morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-30
To: message from Sister Buzz
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone,April 4/29/05 Friday was the last entry to Brother Buzz's journal until I hear from him again. I'm not sure if he mailed his journal from his second week into the trip when he picked up his first mail and drop box at the Fontana Dam post office. Brother Buzz did call me several times the week of April [24-28] on Thursday they were sharing a cheap motel room with two other hikers to keep the cost down. They were also able to get some laundry done,go grocery shopping for six days of hiking, and then went out to have some real food at a restaurant. On Friday they were heading out back on the trail for six days into the Great Smoky Mts. Brother Buzz must have called me at least two times on Thursday just to talk and pass the time. Lightning called me later in the evening at around 10:00 p.m. Giving me orders on his personal business. Then he comented to me that I could go back to bed now.I don't expect to hear from them by telephone for at least six days. Until I hear from them again.                              -Sister Buzz
Date: 2005-04-30
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

194.4 miles                                                   4/30/0 Saturday                                                         Day 17-Rain all day "No fun to walk in the rain"Good night sleep the best yet on the trail. I think the rain on the tin roof was good. The walk today seemed very long. The trails are not in the best of shape. They are not set up to have the rain run off of them so you get to walk in deep water and mud. There was no sun today also so it made for a long day. I was thinking a lot of home today-the warm house-warm shower-warm food-But most of all I miss my family. My wife says there has been a few donations come in for the Make-A-Wish fundraiser. I hope to raise $20,000 dollars so that works out to be 4 wishes for the children. They say the average wish is about $5,000. If you can help me to make my goal please do so. 100% of your money goes to the Fund raiser. Checks made out to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts. Sent to P.O.box 131 East Sandwich, MA 02537. As I am hiking I do think about the good that I am doing. Tonight at Derrick Knob Shelter we had 4 deer walking around. It was neat to watch them.    Thank you to all-Good Night
Date: 2005-05-01
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

207.9 miles                                                5/1/05 Sunday                                                          Day 18 Rain to Sun "Be Happy when the sun shines"O/K night of sleep. Rain all night. Started the walk today in the rain and fog. Sun came out and felt great. 13.5 miles today. The trail mud started to dry up. Still had to watch your step. Got to climb Clingmans Dome 6643' highest point on the AT. Good climb to get there. It was cold enough last night to freeze the rain to the trees so while we were hiking the sun was melting it and ice pieces would fall on you. Nice shelter tonight had a fire felt good. It is still to cold -they say that we are getting weather like they get in March. The flowers have died off to the cold. Smokie Mt's are like the white Mt's in NH. It is very funny when people see the thru hikers they stand back and stare at you. Some of them run from you and some will come right up to you and talk. The views were some of the best yet. We ended up with about 20 hikers at the shelter tonight. Some were tenting. We hit the 200 mile mark today. Less than 2000 miles to go. Happy May. I love you all!!
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

222.9 miles                                                   5/2/05 Monday                                                         Day 19 Cloudy and Sun "From the Mt Top you can see a long ways"Bad night of sleep. Too many people all kinds of noises. Starting out today's hike with some clouds and a bit tired. Had 5 miles to go to Newfound Gap. A big place for tourists to come. Then they hike up to Mt.LeConte. I was able to get some candy and crackers out of the day hikers. The views today were so beautiful you could see forever. I took some photo shots hope they show what I really saw. Today was my second 15 mile day. Legs and feet feeel it but they are still doing o/k. Got to the shelter today and found it half full of unfriendly hikers. They would not move over so Lightning and I set up our tent. Thats o/k you do stay warmer in a tent and it is going to be cold tonight. 20% chance of rain lets hope not. Only two more days in the Smokey Mt. It has been nice here. Well my dinner is ready, rice tonight and for doing a 15 mile day I am going to celibrate and eat my freeze dried ice cream. Good day with many more to come. Good night to all my great friends.         Miss you all so much.
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Pecks corner Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: scattered clouds

235.8 miles                                                   5/3/05 Tuesday                                                               Day 20 Sunny " Sun is good!!Good night of sleep-Stayed in our tent much warmer too!! Great hike today- Sun-Sun-Sun all day long. 12.9 miles today and it went by fast. The views were great we are getting to the end of the Smokies so the mts. are not as big. The views were more of flat lands and towns. Saw remains of an old air plane-parts were all over the place. Saw a deer today standing on the trail she looked at me walked into the woods looked back again so I just kept on hiking.Had my lunch on the trail and it felt so nice just sitting there with no phone-no TV-just you and the outdoors. Rolled into the shelter early today-hung out the sleeping bag to dry and air out. also hung up the tent got to keep all your gear as dry as you can. Helps to keep the smell down. Some hikers here tonight that are out to do just a few days. Nice people. Plenty of mice around here-well one less now. Someone just got one with his boot. Don't worry there are plenty left. just finished dinner, do my chores and off to bed. Good night and hope you all had a good day like I did. P.S. Got a donation on the trail today for Make-A-Wish Thanks
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

247.2 miles                                                   5/4/05 Wednesday                                                         Day 21 Sunny all day "Hostels are nice they have showers"O/K night of sleep-still plenty of mice running around. Up and out on the trail early. Almost 12 miles to go today. We will be staying at the Standing Bear Hostel. Need a shower-do some laundry-get some food resupply-The trail was easy today. Most of it was down. Down is hard on my knees so if I take it slow its o/k. For the last 6 days we have been at an elevation of a mile or higher so things are very different. No leaves on the trees-much-much-colder. Windy most of the times. So while you're hiking down it is amazing how the flowers-leaves come to life. Much warmer-the streams are back. It is hard to get your drinking water up on the Smokey Mt Ridge. Out of the Smokies today. I will miss them they were great!! Met our first Ranger today. Talked for a while and kept hiking. Hiked through a neat forest with plenty of water falls at the end of the day. Got to the hostel-shower felt great-clean clothes. Life is good. Had a pizza and ice cream for dinner. a real bed tonight. Getting dark going to sit around the fire some then off to bed.               Good night and thank you
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Max Patch Camp Site
Miles today: 13.6

260.8 miles                                                   5/5/05 Thursday                                                            Day 22 Rain-Clouds "You get wet when you hike in the rain"Good night of sleep. Up early-packed up ready to go. Hard pickled eggs for breakfast. Don't worry I will not eat them again did not like them. The start of the hike today was up-then some more up. Once we got up on the ridge,then the rest of the day was smaller up and down. Same type of trees and flowers nothing new. One big problem today. My morning did not start out good then while I was hiking my right leg had a pain all day just above the knee so it slowed me way down. Today was not a good day in the woods. We got a nice camp site tonight by the Max Patch. Max Patch was a old farming homestead. It is a Mt that was cleared off so there is only grass here now. Had a nice dinner and off to bed. Got a long day tomorrow. Over 15 miles. got to get some rest. Get to listen to the sounds of rain on the tent tonight. Good night to all and I am hoping for a better day tomorrow.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Max Patch Camp Site

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

276.4                                                            5/6/05 Friday                                                         Day 23 Clouds to Sun "To go down a Mt you have to climb it first"Great night of sleep. I think the rain drops put me to sleep. Up early did my morning chores and then I took off. Lightning was still sleeping when I left camp. It is going to be a long day today and with my leg pain I had.I wanted to take it slow and steady. The sun came out and what a difference that makes to have the sun with you. We only had a few climbs today. Most of the day it was down hill. The trail is heading down into Hot Springs NC. Elevation of 1326'.Max Patch was 4629' so we are going down. The trail was in good shape today. Went through a couple of pine forests so we were walking on a lot of pine needles. Better than dirt. Got to the shelter today looked in and 2 mice were looking at us. Yeah you guessed it. We set up our tent to get a better night of sleep. Our water filter is getting harder to pump. There is a lot of fine sand and minerals in the water so we will have to change the cartridge in the filter soon. Water has been easy to get most of the time. hope through the summer we will be able to find it. Legs are doing better today. Taking it slow and steady does help. had a great dinner of mac and cheese with chips ahoy cookies for dessert. Well have to go hang our bear bag of food and off to bed.                     Talk again real soon.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Spings
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: clear sky

279.6 miles                                                5/7/05 Saturday                                                               Day 24 Sunny "Pizza tastes good"Great night of sleep-Easy 3.2 miles into Hot Springs all down. First stop Smoky Mtn. Diner for breakfast. I did order ham and cheese omelet-hash browns-2 pancakes-english muffin and o.j. Yes I did eat it all. Today we are going to "Drifters" home town of Ashville NC to hang out meet his friends and stay the night. Then back on the trail in the morning. Town of Hot Springs is a neat old town. The brick buildings with big glass fronts. There is Buff Mt. Outfitters. Picked up a few things we needed and mailed a few things back home. Got picked up then off to Drifter's house-cleaned up-off for pizza-then food shopping at Super Wal-Mart. I bought way to much food. Got some good stuff it is amazing what you buy when you see all this food. I went back to the house to relax. Lightning-Drifter and Bear Can went out dancing. Got my back pack and food all set for the next day. Then called my wife. I look forward to calling her so much. She was watching a movie and was just getting to the good part.Hope she watches it again later. Off to bed. I'll try to get some rest.       Good day and Good night to all.
Date: 2005-05-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello to all =====   This is Brother Buzz writing to you all from Hot Srings, NC. I want to say THANK YOU !!!!!!!!! for all the guest book entries. I am able to check my journal every now and then. It is great to read them makes you feel like home.The trail has been GREAT I have good days and bad days. So far many more good days then bad. My legs and feet get along O/K with trail and that is very inportant. We have had some good rain days. But you will not get to Maine if you don't walk in the Rain.I do miss Sandwich - home - the freinds we have - we have made a lot of new hiker freinds.I need to go do some food shopping and get back out on the trail. Till the next time,   I MISS YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!! Be good - Be Happy BROTHER BUZZ
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Hot Spings

To: Rich Mt. Fire Tower Camp site
Miles today: 8.2

8.2 miles                                                         5/8/05 Sunday                                                                  Day 25 Sunny "Pizza tastes good for breakfast"Did not sleep too good. Need to sleep on the ground. Our ride back to Hot springs was going to pick us up later in the day. so Drifter brought us to see some neat water falls. Back to the house . Drifter's buddy is going to be hiking with us so we picked him up and off to Hot Springs. Hit the trail at 4:00 p.m. and had at least 8 miles to do. Most of it is up. When ever you leave a town or a gap it is always up. Hot Springs is on a big river. So the trail followed the river for a good mile then straight up. Fun with a full pack of Wal Mart food. Made it to the camp site around 8:00. On the hike today we walked through a area that had a bad brush fire. All you could smell was smoke. at the camp site we had a nice camp fire. Lightning needed the fire to heat up the pizza he hiked in. did my nightly chores and off to bed. I am tired. Long day. All I could think about today was my wife. as you hike that is all there is to do. Is think. The trail does change day by day.             Talk to you all later.
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Rich Mt.Fire Tower Camp Site

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

306.0 miles                                                      5/9/05 Monday                                                               Day 26 Sunny-Hot "The sun is very hot"Great night of sleep. After I went to bed last night they went to pull up all the food. [5 hikers worth of food] On one bear rope and the tree branch broke. The branch came down and hit Lightning on the face and arm. It looks bad. He is going to tell everyone he got attacked by a bear. Hiked by the brush fire today for at least 2 more miles. Saw a few more grave stones on the trail. There are a lot of stones on Mt.summits. In memory of so and so. Very sad though there are ones for young children. Big climbs today one was 5 miles always walking up. Did come across a house in the woods and the family was selling soda and it was ice cold. It tasted real real good. Today was one of our hottest days yet. I do not do well with the heat it was rough. Got to the shelter late today. It was my longest day yet 18.2 miles with a lot of ups. Got my dinner cooked up fast-ate-got my chores done and off to bed. Good day over all.      Love you all and miss you all. [Hit 300 miles today]            Keep Wishing They do come true
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

320.7 miles                                                   5/10/05 Tuesday                                                            Day 27 Cloudy-Rain "Don't walk on Mts in the lightning storms"O/k night of sleep. My legs feel good after a long day yesterday. A long day today to almost 15 miles. I am doing o/k with them. Two more days we hit Erwin Tenn. for a mail drop [I hope a letter from my wife] Buy some food. Not sure if we are staying in the town or not. Passed by some old log cabins that were farm lands and a few fruit trees. Troubles with our water filter today. The cartridge is getting clogged. Lucky we have a cartridge to change it in our mail drop. All the shelters have been very busy.Tonight there is 12 of us. Good dinner of Mac and cheese with tuna. Some cookies for dessert. I still miss home cooking some bad. Hope we get some real food in Erwin. How is North shore Blvd doing I do miss seeing everyone. Waving to all as I drive by. Hello to Uncle Butch and his families at home and work. Got to eat and get my chores done. Had a good rain-thunder and lightning storm today.         Have a good day and keep smiling.
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: scattered clouds

341.3 miles                                                   5/11/05 Wednesday                                                               Day 28 Sunny "20 plus mile day makes your feet hurt"Slept O/K -tenting is a better way to get sleep. Up early and on the trail. Long day today. Two big climbs also of over a mile high. We climbed up Mt.Big Bald it was like the Sound of Music fields. There were fields of white flowers on the ground. There were so many it looked like snow. The temps are back up high again most of the times in the 80'. Have been drinking about 2 gallons of water a day. The streams and springs have been starting to dry up a little so it is a little harder to get water. Been hiking with the same group of hikers. Still hear about some dropping out. Hiking is different it does use your mind a lot. Today is day 28 on the trail so by now your legs are in shape-your lungs are doing better but your feet still hurt. They say that will be the way all the way to Maine. My back does hurt a little at the end of the day but not to bad. Short day tomorrow into Erwin Tenn. Looking forward to picking up our mail drop and getting some real food. Long day today-Dinner is ready then chore time and off to bed.       Thank you all for your great support it does help.                        Good Night
Date: 2005-05-13
From: Erwin Tenn Super 8 Motel

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: few clouds

364.0 miles                                                   5/13/05 Friday                                                            Day 30 Sun to rain "Friday the 13th in the woods"Great night of sleep. Had breakfast at the motel-mailed our bounce box ahead to Damascus VA. and mailed home a few things. Dropped off at trail head about 9:15a.m. We heard Moonshine and John was at the hostel across the river so we hiked over so lightning could give him his sword and shield. When we left the hostel a small dog followed Lightning. When I tryed to bring her back the people said not to worry she would come back on her own. Off hiking we went, same type of day-walked in the woods-climbed a few Mts-then down the mts. When we started out it was sunny and hot then the rain came in along with thunder and lightning. I do not like to walk on Mt tops when there is a storm over head. Walked through a really neat pine grove today it went on for about 1/2 a mile. It is nice to walk through it. The pine needles are soft to walk on. Had my M&M candy today sitting in the rain. Thanks again to the Keith's. Long day 16.4 miles and at the end was our biggest climb. I hate when that happens. When I got to the shelter you know who was there. Lightning and his new dog it never went back. Now we have to figure how to get her back to the hostel. More to come on that.                Good night
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

412.1 miles                                                      5/16/05 Monday                                                                  Day 33 Sunny "Shelters are for hikers and Mice"O/K night of sleep. Mice were very busy all night. 1/2 mile trail to the road. Got a quick ride only to a gas station-store so the real breakfast was these things they called bisquits with egg and hash browns. Not good but it was food. Got some food resupply and off to hike for the day. Planned about 15 miles ended up doing 18.2 miles. Trail was o/k there was another brush fire spot for about 1.5 miles. Ran into a trail crew today there was 83 people working on the trail. Nice to walk on a good trail. Most of the trail crew was young hikers working for food. Hiked by a cemetery it was the town's. Very odd place for the trail to go. Lightning and I were looking for a place to camp but could not find any so we just kept going to the shelter. My feet did hurt and my boots were still wet from the rain the last two days. All is o/k on the trail we have been hiking with Peter Pan and Snot Rag- Get it done-Got my chores to do-eat dinner-then to bed. So I can listen to the mice run around.                        Talk later
Date: 2005-05-18
From: Kincora Hiking Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

435.7 miles                                                   5/18/05 Wednesday                                                            Day 35 Sunny "Swimming on a hot day is good"O/K night of sleep. Good breakfast eggs and ham. Out on the trail at 9:00-Great walk for the first 2-3 miles. Waterfall and a great river. Then a big climb up. The trail ends up going right to the town beach so we went for a swim then had a nice lunch sitting at the beach. Off back on the trail. I walked around the pond then up to a big dam. From the dam we still had about 6 miles to go. It was a hard climb up from the dam. Had to carry our water from a spring for about 1.5 miles. When we got to the shelter the hike was well worth it. Behind the shelter were rocks we sat on and looked down on the pond. Then the town lights started to come on and it was neat to watch it. Today we saw a few big black racer snakes about 5' long. Hiked with Rich today. Gave him his new trail name of Free. Good day of hiking. Peter Pan saw a bear cub on her way to the shelter today. There has been a lot of Bear sightings in the last few days. So maybe I will get to see one.                   Good day-Good night
Date: 2005-05-20
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus,VA
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: moderate rain

468.4 miles                                                   5/20/05 Friday                                                             Day 37 Rain to Sun    "Three states down 10 more to go"O/K night of sleep-we had one big rain storm with plenty of thunder and lightning last night. It lasted the whole night. Got out of the shelter early to make it to town. The hike today started with a lot of ups and downs then for the last 4 miles it was all down. Got into town about 4:00-Lightning got to town early so he did get our mail drop at the post office. Neat town of Damascus VA. It is a very friendly hiker town. There are 2 hostels in town but there has been some problems with them so we decided to spend some more money and go for a Bed and Breakfast, and we are glad we did. Great place. Clean and very comfortable. Went food shopping for 4 days of food then out to eat. Got a large steak and cheese sub with a salad. When you are on the trail you do miss fruit and vegetables. So I always get a salad when I can. Back to the B&B to relax. Lightning went out and did our laundry. I called my wife [I miss her so much]. Then got my food bag together -cleaned up some of my gear and before I knew it it was past my bed time. Off to bed in a real bed. Today was good!!         P.S. got on a scale today I have lost about 20 lbs.
Date: 2005-05-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

HELLO TO ALL,Lightning and I are in Damacus, VA.All is going GREAT !!!!   Stayed here last night. Got to get some real food for dinner last night. Went to Post Office = Picked up a new headlight at the outfitters = Food resupply = and checked out the web site. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR sending your guestbook entries. It is nice to read when we get use of a computer.470 miles so far less then 1800 to go. The woods are starting to come to life flowers = leaves on the trees = Lightning has said it is o/k to send him a care package (food)Well I got to go the trail is calling usMiss you all,Brother Buzz