morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-05
From: Fall Branch Falls

To: Blue Ridge, Ga.
Miles today: 9.7

Made it to Blue Ridge for some food and a shower. Have to wait until tomorrow to talk to the pharmacist.PatBlue Ridge, Ga. (Great stop) The Day's Inn was great the owner drove us back to the trail. No computer phone yes... The Days Inn is located perfectly for easy access to , drug store,the AYCE Village restaurant. Great resupply at the grocery store. Laundromat Superman
Date: 2010-04-06
From: Blue Ridge, Ga.

To: 0 Day
Miles today: 0.0

Talked to the pharmacist it appears that you cannot store your glucose test strips in plastic bags they have to be kept in the original container or they will get contaminated. Mailed some stuff home and finished up some errands. Eager to get back on the trail. Bought new test strips. The test came out great, can go back to trail food I don't know if that is a good thing or not.PatDiabetic EmergencyBefore I left to hike I had one of those 3 month blood sugar tests done. The result was 6. I felt comfortable that I'd learned how to control my blood sugar using diet and exercise. I was told that I was more apt to have low blood sugar while hiking and that I'd likely be able to eat all the things that I did in my 2000 AT hike.So I began hiking, on the second day I checked my blood sugar and I got a E-1 error reading. That was what I'd gotten when I first was given the test. At that time my blood sugar was to high for the meter to read. So getting that reading again made me re-examine every thing I'd eaten so far on the hike. Each day I checked to see if it was dropping. It just didn't make sense that with all the mountains I had just hiked over that it could be out of control. When I got to Blue Ridge, Ga. I took all my testing stuff to a pharmacy. I explained what had happened with the testing. The lady took one look at my testing stuff and pointed out that I'd ruined the test strips by taking them out of the container and putting them in a plastic zip lock bag. I bought a new box of test strips and checked my blood sugar.It was 99....my world and my hike was not going to end... at least not yet. Blue Ridge is a very hiker friendly town.Superman
Date: 2010-04-07
From: Blue Ridge

To: Fowler Mt.
Miles today: 12.5

They found an old abandoned Bivy Sac w/clothes and food. A dog was following them, when they told it to leave it looked sad and left. Tex was the first one to find a tic Superman found one a little later. Pat We had a bunch of road walking. We were followed by a good size, short haired white dog. I spotted it as it was running like hell at us on the road. As it approached all out of breath I said "good boy" and he wagged his tail. The dog decided to hang out with us as we hiked up a fairly steep road. After a while an elderly man driving a pick up truck drove by us and told us to yell "go home Ace" when we leave the road. We did and Ace looked so sad when he headed for home. The rest of the day was wasted hikingup and down hills. No body parts have gone boing and no valves have blown but my feet are talking to me.
Date: 2010-04-08
From: Fowler Mt.

To: Abandoned Camp
Miles today: 10.7

Tex and Superman started the day off in fog/drizzle which rapidly turned to rain. They hiked on until they came to a Jone's Cemetery Road. They were getting cold and wet, he noticed a roof top. Tex went to check it out and found an empty cabin. They spent the night and were able to dry off and get warm. PatWe got up about 6:00AM to a dense fog with minor occasional rain. We were hiking by 7:00AM. Right after we started it changed to all rain, gusting winds and cold. Our feet were wet immediately. Tex had two gloves but I could only find one of mine. It was miserable but we made good time. We stopped to check our data book and map once and our packs got lots of water in them. Sgt Rocks data book got we and was almost ruined immediately. We dared not take our pack covers off for anything...including a snack. We got to Watson Gap at 71.7 by 1:30 PM where there is a dirt road. I was not for from hypothermia. I spotted an old roof that was down and way from the road. Tex went and checked it out. It turned out to be a camp and all the doors were unlocked. We deemed that it was an emergency situation so we escaped from the bad weather into the warmer dryer camp. We got into some dry clothes and ate some hot food. We took a nap on the beds. Tex found a clear stream out back so we had all the water we needed. Tex had a lot of stuff get wet, including his sleeping bag. He would have had a very difficult night if we hadn't found the camp. We left a $20 bill on the table with a thank you note.
Date: 2010-04-10
From: Side of trail road to Ducktown

To: Ducktown
Miles today: 16.3

We wanted to get to Ducktown, TN so I could get my resupply package at the Post Office. Big, steep climb up Big Frog Mountain. Met a local as he was riding down. I wouldn¢t have thought a mule could do that. We had three river crossing. One rock hopping, one took shoes off. The third had a log that Tex walked across on his butt. I walked it¢¦because I¢m Superman. We camped beside the trail just before a road walk.
Date: 2010-04-11
From: Ducktown

To: Ducktown
Miles today: 3.4

Short hike to campground. Young couple gave us a ride to Ducktown, TN. I got my mail drop. The local laundry closed but Gilligan (the motel clerk) did it for us. We will do our town stop chores and I will mail this.Rooms were ok, Meals were at Hardys or Piggly Wiggly, Nice resupply at Piggly Wiggly, No laundry (it was closed), Use of computer, Phone yes.
Date: 2010-04-12
From: Ducktown

To: Lost Creek Campground
Miles today: 13.0

Anniversaries¢¦hiking gives you time to think. 43 years ago today I survived while others didn¢t. I saw no chance of my surviving but I did. If I hadn¢t survived what would my sons and grandson be? If I hadn¢t survived I wouldn¢t see these great vistas on this great hiking trail. Life is good but the ghosts of the past are still with me.
Date: 2010-04-13
From: Lost Creek Campground

To: Coaker Creek
Miles today: 15.4

We hiked alongside Hiawasee River, road walking with 86 degree temperature. We bought snacks at gas station next to bridge. I bought some bologna and bread. I shared it with Tex. It destroyed both of our stomachs. As we were settling in for the night we both found ticks on us. Tex had one attached to his leg. I had bought a pair of tweezers at the last town stop. It did good getting the tick off Tex.
Date: 2010-04-16
From: Brookshire Creek Trail

To: Tellico River Road
Miles today: 7.9

I was hiking in the lead when Tex yelled rattle snake. It was a big one and I backed away fast. Apparently I can barely hear rattlesnakes. Tex took some pictures of it getting up close to it. I walked around it through the brush on the right hand side of the trail. The snake was on the left hand side of the trail and ole Tex just walked straight up the path by it. Tex is bad ass. I¢m a bit concerned. We only had Sugar Mountain to go over before this town stop but I felt unusually weak. I checked my blood sugar as it was happening and it was 101. I¢m hoping it was just age and adjusting to the trail. When I go back out to the trail, Tex will have gone home so I will have to figure this out myself. I feel like I need a prime rib ? When I leave here I have 7.4 miles of climbing to 5000ft. I checked my blood sugar at 11:30AM and it was 96. I had eaten snacks and had a rootbeer during the morning time after breakfast. Room ¢ SpartanMeals ¢ microwave¢¦not goodResupply ¢ No LD resupply, snacks onlyNo laundryNo computerNo cell phone, but had payphone
Date: 2010-04-18
From: Tellico River Road

To: Cold Spring Gap
Miles today: 14.0

Tex headed for home this morning. The hospitality of the Richard and Brenda Harris was super. I¢d been weak when I came into Tellico River Road but Brenda¢s all you can eat pasta dinner restored my power for todays hike. I started the morning by climbing up 3000ft to Whigg Meadow which was at 5000ft. It was 11:30am when I got there. There was thick grass and a beautiful view. I took about a 12 hr nap. I was moving good until I got to Unicoi Crest overlook. There was a small sign on the trail that said there had been a rockslide and to hike on the road until there is another sign like that one. Well¢¦I road walked down the mountain a couple of miles before I realized I¢d been had. I checked my map and the road had turned away from the trail, so I hiked up and found the right FS road by luck. I passed a sign not long ago that said ¢Bear Reserve¢ I wonder what that means? ? I wouldn¢t have gone wrong today if my ¢fact totem¢ hadn¢t gone home.
Date: 2010-04-19
From: Cold Spring Gap

To: Mile 177
Miles today: 11.7

Ended at mile 177 it¢s a bend in the trail that¢s big enough for my tent. If I¢d continued I¢d have had to camp next to a stream. I hiked only 11.7 miles today. I met Tepee Walter camped by the trail. I couldn¢t believe how long we¢d talked. I knew him from whiteblaze.com and this was the first I¢d met him in person. I also wasted a lot of time trying to get enough bars on my tracphone. I never got any again today. Regina AKA Missing Link was doing trail maintenance with Richard Harris the day I left. I expect her to pass me me any time now. I¢m getting concerned again about my next mail drop of medicines. I gave my son Jim my inventory to put into something to help Pat know when and how much to send. When I talked to Pat last we didn¢t pick a resupply place and the cell phone hasn¢t worked since. I hope she is sending my pills to Fontana Village. I¢m in my tent, the sun is setting. Winter is asleep and I will be soon.
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Mile 177

To: Deals Gap Motel & Gas Station
Miles today: 12.0

I¢m calling it mile 189 which makes it a 12 mile day. During last night there were occasional drops of rain but by morning I was able to pack up my stuff while it was still dry. I was cold and there was a blowing wind. I ate my cereal inside my tent. I started to hike with my pack cover and Frogg Togg on top of my pack. It wasn¢t long before I put them on. The last time I hiked in the rain, Sgt Rocks guide book almost dissolved. This time I left it in a plastic bag. I used only my water proof map. That worked fine until I crossed the bridge by the dam. I knew that I was supposed to turn left onto a dirt road and I saw it on the map, it looked like it should be a longer road walk. I looked at the dirt road and saw nothing that indicated that the trail went that way so I hiked on. I kept thinking there should be a second road. By the time I realized I¢d missed the turn I wasn¢t going back. Instead I did a road walk from hell in the blowing rain on a road with hit and miss shoulders. I got to this intersection and tried to hitch a ride to Fontana. There were no cars so I went to the gas station to see if anyone might be going my way. When the lady mentioned that they also have a restaurant and motel¢¦well what was I to do. The phone lines are down and I still have no cell phone reception.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Deals Gap Motel & Gas Station

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The motel did my laundry first thing in the AM. I packed up to leave. I called every shuttle number I could on the repaired motel phone. I had no idea how to hike via trail to Fontana Village to get my package of meds at the PO. So I road walked 11 miles. The package hadn¢t come in yet. I got a room and I hope it will be here tomorrow morning.
Date: 2010-04-22
From: Fontana Dam

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.0

The mail drop Pat sent to Fontana Village PO came in about 11:30AM. I grabbed a quick lunch and got the shuttle to the dam. I started hiking about 12:30PM. I forgot how much of a climb that it is coming out of Fontana. I could have made it to Mollies Ridge Shelter which is five more miles but I hated that shelter in 2000 so I stayed at the camp site. There is a pipe with spring water coming right out of the ground. I hung my food bag on the bear cables.
Date: 2010-04-24
From: Derrik's Knob

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: light rain

I started at 8:00AM which is late for me. The forcast was for rain/thunder lightning/high winds. It was gusting high winds until about noon, then the sky opened up as I was on top of a mountain. I speculated about my hiking sticks acting as a lightning rod as the lightning flashed and thundered around me. I made it to Double Spring Gap shelter in the pouring rain. I can¢t believe that I got stopped by the weather about 1.5 miles from Clingman¢s Dome. It¢s supposed to rain tomorrow also, but I will hike on to Newfound Gap tomorrow and get a ride into Gatlinburg.
Date: 2010-04-25
From: Double Spring Gap

To: Gatlinburg
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Hind sight makes me look stupid¢¦all the time. After seeing what I would have hiked over in the storm let me know that I¢d done the right thing to hold up at the shelter. The new NOC in Gatlinburg provides a free shuttle into Gatlinburg but they can only carry four hikers at a time. I was the fourth guy to the shuttle, but the guy after me was hiking with the guy who was third. I gave the fourth guy my ride. Then I tried hitching without luck. The Chamber of Commerce shuttle came into the parking lot. I took that shuttle for $7. As we passed my motel I asked her to let me off. She wouldn¢t, saying that all pick ups and deliveries were done in front of the Chamber of Commerce which is on the far side of town from my motel.
Date: 2010-04-27
From: Gatlinburg

To: Tri Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: moderate rain

When the NOC shuttle dropped me off it was lightly raining. As I hiked it turned to sleet and then to snow. The temp dropped to 25 degrees. My feet were wet and freezing all day. When I got to the shelter it was full. I set up my tent under the roof but exposed to the blowing.
Date: 2010-04-28
From: Tri Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

It was hard to put my frozen boots on. I was so cold, I had to force myself to pack up since the only way to get warm was to hike. I slowly warmed as I hiked and was able to tie my boots normally by 10:00AM. I just wanted to get out of the Smokies and be free of the damn shelters. My new AT Data book was here.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 11.3

I didn¢t get started until 10:00AM. It was a zoo. Holy crap¢¦there was one mountain after another. The ups kicked my butt. I¢ve got to get new boots. These are killing my little toe on my left foot. I was surprised that I had no cell phone reception on Max Patch. It¢s high and open. It got cold and windy at night.
Date: 2010-04-30
From: Max Patch

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

Just past the first shelter I met four weekend hikers who had all there food bags stolen by a big bear. They were hung but the bear just tore the branch off that the bags were hung on. I stayed at the shelter 3.2 miles from Hot Springs, so I could hang my food on the bear cables. During the night the cables rattled like hell but my food was there in the morning.
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

I was sure that I¢d hiked passed Hogback Ridge Shelter. I finally came to it. They are predicting rain so the shelter is full. I stayed here because it¢s the last water before the highway. I¢m tenting. Tomorrow we are going to try to hitch 2 miles east to a restaurant for breakfast. Then another mile for grocery store resupply, then back a mile to a different restaurant for lunch. It¢s my plan ?
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It started to rain before I got my tent packed up. Shovel, Outcast, Grump and I hitched to a restaurant in Sam¢s Gap. We ate breakfast, walked a mile to resupply, then we walked back for lunch. Then we hiked 7 miles to this shelter. A black bear just ran by the shelter. I¢m tenting away from the shelter by myself. It¢s 16.9 miles to Erwin.
Date: 2010-05-09
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: few clouds

It was damn cold when I woke up. I ate the last of my cheerios in my tent. No one else woke up before I hiked on. Jesse from Rhode Island was just getting ready to hike when I¢d hiked 6 miles. He has a sore ankle and I have sore toes¢¦.again. We happened to get to Erwin at the same time so we got a room together at the Super 8. Uncle Johnny gave us a ride and all the guys that had been sleeping when I hiked out in the morning were already at Uncle Johnnies.
Date: 2010-05-17
From: Damascus

To: VA601 Beech Mountain Road
Miles today: 18.1

Trail days is over. Pat flew down, rented a car and we stayed in Abingdon. We enjoyed meeting Grampy, Texas Jack, and Shepard. Pat and I just happened to be walking by that stone building in Damascus as the class of 2000 was taking pictures. We joined in and had a great time reminincing with our classmates. Then we all walked in the parade, there was a banner for the class of 2000 and name tags. I think the parade has gotten bigger even though there are fewer thru hikers. We met some great folks that we¢d only known online. I bought a hiking quilt and Pat took my sleeping bag home. Tonight will be the first time I use the quilt.My on going foot problems may be nearly over. I had bought a pair of 813 New Balance sneakers that are size 11 EEEE. They weren¢t wide enough so I took my knife and cut long holes where the small toes are. They were much better to hike in today. I bought another new pair that Tex recommended. They will be waiting for me in Atkins. I had a piece of world famous chocolate cake on the Creeper Trail. The Coffee was good also.It was pouring off and on all day. When I got to White Mountain Road USFS 89, it was beginning to pour again. There used to be a house here that thru hikers used but the whole house is gone. The great water source is still here. I¢m tenting near the water source. Pat had me take her camera so that I can take pictures of the ponies tomorrow in the Grayson Highlands. We¢d driven up here while she was here but it was pouring and the ponies were hiding.I tried to cook supper and my lighter broke. A guy was turning around in the parking area and I told him. He didn¢t have matches but he drove me to a local house that gave me a new lighter. He told me about getting great hotel prices using priceline.com.
Date: 2010-05-20
From: Troutdale

To: Bushy Mountain
Miles today: 15.8

Ate breakfast at the caf©. One of the patrons gave me a ride to the trail. I met Bodacious again today. I met him the first time when he was hiking south on the BMT to start the AT. I got to the partnership shelter by 4:00pm and Bodacious and I bought pizzas. I ate half of mine and hiked on with the pizza and 2 liter pepsi in my pack. We have a nice camp in the lee of a mountain. Tomorrow we only have about 10 miles to get to Atkins.
Date: 2010-05-21
From: Bushy Mountain

To: Atkins
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

Bodacious and I hiked to a 1890 historic farm and museum. I enjoyed discussing the Civil War with the curator. We went right to the restaurant and got a one pound cheeseburger. Then Ram Bunny brought me to her hostle. I showered and I¢m working on my resupply list. We¢ll go to the grocery at about 5:30PM.In 2000 I stayed at the motel to watch the Red Sox game. I bought 2 six packs, but only drank two beers before falling asleep. The next morning I knocked on the door of the room next to mine. I asked Fenway if he drank. He said yes and I gave him the beer and hiked out.
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Atkins

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up at 6:00AM and was at the restaurant when it opened at 7:00AM. I had breakfast with Spambo. He had night hiked and was tired. He stayed in town and hiked on. It was the first day with the new shoes like Tex wears. They¢re a bit tight on the left foot, little toe. I took out my thermarest and took a half hour nap at noon. I¢m in my tent and it¢s raining like hell.
Date: 2010-05-27
From: Stream Intermittent

To: Ribble Trail, North Junction
Miles today: 17.4

Stickbuilt , Tater Chip, and I hiked into position to get into Pearisburg the next day. We stopped because it was about to rain and we wanted to get our tents up before it started. It didn¢t rain after all but it was time to stop anyway. My feet had done all the miles they could.
Date: 2010-02-09
To: Last night @ home
Miles today: 0.0

This is my last night at home on Marthas Vineyard Island. Tommorrow I head to Boston, then to Atlanta the Next day. I begin my thru-hike Sunday the 11th on the approach trail. My hike started in new England. In the past two months I have sectioned hiked over 300 miles of the AT, mostly in The northeast. I bid you all adieu, and will begin journals in good order on Saturday night.
Date: 2010-02-10
From: Home

To: Boston
Miles today: 0.0

Making Plans for Boston. Snow has covered us completely. Ferry may not run, leaving me to miss my train out of town. Work is locked down and i am just going through my pack today:My Pack is a ULA CircuitMy Bag is a Zero degree GoliteMy Tent is a Golite Xanadu one person tentBig Agnes Sleeping pada hiking pillow (yes)mittensStove is a jet boil with an adapteri am using Aquamira dropsMy pack weight will be 24lbs when i hit SpringerI have a severely injured ankle, which is causing some consternation, but it will be ok. I will miss my family and friends and i will miss music a great deal, but i think i will miss work most of all. I like my gig and it totally energizes me. I will miss the competitiveness of it all. I hope to see many of my trail friends out there, and my dream for the hike is this; snare a small animal of some sort, eat it at camp offending many, catch a fish with my hiking sticks, eat rattlesnake, and catch a Felice Brothers show at some point coming off the trail. lets see how it goes
Date: 2010-02-11
From: Boston

To: Boston
Miles today: 0.0

Still snowed in on the Island thought i would review the sections of the trail that i did this fall/winterDeep GAP NC to Fontana Dam NC 81.1 milesShippensburg rd PA to Duncannon PA 53.7 milesWind Gap PA to Arden Valley Rd NY 106.3 milesStormville NY to Sages Ravine MA 79.0 milesUS 20 Lee MA to Vermont 46.4 milestotal mileage 366.5 so fartarget is to be in PA by May 1.my ankle still hurts. And i am snowed in, trying to get to Georgia.