morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-04-13
To: Buttermilk Falls
Miles today: 0.0

Did an overnight shakedown hike on the AT in NJ from Mohigan Center to Buttermilk Falls, and back the next day. The Friday the 13th breakfast at the Blairstown Diner was appropriate as that was where the movie was filmed. Enjoyed my cheese omlette with my grammer school/high school buddy. We had a nice chat about the "old days". Lots of hiker and bird activity on the trail. Saw or heard a wild turkey, ruffed grouse, pileated woodpecker, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, and northern flicker.There are many great views of the valley from the ridge. While there are several old jeep roads, the trail is extremely rocky for long stretches. The fairly level, rolling terrain has a couple of short climbs not shown on the profile map. The water pump was broken ~4 miles south of Buttermilk Falls causing me to have to get water 2.8 miles r/t from my campsite.The streams are running very low and a swamp flooded at this time two years ago is now bone dry. I fear we will have a drought this summer if we don't have a wet spring.A beautiful starry night didn't help my sleep so I spent a few hours reading the end of the "Hunger Games". The return trip the next day was uneventful though the last 3 miles were very tiring. Lack of sleep and not enough water had its affect.
Date: 2012-05-09
From: New Jersey

To: Atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

Had a great lunch with Bob Vogt at the local pub before boarding an Amtrak train at Penn Station in Newark, NJ @ 2PM. The train ride from NJ to Atlanta took 17 hours. With 22 stops and the rolling motion of the train I got little sleep. Unfortuneatly, my seat was at the front of the car and I awoke every time someone opened or closed the door. But dinner in the dining car, talking with fellow passengers, and coffee the next morning helped to pass the time.My cousin Jimmy Healy picked me up at the train station the next morning at 7AM. I will enjoy two days with him and his family in Atlanta before hitting the trail on Saturday, May 12.Now I need to go and catch some much needed ZZZZZZs...
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Atlanta

To: Atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

Enjoyed my two day stay in Atlanta with my cousin Jimmy, his lovely wife Anne, and their sons Patrick and Joseph. Patrick finished his final high school exams today, and Joseph is not far behind finishing up his sophomore year in HS.Tonight's chicken dinner with all the fixings, and a nightcap of Baileys Irish Creme was the perfect way to end my stay with my cousins, and prepare for tomorrow's start of the AT by ascending the 8.8 mile approach trail at Amicalola Falls State Park to the first white blaze on top of Springer Mountain.
Date: 2012-05-12
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Had breakfast with my cousin Jim, and his wife, Anne at a waffle house in Roswell, GE, then drove to Amicalola Falls State Park where my buddy, Granbob was waiting. Granbob who started his AT thruhike March 9, had to leave the trail in Damascus, VA to rest an ailing knee. I signed in at the office and weighed my pack which was 31 lbs. That weight included 4 days of food and 1 quart of water. After posing for several photos I walked through the "trail arch" and began the 1.1 mile climb to the top of the falls at about 10:15. Granbob and my cousins took my pack and drove to the top of the falls where we met again 45 minutes later. After refilling my water bottles at the rest room and saying my goodbyes, I headed up the trail.Initially, I planned to hike 7.3 miles today, stopping at the Black Gap shelter but with heavy rain threatening tomorrow Granbob recommended I hike 9.0 miles to the Springer Mountain shelter. After passing at least 60 hikers on the trail, mostly southbound day hikers, I had lunch on top of Frosty Mountain with 4 fellow northbounders (NB). One of the hikers gave me a few slices of sharp cheddar cheese. Cheese never tasted so good!Reached the summit of Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at 4:15. Posed by the bronze plaque, signed the register, and marveled at the great view. I could see several mountain ranges in the distance, giving the appearance of waves on the ocean. When a few fellow hikers suggested hiking an additional 2.6 miles to the Stover Creek Shelter, I agreed. At 6 PM,I reached the turnoff to the shelter as a light rain began to fall. I got a place on the first level in this two-level shelter which was packed with fellow hikers. I backtracked to a stream to get water and borrowed an umbrella from a fellow hiker to go to the privy and later to hang up my food bag on the cables. After eating a hasty dinner, I crashed, tired but satisfied. A steady rain persisted all night.
Date: 2012-05-13
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: moderate rain

The rain which started yesterday evening, persisted all night, and was to continue all day today. After a breakfast of oatmeal, blueberries and instant breakfast I left the shelter at 9:15 AM. All the others hikers except Poet had left before me. I hiked in heavy rain for 5.3 miles, pausing briefly to examine a beautiful cascade a tenth of the mile off the trail. I did not stop for a break, content to eat gorp and protein bars, and gulp Gatorade as I hiked. The level parts of the trail had water 2-4 inches deep. The grades appeared to be flowing streams. I took no photos, not wanting to chance getting my camera wet. I reached the Hawk Mountain shelter at 11:45 which was already filling with hikers. By late afternoon the two level shelter housed 11 hikers. Four hikers tented outside and one hiker, Juju, tented under the shelter. Wet gear was hanging everywhere. Poet and Samantha came in later and both were soaking wet, and Poet was shivering. Somehow we made the best of things, helping each other, passing around excess food, and playing cards till hiker's midnight, 9 PM. I suggested to Samantha she take the trailname "Puddles" as she was dripped wet but she said she'd hold out for a better trailname. I let her use my cell phone so she could let her mom know she arrived safely. I woke up several times during the night and the rain never let up. It was estimated 4 inches of rain fell today.
Date: 2012-05-14
From: Hawk Mountain shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

When the rain finally let up in the morning I quickly packed my gear. I headed out on the trail at 7:20 AM after filtering my chemically treated stream water from my water bag through a black dress sock and into my water bottle to remove excess sediment. Rain dripped off the trees all day but I was able to reach the Gooch Mountain shelter, 7.7 miles away by noon. I hiked part of the way with JUJU, a thruhiker doing 20 mile days. We passed through a beautiful hemlock and rhododendron lined area near Justus Creek. One half hour before reaching the shelter showers began and I got a bit wet. The two level shelter has a large overhang with a picnic table below it. The sun came out in the afternoon. We put up a clothsline and dried out a lot of our gear. Samantha, a long distance hiker became a trail angel when she arrived at the shelter and handed me my camera which I had accidentally left at the last shelter. With so many hikers and gear jammed in the shelter last night its a wonder that the camera was the only thing I left behind.The shelter tonight has 11 hikers with one sleeping on top of the picnic table. One of the late arrivals, a twenty-year old, just completed a 24 mile day and hopes to do the entire 2,181 mile AT in 90 days.Spirits were high with the hikers - the sun was out, plus our gear is drying, and the forecast for the next week is good.I reached Granbob on my cell phone and he agreed to pick me up at Woody Gap in the morning and take me off the trail to his house for part of the day.Watched part of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on a hiker's I-Pad before crashing at 8:30 PM. One of the hikers snored terribly. Earplugs are a must on the trail!
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: broken clouds

Left the shelter at 7:10 AM after discovering that a critter had gotten into 2 of the food bags hung from the bear cables. We suspect it was squirrels or a raccoon.The trail was level and easy this morning. I passed two nice overlooks, a cascade and a few free-running springs. Reached Woody Gap, the first paved road northbound at 9:50 AM. Had hiked 5.2 miles in 2 hours, 40 minutes. I was an hour early for my meeting with Granbob but I checked out the historical markers, used the restroom, and talked to two bikers and a couple of hikers to pass the time. I was happy to see Granbob and it felt strange, after 4 days of hiking to be sitting in an automobile. The shower, shave, and lunch with a couple of beers was great. Later, dinner at an Italian restaurant, a nap, resupply, laundry, cleaning of gear but most of all Granbob's wonderful hospitality made today a special day.Tomorrow after breakfast Granbob will drop me off at Woody Gap with a day pack, then he will drive to Neels Gap, 10.5 trail miles away and leave the rest of my gear at the Walasi-Yi hostel. After a 6-7 hour hike, including a climb over Blood Mountain, me and my pack will be reunited, and I can enjoy a second consecutive night with a shower.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Had breakfast with Granbob at an IHOP in town on this beautiful, sunny day. I started hiking out of Woody Gap at 8:45 AM with a light pack. Granbob took my tarp, sleeping bag, most of my food, and miscellaneous gear and will drop it off at Neels Gap, my afternoon destination.Reached Jarrod Gap at 11:30 where I had a snack and refilled my water bottles at a spring.Reached the old stone, Blood Mountain shelter at 1:30 PM and had lunch at the nearby overlook. The climb up blood mountain was not nearly as bad as everyone said, in fact I have rarely found a climb to be as bad as someone predicted in my many years of hiking. Rhododendron was in bloom on the 4,400 foot mountaintop. The views were spectacular!The initial descent was rocky and treacherous. A couple of times I brieflylost my way. Reached the Walaysi-Yi hostel at Neels Gap at 3:30. Ate a partly frozen pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream. The staff evaluated my equipment and made a few minor adjustments to my pack straps. My first mail drop was waiting for me as was the gear Granbob dropped off. Their computer was busted so I could not update my journal.The shower was refreshing. Had rice and tuna for dinner and watched part of the movie Gladiator with a few other hikers. Spent an hour looking for my watch which I later found under my mail drop box. A fellow hiker cracked everyone up when he said he wanted to find an oven so he could bake a loaf of bread. Crashed by 10:30 PM in the dark bunkhouse, called the dungeon, and had a great sleep.
Date: 2012-05-17
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: broken clouds

Out of the hostel by 9 AM. It was much later than I would have liked but the bunkhouse was so dark and quiet that no one saw the sunrise or heard the singing birds, our usual morning alarm clocks. Within an hour I met two different groups of campers who had lost food to bears the night before. A southbounder saw 2 bears early in the morning. I saw a bear shortly after having lunch at an overlook. It was 40 yards off the trail and ran when it saw me. I never worried about bears or other critters during my hike. I felt as long as I hung my food properly at night there would not be a problem, and there wasn't.The climb up Wilcat Mountain was slow going but not too bad.Refilled my water bottles at Hogpen Gap. Ten minutes later I rounded a bend in the trail and saw a large black hog about 70 yards up the hillside. It was followed by two small cinammon-colored piglets. Quite a sight!Did 2,400 feet in climbs today before a thunderstorm intercepted me 45 minutes before reaching the Low Gap shelter. After putting up a clothsline under the shelter overhang and eating dinner, I hung my food bag on the bear cables. Crashed by 8:30. Had lightening flashes late in the evening. Machete said he heard an animal on the cables during the night and Poet found a slit in his food bag the next morning.
Date: 2012-05-18
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Left camp at 8:10 AM. Followed an old railroad bed for a few miles on this beautiful, sunny morning. Then walked through a couple of landslide areas later in the day. Had only 1,100 feet in climbs today. Reached the Blue Mountain shelter before noon. Had time to do chores include sewing a rip in my fanny pack. Two Austrian hikers came in mid-afternoon after a 20 mile day hike. They started a fire over which they cooked several large sausages. This is a great single level shelter with a stout butcher block table below a large overhang. Poet, Machete and my friends from last night are in town tonight to resupply, drink beer and mix with the locals. Fresh Ground and Timber, two NB hikers slept outside. Fresh Ground offered to give me fresh coffee in the morning. I declined when he said he would be leaving at 4AM. Late storms arrived but I slept pretty well.
Date: 2012-05-19
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Out of camp by 7:40 AM. Had to do a 1.4 mile, 1,000 climb out of Unocoi Gap which was tiring. Met a trail crew at work as I descended. The trail supervisor, Dinosaur, thru hiked the AT in 2006 and knows some of the same hikers I do. Had another 3 mile ascent before reaching the shelter at 12:30 PM. A hiker who arrived shortly after me saw a rattlesnake on the ridge immediately south of the shelter turn off. Our shelter has a beautiful piped spring enclosed in a concrete box. All the springs in Georgia have been excellent! Some hikers don't treat their water if they can see where it is coming out of the ground. I wouldn't do it but they never had a problem that I know of.Poet set up his hammock and let me try it. It was great! He had to quickly disassemble it as the common afternoon showers arrived. Other hikers including Machete played cards to kill time before supper. I had a freeze dried, beef stew dinner supplied by my buddy, Kentucky Jack. Austin, who I met at the Hawk Mountain shelter a week ago pulled in late after a 15 mile day.Crashed by 8:30 but was awoken at 10 by a vicious thunderstorm directly overhead.
Date: 2012-05-20
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Out of the shelter at 7:07 AM. The view of the valley from the overlook was spectacular! The day was another beautiful, sunny one. There was an excellent breeze at elevation. The rolling terrain included too many PUDS (pointless ups and downs) which got to be very tiring. Near the middle of the hike I climbed the 1,000 foot Kelly Knob which was slow going.I had lunch at the beautiful Deep Gap Shelter, 0.3 miles on a side trail. It is a beautiful two-level shelter in a nice setting. A pleasant afternoon breeze was greatly appreciated. During the last two miles of the hike, I followed long switchbacks interrupted by too many PUDS. Near the end of my hike I was very low on water when I found a Rhododendron-lined stream that helped refresh me.After 1,800 feet in climbs for the day I reached Dick Creek's Gap at 1:30. Today's 11 mile hike was my ninth straight day of hiking with a total of 78.4 miles completed. After trying to hitch a ride into town for 1/2 hour I walked 1 mile downhill on the highway toward town and met a woman entering the highway from a side road. She gave me a ride to the Budget Inn in Hiawassee, GE. A NOTE FOR ALL HIKERS - DCG is a very tough place to hitch a ride!!!! It is on top of the mountain with a poor line-of-sight for approaching motorists, and little place for them to pullover.The shower, shave, and giant sub at the Subway next door was great. I washed it down with a pint of chocolate ice cream. Did a few chores and crashed by 10:30 PM after watching TV for the first time in 9 days.
Date: 2012-05-21
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Took my first zero day today after 9 days of hiking. Staying at the Budget Inn in Hiawassee. Doing laundry, socializing with other hikers, eating and sleeping. Two NB hikers who were resting sore legs were taking a couple of zero days and said they would catch up with me on the trail. They never did! I resupplied at Ingles. Ate 2 meals at the nearby Subway, and got some munchies at the small deli-mart next door. Arranged for a shuttle for 10 AM tomorrow morning. The day after tomorrow I will finish Georgia and head into North Carolina. Won't get to update TJ for another 5 days. I had extended use of the computer in the motel's lobby which allowed me to catch up on my journal writing and download some trail photos.While all long distance hikers carry gear and supplies that will allow them to handle problems on the trail, I had a nagging injury that neosporin and bandaids were not correcting. A scratch from a cat in Atlanta had gotten worse, was very swollen, and began throbbing after a week on the trail. The scratch was on my right thumb, on the inside edge of the nail. I bought a large bottle of peroxide from the druggest in town who told me to soak my thumb in it twice a day. So for the next 4 days, I put a couple of ounces of peroxide in a ziplock bag and soaked my thumb for a couple of minutes. Watching the bubbles rise in the peroxide from my swollen thumb was a bit surreal and it was slow going and difficult to keep it clean and dry but by the time I reached the next town, the thumb had healed.
Date: 2012-05-22
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: light rain

After breakfast I got a shuttle ride to the trailhead and started hiking at ~10:15 AM. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I had a few small climbs and a longer 1,000 foot climb to Buzzard Knob before reaching the beautiful 3-level shelter @ 12:30 PM. As the next shelter was too far away to reach today, I had lunch, did chores and started a campfire. Showers started around 5:30 while I was having dinner. Sticks from PA and Wiggy from NY, 2 northbound long distance hikers arrived @ 6:30. Sticks gave me a small carabineer which I used for the remainder of my trip. I clipped it to the top of my food bag, then clipped it onto the wire cables where all the food bags hung at night. I crashed by 8:30 as it continued to rain.
Date: 2012-05-23
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

Woke after having the best sleep of the trip. I was out of the shelter first at 8AM. Had an initial climb, then an easy trail. Reached the GA/NC sign at 10AM, completing the GA section of the AT. Sticks and Wiggy passed me at Bly Gap, as the initial climb in NC was a challenging one. When I reached the Muskrat Creek Shelter I saw it was a dismal affair. There was a large piece of plane wreckage outside the shelter. It was taken from the nearby ridge where there had been a crash some years ago. After a quick lunch I headed north. Had a mixture of an easy trail, crawling over landslide areas, and gradual ascending, narrow hillside terrain. When I arrived at the Standing Indian Shelter, Sticks and Wiggy were taking a break but left shortly thereafter to hike another 6-7 miles. Today's 12.2 mile hike took 7 hours. Dinner really hit the spot. Jordan (Lobster) pulled in after a 24 mile day, and Codfish followed him after a 17 miler. It showered for about an hour as we were getting acquainted. It was cold that night at 4,700 feet in elevation. Crashed by 9PM.
Date: 2012-05-24
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

Had my second best sleep of the trip. Left the shelter by 8 AM and reached Standing Indian shelter, 7.6 miles away in 3-1/2 hours. Today I broke the 100 mile mark of my hike.Had an initial climb of 45 minutes on this beautiful sunny day. Most of the rest of the hike was fairly easy. The trail on top of the ridgeline was flanked by miles of flowering Rhododendron up to 14 feet in height. Wiggles, a 2011 AT thruhiker joined me at the shelter and we got a good fire going. After she left heading SB, 5 northbounders arrived, 3 from NJ. The hikers were Tunes, David (heading off to the Peace Corps), Mad Max, Fifty + & Rick. Had a nice get-together around the fire. I played a few songs on my recorder while Tunes strummed his guitar. Two hikers set up hammocks. One hiker slept "cowboy style", in his sleeping bag, under the stars without a tent. Crashed by 9PM. No rain tonight.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin)
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Months ago I planned to do a 6.8 mile hike today but decided when I awoke to try for a 12.2 miler. Felt so good by mid-day and with the encouragement of my fellow hikers I pushed to do a 15.9 mile hike so I could get into town.Out of camp at 7:03 AM, I made a steady climb for 1/2 hour before reaching the ridge at 7:30. The dreaded 950 foot climb up Albert Mountain wasn't too bad initially, then it flatened out, but the last .03 miles was brutal. At one point I passed 2 mountain goats at the side of the trail that were trying to catch their breath. In my opinion, a hike SB from the fire tower should not attempted in the rain; it is far too dangerous! The views from the firetower on the summit were great. Descending from the summit, I stopped at an old dismal shelter for a quick lunch, then hiked though several Rhododendron tunnels. Two climbs, especially one near the end of the day really sapped my strength. Hiked with Fifty+, and three hikers from South Korea, a brother and 2 sisters, for part of the time. Reached Winding Stair Gap at 2:52. Several hikers were already there either waiting for a shuttle ride into town or trying to hitch a ride. I put out my thumb and within 10 minutes, a jeep passed me, then abruptly stopped and backed up, motioning out the window for me to come over. All my hiking friends were howling that I got a ride. Angie, a trail angel was just returning from a barbeque when she saw me and thought I looked like I could use a lift. She gave me a cold ginger ale form an ice chest on the rear seat which really got my hiking friends groaning. Angie drove me to the Budget Inn in Franklin, NC. The shower, shave, and the Dominos pizza topped with spinach were all great. Had soda outside the rooms with J2, an 18 year old northbounder. Later I realized I should have stayed at the other motel in town recommended to hikers as it is directly across the street from the Hardees and McDonalds, and much closer to restaurants and the Dollar General.