morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-02-18
From: Cooper Gap

To: Lance Creek
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: snow

Woke up to a cold windy and slightly misty morning. My rain fly was crystallized and the tent poles were frozen. Fun!I met a thru hikeryoued Teddy Bear. A native from Georgia and a previous thru hiker. Another couple who was thru hiking with their dog who I named Lucky. Cause the dogs pack weighed only 5 lbs. Anda former cconstruction worker biker guy from NY we call Turtle. He is a big guy, but slow ans steady. Of course puffing on the cigarettes as he goes. I woke up to probably 30 degrees and within a couple of hours is was near 70! One side of the mountain is still covered with snow, then you come around to the other side and its dry as can be. Very cool!Weather was great and stopped at a much better campsite called Lance Creek. Teddy Bear came in about an hour after and set up shop as well.Over all a very good day 2!
Date: 2014-02-19
From: Lance Creek

To: Neels Gap- Mountain Crossings Hostel
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: clear sky

Woke up from Lance Creek and again packed up a wet cold tent. I got out about 8:15 just when Teddy Bear started to wake.Today was Blood Mountain day. Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia. And supposedly has the nicest views. Unfortunately when I climbed to the top it was misty and foggy. No views for me.I purposely planned on this day being a short day cause of 1. Blood Mountain, and 2. It was my first NERO. Ok hiker lingo. A ZERO is a day that you hike zero miles. NERO is a day that's close to a zero. Mountain Crossings is a must stop hostel on the trail. The trail goes right thru the actual building. Its a full outfitter with everything from packs, sleeping bags and pizza. Along with $18 bunks.I ran out of fuel and lost my titanium long handled spoon so had to resupply. It's also the 1st stop that I shipped myself food from home.There are about 16 bunks in the basement but only 7 stayed tonight. Teddy Bear, Bayou, sunset, 2 girls and her reluctant dad, and myself. Sunset is a legend. He's 67 and is a triple crowner. Which is all 3 major American trails. The Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. He is actually hiking from Springer to Hot Springs just as a warm up for another CDT hike in April. So at the end of the year he would have done all 3 trails twice.I devoured a pizza, took a long hot shower, and did my laundry. Even after all that I was still stinky.Off to bed... lots of snoring going on. Sigh. Oh well. At least I'm inside.Song in my head. Sunshine - John DenverMovie in my head- Maverick
Date: 2014-02-20
To: Cold Springs Gap
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 4Left the hostel about 9 into a soupy misty yet warm morning. Teddy Bear stayed behind and took a zero. Sunset took off about 30 minutes before and the girls were still there when I left.I eventually ran into Sunset while he was on top of the mountain talking on the phone with a woman. I'm thinking girlfriend cause I know his ex wife's trail name was Sunrise. Lol. At 67 the man can move! I couldn't keep up with him, but finally met him at Low Gap shelter for a break and to sign the shelter register. (Every shelter has a notebook that hikers sign. Its a way to keep in tabs with other thru-hikers) I try to stop at most shelters but I don't. Whitley Gap Shelter was 1.2 miles off the trail! Close to 2 1/2 miles extra added to the hike if you did that. No thanks, I'll just keep truckin.I ran into a lot more hikers today. And unfortunately so. Supposedly some, not most, hikers form groups/clicks. Pretty much follow each other from shelter to shelter. When Sunset and I were at a break this group in the span of 20 minutes comes piling in and setting up camp. Keep in mind it's only 3:15! I tried to make small talk and say hi, but they would have none of it. The last 3 some came in, passed by me, looked at me as if I shouldn't of been there and walked by. Wow! Kinda surprised. I cant imagine walking by a fellow hiker, out here trying to accomplish the same goal and you cant even muster a "Hi"? Your click is that special? Or is your self image that bad? That's my rant for today. Everything about this adventure is just the way I thought and more. But the groupie thing caught me off guard and seems quite high schoolish. Come to find out that this is happens every year out on the AT according to the forums I read. Don't get me wrong 90% out here have been great! Most are out here to hike, and enjoy the fruits of it.I moved on from the shelter and found a cool little isolated site. Behind the site is a thicket of rhododendron bushes. I decided to bury my tent deep in there away from the elements. Very peaceful spot.Mountain House chicken and white bean chili was ok but needed salt. Still like the chili mac the best. Song in my head. Cant you see. - Marshall Tucker Band.
Date: 2014-02-21
From: Cold Springs Gap

To: Steel Trap Gap
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: mist

At about 4 am a huge thunderstorm rolled in. I have had lightning closer before but I had 2 strikes that made me jump for sure. It honestly wasnt the lightning I was worried about, it was the "widow makers" the trees and branches that can easily hit the tent that had me up. It rained pretty hard for about 3 hours and I stayed dry in my Big Angus fly creek UL 2 tent.Today was a bunch of arduous climbs, but spectacular views. Blue Mountain, Rocky Mountain and Tray Mountain had crystal clear views as far as the eye can see. Extremely beautiful! I only saw one new thru hiker who didnt have a trail name yet named Matthew from Nova Scotia. Man was he fast! Only him and Sunset have gone past me. Others are miles behind taking zeros like its their job. I can feel the loss of weight, but can't eat all my calories for some reason. My appetite will surge soon. Probably down 7 or 8 lbs.Nothing really crazy happened today just a good hike. I will be at the Blueberry Patch Hostel about 1 tomorrow! Looking forward to a shower and a bunk.http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=442312Song in my head: We are Family. - Sister SledgeMovie: Godfather part 2.Hair is getting longer, and beard getting thicker!
Date: 2014-02-22
From: Steel Trap Gap

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: broken clouds

Day 6.My sleep is getting better every night now, but not where it should be. Today was the 1st day that I felt physically warn out. My knees and feet were pounding. Most long distance hikers say "Listen to your body", well I was listening and it was time for a rest, but the Blueberry Patch Hostel was still almost 10 miles away. I was almost down to no battery power in my phone at this point, but was hoping to have enough to call Gary for a ride to the hostel. I know that there is no cell service at the gap, so I have to call about 3 miles away from the shelter. Both of my batteries are on red however. You will be surprised how much battery life gets drained when searching for a signal. I carry 2 of them on my Samsung GS3 but thinking of getting a third. I finally got a hold of Gary, the owner of the Blueberry Patch, and off I went. I had an hour to get to the gap.About 1/2 to go before the road crossing at Dicks Creek Gap where I am to meet Gary, I ran into whats called "Trail Magic" Basically random acts of kindness from most likely ex thru hikers. We call them Trail Angels. On the left next to the trail was the remaining 5 cans of Coke out of a 12 pack. Might not seem like much, but for hikers stuff like this is gold! Just as I was pounding the 12 ounces of sugary goodness, 3 other hikers came waltzing behind me who I have been leap frogging all day. It was cool to see their eyes light up when they saw the Cokes. I told them I was staying the night at the BBP and was getting a ride. We all booked it to the Gap and within minutes Gary pulled up.Two of of hikers were from Cincinnati. One was named Biscuit and the other hasn't received a trail name yet. Both very quiet and odd. The other more friendly guy from Brooklyn was named The Priest. Simply because he was studying to become just that, a priest. Pulled into the BBP and sure enough Buyou and Sunset were already there. Its was good to see those guys. Gary was a former thru hiker himself back in 1991. He opened this place to serve thru-hikers and has been open for 22 years. Over 7000 hikers has stayed there even though he only stays open for 2 1/2 months out of the year. The poor SOBO's (South Bounders) dont get to experience this place. A bunk, shower, laundry, breakfast, and rides to and from the trail for a donation of your choosing. A cant miss if your a NOBO. I ate the fajita freeze dried Mountain House with some tortillas and I have to say it was pretty good. Some of these freeze dried dinners are ok, but others are surprisingly good.Time to rest my bones, and hopefully get a full nights rest.Song of the day, Canadian Railroad Trilogy - Gordon LightfootMovie of the day, Rounders
Date: 2014-02-23
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Standing Indian Campsite
Miles today: 16.2

Ok, I cant say enough about the Blueberry Patch Hostel, and I promise I will get off the groupie rants as well. But.....This breakfast was just fantastic! Pancakes, sausage, hash browns, eggs, cheese biscuits, real blueberry syrup, coffee, and O.J. The 6 of us just devoured it! As u can see in the picture, Biscuit is the guy not looking, I was sitting on his right, No name, Sunset, Buyou, and The Priest.Oddly enough, I was the only one Gary took back to the trailhead this morning. Sunset and Buyou decided to go to church, and the 3 young guys were heading to Hiawassee for a ZERO. I thought about joining the guys for church, but felt like I should be on the trail that morning. I intend to find churches on the trail here and there when I can and attend Sunday service.Now my final rant on groupies. Maybe..... In a way I envy the younger guys for attempting this thru-hike. After all I kinda wish I did this back in the mid 90's when I was their age. You see I'm not exactly in the bell-curve among thru-hikers. Most are either out of high school or college trying to "find" themselves, or they are in their 50's and 60's retired, and finding a new world. Today is a low to mid 60's day, sunshine and great for hiking. Why would you want to take a ZERO on a day like this considering you just took a half day yesterday? Knowing full well the weather is changing dramatically in the next 2-3 days. Low 20's and ice is expected. Ill tell you why, groupies. Just follow the herd. They would rather freeze to death at Standing Indian Shelter than try to make it to Franklin, NC and wait out the weather at Ron Haven's Budget Inn. Which is where I will be. My first ZERO. Or at least i plan on that. I know hikers that have taken 3 ZEROS before getting out of Georgia! Anyway, Ill be eating a pizza, laying in a REAL bed, and staying warm.......... blah..... ok ok..... I'm done ranting. LolWell today is border day. I hit the NC/GA line at about 1pm. 78.5 miles 6 1/2 days, just shy of 200,000 steps. (I know because Kaytlin gave me a step counter as a present just before our last hug) Not a land speed record by any stretch but its actually above average. I crossed the line with Jerry, a hiker I just met today. Took him 10 1/2. The 1st mile in NC is straight uphill and the steepest climb of any I had in Georgia. Welcome to NC.Today I felt good and actually hiked till dark. Ate the Pad Thai and it was ok. I would get it again. Have not stayed in a shelter yet in the AT. The temperature inside the tent is way warmer than just laying on a wooden board in a shelter. Plus I fidget alot when I sleep, rotating around like a rotisserie chicken. Plus dont have to hear snoring. It was a good day today.God's beauty is GLORIOUS! Song of the day, The UNC fight song. Blahhhh!Movie of the day, Into The Wild
Date: 2014-02-26
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

No picture today but I did put a video together. Getting used to my Go Pro and all. Hope you enjoy. http://youtu.be/DAUhby-gCJ8A couple other good watches about the AT. If you have Net Flix there is a 50 minute documentary put together by National Geographic. You do have to stomach the 5 minute acid rain guilt trip mumbo jumbo in the middle of it, but other than that, it's very well done.Also, YouTube is just full of homemade videos of the AT, some very well done, some not so much. My favorite is called Surviving the Appalachian Trail by William Martin. The ending isn't what you think it will be, but its very good. Check it out here if interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxqFlzmB5pE&feature=shareWill be getting into a little colder weather here next few days, and the cell coverage is not as good, so I will post when I can.Song of the day, Already Gone -EaglesMovie of the day, The Quick and the Dead. (The only reason you live to see the dawn of day, is because I allow you to!)
Date: 2014-03-01
From: NOC

To: Unknown tent site
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

So in the middle of the night Mark thought it was too hot in the bunk room and took this pad and bag and slept on the porch outside. Remind you it was still in the low to mid 30's. Silliness! The two of them took off about 8 but I had to stay behind for a bit until the outfitters store opened at 9. I needed a belt cause my pants are now falling off, but more importantly I had to get my back country pass for the Smoky Mountains purchased and printed. Steve at the NOC outfitter is great! He got me in and out of there quick although printing off a federal document online is not the most efficient thing in the world. But its the only way to do so. I also called Big Agnus about my slow leaking sleeping pad. Figured I would be on the phone a while with them, I was wrong. I told them I was an AT thru-hiker and the situation. The guy just said "I'll ship you a new one. Where will you be in 5 days" Basically that was it. I have a new one waiting for me at Standing Bear Farm Hostel when I complete the Smokys. No returning bag, no reimbursement. Pretty cool! They were planning on getting to Brown Fork Gap Shelter over 16 miles away. I found out very quickly that I wasn't going to get there due to the fact today was mostly climbing! 1700' to just over 5000' next 8 miles. The last couple of miles according to the book was a very quick climb called Jacobs Ladder. I really didnt feel like ending my long hike with anything that had the name "ladder" in it. Also by the time I knew I wasn't going to make Brown Gap Shelter I realized that the water sources were gone. Its a very dry stretch of trail. I had enough water for either a hot dinner and very little to drink or just eat some honey buns and have plenty for hydration. I chose poorly. There is no name for the place I stayed this night. It was flat and had some remnence of earlier renters, but a very small place. I did choose to cook a hot dehydrated meal which left me a small amount to drink. But finally as shown in the pic, I was successful in getting a fire going! I just have to be patient with the thing. Although I was thrilled with myself on the fire, I started to feel dehydrated. I pitched my tent in a decent temperatured night. Felt like it was going to be a great nights sleep. I still enjoy the solitude of solo renting.Song of the day, Power of Love, -Huey Lewis and the NewsMovie of the day, - Back to the Future. 1.21 gigawats?!?!
Date: 2014-03-02
From: Unknown tent site

To: Fontana Hilton
Miles today: 14.1

A great nights sleep as I predicted but dang was I thirsty. No water for coffee, and couldn't even get my ibuprofen down. Needed to lug the pack up Jacob's Ladder and to the shelter quick for water resupply. I will never do this no water thing again!I pounded fresh clean water and a Snickers and laid down for a few minutes to recharge. It wasn't hard to do because Fontana Dam was at the end of my hike today. Fontana is special to me. It was the 1st time I ever touched the AT about 8 months ago, I was getting a package from my daughter Kaytlin, and its the beginning of the Smokys. Plus a lot of the hike today was tempered a bit. Or so I thought. You can see the Dam, which is the highest this side of the Mississippi River, about an hour and a half before you actually get there. So a little deceiving. I got to Fontana 28 AT crossing which is where you can call a shuttle into town to get packages or stay at the resort. It also had a very eye pleasing Coke machine which decided to take my money and keep the Diet Coke I was highly anticipating. Grrrrr. An older man in his 70's picked me up in his white pickup and on to the Village to get my package. He was a cool dude who still rode his motorcycle 2 hours a day so he told me. He used to race competitively and he said it keeps him young. My package was at the resort, and the old man dropped me off at a place called The Pit Stop. (Shown in picture) He said to hang out here for an hour and he would come back pick me up and take me to the trailhead so I can finish my .9 miles of the day and he to the shelter. I happily agreed to cause the Pit Stop had pizza and Sweet Josie stout. Laurie was super nice as I was the only one there she was serving. She gave me the remote, I turned on golf, and she warned me about the oncoming winter storm. I felt great! It was good to sit down and relax for a bit. An hour turned into 2 and no sign of the old man. Laurie was closing and agreed to take me down the hill a few miles to where I got picked up earlier in the day. I thanked her, grabbed my pack, and off I went.I hiked the last bit of stretch with my Crocs and carried my boots. About 200 yards from the shelter I hear my name called. "Figgy!" Look up the hill and there was Jesi and Mark waiving.The shelter is called the Fontana Hilton due to its size which is the largest on the trail, (fitting 20) and has hot showers! The night was the warmest by far in the now 2 weeks on the trail. However all 3 of us know that will change in the Smoky. We sat out and drank a few of marks Coors Lights and went to bed. An overall great day.Song of the day- Amarillo by Morning, - George StraightMovie of the day- Adventures of Robin Hood. The Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone version. The ONLY version.
Date: 2014-03-03
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light snow

Might have been the warmest night so far even though it rained towards morning. There is a "no doubt" winter storm blowing through today and all 3 of us debated on weather to take a zero or press on. I leaned more towards hitting the trail. I mean its the Smokys. No matter what, there is going to be at least a day where weather will effect your 6-7 day hike in this National Park. We headed on.Wasn't long before I started when the wintery white stuff started coming down. The 1st climb was not as bad as I remembered back in July. Maybe I was finally getting my hiking legs. By the time I got to Shuckstack tower it started coming down pretty well and it got white everywhere very quickly. 12.8 miles to Russell Field Shelter. Everything everywhere was now white. I just threw my head down and plowed up the hill. When Jesi and Mark and I got there 2 other day hikers named Tom and Ellen was already bunkered in. They were both from Chicago and enjoying spring break. We ended up breaking out the Coca-Cola playing cards that Kaytlin gave me before I left for a crazy game of Go Fish. This night will definitely be the coldest so far so its a big test for my equipment. Freezing as bed time approaches I was very warm in my bag and my liner OUTSIDE my bag instead of inside.Song of the day, Soul Sister -Train (Hey dont judge me. I cant help what pops into my mind)Movie of the day, Into the Wild (Again)
Date: 2014-03-06
From: Newfound Gap

To: Cherokee
Miles today: 0.0

Mark's text said, "I'm up big, got a room at the casino, lets take a zero" Paraphrasing of course.I'm not at liberty to say how much "up" he was, but it was pretty big.They ended up giving him a suite which was very nice. Wasn't really prepared to take a zero, but oh well. We all went to breakfast and destroyed the omelet bar among other stuff, and we all went our own separate ways again after breakfast. I used this time to update the journals, and enjoy my first Starbucks in many weeks. Later, Mark treated the both of us to dinner, (pic above)at the Brio, then I went to the floor to play some more mindless tables games. This time I won a few hundred which was fun, but not as much as watching Jesi play the highly casino favored "Big Wheel". She didn't gamble much, and only put a few bucks out there but she had a blast.I was tired, and itching to get back on the trail. Cherokee is fun, and off days are needed for the most part, but I start feeling guilty quickly. I want to hike. It's why I'm out here. The bed was comfy, but I really wanted to be in my sleeping bag, in a shelter in 26 degree weather. Call me crazy. This was the last day Mark had a beard, he decided to shave it of which of course looked weird to us. He shaved that bad boy with a disposable one-blade razor. Ouch!Song of the day, Showdown -Electric Light OrchestraNo movie.
Date: 2014-03-07
From: Cherokee

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: light rain

It was hard to get going. We had the breakfast buffet again which filled us up tremendously. Always take advantage of real food when you get the chance.We got a ride to the gap which was not cheap, but he did let us drive around and do some stops. Mark went to the post office and shipped some stuff home. Jesi was looking for something at the outfitter in town, but it was more of a trout fishing place that backpacking one. Mark and I walked across the street to McDonald's to fill our pack with McDoubles for later. Protein and calories!Back at the gap was the mileage sign for Katahdin, Maine. Still 1900 and change left. Goodness! What a daunting thing to see after 2 and a half weeks. (pic above) We got started again around noon but wanted to get 10 miles in which we did. The weather of course was fantastic again! I have hiked this stretch 2 times before so I knew it very well. It took about a mile for me to get used to being on the trail again which was expected. I felt fantastic again by the end of the day, and nothing tremendously stuck out in today's hike. Got to Pecks Corner Shelter and started to get cold quickly. Mark and I tried to start a fire again but we are either very bad at it or just impatient. A little later 3 older gentleman showed up at the shelter. They were section hikers and have done most of the south on the AT over the years. Not one of them had any intention of completing the entire hike one day. One guy was named "Paula Dean" for his creative dehydrating meals that he was known for. Jess, Mark and I played rummy while the 3 of them went to town on cooking and starting a fire. Paula Dean was making french onion soup with cheese croutons, and pineapple upside down cake for dessert. We didn't get to taste any of it but it smelled fantastic. One of the other guys eventually got the fireplace roaring. Ok.....I guess we are bad at it.We did get a few of their marshmallows toasted over the fire which was nice, then headed for bed. It was another chilly night with temps near the teens.Song of the day, After the Love is Gone, -Earth Wind and FireMovie of the day, The Natural. In the book Roy Hobbs strikes out in the end. "Hey Fowler, Don't you know I hate losing to the Pirates!"