morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-20
From: Whistling Gap

To: Temple Hill Gap
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: moderate rain

Started the lovely sunny morning with a short side trail to High Rocks for a view. Today we had 3 rather gentle ups planned with a fourth if we knew about campsites so we figured we had plenty of time and energy for a brief blue blaze (side trail).  On our way to No Business Knob shelter there was plenty of evidence of bear. Decayed trees were shredded, bear scat on the trail and occasional whiffs of animal.  Surprisingly at the shelter there were not any bear cables to hang food bags on. We had a hot late lunch after I fetched the water from a spring we had passed on the way up the hill. We asked the southbound hiker who was there about possible campsites on the way to the river and he said their were not too many. Bummer. There is no water either for those 6 miles so we ate where their is water instead of carrying durn heavy water. Fully rested and with warm food we set out and reached the gap amid light showers and darkening skies. Walking through the rhododendron thickets it was darker than dusk. Of course as soon as we hurriedly set up the tent the birds started chirping and the sun reappeared.  Snacked since it is pretty stupid to tote food into town and settled in early. Still have too much food, we are moving a little faster and longer than what we planned on our last resupply. That is my silver lining justifying the extra two days of food and the associated weight! A short 4 miles and we will be back in Erwin tomorrow for resupply and getting ready for our next leg with new maps-a moral booster. Speaking of which; yesterday on Big Bald a day hiker said I looked clean and fresh as we arrived at the summit. Stoked my ego!
Date: 2013-06-21
From: Temple Hill Gap

To: Erwin TN
Miles today: 3.9

Chilling at the hostel sitting on the deck listening to the river and trains. Easy and enjoyable walk down the mountain to the river. Ate then resupplied (lesson learned to eat first then visit the grocery store). Picked up our boxes we had mailed. High point of the day, pack with 2 days of food a manageable 23 pounds! Oh happy day!
Date: 2013-06-22
From: Erwin TN Nolichucky River

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.2

A day of smiles. Biggest one was when Country Gold gave us a warm send off from the hostel. He also mentioned a few upcoming highlights. We had a good breakfast and started around 11 after finishing shopping.  Second smile was my pack with 5 days of resupply was 29 pounds. I was hoping to keep it under 30 even with packing more food for myself. Third was the doe and her wobbly legged fawn we saw on the the trail. We came around a bend and their they were, doe facing away from us and her fawn by her side. She looked at us, licked her fawn and looked at us again. We stood still and waited. After a few minutes she turned and took a few steps toward us then slowly walked off the trail down into the woods. The fawn followed. There was no panic from either animal. When we got to where they left the trail it was where the slope was the gentlest. A unique encounter. Fourth smile was that we went further today than planned. It was a perfect day, sunny and warm but not muggy. We followed a stream for the first part, had a bit of an up, walked in the woods then found our campsite and the water. We actually had to backtrack to the campsite because I over estimated our time to the road which we saw round a bend.  Last smile was for camping in a small hemlock grove. For me pleasant surprises like these make the AT a wonderful experience.
Date: 2013-06-23
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke during the night to an explosion sound then shortly later a pop sound. They seemed in the distance and I heard nothing else and drifted back to sleep. Guess I was tired. Today we crossed Beauty Spot a grassy bald with views of the distant mountains. Sprawled on the summit and basked in the warmth. Another treat was Unuka Mountain with its dense spruce trees. A cloud passed overhead and the forest took on a very different and ominous feel to me.  Tomorrow we will try for a 12 mile day to get us to the base of Roan Mountain.
Date: 2013-06-24
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: gap before Hughes Gap
Miles today: 11.2

Started the day with sunny skies and clean fluffy socks. Big mistake.  Took a photo of Unuka Mt. I like the sense of accomplishment.  At 11:15 the skies opened and we were drenched. The rain pounded for 15 minutes then was a steady rain for another half an hour. Our clothes clung to us. No need for rain gear as it was so warm we would have gotten just as wet from sweat as from the rain. Feet and toes swished in wet boots. I wrung out my socks 3 separate times after the rain ended. Had lupper ( lunch/supper) at the Clyde Smith shelter and dried out in the sun. We were mostly dry by then. A lot of the shelter log entries mentioned doing the same. After the hot meal and rest we enjoyed the semi rock scramble up to Little Rock Knob. As we were on our way down the thunder started, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped. We decided to settle on the first campsite even though we had hoped to reach Hughes Gap. We figure we stopped about a half mile shy but once again pleased with our day. It took hours to dry and we figured better safe than sorry getting caught in the rain so late in the day. Besides setting up camp in the rain is NOT fun. Now the thunder is fading and the sun shining. Tomorrow Roan Mt. 2,245' climb in 3.3 miles and wonderful rhododendron and balds to savor!
Date: 2013-06-25
From: gap before Hughes Gap

To: campsit before Stan Murray shelter
Miles today: 8.2

Started the climb to Roan Mt. My book is outdated. The trail has been redone with many switchbacks and easy tread. There is only one section that was steep and rocky giving us a sample of what was for previous hikers for over 3 miles of almost straight up. There must have been hundreds if not thousands of hours of work to improve the trail and looks like there is more gentle grading in progress.  I so enjoyed the walk around the rhododendron. They are not quite in full bloom but lovely all the same. We also visited and lunched at the Roan High Knob shelter the highest shelter at 6,285'.    The balds were magnificent. Rhododendron and azaleas in bloom and the grass a healthy green. Views were fantastic. I would have like to have dallied but the problem was the thunder and darkening clouds. The balds stretched for about 2 miles. I was glad to get back into the woods and not be one of the tallest items around. Maybe someday I will revisit and thoroughly enjoy a leisurely walk on the balds. We stopped at a campsite short of the shelter because the skies looked threatening. Ted was right, it did not rain.  Tomorrow we take a visit to the Overmountain Shelter which has been used as a movie backdrop but not in the final cut. Also the Ridgerunner left a note in the last shelter log that "The Humps" are a favorite. Should be another interesting day.
Date: 2013-06-26
From: campsit before Stan Murray shelter

To: US 19E
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: broken clouds

The Humps were splendid and we saw our first bear. Day started in a misty rain so on went the rain jackets. Thank goodness the raspberries were not ripe (still in bloom) otherwise it would have taken me hours to go a half mile! Stopped at Overmountain Shelter for water. A youth group was breaking camp. Nice kids. Unfortunately the fog/mist rolled in and I only caught a brief glimpse of the shelter on our way north that Country Gold had said to turn around for. At the humps the skies cleared a bit and we stopped often to absorb the view. The guidebook stated Hump Mt. has many false summits. Yes indeed but we knew it would take us about an hour to reach the summit. As I was snapping photos Ted said there was a dark cloud over us and started down. Then he spotted the bear ahead in the grass near some bushes. The wind was blowing sideways so the bear did not smell us or at least did not care that humans were about. I got my picture on the camera then we made noise to roust it away. By the time we got around the bend it was out of site. The funder started and then I saw some lightning. We were still a good 15 minutes from trees and the storm was less than 5 miles away and now blowing towards us. As soon as we reached the frees we but on our jackets again not a moment too soon. So much excitement over the bear and storm! We decide to go to town since the rain had soaked our boots again. I had put on my drier socks in the morning and now had several hot spots. The duck tape from earlier had not stuck to my wet skin and had migrated up and out of my boot! I tbought of the youth group and hoped they had escaped the worst of the weather. At the road we phoned for a room only to find the 2 closest hostels were full. We called to the next town and got a room and shuttle. A third hiker arrived as I was on the phone and also booked a room and ride. It was nice to be able to help after all the assistance we have gotten. The folks at the Shady Lawn Lodge are fantastic. They have remodeled and restarted the family business just over a year ago. Tomorrow is a resupply, laundry and zero day.
Date: 2013-06-28
From: US 19E

To: Mountaineer Falls
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: clear sky

A day of flowers and waterfalls. Wild flowers I have no idea what they are but are colorful and abundant blanketing the open fields and growing thigh high. I believe the photo is mostly of black eye susans. We took the short side trail to Jones Falls, sat and felt the mist. There was a sign warning of the dangers of the waterfall. Not to worry, I staysd way back on the dry rocks. We hiked on until the campsite by the second waterfall. We will be lulled to sleep by the soft sounds of cascading water.
Date: 2013-06-29
From: Mountaineer Falls

To: campsite in a deer browse field
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It looked easy on paper! I underestimated the ups for today. We had hoped to get to a hostel but stopped 4 miles shy. White Rock Mountain just seemed to never end, every piece of blue sky at the end of an up was a tease. If I had taken a closer, less optimistic look at the map I would have known what type of day to expect. We did stop along the way. At a memorial bench for Vango with a view of the mountains, at cascading Laurel Fork and lunch. The campsite is in a deer browse which is a mowed field. The spring was tough to find since the grass was waist high. Ted scouted around the tree line and found a faint blue blaze. He followed it downhill to the piped spring. Hurray! Had a huge relaxing dinner while wat§hing hikers file past just shoulders and heads bobbing along above the grass. Tomorrow we resupply and set our sights on the final stage to Damascus.
Date: 2013-06-30
From: campsite in a deer browse field

To: Braemar
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: light rain

Today we surprised ourselves. The plan was to only go a short day to resupply and do laundry. I must have picked up Ted's brainwaves because when I suggested we keep going past the road where the hostels were and continue to town be said he was milling that idea too. So on marched after a brief snack.  Laurel Fork Falls were well worth the steep rocky descent. It is a pretty significant gorge the river has carved. The trail crosses Laurel Fork then it looks like it was crafted into the rock. Near the bottom I left my pack with Ted and went down to the base of the falls. Quite a few people were there picnicking and enjoying the sunny day. I could have stayed there a good part of the afternoon but we had miles to go. The trail then goes along a rock face right at the river's edge. I understood why there is a high water bypass. We took the blue blazed trail to town. Once again we had to walk on a main road with little shoulder. The last time I did that I got myself a tall boy from a convenience store as a congratulatory 'I did not get hit' and to calm my nerves.  We are at the Braemar Hostel, a very cool old building that somewhat resembles a castle.  The mileish walk to eat and resupply was a bit hair raising on a busy road where it seemed half the traffic was trucks hauling boats. Some of the businesses listed in the most recent guide book are shut down. Tomorrow we chill and resupply since we did more walking today than planned.New items...heel pain. I stretch, massage and try to rest my feet as.much as possible. For the past several days I hobble in pain when I first wake up. Then my heels are annoyingly sore. By early afternoon they are back to feeling painful. I take my ibuprofen and they subside back to the dull ache. Rest is probably the best cure. Thankfully we are less than 50 miles to completion.Fashion alert.......I am now tucking my shirt in my pants and using my hip belt as a belt to hold my britches up. Between my dropping a few more pounds and the accumulated dirt and mud on my cuffs my pants are ridiculously droopy. I look funky with my new wardrobe adjustment. Some teenagers could hardly hold back their giggles today as they walked past us. I give them credit for being polite!
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Braemar

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

Started back after a day of R's. Resting (napping), resupply, restocking my depleted calorie bank and reading (Cry, the Beloved Country). We got up and over our last big mountain. These are more mountains to cross, we know there are still some long ups but we need these milestones for a sense of accomplishment.  Listened to my music for most of the first half of the day. Today is our son-in-law's birthday so I listened to their wedding songs CD and thought how wonderful a guy he is and that we are lucky nd so glad to have him in our family.  So besides my usual goofy hiking grin i was smiling thinking of family.  Lunched at Watauga Lake watching the swimmers and jet skies. We called it a day at the shelter. We run out of energy before we run out of daylight.  As I turned on my phone I got a weather alert for flooding and heavy rain Thursday and Friday. Guess we will get wet.
Date: 2013-07-03
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: under a hemlock 
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Very cool being able to walk over an earthen dam. Only AT hikers are allowed to. There is not a road for passenger vehicles, just for maintenance. That was indeed the high point of the day. We did get wet. The temperature was maybe 70 at the most. Being a lizard I was not a happy creature for half of the time. Seemed when I was just drying off a 10 minute downpour would douse us. Not 15 minutes after I stopped to take off my rain jacket and wring out my socks we were drenched yet again. Forecast is for much the same for the next several days and nights. We stopped short of our goal when we spotted a semi campsite. Semi because it is small and tilted. Got into dry clothes as the last hour of our walk was in a constant heavy rain. Had hot tea and a cold dinner and hoping the tent stays dry tonight.
Date: 2013-07-04
From: under a hemlock 

To: campsite before Double Springs shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Today was our lucky day! The forecast was for rain pretty much all day. Packed up between showers so got a little later start than planned. About an hour into our walk the sun peaked through then flirted with the clouds. No rain after the initial little bit! Stopped at the monument and grave of hermit Nick Grindsfaff who "lived alone, suffered alone, and died alone".  Saw a foot long brown and patterned snake and gave it all the trail space it wanted. Ted made a friend with a farm cat as we entered the old Osborne farm pasture. It followed along until the birds started to dive bomb him and he took off toward safety. Passed the grazing cattle who paid us no mind at all. Of course as we are out in the open the clouds gather and thunder starts. For hours it had been sunny. Stopped short of our goal by .9 mile. I couldn't resist the easy spring water and choice of campsites. Plus the sky was darkening. Had a big warm meal, rinsed off my filthy pant legs and wrung out my socks for the fifth time today. I splashed through lots of muck and puddles since I was wet and dirty already. We are snug in our tent, warm and dry and listening to the rain patter on the fly. Tomorrow we are hoping to get as close to Damascus as possible.
Date: 2013-07-05
From: campsite before Double Springs shelter

To: campsite near Backbone Ridge trail
Miles today: 14.2

We are debating how far we are from town. I say 6.5 and Ted says 5.5. Either way it is a short jaunt mostly downhill to Damascus. Today's walk was fairly easy, good footing and gentle terrain. Had an early hot meal at the Abingdon Gap shelter where we shared time with "Tennessee".  Not too many views today, a few of Shady Valley which looks bucolic. Nothing exciting but the water pump finally stopped working. I made a mistake and had taken the prefilter off a few days ago and I think something got into a gasket because it is not pulling any water. Note to self, don't be stupid! So we have to either boil our water which I have been doing occasionally for cooling or conserve what we have. Luckily we are so very close to town and the temperature has stayed around 70. Our luck with the weather is due to the fact that the stalled trough of moist air has been pushed west so we have had clear skies and little rain.  We have been thinking all day of our town plans and of course what to eat! I gave us a 3% chance at the start of completing our trek. Little Miss Gloom and Doom. I am thankful that Ted is so determined (read stubborn), I know I would have quit without his enthusiasm and optimism. We make a good team and have for the past 35 years.
Date: 2013-07-06
From: campsite near Backbone Ridge trail

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow, we finished our section hike! I am still in shock and have mixed emotions. There is a great sense of accomplishment that we could do what I thought nearly impossible. Physically I feel worn out and mentally drained. Not sleeping well, not eating enough and constant reminders that I am not 20 anymore wore on me more than I thought they would. Yes I had to have one final fall within earshot of Damascus.   Tried the closer stone on a down hill instead of a big step and fell backwards on my pack. Ego bruised but nothing more. I guess I just need some recupe time and I will forget the slump times and want to heft on a pack again for another section....but not anytime soon. Ted was right, we could do this walk (he was also right in how far we got yesterday as we passed the trail junction about 10 minutes into our day). He kept his rose colored glasses on most of the time and buoyed my spirits and other times made me laugh at how outlandish his optimism was. What did I learn? There are so many good people in the world. I met people who are from all walks of life, have different world views than I, look intimidating, young and old and I have absolutely enjoyed the little bit of time spent with them. These experiences are now a part of me. I have learned to be more patient and go with the flow. Also I need to stop dwelling on opportunities lost-hellos not said first, photos I did not take, blue blazes not explored. I missed seeing the rest of my family and friends. I think I am a mentally stronger person than I typically give myself credit for. I do want to hike the entire AT and think I truly can do it. Through hiking is not for me. Kudos for those who do.
Date: 2014-03-17
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This time next month we the Snails will start our slow migration north from DWG. We plan on hiking for a couple of weeks then returning to help with the grandchilden then getting back on the trail. I am aiming for the impossible: a lighter load but at the same time eating more-I lost too much weight last year.   Last week on a day hike near Harper's Ferry met 2 hikers; one out for a month the other on his way to Maine. The season has begun!
Date: 2014-04-16
From: home

To: none
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So excited, just can't hide it, like a room without a roof....sorry I guess all the exercise music has affected me! We drive tomorrow to Delaware Water Gap. A little background on the start location since last year Ted and I stopped at Damascus, VA 820 some miles south. Over the past 6 years I have hiked that section solo and with various family members. We are ready!
Date: 2014-04-18
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Mohican Outdoor Center 
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It felt great to be out hiking again! Left the hotel this morning and got a few last minute supplies. At the trailhead a group was starting a 3 day outing. I asked what to expect. Rocks, ups and downs but nothing too taxing.  The trail was well maintained and freshly blazed to Sunfish Pond which is the southern most glacial lake on the trail. Had to stop for a sigh and photo. Walking around the pond was interesting, lots of rocks and ah moments while I took in the sight. Saw a kingfisher but it flew away before I could even get my camera out. The rest of the walk was a ridge line walk with the Delaware River to our left and the Yards Creek Reservoirs to our right. Temperature never above 55 but walked in by short sleeve shirt except for the first hour and last when I put on my long sleeve wool shirt on top. Perfect weather.  Arrived at the MOC around 6:30. Set up camp and oh my am I out of practice! Took way too long. Dined and admired the sunset. My biggest surprise was the bat in the privy that brushed my hand as it flew out. Tonight will be chilly, around 35. All in all a fine first day.
Date: 2014-04-19
From: Mohican Outdoor Center 

To: campsite
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: moderate rain

Catfish Fire tower! A short but varied day. Climbed the 60' working fire tower. Bob admitted me via the trap door to the glassed in room at the top. He was busy. There were 3 active fires, one they radioed while I was there that it was inaccessible so they would have to call a helicopter. One was started by a train. The tower is staffed when the conditions are primed for fires such as no leaves on the trees, low humidity and windy. On the way to the top I had to take off my hat and tuck it in my belt so it wouldn't blow off.  Watered up at Rattlesnake Spring. No signs of snakes.  Next point of interest was a beaver pond complete with lodge and newly felled trees. The dam was quite an engineering feat, so permanent a dam that a footbridge was constructed at the outlet of the pond. We expected bonus miles due to a rerouting of the trail for the new high tension wires being built. It was just a small deviation from the original trail even though the map that was posted made it look much longer. Advantages to a short day; air out smelly socks so they completely dry, find all sorts of radio stations on my mp3 player (almost every other .2 on the dial was coming in loud and clear and finally just sitting and watching the hills turn a soft shade of blue grey with the setting sun.