morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-02-14
To: Two Weeks!!!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Well it's only 14 days away and I feel like a woman who is 8 months pregnant. There are so many emotions and thoughts flying through my head it's almost impossible to analyze what I'm feeling into one sentence. An example of what is going on in the chaotic world of my mind was evident when I talked to my oldest sister yesterday. The conversation went something like this... "Yeah I am so ready to do this, I've been waiting for so long. Did you see how much it snowed on the NC/TN boarder, I really hope it doesn't hit me that bad when I'm out there. Then again I know its going to, so at least I'm prepared. But I've already had hypothermia before and it sucks so bad. Man I hope I don't get hypothermia again, that would suck. Nah, I won't get hypothermia, I've been hiking for 13 years, I know what to do when the weather turns bad. That is why I'm going out there, that is why I enjoy hiking. I love challenges and overcoming pain. Yep, nothing can stop me from getting to Katahdin. I'm so ready to do this." That's what I think about all day and night as the departure date inches closer and closer. TWO WEEKS!!!! There are still a few loose ends that I need to get on top of, from getting my drop boxes ready (I only have four) to making sure my gear is in check. Other than that, lets get this thing started! I have come to notice that there are a ton of people starting on March 1st. Counting the members at Whiteblaze.net and Trailjournals there are already 20+. Not to mention that over 2,000 attempt it each year and the combined members from those two websites cannot be more than 300. Therefore, I've decided that I better plan on camping the first week because I doubt there will be much shelter space.Happy Valentines Day to everyone!
Date: 2006-02-21
To: 4 Days Untill I Head to Georgia
Miles today: 0.0

Well it really crept up on me. One minute I have a month to leave the next minute I have 7 days, then the minute after that I realize I'm leaving 3 days ahead of schedule. Simply put it¢s been a whirlwind. I went to Sams club yesterday and bought, prepared, and packaged all the food needed for my drop boxes. Then I went over all my gear and weeded out the unnecessary items and made sure everything was in check. That is when I found out I still have not put the waterproof sealant over my tent seams, my chest strap is still broken (amazing it hasn't fixed itself since the last time it was broken), and the bottle containing my fuel is leaking. On top of that I'm leaving tomorrow to go to Boone, and when I get back I'll only have 2 days to finish everything and I have a million people to visit with. Yet it is funny, even with all this madness going on I am remarkably calm. I have realized that there is no reason to be freaking out because it will all come together with time, limited time in my circumstances. Five and a half months. Somewhere around 170 days, where I will never know what lies ahead. I get to eat every meal in a different spot. Just try for a minute to imagine that. I get to lay my head on a different piece of ground every night. I will never know what is around the next corner, what inspiring views will be on the next summit, what mind opening conversations will take place with the next person I meet. There is no point in freaking out, not only on the trail but in life. I was reading someone¢s AIM away message the other day and it had a Chinese proverb with something along the lines of that every person we meet and situation we come to is connected by a thin red string and all life is, is a process of unraveling that ball of twisted string. Well it's kind of weird to think that in four days strings connected to people and situations that I could never fathom are about to unravel themselves. They say the trail changes you. If that is true then I can feel that it will change me for the better. The actual hiking has yet to begin, but the experience started with the initial idea. ----"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, not to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly." Buddha----
Date: 2006-02-25
From: Dahlonega

To: Georgia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

This will be my last entry before I leave. Everything is packed up and ready to go. We plan on hitting the road in about 30 minutes as we drive down to Dahlonega, Georgia to spend the night. I will be waking up around 5:30 tomorrow morning and hopefully reaching the trail by 7, giving me enough time to hike the 14.3 miles I have planned. My pack, with 3 days of food, is somewhere around 26 pounds. That will be lightened within a few months as I lose the winter gear. I feel like the little kid on the Disney World commercial. I figure I will finish reading A Walk in the Woods on the drive down, get that last bit of motivation before I freeze my butt off until spring. On that note, the weather is supposed to be real nice starting out. Out of the first 7 days the highs are in the mid 50s, lows not quite getting below freezing, and only one day having a chance of showers. Not too bad. Well I am on my way, I will write again when I get to a computer. See Ya!
Date: 2006-03-02
From: Springer Mt. GA

To: First Trail Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day in the Life 2/26/06 -3/2/06Wake up multiple times at night cold. Get up sore, pack tent and hike 2 miles.   Eat a few bars for breakfast. Hike another 3-4 miles while munching on gorp. Start to feel pain in knees, feet, shoulders. Hike another 3 miles. Now exhausted, dehydrated, sun burnt, and drenched in sweat. Hike 3 more miles. Up hills suck, down hills suck, flat land sucks. Hike 1 last mile wondering if you¢ll make it before your feet fall off, or leg dislocates, or if the knife jabbing into shoulder will ever stop. Stretch, get water, set up tent, cook food, clean, scarf down 4 vitamins 2 glucosamine, and 2 Advil, write in your journal, sleep, wake up constantly from either the numb from the cold or simple lack of comfort. Morning, do it again, everyday, all day. On a typical day I walk around a track 52 times with over 4000 feet of uphill and 4000 feet of downhill, all on rock, mud, and ice. Try it sometime!Although A Day in the Life sounds really bad, it really is not. My body is slowly getting in shape and with each passing day it gets a little bit easier. Anything that is even slightly easier is noticed very quickly and emphatically appreciated more than you could ever understand. The weather has been unreal. Today, the 5th day, is the first time I have become a little wet, and that was from walking in clouds, not rain. It has only been excruciatingly cold two nights, and I have yet to put on my long underwear. Tomorrow, Will and I are getting up early, hiking 3 miles, and then hitch into Hiawassee for a break -- food, mail and re-supply. I will be in North Carolina tomorrow. It is incredible. Hope everyone is doing well and no one worry about me. I¢m having the time of my life!!! See you all soon. 02/26/06        Springer Mountain to Justus Creek                                13.6 miles02/27/06        Justus Creek to Woods Hole Shelter                        13.2 miles02/28/06        WHS to Hogpen Gap                                        10.1 miles03/01/06        HG to Unicoi Gap                                        13.6 miles03/02/06        UG to Deep Gap Shelter                                12.6 milesHeaded into Hiawasseei tomorrow for breakfast, re-supply, and mail then hopefully doing a total of 10-12 miles.
Date: 2006-03-03
From: Deep Gap Shelter, GA

To: Campground just after GA/NC boarder
Miles today: 0.0

What¢s up everyone. Sorry the journal hasn't been kept up as well as I wanted it to. I sent home some note cards so in a few more days those will be posted up on here. Right now I'm in Hiawassee GA with a belly full of biscuits and gravy. We plan on getting back on the trail soon and doing another 8 miles before the days end which will put us in NC!!! GA has been great. The weather is outstanding, the hikers are wonderful, and the towns are so hospitable. The body is taking a beating but that¢s my fault for not preparing as much as I should have. We have done three 13 mile days, one 12 mile, and one 10. The pace is pretty good; we usually are up and hiking by 8 to 9 and done by 4 to 5. No blisters yet, knock on wood. I've been keeping a close eye on any hot spots and taking care of my feet. My knees are pretty worn but with all the vitamins and glucosamin pills I am taking I figure it won't be but another week or two till my muscles build up to were they need to be. Will and I have managed to camp out every night other than last night, which makes it nice to not be in a crowded shelter, even though in all honesty we started early enough that there is really no one else. We've probably met 7 thru hikers. Taco, Don, Brian, Ken, Dreamer, and two others that have already dropped out. We also got to spend a night with crazyhorse. He has hiked over 14,000 miles and was one his way to Springer to finish his 5th thru hike and turn around to start his 6th. He was an amazing story teller. From the moment I met him around 5 o clock till I went to sleep at 9 he told story after story. From seeing a girl die in Virginia, to bears, trail magic, and bad weather. That was a great night listening to him around a campfire. Well, I wish I could stay and keep writing (and enjoy the AC), but the trail is calling and we have some miles to do and a few crucial climbs before sunset. Ya'll take it easy now.
Date: 2006-03-06
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, today is my first zero day. Will and I needed a break to recuperate from the past 8 days of hiking. Also, Will needed to go to the hospital for a cortizone shot because his poison ivy has spread like wildfire. Mainly because we can't shower out there which makes stopping it a task. Fine by me though, it's 3:30 and I haven't done a single thing today. Woke up around 7 and layed in my bag till about 8:30. Walked down to the road to get picked up by the owner of the Budget Inn and while waiting we had a fencing match and balance competition. Once in town we went to Hardees, took showers, and then layed around watching TV. I think we might head to the outfitters here in a bit so I can get a pack cover and new sleeping pad. I've realized that a good sleeping pad is essential because if I don't sleep well then I don't hike well. Therefore, an extra pound is well worth a good nights sleep. Tomorrow we will hike 11.8 miles to a campsite at 114.7 from Springer, Wednesday is 13.5 miles to Wesser Balk Shelter, Thursday we will wake up, hike 5.6 miles for breakfast at the NOC, resupply, then hike another 7 miles to Sassafras Gap Shelter for a total of 12.6 miles. Thats about as far as I like to plan because the trail tells you how much you're going to hike. We might do more, we might do less. It all depend on weather, elevation changes, how our bodies are feeling, how our minds feel, and what the trail will allow us. So far the trail has been so nice. We haven't had to walk in rain once, and supposedly the forecast for hiking through the smokies is looking good. But things change, there is still 16 inches of ice on the top of Clingmans Dome, and if the weather allows, we want to get through the smokies as fast as possible. Well, our ride to the outfitters is awaiting. I'll write again soon.
Date: 2006-03-17
From: Maggie Valley

To: Maggie Valley
Miles today: 203.6

Well, the crazy life of a thru hiker continues. On Wednesday I hiked my longest day. I started around 5:30 in the morning with a temp of around 16 degrees and wind gusting up to 40 mph. Simply put, it was cold. My nalgene froze after hiking a mile, and because all the springs were frozen, I hiked around 6 miles without water. The day started at Derrick Knob Shelter and by 12 I made it to the top of Clingmans Dome (the highest point on the AT). I didn't stay at the top long because it was windy and freezing. Coming off the mountain was 10 times harder than going up though. On the backside the sun doesn't hit the trail much so all the water froze creating a skating rink for a trail. The only thing was - I didn't have skates. I had boots, tired legs, and a pack. 5 miles of ice. I had fun with it though, jumping back and forth from rock to rock, hoping that I wouldn't hit a patch and take a fall. I arrived at Newfound Gap around 3 o clock and ended up watching all the tourists drive in, take a picture and drive out to their hotels. They don't even know the true beauty of the park - its kind of sad. By 6 I got a ride with Wills friends down to Charlotte. By 11 I was clean from taking a shower in my house. By 12 I was partying. By 3 AM I was asleep. By 7 I was awake. Yesterday I visited a bunch of people around town, figured I should becuase I won't be going back to Charlotte until I'm done. I got a ride with my parents back up to Maggie Valley so we could go to my Aunts wedding. On the way up we stopped at Diamond Brand (my dads favorite backpacking store) The people there were amazing, and very helpful. Shout out to Dean Jenkins too!! Last night we ate a great Italian dinner, watched some basketball, then passed out. I need to go get ready, but I'll be back later today to write in some funny and amazing stories. Check out the new pics, more will be up later when I get more time!!
Date: 2006-03-21
From: Hot Springs

To: Elmer's Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Aloha! Pretty good day today. I'm taking a zero in Hot Springs. Yeah I know, I just took a two zeros at Newfound Gap. But I also made it here 2 days sooner than I planned. Yesterday was interesting (I'm trying to stay positive so interesting is far from what I truly feel). I left from standing bear hostel, which was so much fun, at 6:30AM. From the moment I started walking, it started sleeting. A few hours later it was sleeting and snowing, then it changed to freezing rain. Because of the weather I decided I didn't want to stay out in a shelter because the trail would be frozen the next morning and I would be stuck. So I ended up doing my first twenty mile day, and my first thirty mile day. All told I hiked 33.4 miles, starting at 6:30 in the morning and finishing around 9 at night. It was kind of fun in the morning, I came across a pack of wild dogs and we had a staring contest until they finally turned around and ran off. Then I told an older hiker about what happened and he gave me a m-80 firework in case anything like that happened again. That was the fun part. For the following 9 hours it was purgatory. By the time I topped Max Patch I was getting pelted with sleet. I forced myself to hike without a break for no less than 2 hours because it was so cold that I couldn't afford by body to cool down. Everything I owned had an ice coating, from my hiking poles to my beard. Around 7PM, the sun went down and that is when I found out my Petzel headlamp did not work too well in fog. This lead to two hours of tripping, sliding, and stumbling, in pitch dark, 38 degree rain. I will never do that again. I think both of my arches on my feet collapsed and my shoulders are still throbbing. Yet in the end I'm 270 miles in, a little over a week from Boonetown, and enjoying the great town of Hot Springs and the wonderful people at Elmer's Hostel. Thanks everyone for the letters, I will be sending post cards today. Hope good weather returns soon.
Date: 2006-03-27
From: Boonetown

To: Boonetown
Miles today: 0.0

Howdy! Well I have learned a few lessons in the past 4 days. First and foremost, weather forecasters don't know anything. When they predict one day of rain and 2 days of sunshine but instead there are 3 days of snow you know something just isn't right. I left Hot Springs on the 22nd and hiked 8.3 miles to a fire tower up on Rich Mtn. Cruise and I cleaned up all the broken glass so we would have some places to lay our bags. Sadly I didn't do the greatest job clearing the pieces so my brand new Therma Rest now has a hole in it. Either way it was a beautiful sunset. On the 23rd there was supposed to be nothing but rain, instead there was nothing but blue skys. So I woke up and hiked 11.3 to Little Laurel Shelter. I ended up having the whole shelter to myself, which started out great until I realized that all the hungry mice only had my food to go after. After a few hours of warding them off I gave in and threw a trail mix bar in the other corner as a peace offering. All I know is that worked until I fell asleep.(I also saw some brown mountain lights that freaked me out pretty bad) The next morning, the 24th, the day it was supposed to be "sunny and mild" I woke up to about 3 inches of snow. I told myself, oh give it 2 hours and it will stop and melt. It didn't. Finally I summoned the energy to hike 6.8 miles to Jerry Cabin Shelter. By the time I arrived I was soaking wet, cold, tired, and miserable. A few hours later Tank arrived and we ended up staying there as the snow kept falling. On the 25th, the second day of "sunshine and mild temperatures", we woke up to about 9 inches, and decided we would just take a zero and hang around the shelter until the snow stopped and started to melt. Later in the day Bigfoot, Silver Streak, and Ron came in looking cold and miserable after hiking all day in the snow. Fortunately Tank and I were so bored, we scavenged for any hanging wood and built a nice fire. On the 26th, the third day of "sunshine and mild temps", we woke to about 11 inches. We all decided that our food and fuel wouldn't last long and we needed to keep moving. I started around 8 and hiked with Silver most of the day as Tank was an hour ahead busting through the 2 foot drifts. By 1 or so we had caught up with him and Silver and I decided that if we made it to Hogback Ridge Shelter (14.7 miles from Jerry Cabin) by 4:00 we would push on another 2 miles to I-26 and get a ride to Erwin. With the thought of pizza hut, dry clothes, and a bed in my head we trucked through the drifts and made it to the shelter by 3:57. By 6 I was in a pizza hut and by 9 I was back in Boone hanging out with all my friends. For now I'm resting up and waiting for the weather to warm up and melt the snow. I hope to be back on the trail by Thursday and push on to good ole Virginia.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: Spivey Gap

To: Uncle Johnnys Erwin, Tenn
Miles today: 11.0

Can't talk long, I sneaked past the manager at the Holiday Inn to use the computer. On Monday evening Tyson gave me a ride back to Sams Gap. We didn't get there until early evening and there weren't any close camping spots so I pulled a homeless move and slept under the overpass. In all honesty it was pretty comfortable. There is a lot of room to set up shop, the only downfall was the sound of 18 wheelers barrelling down the interstate less than 4 feet above my head. The next morning I met 3 section hikers from Tenn. Incredibly nice folks, even though I was annoyed they were hiking much faster than me most of the morning as I struggled to find my groove. They ended up giving me a ride from Spivey Gap to Uncle Johnnys where I stayed the night, but not before I was treated by Pam to a most delicious meal (the highlight being fried mac and cheese). After an entertaining evening followed by a wonderful breakfast I was driven back to the trail this morning. Today I did around 11 miles. I planned on heading further, but with the cold I have I figured one more night in the hostel will do wonders, especially with the fact that tomorrow includes a 3700 foot climb. The weather is great (mid 60s), the people are just as wonderful, and the terrain is slowly getting easier. Also, the pain in my shoulder has gone away for the time being. Wow, I can't believe these employees haven't caught me. I stick out like a sore thumb with this beard. Either way hope all is well back in the "real world".
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Pearisburg

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Howdy. This is going to be a quick journal entry because I'm about to leave to countinue on. The past couple of days it has been nasty and raining and now it is hot. Wonder if there will ever be a happy medium. I'm starting to suffer from what I'm calling the Virginia Moods as my sugar levels are constantly changing affecting my mood dramatically. One minute I'm throwing my sticks down yelling at everything and the next I'm as happy as can be. I find it funny how mad I get, at least while I'm in a good mood. Need to send out a few thank you's. First to whoever left apple juice in a cooler, to George and Jinny for the ride back from Bland, to Buggs for leaving the items to make smores and the sun chips, and the fella who hiked south out of Pearisburg yesterday with a pack filled with beer and sodas. I opted for sodas as I still had a 1200 foot decent. Well, I need to run and get some miles in.      P.S. From now on please don't send mail to any mail pick ups unless I specify that I will be visiting that Post office on here. As of right now if you send mail by Thursday send it to Daleville, and if you send it by Friday send it to Big Island. I will get the mail at Big Island May 3rd which will be the closest post office I visit near my birthday. (Check Prep Journal # 8 I think for how to send mail)P.P.S. Thanks for reading thisP.P.P.S The Philly Cheesesteak Thickburger at Hardees is out of this world!
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Shelter somewhere 7 miles back

To: Lodge on Skyline Drive
Miles today: 0.0

Well, the Shenandoahs have already lived up to their hype. The trails are well maintained, the mountains seem to be smaller, and the section hikers love to give away food. The first day in, I got an apple and an orange. The second it rained. The third I saw my first bear and cub. The fourth I woke up to deer outside the shelter and got an apple and a banana. Today I'm staying in a hotel, got a shower (that didn't run out of hot water) and will finish Franny and Zooey by the end of the night. Oh yeah, my dinner consisted of Doritos, Hersheys bar, Reeses Cups (both king size), Cheerwine, Juice, and a rice crispy treat. How about that for nutrition, mom?! Speaking of HAPPY MOTHERS DAY - MOM I LOVE YOU. I also met and talked a little to Jeff Alt, the author of A Walk for Sunshine. Very nice guy, he hiked the trail in 1999 and was doing a slide show of his trip. He gave me a good perspective on the benefits of being a teacher. Well my book is calling, so I'm going to head on. PS I've passed the 900 mile markPPS By the time I reach Katahdin I will have ascended and decended 91 miles. That is equivalent to hiking from sea level to the top of Everest and back down 27 times.PPPS Sorry I had to brag. : )
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: TRAIL DAYS!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I just finished the most amazing breakfast out on the trail. Then again almost any breakfast that isn't pop tarts and dry instant oatmeal is a good one. Yesterday we did a 23-mile day, that included the roller coaster (a series of 13 mountains in 13 miles) and ended here at Bears Den hostel. The hostel was built long ago and has since been turned into a 26-bedroom hostel for hikers. Made almost completely out of stone, the entire complex looks like a castle but most importantly a castle with beds and a shower. With the laundry done and my stomach full, all I can do now is wait for my ride down to trail days. While some might dread a 5-hour car ride, I am ecstatic at the thought of not having to move a muscle as well as the prospect of reading more of my book (Velocity). I'm definitely ready to party down this weekend but even more excited about getting rejuvenated for the second half of my trip. As of now, I am one-days hike to Harpers Ferry, which is the mental half- waypoint, somewhere around the 1000-mile mark. Oh yeah, I have to give thanks to the wonderful family who made my entire week when I walked up on their picnic and was bombarded with KFC chicken, biscuits, and mashed potatoes and gravy. That was by far one of the best trail magic episodes I have yet to encounter. Hope everyone had a great mothers day.