morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

Slept very well, not cold at all. Even took a trip outside during the night and was, as always, totaly amazed at how bright, and how many, the stars were. Started out early after a heartfelt goodbye to Bill, one of the best people and most interesting persons, that I have met to date on the trail. The day started out with a very steep ascent out of the shelter, but at the top there was trail magic! Ice cold Coke, honey bars, and moon pies! All the bananas were already eaten. Pipesmoker and I had a little snack togeather - we always seem to meet when we are eating. Much refreshed I comtinued on - very nice day again. Sunny, white puffy clouds with temps in the 7o's, just what you would imagine hiking on the AT is all about. I took the cliff walk [not the blue blazed bad weather trail] and was happy that I did. It was very rocky and in places quiet sheer. On one occasion I had to climb down using hands and feet and facing the rock face. To the West was the broad piedmont valley, stretching into the hazy distance and on the East I was able to look back over the soft rounded shoulders of the Appalachians. Pipesmoker remarked that they must have weathered a lot in the last few days, because he remembered crossing far more jagged and rugged mountain tops! Pipesmoker has a great attitude and is a very deep thinking and insightful person. he also has gread hands - big and strong and powerfull, some of the best hands I have ever seen. As a former surgeon I pay attention to peoples hands. And joy of joy and wonder of wonders, as I hiked along I met, on the crest of the ridge, Jan LiteShoe. I recognised her from her trail journal. She was with StumpKnocker coming south, and we were soon joined by Pipesmoker, Mockingbird and his Dad and a bunch of section hikers including Lady Di. A regular hikers convention on a narrow ridge crest. I had a grand chat with Jan and thanked her for all of the great advice and encouragement I got from her journal - including the Cho-Pat knee braces! What an great surprise to actualy meet someone, that I had admired so much from her writings, in person. She is thinking of writing abook on her Long Trail trip. Should be required reading. The trail gradualy wound down from the ridge and meandered in and out of the forest and on to old "Green Roads" - neglected forest and old loggings trails and access roads. Crossed a number of balds. Lots of very dry leaves on the trail that have been ground to a fine dust by the passing feet of many hikers. My boots were soon covered with a fine layer of brown leaf dust. Took a lunch break at Jerrys Cabin Shelter and then hiked on in great style and made it here to Flint Mountain in fine style. Piffin and Silver - also from Florida- are here. No cell signal. Thought for today - All troubles are bearable if there is bread, and kindness, and friends, and love.
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Hog Back Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Late last night Snail arrived using her headlight. I got up early and was on the trail in the cool morning. I realy like to hike in the early morning and seem to get better miles at that time of the day. Another great day. There was a big road crossing at Devils Fork Gap and then a very interesting climb past some old abandonded cabins and a small graveyard where a 100yo lady is buried. It was pretty much up and down all day. Got a poor cell signal at Frozen Knob and had a brief talk with Kathy who was walking past Central Park in New York at the time. Modern communications! The lower slopes of the mountains are now green with ground cover, although there are still no buds on the trees. The upper slopes are still spotty with green cover. Saw a lot of Hawks today, but have not seen a lot of mammalian wild life. Snail passed both Piffin and me at Frozen Knob. When we arrived at this shelter she had left us a note and candies, because she woke us up last night when she arrived. People are so nice and thoughtful. Got here early. Water source is a hike 0.2 miles away. I got the full 4 liters in the Platypus and filled both Nalgene bottles. Currently three middle-aged men who are setting up their tarps have joined us. It seems that they were all in the armed forces together in Germany in the 1960¢s. Also just arrived is Breathless and her husband who are tru-hiking, She has asthma, but seems to have all of her medical problems in control and seems comfortable on the trail. The sun is casting long shadows at the moment and I have some hopes of a nice sunset. Had a nice dinner of Honey Chicken Rice and a new invention of my own that I have called ¢Tompato¢ which is a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of Tomato Soup and Mashed Potatoes! Yummy! The three vets say that the forecast is good for the weekend ¢ good enough to get me to Erwin. Thought for today ¢ As man evolves, what will we evolve into? Will the rapidly developing Neo-cortex make us more spiritual? More ethical? What will the consequences be of the diminution of the old primitive brain? Fears? Myths? Basic connections with nature?
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: No Business Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Late last night we had a lamp lit arrival ¢ Padre ¢ a Lutheran minister with a bum knee that prevented him from taking the last spot on the upper bunk. He slept instead on the floor. Another good night¢s sleep once all the lights were out. Good sunset last night and good sunrise this morning. Another good hiking day with temps in the 60¢s and overcast. A nice climb up to the Big Rocks and then a descent into Spivey Gap. The climb up and out from Spivey was along the banks of a rushing stream with very nice bridges and trail work. A large number of young hikers sprinted past me on the ascent ¢ including a young man who was slack packing back to Erwin and who had Miss Janet¢s dog ¢ Fabian ¢ with him for exercise. Exercise for the dog that is, although the hiker seem none too confident that the dog would respond to his repeated entities to return, enjoying the freedom to explore every nook and cranny, and spending much of the time out of sight, and hearing apparently, of his tempory custodian. Took it nice and easy and felt much better today. No light headiness today. The trail was much easier today and I took my time. A large lunch of my remaining foil packed salmon also helped. Arrived here in mid afternoon. Water is 0.2 miles from the shelter. We are surrounded by ¢ magnificent majestic Hemlock and Frasier Fir ¢ to quote the Companion. In reality it is very nice. This is a cinder block shelter ¢ no privy. Piffin is here. He left me a note on the trail regarding the water source. He also shared with us tonight his wish list for all of the requirements of a perfect shelter. Chris and Ellen have pushed on to be closer to Erwin. There are some people tenting, and we have just been joined by the two Hobbits ¢ twin sisters who are thru-hiking and who are extremely knowledgeable about the names of all of the various trees and wildflowers. I have just finished dinner, had beef stew and ¢Mushato¢ ¢ mushroom soup and potato. After breakfast in the morning I will have just one hot chocolate left, all else will have been eaten! Great day today. Felt good. Not as tired as yesterday. Padre came by late and intends to push on. He uses a rescue inhaler and did not look too good ¢ but he insisted on pushing on. To each their own hike. Thought for today ¢ Do animals derive pleasure from their activities? How about eating? Some dogs get fat. Does this mean that they eat when they are not hungry? To derive pleasure? Animals do have food preferences.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: No Business Shelter

To: Erwin
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: broken clouds

Slept well and was on the trail early. Another great hiking day. Temp in the 60¢s and overcast and cool in the morning, warming up later in the day. Some ups and downs at first and then a great ridge walk with spectacular views of the Nolichucky River and Erwin. Then a long, but not too steep, descent into Erwin. The Hobbits identified the trees with the white flowers as Serviceberry ¢ maples and oaks are now putting out their leaves. Piffin was waiting for me at the bridge and, after I had got a coke and chatted with Sox at Uncle Johnnies, I joined him to await the shuttle to the motel. Uncle Johnnies is a hikers hostel, as is Miss Janet¢s, but I still need to spread out my stuff and myself in a motel. Sox is now the official High Priestess of the Order of the Titanium Sporks, so as a titanium spork holder myself I had to spend a few moments with her. She is staying at Uncle Johnnies because she has arrived in Ewrin before her bounce box got here ¢ it is not every hiker who can say that they have out hiked their bounce box Got here in the early afternoon and had lunch. Spoke at length with Kathy, am missing her a lot and the feeling is mutual. Got laundry done ¢ met Chris and Ellen there. Laundries are common meetings grounds for hikers when in town. I bought lots of snacks and eat dinner at the Hubble House, which is near the motel. Will plan out my iternery in the morning and resupply at the Lion Supermarket. Watched CNN ¢ Iraq is a mess. Feel good but missing Kathy a lot ¢ looking forward to seeing her before May 9th ¢ Mothers day Thought for today ¢ Absence does make the heart grow fonder!
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Erwin

To: Erwin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Zero day. Slept late and worked out a tentitive schedule for Damascus. Had a big breakfast at the Hubble House and toured the town. Mailed the cell phone back home - the recharger just does not work, so the phone is now just so much dead weight. Went to the Lion Supermarket and stocked up. Had my blood pressure checked at the local Drug Store - everything OK - so I will continue to take my meds and ascribe the transient light headiness to hunger. Took an afternoon nap and organised my stuff, Had a big dinner and on my way back to the motel got a ride from Miss Janet. She just pulled over in her old brown mini van and told me to get in! She was taking a few hikers to check out the Super 8 motel where I was staying because her hostel is full. I did not have much time to chat with her, but from the small ammount of time that I spent with her I was much impressed by her commitment to all hikers. Am packing the pack and hope to resume walking the walk early in the morning No thoughts today - Zero Day
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Erwin

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: broken clouds

Awoke early and had a light Super 8 breakfast. True to his word the manager shuttled both Piffin and me to the trailhead and we were underway! Started out with another great day through the woods, over the railway tracks, and a climb up out of the Nolichucky Gorge. The sun came out and under very pleasant conditions made the first shelter by midmorning. Chris and Ellen were there and we leapfrogged with each other all morning. Trail magic was promised by SOBO hikers at the road crossing, and I got the very last 1/2 pint of water, there was nothing else left. Stopped at the road for lunch with C+E and watched a horse trailer unload its cargo and get set up for a ride. Then it was a climb up to Beauty Spot. I had planned to camp there but it was too close to a public parking lot, so I came on here to Deep Gap. When I arrived here I had second thoughts also, since the site is on the side of a public road. There was a truck already parked here. The owner turned out to be a turkey hunter and a nice person. There is water here, although not a great source, but with a storm threatening, I camped. And lucky that I did. After Scholar had joined me, and two other girls had set up camp nearby, the sky let loose with a massive thunderstorm! It is still raining hard as I write this in the tent. I managed to make dinner just before the rain let loose and am nice and dry ¢ so far. Two more people have just arrived and are beginning to set up their tent. I am happy that I did not try to push on the extra five miles to the next shelter ¢ I would have been caught in the thunderstorm on a steep climb with no option but to push forward. This is no weather for climbing. Piffin had said that he would camp here but I suspect that he went on. He is a strong hiker and I am sure that he is OK. Very pleased with the day. Did some good miles and am happy that I tented here ¢ even if it is close to a road and on weekend. Thought for today ¢ If the basics are provided and survival is assured, then and only then, is there time for abstract and reflective thought.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Deep Gap

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

An uneventful night, the thunderstorms passed over and the weather cleared. One car passed on the road very late, but otherwise no interruptions. The morning dawned misty and the tent had no chance to dry out. Started off in the misty morning on the ascent of Unaka Mountain. A slow but steady ascent to the top through the mist. At the top there is a fine, and very large, stand of Red Spruce. With the sun slanting through the mist and the tall Spruce, it looked like the inside of a cathedral. Ran into Piffin near the top. He had camped out close to the top and had spent a very wet night in his tent. A nice slow and gradual descent into Low Gap and then on to the shelter at Cherry Gap. Scholar and Piffin were there - he had set up his tent to dry out and there was trail magic in the shelter. I got two candy bars and a large tin foil pack of tuna ¢ delicious! I also managed to dry out my tent, somewhat. Started off again in the late morning with a descent through the magnolias. Met a SOBO hiker at the stream. He is preparing for a trip to Mount McKinley in June. Made the road at Iron Mountain Gap and pushed on up through the old green mountain road. The day, which had been good, began to cloud over and rain threatened. There were lots of leafhoppers on this section and the sound that they made was just like rain falling on the ground cover. There were a lot of ups and downs on the trail to Greasy Gap and it was there that I met with Grizzle Dave coming the wrong way. He had gotten totally turned around! I pushed on past Greasy Gap and arrived here in good time. I was very pleased with the day. The shelter has gradually filled up and is now totally full. Even Piffin is here. He had intended to stay at the hostel at Greasy Gap, but went East instead of West; Quiet a day for out of whack compass directions! The rain has held off, only one quick shower and now the sun is shining again. Scholar is camping out, even though she was among the first to arrive. Dave is in his usual fine form discussing to all and sundry the chances of a water source being contaminated. The couple that spent last night with us at Deep Gap in the pyramidal tent is here ¢ cooking corn bread. I have managed to get a spot on the lower bunk next to the wall. We are now all squished in pretty tight. Big ascent of Roan Mountain in the morning Thought for today ¢ If you make a mistake, 1 Admit it, 2 Apologize 3 Repair the damage
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: moderate rain

It realy began to rain during the night, and this morning showed no signs of letting up. Heavy, dense, mist compounded the general feeling that this was not a day to climb Roan Mountain. There was much muttering about whether to go on or to stay, but I finally said ¢The heck with staying¢ and headed out. After a short up and down the assault on Roan Mountain began. It was a realy tough climb up and up, wet, muddy, rocky in relentntless rain. I am talking about a mud sliding, major gully washing, deluge. With an hour I was soaked to the skin, from the sweat of the climb, and the relentless rain that seeped into every crack and cranny. When I took the pack off for a break, clouds of steam rose from the pack, and I suspect from me! Finally made it to the top, but no relief from the rain. I continued on under terrible conditions to Roan Knob shelter. This was the first that I have seen that was like a little house. The lower floor was pretty dark, but at least it was dry. I stopped there to eat, but as soon as I stopped I started to get cold, so I decided to move on again. Jester who was in the shelter moved on as well and soon left me in his dust ¢ or more correctly, mud! Grizzly Dave also leapfrogged with me all day long. Finally after arriving at Carvers Gap the rain abated somewhat ¢ that is to say it turned into just a regular downpour, but the crossing of Round Bald added a strong wind to the mixture. Finally arrived at Stan Murray shelter. I had initially planned to spend the night there, but was just so miserable that I decided to push on the extra 1.7 miles to here at Overmountain Shelter, which is much bigger shelter and is a converted barn. Arrived here wet, cold and miserable. But the greatest disaster of all was to find that my down sleeping bag was WET! This despite being in its own stuff bag, and then wrapped in an extra plastic bag. In fact the entire inside of my pack was wet, and since I carry my sleeping bag at the bottom of the pack it must have taken the brunt of the damage. I am not sure if the rain penetrated through the rain cover and the pack,or that I just sweated so much that the entire inside of the pack became wet, It realy does not matter the damage is done. The major damage seems to be near the head end of the bag, so I can still use it. I am now surrounded by all of my stuff in the upper floor of the barn. The good news is that there is plenty of space to spread things out to dry, the bad news is that there is no fireplace inside this shelter, and under these conditions there is no way to start, or use, an outside fire for drying. I am sitting here on the upper floor contemplating my situation, while the wind howls outside, rattling the tarp that has been placed over the large upper floor door. I am however well fed, and warm so far. Will try to hike into Elk Park tomorrow where there is a motel and try to get everything dried out. Thought for today ¢ ¢Each man kills the thing he loves,¢ said Yates. This is not true. True love does not die.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Pineola Inn
Miles today: 8.7

The night was not bad at Overmountaun shelter, The wet hood of the sleeping bag dried out somewhat and I was, in fact, able to get some reasonably decent sleep during the night. After a hot breakfast, with spectacular views of the valley under excellent conditions, I delighted Laura, who is an English teacher, by being able to recite the opening lines of Tintern Abbey. I could hardly have asked for a better place to, say those lines. If there was ever a place where you could ¢Connect the landscape to the quiet of the sky¢ it was at Overmountain Shelter this morning. Suddenly all of the travails of yesterday, the difficult climb, the pouring rain, the wet sleeping bag, all seemed ¢ at least for that wonderful moment ¢ to be more than worth it. One up, one down, one up, and then one big down ¢ that was the trail today. But what a great hike. The majority of it was along the open ridge [Houson Ridge?] It is an open bald with great views today. Shadows of the clouds rushed over the landscape urging me on. There were a heard of long horned cattle on the bald and the trail carried me to within a few feet of one placidly chewing the cud. There was along hike down to the infamous Apple House Shelter ¢ reputed to be haunted. It is much messed up with graffiti since it is close to a particularly bad road junction. Got a ride without any difficulty from a member of the local fire rescue team. He told me that he has only been called out twice in ten years to rescue hikers from the AT, They use an ATV via the old mountain roads to get close and then hike in the rest of the way. When we got to Elk Park we discovered that the motel was closed down. So take notice the Times Square Motel in Elk Park is CLOSED. He drove me on to the next town where he dropped me off outside the Shady Rest Motel. He had already left when I discovered that it too was CLOSED. I discovered that the next motel that was open was here in Pinola. I was fortunate to get another hitch that dropped me off here I have checked in for two nights since I need some time to get dried out, and to recalculate the remaining distances to go, before I head home for the graduation and the memorial service I am currently trying to dry out all of my stuff. There is a hair dryer in the room and it is a slow, but apparently successful, task to use it to try to dry out the down bag Thought for today ¢ If you cant retreat from a bad decision then you have to continue ¢ but you still need to change course as soon as possible
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Pineola Inn

To: Pinola Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Spoke at length with Kathy last evening. Went over the schedule and was concerned that I will have to wait in Hampton until Monday, when the PO opens, to get my mail drop. I will need the fuel in order to continue. This will cut things very tight to get to Damascus and back to Chicago in time to get to Hartford to pick up my son on the 13th to attend my daughters graduation. Boy, that sounds like a complicated series of events! After much thought I have decided to head home from here. After sleeping on it and having a two egg and sausage biscuit breakfast at the gas station, it still made sense. Spoke with the owners/managers of the motel here, a realy nice couple named Troy and Betty Clark. As it turns out he is going to Johnson City in the morning, and they said that they would be happy to take me to the airport there, so it looks as if this is the end of this particular stage of the hike. We shall see what the future brings. Thought for today ¢ It aint over till it¢s over! P.S. It is possible to dry a down sleeping bag with a hair dryer!
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Oak Park Illinois

To: Oak Park Illinois
Miles today: 0.0

Well it always takes longer than it takes! It certainly took much longer for me to take care of all of my responsibilities than I had at first thought. But I am now back at home in Oak Park and getting ready to return to the trail once more. My daughters graduation went fine, and then the entire family returned to Ireland for my brothers Memorial. We spent some extra time in Ireland to visit with all of my family and to get caught up on all of the news and events, and to meet all of the new arrivals to the family since our last visit. I will be driving a rental car back to the Tricities Airport and then getting a shuttle back to Elk Park, where I came off the trail. I plan to be back on the trail again by the 16th of June. I do not know how far I will get this time, since I have to return home, yet again, for the family vacation in the second week of August. As I knew from the begining this is not the greatest year for me to attempt the trail. I am concerned that I have lost a lot of my conditioning during the past six weeks, and I have not been too successful in making my pack any lighter. In addition, even thoughtI had lost twenty pounds when I came off the trail, I have gained ten pounds in the past month. But to look on the bright side I am still ten pounds lighter than I was when I started in April! I have been so busy during the past several weeks that I have not had much time to think about returning to the AT. Now that the time is here I am experiencing the same familiar mixture of excitement and concern that marks the begining of all of my hikes on the AT to date. "Once more into the breech, dear friends, once more"