morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-07
From: Springer Mtn

To: Hawk Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

Start: Springer End: Hawk Mt. ShelterDay Miles: 7.6Total Trip Miles 7.6With day one completed, I reflected on the momentous task I have set before me. We had breakfast in the dinning room at Amicalola Falls and I believe I saw another hiker but was too shy to question him.The weather today started out cool, but as the day progressed the sky cleared and the sun warmed my sprits. I hope this is a premonition of what is to come. Mary Anne drove me up SFR # 42, a very narrow, steep and twisty dirt road that brings you .9 miles north of Springer Mt. You must hike the AT south to sign in and then retrace your steps on the same trail. I had done the Approach Trail in September and did not want to do it again. We spent a lot of time at Springer taking pictures and just being excited about the whole experience before me. I called both of my sons and my dad to say I had started my journey! The first part of the trail today was extraordinary. The trail was wide and relatively gentle, and you crossed many streams and walked through rhododendron tunnels. It was truly a walk in the woods.I met Diamond (my first thru-hiker and her father ( who is joining her for awhile) and had lunch with them at Stover Creek Shelter.The trail grew narrow and the last part was more of what I envisioned the trail to be like. It was a great hike for the first day. I walked into Hawk Mt. Shelter around 3:30. There were already many thru hikers there. Some who had passed me during the day and others who had started ahead of me. The shelter was full and so I set my tent up, got water and joined the group at the picnic table to eat. Sniper, so called,because she keeps tripping and someone in her group asked if she was being shot at engaged me in conversation and made me feel part of the groupSpeaking of being shot at, Hawk Mt. Shelter is used for training exercises for the Camp Frank D. Merrill Army Rangers. The arterially started around supper time and you could hear voices outside your tent in the woods as you slept. Most of the hikers were much younger than me (well all were younger) and again I had an attack of shyness and so retired early to spend the evening in my tent listening to the rangers outside and reflecting on just why this older women was attempting to hike over 2000 miles. The journey has begun and I am snug at 7:00 PM in my tent listening to the Rangers run maneuvers and shooting guns, and I am thinking okay now look what you have done!
Date: 2007-03-08
From: Hawk Mtn Shelter

To: GoochMtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.6

March 8From Hawk Mt. ShelterTo:Gooch Mt. ShelterToday 7.6Total 14.9It was a cool night last night (39 degrees inside my tent) as I lay listening to the Rangers. I awoke early and a young man, Justin greeted me with a smile. It warmed my insides to have a connection. I fixed tea and oatmeal and packed up and on the trail around 9:00 (I thought I would be up and out a lot earlier than that so we will see how I can change the start time. Almost immediately I started to climb Sassafras Mtn. Justin caught up with me and would pass me going downhill, but I would catch him going up hill or when he was taking a break on some log or rock. He was a little amazed that I could catch up to him going up hill. But I know that will change as he gets stronger. After Sassafras, the terrain leveled out and I could look around and enjoy the day more.   Justin and I saw many empty gun shells we guessed from the Rangers' guns. This made for good conversation as we took a break from our own thoughts of the journey before us.  Eventually the younger legs won out and Justin moved on ahead of me.I stopped at Chester Creek where a few section hikers had stopped for a break, also. This seemed to be a good spot to camp as it located right next to the water in a flat grassy spot (listed in the Handbook as ¢unofficial campsite¢) but I pushed on another mile to the shelter. I arrived at Gooch Gap Shelter around 3:00 PM. A young couple, Pebble and her boyfriend, Peter or Bearded Beauty, were the only ones there. All the other crew from last night (included Justin) had gone on but I felt I needed to stop even though it was still early in the afternoon. I found a well-constructed tent area and set up my tent and went to the stream to filter water for tonight and tomorrow. I was enjoying the quiet and the sun when a south bounder, Jaybird arrived. He is on his sixth thru hike and was finishing his Yo-YO (going north first and then turning around and hiking south). I really enjoyed talking to him and hearing about his adventures. He stayed here until dark and then headed out to Hawk Mt Shelter!A group of young people came in from Belmont College and then a group from Virginia Tech so this empty shelter, at 3:00. had more than 18 people by dark. Another day and a few more miles north.
Date: 2007-03-09
From: Gooch Mtn Shelter

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

Fri. March 9From Gooch Mt. Shelter To Woods Hole 12.4 miles Total 26.8 I was up and out earlier this morning as I have decided not to cook in the morning. I just had a bar for breakfast because it is taking too long for me to pack up. I have always had a problem of doing things at a slower rate than others and it seems to be true on the Trail as well. It might be a focus thing.It was a beautiful walk in the woods for the first part to Woody Gap. I had my first trail magic at Woody Gap where there are restrooms and picnic tables. Two very nice gentlemen, Dick and Jude, if I remember correctly, offered me a coke and two homemade oatmeal raisin cookies. They were wonderful I used the restroom and sat down on a picnic table and did a little foot repair as the outsides of my feet near the toes are now blistered. I then headed up and up, of course. I saw a lot of trail damage from mountain bikers today. I would hate to meet one of the riders coming down the trail as I was going up as one of us would be on the ground and I assume it would be me . At the top of Big Cedar Mt., I met a family out for a few days, Father, two sons, and a 62 year-old grandmother. We talked for a long time and as I walked along with them, I thought of how nice it would be for a family to be out in the woods together. I saw them again at the shelter. Ralph, Jason and Cody and Grandmother all trooped in a little after me. I did 12 miles today and actually felt pretty good. The Woods Hole Shelter is .4 miles off the trail, but I was ready to stop so hiked in to it around 4:00 PM. There was an AmeriCore group of young people there doing trail work in the area. These young people work together for 10 weeks, so thank you to anyone helping hikers along the way. I set my tent up and the temperature and wind came up and I crawled in after a good day in the woods.
Date: 2007-03-10
From: WOODS HOLE SHELTER

To: NEELS GAP
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: broken clouds

Sat. March 10From Woods Hole Shelter To Neels GapToday miles 3.7Total Miles 30.5Today started out misty and cool, but I did not choose to put my pack cover or rain coat on. It is always so hot to wear a rain coat on the trail. I thought it would take me two hours just to go up Blood Mt. but I was at the top in an hour! Not bad at all. Now going down was another story, as it was rocky and steep and I needed to watch my footing carefully as I did not want to twist an ankle. The sun came out and the weather was really nice, so I just took my time and stopped a lot as I had all day to get to the Walasi-Yi Center. I met this young guy going up and said hi, then another one who asked me if I had seen a guy in a white shirt. I said yes and asked where he was headed. Well, he said North Carolina. And I replied, "That's good, but you are going in the wrong direction. You are going south not north.¢ He argued with me for a minute or two as Boy Scouts at the bottom had told them which way to go. I finally convinced him that I was correct. I told him to drop his pack and head up after his friend. I hoped he had found him. I arrived at Neels Gap by 11:00 AM, picked out my bunk for the night, had my first shower since I had left, and ate a hot dog, that tasted like a gourmet meal! The trail goes right through the Walasi-Yi Center and has everything a hiker needs. I sat at a table in the sun and talked a long time to Dan (also on trail journals) as he is starting in two weeks.The place was pretty full and I met Hobo, Lama Punch, Micro, the Colonel (who caught mice in traps all night) and the guy who helps out, Pirate. We watched a movie and ordered and ate a lot of pizza!I am beginning to feel like a thru hiker more each day.
Date: 2007-03-11
From: Neels Gap

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

It was hard to leave Neels Gap today, but I got up, had a cup of tea, some oatmeal, and headed out. The morning walked proved to be fairly easy and I even stopped and did a little yoga for the first time. After I walked down a very steep hill, I saw Hobo at the bottom sitting and resting at Hogpen Gap. I sat down next to him and he offered me his summer sausage and cheese he had bought at Neels Gap. It was like a feast and we talked and I got to know him some more. He is a young man about my sons' ages, who lost his home during hurricane Katrina! Each day I am making more friends and age does not seem to matter.I felt I would never get to Low Gap Shelter but I eventually arrived. I had been following Hobo, but could not see him anymore, and I was getting a scary feeling I had somehow missed the shelter. I had not, but I had run out of water and when I arrived Hobo and Micro were there and someone I had not met, Duckwalk. Dukwalk gave me some of his water and another lifelong friend was made. Also, another lone female arrived, Calamity Jane, and then the two Wrong Way boys (the section hikersI had met on Blood Mtn the day before going south instead of north). I was glad to see them as I had worried they had not found their way back to Neels Gap. We all cooked dinner and Hobo spilled his water and dinner twice! The Colonel arrived and we had a pretty full camp. Micro and I set up out tents but everyone else stayed in the shelter.I am officially now "Signage." It is my trail name. I really like seeing the signs that tell you where you are and especially the ones that say , "SHELTER."
Date: 2007-03-12
From: Low Gap 

To: The Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 13.0

I walked 13 miles today! That is the longest I have ever hiked in my life. Today's walk started out as a failry easy one, for the first seven miles. I had lunch at Blue Mt. Shelter with Lama Punch, Hobo, and Micro. Micro has huge blisters on her toes. It is painful for me to look at. I also have blisters, but they don't bother me too much after I start walking. I probably should have stayed at Blue Mountain Shelter, but it was so early in the day. We all decided to go on to the Cheese Factory camp site. It turned out to be a long hard hike down to Unicoi Gap. The trail was steep and rocky and hurt on my knees. Then after the down we went almost straight up again to Rocky Mt. and then down again and then back up!. Georgia has only two direction for thr AT: up and down. My knees and feet are feeling it tonight. I was still hiking at 6:00 PM and that makes for a long day for me. I was glad to get to the camp site and be able to rest. The two Wrong Way boys arrived at dark! One of the boys was celebrating their 21st. birthday! We all put on a show trying to hang our food and the Wrong Way Boys finally got them all up in a tree. Hobo has set up his tarp but the rest of us are in tents. We thought we would find Duckwalk here when we arrived, but he must have gone on to the next shelter. I have gone over the 50 mile mark today and tomorrow I am staying at the Cloud Nine Hostel: a hot shower and laundry after we hike the 11 miles.
Date: 2007-03-13
From: CHEESE FACTORY

To: CLOUD 9 HOSTEL
Miles today: 11.5

Total Miles 66.6This was the first time waking up not at a shelter,but in my tent at a camping spot. I got up early packed up my tent and headed out by 8:30 AM. The trail went up over Tray Mt. Which of course, went straight up and straight down. I hiked most of the day alone thinking the whole time that the rest of the group would catch me. Finally at Deep Gap Shelter, Lama Punch and Micro showed up. But I never saw Hobo all day. I met One Sock and Forgetful on top of Kelly's Knob (another hard one). They are two older gentlemen who were just moseying along.It was a long hard day for me. I am beginning to hate the word Gap. You always seem to be going to some "Gap" in Georgia.It was a long slog downhill for me as I kept hearing cars but never seemed to get anywhere. I finally made it to US 76 at Dick' Creek Gap and Micro was sitting there with one of the gentleman I had met coming out of Woody Gap who had given me the cookies. He was going to take us to Cloud Nine Hostel, but the Cloud 9 Van, with Frank, drove up and Hobo walked out of the woods!Cloud 9 is a great place. We walked in and Duckwalk, the Colonel, and Calamity Jane were there. Hobo and Calamity were leaving and going into town for the night. Frank took the rest of us to town to re-supply and we picked up some dinner to take back and eat. My feet had blisters and were hurting a lot so I soaked them in very hot water and I paid a little extra to have a room to my self for the night.Here to night are Justin ( who I had not seen since day 2 of the hike), Lama Punch (who has decided to get off the trail; we will miss her) Micro, Duckwalk, the Colonel, and the Wrong Way Boys (on spring break), and some others who I have not really met. Well showered, full, and tired a crawled into a soft bed alone for the first time since I got on the trail!
Date: 2007-03-14
From: DICKS GAP

To: MUSKRAT SHELTER
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

From: Dicks GapTo: Muskrat Shelter Today miles 11.6Total: 78.2I want to thank Laura and Frank from Cloud 9 for all their tender loving care. They are really great people and their place is very welcoming to all hikers. If you are planning a trip, you should think about staying there.Today was one of the best days so far. I think a lot of this trip is mental and even though my feet were hurting, I was so excited to be hiking with friends and to be crossing out of Georgia. Again the weather was beautiful, sunny and warm. The ups and downs were not too bad.In the afternoon we said good to Georgia. Things I will miss about Georgia are the beautiful sunny days, giving me better trail legs, and meeting some very interesting hikers. Things I will not miss are the straight ups and downs, no switch backs, sweat and blisters.Duckwalk, Micro, Justin, The Colonel, and Clamity Jane were with me at the boarder crossing. We took a long break and had lunch. Then there is this unusual looking tree that Calamity Jane said we had to kiss as we went by, so we all did! I think I am doing better now that I picked up some lunch food. I got some bagels and some hard cheddar cheese. It gives me more energy than just the bars I was eating. North Carolina started out very tough. But we all made it to Muskrat Shelter around 5:00. Besides all the people at the border crossing Beach Bum was there. He recognized me from Trail Journals. It is a nice shelter right next to the trail, but it had no bear cables. Micro and I attempted to hang our food bags. It was a fiasco! We laughed and laughed but never did get our bags up. Beach Bumb came and helped us out and got them up. The evening was nice a quiet with the stream running right next to our campsite. Micro, Justin and I set up tents and settled in for the night. Very pleasant.
Date: 2007-03-15
From: MUSKRAT CREEK

To: CARTER GAP
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

From: Muskrat Creek Shelter To: Carter Gap ShelterToday miles: 12.5Total miles: 90.7Today was cool and cloudy but the ups and downs were not too bad. Went over Standing Indian Mountain. There were some nice views from up there. Met David from South Carolina at the first shelter. He was staying there. He hikes early in the morning until around noon and does about 12 miles and then just hangs out for the rest of the day! It takes me all day to do 12 miles. I found a Micro Leatherman today under a log. I can't find its owner so if anyone knows if someone lost one let me know. I have it!About an hour before I got to Carter Gap Shelter it started to rain. I put all my rain stuff on but also figured out my pack is really not working. If I have to walk in the rain all day my fleece items are going to get wet and I will be cold as I can't fit them into my pack. I think I will need to make some changes at NOC.I had my first big log crossing today but I chickened out. It was raining, the log was wet and I was too scared to try to cross it and it was 4 or 5 feet above the stream. So, I crawled down the bank and rock hopped across and barely got wet and I was safe. By the time I got to the shelter it was pouring so this is my first night in a shelter. There are actually two shelters here, old and new. The older one has Mary Beth and Jared in it, but they are very sick with some bug going around ( I met the them the very first night of my hike!). they came over for water and were feeling better but, I was glad they were staying away from us. Two section hikers from some Military College came in and spent the night. Very nice young men. One of them chose to set up his hammock in the rain and the other one stayed in the shelter with us and kept dry! Being my first night in the shelter and it was raining the girls just asked the boys to turn around as we changed into our sleep ware! Most of the guys just have one set of cloths but I have a shirt and shorts to change into to sleep. I slept fairly well between Duckwalk and Micro. Well the raining is just pouring down so it is time for bed. Goodnight!
Date: 2007-03-16
From: CARTER GAP

To: ROCK GAP
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: broken clouds

From: Carter Gap ShelterTo: Rock Gap ShelterToday Miles: 12.1 Total miles 102.8It rained all night so no one was in a hurry to get away in the morning. I was the last one to leave the shelter around 10:30 AM, but by then the rain had stopped.The day was cloudy and a lot cooler than it has been. The early part of the trail was rocky and slick from the rain last night. So I was just taking it slow and easy and enjoying the solitude of the woods and my thoughts. So, I was hiking along all alone and from out of nowhere I could here Beatles music playing. As I went around the bend, there was a tent set up for trail magic. Fishing Fred, Gatorde, and Rum Runner had set up to give Thru Hikers a treat. . It was so nice of them. I had some chili and cookies but didn't stay long as it was still drizzling some and I wanted to get to where I was staying the night. Fishing Fred waned me about Mt albert so I was prepared for the climb ahead. By far, this was the hardest and trickiest climb so far. Not so hard physically, but just tough in that it was a rock scramble with hugh climbs where my short legs could not reach and the rocks were wet. I made it up and at the top there was a fire tower there butI did not climb it as I was in a thick cloud and could only about 5 feet in front of me. I was glad the terrain smoothed out and it was a great hike for the rest of the day. I passed the 100 mile mark today but was all alone so just did a little dance celebration of my ownThe Rock Gap shelter was full when I got there and there were no camp sites, so I set my tent up in a little space right next to the shelter. The dirt was very black and it made all my stuff filthy. M-A and Marshal, Mary Beth and Jared (the sick people and the ones I started with), Duckwalk, and Beachbum are here tonight. We made a fire as the temperature began to plummet. Tommorrow is suppose to be a short day!
Date: 2007-03-17
From: ROCK GAP Shelter

To: WINE SPRING CAMP
Miles today: 12.0

I awoke to a very cold morning. It was 34 degrees inside my tent but about 24 outside when I left Rock Gap Shelter. Everyone but Beach Bum and I got up at 6:00 AM to hike 4 miles to catch a shuttle to Franklin. The trail today was fairly easy and the weather too bad with the sun out, but the wind was very cold and kept me from sitting down for a break. Carolina Dave passed me in shorts and short sleeves, but I later saw him with his wife having hot tea and putting many more cloths on.Well I thought today was going to be a short 8 mile day. Beach Bum and I had had a conversation about passing all the white blazes especially when you walk in one way from a shelter do you need to go back out the same way or can you take the path directly out back to the trail thus missing short sections. So when I got to the Siler Bald shelter sign, I thought I would go in from the other side since it was a loop trail and I didn't want to miss that part of the trail. Well I guess the loop out is not marked well, because after an hour I knew I had somehow missed it. I was very disappointed as Duckwalk had promised to bring me a cheeseburger! My short 8 mile day turned into 12-mile day as I just kept walking hoping I would find someone camping or just camp myself. I finally came upon two tents at Wine springs and asked if they would mind another tent in the spot. They were happy to share the spot and I quickly set my tent up. The temperature was dropping quickly. The two other hikers, Bonnie-Carolyn and Loner, were also thru hikers. We had dinner and got in our tents at 7:00 as it was freezing. BC and I tried to start a fire but with the wind blowing so hard and being surrounded by a thick layer of leaves, I was afraid we would start a fire. I put all my layers on and have my water bottle in my sleeping bag with me. I think it is going to be a LONG COLD night as it is not even dark yet and it is 31 inside my tent.A few days ago, I was complaining about not using all my winter gear and having to carry it for 100 miles, but in the last two days, I have used everything and I am really glad I have it all. I miss my friends tonight but have met two more so the trail is teaching me that there is an ebb and flow to friendships on the trail. Well my fingers are too cold to type anymore so goodnight for now.