeping me company today, and for the extra knee brace, both of which lifted my spirits on this incredibly long day -- all day less about 3 hours of light. Today was only tough b/c i worry too much about my knees.but today was also FANTASTICALLY beautiful! fields on mountain tops, wooded meadows filled with wild flowers, expansive views of the smokies. today i went to Rockytop, Tennessee! Can you believe that, Kirsten?only 2 more days to Gatlinburg, where i can get a new journal, 2 knee braces, more fuel, vitamin I, food, and of course, a HOT SHOWER. And i can lighten my pack -- somehow. just until i get my knees back.i'm sacked out under a tarp at derrick knob shelter w/ famous shoes, dutch, woodsdragon, cruiser, troy/puff daddy, psycho pat, GI Gypsy, and odwalla. tomorrow, on to...wherever.
Date: 2003-04-24
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mount Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

smokies rule! views, trees, flowers, easy hiking, cold weather. i'm in love. these mountains really rock!afer leaving the shelter i pulled off the trail to drop off the kids on a wooded slope looking out on clingman's dome, carpeted in wildflowers. nature's privy. ran into dutch and he inspired me to write 2 new songs: "sunrise, sunset" and "murderer on the AT". here are the lyrics:Sunrise Sunset: (to the Fiddler on the Roof tune)sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunsetslowly go the mileshow can we even ever get thereladen with crappy knees and gearis this the swollen knee i favor?which of my water bottles is pure?i don't remember which way's northanymoresunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunsetslowly go the mileshow can we even ever get thereladen with crappy knees and gearis that a shelter mouse in my pack?did anyone else hear that bear outside?i've got to pee like a racehorse,but i'd rather hide.sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunsetslowly go the mileshow can we even ever get thereladen with crappy knees and gear--------Murderer on the AT (screaming punkrock tune. censored for the internet)bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep,bleep on the ATbleep, bleep, bleep, bleep,bleep on the ATyou think i don't know you're therehiding in your tent you're scaredyou're hoping that what you hearis just some cutsy deerwell your god won't save youi'm gonna bleep bleep bleep in twothen bleep bleep when i'm throughi feel better whenever i do'cause i'm the bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep,bleep on the ATbleep, bleep, bleep, bleep,bleep on the ATgo bleep your ultralight packi'll just bleep bleep bleep bleep bleepwhen you're taking a leak at nightor sitting down for a bitedon't you know we've already meti'm a man of modest famethese are the last words you'll ever hearbleep is my nameyeah i'm the bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep,bleep on the ATthte bleep bleep bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep,bleep on the ATsang my songs for everyone in the shelter and they were full of praise. we have such time together. everyone is hilarious and warm.
Date: 2003-04-26
From: Gatlinburg

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

zero day in gatlinburg. most of the day cruiser and i spent elevating our knees while watching the interminable "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". Met Mr. Pumpy, Very Small Animal, Lanopi John & Squaw, Dirt & Kelsey. Learned to recognize an alien by measuring the distance between its anus and vagina. (too close = alien) thanks, wideload, now i won't be fooled!