morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-29
From: mile 123.5

To: NOC
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

I was feeling much better today. I took some ibuprofin because my legs hurt but overall I felt good.It rained off and on today, the first I have to hike through (I took a zero at Neels Gap to avoid hiking in the rain that first week). So I was walking through a puddle of mud when my feet slipped out from under me. I fell onto my back and rolled to the right, falling off the trail bed. Had it not been for a tree stump, maybe eighteen inches high, that was just off the trail, I would have gone way the hell down the mountain. It had to have been hundreds of feet down to the bottom. It took me several minutes to compose myself. When I hiked the Approach Trail, "Fish" gave me a bit of advice -- "Wood is bad. Stone is good." Today I got to find out first hand. I was trying to pick my way through a stretch filled with nothing but tree roots. I was real careful to pick out every step but somehow slipped and ended up face down in the roots. Every part of me was stiff from that point on. Most of the last six miles into NOC downhill from 4115' at Wesser Bald to 1750' at NOC. As you decend into the valley the leaves. The dogwoods appear ready to bloom and there are wild flowers everywhere -- violets, bluets and a bunch of small yellow and white flowers. We got to NOC after they closed. Since we couldn't purchase laundry detergent, wer're just washing with a little Campsuds. At this point even a rinse is better than nothing. In the morning, I'll pick up my first maildrop before heading on toward Fontana Dam.
Date: 2007-04-05
From: Birch Springs Gap Campsite, GSMNP

To: Spence Field Shelter, GSMNP
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Everyone has decided I'm not getting enough calories because I've been slow on the uphills and I'm having trouble keeping up with Butch on the downhills. He is 6'6" so his stride is a little longer but he often will take off and have to wait quite a while until I catch up.
Date: 2007-04-07
From: Derrick Knob Shelter, GSMNP

To: Derrick Knob Shelter, GSMNP
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up to four inches of snow and low was 10 degrees with this cold front pushing through. There were several groups that were determined to push on but we decided to stay put. We heard that U.S. 441 through GSMNP was closed due to the snow.We were doing anything we could just to keep warm. I stayed in my sleeping bag until about noon. Now I'm glad I've got the 0-degree bag and liner. I stayed plenty warm. Some of the guys went out to collect firewood. Others hung plastic on the wire-bear fencing on the shelter just to cut down on the wind. The temperature wasn't much warmer inside the shelter than out and you really couldn't feel the warmth of the fire unless you were standing right on top of it. I went to bed at 7:30 to get warm and because there is nothing else to do.
Date: 2007-04-08
From: Derrick Knob Shelter, GSMNP

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter, GSMNP
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

The low was 7 degrees last night. BRRRRRR! It's just been too cold to journal.Stayed with Ridge Runner Jim in the Double Spring Gap shelter. He, Butch and I were the only ones there.
Date: 2007-04-09
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter, GSMNP

To: Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg)
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I'm warm. Today was our longest day on the trail thusfar at 10.8 miles. Mt. Buckley was the biggest uphill of the day. Butch and I went to the top of Clingman's Dome to take a few pictures. People were telling us that the backside of Clingman's was icy and sure enough I fell on a patch of ice and busted one of my trekking poles.Once we got to Newfound Gap, U.S. 441, it took more than half-an-hour to hitch a ride to Gatlinburg. We finally got a ride from a group of guys driving up from Florida to Pigeon Forge.Word on the trail is that The Brewery in Gatlinburg has the best pizza going, so that's where we headed after we found a hotel. Although several of the thru-hikers were eating a large pizza on their own, Butch and I split a large. Of course I had to have onion rings as an appetizer -- I love onion rings.So in the morning I'll head to the outfitter and get my pole fixed or replaced and then we'll head back up to the trail.
Date: 2007-04-10
From: Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg)

To: Icewater Spring Shelter GSMNP
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

Tuesday morning we had a big breakfast, then headed to the Happy Hiker outfitter. When she saw my broken pole she took the pole in the back room then returned with a new piece assembled, handed it to me and said, No charge. Great warrenty on those Leki poles. We then went to the store and stocked up on a few supplies, had a quick lunch then tried hitching a ride back up to Newfound Gap. After trying for over half an our we took a break in the parking lot of the restruant we ate lunch. I had noticed a truck with plates from Ohio. Just them 3 sisters came out of the resturant and we started talking about Ohio. Ends up the one lady's daughter is planning on hiking the AT next year. They gave us a ride back to Newfound Gap. They were really nice and we had a great time with them. After a few pictures we were on our way to Icewater Spring shelter.Not long into the hike my right foot started hurting. It wasn't much longer until my left foot started hurting also. Good thing we only had to hike 3 miles to the shelter.
Date: 2007-04-11
From: Icewater Spring Shelter GSMNP

To: Pecks Corner Shelter, GSMNP
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday morning when I got up I could hardly stand up. My feet or ankles hurt so bad. I took some vitamin I (Ibprofin) and had breakfast. The more I moved around the feet did not hurt quite as much. I knew I had to keep moving. I loaded up and set out hiking. Every step hurt like crazy, but I had to keep going. In the afternoon it started to rain. Butch went on to Tri-Corner Shelter, but it was all I could do was to make it to Pecks Corner Shelter. I arrived there about 4:30. By 5:30 the skies really opened up. I'm glad I was at the shelter for the worst of the rain. Ate supper and was in the sleeping bag by 6:30. What else is there to do.Today out goal was to hike to Tri-Corner Knob shelter. When I woke up I could barely put any weight on my feet. It hurt so bad I had to hang on to something just to stand up. Four Ibfrofins and trying to move around a little helped, but still hurt like crazy with every step I took. I slowly hobbled down the trail. There was no way I could make it to Tri-Corner shelter so I stopped at Pecks Corner for the night. On top of all the pain I had it started to rain in the afternoon, just to make things more misserable. With in half an hour after I got to the shelter the rains really let loose, and poured most to the night.
Date: 2007-04-12
From: Pecks Corner Shelter, GSMNP

To: Cosby Knob Shelter, GSMNP
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Thursday morning after breakfast I laid on my back with my feet up in the air against the shelter wall for about half an hour, hoping that would do some good. I wasn't sure if it was my feet or ankles that hurt so bad, it just hurt. More vitamin I and keep moving. Again, every step hurt like crazy, especially the down hills. You try to think of any thing, just to keep your mind off the PAIN. It's amazing what you can think of to try and keep your mind off the pain. Would you believe I hiked 12.9 miles that day. My most mileage yet. I passed Tri-Corner Shelter and continued until I reached Cosby Knob Shelter. I arrived about 7:30 and everyone was in their sleeping bags. Butch was there also.
Date: 2007-04-13
From: Cosby Knob Shelter, GSMNP

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

Severe pain in both feet again this morning. Could hardly stand up. More vitiman I, moves around some and the pain is not quite as bad. This would be my last day in the GSMNP. Just about everyone that passed me on the trail said they were going to Standing Bear Farm. I was concered there would not be a bed for me so I called SBF and talked to Curtis, the owner. When I told him about my foot problems, he said he could pick me up at Davenport Gap, which is where the Smokies ends. I told him I would try hiking to the hostel, but if I was having too much trouble I would call him. When you get to Davenport Gap, you cross the Pigon River on a bridge, go under I40, then follow the trail to SBF. I had made it to Davenport Gap and was crossing the Pegon River bridge when a van pulled up and asked me if I needed a ride. It was Curtis from SBF taking some of the hikers to a store, and he just stopped down to check on me. Thank goodness. Tom gave up his lower bed for me so I wouldn't have to try and climb a ladder to the upper loft.
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It was my plan to take a 0 day at SBF on Saturday, rest my feet, and head out again on Sunday. When I got up on Saturday my feet were no better, and I knew I needed help. Being my son lives in Durham, NC, I talked to Curtis about ways of getting to Durham. He said he could take me to the bus station and I could bet a bus into Ashville, NC them change busses and go on to Durham. That sounded good to me. I called my son to tell him what I was planning, and he said he woud be to SBF in about 6 hours to pick me up. He arrived around 5 pm and took me to his house.
Date: 2007-04-16
From: Durham NC

To: Durham, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Monday I went to see a physician's assistant. They took x-rays of my feet and ankles. No cracked or broken bones. Severe inflamation of the ankles. They put me on Predisone tables for the inflammation. I have been sitting here for a week now with some improvement, but definitly what I was expecting. My ankles still swell some and ach. It still hurts when I walk and even more when I go up or down steeps. Since I was not making the progress I was hoping for I now have an appointment with a Dr. from Duke on Tuesday morning. I really thought I'd be back on the trail this past week-end. Now I have doubts about getting back out this next week-end. Stay tuned for more updates. Now I'd like to say HI to everyone that has been folowing my journal, and thank everyone who has signed my journal. Now a special HI to Mrs. Walk's class. I will try to download a few photos from my trip.
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Durham, NC

To: Durham, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Hi all, especially to Mrs. Walk's class. Mrs. Walk and my daughter were best friends from grade school. Robin lived on the next street over from us when she was growing up. The last time I saw her and her family is last summer when her son and my grandson were playing soccer together. She is still a sweetheart, and I can't beleive he son is as old as he is. Of course I can't believe my grandkids are as old as they are. Anway, a couple of day ago I recieved get well and best wishes cards from Mrs. Walk's 5th grade class. The cards were so up lifting and made feel so much better. All the cards were so creative. Every card which the class made themselves were all so original and differint. A special THANK YOU to everone of you.Now it's Sunday May 6 and here is what has been happening with me. The Predisone I took helped my ankles some but I was I still had swelling and pain, so I went to see a Dr. at Duke Hospital. He ordered blood work and had me taking 500mg of Naproxen twice a day. Within two day most of the pain and swelling was gone. I went back to see the Dr. on Mon. April 30. All the blood work can back negative, and all the pain and swelling was gone. The Dr. said when I felt I was ready to head back on the trail, he was ok with doing so.Now I have a bus ticket for Tuesday May 8. I'll leave my son's house in Durham at 6:45am and arrive Waynesville around 4:30pm. Curtis from Standing Bear Farm Hostel will pick me up in Waynesville and shuttle me back to his hostel. Wednesday morning I should be back on the trail. After being off the trail for 3 and a half weeks I sure I'll be taking it fairly slow and easy. It's really been great to see my son and his family more than I've ever had the chance to see them before, but it's going to be great to get back on the trail.
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Durham, NC

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: few clouds

 I caught the bus in Durham Tuesday morning. It took me to Waynesville, NC. Curtis frome Standing Bear Farm Hostel picked me up in Waynesville and dropped me off on the Pigon River Bridge. This is where he had picked me up Friday April 13th because of the ankle pain. I slack packed (That's hiking without a pack.) from the bridge to Standing Bear Farm.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

Started hiking around 9:30 this morning. Determined to take it easy, to prevent any injuries I would keep my milage down. If you have noticed I'm not a long distance hiker. Usually do between 8 to 11 miles a day. Some people do 14 to 20 miles a day, some even more. A lot of people complain about the up hills, but I prefer the uphills compared to the down hills. The down hills are much harder on your body, legs, knees and ankles in particular.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Deer Park Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: clear sky

 Got into Hot Springs around 10:30. Headed for the Smokey Mountain Diner for breakfast/lunch. Had a big breakfast, couldn't finish all of it. This is a great diner and very popular. Hot Springs is a small town and very hiker friendly. When you get to the town, and have to cross the street they have an AT painted on the road.(see picture) The sidewalks have an inlaid AT insignia cemented into the sidewalks about every 100 feet. (see picture) I stayed to the Alpine Bay Motel. $44 for a single and $66 for a double. The motel was not the Ritz, but it was clean and neat. Checked in, then did laundry (right nest door), took a shower, then headed to the outfitters to pick up my 2 packages. This is an awsome outfitters, one of the best I've seen. Bought some food and a bag liner for my new summer sleeping bag that my daughter will be sending me in Erwin. The idea behind a bag liner is that you sleep in the bag liner inside your sleeping bag. This serves two purposes, if it's cold it adds a few degrees to the bag, and mostly to help keep you bag clean. After hiking all day, and going without a shower for a few days you body gets sticky and stinky, this helps keep the sleeping bag a little cleaner. Yes, the town of Hot Springs does have a hot spring. I went to the hot spring to soak for an hour. Thought it might help any of the aches and pains that might be developing.After the hot spring, I found Slowpoke and Ten Bears and had dinner with them. We had been hiking together on and off since Standing Bear Farm.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: light rain

Rained on and off most of the day. The day before a southbounder had told us about a big rock field. He said there was a blue blazed trail around the rocks and he wished he would have taken it. When I got to the sign with the blue blaze the sign read "bad weather trail" or you could take the white blazed AT. I knew if I took the blue blazed trail I'd always would wonder what the white blazed trail was like, so I took the white blazed trail. It turned out to be real hell. Crawling up and over rocks, then more rocks and bolders. I'd thought about turning around and taking to blue trail but I knew this route had to be just about over. But it just seemed like it would never end.   It ended up being 2 miles of crawling up and over rocks. It really took a toll on me. When I got to the shelter Slowpoke and Ten Bears had moved on. I couldn't go any farther. The shelter was pretty full because of the rain, and there were 5 kids at the shelter that had just graduated from Whittenburg College in Ohio 4 days earlier. They were going to hike for 5 days. Only one of the five had ever been camping before. They were a lot of fun. Morning (thruhiker in 99) was there also.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Sugarloaf Gap
Miles today: 10.6

Stopped at Flint Mtn. shelter for lunch. When I left Hot Springs I had 7 days of food. There is no place to resupply between Hot Springs and Erwin. Some people do this 70 miles in 4 or 5 days, but I was planning on 7.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Sugarloaf Gap

To: Tentsite
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

My Right knee and left ankle have been hurting some ever since I did the rock field. Hurts more each day. I'm taking 500mg of Naproxen in the morning and at night for the pain. The pain is only there when I walk. Gee and that is what this whole trail is about.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Tentsite

To: Bald Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 6.8

Hiking over Bald Mtn. was much more impressive than Max Patch. The top of the mtn. is a bald, giving you a 360 degree view of all the area. You could see Wolf Laurel ski area on a near by mtn. Stayed at shelter with Perrier, Hulk, Faithwalker, and Nuclear.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Bald Mtn. Shelter

To: Spivey Gap US Route 19
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

Got up this morning with a lot of pain. The Naprozen only kills the pain a little. The trail was about 90% downhill. That is what makes the pain the worst. Uphills still weren't too bad. Bottom line is it took me 7 hours to hike the 5.7 miles to Spivey Gap. I knew I wasn't going to go any farther. I was really thankfull there was a road I could hitch a ride into Erwin. It took a little over an hour to hitch a ride. Rt. 19 used to be the main road into Erwin, then they put in I26 which takes most of the traffic. In that hour I was trying to get a ride only 4 car passed me. The fifth car picked me up and took me to the Holiday Inn in Erwin. MORE LATER.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Erwin, TN

To: Durham, NC
Miles today: 0.0

I spent Sunday night at Holiday Inn in Erwin. Monday morning I called a doctor that set me an appointment on Monday afternoon. After talking about my problems and an exam, she determined I had tendinous in my ankle and in my knee. The knee was the worst. THe pain in the knee made it quite hard to walk. She gave me a shot for the pain, which pretty much killed the pain for about 12 hours. What to do for the tendinous. REST REST REST. So Tuesday morning I got a shuttle to Johnson City, caught a Grayhound to my son's in Durham, NC.
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Durham, NC

To: Durham, NC
Miles today: 0.0

I've sat around my son's house for over a week now. Yesterday was the first day there has been much relief in the pain in my knee. The pain is only there when I walk, no pain just sitting. Now I plan on heading home(Warren, OH) on the second or third, spend some time not carrying a 50lb pack, heal up and get back to the life off the trail. Later this summer or early fall I might try coming back to Erwin and start where I left off. I could plan on hiking for a week or 2, and if that worked out hike longer. Lots of different possibilities. I think one of my major problems was my heavy pack, around 50 lbs. Although I hiked the first 200 miles without a problem. I was about to switch to my summer sleeping bag(saving 3 lbs) in Erwin and send all my cold weather gear home, but I never got the opportunity to lighten the load(less stress on this old body).   I am disappointed this adventure had to temporally end the was it has. Hopefully I can continue at a later date. They claim only 10% of the hikers that start the trail finish. Looks like the odds were not in my favor, still I finished 327 miles. I am looking forward to getting back on the trail sometime.   I want to thank everyone that has taken time to read my journal and especially those who took time so sign my journal.    And a very special thank you to Mrs Walk's class for the encouragement and the card.
Date: 2007-08-28
From: Warren, OH

To: Warren, OH
Miles today: 0.0

Hi Everyone, To catch people up to date, I left the trail in Erwin, TN with tendonitus. My last day on the trail I could barely walk. I've spent the summer at home doing all the summer things and now I want to get back on the trail. My dreams of being a thru-hiker vanished, so now I will be a section hiker. I've been healthy enough to be back on the trail for a while, but with the heat, I figured I'd wait until it cooled off some. Not too sure if it has cooled off too much, but I want to get back on the trail. So I leave tomorrow morning on Amtrak for Harpers Ferry. I will start at Harpers Ferry and hike south, hopefully making it back to Erwin, TN where I left off. I'll miss being with all the thru-hikers, but should see some day and section hikers. It won't be long before the SOBO will be passing me up. Hey we just have to hike our own hike and go at whatever speed we're comfortable with. Just plan on taking it slow and easy. My son should be updating my journal for me, and my daughter taking care of things back at my place and doing some mail drops.
Date: 2007-08-29
From: Warren, Ohio

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I boarded Amtrak in Alliance, Ohio this morning at 4:55 AM, one hour and 40 minutes late. It was beautiful rolling into Pittsburgh with the view along the river. Tonight, I'll be staying at the Hilltop Hotel, a place I've read about on other journals. It sit about 250 feet above the river. I thought this was a hostel but it's more hotel -- $40 for a full size bed. Not many people here this time of year. I slack packed it down the blue blaze trail to the AT headquarters. The ranger on duty said there was a bear "incident" last week in Shenandoah N.P. but didn't elaborate. I didn't ask. I haven't worked out at all since I got off the trail and I can really tell it. My pack was 40 pounds when I left home including the 10 pounds of food I'll be carrying. That doesn't include water which will add another six pounds or so.