morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-03
To: Counting the days
Miles today: 0.0

Time seems to be flying by. I did a shakedown hike this weekend at Savage Gulf in Tennessee. My new pack is soooo comfortable and I never had to adjust it once I put it on. My tent is being upgraded and I'm hoping to get it back before trail days. Trail days is an annual event held in Damascus,VA., where the trail runs right through the center of town. Hikers from this year and years past gather to catch up on old times, meet new friends, and check out the latest gear from the many vendors that converge on the town. I'm hoping to run into a couple of hikers there, Oakie and SaxyLady, who I met on my section from Springer to Neel's Gap.It's interesting, as a female, the reaction I get when I tell people that I am going to hike the Appalachian Trail for six weeks. The first question is always, "aren't you scared?" and the second question is invariably, "are you taking a gun?". The answer is no on both counts. The hikers on the trail are a very closeknit community and the women who hike alone are very well looked after by the men on the trail. I got a taste of how well we're treated on my last section. Oakie went out of his way to make sure I had everything I needed, helping me pitch my tent, hang my foodbag, really looking out for me. Thanks Oakie! One very good friend of mine seems concerned that I'll be attacked by an ax wielding maniac. Don't worry Mike, that's already happened on the trail, odds are against it happening again. My husband has been great about the whole thing. He's been very supportive and hasn't even balked at the amount of money I've spent on gear. Hmmmm.......perhaps he's too supportive?!?My students are excited for me as well. They can easily get me off topic by asking me questions about my hike. The closer the end of school gets, the easier it is for me to talk about hiking rather than Algebra. Four more weeks and counting.
Date: 2005-05-22
To: Where's my list????
Miles today: 0.0

One week till departure. I've got so many things running through my head it's a wonder I'm getting anything done. I must have three or four lists lying about my house and van as I write this. I keep adding to and taking away from them. I've decided to go with a bounce box. It'll make it easier to resupply things like hand sanitizer, batteries, and other what nots. My first maildrop to Fontana Dam is all packed and ready to ship tomorrow. I should have my tent back by Tuesday, (I hope) and I'm trying to get a top lid for my pack sent to me before Friday. That may have to be mailed to me after I leave. I've pushed my departure date up to Sunday the 29th. This way, Mick won't have to take a day off work. I hope I'm ready by then.Oh yeah, school. I've got all my finals made out and just need to start packing up my stuff. I'm going to miss the folks there, but I'm looking forward to working in the middle school in my home town. I'm trying to talk Cassie into keeping the hiking club. C'mon Jett, it'll be a blast, and I'll hike with y'all.I know I'm rambling here, but that is the state of my mind as it is right now. Half of me can't wait to hit the trail and I'm nearly jumping out of my skin with excitement, and the other half of me is screaming, "WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME ARE YOU DOING????" OH PLEASE, sign the GuestBook. I'd love to hear from y'all while I'm on the trail. I also may be adding to my mail drop list. I may stay out till the end of July now.....
Date: 2005-05-28
To: This is it...
Miles today: 0.0

I leave in the morning. My gear is still strewn all over the den floor. My maildrops are labelled and ready to go. I'm hoping I haven't forgotten anything. Well, except the headnet, which I'll get on the way out at Walmart. In just a matter of a few days, I'm going from 'respectable' teacher to hiker trash. That's enough of a culture shock in and of itself. When I tell people what I'm doing, they look at me like I've grown a third eye in the middle of my forehead. I guess it's true, I'm crazy. One would have to be if they were to don a 30lb bag, battle heat, bugs and rain, to walk up mountains all day. It's interesting, of all the questions people have asked me about my hike, not one person has asked why. Why put myself through all this pain and work, (and it is work, very hard work)? What makes me want to put on heavy boots and slog through mud? Why battle mosquitoes, biting flys, stinging nettles, to see a view? It's very hard to put into words the reasons I love doing this. A big part of it is the feeling I get when I'm in the woods. I love the mountains, the rivers, the falls, and sometimes, when I'm surrounded by high peaks, it feels almost like I'm being hugged by God. I find myself thinking about how I fit into His plan and a big part of my hike becomes spiritual. Another part of it is knowing I can handle myself in the minimalist of conditions. Granted, I'm not out tracking down my own food, but this is the bare necessities. And then there's the reason that can't be put into words, but the one that every hiker knows. It's what keeps the hiking community a close-knit community. When two hikers meet, we recognize in each other that sparkle in the eye. We are drawn to each other because we all know why we do it..... To see the view....My next entry will be from the trail.....Y'all keep me in your prayers.Lil'Red
Date: 2005-05-29
From:  Standing Indian Campground.

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm sitting in my tent, it's raining lightly. I'm back on the A.T.! Mick drove me to the trailhead near Standing Indian Campground and I hiked 2.3 miles up the Timber Ridge trail to get to the A.T.; and it was 2.3 miles UP! It took us 5 hours to drive here and then I got a crazy idea to get a small radio to hike with. Mick spent another hour searching for a radio shack but couldn't find one, then I changed my mind. He is a patient man. Thanks so much for the ride Hon! After a very long lunch, we got to the trail around 2:30. I got to Carter Gap by 4:30. There's two groups of graduates here and I think I'm in for a long night. This is a very busy area on Memorial weekend. Today's hike was very pleasant. It slightly rained, just enough to keep things cool. Ferns carpeted most of the area around the trail. Very pretty. The sun is starting to go down and it's starting to get chilly. I hope I don't regret leaving my fleece at home. Saw some bear scat on the Timber Ridge trail.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Very nice day today. It rained all night last night. I'm happy to report not a drop entered my new tent. Very pleased with it so far. The graduates that are here are from the Webb School in Bell Buckle Tn. This is their Senior trip. The rain kept them quiet last night. After discovering that I had forgotten to pack any breakfast items, I made some coffee and headed out. The morning cleared up and temps were in the low 50's, perfect for hiking. It was a very pleasant hike until I came to Alber Mtn. The trail them became a rock climb. There is a firetower on the summit so I climbed to the top and had some amazing 360 views. It was a hard climb but well worth the effort. 5220'.First thing this morning I scared a deer off. Later, something ran down the mountain, crashing brush as it went. It was loud and sounded big. Scared the pants off of me. Never saw what it was, but it wasn't any deer. Saw some scat on the trail again today.I'm very glad I changed my mind on the radio. The onslaught on my senses of sound, sight and smell have been intense today. I would have missed a lot had I been listening to music.I got to Big Spring Shelter around 5 o'clock. Fixed chicken fried rice but it didn't come out very well. I may have to rethink my cooking method. We'll see. The graduates are here again but are tenting a little ways away. Still managed to make enough noise though. I'm in my tent and ready for bed. It's been a great first day.
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: A campsite
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

What a glorious morning! The sun is shining, birds are singing and the temps are in the low 60's, perfect hiking weather. It was mostly downhill from the shelter and I am loving every step of the way. Saw a red-headed woodpecker flying through the trees; what grace. Right now I'm sitting on a log with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, albeit through the trees. I am thoroughly enjoying mother nature right now. Lunch was at Rock Gap Shelter. This is an older shelter back in the CCC days. It has a half rock wall and stone steps leading to it. Very clean here. The wildflowers are in bloom all around this shelter. This would be a great place to spend a night, except it is very near to a road. I'm making it a habit not to stay near road crossings. Stopped for the night at a campsite next to a river, very nice. Met another hiker, Snack Attack, who thru-hiked in '03. We played with a campfire for a couple of hours before calling it a day.My bowl has cracked so I may have to buy a pot at N.O.C.Have I mentioned how green everything is? All my previous backpacking trips have been in late fall or early spring. There are so many different shades of green, and with all the wildflowers in bloom, words nor pictures can fully describe how beautiful it is. Saw the Wasalik Poplar today. It's the second largest Poplar tree in circumference this side of the Mississippi. Five people joined hands a couldn't get halfway around it. Amazing.Today has been a great hiking day. Life is good.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: A campsite

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: moderate rain

Today has been a HORRIBLE hiking day. It started raining during the night anad I hardly got any sleep. Of course, I picked the spot that gathered water so I awoke at 5:30 to find myself in a puddle. As soon as I had packed everything up and the rain let up a bit, I got out to retreive my food bag that I had hung in a tree last night. As I was coming back, I slipped and slid down the hill, getting completely covered in mud, great! Now I had to unpack everything, change clothes, and repack, all while the rain is pouring down. I finally got my soaking wet tent stuffed in its bag and I'm on my way. I hiked three miles in the cold and pouring rain to this shelter. Everything is wet and I'm not moving from this place till the sun shines. And it's only 10:30 a.m.!!!It's 6:30 p.m. and the rain has not let up. I fixed red beans and rice for lunch and am thinking about dinner now. It's been sooooo cold. My thermometer says 50 degrees but I think it reads high. I've been in my bag sleeping most of the day, catching up on sleep I missed last night. Wish I hadn't left my fleece at home now. Four guys have joined me and the five of us have clothes hanging and dripping everywhere. It looks like tomorrow I'll be putting on wet, cold clothes, oh fun.... If it's raining like this tomorrow, I'm going into Franklin, N.C. and dry out.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Campsite near Wayah Bald
Miles today: 6.8

Happy Birthday to me!!!   Slept really well last night with the rain on the tin roof. How that much noise can lull one to sleep is beyond me, but it did. It's not raining this morning so I am going to move on to Wayah Bald and camp there for the night. I've decided if it's pouring when I get there, I'll just keep walking.The climb to Wayah Bald was a KILLER! My calves are screaming at me. 5 miles almost all uphill. Thanks for the hiking poles Mick, they sure got used today. I'm camping out tonight at this great site just north of Wayah Bald. My first night alone and at 5200'!The day started out socked in with fog. Everything was wet including all my gear. Nothing had dried out overnight, so I had to put back on my cold, wet clothes, wet socks and (ugh!) wet boots. Not Fun. No views all day. It cleared up around 4, then the fog rolled in again just before I got to Wayah Bald. No views, NADDA.Didn't see any wildlife today, but heard an owl close by.Here's what gear has broken so far. My pack cover's slide closure broke, not a real big deal, I just have to tie it now. My plastic bowl is not working at all. I'll need to pick up a pot somewhere. A clip on the top lid of my pack has broken off and disappeared. Now I have to keep it inside the pack. Sorta defeats the purpose. I'll have to call the maker. That's it for broken gear so far.Temps today were in the low 60's, foggy. It's 9 now and I'm headin to bed. It doesn't take long for it to get pitch black in these mountains once the sun goes down.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Campsite near Wayah Bald

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Boy, do I STINK!!! Tomorrow I'll be at N.O.C., The Nantahala Outdoor Center and I'll be able to take a shower, wash my clothes, eat a CHEESEBURGER and have a real building with four walls to sleep in. Can't wait!Today I broke camp in, you guessed it, the rain. It rained all night again. This time I didn't fair so well. My sleeping bag got a little wet, not too bad. I'm so sick of this rain! Came upon a detour today. Seems a lot of trees came down across the trail in a mud slide so they rerouted the trail. It was a recent reroute too, and kinda weird with everything freshly cut down. At one point it was as if they used a chainsaw and cut a tunnel through a rhodadendrum thicket. I didn't feel very comfortable and just as I was quickening my pace to get out of there, I came across what was left of a backpack, all shredded up, with bits of toiletries strewn about; a toothbrush, part of a toothpaste tube, and other traces of plastic packaging. Seems a bear had gotten hold of a hiker's pack. This was the first moment that I felt truly scared. As I headed past, I thought I should have taken a picture, and was about to go back when I noticed on my right a place in the thicket that looked like someone had flattened it down with a tent. Knowing no one would have set up a tent in that kind of spot, I immediately concluded it must have been a bear. Needless to say, I didn't go back for a picture. I hightailed it out of there. The rest of the day was uneventful. Socked in with fog again, there were no views. I HATE fog. Three solid days and I've seen nothing. Maybe I should change my trail name to Sgt. Schultz. "I saw noTHING!"Had some slight visibility on top of Wesser Bald. Had phone service so I was able to check in with Mick. That was good. Got to the shelter here and I am whipped. It was a long, hard day today and I'm going straight to bed. N.O.C. tomorrow. YEAH!!
Date: 2005-06-04
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: N.O.C.
Miles today: 5.6

Well, what can I say, yet another day of no views. The climb up from the shelter was hard. Disappointed at the 'jump off', a place in the trail where one could literally jump off of if they chose to end it all. The view is supposed to be phenomenal. All I saw was white fog. Very depressing day, full of self-pity and doubt. To add to that, when I got into the N.O.C., there wasn't a bed to be had. A group of girl scouts reserved the entire hostel, all the cabins containing 66 beds. They're not using them all, just wanted to have it all to themselves. GRRRRRRR!! I was still able to take a shower, thank goodness. Even the shelter mice were making wide circles around me to get to my food. Did I tell you they got into my food bag again? Seems they go for chocolate, this time the powder I add to my coffee. I got my shower, did some laundry and spent way too much money on food for the next 3 days. This is such a tourist trap, too bad. I bought a pot for cooking and a new food bag. I managed to rig my top lid on my pack so that will work for awhile anyhow. I was hoping to stay here and do some whitewater rafting, but I've spent too much money here already. I had a choice of hiking over 2 miles uphill to the next shelter, or backtracking 1 mile uphill to the Rufus Morgan Shelter. I chose to backtrack. The outfitter's at N.O.C. let me leave most of my gear in their store overnight so my pack was very light going back up that hill. I'm spending the night with Rowmin Goat and Bearkiller. Bearkiller is hiking to Erwin, TN. and hikes as slow as I do, so I may have a hiking partner for awhile. Interesting guy, a respiratory therapist. He's 60 and has so many hip, knee and foot problems it's amazing he can hike at all. I've got nothing to complain about. He hikes in a kilt, which is becoming quite popular with male hikers. We'll make quite a pair, him in his kilt and me in my skirt. Hiking in a skirt is very comfortable, I'm glad I got them. Well, time for bed. Rowmin Goat carries a mouse trap with him. He said he got eleven mice in one hour at the previous shelter. Good! Hope he cleared them out for us. He's hiking southbound. Wonder how many times I'll here the trap go off tonight? The skeeters are bad here. Time to hunker down in my bag. Onward to Virginia.
Date: 2005-06-05
From: N.O.C.

To: N.O.C.
Miles today: 0.0

Got back to NOC today and Bearkiller had some laundry to do, so I threw in my clothes from yesterday and got those clean too. The shower I took yesterday lasted about six hours. After the climb back up to Rufus Morgan, I stunk all over again. Rowmin Goat only caught one mouse last night and I was glad of that. Some of these shelters are infested badly. That's why I like to tent for the most part. By the time we got laundry, eating and showers done, it was 4pm. I had been wanting to go whitewater rafting and the urge overtook me. The girlscouts were gone so I decidedd to take a zero day and got a bunk in the hostel. A zero day is when no miles at all were hiked. The hostel is pretty nice here. Four beds, (two bunks) per cabin. I get my own room, with a fan and a real mattress for only $15. I broke out the card and got the bunk and a rafting trip in the morning. Sorry Mick, couldn't resist. Happy Birthday present? I'll not get the new boots now. When it rains and my boots leak, I'll hike with wet feet and remember the rafting trip I took.It's 6 o'clock right now. Bearkiller left two hours ago and is camping tonight. It just started raining........I was about to write....I hope he stays dry....and guess who knocked on my door. He had heard thunder and decided to head back. He'll be staying in the hostel tonight too.And this is how God works....Bearkiller, like I told you, has had a lot of surgeries. There's other stuff he deals with medically too. His wife had sent him a package with his pain killers that was supposed to arrive on Friday, two days ago. He had checked again yesterday and was told it still hadn't arrived, so he had to hike out without them today. After hearing thunder and coming back, he ran into a worker here, whom he knew, and was told they found his package. He is one very happy hiker right now. We're going to hang out by the river for a little while, the rain has stopped.Whitewater rafting in the a.m.   WHOOHOOO!
Date: 2005-06-06
From: N.O.C.

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

The day started out fantastic. Got up and started my morning with a trip down the Nantahala River. A person I met last night talked me into taking a ducky instead of going down in a large raft. So I went down by myself and had a blast! A duckie is like an inflatable canoe, only smaller. I went over a class III falls in it.After the trip, I grabbed my pack and headed up the trail. It was about 2pm, the sun was shining, 84 degrees, beautiful! Two hours later I heard thunder in the distance and decided to stop and put on my rain cover over my pack. The mountains welcomed me back to the trail with, yup, rain.....Only this time it was a full blown thunderstorm, with lightning and thunder cracking all around me and I'm drenched to the skin. There is nothing like a mountain thunderstorm to quicken your pace.The climb out of N.O.C. was brutal. From 1710' at NOC to 4750' at the summit in 6 miles. North Carolina needs to learn the word 'switchback' cause there weren't any. With the thunder cracking, I have never hiked so fast, so far, for so long, all uphill, in my life. I was exhausted by the time I reached the shelter. To add to the problem, nightfall was coming. It was 8 pm, I'm soaking wet, temps had dropped from 84 to 57 degrees, and I've got over a mile to the next shelter. I got here moments before pitch black, and of course, the rain stopped. I am too tired to do anything but crawl into my bag and sleep. Dinner will have to wait until tomorrow night.
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Got up this morning after a very good night's sleep. Didn't even wake up from the mice running around. Bearkiller had left his pack on the ground and the mice had chewed a couple of holes in one of his pouches. He had left some wrappers with crumbs in there. It's not fun when mice chew through your pack. There are places in the shelter to hang your pack from the ceiling in hopes that the mice won't get to it. I heard one story of a hiker who found a nest of baby mice in the bottom of his pack.We were late getting out of the shelter, and after group pictures were taken, we took off. We climbed Cheoah Bald, and at 5062', we had lunch. The view was amazing. My first clear view from a Bald. Made good time to Stecoah Gap, where the A.T. crosses a main hwy. I'm writing from there now, sitting at a picnic table with a magnificent view of the mountains in front of me. There is supposed to be water here, but I haven't found it yet. I was getting a little worried because I only have 8oz. left and a 2.5 mile climb ahead of me.Then it happened. My first trail magic of the trip. A family pulled in here to take pictures of the view and the mother looks at me strangely and says, "don't I know you?" Her son said, "Mom, she's the lady with the kayak." Turns out I had talked to her yesterday at NOC after I finished my run down the river. Well, we started talking and the next thing I knew, the father is handing me a bagfull of granola bars and crackers, and a 32oz bottle of grape juice. How very cool. People who do these random acts of kindness for hikers are called Trail Angels. Thanks so much folks!!It's another 2.5 miles uphill to the shelter and I've got about an hour and a half of daylight left. I'm not going to make it. I hope to find a nice campsite on the way or I'll be night hiking.Well, things have a way of working out on the trail.. Just as I was beginning to get worried, two folks pulled up and asked if we needed a ride. One guy was towing an SUV with a rope. The lead car had no reverse, and the car being towed had no forward. LOL. Bearkiller and I decided to take the ride into town and get a room. Bearkiller has got to get off the trail. I had phone service at the Gap and he called his wife, only to find out she has gotten sick with heart problems. He arranged to have his car delivered to this town tomorrow, which is another story in itself. We're in Robbinsville, N.C. He'll be able to drive me back to the trail tomorrow. The prayers of my church must be working, cause God sure is looking out for me today.Talked to Mick today and he's going to meet me at Newfound Gap a week from tomorrow. Sure will be great to see him.