morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-03-03
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

10 AM - Had my tent on uneven site last night w/ the back of the tent slightly (3-4¢)  lower than front, causing me to tend to roll towards the back of the tent.  I had to sleep on my right side all night and could not stay comfortable, so woke up repeatedly thru the night.  I finally woke up at 6:30, laid in my sleeping bag until 7 to stay warm.  I then got up, packed up, had my Carnation instant breakfast, and started hiking at 8:50. The trail was initially crusted and frozen on the surface, causing a crunching w/ each step.  There were also feathery ice crystals visible along the side of the trail in places.  Goal is 12.5 miles to Carter Gap Shelter.  That is where most of the hikers who stayed at Muskrat Creek Shelter are headed for tonight.6 PM - Got to Carter Gap Shelter about 5 PM after climbing over couple smaller ascents of 200 and 400 ft early, then 1100+ ascent over 2.5 miles up and over Standing Indian Mountain midway thru the hike, then another 500 ft ascent over 1 mile just before arriving at the shelter. Weather was sunny and pleasant w/ high of about 55.  Not really any open views to get photos from but good views of surrounding mountains thru the trees.More than a dozen hikers here, most same as last night.  5-6 in shelter, another 8 or more in tents and hammocks.Found a nice flat tent site near where Rick had already set up, got my tent, sleeping pad and bag set for the night and gear unpacked, then fixed and ate a Mountain House Lasagna w/ meat sauce dinner (another good dinner).Supposed to drop to about 30 tonight.39,269 steps today.  One step at a time.
Date: 2018-03-04
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

7 PM - Hit my sleeping bag about 7 PM last night and fell asleep by 8.  Slept much better on flat ground.  I woke up about 6, got out of my sleeping bag at 6:30, packed up and had Instant Breakfast again. I started hiking at about 8 and had planned destination of Rock Gap Shelter, 12.1 miles away - with tough Albert Mountain midway thru the hike.  Weather again was sunny w/ high of 50-55, nice visibility (see pictures).  Had initial 300+ ft up and down, then about 11 started climb up Albert Mt.  1st 500 ft was fairly easy at moderate grade, then hit extremely steep section that ascends about 500 ft over 0.3 miles - almost rock climbing (w/ 35# backpack on) at times.  Rewarded at top (reached it about 1 PM) w/ beautiful views and fire tower also at top.  Took 20 minute break (8-10 other hikers also there taking snack/ lunch break and well deserved rest), then started hiking on.  Next milestone was 100 mile mark 1/2 mile later.  Still had 5 to 5-1/2 miles to hike.  Got into a nice pace and reached Rock Gap Shelter about 5.  Again tenting sites were limited, but Rick had set up his tent on this 1 tent ¢pad¢ so I could set my tent up next to his tent (back to back).  After I set up my tent, sleeping pad and bag, I cooked and ate dinner (sweet and sour pork Mountain House dinner). Now laying in sleeping bag to stay warm.  Supposed to go down to about 34 tonight.  In kind of a bubble of hikers - most were at hostel and at same shelters as me for now 3 nights in a row. Only hiking about 4 miles in AM to Winding Stair Gap and will get shuttle from there into town (Franklin).  Have double room reserved at the Baltimore Jack Hostel for tomorrow night (sharing w/ Rick "Gaddabout").Did speak to 2 of the other hikers in the group that are getting off the trail in Franklin.  Water Leaf, a 34 yo who has been planning this hike for 3 years and has been doing a You Tube video log, says he has had it and just does not enjoy climbing mountains.  He plans on renting a car and driving home.  And Marbles, a 50ish year old (previously Navy man), has a pain in 1 foot every time he steps down on it.  His wife is meeting him in Franklin and taking him to a doctor - he is afraid he has a stress fracture in his foot.  If so, that would end his hike.That's it for tonight.30,936 steps today.  One step at a time.
Date: 2018-03-06
From: Winding Stair Gap - Baltimore JackÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Place Hostel in Franklin, NC

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

Spent all day today relaxing.  Yesterday after arriving at the hostel I noticed pain in my right inner heel area (not on a weight bearing surface).  When I took off my trail shoes and socks, there was a 1/2 dime size blister there.  I tried to limit my walking and wore my camp sandals (open back).  This afternoon I opened up and drained it, treated it w/ an antibiotic ointment.  I tried it w/ a dressing on it and wore my trail shoes when we went out to dinner - walked few blocks to restaurant (Frogtown Market) - and it felt and looked OK.  Came back to room/ hostel and took a shower, partly packed my bag, and now have caught up on my journal.  Won¢t gross you out w/ a picture of my foot/ blister.  Instead I will share picture of small square/park in Franklin.  Lots of hikers in town today w/ hostels (2) and several motels full - all the hikers trying to dry out.  I expect the trail to be busy tomorrow - probably 50-100 hikers heading north out of Franklin in the morning.  Franklin was a trail friendly town in 2014 when I hiked, continued to be very trail friendly now.
Date: 2018-03-07
From: Winding Stair Gap - Baltimore JackÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Place Hostel in Franklin, NC

To: Licklog Gap
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: broken clouds

8 AM - Slept well last night at hostel in a real bed w/ real linens.  Woke up early at 5:45 and put clean dressing on blister/ sore on left inner heel, then some K tape over it.  Looks to be healing OK.  Then got dressed, packed up my bag, had yogurt and a fresh pear for breakfast.  Now relaxing in room and waiting to catch 9 AM shuttle back to trail at Winding Stair Gap.  Plan to hike 10.5-11 miles today and again tomorrow.2 PM - Started hiking from Winding Stair Gap at 9:30 AM and have hiked 6.8 miles so far, much of it uphill.  About 4 more miles to go today.  Cold w/ temp 32-35, but partly sunny.  Had some snow on trail earlier - a little slippery in spots. 8 PM - Wayah Bald Shelter, 11 miles into hike was full and there wer tents already set up in all the decent, flat sites (and on some not so flat sites), so we pushed on another 1.3 miles to Licklog Gap. Rick had gotten there a good hour before me. I arrived at 5 PM and did the usual tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag set up, then fixed another Mountain House Dinner (they are easy - simply open pouch, take out oxygen absorbing package, pour in 2 cups boiling water, stir, close ziplock top, and wait 8 minutes.  Then eat directly out of pouch.  Nothing to clean up.).  I then hit my sleeping bag and got ready for a cold night overnight temp suppose to drop below 20 - coldest night so far.Hike today started w/ climb from 3727 ft up to just over 5000 ft, then descended to 4180 ft, only to climb again to 5342 ft, w/ a couple smaller ¢bumps¢ in between.  Not an easy day. Many hikers on the trail as expected and quite a few nice views. 42,525 steps today.  One step at a time.
Date: 2018-03-08
From: Licklog Gap

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: overcast clouds

7 PM - It was a very cold night last night - down to about 15.  I was warm and comfortable in my 15 degree down mummy sleeping bag, but many hikers had sleeping bags or quilts that were not adequate - quite a few said they could not get warm even w/ all their clothes on in their sleeping bags or quilts - some said they did not sleep at all.  Most of those hikers were up and hiking very early and planned to hike 16-17 miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center and get a bunk/ room for tonight.  Rick, w/ whom I had been hiking for the last week, was one of them.I decided to stick w/ my planned schedule and hike the 9.3 miles to Wesser Bald Shelter (I was 1.3 miles closer because I had hiked the extra distance from Wayah Bald Shelter to Licklog Gap the day before).  I woke up about 6, but stayed in my sleeping bag until 7, then got up and packed slowly in the cold.  Had Pop tarts for breakfast, then started hiking at 9.  I wasn¢t in a rush because I only planned the 9.3 mile day.  Weather remained cold w/ temp hovering around 30-32.  Snow flurries on and off.  Hike today was not bad, couple 800-900 ft ascents and descents, but trail was coated w/ packed snow and a little ice in places, making it slippery at times. I reached Wesser Bald Shelter about 4 PM - there were already 5-6 hikers in the shelter and 5-6 tents set up.  3 of the tents were 4 person tents, belonging to a group of about 8 college students from ? Illinois - members of their outdoor club, on an outing during their school break.  I know at least 6-7 of the other hikers at and around the shelter.As usual, I set up tent, pad, and bag, then cooked dinner, cleaned up, and went into my tent about 6:30 PM.  Going to be another cold night.26,289 steps today.  One step at a time.
Date: 2018-03-09
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC - Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

10 PM - Down to about 15 again last night.  The college students were respectful and generally well behaved last night, although they were up talking until 10 PM and then up at 5 AM.I got up about 6:30 AM, packed up and had some hot chocolate to warm up, then started hiking about 8.  Hiked carefully as temps went up into low to mid 40¢s and frozen ground became slick mud in places as it thawed.  Mostly downhill hike, a little steep in places.  Covered the 5.9 miles in 4 hrs and arrived at Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) at noon.  Knew several hikers there ant went to lunch at the River¢s Edge Restaurant w/ 3 of them - Mac Daddy, and Plod Along and Grandma Shorty (a couple from Massachusetts).  I had a BLT sandwich and sweet iced tea.  I finished lunch at 1:25, just in time for Lonnie (owner of Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel) to pick me up as planned at 1:30.  Drove w/ him to hostel, dropped pack in my room, took shower and did laundry.  Met Shadow, hostel ¢caretaker¢ for Lonnie, and Nightmare, another thru-hiker doing a zero here (staying tonight and tomorrow night) when I arrived.  Nightmare is a 20ish year old girl taking semester off from college to hike the AT. About 6 PM another thru-hiker, Swagman, arrived - he is 62 and from Michigan.  He and I walked about 75 yards to the Wolf Creek Den Cafe and had dinner there (steak, baked potato, salad, bread, and sweet iced tea).Now finishing update of my journal.  Photos to follow.22,178 steps today.  One step at a time.
Date: 2018-03-10
From: NOC

To: Stecoah Gap - Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

I slept fairly well last night at the hostel, woke up this morning between 6 and 6:30, got dressed and packed a few things into my backpack - my hiking umbrella, rain jacket and rain kilt, water for the hike, snacks for the hike, some extra warm clothes, first aid and emergency supplies.  With all that (including about 75 oz of water), my pack weighed only 12#.  My full pack w/ all my gear, food, and water weighs 32-36#.  So carrying 20# less makes the hike that much easier and is called slackpacking.Lonnie (the hostel owner) first drove Swagman to Stecoah Gap for his hike to Fontana Dam at 7:50, then came back and picked me up about 15 min later and drove me back to the NOC.  On arriving at the NOC at 8:30 AM, I immediately took my pack and hiking poles out of Lonnie¢s car and started hiking.  The hike started at an altitude of 1727 feet and immediately climbed to 4710 feet at Swim Bald over a distance of 6 miles. I only saw a couple young thru-hikers who passed me over this section. At 1 PM I reached Sassafras Gap Shelter at an elevation of 4391 feet and ran into another hiker I knew, named Mac Daddy (I had had lunch w/ him and 2 other hikers the day before).  I told him of my plans and that I was staying at the hostel and he decided to join me.  We hiked together for most of the rest of the day.From Sassafras Gap Shelter we had another climb to the top of Cheoah Bald at 5062 feet and 8.1 miles into the hike.  Normally there are great views from Cheoah Bald, but we were enveloped in a low cloud and only had about a 20 ft visibility.  We hiked on from there over a couple smaller hills and generally downhill until we reached our destination of Stecoah Gap at 3165 ft, 13.6 miles total hike.  2/10 mile before reaching Stecoah Gap, I had called Lonnie and he pulled up w/ his car just as we exited the woods at 5:30 PM, then a quick 5 minute drive back to the hostel.Weather today was cloudy w/ temps 40-45 and misty showers on and off thru-out the day.  I used my hiking umbrella when I started my hike out of NOC until about 3000 ft elevation, then switched to my rain jacket because it was getting colder (because of the higher elevation).  After returning to the hostel I took a hot shower, laundered my clothes I had worn, then about 7 PM walked up to the diner w/ Mac Daddy and Chip (another thru-hiker, age 55, who has been hiking in our ¢bubble¢ and had arrived at the hostel earlier in the afternoon).  We had the dinner special - glazed pork loin w/ 2 sides and I had sweetened iced tea again.  While we were waiting for our food, Swagman walked in and joined us - he had ordered a burger and fries take-out, but sat down w/ us and ate it there.  A very pleasant and satisfying dinner w/ new friends.49,637 steps today.  One step at a time.
Date: 2018-03-12
From: Yellow Creek Road - Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel

To: Picnic area at mile 166.4
Miles today: 8.4

Left hostel at 8:15 this morning w/ Shadow driving Mac Daddy and I back to the AT at Yellow Creek Road.  We started hiking about 8:45 AM w/ temp about 30 and light snow.  We hiked easily for the 1st 1/2 hour to Cable Gap Shelter, then hiked up about 800 ft over 2 miles, then had a long downhill hike - down 2000 ft over 3 miles - to Fontana Dam Road.  Another 1.4 mile walk along Fontana Lake brought us to the Fontana Dam Shelter (aka the "Fontana Hilton").  Lonnie had again arranged to have a car left for us at the parking lot at the top of the hill.  Mac Daddy continued his slackpack another 1.1 miles past the shelter to the far side of the Fontana Dam (mile 166.4) while I drove to the Fontana Village Post Office and picked up my resupply box My wife had mailed to me.  I then drove back past the shelter and over the dam and picked up Mac Daddy, drove back to the shelter parking, and I hiked that additional 1.1 miles while he drove to the Fontana Lodge to pick up his maildrop and also purchase and print out his GSMNP thru-hiker pass.  Finally he drove back and over the dam to pick me up and we drove back to the hostel in Stecoah Creek.  We added that last 1.1 miles to shorten our planned hike tomorrow (to Mollies Ridge Shelter) from 12.0 to 10.9 miles. Temp today stayed just below freezing all day w/ cloudy skies and a constant light snow w/ only slight accumulation.  Visibility was limited.  We started our hike at 8:45 AM and completed the 7.3 miles to the Fontana Dam Shelter by 1 PM.  We returned to the hostel before 4 PM, took showers, did laundry, then had a nice beef stew Lonnie had brought over for us.  After dinner I relaxed a little, then started repacking my bag w/ my resupply - will leave tomorrow AM w/ about a 35# pack including 10+# of food - enough for my 6-7 day hike thru the Smokies.31,603 steps today.  One step at a time.
Date: 2018-03-13
From: Picnic area at mile 166.4

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked today from 9:45 AM to 5 PM to Mollies Ridge Shelter on snowy trail w/ temps 25-30 thru-out the day.  Sleeping in shelter w/ temp down to <10.  This was tough day w/ 3500+ ft elevation gains/ climbs and winter conditions.
Date: 2018-03-14
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter 

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: few clouds

Started hiking this morning about 10 AM. Got to Spence Field Shelter at about 2:30 PM - mile 183.3.  Trails slick w/ packed snow and ice.  Temp only up to about 20 (but sun was shining). Shelter built for 12 - 6 on each of 2 levels.  Ended up having 25 hikers in shelter tonight - 9 packed in on top level, 8 packed in vertically on bottom level, 2 horizontally on "shelf" at front of bottom level, and 6 slept on floor.  There isn¢t even room to get up to go to the bathroom at night.Between the hikes yesterday and today, I was thinking of giving up on my thru-hike.  When I hiked in 2014 I felt I got my "trail legs" after about 2 weeks.  At about 4 weeks this time, I still do not feel the same.  I have been hiking 6-10 mile days and struggle toward the end of the day, tending to feel like my legs are heavy and less sure after 6-8 miles.  If I were to continue hiking at this pace, it would take 7-8 months to complete the thru-hike.  So I decided to listen to my body and am calling it quits for the thru-hike.
Date: 2018-03-15
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: clear sky

This morning when I came out of the 2/10 mile side trail from Spence Field Shelter, I looked northward and the trail went up in elevation and was icy and very slippery.  I had sent my microspikes home w/ My wife and decided it would be safer to head back south. So today I hiked the 6 miles back to Mollies Ridge Shelter and am spending tonight here (about 16 hikers in shelter).  Temp was 35-40 during the day, only down to upper 20's tonight.My original plan was to hike north to Newfound Gap and get a ride to Gatlinburg and then get home from there, but turning back south was safer (and the road to Newfound Gap was still closed due to weather as of yesterday).
Date: 2018-03-16
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: GSMNP southern boundary - mile 167.1
Miles today: 10.2

Today I hiked the 10.3 miles back down to the trailhead where it enters the Smokies - started at 8:30 AM, finished 3:45 PM.  Temp today was about 50 and it was sunny all day.  Thursday I had called Lonnie at Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel and reserved a room/ bed again for Friday and Saturday nights, also a shuttle ride from the trailhead.  Lonnie was there to pick me up at 4 PM, brought me back to the hostel, I showered and did my laundry, went to dinner at diner next door.  This evening after dinner I was able to book a flight home tomorrow evening from Asheville, NC - leaves about 6 PM and get to Albany after midnight.  Have shuttle arranged from here to Asheville airport, picking me up at 2:30 PM for a 1 hr 45 min shuttle ride ($100).  More to follow.
Date: 2018-03-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

On bright side, I am in much better shape than I was 1 month ago.  I think I lost about 25#.  In future I think I will do section hikes for 2-3 week periods, may do couple this spring/ summer.  May start from near where I left off in 2014.  I am comfortable giving up the thru-hike.  Weather is up and down on the trail - it was not the reason I am stopping.  My bigger problem was that after 4 weeks both my daily distance and speed were not responding. If you hike an average of 15 miles/ day, 6 days/week w/ 1 zero/ week, it takes 5-1/2 to 6 months to complete the AT thru-hike.  I just was not getting there this time.  If I continued as I felt my body was letting me, I was looking at 7-8 months and, more importantly, not enjoying it because I was struggling.  When I quit the trail in 2014, I was down/ depressed.  Not this time.  I have and will continue to hike the AT, just no longer as an aspiring thru-hiker.
Date: 2018-02-19
To: Life (Rhonda Vincent reference!)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, as the first entry in this eternal tracking of an epic adventure, I guess I should make it epic... I had a bunch of background information about why I'm hiking, etc. but realized it should go in the "About Hike" section, so if you are having trouble falling asleep, head there!Anyway, update that I have started the process of planning and getting gear. Yes, I know there are some people out there that totally nerd about and getting excited about this stuff, but it doesn't really interest me. I just want to go! Maybe because I'm a big-picture guy, not detail oriented.But now I've picked an official start date (April 26!), and started getting the items I don't already own (so basically everything). So it's really feeling "real". Luckily I have a friend that knows about this stuff so he is my consultant. I was hoping to be a little further along now , but oh well.There have been days I am super excited to take on this adventure, and others I feel more reluctant... but overall now it is basically getting to a point of just accepting the fact I am doing it.The first question everyone asks me is, "Are you going with anyone?" And my answer is always no. I feel personally that would be limiting for me, as I want to go at my own pace/schedule and wouldn't want to cater to anyone else (or have them cater to me). Maybe this is selfish, but I feel you meet people along the way that are the same pace and either stay with them or separate.The second question (assuming they are aware there are no grizzlies in the east) is "What are you doing afterwards?" And my answer is always "see where the trail takes me". So on that note, let's see where this blog takes me!
Date: 2018-04-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Alright, well I haven't updated in a while and I leave for the trail in 2 days, so now's a good a time as any!For those of you that have been asking, not sure there is a way to subscribe and get updates when I post like some other blogs. Didn't realize this feature was missing, in fact this whole site doesn't seem like it's been updated in a while but oh well. There is an orange link in the bottom right that says RSS that somehow involves subscribing to something, so might try that!Anyway...=I have been based out of my parent's house near Charleston, SC for the last few weeks, which has been...interesting. They have been very gracious to let me stay here and hook me up, but also it is interesting living with rules ("where are you going?" "why are you lighting that on fire?"). Also it is SUPER flat here (they call it the Lowcountry) so the closest mountains are a few hours away.The last few weeks in Durham were pretty hectic, both logistically and emotionally. Had to wrap up everything at both the Red Cross and my place, and there didn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do it all! Both my friends and coworkers/volunteers were very generous and gave me many gifts which will help.So I have been finalizing all my gear, training hikes, etc. Can see the latest copy of my gear list at https://docs.google.com/spread... and needless to say is STILL a work in progress. I wasn't ultralight by any means, but was hovering around 11/12 pounds base weight. Now I'm at 14! And that is not including all of the clothes I will probably pack. I did substitute a few things out for comfort over weight, so can always switch back.I did make a decision pretty late in the game to throw out my previous budget, so if I had a little more time could have explore some of the UL cottage industry like Tarptent, ULA, Zpacks, Gossamer Gear, etc. Oh well.So we are driving to the area this Saturday (the 21st) and I will officially start the AT (not doing the Approach Trail) on April 22nd. This is great because it is Earth Day, and also 22 is a good number for me (and in my 33rd year - great start!).I'm sure there's more to say but gotta wrap everything up. Next post will be from the trail!