morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-24
From: Day 23

To: Day 23
Miles today: 13.8

Left Derrick Knob shelter at 8am. good day. good miles. and EXCELLENT views. 10 miles to Clingmans Dome. For me very hard climbs and lots of "stairs". Did a number on my left knee. The forest type change was a very nice change. Everything was covered in a green velvety moss. And the temperature change was much cooler. Visited highest point on the trail today. Tried to make calls from tower, but no luck. Slept at Mt Collins shelter. Going into Gatlinburg, TN tomorrow from Newfound Gap. Have a drop box waiting at NOC and can't wait to eat real food.
Date: 2015-03-25
From: Day 24

To: Day 24
Miles today: 4.9

short day. hiked to Newfound Gap from Mt Collins shelter. Met Luna there at parking lot with lots of tourists walking around staring at us and acting like we were bums. I used my HIKER TO TOWN sign and we both got a ride into Gatlinburg. 15 miles down the road. A pastor and his wife, Jim and Allee, gave us the ride. Thank you both for the act of kindness. Dropped of at the NOC in Gatlinburg. I got a free shower and they did permanent repairs to my LEKI poles. No charge. THANK YOU DAVE. The folks at the NOC went out of their way to help. First Class group of people. After getting phone calls from the group of 3 I've been hiking with I hung around as they were late getting into Gatlinburg. We split the cost of a hotel room. Went to Shoney's for dinner and then to an Irish Pub for a drink or more. LOL...
Date: 2015-03-28
From: Day 27

To: Day 27
Miles today: 10.7

Left Cosby Gap shelter 8:00am freezing cold. Lots of fresh snow overnight. made some ggggood time getting out of the smokies. Stoped at mile 241.3 Stayed at standing Bear. Got a bunk space, resupplied with a few items. Nice place. Actually got T-Mobil reception so talked to Martha and uploaded a few pics. Was great to have communication again.
Date: 2015-03-29
To: Standing Bear Hostel
Miles today: 9.8

Left standing bear hostel at 9:30am, late start, got to snow bird mountain with excelent views around 12:30pm. Made it to Groundhog shelter, met up with Peck for a quick snack. Then pressed on for another 3 miles to Brown gap. tented for the night. was with Peck, 45, Turtle and Still bill. 12. 3 mile day tomorrow.
Date: 2015-03-30
From: Bluff mountain 

To: Hot Springs 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

ayRained         alot about 3:30 am this morning and on unti about 7:00 am. Woke, had coffee and packed up a vvvery wet tent. made it up to Max Patch Bald and had the experience of my life. snow knee deep winds above 45mph and virtually no visibility due to dense fog and low clouds. as i progressed across the bald, it was all I could do to stay in the rut of the path. Was glad to get down to lower elevation      and thaw out some. Stopped at roaring Forks shelter for a hot lunch of mac n cheese. with a stick of beef jerky. Then headed back North on the trail. Made it to Walnut Mountain shelter at mile 261.3 and saw Still Bill there. He was staying the night. It was about 4pm, and I wanted to push on to decrease the distance into Hot Springs. Set up tent and got water on Bluff Mountain.
Date: 2015-03-31
From: Hot Springs 

To: Russellville TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Will be taking my second true zero today to visit my brother from Russellville, TN. Need to swap out a few gear items i left with him and do some minor gear repairs/maintenance. Will be back on trail headed to Damascus, Friday. Thanks to all who have left such encouraging messages and notes here, it is so uplifting to read. -TSquare
Date: 2015-04-09
From: Day 39

To: Day 39
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Uncle Johnny's Hostel at 9:00AM. Crossed the bridge over the Nolichucky river, then the train tracks to the trail. Was a good Climb out of Erwin, TN with a constant sound of flowing waterfalls and large streams. Stopped at Curley Maple shelter for an early lunch. Soon Rocky Mountain High and Genesee showed up behind me and they stopped too. I was back on the trail before they finished eating. At Indian Grave Gap they both passed me. At USFS 230 a gentleman by the name of "PT" was parked at the road crossing with his truck and chairs out for hikers. Serving iced tea, brownies and fruit. THANK YOU PT. Was back on the trail in 15 minutes. Decided to stop and make camp at mile marker 355.2 Just across from USFS 230 and down from Beauty Spot Gap clearing. Piped spring. And of course it starts to rain again after pitching tent. The temperature was near 80F today and it looks to be a warm night for a change. Will get up early tomorrow and make up some miles.
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Day 40

To: Day 40
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Left camp site at USFS 230 at 6:00AM. Met Turtle and 45 at Low Gap and again at Cherry Gap Shelter. Was a good day for hiking, wasn't too hot and only a few rain showers. Tried to find the Greasy Creek Hostel, but no luck. So set up tent and got water at Greasy Creek Gap along the AT. Lonestar and wife FarOut camped at same site. Will be up super early in the morning. will need to cover 17 miles tomorrow.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Day 41

To: Day 41
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Greasy Creek Gap Camp site at 5:00 AM. Headed to Overmountain Shelter. Very beautiful day for hiking. Stopped at Roan High Knob Shelter for lunch. Crossed Carvers Gap and Round Bald, Jane Bald. Impressive 360 Views all around. Could not hike on any longer so stopped for the evening at Stan Murray Shelter. There were two very nice gentlemen tenting there already. David from Buffalo, NY and Kevin from Charlotte, NC. Really nice fellas. They gave me trail magic ON THE TRAIL!! Cooked bratwurst sausages and served them on pretzel buns. With mustard and fixings. Now THAT was a great dinner. Thank you BOTH!! They asked about the hikers and we talked for hours. Gave them my hiker card and plan to hook up with them further North up the trail later this year. Will see the Red Barn Shelter tomorrow morning. Hopefully with lots of sunshine.
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Day 42

To: Day 42
Miles today: 11.1

Woke around 8:00 AM. Late for me. But I wanted good daylight pictures of the overmountain Barn shelter. And the day was gorgeous all day. Blue sky and lots of cool wind across all the balds and high open fields. Woke to a temperature of 40F at the Stan Murray Shelter. Made a quick breakfast of coffee, beef sticks and a tortilla. The two section hikers gave me a huge Honey Crisp apple for the trail and it was incredible. Will get more of those for sure. Kevin and David were great company at the shelter. Had some good conversations and laughs. Had a good workout for my lungs and legs getting over Hump Mountain. Stopped at Mountain Harbour hostel. Great place, but there was no hot water for a shower...dang that was a COLD shower. Great on the feet.
Date: 2015-04-13
To: Day 43
Miles today: 13.4

Woke early at tent site at Mountain Harbour Hostel. But was having connection issues with the Wi-Fi at hostel. Waited for 8:00 AM breakfast at main house. The breakfast was very good, big and filling. Loved it. Worth the $12. Got my AT Passport stamped and then finished packing up my tent and gear. Had to fill water bottles. Then I was back hiking up 19E to trail head across 19E where I exited yesterday. Met "Still Bill" on the trail and we leap frogged all day until we arrived at Mountaineer Shelter. He stayed, I ate lunch and pushed on a bit further. Rain was coming. I was trying to make a tent site at mile 410.5, but it was beginning to rain. Stopped at 6pm and stealthed at mile 407.5 just past Upper Laural Fork falls. Great pictures of falls. Headed for Black Bear Hostel tomorrow.
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Gear/equipment change and upgrades

To: Gear change
Miles today: 0.0

Was off the trail visiting home and doing a major gear change. Got a new tarp tent called "Notch" with a total weight of 29 oz. Changed my sleeping bag to my summer bag saving me 3 lbs. Changing the tent saved me about 2.75 - 3lbs. Changed my backpack to a smaller more compact 60 + 10 from my Kelty 110 Red Cloud. Saving another 2lbs. Dropped a lot of misc items seldom or never used for nearly another pound or two. Total pack weight now with water and food is now 34 lbs. I am extremely happy with that and should see a huge improvement in my daily hike averages and general feeling as the day wears on.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: 1/4 way

To: 1/4 way
Miles today: 0.0

Reflections on getting to the 1/4 way point and the experiences of being on the trail for 8 weeks. The anticipation. Of getting to Springer Mountain was nearly uncontainable. The culmination of over 4 years of prep, saving and provisioning gave birth to the dream. For me, the reality of this adventure was a slow and deliberate attempt at making the dream a sharp focus.Nothing i did prior to this point really prepared me for the undertaking that had begun. But as the first steps became merely footprints behind me, it becomes apparent that one does not need to know everything prior to starting. Starting has a way of becoming your newlesson master. All of my senses and thoughts since that first day up Springer Mountain had become sharply attuned to all that was happening around me. Well aware at the same time that i was an amateur adventurer. One cannot but help to absorb the experience and lessons of those around you on the trail. These daily experiences become your new building blocks that help you move on down the trail. From the very beginning i had made a conscious decision not to have any devices of distraction such as mp3 player or radio.I. personally wanted all of my thoughts to come to the surface without those external influences. And those thoughts came forward in torrents through the growing miles as the days progressed. It still amazes me how clearly one can recall, even relive in the mind, past events in your life when all you have is complete solitude and the backdrop of nature herself as your inspiration to continue. The beginning miles were difficult. They tested me constantly.
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Arrived around 2:45pm went to hotel to secure a room then to post office. Box arrives tomorrow. Dang it. So went to Dairy Queen and ate a huge burger. After a couple more hours going by, stopped in at the Lucky Star AYCE Chinese food buffet. Beautiful weather past couple of days. Meeting lots of new NOBO's
Date: 2015-05-29
From: to finish

To: to finish
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I wanted to try and put in words what the past 90 days have been like on the trail for me. The adventure has been EVERYTHING I thought it would be and more. So very much more. While I have not been able to keep a daily digital log of every waking moment while on the trail, nor have the convenience of having a reliable connection to post daily, I have enjoyed covering the miles. Meeting the people and sharing the laughs of humor that only the trail could really provide. The times that I have been in complete solitude have been very welcomed. There are moments that the surroundings and sounds, or lack of certain sounds have completely soothed my inner self. There is definitely a very deep change in how I see things and react to situations now as compared to prior time out here in nature.Being the novice that I was when I started, I quickly learned that you can't hope to control everything or even expect to control anything. You adapt to what is happening in the here and now. That is really all that exists. I couldn't change anything that happened 10 minutes ago, nor can I change anything that might happen in 10 minutes from now. Deal with the cold, heat, dirt, wet and smells. The falls, the bites and everything else going on.I've learned that just sticking it out, and doing something positive each day towards the greater goal makes you stronger and more capable. The previous 90 days have tested me. Conditioned me, and now I have to learn to apply that conditioning to complete my adventure.There are so many great fellow hikers out there, young and old. Some so much more experienced. And I see and hear from them, that even they get challenged. And it feels good to be the last one into a shelter, but having completed the day. We all do the same hills, down hills, rocks and everything else along the way. I look forward to what is in store for the next half.-T
Date: 2015-06-08
From: to finish

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

took several days at home to visit family, friends, co-workers and to keep a doctor appointment.All is well for the most part. Health is good. Have a few issues going on with feet that can be dealt with. No blisters. Has more to do with swelling and nerve damage. My feet are constantly feeling 'asleep'. And make my steps feel clumsy. I return to the trail on Sunday, 6/14/2015 to attempt the completion. I miss the trail, the time outdoors and the people.In my "down" time, I have come to know the pain of settling back. And I don't like. Keeping mobile, moving, and doing is where it's at.I know quite a few of the people I met in the beginning will be moving way past me, I am cheering for them, and I hope I see eventually. I miss, and I admire all.there is GREAT anxiety to just get back on that trail, and finish this. I am NOT anxious to end the journey. But I am anxious to know, I CAN and WILL.
Date: 2015-06-10
To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0

I spent the past several days at home with spouse, family and friends. Along with a Dr. Appointment. Will be back on trail this Sunday from Harper's Ferry. I don't regret anything about this journey and adventure, with the exception that I wish I could have done 20 years sooner. That being said, it is STILL the TIME OF MY LIFE. The price is a bit higher in the toll on body, but still worth it.I can't wait to see what the second half holds.more later folks.-T
Date: 2015-06-17
From: Waynesboro 

To: Waynesboro 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Dahlgreen Campground and headed North. Stopped at Ens. Cowell shelter for a bite to eat and wait out tet another rain storm. It stopped so i decided to push on another 5+ miles to the New and Beautiful Raven Rock shelter. Nice place but getting water from there ranks third as worse place thus far for me.
Date: 2015-07-20
To: I fought the trail, and the Trail won.
Miles today: 0.0

My 2015 undertaking is over.A little over 1,433 miles and 9 states. I ran out of motivation and injuries kept piling up. I enjoyed the entire trip, challenges and have such great respect and admiration for all of the fellow hikers I came in contact with, got to know, and shared time with.While I still have over 800 miles to complete, I know I will in the course of a few section hikes. Several times I read, and was told, it's the JOURNEY, NOT the DESTINATION. So, I continue to hope that is true. But it doesn't remove the feeling of failing.My decision to stop was the correct decision and I know the trail is not going anywhere.Thank you, ALL, for the comments and encouragement.-TSquare
Date: 2015-07-24
To: my Heart hurts
Miles today: 0.0

Having stopped, and getting off trail was a harsh decision.I miss the people I got to know, came to respect, and admire.The journey, adventure, whatever you want to call it, is a very personal thing.We all start out with visions of completions. I did. I'm sure we all did. Some will, some won't.I didn't.That is something I now have to deal with. And correct, at a more appropriate point in time, which I will.To all of those still moving forward, I give my best regards and well wishes.-TSquare
Date: 2015-07-31
To: Re-Boot in 2020
Miles today: 0.0

Since I've been home, reviewing everything. And really dealing with missing the trail all I can think of doing is doing it over, and getting it right. With myself.It's eating me up that I didn't finish. I learned a lot. And I learned also that I could have done quite a few things better. But I had to learn it.So,I'm re-setting and doing it over with the knowledge I gained. I'm sure I'm not the first person to have done that, and I don't mind.So 2020 is my re-do.-TSquare
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter, GA
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

My wife drove me and a section hiker up from Amicalola to the Forest Service Road 42 Trail crossing. In the rain and fog. We had, of course, done our checking in and pack weighing at the park building. I forgot to take note of how many thru-hikers had already signed in this year.After hiking in to the top of Springer and taking photos, I stopped at the Springer Mountain Shelter and signed the register there. There were 6 or 8 hikers there keeping out of the rain.A lot of the day's hike reminded me of stretches in the Shenandoah and elsewhere along the Trail. I did a little leap-frogging and passing other folks, mostly young people. Met one guy heading south who said he was giving up and going home.At Hawk Mountain Shelter there was a bigger crowd: some 10 or 12 hikers and one Newfoundland dog in the shelter, plus several tents and hammocks out in the weather.Most of the conversation in the shelter cycled around and around through gear and pot and distances and who know what. But at dark it quieted down pretty quickly. There was one young man telling someone that his pack was over 40 pounds; that when he got to Neel Gap he was going to buy a new, lighter tent; and that he hoped to get his pack weight down to 38 pounds. The girls he was talking with seemed to think this was great.
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter, GA

To: Past Woody Gap, GA
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Day 2: Camped in the woods 1.5 miles north of Woody Gap at milepost 22.6. The rain stopped most of the afternoon, but came back after dark and came down in heavier or lighter showers pretty much all night.Saw lots of wildflowers blooming, though and one snake of some innocuous kind. The walking was good. The Trail is reminiscent of sections I've hiked in a lot of other states: up, down, rocks, streams, roots; repeat.Stopped at Gooch Gap Shelter for lunch. Several other hikers there for a break, too. One guy, though, was sitting out a few days at the shelter, sick. He said several times "I knew it would difficult, but I didn't think I wouldn't eat or sleep for three days." Apparently he'd been throwing up regularly. Which would make it hard to eat or sleep. One of the other hikers was offering him some medicine from his first aid stores. I would guess he isn't long for this hiking season, being laid up less than 16 miles from Springer. And he'd taken an early retirement to come hiking, too.Speaking of food, I've already started to realize that I am carrying a little too much food for these early days before the metabolism changes and all. I never learn.
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Neel Gap, GA

To: .3 Miles past Chattahoochee Gap, GA
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 4 - I'll be good here as long as the rain doesn't begin to blow sideways from my left. Pray God it doesn't. I still don't have the tarp business figured out. I guess the side I think of as the top is actually the bottom because otherwise it doesn't fit right. If it ever stops raining here I can get it worked out. Until then I just have to hang my hammock as quickly as possible in order to aim for some amount of dryness.It didn't really rain all day today, but I walked in a cloud all morning. That lifted around noon. And I had my first trail magic at Tesnatnee Gap (mile 37.7). It was provided by a church guy (whose nephew went to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) who does it from a Christian point of view. I heard him say several times that he aims to "Love God, and love your fellow man. And what better way to show love to a thru-hiker than to offer a chair, some hot coffee or cocoa or a cold drink, and some food?" They had a good selection of snack food, so I had some Little Debbie snack cakes and a cookie. The church group behind the effort also had ladies who knitted caps to distribute to hikers coming through in cold weather. (Shout out to the knitting ladies of Bethlehem First United Methodist Church in Bethlehem, GA!!)I got to Low Gap Shelter at maybe 2:30 or 3:00 and found it very crowded. There was a guy there already intent on building a big campfire. I settled in to eat something and discovered that my peanut butter had leaked all over the inside of the "odorproof" bag inside my Ursack "bear resistant" food bag. I hope it actually is odorproof because right now it's hanging about 15 feet from my hammock.Anyway, I left the shelter intent on making a campsite or maybe the next shelter. My right knee, though doing wonderfully all day with the new knee brace, started complaining in the freshly restarting rain. I was getting wetter and wetter. So I decided to stop at the next likely spot. I never saw any suitable trees until I passed a little side trail that went off into the bushes. I followed it about 10 feet and decided it was nothing.I walked back to the Trail and on by, but then felt nagged by the thought of missing a possible campsite. So I decided to follow the promptings of the Spirit to investigate where that informal trail went. This time I went further in and discovered not too far past where I'd stopped that there was a campsite there (that is, here). A site with suitable trees for my hammock. Oh, and I believe I left my tent stakes at the last campsite (night #2). I just don't believe I saw them when I packed up my dried-out gear at Mountain Crossings.I'm 1 mile shy of an official campsite, and 2 miles south of the next shelter (Blue Mountain). The shelter could be a good place to stop for breakfast in the morning. And it's only 21 mile to Dick's Creek Gap and the Top of Georgia Hostel. I think I had better camp in between someplace and then get an inside room at the hostel early on the next day.It's 7:30 pm, so I think I'll read a bit before going to sleep.(Averaging 12.125 miles per day so far)
Date: 2015-04-17
From: .3 Miles past Chattahoochee Gap, GA

To: .4 Miles South of Sassafras Gap, GA
Miles today: 14.3

Day 5 - The highlights of the day include no rain until the late afternoon. Other highlights include hearing the drumming of a Ruffed Grouse as I was packing up in the morning. And then a mile or so into the day's hike I heard another one that sounded pretty close. I looked for it and then spotted it about 10-15 yards off to the side of the Trail. I watched it for some 30 seconds before it hopped off the log it was on and disappeared.Later this afternoon as I was climbing Tray Mountain, aiming for the shelter there as a lunch place I met a ridgerunner. We had a nice chat. She said -- after I'd mentioned having left Springer on Monday -- "well, you're really picking them up and putting them down." Nice affirmation, that. Especially since I don't feel like I'm really pushing the mileage. She must see a lot of out-of-shape hikers down here in Georgia. I'm just not one of them.There were 2 guys at the shelter, plus a couple with a dog, when I arrived. We all could have fit for the night, but the couple finished eating, packed up, and left. Then after much debate, so did the other two guys. Just as three kids showed up. I was done with lunch so I packed up, too. I think it was about 3:00; too early to stop for the night.I stopped here the woods at 6:30 because I was just tired of the rain. Once I had strung my hammock and put up the rain fly, it actually felt pretty good to be underneath it eating a cold supper while not getting any wetter than I already was.And, so, here I am just shy of Sassafras Gap, and a mere 6.8 miles south of Dick's Creek Gap. The hostel there has another food box for me. So now I need to decide whether to stay at the hostel after only 6.8 miles (3.5 hours of hiking, more or less), or to go on to the shelter that's about 10 miles from here.If/when the rain leaves the area there should be some nice days, some new spring fungi and flowers, and some flowing springs.One thing the ridgerunner and I touched on are how we both see kids hiking short days, going into every town and hostel, spending money but not making miles. Those are the ones not focused on Katahdin.(Averaging 12.56 miles per day so far.)