morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: scattered clouds

We all woke up pretty late. We hit the trail at 7:00, an hour later than we wanted to. There was a super steep descent down into Port Clinton. The craziest thing happened when we crossed the first road. A UPS truck drove up, stopped and the driver yelled out "any of you guys Findley?" It was Red Dog's package from his firefighter buddies back in Auburn. Talk about good timing. From there we went to the Post Office and found out my maildrop didn't arrive. I went over to the outfitter to see if they sold any food and all they had were a few packets of Ramen. The guy informed me there was no-where in town to resupply. right then Didi and Semi Joy told me a trail angel was driving them to Cabelas in a minute. I tagged along with them and met Fred. Fred was an older fellow who didn't wear a shirt and spoke real fast in which i couldn't understand a word he was saying. Briana, the section hiker from Texas, needed food also so she came along too. Fred was super nice, too bad i couldn't understand him. He dropped Didi and Semi Joy off at Cabelas and took me and Brianna to the Food Lion and even waited on us in the parking lot. Before pikcing up the two other girl, he took me and Briana back to Port Clinton. Amazingly this happened in less than 15 minutes. I caught up with Walk On and Red Dog at the Port Clinton Hotel. We all had a Yuenling (I'm bummed i never got to go to the brewery) and we ordered lunch. i called home and came to find out my maildrop had come back to my parents and all that was left of the box was a ripped off top. somehow my package had been ripped open and all it's contents lost. The food didn't bother me but i had 2 pair of smartwool socks coming. when the lunch arrived it was enormous. the burger was one of the biggest i've ever seen and the "small" plate of fries with gravy was a tiny mountain. to say the least we were stuffed. we still had 16 miles to do also- in the afternoon heat. Walk On went ahead and headed out. Red Dog left when i was on the phone with Tracy. I still had to go over to the post office and i mailed the last of my winter gear home. I fianally hit the trail around 2:30. When i made it to the first shelter i met Satori from Tokyo. I tried to communicate with the little japanese i could speak. he couldn't speak much good english but seems like a interesting fellow. as i pushed on i caught up with Red Dog. WE actually saw some good views during the rest of the afternoon's hike. Towards the end a storm rolled in and the two of us got caught in some light rain. it wasn't too bad but we started hurrying up to get to the shelter. the shelte was really nice. it was in someone's side yard and had electricity, flush toilets, a shower and even drinkds and snacks in a donation fridge. Walk On and Firstlight are here also along with Tulips, a section hiker. Red Dog and i got there around 8:00 and i had formed a splitting headache. I ate a honey bun and took some Vitamin I then went to bed.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Secret Shelter
Miles today: 24.4

Man did i freeze last night. Walk On did too, all he had was a fleece sleepingbag liner. It's almost June, it's not supposed to be this cold. Firstlight left super early, as usual, but Walk On and i waited for it to get warmer before we headed out around 9:30. we still saw a lot of people today out hiking for the memorial weekend. We talked with a ridgerunner at a firetower for a while. New Jersey has sure had some great views. i've been completly surprised; i always expected the entire state to be covered in urban sprawl. we caught up with Fozzy and Rocky at Mashipacong shelter. Every shelter in Jersey has bear boxes and so far they've all been filled with goodies by a trail angel named Desperado. after the shelter we came across more magic in the form of 10 jugs of purified water. i filled up and we moved on towards High Point; Jersey's highest point with a big monument that looks like the Washington Monument. on top of the ridge was an observation platform and we climbed up and took a look around. apparently today is the AT photo project day and 200 volunteers hike 10 miles of the trail taking pictures today. one of those guys met us at the platform and took our picture. he said it might be posted on the website at www.atphotoproject.com after High Point the trail came off the ridge and down into the valley. it crossed some very pretty farmland including a pond with someone taking a dip. we're staying tonight at the Secret Shelter. it's not listed in the companion and vaguely in Wingfoot. It's a really nice little cabin with a hot shower, running water, electricity and a heater for this cold evening. there are two donkies that live in the field behind the shelter and they've been quite entertaining. Tomorrow we'll be in Vernon at a church hostel. i can't wait to wash clothes.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: Mt. Algo Lean To
Miles today: 21.4

Got on the trail at the usual time of 8:00. The first thing i passed this morning was the Dover Oak; the largest tree on the AT. There was some trail magic bottled water and i sipped on that while i waited for Walk On to show up. We passed the AT train stop; it was tiny. At the road crossing we were excited to see a hotdog stand only to find it was not open yet for the day. The trail went through some really great farmland; we saw a cow with her just hours old calf. We also came across a freshly dead Doe. She had been shot through the neck and apparently made it as far as the trail before dying in the middle of it. Around 12:30 we crossed into CT. wahoo, New England! the trail crossed the 10 Mile River then started ascending up until peaking around 1300 ft. we haven't been that high in a while. saw some good vistas but they views were all shrouded with that thick hazy layer of humidity of summer. not having my maps for this section is driving me crazy. looking at the Wingfoot book, we thought the rest of the day was downhill to the shelter. instead to our suprise we discovered two more climbs, both over 1200 ft. we pulled in around 6:30 feeling pretty tired for only 21 miles. Firstlight was already here. Mello had gone into town and then arrived back an hour later with cookies and candy to share. as it got dark and everyone whiped out their headlamps; the bugs became terrible. they especially seemed to enjoy tormenting Walk On as he was trying to finish his Steven King novel. they're driving me insane as well and now the pages of my journal are splotched with bug juice from the unlucky ones that landed inside this book. It's an easy .3 to Kent in the morning and i'm looking forward to sipping coffee and eating some real breakfast food instead of poptarts.
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

got a real late start today. i'm just getting lazier everyday. it was overcast and drizzled all day. for some reason, i felt really sleep today. i felt as if at any point of the day i could have sat down and taken a long nap; but i kept walking instead. as i was approaching the first shelter this morning i caught a Garter Snake. i got a photo of me holding it but apparently their defense mechanism is to crap themselves. which it did; all over my hand. it took about half a bottle of hand sanitizer to take that smell away. i tried to actaully take a nap at that shelter but the mosquitos where too bad to lay still. I ate lunch at the base of Stratton Mt. but once again the bugs where so bad that i had to don my mosquito head-net and slide myself snickers bars from underneath the hood. The climb up Stratton was one of the toughest i've experienced for quite a while. at the top was an old firetower with awesome rewarding views of the surrounding landscape dotted with ponds and rivers. I made it to the Spruce Peak Shelter at around 6 where i discovered that Red Dog and Mello decided to go ahead into Manchester Center and get a hotel for the night. This shelter's only 2 miles out of town, so i'll be frugile for once and just go in early in the morning. also here tonight are thru-hikers Willie Goat and Good to Go. There's also a weekender here getting ready for her summer job as an instructer for NOLS out west. there's a light rain on the tin roof and a constant drone of mosquiotos flying around my head. i hate bugs.
Date: 2004-06-26
From: (The New) Moose Mt. Shelter

To: Hexacuba Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

woke up several times in the night to the sound of heavy rain on the tin roof. apparently this brand new shelter has a leak because Bone Dancer was unlucky enough to discover it dripping on him during the night. the weather this morning was real nasty too. i sat in my sleepingbag for as long as i could but eventually i headed out at the late time of 10:30. i made it to Trapper John Shelter for lunch. Bone Dancer was just leaving but Cowboy kept me company as i ate. The climb up Smart Mt. was a killer. The sun had come out by that time and i was sweating heavily up that last super steep part. There's an old fire tower on top and i met up with Bone Dancer in the top of it. we could see Mt. Moosilauke; man i looks steep. Bone Dancer's sleeping in the top of the enclosed tower tonight to watch the sunset and rise; i decided to push on. i did the 4 miles to the base of the mountain in 1 hour. the trail was so gradual i basically jogged down it. from the bottom the trail climbs steeply up to some ledges with fine views. i had thought about stopping there to wait for the sunset but then i noticed huge storm clouds headed my way and closing fast. i practically ran the last mile to make it to the Hexacuba Shelter right before the rain hit. Also here tonight are Curious George, Dave, and Mystic Onion. when i was making my dinner tonight, i accidentally spilled a ton of crystal light drink mix around my sleeping bag; so i think i'm going to set out my trap tonight for the first time in a while. headed into Glencliff tomorrow then a much needed zero day at Quincy Girl's lake house down in southern New Hampshire. really looking forward to it.
Date: 2004-07-06
From: Pinkham Notch

To: Gorham, N.H. 
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: broken clouds

Bone Dancer and I got up really early and met Skeemer and his hiking buddy, Wounded Knee at a resteraunt down the steet. As they were giving us a lift to the trail we picked up Waterfall and Cowboy who were trying to hitch. That car was cramped with six people. The Wildcats this morning kicked my ass. I'm glad we were slacking it today instead of hiking it yesterday. The summits were in and out of cloud cover all day. We had a snack at Carter Notch Hut. Somehow after the hut, I took a wrong trail and ended up hiking south and up a really steep part of the mountain that i should have been going down. I was quite confused when i met Waterfall going in my opposite direction. i didn't miss any of the AT though, but instead hiked a section of it twice. We met up with Cowboy. He'd gotten ahead of us by accidentally doing the same thing but on a different trail. It was around this time that i started feeling a little sapped of energy. i though i might be a little dehydrated but this feeling eventually grew into feeling very sick. i can always tell when there's something wrong with my body and something felt definatly very wrong this time. i lost all energy and strengty, my throat started hurting, my entire body ached especially my joints including my jaw, neck and back. I got really cold, felt nausues, it was hard to focus my eyes, and i felt dizzy and zig-zagged down the trail. My balance was off and i fell several times. These syptoms were full blown with eight miles left to go. i don't know how i did it, but i made it to the parking lot. I could have cried i was so releived. Bone Dancer was there and so where Waterfall's parents. I started shivering really bad as we waited. They dropped me and Bone Dancer off at The Barn. i felt better after some advil. A homeschool family came by and interviewed us and gave us some cookies. I hope i feel better tomorrow.
Date: 2004-01-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

First entry,59 days to go.Am I starting to get excited? Just a little.I have had my gear for the last two years. The only purchase to make is trekking poles to replace my hiking stick.And my mail drop schedule was expanded from three Post Offices to ten.Because friends in the maintenance and bus garage at the school district that I retired from wanted to know how to mail me items that I might need.They think I have a sweet tooth.I disagree. But send lots of candy,lots of candy. My brother will be my transcriber and support.And also plans to hike the first thirty and last one hundred miles with me.He is just about excited as me about this journey. Now as for why I am going on this great backpacking journey. Very simple,I like to hike. See you out there somewhere.
Date: 2004-01-31
To: Thoughts
Miles today: 0.0

Here is something to think about,if you see a butterfly while hiking.I don't remember the author.A chinese philosopher awoke with a start. For he had been dreaming that he was a butterfly.And for all the rest of the days of his life. He wondered, was he a chinese philsopher dreaming that he was a butterfly or was he a butterfly dreaming that he was a chinese philosopher.I'll see you out there,somewhere.
Date: 2004-02-03
To: Decisions
Miles today: 0.0

Decisions-Decisions-Decisions, Should I carry nine days of food from Neels Gap to the N.O.C. outdoor center.Or should I carry four days and resupply in Hiawassee. I really don't want to go into or stay there. Maybe I will hitch in,resupply,hitch out and continue on. Decisions-Decisions-Decisions how many already made only to be changed on the trail.See you out there, somewhere.
Date: 2004-02-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hawkeye writing to get the hang of writing Mushroom's journal entries. Won't be long until we meet in Knoxville and head toward Georgia. I'll be with Mushroom for the 1st 30 miles and then back to work. Hopefully, we will be able to connect along the trail until Mushroom gets into Virginia. Hawkeye signing off (Mushroom's little brother).
Date: 2004-03-27
From: St. Louis, Mo.

To: Springer Mountain, GA.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My son, Jason, and his friend "KB" drove me to the Grayhound Bus Station in St. Louis, departure 8:30 am on Fri. March 26, 2004. I arrived in Knoxville, TN.at 8:00 am on the 27th and Hawkeye was waiting for me to head off to Vogel State Park, Ga. Hawkeye lives in North Carolina about 100 miles from Knoxville. We planned to stay at Vogel State Park tonight,leave Hawkeye's truck there and shuttle to Springer Mtn. tomorrow. The state park was quite nice and we slept in our tents. On the way to Vogel we passed NOC and the Walasi-yi Center ( Vogel is 3 miles north of Neel Gap). After setting up our campsite we drove to Amicalolo Falls, I signed in and we ate an early supper at the Amicalolo Lodge. Hawkeye's plan to hike to Neel Gap, hitch ride to Vogel and back home.
Date: 2004-03-28
From: Springer Mountain, Ga.

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

Up early on the 28th, we met Fred Woodford, he provider a shuttle from Vogel State Park at 9.00 am and headed to Springer Mountain. Started at the intersection where the A. T.crosses the State Forest Road 42. It was about 10:15 when we started hiking up to the southern terminus of the trail, about 0.9 miles.There were several other hikers taking pictures and signing the register. It was nice hiking from Springer to Long Creek Falls. We stopped in at Stover Creek Shelter and visited with Digital Ranger and Bender, DiDi was resting in a hammock. From there it was downhill until we reach Three Forks.Then up hill, stopped Long Creek Falls beautiful area. Hawkeye wanted me to stand under the falls with the water splashing on my head, I declined. So, he settled for a picture of me standing in front of the falls. We still had a mile and a half to climb and then down hill to the shelter. At the shelter, there were about 20 hikers staying the night. Plenty tents sites. Tonight Hawkeye and I in tents it's about 8:30.Time to sleep.
Date: 2004-03-29
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Two owls were calling to each other last night at Hawk Mountain Shelter. It was about 60 degrees in my tent last night but it dropped to about 50 degrees during the night. Hawkeye had a surprise treat after supper last night, he brought 2- 8 oz. cokes and 4 creame rolls, he said it was to celebrate. We departed the shelter at 8:30, cool breese but comfortable. The hike from the shelter to Horse Gap was fairly easy but up Sassafras Mountain was our first challenge , 600 ft. climb in about a mile hike. I stopped for several breather breaks, it was rugged. In fact, Hawkeye and I took a lot of breaks. I arrived at Gooch Gap at 2:30. Sue and Bender were at the shelter, 2 couples and Doug were in tents behind the shelter. Two young female hikers with a chocolate lab walked in later. Jack and Blueberry Bert are in there tent. Hawkeye finally decided to sleep in his tent, I slept in the shelter. It rained hard during the night.
Date: 2004-03-30
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Wood Hole Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: broken clouds

We had a good rain last night, but it stopped during the early morning, it is windy and chilly.Today was a long hike and a lot of climbs. At Woody Gap, we stopped and filtered water, Hawkeye laid his tent out to dry. While getting ready to head out Jack and Blueberry Bert hiked in and stated they were going to eat lunch and dry out their tent. It was up to Big Cedar Mountain, really nice views. About to the summit there is a ledge of flat rocks, nice open area sunny and the rocks were warm to lie down on and rest. Reached the sign pointing to the shelter, about 1/2 mile off the trail. When I arrived, Sue , Jack, Blueberry Bert and Hawkeye were there, later Bender arrived. The shelter appears to be rather new, holds up to 6 people (full house tonight). It was a good night sharing the days hike with one another. Tonight, we listens to Bender snore all night. Everyone in their sleeping bags at 7:30. It was a long hard day with a lot of climbs, I guess this is what's in front of me for the next 5 months.
Date: 2004-03-31
From: Wood Hole Shelter

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

The climb up Blood Mountain was not as bad as I expected. Blood Mountain shelter looked like a good place to stay but you have no water source. Initially there were no views as the fog was socked in but as we headed out the sky cleared and the views were outstanding. This didn't last long as the sky clouded and it appeared to threaten rain. We arrived at Neel Gap crossed the road and walked in Walasi-yi Center. It was about 10:30, Hawkeye took a picture ot the trailhead crossed the road and asked a guy in a van if he would take him to Vogel State Park. The van driver was Frazier Wood and he was from The Goose Creek Resort, located just north of Vogel. He was obliging, charged Hawkeye no fee, which was deeply appreciated. Hawkeye offered to pay for the ride but he declined "Good ole Southern Hospitality". Hawkeye drove back up to Neel Gap, I had checked in and taking a shower when he arrived. Everyone had arrived that stayed in the shelter at Wood Hole. Blueberry Bert said that when she and Jack were on Blood Mountain it started to hail, so the took refuge in the stone building, AKA the shelter.Everyone piled into the truck and we headed into Blairsville for lunch. Back at the Gap, Hawkeye headed back to Clyde, NC. He back home and back to work. He is to meet me at NOC, resupply me, buy my lunch. and dinner and cheer me on. That night everyone shuttled down to the Cookie Jar with the anticipation of "All you can eat buffet".
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I departed Neel Gap at 7:30 and arrived at Low Gap Shelter at 3:30. Jack and Blueberry Bert went ahead to locate a campsite to set up their tent. The shelter is packed,8 hikers and 10 tents set up at various places around the shelter. Tonight cold wind, as it was all day, the temperature dropped into the 30's, in my sleeping bag by 7:30.
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Left the shelter at Low Gap about 7:30, it was cloudy and windy but the hike was good, no big climbs. I arrived at Blue Mountain Shelter at Noon. The weather was a cold wind and it was blowing into the shelter. Sue had arrived before me and was concerned that her sleeping bag would not be warm enought tonight. She suggested going into Helena by hiking down to Unicoi Gap and hitching a ride. She didn't have to twist my arm. 15 min. after arriving in the Gap, we had a ride to Helena. We rented rooms at the Best Western, went out for Mexican food and arranged a shuttle bach to the trail head for the morning.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

This morning shuttled back to the trail with Sue and started hiking about 7:30.I arrived at Deep Gap Shelter at 4:30. The first climb this morning was about 1000 ft. up to Rocky Mountain, then a 1200 ft. climb out of Indian Grave Gap.Up Tray Mountain and finished the day with a 900 ft. climb out of Addis Gap and up Kelly Knob. By the time I reach the shelter, I was exhausted. At the shelter, there were a group of Boy Scouts, they had their tents set up and in the shelter were Pablo and Laura, Sue, The Colonel, WhitePatch and two other hikers that I didn't get their names.About 7:30 that evening I heard several coyotes howling, this is the first time I've heard coyotes in the wild.
Date: 2004-04-04
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Plumorchard Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: clear sky

I left Deep Gap Shelter at 7:15 this morning.At Dick's Creek Gap (HW 64)Sue, The Colonel, Laura and Pablo,and White Patch headed out to the Blueberry Patch. I head that Jack and Blueberry Bert were headed that way as well.I stayed on the trail and the climbs today were Powell Mountain and up to Bull Gap. On the map it doesn't look all that difficult but I found myself taking a lot of "breather breaks". It was a beautiful day with a blue sky but the wind was cold. When I reached the shelter, Powder Finger, David, Sal Paradise, Diesel and of course myself- Mushroom spent the night.
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Plumorchard Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Leaving the shelter at 7:30, I heard an owl and later that morning I saw a ruffled grouse. It was an easy hike to the Georgia / North Carolina State line, but the climb up Sharp Top and Court House Bald was "kick butt" about 1300 ft. At the shelter, full house tonight with 4 tents set up around the shelter. Diesel, Powder Finger, Rock Steady, Melissa and Tyler, Sal Paradise, Mark and Nancy, and others I didn't get their names. And of course myself- Mushroom.
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: broken clouds

Albert Mountain was "wicked straight up and rocky" but the views made it well worth the effort. From the fire tower the views were fabulous. Most of the trail from Standing Indian Shelter was level with a few climbs, saw patches of snow on Standing Indian. I hiked with Hiking Bear and we leap frogged some of the time today. The last time I saw Hiking Bear, he was cleaning leaves from his socks. He said that he had fallen 10 ft. tubbling down the trail. He said that he was not hurt and that he would be OK. Again, the shelter is full tonight with Tyler and Mellisa, Powder Finger, Sal Paradise, Rosk Steady, Diesel, Hiking Bear, and myself.