morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-02-16
To: Preparation #3
Miles today: 0.0

Because I have a limited time to complete my hike (19 weeks) I am planning to section hike about 200 miles from the Delaware Water Gap to the CT/MA border, so that if I need to I can skip over it this summer and finish on Katahdin, instead of in NJ somewhere. Of course, I may still not be able to do it all before I have to be back at work, in which case I will skip MA and/or VT and finish those up in the fall after I return. I am fortunate that I live close enough to the trail for that to be an option.So this past weekend we hiked the section from the Delaware Water Gap to Blue Mountain Lakes Road in NJ. We stayed overnight at the AMC's Mohican Outdoor Center where we had the 22 bunk thru-hikers' cabin all to ourselves except for one hunter who came in late and left early. It will be very different in July! It was really nice and inexpensive, with its' own kitchen, and bathrooms. Much improved over the last time I stayed there, right after the AMC bought the camp. The hike was chilly but beautiful, not too much snow but lots of damage from an ice storm a few weeks ago, which slowed things down considerably. There were some nice views from the ridge out over the Delaware River. There were thermals coming up from the river and there were turkey vultures and glider planes both taking advantage of the updrafts. When we sat on a rock for a snack the turkey vulture came over to check us out, swooping low, maybe to make sure we were still moving and not edible! (or maybe to see if we were dropping anything interesting). It was a good practice hike, and I was pleased to see I am stronger than I was in the fall. Next weekend I plan to do the next section to Culvers Gap by myself, with help from my friend Martha who will pick me up at the end. She will also join me the day before to hike the section in NY from 301 to the RPH shelter. I feel like I am getting started even though it is till two months until I am on the top of Springer Mountain!
Date: 2005-04-20
To: Preparation #6
Miles today: 0.0

Only 6 days until I leave for GA! It's still hard to believe it's really going to happen. That may be partly because I still have so much to do before I go. Things to do for work, home, people to see, food drops to finish, gear to test and pack; something's going to fall by the wayside, I know, but one way or the other I am going to be on the top of Springer Mountain on April 28th. I have moved the start date up one day to fit in with Allen's work schedule, so I am leaving Tues night after I get back from work, around 8, and spending the night in PA on the way to GA.Tommorow my friend Christin and I are beginning an overnight of the last section of NY/CT, from CTY Rd. 20 in NY to Kent, CT. That will complete the 200 miles I planned to do as insurance against running out of time. The last few weeks of hiking have been beautiful. The first warm, sunny day I got a doozy of a sunburn, of course, but now I have my sunscreen organized and am enjoying the lovely weather. Doing this mileage has had some unexpected benefits. I have gotten much stronger and faster, and much more confident of my abilities. I am sure once I am carrying a full pack and climbing a 4000 ft mountain I will no longer feel so fit or so confident, but at least I know I can improve!The most exciting thing that has happened in the last few weeks is that I have finally (with the help of Kent in the EMS in Stamford, CT) solved the problem of footgear. After my last pair of trail shoes shredded after only three weeks I was feeling pretty discouraged, plus my feet and knees were sore. I bought a pair of Montrail Hardrocks and all is miraculously changed! They have made a huge difference to my endurance and to my general comfort level,and, as Kent promised, they work great with a single pair of smartwool socks. No more sockliners, wrinkles under my arch and steaming hot feet! Wonderful how much better you feel when your feet are happy! The first time I wore them I did 11 miles in 4 hours and wasn't tired at the end, just hungry. Lets hope they work as well on an every day basis.I could go on about all the things I have to do yet and how not ready I am, but I'll leave that to your imagination. Just imagine that everything I say is tinged with a mix of hysteria and eager anticipation. A strange state to be in, but one which is transient! Next week I'll be writing you from the trail.Thank you all for your guest book entries, by the way. I appreciate the encouragement and support. It's nice to know that I may be alone on the trail, but I am still sharing the experience.
Date: 2005-04-28
From:  Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, let's see. My knees are sore, my hips are sore. I'm a lttle wet and a little cold and very happy! I must be on the Appalachian Trail!Today Allen and I got a ride to FS42 where it intersects the AT .9 miles north of the beginning, and walked south to the start. We got to the top of Springer at around 12 and admired the view (beautiful) and the plaques to the AT and to the founder, Benton McKaye(pictures to follow).The first 4 miles are downhill and were easy work. The trail is good here, wide and level footing, a pleasure to walk on. There are Spring wild flowers everywhere, and creeks full of water. The first uphill was hard work, though. I'm not used to carrying so much weight. I have the two man tent and cooking system, and my winter bag. I can't complain 'though. Allen is carrying the food. We thought to walk about 13 miles today and set up camp near a stream, but around 4 it started to rain, conveniently near a shelter, so here we are at Hawk Mountain shelter, all fed and warming in our bags. So are 9 other people who have gradually showed up in the rain, including six energetic young guys from Fla., two women from Alabama and another thru-hiker from Texas. We have a full house, but the rule at the shelters is that in bad weather there's always room for one more, and I'm very glad to be out of the rain and not trying to cook or set up the tent in the rain.Apparently GA now has a bear problem so we had to hang all our food and toiletries on a cable outside the shelter. Other than that the most interesting part of the shelter is the privy, which has a view! but no door.Well, I'm losing the light. It's 8 and getting close to bed time, so I'll finish up for now. Needless to say I am so happy to be here. Let's hope I still feel the same in a month or two.
Date: 2005-04-29
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Stealth Camp Near Henry Gap
Miles today: 16.4

We are camped quietly just off the trail about 200 yards behind a house tonight. It was getting late and we had a hard time finding level ground so this was the best we could do. We are being quiet as mice so as not to disturb anyone.A long day today as we tried to make up miles we missed yestrday. I began to flag around 4, but we got to Woody Gap about then with water and picnic tables, so we stopped to cook dinner. After dinner and a dessert of darjeeling te and dark chocolate I zipped up the next mile of mountain. Unfortunately the caffeine wore off before we made camp, but I got here.We met the ridge runner for GA last night at the shelter, and among other things he mentioned that this year was the fewest number of thru hikers since it peaked in 2000 at about 3000. He said about 900 have started from Springer this year. He also said I was only about a week and a half behind the bulk of the hikers and would probably catch up with a fair number. That's encouraging!The woods were beautiful today. So many wildflowers that I wish I had brought a book, so I could identify ones I don't know. Late in the day we came to a hillside covered with a mixture of white trillium and white violets. Gorgeous! No picture because the light wasn't good.Time to stop so I don't run down the battery by backlighting the screen. Tomorrow we climb Blood Mountain, 1400ft up and down again in about 6 miles. At the end is a cabin with a shower!
Date: 2005-04-30
From: Henry Gap

To: Blood Mountain Cabins, Neels Gap
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: moderate rain

Last night a wind came up, and by morning we were lying in the tent watching the rain hit the tent walls and listening to a series of thunderstorms that started at 5:30 and lasted until after 10. Since we only had six miles to go today, and since we were headed up over Blood Mountain (not good in thunder and lightning) we hung out in the tent as long as we could in the hopes of staying dry today. At 10 when the storms died down we packed up (soaking wet tent on the outside of Allen's pack) and set off. Alas, the rain never stopped, so we climbed all that way up Blood Mountain in order to gaze off into the fog. I was so happy to be done with the uphill I didn't care. We had a quick lunch at the Blood Mountain shelter, which was cold, wet and depresing, and headed down to our cabin for the night. The horse was definitely smelling the stable! I whipped down that trail in record time. At Neels Gap is an outfitter, the Walasi-Yi Center, and a hostel, but we opted for a cabin. We're to old to party all night and get up and hike the next day. The trail runs right thru the building, which is cool!The woods were beautiful in the rain. They still are, in fact. I'm writing this in a toasty warm cabin looking out a picture window over a creek at the woods, with a cup of my favorite tea. I've had a shower and Allen is at the camp store washing all our clothes. Everything else (like that wet tent) is drying on every available surface. Ah! Luxury! Both of us are really tired so we need this rest.The hike has been wonderful so far, even with the sore knees and tired bodies. Yesterday we walked in remote mountainous woods, past places I've read about for so long, with wonderful, romantic names, like Hightower Gap, Sasafras Mountain, Gooch Gap, Granny Top, Turkey Stamp Mountains, and Slaughter Creek. People have generally friendly, although a fair number have taken the opportunity to tell me I'll never make it to Maine. They may well be right, but I hate it when people rain on my parade! I'm going to do my best, and even if I quit now my life would be richer, so every mile ahead is another gift. Tomorrow we're hoping to do a long day, so we will get into Dicks Creek Gap early on Tues, but the weather may slow us down, It's still raining in avery determined fashion. So nice to be warm and dry!
Date: 2005-05-01
From: Blood Mountain Cabins, Neels Gap

To: Rocky Knob
Miles today: 16.9

I forgot to tell you about Beatrice yesterday. Besides birds and a shelter mouse the only wildlife we have seen is Beatrice. Our cabin at Neels Gap was called Beaver and when we walked in it was evident why. There on a ledge over the fireplace was an enormous, ferocious stuffed beaver, with a sign informing that her name was Beatrice, and that she came from Iowa where she lived a long and happy life until she became road kill.Bob, the thru hiker who has been walking more or less at our pace since Hawk Mountain was a few hundred yards ahead of us when he saw a bear and cub up on a ridge, but we missed it, so Beatrice is our total wildlife experience!We are camped tonight on an open area off the trail 3 miles south of Unicoi Gap, after a long day. Much of the trail was quite level though. A long lovely stretch was on an old woods road, so the miles weren't too tough, until the last mile. The last mile is always the worst, no matter how far I've gone, but this mile had rocks!Yes, there are rocks in Georgia, not many, but enough to wear me out and make me cranky, at the end of 16 miles.The weather was perfect today, sunny and cool, and the trail less crowded because the weekend is ending. Is that cool or what? Everyone else has to go home and I'm still here! Here is now in a tent on a windy knob. I think it's going to be a little chilly tonight. Allen is in the woods hanging our food on a tree. I just heard a yell so I guess its not going well.Oh, he's back now, food all hung. Time to discuss plans for tomorrow, before the light goes. Hope my legs hold up tomorrow as well as they did today. There are some serious ups and downs coming.
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Rocky Knob

To: Addis Gap
Miles today: 13.9

My morale is a little low today. It was a tough day, with more than 3000 ft of elevation gain and loss, on already tired legs. I had a really hard time on the uphills, and my legs began to really ache as the day went on. I'm very tired now and feeling very old and feeble. Maine looks a very long way away. Tomorrow is also the last day Allen will be with me. He has been a great support and a real help. I will miss him terribly, but this is part of the deal. It will be a different kind of challenge alone, not just physical, but emotional, too. I am working on remembering his funny remarks so I can call them up when I need them.Part of what has made the last few days harder is that it has been so cold and windy at night. Even in my 15 degree bag I've been a little chilly. Apparently this is not normal for GA in May even in the mountains. Everyone has been complaining about it. At least we've had no rain since Sat. Today we met a gentleman resting beside the trail who was section hiking to Dick's Creek Gap in a leisurely fashion. He was 80 years old, and hiking alone, because, he said, being alone in the woods was part of the experience. He moved ahead, but we came across him resting on a log later. A nice way to hike on a sunny day, walk a little, sit a little. A good role model. Tomorrow we have only 5.4 miles back to the car at Dick's Creek Gap, and a Shower and restaurant food. I can't wait! Although, I have to say, the food has been pretty good on this trip. The pasta with clam sauce was particularly good today. Thank you, Jessica!
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Addis Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap (Hiawassee)
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: scattered clouds

A short day today with a town and a hotel room at the end. I was still moving pretty slowly on the uphills today but we still made it to Dick's Creek Gap before 11, and there was our car, kindly left by Joyce and Sally. I rushed to put on my sandals and sit down on a cushioned seat. Allen rushed to pull out his bird song player so that he could identify the birds we had been hearing. To each his own!It's certainly true that on the trail down into the gap the birds were singing there heads off. I didn't know (until Allen told me) that, with a few exceptions, only the males sing. He said it is the avian equivalent of hanging out on street corners singing dooop. It made the walk entertaining, especially, because Allen kept joining in.It was cold last night again, but the wind died down finally, and between 3 and 5 the owls had a party in the gap where we were camp. They were barred owls, with a really loud cry, which must strike terror into the hearts of all the little furry things they are hunting. We were up and doing our tai chi when the sun came up over the mountains, with a gorgeous sunrise. That really got the chi moving! (The fact that it was freezing cold may have helped too.)Now I am at the Holiday Inn in Hiawassee, where we have a jacuzzi, oh boy! Soon we are going to dinner at a place that has Black Angus steak, which I am going to need to bolster me up for the next few days.It looks like the trail will be tough again tomorrow, but after that it begins to have less severe ups and downs for awhile. They say the first and last 100 miles are the toughest and I should finish the first hundred in a couple of days, if all goes well. Tomorrow I will definitely finish GA. I have less than 9 miles left to go. That will surely be a morale booster. I realized today that even though I am tired I am right on my planned schedule and even got into Dick's Creek Gap earlier than expected. I can hear my friend Martha's voice saying, "Don't be too hard on yourself." She's right. I'm doing great! This is easy to say when you are lying down on a soft bed in a warm room, and not sweating up another mountain. That's my goal, to be able to say that on the way up a mountain. Some day, maybe.
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

I did it! I finished GA today. It's wonderful what a day in town will do. I think that Allen's accupressure treatment also helped.I am here in the shelter with four other people, very nice and friendly, and two lovely dogs. I'm glad for the company because this section of trail has a serious bear problem, and the other people and dogs should help keep them away.I stayed up late talking about the trail to a would-be hiker, so this will be a short entry.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

What a tough day! It was so cold and windy last night in the shelter that I got practically no sleep, and it was cold, windy and rainy most of the day on the trail. The rain seems over and the wind has died down, but it is so cold that I am typing this with gloves on. I have a plan for keeping warm tonight by covering my sleeping bag with my tent, but if that doesn't work and it doesn't warm up soon, then I will have a problem. It's very hard to hike with no sleep.I'm alone in the shelter so far tonight,and hoping for an early night to make up for last night.Hiking was slow today, and hard on the uphills, particularly at the end, up Albert Mountain, which briefly ressembled The Whites more than NC. Saw only two people today, day hikers, probably because of the bad weather. The neat thing about hiking alone is that the animals and birds behave very differently around me. Several times today a bird followed me down the trail, flying ahead and perching at eye level, watching me walk by and then doing it again. And, when I stopped at a shelter to do my Tai Chi a little red squirrel came and sat on the ledge nearby and watched the whole thing. He kept moving around to get a better view. When I was done he left! It's supposed to clear and warm tomorrow. Hoping to take a short day and get a little rest. I'm on schedule to reach Wesser on Sunday, which is good. Dinner is ready, red beans and rice with some sausage added. Yum! Then into my sleeping bag to keep warm.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Campsite North of Wayah Bald
Miles today: 19.6

Two firsts! My first hundred miles and my first almost 20 mile day. A long day. I started at 8, and didn't get to camp until 7:30, but as a reward I got to see the view from the top of Wayah Bald near sunset. It was spectacular. I was asleep last night by 7:30 and slept until 5:30 or 6, which made up for my lack of sleep the night before. My system with the tent worked well and I was warm for most of the night. Then I don't know what happened. I just kept going. Part of the day I walked with a young man who was a psychology student. He was a competitive biker and was doing 20+ miles every day. He started 5 days ago at Springer. He slowed down to talk with me awhile. He managed to work out college credit for walking the AT! He is doing a study on exercise and anxiety, which I agreed to participate in,by filling out a questionnaire. We had an interesting talk, and it made the miles go fast.I'll see how I feel tomorrow. I may go all the way in to Wesser. It's 16+ miles, but a lot of it is downhill, my forte!
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Campsite North of Wayah Bald

To: Wesser, NOC
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

Well, I made it to Wesser and my own room and warm bed, but it was tough. I had trouble sleeping again last night. I think when I do the long days my body just has trouble slowing down, and I know that when I am tired I get cold easily. Without sleep the uphills particularly were difficult, but what kept me going was the thought that I would be able to sleep well tonight if I made it, so I kept on putting one foot in front of the other, and here I am! The NOC is the Nantahala Outdoor Center and is the premium white water kayaking and rafting center in this area. Many of the country's top kayakers train here, apparently. It's a big complex, with dorms and motel rooms (Where i am. I splurged.), and a training center, restaurants, and an outfitter. I was a little overwhelmed when I got here, especially since I had only seen two people all day up to then. I've managed to get showered, fed and laundry done since getting here at 5, so now I'm chilling out. I thoroughly enjoyed dinner with another thru hiker, Magic Touch, who just took a zero day and is moving on tomorrow. He said a bunch of people left this morning.One of the two people I met today was an artist who was walking sections of the trail and drawing as he went. He showed me his sketch book which started at Springer and went up to just before Wesser. The drawings were very evocative of the time I spent on the trail, in some ways more than photos, I think. He also gave me a quote from Carlos Casteneda to read about the difference between looking and seeing. The whole encounter helped to remind me of some of the reasons I am hiking and kept me seeing new things on the long trail down to Wesser.I am taking a sorely needed zero tomorrow, and will tell you more then of the pleasures of the NOC.
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Wesser, NOC

To: Wesser, NOC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

That's why its called a zero day, and it's a good thing, but it sure doesn't look impressive when you look at the numbers!I had a great day hanging out and recuperating, though. It's Mother's Day and since I am in town I got to talk to my mom and my kids, which was great, although it made me a little homesick.This is a great place. My friend Rob, the kayaker, would love it. It's a huge complex, like an Olympic training village. It's not too crowded at the moment since it's still early in the season, but there are still lots of classes and trips. There are a bunch of people who came tonight for a 5 day kayak school. I walked up the river this afternoon and watched people coming down the Class 3 rapids above the NOC. Only one wet exit in the bunch, but alot of them were rafts with guides, not kayaks. The food here is excellent and inexpensive by NY standards, but alas, I still don't have my hiker appetite, so I've been eating delicious salads instead of burgers and fries. I tell you, I am going to be royally peeved, if I can eat anything I want for the first time in my life and I go on being not hungry!Up early tomorrow and back on the trail. A long day, since I'm headed for a shelter 16 miles away. It's supposed to rain tomorrow night and in to Tues. so I'd like to stay dry. Tuesday I'm headed in to Fontana Dam and the Hike Inn hostel so I can dry out there for the Smokies.
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Wesser, NOC

To: Brown Fork Gap
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: broken clouds

Two kinds of trail magic today! It was a long hot haul up out of Wesser, 8 miles of uphill. I had help though, from a young deer. She met me on the trail on the way up to Cheoh Bald. She walked up to me like a dog, sniffing my hands and letting me take her picture. She walked on by me and I went on up the hill. After about 10 minutes she came up behind me and walked with me for about a half a mile. she would turn and wait for me if I got too far behind! Finally she turned off into a rhodedendron thicket, and I walked on, already almost to the top, to my surprise.The second trail magic was at Stecoah Gap, where I met Terry Doyle and Mr. Doyle, Sr, waiting for their group to show up. They kindly offered me a soda, which went down really well on such a hot day. The conversation and the cool drink were just what I needed to get me up the last couple of miles to the shelter.All in all it was a good day today, some tough mileage, but I was well rested from my zero and feel pretty good now. I'm looking forward to Fontana Dam and the Hike Inn tomorrow.