morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-01
From: Blood Mountain Shelter

To: Whitley Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: broken clouds

Awaken in the night by a few mice in the wind tunnel. After first light I learned that actually more than the mice visited a few skunks were discussing who had dibs on Zach¢s cook pot. That was cold; I was bundled in mid-weight and my aero smock. Plenty of warmth, but my nose was an icicle.I arrive at Walasi-Yi about 10. Showering was nice. I¢ll press on a bit. I pick up a knee brace type thing. There is plenty to distract me from the task at hand. A few letters, stripping my pack and calling home again. I¢ll leave!A recap ¢ hiked out of blood mtn in a haze with 15 yards visibility. Arrived a Neels gap and started chores. Did I mention that I took a shower? Wow, was that nice. I¢m now outfitted with Alpaca (?) socks #1 for backing (?) #2 in camp. I also picked up a patella guiding device for my left knee.After watching remember the titans and ????? on the hostel, I reached my mom by phone. She has agreed to mail my running shoes to blueberry patch. When I finished talking and then mailing so ???? home I hit the trail after 3:30.I hiked to bly Gap but pushed on. Made my way to Tesnatee Gap and pushed on, finally arriving at Whitley gap Shelter.I was gladly surprised to see a fire buring in the fading light. Pair of father and son groups were out for a long weekend.Tomorrow will certainly be another great day.Peace, Love, Christ.[YJ: Just received a call from Casey at 10:15am ET from the Walasi-Yi Center at Neels Gap. He is fine and moving quite slow (<10mi per day). He is hiking with 4-5 other folks and there have been 20+ folks at each shelter the past 4 nights. His left knee hurts a bit (told him he needed to do more pre-trip hiking) and he wants his tennis shoes rather than his boots. Had an oportunity to meet up with Flying-Brian (See http://royrobinson.homestead.com/) who is a hiking machine. He completed the AT, PCT and CDT (~7500 miles) in 300 days in 2001. That's it for now. I'll update this entry with his own words once I receive his notes from the field.]
Date: 2004-04-02
From: Whitley Gap Shelter

To: Short of Blue Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 10.7

I awoke listening to the uninviting wind I stayed in my bag until one of the other got out and started a fire. I got water and ate oatmeal and French vanilla instant pudding then left.The sun had shown itself early on then hid behind gray clods most of the dya. Asi walked the ridge line towards low gap shelter the high winds reminded me of my exposed legs and hands.Thankfully the skies haven¢t opened with rain as of yet, but it started to sporadically spit from just before lunch onwards.I had a tuna tortilla roll for lunch at low gap. When I put my boots back on my feet were swamped with sweat. Each step I took brought pain from the ball of my feet.I haven¢t been sleeping well since I started the AT journey. And this afternoon I stepped into a virtual haze of a walking zombie. Wow, where am I? Oh, GA hiking the AT. This ???? fog, mixed with the dark clouds and high winds made the creaking and knocking trees quite eerie.Upon the advice of the caretakers of Blue mtn shelter, I¢m staying south of the ridge. With the high winds and dropping temperatures I didn¢t think the HH would sustain enough heat. So I¢ve rigged a shaky shack tarp setup. In the current win gusts it is holding up well. I¢ve taken my gearskin and laid across my bag to prevent any blow over moisture that may occur.As I was disassembling my pack I nearly weeped seeing my papers were wet and running ink. Ah! How? I took all the pieces for inspection to find I could thankfully I can read all the text that the teens at Olivet wrote to me and my data book. Accepting the sorry state of my paper I continued to unpack.Crap!Crap!My alcohol it¢s all¢¦all gone. The container had a sports drink top and must have popped it when I tighten the Gearskin at the day¢s start. The alcohol then leaked through the bag it was in to destroy my paper.Mother Nature and Smoke Stack (the caretakers of blue mtn) agreed to let me use their stove. When I went to cook my soup, they had extra rice, beans and beef goop and gave it to me. Thank youNow if I make it through the night and to Hiawasee, GA then Katahdin should be obtainable. Trials and obstacles are but a burden of the riches found here. As for now the rock I¢m on is leaving my butt numb.
Date: 2004-04-03
From: Short of Blue Mtn Shelter

To: Tray Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: clear sky

Shortly after the sun set yesterday night I found my tarp was not adequate to keep the cutting wind from stripping my down bag of its heat. The decision was made, I burst from my bag and begin to rearrange. My final configuration was using my trekking poles to secure my HH and to make a bivy with it. I awake overheating this morning so I¢d say the setup worked.I had a cold breakfast; for I knew what was in store for me at Tray Mtn shelter.After leaving camp I had to tend to my right foot. It seems the sweaty socks and walking has caused my foot to crack some. Neosporin and Duct tape put on; have my feet again heading north.Coming up some hill¢s crest I see a group of people reclining in the sun. Then, ¢It¢s Casey¢, ¢Casey¢¦¢ I was welcomed by Scraggly, Nicole, Brian, Adam ???? we are now ?????. Their warm welcome was better than the shining sun.Tongith at Tray Mtn Shelter dinner is being provided by ¢Tennessee (?) Outdoor Activities Club.¢ Trail magic grandeur. Speaking of grandeur, Georgia is Georgeious. The final steps atop tray mtn opened some to reveal miles of rolling hills beneath cotton ball clouds and disappearing in a haze at the horizon (Ps 8).After platefuls of hotdogs and cold beans disappeared a fire was started to spark conversation. I floated between conversations hearing tales of a past thru-hiker ¢Mailman ¢92¢ ¢ then of landing helicopters on carriers or Don (now Tank) diving under a bomb he was loading to avoid an ejected pilot¢s capsule.As the sun set, people wondered up the blue blaze to find a spot to watch the lights. Night came and across the valley began to turn on like fire flies in the summer. I left to go to bed.Windy. Windy. Gust after Gust. Sounds like a wave breaking against a beach early in the morning. I did sleep some though.
Date: 2004-04-05
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My first zero day, there is plenty for me today laundry and another shower all that can wait until after breakfast courtesy of Bent Frame. Full and read to go, I called home, updated my written journal, and called Blueberry Patch about my maildrop.Smoke Stack was out during the morning running errands. When he returned we all went to place the host¢s car for ??? ? future final return ¢ in route on AT ¢ to home.On the way, through winding small town highways we stopped at Blueberry Patch and I sadly find my maildrop hadn¢t arrived. Then to the PO for Bent Frame and Can¢t Zip to pick up a maildrop. Finally on the way home from Winding Star gap ¢ where their car was placed ¢ we stopped at an Ingle¢s Grocery Store.My contribution for the two nights and other accommodations was a bottle of wine and a six pack of Mike¢s Hard Lemonade. Fifteen dollars is really a frugal town visit.I found it a bit taxing to relax today, because I didn¢t want my chores to burden my hosts. Thank you Smoke Stack/Mother Nature for all your loving hospitality.This past section shall be named (?)¢¦¢Windy Week¢Temperature hung in the 40¢s plus/minus but the wind would gust to 40 mph. For this environmental reason my favorite piece of gear was my wind/rain pants ¢ Marmot precip¢s. Thanks to Ryan the Redneck of Outdoor source for encouraging me to pack them.The dessert I had at Tray Mtn Shelter ¢ black cherry cobbler ¢ easily wins its place as best food. Though the Wisconsin cheese and the ham/cheese sandwich gave a valiant effort in the running.[YJ:Just got of the phone with Casey. He is staying at a section hiker's house for the past 2 days near Hiawassee, GA. He'll be back on the trail tomorrow. I have also received the first batch of his journal entries. His writing is small and long. I'll start retro adding entries tonight and tomorrow.]
Date: 2004-04-06
From: Hiawassee, GA

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: few clouds

¢Surprising God¢My day began about 6:20am when we started packing up and out the door by 7:30am. We all ate breakfast at a store and went to blueberry Patch. I was left to wait on my maildrop.I spent the morning writing and praying trying to hide my raising anxiety. As I was sitting Gary ¢ hostel manager ¢ offered to take me to the Holy Week service. I was glad he asked after mentioning it earlier because I wanted to go, but my mounting worry about my package was immobilizing me from asking. Eleven came and my package didn¢t. I went to service.The service and hymn slowly cracked into my hardening heart. I could begin to hear the still small voice of God. The message reminded me of God¢s promise of life. Wholeness. Recognizing that the God revealed by Jesus Christ is concerned with the entire being.We were encouraged to come to God in prayer on the behalf of brother and sisters. So in a small step of faith I offered Gary prayer for a development of pain in his heal. He stepped aside to the offer.Returning to the Blueberry Patch I learned from Mom that the address my shoes and camera were shipped to was not the Blueberry Patch Hostel. Err! Why¢d I screw up? My plans. My plans. After a few hours and wrong numbers adding to my frustration I found my box at Wiley PO and it was forwarded to Fontana Dam. A bit of peace. I was now ready to hit the trail.My first time hitch ever I was picked up by James Fowler after approx. 0.5 mile of walking towards Hiawassee ¢ I wanted to pick up a disposable camera to store some locations ¢ In and out at Ingles ¢ I¢m picked up by Paul, who use to live in Toledo, OH. Funny?!!? Thanks guys for the rides.Before I left Blueberry Patch I asked Gary to pose for a picture. After the photo he invited me to pray for his heel, saying that over the day he had been rebuked. So he, his wife and I prayed. He gave me a hug and graciously provided me a ride to the Gap.We spoke some more of living lives of Faithful witness. Boy, God surprised me today by my own error. He slowed me down in Hiawassee to hear and see Him better. My mistake His strength.My steps took me to Plumorchard (one word) Gap Shelter where the opportunity arose to share my story, involving God with Aaron (of Maine). He spoke some of his own. And we shared in the excitement the great paradox of life revealing reality amongst the tension.I was moved into the 2nd of three stories at the shelter. So I went and filtered water, journaled and made dinner. The sun is setting later it seems so my work hours are extended. Peace, Rest, Healing.
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I left my bag and the sun was already climbing in the sky. Trying to refine my packing time, I ate quick and orderly and started packing.Sometime, without realizing it, today I left my first sate behind. I thought the border was after Bly Gap. Now it seems the border was before it. This said, I made a little celebration.The trail was being cleared and maintained. For one of the first groups of people I passed was a trail crew. Thanks crew.The trail was a nice grade for most of the day. And the sun shined on a nearly windless day. These two combined made for some sweaty hiking. Also this made prime weather for bugs.When I was on the go I had little problems, but when I took a few breaks my legs were attacked.Today also was my second day no speaking. How many thumbs up did I give today to the question: beautiful ay ain¢t it? Or How are you? I did slip a few times mostly to myself. One in particular at the sun because it never seemed to come down from the sky. So I kept going and going.When I entered Nantahala Wilderness there was a sign posted: ¢Warning! Bear reported to have ken packs along the trail from deep Gat to Wayah gap. The bear displayed ¢no fear¢ of humans.¢ Great I thought, finally I might see a bear. No really this put me a bit on edge. Because of the posting I decided to hang behind the shelter to night about 150¢.At standing Indian Shelter there are five so far. Aaron, Another thru-hiker and two I know nothing about, except one of them ran from his tent and vomited in front of my view as I swigged the ¢dirty¢ pot cleaning water. Yum!As I mentioned earlier I¢m hanging my hammock tonight. Last night seemed warm, but in the shelter book, frost was recorded two nights ago. I¢ll give a full report in the morning. When I hang, I set-up about chest level and drop to about 12-14 inches from the ground. Others who are hanging seem to setup high. And their HH seem roomier ¢ at least from the outside.My left knee is doing better with the patella guiding device, but now my right is bring me similar pain. I may experiment soon with a few bandanas to help the right knee. My shoulders were a bit tense today ¢ though to my knowledge my pack rest fully on my hips.The gearskin has been becoming difficult to pack properly as I keep sending gear home. Keeping the pack tall enough for the vertical stabilizer to function properly is a challenge. This may be the reason for some of my shoulder pain.I¢m going to read a bit of John Woolman¢s ¢journal¢ before sunsets and I lay down to bed.
Date: 2004-04-08
To: Yellow Jacket
Miles today: 0.0

Received another delivery of journals. This boy needs to start hiking and writing less. He has 5 sides of notebook paper filled for 4-4-2004 alone! I'm posting 3 more entries tonight. Again, his handwriting (weird, I almost never write anything except for my signature and address anymore?!!?) is small and blurry at times. He also needs to do a bit of proof reading. Think of his journal as Casey's stream of sometimes coherent and sometimes incoherent thoughts. So if you read a passage that doesn't quite make sense to you, it may be correct. If you talk with him let him know he needs to write a bit neater or else I might go blind reading his entires. And that $60 windshrit he gave me wouldn't be worth it.
Date: 2004-04-08
From: Standing Indian Shelter

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

My night in the HH was fine. I was plenty warm, in fact. My back and ??? of legs were sweaty. After returning from a urine relief break, I opened my bag and used it more as a blanket.After breakfast with the sun in the sky, I think the clouds hiding the sun was thin gray. Packing up I became frustrated but I began to realize I¢m in no hurry.Finally I¢m packed trying a new procedure. Later my back began to strain but it could have been the night in the hammock.Each time I use a cat-hole to fertilize a tree, I think of the parable Jesus shares of the unfruitful tree.The trail was gentle through most of the Southern Nantahla Wilderness. There were posting stating that the land was a bear sanctuary. I planned ahead and had my pepperoni pita made at breakfast.When I left Nantahla wilderness the trail remained gentle for 0.5 mile. Then boom! Up to Albert Mountain. This was rough. Rock climbs, stairs, hands pulling myself up boulders. But atop of Albert Mtn was worth it.A top was a tower for water studies. I climbed the 3.5 flights of exposed steps to see what I could see. Now gorgeous NC. Gentle mountains go as far as I can see in either direction. As I looked the sun broke finally through the clouds, which had spit on me earlier in the day and spot lighted tree covered slopes.I left Albert Mtn to make it casually to Big spring shelter. There I was welcomed by the Clarkeville posse. Can¢t zip, Bent Trowel??, Mother nature and smoke stack. I had Cajun rice by lipton with pink salmon serving for four. The sun is finally set ¢ the days seem long ¢ as I settle into the shelter.I went back to the tower to watch a red sun drop from sight.
Date: 2004-04-09
From: Big Spring Shelter

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: few clouds

Good FridaySometime today while in a creek bed I crossed 100 miles of the AT. A first for many things. The trail was of pleasant slopes minus the climb north of Standing Indian campground. The climb was steep and steeper. But the stream/water (see photo) it crossed was beautiful. A strong tree stood aside the flowing life giving water (P??).I said goodbye to Bent frame and can¢t zip ¢ who were celebrating their birthday ¢ at Winding Stair gap. Also Mother Nature and Smoke stack went home a last time and I pressed. She had called me last night ¢AS¢ ¢ adopted son ¢ bye trail mom. Today brought me into contact with Scraggly, Zack, Willy Wallace and Aaron.Some miles after Winding Stair Gap, I me ¢ One-leg (http://www.onelegwonder.com). We had a picture taken together. Then I pressed on past the Siler Shelter to the crest. As I broke the tree line I witnessed many members of the above stated cast descending an open hill.Upon their strong endorsement I climbed the hill for the view. Truly amazing maybe a hundred plus visibility; 360 view. There was a plaque station atop labeling this place Siler Bald. I almost missed a recommended view from whiteblaze.net because I was looking for Silver Bald. I was extra appreciative to Aaron, Zack, Scrappy and ???? for their encouragement. I did some refreshing head stands and planned my day.Because of the time I had spent atop the bald I decided to stay at the shelter with its namesake. I thought I might return for a sunset on this Good Friday and try for a sun rise Easter Sunday at Copper Ridge Bald lookout.At the shelter I met 6 others (2 from whiteblaze.net Sal (Jason of WI) and Powder Finger (Audrey ¢ IN)). After a Spanish rice and salmon dinner, I led Sal, Powder Finger and Flashhands (he¢s deaf) to watch a sunset. We climbed to find 6-7 others gathered. I rate it a 4.3 yesterday 4.0 on a 10 pt scale. The return trek Sal and I discussed various religious topics and our pursuits of thoughts pertained to God revealed in Jesus.Trivia: I saw deer, peasant, two wild turkeys and I think three red-cocked wood peckers, plus other small gray birds, squirrels and butterflies.NOTE: I¢m up past sunset with strength ¢ I think Franklin is out fighting the stars for light power ¢ but I¢m too tired. Also I am wanting to eat more as of late.Update: Gearskin was comfortable again today even while I hiked without a shirt for a bit. Yet the back is quite sweaty, but I have a few ideas to remedy this. As the foot of the cross. Rest.
Date: 2004-04-10
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Burningtown Gap
Miles today: 10.9

Slept and ate a big breakfast. Oatmeal, pop-tart and a liter of powdered milk. I packed up and went out. Ah! I¢m heavy. Slow going nearly all morning. I was passed by Flashhands and Sal. Later after a fertilization, I took a break, meeting up with Sal again. We broke up as we started off. Then Powder finger caught me and we hiked together until Wayah Gap.¢Anderson Hiking and backpacking of SC¢ fed us lunch. Thanks. It was delicious the best hamburger I¢ve had lately. Kenneth Moore filled my ear as I stuffed my face with no make cookies, carrots and bananas.I left Wayah burning because of the threat of rain. I stopped at the tower and found my visual distance was way off. Sometime after my third wet break, I slowed up as the clouds haven¢t opened yet.As I was descending to Burningtown Gap out on the FSR crossing an orange parachute type object began to grow and when I realize what it was I started to laugh. Calling out ¢Redneck¢ the man at the rain tarp turned calling ¢Casey¢.Yep it was the guys from Outdoor Source of Columbus, OH (www.outdoorsource.biz). Ryan ¢ Redneck, Duece and Andy cooking up dinner and, showing in the orange dome space-station by MH costing $4500 and weight 47#, movies!!! Tonight I¢ll have spaghetti, could have a hot shower [YJ: Andy told me that Casey was a bit too self-conscious to take shower behind their half-wall shower curtain] and spending the night.It will be a longer hike to see sunrise and hope to make it. I¢ll leave my gear, haul to the lookout and mosey back for breakfast.Sea Biscuit was selected as the movie, so I sat with those visiting with Mr. J (Casey¢s ¢original¢ euphemism for Marijuana). Once others were stoned, I talked with Ryan as he made pizza in pie irons on the fire.Ryan was using Andy¢s cell to call some of his backwoods compadres and was trumpeting the movie theatre in the woods. I thanked him for use AT hikers as ornament to his primary objection. [YJ: I have no clue what the heck he was writing in the last sentence. Maybe too much second-hand Mr. J for Casey.][YJ: I saw the pics of this setup on a recent visit to Outdoor Source. They had a LCD projector, 60¢ screen, 5.1 surround sound setup and a DVD player, all powered by Andy¢s truck battery.]
Date: 2004-04-11
To: Yellow Jacket
Miles today: 0.0

This will probably be one of my last "status" entries. Unless something really interesting happens.Those of you following should have a good handle of how things work. Casey writes the journals daily and mails them to me at his next oportunity. When they arrive I enter them when I get time in the evening (I have 3 kids 6yo, 3yo and 5mo). As such you can probably expect his journal to be at least 5-14 days behind. This will be made worst by a 10 day trip I'm taking to LA in mid-May.Anyway Casey is doing fine at the NOC tonight. Ran into some folks from www.whiteblaze.net (Audrey?) and our friends at www.outdoorsource.biz (Outfitter here in Columbus, OH). Ryan (Redneck? 2 AT thurs I think) from Outdoor Source setup some trail magic. Casey will give out the details once I enter his journal for that day. That's a teaser for now.