morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-02
From: PA 645

To: Eagles Nest Shelter 
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light rain

Hi Everybody. After spending two nights at the Pine Grove Comfort Inn I hit the Trail at 8:15 and arrived at the Eagles Nest Shelter at 5:30. Not a bad day at all the thunderstorms of the last two days were gone and the sun eventually won out. The shelter is .3 of a mile off the A.T. with a really strong spring and many tenting spots. The only drawback was the filled to capacity privy, this thing hadn't been serviced in a long, long time. Four of us stayed in the shelter and four others tented. In the shelter was one nobo , me and two nobo section hikers. All great guys. Strong wind during the night but no rain. Mice active all night but no damage done. More later. Aleve.
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Eagles Nest Shelter 

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody.  A relatively short day today as I am staying at the Port Clinton Hotel tonight. I'm picking up a new tent that REI has shipped to the local post office, my current tent is the one I used all last year and have liked  but I decided to try something new. The Big Agnes Copper Spur 2.  So the idea was to hike into town, grab my tent and go. However,  the Copper Spur was nowhere to be found. I walked up the street to the hotel and made reservations for tonight, had lunch and got on the phone to REI. Long story shortened, the tent would arrive after the post office closed but the postmaster decided to stay open for me. Problem solved! Thank you! So I'll stay tonight and be back on trail first thing in the morning.  Expecting rain the next few days, no problem. I've gotten to the point that I don't use my rain shell at all just use the pack cover. The 9 mile hike into Port Clinton was a nice one by the way. More later. Aleve.
Date: 2017-05-04
From: Port Clinton

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

Hi Everybody. I had an enjoyable stay in Port Clinton and the Port Clinton Hotel. I hiked out at 7am and made the climb up to ridge top with no problem. Quite a few trail runners met between Minnehaha Spring and Windsor Furnace. The climb up to Pulpit Rock was very steep but well worth it as the sky was clear and the view was incredible. A short side trail leads to the Pulpit Rock Astronomy Park with its three or four small observatories. The manicured lawn of the Park was sharp contrast to the wild woods and rocky terrain that surrounded it. I made it to the Eckville Shelter at 4pm and was surprised with trail magic from an individual whom I'd seen before days earlier. The six bed bunkhouse was full and as it was beginning to rain and the temps dropping into the mid 30s, sleeping on the stone floor was beginning to look pretty good but two women said they would share a bed so I'd have a spot. Thoughtful people for sure and the only thing I possessed to give in return were pop tarts. Bad weather for the next few days. More later.
Date: 2017-05-05
From: Eckville Shelter 

To: Port Clinton Hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Hi Everybody.  I wimped out. I sent home too early some cold weather gear. Rock 'n Sole Hostel gave me a ride this morning back to the Port Clinton Hotel. After a quick ride to Cabellas and an ATM I had a good night. More later.
Date: 2017-05-06
From: Hawk Mtn Road - Eckville Shelter 

To: Blue Mountain Summit B&B
Miles today: 11.5

Hi Everybody. Rock 'n Sole picked me up at the Port Clinton Hotel at 8am and I was back on the Trail by 8:30am from the Hawk Mtn trail head. I hiked through intermittent rain and mist for most of the day. I stopped in at the Allentown Hiking Club and met two guys and their dog, one guy had lost his sleeping bag so they were sleeping during the early afternoon and then hike all night so the bagless  would not freeze.  As I approached PA the rain really started to come down and the wind was getting up and the temps going down. As I started to cross the road I looked left and saw that the neon "Open" sign was lit at the Blue Mountain Summit B&B. I walked in, they had room so I stayed. Sobo section hiker Good Fella was already at the bar. John, a flip flopper followed me through the door. A great meal while talking to locals about the areas history made for an enjoyable evening. Kenny, the owner, is quite the character and we had fun belting out Don McClean's  "American Pie". I'll be back on my motorcycle. More later.
Date: 2017-05-07
From: PA 309

To: Lehigh Gap
Miles today: 13.2

Hi Everybody.  I know, I know. Staying in hotels can be habit forming. My friend John likes staying in hotels. I left Blue Mtn Summit at 9am into occasional rain. The trail was rocky for the most part, especially around the Knife Edge and Bake Oven Knob. I met two young couples on Bake Oven who were dressed for mid winter while I'm in shorts and t-shirt. John had a reservation at a hotel in Slatington and we were driven there by a train wreck of a shuttle driver. The next morning at breakfast we met a great guy who offered us a ride back to the Trail and we were climbing out of Lehigh Gap by 9am. More later.
Date: 2017-05-08
From: Lehigh Gap

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody.  My birthday today and I spend it climbing up out of Lehigh Gap and then putting in a 20.8 day. Except for some chest congestion this was a really good day. The sun was out for the first time in a long time and hiking through the Super Fund site was pleasant with great views of Palmerton and west. I took my time and stopped and sat in the sun when the opportunity arose. I use ear buds and iPod on long mileage days as it makes the day go by quickly and today was no different. Great day though I did have a fall in the rocks and I arrived at PA 33 at 7pm. John was was waiting just down the road  and we walked into town and stopped at a sports bar for dinner. Uber picked us up a while later and took us to our motel, The Red Carpet, which is not bad at all. More later.
Date: 2017-05-09
From: Wind Gap

To: Wind Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Hi Everybody. John was up and Ubered to the Trail at 8am, I however decided to take a zero here. Congestion and knee talking to me about yesterday's fall, so here I sit updating Trail journals. Beautiful day here as I just came back in from another walk around the parking lot, feel great now and I'll call Uber in the morning for the 16 ( I think) to Delaware Water Gap, New Jersey calls! More later.
Date: 2017-05-10
From: Wind Gap 

To: Delaware Water Gap 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody.  I Ubered back to the Trail and was hiking by 10am. This section of the trail was quite rocky with the small sharp rocks being the worst. Before I left home I had been trying my choice of trail runners on the rockiest trails in the Shenandoah National Park . LaSportiva Gortex is what I decided to wear through PA. My shoes would be fine on the occasional rocky stretch but the continual, mile after mile of rocky trail and I think a better choice for PA would have been my Lowe Renagades. I got into Delaware Water Gap at 7pm and Ubered to the Pocono Hotel,  the hotel is decent but in decay. More later.
Date: 2017-05-12
From: Delaware Water Gap 

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: haze

Hi Everybody. After spending another night at Delaware Water Gap I was at the bakery when it opened at 8am. Their breakfast sandwich is pretty good. I walked through town and was back on trail at 9am. The climb up to Sunfish Pond was sedate and the views down the east side of the ridge were stunning. I arrived at the Mohican Outdoor Center at 3:30 and was told they had no rooms but tenting would be available and tenting under a pavilion would be acceptable. With cold rain coming down and temps dropping I stayed two nights.  The staff at the Center were outstanding. More later.
Date: 2017-05-14
From: Mohican Outdoor Center 

To: Brink Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody.  I left the Center and was on trail by 7:30. Windy day and climbing the Catfish Lookout Tower was interesting. I tented at the Brink Shelter with Trail Snail, O Man and Old Growth, all flip flippers who started at Harper's Ferry. Water on the Trail in NJ is mainly murky pond runoff and bog water, my filter will need replacing soon. More later.
Date: 2017-05-15
From: Brink Shelter 

To: Rutherford Shelter 
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody.  I left the Brink Shelter and was on trail at 7am. I arrived at US 206 at 9am and walked down to Branchville for breakfast at the Diner. The breakfast was great but the walk back up to the Trail was a bear. Mosquitoes out in force today but my spray helps, I've got a hat and bug net but didn't use. I arrived at the Rutherford Shelter at 5:30 and tented with O Man, Trail Snail and Old Growth. Decent sleep for a change. More later.
Date: 2017-05-16
From: Rutherford Shelter 

To: Unionville 
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody.  On the Trail at 7:30 this morning. Trail Snail always out first then me then Oman then Old Growth. Not much wind today so the bugs were more aggressive. I liked the High Point State Park with it stone work. The attendant at the HQ building gave each of us a free coke, tasted mighty good. The last few miles to Unionville were an absolute bear, straight up and straight down. I went directly to the Wits End Tavern,  and had a great burger and a beer and multiple glasses of iced water. I left and walked to the park just behind the post office to set up my tent. Later my friends and I went back to the Tavern where I treated them to dinner, Trail magic to my fellow hikers. More later.
Date: 2017-05-17
From: Unionville NY

To: Vernon NJ
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

Hi Everybody.  Very heavy dew this morning so I set my rain fly out to dry while I went to Horlers Store for breakfast and coffee. Horlers has a great assortment of bagels and doughnuts, not to mention ice cream. Moose Droppings at 7:30am, what a great way to start your day.  The temps today are approaching 90 degrees today and the hike, while short, is straight up and straight down for most of the day. I absolutely loved the boardwalks at Pochuck Creek. I arrived at the NJ 94 trail head and called the Appalachian Motel and they picked me up 5 minutes later. The rate at the motel is acceptable and the do your laundry for an additional ten. I ordered a pizza and am currently sitting here updating my page. Tomorrow will be into the 90s here and I plan on being back on trail by 7am.  More later.
Date: 2017-05-18
From: Unionville NY

To: Vernon NJ
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Hi Everybody.  11.8 miles today. Hiked around the Wallkill Preserve perimeter, a wildlife sanctuary and the Pochuck Creek boardwalks and suspension footbridge. Beautiful countryside for sure. I planned to shorten my day and stay at the Appalachian Motel at Vernon and so said goodbye to Trail Snail as she was pushing on. O Man and Old Growth pushed on also. More later.
Date: 2017-05-19
From: Vernon Nj

To: NY17A Bellvale NY
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: few clouds

Hi Everybody.  I got a late start today. I didn't hit the Trail til close to 10am as I spent most of the morning talking with REI about shipping a new knee brace and a few other things. I made the mistake of having the motel at Vernon wash my old one, it disintegrated. I will spend the next couple of days wishing I had one. The State of New York says hi in a big way with constant steep ups and downs. I arrive at the Bellvale Creamory an hour before closing at 9pm. Very busy place. I purchase a quart of chocolate ice cream and a few bottles of water and end up tenting at the trailhead. Long day.
Date: 2017-05-21
From: East Mombasha Rd 

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: moderate rain

Hi Everybody.  Another very short day. Knee screaming at me. Up and down all day. I make it to the Fingerboard Shelter and tent. The shelter is being refurbished and has no water or privy but the stay was pleasant. Boy scouts and an ROTC platoon were camping also. More later.
Date: 2017-05-22
From: Fingerboard Shelter 

To: Bear Mountain State Park
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Hi Everybody.  Another day of ups and downs. The way I look at it, all the steeps now are getting me ready for Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Climbing up Bear Mtn, I was impressed with the stone steps. The top of the Mtn was chaos with people everywhere.  I stopped at a vending machine for a miniature can of Pringles and a coke before starting down to the park. Again, very nice stone work. No rooms available in town except for the Bear Mtn Lodge. Expensive stay. The next morning I walk to the post office but my REI package not there yet. The package arrives the next morning and I'm off.
Date: 2017-05-23
From: Bear Mountain State Park 

To: Canopies Hill Rd
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

Hi Everybody.  It's great having a knee brace again and I'm reapplied with Extra Strength Tylenol. The climb after crossing the Hudson was steep but not too bad.  I met Spice and Amelia Earhart at the US.9 convenience store. I considered a stay at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center but decided to push on another 4 miles to a campsite just beyond Canopus Rd. More later
Date: 2017-05-24
From: Canopies Hill Rd

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Hi Everybody.  Not a bad day. 14.4 in all from Canopus Hill Rd to the RHO Shelter. I met Luna today, another nobo thru hiker. It's amazing how fast these people are. Hiked through old mining areas and walked on what I think was a small gauge railroad bed. From the guthook app I learned that pizza could be delivered to the RHO Shelter, I passed this into Luna and we were moving. When I arrived at the shelter the bunks and shelter were full so I tented. There were about 20 hikers there and pizza was ordered and beer run made, some had a very late night. More later.
Date: 2017-05-25
From: RPH Shelter

To: Nearby hotel.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody.  I woke to moderate rain and a protesting knee. As I began to pack up I realized my knee was not cooperating. I googled hotels and started walking the 1.5 miles. (No uber or taxi). After a half mile I was given a ride, thanks. I've got my tent drying in my room and will walk back to the Trail tomorrow morning. More later.
Date: 2017-09-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi Everybody. I had trouble with the battery in my Galaxy Note 5 phone about halfway through this years hike, didn't want to charge after a system update, so I stopped updating here. I hiked from Fayetteville PA to Gorham NH and ended my hike there because of my right (human) knee. The Whites finally did the knee in, would liked to have been able to push on to Katahdin but could not and knee replacement surgery is scheduled for mid october. The left  (titanium) knee worked like a charm the entire hike and I'm amazed and pleased. So it looks like I'll finish the trail next year, not exactly the thru hike I envisioned last year but I'm not disappointed, I've met some incredible people and enjoyed myself greatly.Thanks for following, Aleve.
Date: 2017-03-17
To: First Step
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Starting a journal is like starting a conversation. Where to begin.....I've never been the outdoorsy type. The adventure stories I've enjoyed over the years have been the Journals of Lewis and Clark, Private Yankee Doodle (autobiography of a Revolutionary War soldier), A Walk in the Woods, Lord of the Rings, and some of the Greek Mythologies. Yeah I know thats weird, but hey its my weird and I keep it under control. Common theme in all of this to me is the unknown adventure and discovering the true nature of people.Why the AT? And why now? I'll answer these and maybe more than you wanted to know in the next posts.
Date: 2017-03-18
To: From the couch to the trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

The PilgrimNo not that kind.This Journal is a way for me to include my friends and family in my Appalachian Trail Pilgrimage. My journey of 2190 miles from Northern Georgia to Mt. Kathahdin in Maine - or if you prefer five million steps, starts on April 13, 2017. Logistically, if I can average close to 15 miles a day I should be able to finish in five months.No I won't be alone - I'll have you guys reading this journal and over 2000 people attempting this pilgrimage with me - granted only 25% Pilgrims make it the whole way. Dropping out for various personal or physical reasons, from family needs to mangled feet.No I won't be carrying enough food for the entire trail. The trail is a footpath designed and built during the depression, connecting National Parks, State Parks, Public Forests or public lands. Sometimes it has to go through a town or cross a highway. So there are re-supply stops along the way.My journal will not be wordy - its just not me, and frankly I don't want the burden of HAVING to write something everyday or like a report a boss needs every week. I hope to make this journey something I (emphasis on I) can look back on and go, oh yeah, and laugh.I'm middle aged (if I live to 108), married to a wonderful woman (actually she's a saint for letting me leave her to manage the home front for six months while I go walking in the woods). We have raised two terrific kids, really my best work. I've worked with some great people I consider friends and hope their comments about this journey are kept PG rated. You know who you are!You may ask why leave a comfortable home, a loving wife, and a great job? Well...because it's a challenge in life I've always dreamt about. From the Journals of Lewis and Clark to Homers Odyssey -the adventure is not the destination - its the JOURNEY. To test one's metal - not just physically but mentally. Hard to get that sitting behind a desk in front of a computer wearing your Scooby Doo's!So why call this a Pilgrimage - I'm looking at this as a way to do some soul searching, that thing in Life that one can look back over their life and say I DID IT. I'm a Bad Ass. Oh, not saying my life has been bad, far from it. I've been truly blessed by God my entire life. It's just time for Bill's Epic Adventure.So, lets get this ball rolling...also no cliche's. I promise thats the last one! I've worked with enough bosses to write a book on stupid one liners.
Date: 2017-03-24
To: Out of Office
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, its done! Asked the boss for a six month leave of absence. Not sure which is more disturbing: a) the rejection of my request, or b) being asked to resign if I wanted to pursue my dream. The email informing them of my decision wasn't quite as rewarding as I wanted it to be. Telling your boss to take this job and shove it, just sounds like fun, till you get to the point its time to do it. I enjoyed most of the work I did, there were plenty of good people to work with and a few ...well lets just say idiots. April 3rd will be my last day to work for the man!
Date: 2017-04-29
From: Gooch Gap

To: Lance Creek
Miles today: 7.1

After a visit to Doc Terry on 4/27 (I've officially given him the trail name The Godfather, for working me in and getting me back on the trail so fast), Trinda and I started 6 miles down from where the accident, at Gooch Mtn, just to give us time to hike for two days and get her back to work on Monday. So the trail was not technically challenging, but we wanted to ease into it. We got to Lance Creek, set up tent next to Bruno, what a character, and a group of three boys with their fathers practicing for their Boy Scout retreat at Philmont. Weather was fine till just after we set up tent, ate and hung up food bag. Then a pretty bad storm hit, I say pretty bad - in your nice cozy home you wouldn't think anything about it - but we had 30 to 40 mph winds, tons of rain and marble size hail. It was a challenge to stay dry, but the tent worked great. Sound of rain on tent was extremely relaxing.
Date: 2017-04-30
From: Lance Creek

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke to a foggy and windy morning, so the water dropping from the leaves made it feel like it was still raining. Packed up wet tent and headed to Bllod Mtn. Just past Lance Creek to Blood Mtn requires a bear canister- hard plastic tube that bears can't break into - we saw no bears!Blood Mtn is the highest point on the AT in GA (4457'), unfortunately with the fog no view, unless you like looking at fog. There is a shelter at the peak, oldest shelter on the trail - built by the CCC in 1934. As we headed down the clouds started to break, but alas only view we had was of the wet rocks in front of our feet. I checked the phone to see if we could get a shuttle back to our car for Trinda, but we had missed it by an hour. We were at NeelGap and Mtn Crossing Outfitters - the AT actually goes right through this store, and not having any luck contacting any shuttle drivers. Friends, I have never tried to be a pest to others, but I was looking for a ride and running out of time. After about an hour I got lucky asking this couple just leaving the store. Sweet T and Smiley had driven down from Helen to buy Smiley a new pack and Sweet T was taking him back up the trail. These two were our Trail Angels today- they drove us about 14 miles out of their way and would not take any moneybags for their troubles!Trinda left - still kind of emotional about this as I write it now four days later. And I stayed the night at the Hiker Hostel in a bunk bed - dry and snug as a bug, ready to meet the rest of my journey all alone. Two great guys at the hostel shared their pizzas with me (Andre & Mike - thank you for the pizza, but more importantly thank you for your service in Iraq and Afghanistan)
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a late start out of Neel Gap, fortunately, as it was another doozy storm in the morning. Shuttle got me to Neel at 12:45, the rain had stopped, but the wind felt like it was either pushing me backwards down the trail or over a cliff. About 3 miles in I passed a fellow with a huge pack (70 pounds - ouch) I weighed mine as I left the hostel - including a liter and half of water and three days worth of food I was at 25 pounds, pretty happy with that, but would rather be at 20. They say we pack our fears - mine is being wet and cold. Met Martin or Lone Woof - doing a section hike. He started at Springer and wants to go as far as he can by Saturday, then fly home to Dallas. We hiked together for about 7 miles, he was a tad faster than me, I'm not in as good a shape as I thought or wanted to be. Middle TN hills are no comparison to these mountains. I was told on a scale of 1-10 for the AT-GA mountains are a 4....damn I sure hope I get my hiker legs soon. Set up the hammock to a dry but WINDY night, I'm just glad we were on the leeward side of the Gap. I could hear the wind up above us, but not blowing through my tarp. A lady tenting next to me was telling us how concerned she was because the low temp was predicted in the 40's. Let me tell you if the local forecast is 40, then the temp in the Mtn will be 10 degrees cooler, depending on elevation. I lent her my puffy jacket, because she didn't have a sleeping bag, just a fleece bag liner. Imagine a huge towel and sleeping in that. In the morning she was so glad I could help her. Not sure that was much help, but I tried.