morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-10-25
From: Bulls Bridge & Schaghticoke Roads, CT

To: NY Hwy. 55, Poughquag, NY
Miles today: 18.6

Today was a wonderful day! God blessed me with beautiful sunshine and cool temperatures. After an initial climb of 200', the trail smoothed out and was great for walking. Today's walk was varied as I walked through woods, fields, swamps, and beside Nuclear Lake. I also passed by the AT train station, where you can catch a train that will take you to NYC for about $15.00.Nuclear Lake got it's name from the fact that it was the site of a nuclear research facility from 1955 to the 1970's. It was closed after a few accidents. There is no sign of any of the buildings now. Also, the lake is now clear of any hazardous waste.Tonight, we ate pizza from Cousin's Deli and leftover BBQ from last night. An odd food combination, but delicious. Tomorrow, we will move to Fort Montgomery, New York. This should be our last motel move until I finish by the end of next week.
Date: 2014-10-26
From: NY Hwy. 55, Poughquag, NY

To: NY Hwy. 301
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I got a breakfast sandwich from Cousin's Pizza & Deli before starting out this morning. Much to our surprise, it had rained during the night. The sun came up to reveal partly cloudy skies. The trail was up and down all day, and it is getting rockier as I head south. Since it was Sunday, I saw quite a few weekend hikers. My plan was to finish and be picked up in Clarence Fahnestock State Park. Just before I arrived there, I received a text message from Mrs. GG saying that the park road was closed for the season. The next road crossing was two miles farther, so we decided to meet there.We are staying in a nice, small, five room motel in Fort Montgomery. It was built in the 1930's. Tonight we ate in Highland Falls/West Point, just across the street from the visitor's entrance to the United States Military Academy.
Date: 2014-10-27
From: NY Hwy. 301

To: US Hwy. 9 & NY Hwy. 403
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

We decided last night to not set an alarm, since today was a shorter hiking day.   We slept closer to an hour later than usual (4:30AM). I walked across the street to the bagel shop and got a breakfast bagel. It was good and hit the spot.I started my hike right at daylight. Each of the last several days have been pretty much the same with continuous ups and downs. I made good time and reached my pickup point at the Graymoor Spiritual Center. Since it was early, I decided to go a few more miles to US Hwy. 9 and NY Hwy. 403. There is a really nice store there called the Appalachian Market. It has a full service deli and hot bar. Outside is a grouping of picnic tables for customers' use. I'm sure it does a lot of hiker business during June and July when most of the NOBO's are passing by. During the afternoon, Mrs. GG and I drove down to Harriman, NY, to NY Hwy. 17, the road where I left the trail in June with my broken foot. We decided that I would start there tomorrow, and hike north for a day. That way, I would know if I would need an extra day to hike this section. The trail south of this section was quite rocky.
Date: 2014-10-28
From: NY Hwy. 17, Harriman, New York

To: Seven Lakes Road, Bear Mtn. State Park, NY
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Back in June on my last day of hiking, I hiked from Wildcat Shelter to NY Hwy. 17. The trail was extremely difficult and very slow. It was continuous ups and downs over large boulders. When I started north from Hwy. 17 this morning, I was thinking that the slow, rugged trail would continue. Fortunately, I was wrong, and the trail was very smooth and easy all day. All of my day was in Harriman State Park, and it was beautiful. There were several 1,000' peaks that gave me a view of the Hudson River and supposedly the skyline of New York City, but it was too cloudy and hazy for me to see NYC. I made it to our meeting place, and away we went back to our little motel, Bear Mountain Bridge Motel. After I got cleaned up, we drove over to Perkins Memorial Tower and Bear Mountain State Park for some site-seeing and photos.Only 11 more miles, and I will be finished with New York and all of the trail except for 186 miles in Vermont and New Hampshire. Those miles will have to wait until next summer.
Date: 2014-10-29
From: Seven Lakes Road, Bear Mtn. State Park, NY

To: US Hwy. 9 & NY Hwy 403
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

We were up at our normal time of 4:30AM, and by 5:30, I was across the street at the bagel shop for my usual breakfast bagel sandwich. I hoped to be finished shortly after Noon, so I didn't take a lunch with me. By 7:25AM, I was on the trail and walking my last 11 miles for the day and this year's AT journey. At the end of today, I will have walked 2,000 plus miles. The remaining 186 miles will be left for completion next August, 2015.Today's hike was really diverse and exciting. I passed by the Perkins Memorial Tower on Bear Mountain with views of the Hudson River below. Once off the mountain, I walked through Bear Mountain State Park and then crossed over the Hudson River on Bear Mountain Bridge. After crossing the river, the trail entered the woods again, and I walked another three to four miles to reach NY Hwy. 403 and US Hwy. 9. As I reached the end, Mrs. GG was walking down the trail to meet me. We finished the last bit of the trail together listening to the song "New York, New York". After a quick lunch at the Appalachian Market, right next to the AT, we started our journey home. We were both very happy to be finished for this year and headed home to family, especially our grandsons Tuck and Tanner.Next August, 2015, I will return to the trail and hike the final 186 miles from Vermont Highway 100 at Gifford Woods State Park to US Highway 2 just 3.6 miles east of Gorham, New Hampshire. When I resume my hike, I will resume my journal entries. I am so thankful and grateful to everyone for your support and encouragement through your kind words and deeds.
Date: 2015-07-22
To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It will soon be time to head back to the trail and complete the journey that I began in 2014 but was not able to complete because of my foot injury. I will begin on July 27 near Killington,VT and hike north to Gorham, NH. Upon completing this 185 mile section, I will have hiked the full trail.I will set up a new tab on my journal for the 2015 portion of my hike and will resume making daily entries on July 27. I am so excited about going back on the trail! Mrs. GG will follow and support me throughout and I will have the added privilege of getting to hike parts of this section with two wonderful friends. Rob, who I met last year, will join me for the first few days of this hike. Rob completed his thru-hike last year. On the last few days of my hike I will be joined by Frank Stark. Frank hired me in 1978 and he has been my mentor, friend, and hero since then. I invite you to join me on this part of my journey. Your support and encouraging words last year were so uplifting and appreciated. See you soon.
Date: 2014-03-21
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hickory Flats Cemetery Pavillon
Miles today: 6.2

The first night we spent in a hotel near the Airport, the next morning a taxi drove us to Dawsonville where we spent another night in a hotel. The next morning we called a taxi to drive us to Springer Mountain but the taxi driver didn't know where it was, and so we drove around for a while. Until we noticed that we passed the same place twice, when the price had risen to 200 Dollar he turned it off. As the road got worse and worse he asked us if we didn't want to walk to our start, we denied and told him we had paid for it. After a while we came to the parking where the trail goes thru.It was noon now, from there we walked to Springer to sign for the first time than back again on the trail. Our backpacks were overloaded it's gonna be a difficult hike, after 6 miles we arrived at the Hickory Flats cemetery, there were 2 mens, the caretaker of this place he gave us some water and a section hiker a pharmacist he's gonna spent the night here so we decided to stay here too.
Date: 2014-03-22
From: Hickory Flats Cemetery Pavillon

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

The first night was horrible, around 9 pm a helicopter flew over our tent which illuminated the site,which gave us a scary feeling. Later during the night we heard a dog yelling, we thought he was trapped. But the next morning the other hiker told us it was a coyote. After breakfast we packed our backpacks our destination was Gooch Mountain Shelter. On the way we met other hikers including Beth and Blue bird they are hiking a section for 2 weeks. We took a break near a Creek and cooled our feets. When we were almost at our destination, we met a few people on the trail they told us About a Trail magic today and tomorrow a few miles ahead.Some hikers went there we decided to pitch up our tent near the Shelter. When we set up our tent Beth and Blue bird were doing the same.When Beth saw our big tent we got our trail name The Luxes.
Date: 2014-03-23
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

It had been raining all night, Pierre slept well but I had trouble sleeping I have to get used sleeping in a tent it's only my fifth night ever in a tent. In the morning when I crawled out of the tent and everything was wet and grey outside I began to cry and wanted to go back home ( imagine the second night ). We walked off anyway and after 1.4 miles we came to the trailmagic.There were already some hikers there, we drank coffee and ate a sandwich and a banana. We were amazed that people who don't know all this hikers gave them drinks and food for free or a little fee. We need to go further because we have to go to the outfitter in Neel Gap,we had heard that all those who worked there have thruhiked the AT an could help us and showing us what we really need on this trail to put all the unnecessary gear in a box and send it further. It was about 6 Kilos taken out of both backpacks, not bad. I have to say that Pierre's backpack has 26 Kilos and my backpack 22 Kilos. They gonna send it to a Motel at Hiawassee. Now we hopefully move faster with less weight on our shoulders.Afterwards we went to the Blood Mountain Cabins to stay overnight, Pierre made fire at the fireplace because I had a cold since the beginning and we took a shower. We could also give our dirty laundry nice Service. A bit later the Manager called us if we would agree to share our cabin with 2 women, of course we will. They were mother and daughter Inge and Aimee, Aimee was a veteran she just came back to the USA and wanted to have her mind free again. We spoked a bit ate something and went to bed.
Date: 2014-03-24
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

We spent a pleasant night at the cabin, after breakfast we said goodbye to Inge and Aimee. It was pretty cold when we start hiking, our backpacks have become lighter but still were to heavy. By the time we arrived at our todays destination, some hikers had already set up their tent. Also in the Shelter some had already setup for the night, we found a spot near the Shelter. We had dinner and later Pierre hung the food on the cables. We are ready for the night.
Date: 2014-03-25
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Tray Gap
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: moderate rain

It was cold this night this morning as we crawled out of our big tent, we saw that it had snowed during the night. Pierre took our food from the cables we quickly made breakfast and set off again. After a while hiking our bodies warmed up again.Many hikers we met today will go to Hiawassee we are in the middle of a bubble. So we decided to stay another night on trail and going tomorrow to town it would be easier perhaps to find a room. It was cold but also sunny we could take our lunch on the trail, no rain no snow. Most hikers went down from the trail at the Parking of Unicoi Gap there were some cars waiting for the hikers to give them a ride to Hiawassee. It also became quieter on the Trail for the rest of the day.
Date: 2014-03-26
From: Tray Gap

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

No more snow but still very cold we had a quiet night, were all alone at this place. We definitely haven't heard anything even though I still wake up a lot. It went a lot up and down the terrain is wet a bit rocky and slippery. When we arrived at the Dicks Creek Gap we realized that we had forgotten that there is no phone signal here it's written in the Awol guide.But luckyly there were two womans with a car asking us if we need a ride to Town. But we have to go first to the Motel because of our box and then to a Hotel. This was the first time for Pierre hitchhiking and really it wasn't a hitch because they asked us before we could hitchhike. This was also the first time that this two womans were trailangels they have heard about the AT,the hikers and the trailangels and they want to do it too.But we're not used to someone driving us for free Pierre wanted to pay them the ride but they didn't take the money.Thank you very much for your help. At the Hotel we took a shower made laundry and went out, we have heard about a Restaurant All you can eat .After we had a full belly we went to the pharmacy, on the way there a car stopped and the Lady asked us if we need a ride thats so kind but thank you no we don't need a ride. We could never have imagined that people would be so helpful. And now we are happy that we can sleep in a cosy bed this night.
Date: 2014-03-27
From: Hiawassee

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: clear sky

During breakfast we talked to other hikers and asked them how they get back on trail and they said they have called someone which give them a ride back, when she came to the hotel we asked if she has some space for two other hikers and we got a ride back too. We have send our box further to Franklin NC in another Motel when we go there we gonna send it home. Today it was very difficult, every time you thought you were on top no there was another and another top. The Beauty of the day was that we had reached the border to North Carolina and this beautiful old an twisted tree. We met a section hiker he is hiking to Damascus and some other hikers but I can remember there names. It was cold but sunny again today, we found a nice spot not near a Shelter thats how we like it we love our privacy.
Date: 2014-03-28
From: Beech Gap

To: Franklin
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: snow

Most of those we spoke today have a reservation at the Microtel we try to get a room there too we have no reservation, we need to buy an american phone first. Because if we make phone calls with our luxemburgish one it becomes too expensive.After hiking up and down we arrived at Winding Stair Gap a car just arrived at the parking lot a couple had just driven a hiker back to the Trail. We asked if they would go back to Franklin, we could go with them and they drove us to the Hotel, thanks.But Unfortunately they didn't have a room left and explained us we should go to the center and ask at the Tourist Information.We walked along the main road when suddenly a car stopped on the other side, a Young woman asked us if we need some help.We told her we were looking for a Hotelroom and she answered she would be waiting on us down the street that we have to get off this street becuase it was to dangerous. As we came closer we saw 3 small children sitting in the car they were on their way to Atlanta. She went with us to the Tourist Information went in and asked for Hotels they said we should go to Haven's Budget Inn thats what we did and we got a room for 2 nights. Thanks so much young Lady she and her husband have hiked the AT too. It smelled of moisture in the room because the Hotel had only reopened 2 weeks ago but there was no way to find something else so we stay here. We took a shower did laundry and went out to find a Restaurant. A car was outside and a man asked if he could help us, we were a bit skeptical got in the car anyway and he drove us to the Cafe Rei Restaurant. His name was Ken " Intense " we walked inside we got a beautiful table and Ken came in again and explained to the waiter that we were hiking on the AT he came also to us and gave me a piece of paper with his phonenumber in case if we need him again he said he could also drive us back to the trail.We had a very good dinner and walked back to the Hotel.
Date: 2014-03-29
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After we had breakfast we went around to find a shipping business to send our box back home but on the Computer they couldn't found Luxembourg as a destination I know we are a very tiny country, we couldn't believe it. So we have to send it further again we were also looking for a thelephone shop and went to another shop to ask where we could find some. Unfortunately the Woman didn't know, then she saw a car outside went out and asked the driver if he could help us with that.His name was Mike, he drove us to the first shop but they couldn't help us, we drove on to another one and there we found what we were looking for. It took a Long time for the seller to explain, we apologized to Mike we didn't want to stop him for so long, he only thought he liked help people and we could ressuply if we want too.When we were done we went together for lunch, he called his wife Renee and told her about us and we wanted to meet Renee too. So we meet again for dinner, we told about us they told about themselves they have a Restaurant here in Franklin. It was like sitting with friends as if we had known them for an eternity. We still couldn't believe that strangers could be so kind and helpfull.We said goodbye and went back to the Hotel i called " Intense " for a ride back on Trail tomorrow morning, a bit later I got a message from Renee she wanted to invite us for breakfast tomorrow morning we had to say no and are very sorry about that. Because there is a Shuttle tomorrow and they gonna drive all the hikers to the Baptist Church for a free breakfast.What I almost forgot now we have told Renee and Mike about our box and Renee will take care of it, she will try to ship it.
Date: 2014-03-30
From: Franklin

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: light rain

It was still dark when the shuttle bus came we drove to a Hostel too.There must be about 50 hikers who have accepted the offer, even a Pastor were there he went to every table he also took a picture of every hiker. We should write our adress and the photo will be send as a postcard. We drove back to the Hotel and shortly after Ken came and drove us back to the Trail. It was a cold but a sunny day again when we came to the Stone Tower at Wayah Bald some hikers were there and a couple from Switzerland they had spend the night at the Tower we spoked a bit together and went further. On the way down we met a couple with two young children who gave us some chocolate and a soda, very nice. For the rest of the day it is like almost every day up and down, sometimes very steep.
Date: 2014-03-31
From: Wesser Bald Shelte

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We met Mike and Al last night at the campsite we had already seen them at Wayah Bald Stone Tower, when we spoked with the swiss couple they walked by. Both of them are retired from the army not so long ago. It had been exhausting today, especially for me Pierre is in better shape than me he could even go faster I'm a turtle when we have to go uphill even downhill. In the morning we had a long downhill 2400 feet to the Nantahala Outdoor Center we took a break there, some hikers went swimming .And then it went uphill at Steacoah Gap we had a nice trailmagic offered by Juliet , two other hikers were already there "Tuna" a Kuwait Veteran and Phil a Vietnam Veteran. We still had the Jacobs ladder in front of us a steep but short hike. My favorite phrase at the moment is at some point we'll arrive , sooner or later. There are still many hikers at the same campsites, it is difficult for us to find a suitable space. Since we are almost the last to arrive and because our tent is so big, sometimes we stay a bit in front or behind the campground.But today we were lucky, most will sleep at the Shelter we also met Tortoise, her father Just Paul and Craig from Australia.
Date: 2014-04-01
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 12.7

Today we hiked less miles then the days before, the weather was beautiful a nice sunny day. When we took a break at Cable Gap Shelter to refill our water bottles at the stream we saw Craig sitting there too. We sat down and talked to him for a while he is going to Fontana Dam too. We set off again and later at Fontana we saw Craig again, we were waiting all together for a room. When the Lady from the frontdesk asked if we were thruhiking Craig replied why can you smell it and everyone at the Lobby started laughing. We did the usual things again showering , laundry, resupply , eating and rest. We are Looking forward for tomorrow then we will entering in the Smokeys.
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Fontana Dam

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: few clouds

Yesterday we ordered a shuttle bus who took us back to the Dam this morning. It was again a beautiful sunny day, perhaps to sunny for the first climb. The first climb was 2820 feet with the sun in our faces we're going to get a sunburn. We hiked up and down as usually on our way to the Shelter we met Tortoise and Just Paul who gonna stay at the same Shelter as we do, Paul have done the AT when he was a young man and now he is hiking it with his daughter a wonderfull idea.But he told us also the we have to Sleep in the Shelters in the Smokies only when they are full you can pitch your tent. So this will be our first night in a shelter, when we cam to the Shelter a Young woman was right there it was "Stargazer" Christa from Germany. She said she had been with a Group before but she got sick and lay in a hostel for a week and is trying to catch up with them again.We all prepared our dinner and gradually the shelter became full.Later we Five went to a meadow where you can see the lights of the cities down in the Valley. But there was a cold wind so we went back to the Shelter.I had settled in the top left Pierre was laying next to me I didn't want to wake up in the middle of the night and looking in a strangers face.
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Oooh what a night I may have slept an hour, I was afraid that a mouse could come in to my sleepingbag it was also very cold and windy. It wasn't bright outside when we left, I hope we never have to stay again in a Shelter. I prefer to leave my place to the younger ones who love it. We had very nice views today, but I have to be careful that I don't fall that often I always go ahead so Pierre can lift me up because with the heavy backpack I don't get up by myself.Hopefully we can Sleep well again in our tent tonight.