morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-09-08
From: ShawÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs

To: A mile before Wilber Brook
Miles today: 12.2

Day 160We got a late start for the trail since there were many hikers needed shuttle to trail head. We got the second shuttle and only started walk at about 9am. So I have been expecting that we will not meet our planned destination at 15.1 miles away. Even with a relatively moderate trail, doing 15 miles with a heavy pack full of 7 days of resupplies would not be easy, especially for my husband as his 1st day. At the end we hiked about 12.2 miles and stealth camped about a mile and half shy from Wilber Brook.This section was not as easy as yesterday¢s trail. But still quite manageable. Nothing was technical. I did slip once on a slanted rock and sat on my left butt. It was not hurting badly. Having my husband here with me had some advantages. When the trail got difficult descent he would lend me his hand to help me get off big steps. When there was difficult ascent, he would give me one extra push upward. But later he got tired and had to walk slowly. He was not able to keep up with me since I have got used to walk 11-12 hours everyday for the last five months.On trail I still see lots of nice mushrooms, I also saw a cute little waterfall.  Some day hikers crossed the river above waterfalls area. I would never do it. Always do water crossing below a waterfall. Any misstep could be fatal. I have heard too many accidents in Yosemite just above Vernal Falls in the emerald pool. So we followed the A.T. Blast and crossed the river about half mile below the falls on Little Wilson river. Our big challenge of today was ford the big Wilson River. The water current was fast. The water level was up to my thighs. When I crossed the river and looked down to the water, I felt dizzy. The current made me less stable even with my hiking pole. It took a while for me to get crossed. My pants also got very wet. Fortunately it was a quick dry pants and when I started to hike it dried completely within 2 hours.Tomorrow we¢ll get an earlier start and we¢ll have another river crossing. There will be more climbing of mountains. So sweat dreams for now at 9:15pm. The half moon shone above my tent.
Date: 2019-09-09
From: A mile before Wilber Brook

To: West Chairback Pond
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 161We got going before 7am. It was easy trails for a couple of miles. We saw many nice campsites along the Long Pond stream. Much better than the site we stayed in a hurry last night. Well, only if we could have made this far! In two hours we crossed the stream. I changed into my sandals for a wet crossing. Current was strong but I managed to stay on high rocks for the most part. So it was easier than yesterday¢s Wilson River crossing. My husband managed to rock hoping cross this stream and kept his boots dry. After that the climbing began. We climbed about 2100ft to Barren Mountain. Had a relaxed lunch near the old fire lookout tower. I even made mushroom soup for my husband who sweated a lot and lost lots of salt. At that time I already realized that we may not get to any water source till late afternoon. So I didn¢t drink much water until a few hours later that we saw a small stream with good water. This water source and another usable one 0.4 mile later were not in my guide book. The trail condition changed after the stream crossing to something rougher. Especially going down hill and cross many mud pockets. We were again slower than I expected. Now it looks like we¢ll need 4 days to finish the 43 miles in the wilderness instead of planned 3 days. By 6 pm we made it to the West Chairback Pond Falls, 1.7 miles away from the Chairback mountain lean-to. Total we did only 12.1 miles. After crossed West Chairback Pond Falls, we saw a nice stealth camp site, enough for our tent and Braveheart¢s tent. So we are settled for the night. The rushing sound of the waterfalls will rock us into sweet dreams.
Date: 2019-09-10
From: West Chairback Pond

To: Carl Newhall lean-to
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 162This was a lovely day for hiking. From early morning the birds sang happily, the sunlight lit up the forest before 7am, light cool breezes kept me alert and got going fast to keep me warm. We got Columbus mountain under our feet within an hour. The views from the mountain top was awesome. There was not much clouds in the blue clear sky. It¢s hard to believe the forecast of rain for tonight and tomorrow. It felt like there would be no trouble at all for eternity, well at least until we¢d finish our hike on Katahdin.Many people warned us about the difficulty going down the north side of Chairback Mountain - which was the next one we passed. Except a short section of only less than a hundred feet with manageable rock scrambling, the mountain was actually quite easy to go up and down. As Braveheart said ¢for us pros this is nothing¢! Ha, I felt the same.We were still going at a slow pace and only did 11.6 miles today, before we could do any of the four peaks in next 6 miles - the last major obstacle before Katahdin in the 100 miles wilderness. One thing was that we didn¢t want to rush, another thing was that my husband still not feeling well. He had lost appetite and threw food out after he ate. So for us to do 11 to 12 miles a day was already a lot to ask for him. I think all the around world traveling for him in last week had put his biological clock in a confusing state. He really just needed more time to adjust. I have been making warm soup for him at lunch time. Hopefully with time and better rest he could recover soon.I took more pictures of lovely mushrooms today. They were not stopping to amaze me with their various shapes, colors and variety. In addition I saw a nice little frog in a stream. It has a green head and upper body, but brown lower body. Shiny and slimy. It tried very hard to hop away from me. Poor little creature got scared of me. Then in a dark forest of hemlocks, two jumpy squirrels, one was riding on top of another, looped around a big tree trunk. They noticed me coming, stopped for a second, separated, and jumped around for a while. I tried to capture them in the photos, mostly just got blurry images. They were so fast! Later when I filter water at a creek near my campsite, another squirrel skirted across boulders littered in the steam. The gaps between the boulders were much longer than its body length. But it crossed them so fast and easily like nothing in between. I was so jealous of the squirrels for I am very scared to rock hopping in bog and water.The rain actually did started at 7pm just as the forecast said. In my cozy tent, I hope everything would be kept dry. Hope the rain would stop by next morning so that we could have a good day to move on.
Date: 2019-09-12
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Antlers Campsite 
Miles today: 16.0

Day 164What a difference an easy trail can make! Today we only got a small hill to climb in the morning with the rest contained either gentle down hill or flat, especially smoothly flat sections without much roots nor rocks. Finally we got what people had told us weeks ago: the rolling hills of Maine. Easily we walked 16 miles to reach our campsite at about 5pm. Even my husband, who¢s still suffering from food digestion problem without much intake of meals, said today was finally an enjoyable day. People says ¢no pain, no rain, no Maine¢ about A.T. thru-hiking. My husband tripped on roots and rocks today, fell and hurt his hand. Yesterday he got poured by raging rain on top of White Cap. Therefore he experienced the full glory of A.T.. We joked that he¢s now part of us, the A.T. thru-hikers. We crossed so many creeks and passed many ponds today. Many of the nice stream flowing with cool clear water were not listed in the guide books. We loved these water sources. For many water sources near ponds and brooks that are in my guide book, we felt they were not as clean as the stream water. But maybe they are more reliable in drier years. Our campsite was at the west side of Lower Jo-Mary Lake. Also named as Turkey Tail Lake on my topo map. We set our tent near the tip of a little peninsula. It only took 2 minutes walking from the west facing shore to the east facing shore of the peninsula. But at sunset time it was very beautiful. Shortly after sunset in the west, there was a bright full moon rising from the east. It was so surreal to see the bright full moon rose above the peaceful lake that was still holding a purple hue after the sunset. In the quiet hours at night, the shallow water slapped softly at the shore making bubbly sounds while the full moon shone over the forest of our campsite. Dark shadows of pines patched on the ground and on our tent. Time had stopped at hundreds of years ago.
Date: 2019-09-14
From: Gravel logging road 

To: Hurd Brook lean-to
Miles today: 16.5

Day 166This was a special day for me. I just realized that tonight might be the last night that I¢d sleep in the forest on A.T. Thru-hike. We walked 16.5 miles, just 3.5 miles shy from the car accessible Abol Bridge campground in Baxter SP. Tomorrow we¢ll be out of the 100 miles wilderness with only 15 miles to the finish line. It would be done as a day hike.Throughout the day it was dreary and dark, under the threat of rain. But really rained very little. It only wetted my poncho slightly. I was very glad that my boots and socks were kept dry. But that rain was enough to make the trail wet and more slippery. The dark clouds coverage also made the forest darker. In mid afternoon it felt like dusk of after 6pm. There were again many ponds and lakes we passed today. At Crescent Pond, a large slab of rock was used by people as boat landing spot. A few kayak and a roll boat sat there, a rare sight in the wilderness.Rainbow lake was so big. It has a 5.1 miles trail from west end to the east end all on A.T. with many small ups and downs and slippery knotted roots. We had our lunch break at a campsite near the lake. In the rain I set up a tarp with my poncho, cooked soup for my husband who was still not eating much food.In the afternoon, we came upon Rainbow Ledge - a beautiful rock garden by nature. Maples started to show bright red, ferns were green/yellow/cinnamon/orange/brown. Blueberry bushes were turning red and mahogany, resting among creamy colored cotton ball mosses. Another type of bush were full of bright bubblegum pink berries, also showed red and purple leaves. Lichens and mosses hung on tree branches in the air, light green, creamy white or bright yellow. The plants were sectional divided into garden beds with granite rocks paved the walking path. Under the gloomy sky, the rock garden felt uplifting for my spirit, also felt magical as it was so different from the green dense forest below. All of a sudden I had forgot the hard walk over those roots and mud. Life is good here, I have to agree.By 6pm we made it to Hurd Brook lean-to. No one else was there. The shelter has a sleeping floor made of round sticks-so called baseball bats floor. Maybe that¢s the reason no one wanted to sleep there since it was not as comfortable as flat surface. But we decided to stay for the night.
Date: 2019-09-15
From: Hurd Brook lean-to

To: Katahdin Stream Campground (AT Lodge)
Miles today: 13.4

Day 167The last night was the last night that I slept in the forest. Today was the last day that I hiked full day in the delightful forest. We woke up early before sunrise, no need to cook breakfast for everyone wanted to get to Abol Bridge camp store to eat the ¢real¢ breakfast. By 8:15am we came out from the 100 miles wilderness north boundary and walked into Baxter State Park. The paved road led us to the bridge over the Penobscot River. Autumn colors had shown in the trees along the banks. Across the river the green slope of Mount Katahdin rose into white clouds cap, hidden from view - a mystery world to me.At the camp store, we ate lots of food, bid goodbye to my husband who went to AT lodge in Millinocket for the rest of the day, leaving me to slackpack the rest 9.5 miles of A.T. to Katahdin Stream Campground.Baxter SP is such a treasure that worth all the protections for generations. The 9.5 miles of trail from Abol Bridge camp store to Katahdin Steam campground ranger station were filled with countless treasures. There were all types of mushrooms, some were as black as ink, some were as orange as a ripe pumpkin, and some even had lavender color. The smooth trail was like a melting chocolate river, flowing effortlessly through the green moss carpeted forest floor. Mushrooms sprouting out of the green carpet in groups in riots, gave me the impression of mushroom villages. Fall colored birch leaves drifted to the ground, spray the chocolate river and carpet with golden yellow. Yearling maples with bright red leaflets invaded green mounds of moss covered logs, hoping to get a foothold in the soft surface. Along the Penobscot River and later the Nesowadnehunk Stream red maples were also started to show their colors. Waterfalls and numerous cascades flew through the stream, sometimes making soft songs and sometimes roaring to race down. The water in many streams were so clear that I just wanted to stare at them to see if I could spot any fish in there. I took tons of photos, hoping to keep this treasured forest in my memory and capture the full glory of the wonderland. I was walking in a dream world today, a sweet dream world. I will sure miss it.
Date: 2019-09-16
From: Katahdin Stream Campground (AT Lodge)

To: Mount Katahdin (AT Lodge)
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: clear sky

Day 168In the high wind and swirling clouds/fogs, I climbed the last mountain on A.T.-Mount Katahdin, and reached the northern terminus of this great trail. I COMPLETED THE Appalachian Trail! I am a proud 2000 miler now!In the unforgettable past 168 days, I lived in the woods, drank spring/stream/river and lake water, walked 2192 miles (3654km). Loved every moment on my journey. Thanks every loved one and friend for the support, without you, I cannot done this. Especially thanks to my dear husband who walked with me on the first and last 100 miles together.Similar as in the past month and half, today¢s trail was not a piece of cake. 2.5 miles before Katahdin peak, it was a lot of vertical climbs where rock climbing and gymnastics skills were the most valuable to have. Without heavy large backpack, I actually enjoyed the hand over hand exercise. My arms and legs were strong as well as my mind. I was aware of safety tolerance and kept cool when other hikers hesitated to move in the cold gusty of wind. I felt like a mountain goat in a steep terrain, confident with my every move. I was slow, but steady, just like other times on the trail: set my goal, set my safety boundary, and work to get to where I wanted. The last day was challenging, the last day was fun, the last day was how I wanted, and it was never hard!
Date: 2022-05-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

After two years of the completion of my AT thru-hike, I finally published a book based on my trail journals.Here is the Link:One Day At A Time: A thru-hiker's journey on Appalachian Trail: Mei Click Shen of Class 2019: 9781977245458: Books (amazon.com)All royalties are going to ATC.Thanks everyone for supporting my hike and supporting the great work of trail angels and Appalachian Trail Conservancy.Hope you are enjoying it.
Date: 2019-02-19
To: NOBO
Miles today: 0.0

At the Holiday Inn Express in Dahlonega Ga, making my last preparation for the hike. My son Bryant (Tetris) is with me, along with my wife Marilyn, who will be dropping us off tomorrow morning. Tetris is hiking with me for the first 6 days. Weather forecast is rain for the next 4-5 days- so we are expecting the trail to be very wet and muddy.
Date: 2019-02-20
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: AT Trail Head
Miles today: 0.2

We started above the stairs at Amicalola Falls State Park, and hiked the approach trail to the AT today. I am hiker #211 for 2019. My pack weighed a little less then 25 Lbs., with 1& 1/2 quarts of water, and 4 days of food. The approach trail is 7.7 miles but actual hiking on the AT was 0.2 miles to Springer Mtn shelter.
Date: 2019-02-23
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: mist

Hiked 12 miles today, which is most so far- I think that is about my limit for now. Feeling fine. Tomorrow we will be at Neel's Gap, and we will be taking a nero day (short hike and then rest for remainder of day). Paul (Bear Bag) is meeting us there. He hiked the trail in '16 and will be having burgers, dogs, mac salad, beans, all the ingredients for a good garbage plate.              Rain every day since we started the hike. I am trying to "embrace the suck", as I walk the trail - which is a stream with all the rain. I am glad Tetris is with me for my first week out.
Date: 2019-02-24
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 3.6

Woke up this morning to actually see the Sun and blue skies lifting everyone's spirit. We finally get to actually see some views. Hiking up and over Blood Mtn to Neel Gap. Staying at the Blood Mountain Cabins tonight. We have Chipmunk cabin. Paul reserved it for us. We got into Neel Gap Mountain Crossings at 11:50 am and Tetris and I enjoyed a Diet Coke and a snack at the picnic tables outside in the Sun.         Oh, I got a Trail Name "Triple Check". I left Gooch Mtn shelter leaving my new Montbell jacket. Halfway to Woods Hole "Safety Chute" caught up with me and she gave it to me. This morning I'm packing my backpack and still a bit disorganized and misplacing things and "Safety Chute' said " You have to do a lot of double checking'" and I said "Triple checking" and she said "Hey, that should be your Trail Name. As "Tetris" says you have to let the Trail name you.          Kudos to Paul (Bear Bag) Wetzel who cooked us a most delicious "garbage plate". "Safety Chute", "Lone Star" and Jesse also came over for dinner since "Bear Bag" brought so much food.
Date: 2019-02-26
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Stealth camp
Miles today: 10.9

Good hiking day today. A lot of us were thinking of Blue Mtn Shelter but I decided to continue on to Unicoi Gap to see Marilyn. I called Marilyn to ask her to buy 10 or 12 hamburgers to bring to Unicoi Gap for some of the other hikers. So "Safety Chute", "Lone Star", "Jesse", "210", "Tetris", and I all enjoyed burgers and cokes. From there Lone Star and I went a little farther and stealth camped 2 tenths of mile from top of Rocky Mountain.
Date: 2019-02-28
From: Addis Gap

To: TOG Hostel
Miles today: 5.5

Shorter hike today to Top of Georgia Hostel. Ran into Safety Chute and met her husband who is working there for a few weeks. Also met "Dudley Do Right" and his wife "Dynomite", a couple around 60 that I briefly saw in passing as they were slack packing Blood Mountain southbound.. Turned out he was born in Rochester NY at the same hospital I was.                         After shower and all laundry done, about 10 of us took the 4 o'clock shuttle into Hiawassee for dinner and resupply. Lone Star, Jesse, and I had a good tasting beer and meal at Monte Albans Mexican Restaurant.
Date: 2019-03-01
From: TOG Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

TOG Hostel dropped us off at trail head about 8 am. Another wet day. First big milestone today. Passed into North Carolina at mile 78.1, done with Georgia.                        Made it into Muskrat Shelter about 4 pm dead tired after slogging through cold sleet and heavy rains the last 4 miles. Set up my tent, ate, and went to sleep without even socializing.
Date: 2019-03-02
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain stopped for today. Terrain a bit easier. Packed up and on the trail by about 7:30 am. Stopped at Standing Indian Shelter about 4.9 miles in to cook a hot lunch since I didn't cook last night. As I was setting up Safety Chute came wandering in. It was great to see her. She had pulled into Muskrat a little after me last night having taken the later shuttle to the trail head. She gave me a half of a tomato to add to my Ramen. The rest of the trail to Carter Gap wasn't bad and weather comfortable. Only 2 of us in shelter tonight. Hiker named Ray and me. Lone Star set up his tarp
Date: 2019-03-03
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: mist

Weather started out fine today. Rain not expected till 1 pm. Climbed Albert Mountain fire tower today at little after 11 am and had excellent views of the surrounding area. The last 80 feet or so of Albert was an almost vertical rock scramble climb where you just put away your hiking poles since they are no use.   Called Marilyn, Bryant, and Neil from the top, the 100 mile mark of the AT.     Heavy rain and sleet started right on schedule with a little less than 3 miles to the shelter. Rock Gap Shelter holds about 5 people. There were four of us in there when this couple show up from the nearby Gap road wondering if we had room for 9 people. Apparently they had a group of young adults on a hike. She even suggested that we could take the shuttle van that was at the Gap into Franklin. Uh... No thanks.
Date: 2019-03-04
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 3.8

This morning we woke up to freezing cold. The rope on my Ursack (food bag made of a bullet proof materl tied around tree to protect food from bears and critters) was frozen. It took about 15 minutes but with the help of a young hiker Eli, we got it off the tree. But I still couldn't open it and Jesse bailed me out with a couple of protein bars.        When I got to Winding Stair Gap at 10am I was lucky enough to get a ride immediately into Franklin NC from a shuttle driver named Beverly who transports from the trail head and around town for a donation. She dropped me off at the Budget Inn where Lone Star was in the office. We split the price of the room for 2 nights. Taking a zero (no hiking) tomorrow.                We walked to Motor Co Grill for lunch of burgers, beer, and chocolate milkshake.                             This evening we went to Mulligan's for dinner. Shortly after we sat down a group of 4 hikers came in including Ray (Pantry) who I'd met a couple days ago and sat in the booth next to us. A few seconds later Ray and this other guy came up and said "Your Triple Check, I'm Halo" I said " Finally! I meet you, I meet Halo". I'd been hearing about Halo from my second or third day on trail. People would ask "Have you met Halo", I would see every other day some encouragement to Halo laid out in sticks on the trail. His wife who is very supportive has left encouraging messages on my journal page as well as others who are hiking around her husbands trek. I'm glad I finally met him.
Date: 2019-03-06
From: Franklin NC

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.0

Lone Star caught the shuttle back to the trail head this morning at 9am.      I woke up feeling a little better this morning. Took a walk to lunch at Motor Co Grill and later to Ingles supermarket and Dollar Tree for more resupply and cold-eze and day quill.                 Called for pick up tomorrow at 9am back to trail head. Supposed to be good hiking weather tomorrow but rain Friday and Saturday. Should be to the (NOC) Nantahala Outdoor Center by Saturday afternoon.
Date: 2019-03-07
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

Took shuttle back to trail head at Winding Gap. Started hiking around 9:30 am. Good cool and clear hiking conditions. Ran into Erin and Lisa whom I haven't seen since just past Blood Mtn. They both have trail names now. Cricket and Salamander. A little later 210 came along and she has a new name "Detour" for checking out a couple of side trails.She likes that one. It was a long day highlighted by the Wayah Bald Tower with amazing views.