morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-02-24
From: Betty Creek Gap Campsites 

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 8.5

I sllept in today, I got up at 8:30. I was the only one camping there. Usually you hear other hikers moving about in the morning. That was ok, I was planning on a short day. Only 6.9 miles today. I didnt leave camp until 11:00. It rained part of the day. And when it wasn't you still got wet from all the dripping. I'll tell you, from all the rain there is alot of runoff coming down the mountains going across the trail. In places where there would be a stream maybe two feet wide is now ten to fifteen feet. It makes for some thinking of foot placement on the rocks. Ah heck just go through it the boots are soaked anyway. I took my third fall in as many days. I looked up when I should have kept my eyes on all the roots above ground. I went crashing down on my knee. Man did that hurt. It wasn't to funny today. It's a little swollen. Ok that's three.....Enough!Artemis, Jeremy and Julie are camping here tonight. My plan is to hike out early in the morning to get to town. I need to get things dried out, especially my boots.I believe we may get a thunderstorm overnight. Then....drumroll please....four days of sun...YES!!!No signal again. I have to stay out of these low lying GapsI am safe and warm in my tent.
Date: 2019-02-25
From: Gooder Grove Hostel 

To: Gooder Grove Hostel 
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero today. Not much to write about. We went out for breakfast this morning. I had an omelet and home fries. It sure beat eating oatmeal or a pop tart. Then we took a town shuttle bus to Walmart to do a little resupply. Went back to the hostel to drop off our things, then back out for some lunch. I got myself a big cheeseburger and a strawberry shake. I have only been out here for two weeks but you really get to appreciate "real" food. Then I went to the post office to send some items home. One being a book that will never get read and a few things that I have not used and probably won't. This evening we hung at the hostel just sitting around talking. The hostel we are staying is The Gooder Grove. The owner is Zen, a really cool guy. After snacking on fruit and some cookies with a bottle of choclate milk it was time to get packed up to get back out there tomorrow. Gotta get to bed it's 10:00, an hour past hiker midnight.Tonight I am safe and warm sleeping at a hostle.
Date: 2019-02-26
From: Rock Gap 

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

I finally had a decent night's sleep. On my trip to Walmart I picked up a brace for my wrist. My carpual tunnel is acting up. Go figure my wrist hurts more than my legs or feet. I guess from the use of my trekking poles it flared up.Well about 6:00 am everyone in the bunkroom started moving around. We all were all itching to get back out there after a zero. At 7:00 the restaurant opened and we all headed out for breakfast and a shuttle back to the trail.We got dropped off at different locations as some as some of us got off the trail sooner, as in my case. I was with Jeremy and Julie, Artemis stayed in town waiting for the outfitter to open. She needs me boots, she's having trouble with her feet. The three of us hiked for about a half hour together. They needed to stop and filter some water. I pushed on as we planned to only go to the first shelter, so I would meet them there. Once I got there it was only 1:00 and still so much of the day left plus I was feeling good. So I let them know I was moving on to the next shelter. There were some tough ascends today especially up to Wayah Bald but the view was well worth it. Absolutely beautiful, just all the different mountain ranges. The difference in color as they got further away and deeper in the valley. So off to the shelter, I still had about an hour of daylight left, more than enough time to set up my tent and hang my bear line. The only problem being I couldn't find the shelter. It was more my fault for not being more alert. First it was indicated it was a 1/4 mile further which sure felt like more than that. Then I lost sight of the trail. I thought a blowdown was on the trail but all I had to do was make a hard left and the trail continued. To make a long story short I screwed up. I was wandering up and down the same areas looking for a side trail. While the whole time all I should have done was make that left a go a little further. By the time I found the shelter it was dark. Go figure I can't find it in daylight but I can find it with my headlamp. Lol. There was a couple that I have been seeing from time to time, but haven't hiked with yet already ready there. They talked me into just sleeping in the shelter. This will be my first time sheltering it, I might as well get used to it. In the Smoky Mountains it is mandatory that you sleep in the shelter unless it is full to capacity then you can tent it. So I laid out my pad and bag, had a quick dinner and got settled in for the nightIt just started pouring. Im so glad I listened to them.Today I did 14.7 miles my longest day so far.Thanks to Zen the owner of Gooder Grove Hostel for his hospitality and relaxing atmosphere, I truly enjoyed my zero there. Tonight I am safe and warm sleeping in a shelter.
Date: 2019-02-27
From: Wayah Shelter 

To: Wesser Bald Shelter 
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Last nights stay in the shelter went well. There were no mice to deal with, Thank God. I'm glad I listened to the couple Why Not and Handstand. It rained all night and I didn't have to deal with a wet tent in the morning. They are early risers, at 6:30 they started moving about and were gone by 7::00. They said they usually hike the first half hour of the day with their headlamps on. I wasn't budging, I just stayed in my warm bag for another hour. As it was still slightly raining I was in no rush. I ate breakfast and packed up what little I had out and was on the trail by 9:45. I am in awe of the views. Most of the time I'm in low lying areas or I am blocked by the tree line at higher elevations. But when there is a vista the view in incredible. What a beautiful country. Today like all of yesterday except for a half hour I hiked alone. Thats twenty five lonely miles talking to yourself. And I do alot of that. Lol. That pretty much is the norm out here as everyone has their own pace. I am going to try to post more pictures. It just takes so long to upload. I was asked if I could caption them. As of now I dont believe I can.                    Like last night, tonight I am sleeping in a shelter. I will give it a try if it's not to crowded and there were no comments of mice activity written in the log book. If there is rain in the forcast ( like for tonight) I may not set up my tent. Everything gets so damp plus it's heavier when wet. I'm trying it for now. We'll see. Tonight I am the only one in the shelter, actually I am the only one here period. Not even tent campers. Nobody wants to hike with me or camp with me. I wonder if it was something I said. Lol. It can't be the B.O. We all stink. Lol.Tonight I am safe and warm sleeping in a shelter.
Date: 2019-02-28
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center 
Miles today: 5.9

Last nights stay in the shelter went off uneventful. There was some scampering about along the roof just after dark but it didn't last long. It sure was dark and quiet. Actually I had a pretty good nights sleep. I got up at around 7:00 and stayed in my sleeping bag catching up on facebook. I knew it was going to be a short day so I was in no rush to get going. I hit the trail at about 9:00, I was only going to the NOC, (The Nantahala Outdoor Center). I arrived there at about noon and met up with Why Not and Handstand for lunch at the Rivers Edge Restaurant. They got here yesterday. We also went there for dinner where we met up with Jeremy and Julie. It's funny how you don't see not a soul for two days and then you are all together again. This place is on the Nantahala River. It must be booming in the summer. They have kayaking, ziplining and other outdoor sports. I got a private bunk room, it's about the size of a jail cell. It beats sleeping in a shelter or packing up a wet tent. Yeah it's raining out. But it also comes with some scatching noise in the ceiling. Cool! I did manage to get a shower in and do some laundry. I also purchased my permit to enter the Smoky Mountains. In the Smoky's it's mandatory that you sleep in the shelters. If they are full to capacity only then are you allowed to sleep in your tent. But it must be in close vicinity of the shelter. Also you have eight days to hike through them. The extended forcast for the beginning of next week is possible snow and temperatures dropping into the teens overnight. Just in time for when we enter them. Tonight I am safe and warm sleeping in my eight by eight bunkroom.
Date: 2019-03-02
From: Locust Cove Gap Campsites

To: Cable Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: mist

Woke up 7:00 to a foggy morning. Stayed in my tent for 2 hours catching up on my social media. Had breakfast and packed up all my belongings and wet tent. Started hiking at 9:45 with the sun shinning and a temperature of about 60 degrees. It was nice to have the sun beating down on my back. I even got to hang some of my wet clothes off the back of my pack to dry. The day was uneventful except for one climb that was called Jacob's Ladder an ascend of 600 ft in 0.6 of a mile. It was a butt kicker. It just went straight up. We are expecting rain overnight. With heavy rains expected tomorrow. I'm sleeping in a shelter with Handstand, Why Not, and a young guy named Matt.I may not have good service from here on out for about 8 or so days. May have tonight. But I believe not through the Smoky's. Maybe once near Gatlinburg.I'm safe and warm sleeping in a shelter.
Date: 2019-03-03
From: Cable Gap Shelter 

To: Fontana Dam Shelter 
Miles today: 6.7

I woke up around 7:00 as Why Not and Handstand were packing up. They were headed to the Fontana Lodge for a couple of days off so Handstand can rest his leg. I left camp around 9:00 as it was going to be a short day. The plan was to get to Fontana to resupply before entering the Smoky's. It was mostly a cloudy day with a little drizzle. I got a shuttle for my resupply, and while I shopped he waited to take me back. Not bad about an half hour roundtrip. As I was adding everything to my food bag the skies opened up. Luckily I only had amile to get to the shelter. Im at a shelter that sleeps twenty. It has an upper and lower section on each side. I have a top section to myself. There are seven of us tonight. This place has a water pump, a solar charging station, electric in the rest rooms and get this hot showers. It's called The Fontana Hilton.It is supposed to rain changing to sleet and snow overnight low in the 30's. The next four days are going to be cooler with overnight temperatures in the teens. Tomorrow I enter the Smoky's. This will most likely be the last cell service I will have for the next week or so. I may have service somewhere half way through around Gatlinburg. I will write my journal each night and will post them when I have a signal. So if you see one post go to the previous there will probably be more. This coming week should be interesting. I will be climbing to the highest point on the AT. Clingmans Dome is at 6658 ft.Tonight I safe and warm sleeping in a shelter.
Date: 2019-03-04
From: The Fontana Hilton Shelter 

To: Russell Field Shelter 
Miles today: 14.9

I Woke up about 7:10, nobody else was moving about yet so I just laid there going over things on my phone. About ten minutes later some of the guys were starting to get up. One by one everybody gathered their gear and had something to eat and headed out. I packed up and went up to the restrooms to charge my phone and powerpack. I left at 10:00 and made my way down a long paved road across the Fontana Dam. That was pretty cool. Once across I came upon a sign that said Welcome to the Great Smoky Mountsins.Up a little further I entered the woods where there was a box to deposit half of my permit to enter. There was a dusting of snow on the trail. As I made my way to higher elevations the trail began to be covered. With all the snow on the trees it looked so beautiful. It was 9.9 miles to the first shelter. I want sure if I was going to stop there or go another 3.1 miles to the next one. Once upon arriving at the first one none of the other hikers were there. But what was there were some jeans hanging by the fireplace and some gear all spread out. I haven't seen any thru hiker wearing jeans. By ther way all the shelters in the Smoky's have fireplaces. I didn't have a good feeling about staying there. It looked like someone was squatting at the shelter. So I moved on to the next one while I still had enough light. There was talk this morning of some stopping at the second shelter. When I arrived no one was there and I didn't have enough time to get to the next one. So here I am by myself. It was cold, thank goodness there was a tarp put across the front to keep some of the wind out. I'm starting to hear the mice move about. I did 14.9 miles today. Day number seven hiking alone.Im safe and warm at a shelter. Warm as long as I stay in my sleeping bag.
Date: 2019-03-05
From: Russell Field Shelter 

To: Silers Bald Shelter 
Miles today: 14.7

I wke up at 6:50 and left the shelter at 8:00. It was a clear blue sky day. From the vistas it was so beautiful seeing all the snow on the trees in the distance. The temperature was in the low 30's but no wind. It was so cool walking the trail seeing all the snow shavings on the branches. They were actually shavings of ice. The water sources were hard to find. I found one that was at a trickle. I was afraid to use my filter on account of it possibly freezing up. If that happened I wouldn't know it and could be very bad health wise. So I used my backup, water purification tablets.At night I put in my sleeping bag with me my filter, fuel, phone, and battery power pack. And even sometimes my boots in an oven roaster bag to prevent them from freezing. I fell again yesterday, this time on ice from all the runoff. I pushed my luck not wanting to stop and take out my micro spikes. After that fall they went on. I got to the shelter that I planning on stopping at about 3:30. Only to find a large bag of food and some clothes. The bag was partially busted open with some of the contents spilled out. I didn't have a good feeling about this shelter either, so I pushed on another 5.7 miles to the next one. During this time whatever water I had froze.I was really getting thirsty so I started eating the ice shavings from the branches. They were pretty refreshing. When I arrived at the shelter there was a young guy who is doing section hiking. Found out he is from Queens, N.Y. Together we had to fix the tarp that was up, there were just to many gaps so we had to tighten it up. The temperature for tonight is supposed to be 14° with a wind chill of minus 5°. Once the sun went down the temps dropped.I'm safe and hopefully stay warm at a shelter.
Date: 2019-03-06
From: Silers Bald Shelter 

To: Mt. Collins Shelter 
Miles today: 7.3

I woke up about 7:00. It was freezing overnight. I don't think I was ever that cold. I really didn't want to get out of my bag, but Ieventually started to change and put things away. I couldn't feel my fingers. My boots were frozen, I couldn't get my feet in them. I would normally put a bottle in them to keep them open but I had my bottles in my sleeping bag to try to defrost them, that didnt help.Two hikers stopped at the shelter, once I said my name he said he has been reading my journals. And he said they have inspired him. That's pretty cool. Oh and about a little over a week ago I was having lunch with Jeremy and Julie when we were leaving the restaurant a couple asked if we were thru hikers. When we said we were he said I looked familiar from my picture on my journal he had been reading. Now that's really cool. Celebrity status. Lol.So today there were two milestones. I hiked to Clingmans Dome the highest elevation on the AT at 6658 ft. and at the same time I surpassed 200 miles. I fell on ice again and nope I didn't have my spikes on. You never know if you should put them on because usually it's only a short section of ice, so you tempt fate. It's just a pain to take off your pack get them out put them on, put your pack back on. So I just chance it. I guess not as much of a pain as I feel when I keep falling. Lol. I'm alone at the shelter again tonight. It's not as windy as last night but its still cold. As I did last night I have on my upper body a smartwool baselayer longsleeve shirt, a smartwool tee shirt, a 4.0 extreme cold Under Armour longsleeve shirt, a fleece, my puffy jacket, and a rain jacket. On my bottoms I have on underware, a smartwool baselayer long underware, a 4.0 extreme cold Under Armour long underware, my hiking pants, and rain pants. With sock liners and heavy duty wool socks. And two wool beanies, one that covers the chin, also gloves and mittens in the sleeping bag just in case.I'm safe and warm sleeping in a shelter.
Date: 2019-03-07
From: Mt. Collins Shelter 

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

I woke up at 6:50 and left the shelter at 8:00. It was a nice clear day again WOO HOO....in the upper 30's. I hiked 5 miles to Newfound Gap, it's a place where the tourists that are staying in Gatlinburg, Tennesse come to view the mountain ranges. This road is shut down quite frequently due to wind, ice, and snow. There were some hikers who went into Gatlinburg, which is 15 miles away, to resupply two days ago. Only to get stuck there when they closed the road. So yesterday they got a shuttle to the end of the Smoky's to hike southbound to Newfound Gap where they got off. And then got another shuttle back to the end of the Smoky's to continue hiking northbound. I saw them today and busted them that they were going the wrong way. What they were doing is called a flip flop. It's allowed as long as you cover all the miles. At Newfound Gap I had a signal so I called my wife Maureen to tell her where I was and that everything was going well. I also called one of my longest friends (Mouse) to wish him a Happy Birthday. We have been friends for 55 years. We make sure we call each other on our birthdays. I was glad I was able today as it was the only day I had service. As I was looking in my guide book to see where the trail picked up across the parking lot. Fresh Ground, from The Leap Frog Cafe, you remember him the angel of all trail angels, came over and said come have something to eat. That was awesome. He comes out of nowhere and the next thing you know I'm sitting down saying chicken soup, a banana, a piece of cake a donut, a cup of kool aid, and a Butterfinger to go. Now that's trail magic. What an experience. I was hungry and there was food. Thanks Fresh Ground. Check out his site "Leap Frog Cafe".Today the views out did yesterday's. When I got to the shelter there was a couple, "Better Together", already there. I know her from the AT Facebook groups. And as I'm writing this another hiker comes in. It is already dark and could be quite dangerous with all the patches of ice.I should know I feel again. That's three days in a row again, and yeah I didn't have my spikes on, actually I took them off not long before. I think I had them on and off about eight times today. The hiker that just came in said there is a girl hiker coming to this shelter in about an hour and half from now. That's crazy she should have stopped at the shelter before this one. Well with her coming in and someone snoring up a storm I'm putting in my earplugs.Good Night.I'm safe and warm in a shelter
Date: 2019-03-08
From: Pecks Corner Shelter 

To: Cosby Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at 7:40, it's nice having earplugs in you do not hear everybody moving about. Well the girl never made it in last night. As I was leaving the shelter I saw her, she said she had 5 miles to go and it was dark and she couldn't find her head lamp so she took out her sleeping bag and covered herself with her tent fly and just laid there on the trail until morning. She said she was Marine so she went into survival mode. There was freezing rain in early morning that changed over to heavy snow for about an hour. Just enough to cover the trail and tho cover all the ice patches. And yes I wrote my ice spikes for about five hours. It turned out to be a cloudy day with off and on drizzle. Todays hike was mostly flat and downhill as I was starting to descend out of the Smoky's. As I arrived at the shelter Better Together were there as were three guys doing a four day section hike from Ontario. And soon after I arrived three guys doing a three day section hike from Orlando. That made nine of us in the shelter. I'm so glad I have my earplugs. I am safe and warm in a shelter.
Date: 2019-03-09
From: Cosby Knob Shelter 

To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 10.7

I woke up about 7:20. Mostly everybody was up. I didn't hear anything. I went and got my food bag of the bear cables and made breakfast right away. All the shelters have cables to hang your food so you don't have to hang it from a tree. The forcast turned out to be nice it was forcasted for rain. It drizzled a couple of times but not for long. I continued my joyous descent out of the Smoky's. It's not that disliked being in there it was challenging to say the least. It's just the matter of having to hike to any of the shelters. You have to stay in a shelter. I just like when I can plan on hiking to a tent campsite and set up my tent. If I want to stay in a shelter it's by my choice. But I do like the confines of my tent. Not someplace with eight other people snoring. I do enough of that on my own. Well upon exiting I turned around and gave the Great Smoky Mountains a friendly salute. LolThen I hiked two miles more to the Standing Bear Hostel. I rented the Creek House. It's a 10x12 room with a bed a tv that only plays dvd's, half of the cases are empty and an electric fireplace you know the one with the fake flames. Yeah and a creek run right outside my door.Oh and I forgot to mention there are lady bugs crawling all over the windows and ceiling. I tossed as many as I could out the door but there were sp many I gave up. I look at it this way.... I'm living in the woods with thousands of bugs and in shelters with mice I guess a few (well more than a few) ladybugs can't hurt.Oh and I did laundry.......by hand they only have a dryer.Oh and I took a shower, an ice cold one. But after nine days I didn't care.It is 11:30 on Saturday night, I just caught up on all my journal posts. Each night I wrote it out by hand. Now they are entered.I hope you enjoyed my adventure. Good Night this hiker is up way past hiker midnight. Tonight I am safe and warm sleeping in a hostel with the ladybugs. And to be safe I hung my food bag on the curtain rod. Lol
Date: 2019-03-10
From: Standing Bear Hostel 

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: overcast clouds

After staying up late last night catching up on my journal and facebook I didnt wake up until 8:20. Now that I know that the time changed I guess I really didn't sleep in that much. After packing my things I headed out to finish my resupply and square up my bill with Jack at the hostel. I had acouple of pop tarts and a cup of coffee for breakfast. Then took about a three hundred yard walk down the road to the trail.After the last two days of decending out of the Smoky's my feet are a little swollen and sore. My toes are hurting from banging into the front of my boots. My legs need a break. All that downhill took a toll on them. So today my plan was to hike 15 miles but I cut it short at the first shelter at just under 7 miles. I'm listening to my body.It was such a beautiful day, the temperature was 70°. A big change from the past week. So I went down to the shelter and set up my tent behind it. I had the sides open and just elevated and rested my feet in the warm sunny confines of my little home.Tomorrow is another day.But tonight I am safe and warm and back in my tent. Yay!