morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-09-03
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: MT. KATAHDIN - MAINE
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

We got up at 4:30 am and broke camp at 5:30. Because of the terrain involved in climbing Mt. Katahdin, we had all agreed ahead of time to break into teams so noone would be alone on the climb. T2 and Miss Wiggy, Loon and Tiger Lil, and Red Rocket, Jason and I climbed together. As it turned out and shortly after we left camp, my group caught up to the others and we proceeded to hike the entire day together.The hike up Mt. Katahdin was done in heavy fog but no rain. We were vey lucky being able to climb today as Mt. Katahdin had been closed to hikers four days during the early part of the week due to poor weather conditions. We did pass what's known as Thoreau Spring, named for Henry David Thoreau, the famous author, poet and philosopher. The climb was hard with some hand-hold devices in the rock to assist the hikers in the steep parts. I would have to say, though, that I can't rate this climb as one of the Top 10 hardest on the AT. We arrived at the summit shortly after 11:00 am and magically the fog cleared as we got close. About 500 yards from the summit, I dropped back from the group to take pictures of their final climb to the summit and the sign. Red Rocket stayed back briefly to take a shot of me with the summit in the background. When we all got to the top, we were ecstatic and we celebrated. We all agreed to wear a Hawaiian-theme outfit for our celebration. T2, Loon and I had Hawaiian shirts and leis and T2 and I wore "beaver hats" compliments of Hi Hills. Miss Wiggy wore a sarong, Tiger Lil had a bandana dress and Red Rocket wore a fairy princess dress and tiara on loan from "The Cabin" in East Andover, Maine. I proceeded to take the bottle of champagne from my pack and Red Rocket brought out the glasses. I popped the champagne and poured a glass for everyone. We took numerous photos in groups and individually at the summit and entertained all who were at the top with the "Beaver Song" which this group is known for along the Trail.We decided to descend down Mt. Katahdin via Chimney Pond Trail which consisted of large boulders and was not necessarily easy. This trail was recommended by Bull, the Trail Runner, as probably the best way to descend the mountain.We enjoyed a celebratory dinner with our families and friends at the Big Moose Inn Saturday evening. At the dinner, we presented Jason with his Trail name, Photo Op. as every time we looked at him he was taking pictures. We also got together for breakfast the next morning before departing for our homes in Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia, Minnesota, Florida and Singapore.Stay tuned for final reflections on my journey which will appear later next week.Until then..... PS - More photos will also be added.
Date: 2005-03-23
To: New York
Miles today: 0.0

Well we finally left England, and are now on our way to starting our year off.We left our house at 0330 after NO sleep to drop off our car and get a lift from Ruth and Pete to Terminal 4.. It was a beautiful sun rise and we were begining to feel like it was all going to finally happen.. (sleep that is).There was a slight delay while they found a new Captain as the original one was MIA.. but we really did not care as it was slowly sinking in that we were leaving our normal lives behind ..NO house, No keys and No cars, as they have all been sold.Darrell slept for a while on the plane but I still could not manage to close my eyes.. well I know I will be sleeping from next week like a log.New York was a little colder than Winchester or London, and there was talk of snow later. Martin my brother collected us and we headed for Bronxville..And snow it did from late evening well into the morning..Managed to stay awake until 2000 when sleep finally found me. I was tempted to put in our trip miles to date but it would have been a little more than the AT so I gave it a miss.
Date: 2005-03-24
To: Campmor
Miles today: 0.0

Very pretty outside this morning but the time difference is really messing with my body clock..not that it needed much more to confuse it, as most of you know we have been a little busy selling our house, finishing work and planning a Year off..It really is hard work!. Especially the bits in Australia and New Zealand.Borrowed a car and took Oisin (my nephew) with us to Campmor and EMS in Jersey. It was an adventure, but as a result we are nearly set for next week.Have booked our flight to Atlanta, one way! we are leaving on Sunday, so Monday should be our first night under the stars. With all the snow here we did a final check on the weather for monday and it looks like a front will have passed through so we will (should) be dry for the first few days, which would be a nice gently start..We are both missing HAL (our monster dog) but he is having his own year off in Wales, and from the sound of it he is having a ball. (thanks David).But we do Have Lassis Oisis's dog to keep us company while we are in New York at leastTwo days then is down south for us.......
Date: 2005-03-26
To: new York
Miles today: 0.0

It's saturday, it's late, we are packed and waiting for the Taxi in the morning to take us to our second airport in 4 days. I nearly made a school boy error by booking an early flight and then thinking the clocks go forward, as they Do tonight in Europe, but not until next week here in the States. So more time to catch up on SLEEP..Typical, I miss this set of Nights when they are an hour shorter...Don't think I will miss too much sleep over it.well the next time you hear from us we will have had a day or more on the trail...wish us luck.ggafter 2 years we can't believe it's nearly time...
Date: 2005-03-27
To: atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

After much excitement we finally realised that we did not have to get up early as the clocks do not go forward here until next weekend, we did not get much sleep anyway as we packed and repacked our gear.Got to the airport and started to finally get really really excited as we realised that the long wait over the past two years was just about over. We flew over the Appalachians all the way down to Georgia but it was completely covered in cloud and quite bumpy, so we would have to wait a little longer to get our first view of the AT. Atlanta was more like the weather in Winchester before we left mid 60's. It was a short wait for our packs and we had our first bit of intrest from 2 separate couples asking if we were here to hike the AT.Having left the airport there was a discussion on going between the first cab in line and the man in charge, and we both made a be line for the second cab.Issac was to get us the last 50 miles to the Lodge at the base of the Trail, or was he?. Issac had never heard of the mountains let alone Springer Mountain. Two maps and one phone call later we were on our way. We also had another two stops before we finally pulled into the woods where we thought the lodge was....This was the visitors center and so we signed in had our photos taken. Then the moment of truth... we weighed our packs... mine was 40lbs and Slip N'Slids was 42lbs.... not too bad. Then things started to go a little wrong, we had checked if they had fuel for our stove, twice but they had sold out and then they told us the lodge where we were staying tonight was straight up the side of the falls..Well we were going to have to start hiking tomorrow so a gentle warm up today would be ideal!800' up the side of the Amicalola falls and it was all steps.. (who put them there), we had been advised to walk up on the road but it looked much longer.. We did not even get a view from the top either as it was all in mist and starting to rain. Checked in to our room turned on the TV to see what the weather had in store (this would be the general theme of things for the next few months) ..Big Storm heading our way, thunder & lightening oh and a Tornado alert..had a thought for the names we saw in the journal that had started today, they Will Get WET.. In the room was the usual hotel info stuff and an interesting piece on bears, I especially liked the bit which read "in the extreme case that you are attacked by a bear you should fight back with anything available and be aggressive as playing dead is not an option" on the opposite page there was info about what to do in the event of a tornado..Glad you will only find out about this after the event mum..during dinner the predicted storm arrived and went right through the night.. it was Very Heavy Rain .. early to bed.night all
Date: 2005-03-28
From: springer mountain

To: Hawk Shelter
Miles today: 7.6

Up at about 0600, final pack hope most of the weather has passed on.. It was a very stormy night. I could not manage breakfast as I was too excited, but slip n'slide managed to force down something. We have arranged a ride from the lodge to the car park to climb Springer at 0800. So we finally left the car and set off in to the mist at 0915. It was wet under foot and we passed our first hikers as we climbed up to the start. By ten we were standing on the top of Springer mountain, took a photo for another couple and for a moment we thought we had left our camera in the Lodge as we could not find it... but it turned up in another pocket. We will have one of those photos I have seen many times on Springer mountain, Wet and misty. We had to back track the way we came up and as we got to the car park I realised I did not have my water bottle.. so packs off and I ran back up the mountain, lucky it was only about 2 minutes back..Hope that's our last slip up but I'm sure there will be plenty more. The day was shall we say "soft" we walked on mud and in streams as the rain flowed off the trails, but we were in good spirits and we met a few more hikers as we progressed. As it was raining we only took short breaks to have water and trail mix then suddenly we came upon a sign that read Shelter. We were at our destination for the night, Hawk Shelter. There were about 10 hikers already at the shelter but we were going to set up our tent (for the first time out doors,previously it was only up in Martin's basement attached to chairs to save us pegging it into his wooden floor!..) It went up ok and we were happy with our spot. Dinner was another matter as the emergency fuel we bought did not work, so the food rehydrated inside us.... eventually. This is not something we would recommend. A camp fire was started and it actually stopped raining so we all warmed up a little. Chatted with others at the fire but names went in one ear and out the other, some have trail names Glad we started 5 days earlier that planed as word has it that next weekend there will be lots of hikers starting..Think we ended up with 19 at Hawk. Quick look at maps to plan our day tomorrow and Lights out.
Date: 2005-03-29
From: Hawk Shelter

To: wild camp past gooch gap
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

Very Stormy night, the wind was amazing, but our tent held out and we were warm, so we are really happy with it.. Just remembered it's PAY DAY..Started to stir about 0615 packed up a very wet tent, asked how they were in the shelter and finally left camp at 0745.. (need to get that down a bit).The sun broke through and the layers started to come off. That's when we realised we did not pack sunscreen!!! The Trail looked so different in the sun light and we had to take more breaks as we got hotter. Chatting to those on the trail around us most were going to stay at Gooch shelter but we got there and thought it was too early to stop on such a good day. We pushed on for a mile but the "Gap" was too close to the road. We got some water and pushed on ahead with a plan to stop at the next available camp ground. 30 minutes up from the GAP I spotted a perfect tree for hanging our Bear Bag (for those of you not in then know, up here we hang our food in a Bag in a tree so the bears don't get it but its also to stop the mice.) In the first shelter a few had kept snacks on their person at night and the mice made light work of them, with m&m's all over the ground infront of the shelter. To our left Slip N'slide saw a ready made camp fire so we pitched the tent and let it dry in the warm sunshine.. We got a fire going and put the pot in the fire..and yahoo we had hot food. It tasted fantastic and we even had desert (maple oatmeal and a portion of maple syrup from the hotel).Watched the sun go down, think its going to be warm tomorrow,that should mean that the tent is packed DRY..
Date: 2005-03-30
From: wild camp past gooch gap

To: Slaughter Creek Camp
Miles today: 10.5

Beautiful sunrise on our little camp, you would think we were the only ones here. Packed up and were hiking by 0715. We passed Bravo, he slept under his tarp on the top of the mountain, pushed on towards Woody GAP before 0900. Met a few that got ahead to her last night and there was a story of trail magic there at 0900 last few mornings so we decided we could wait for a while to have a rest..By 0930 we figured we would get some magic further along the trail so we pushed off just after a couple on day hikes. Beautiful views all around today and it was warm, we passed a town were the temp was 85 so it must have been mid 70's. Stopped at Woods Hole and a couple "Grandma Nan" and her husband gave us some snacks so we did get Trail magic after all.. These people are amazing they just want to chat and give up their food if you are thru hiking. We went past the shelter and camped at Slaughter Creek Camp. We were first in but it did not take long to fill up , there are about 9 sites cut into the mountain to make them level and to encourage camping only on these sites to save the surrounding woods. We had another great meal this time no fires allowed so we improvised by building up rocks around the fuel so the pot sat on top.. again the sunset was amazing, we are really being spoilt. Chatted to some of the hikers we have beem passing during the day its like the wacky races as we all pass each other time and time again.. Food tied up in a tree so off to bed. It was really warm and starting to feel a little muggy...
Date: 2005-03-31
From: Slaughter Creek Camp

To: neals gap
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: heavy intensity rain

woken about 2am as the thunder rolled followed by lightening this went on for a while with out rain, but that did not last long. And when it started raining boy did it rain.. The tent would light up. We knew we were only 4 miles from Neals gap and a hostel but it was up over blood mountain so at 6am we waited thinking it would stop.. and we waited..and waited.. at about 8am we decided to go for it, got out and packed up to find that we were the last ones there. We tried to get up and over blood mountain as fast as we could (and now we get to where the names come from, D had been slipping and sliding since we started and on the second occasion today he broke his backpack cover and one of his hiking poles, so Slip n'slide it was to be.. He decided on GG for me It's short for Guinness Girl, but Gin Girl would also work). There was not much shelter at the top of the mountain and we were the most exposed we had been so far on the trail, just what we needed in a thunder storm!. Got to Neals Gap before 11am resupplied, got new hiking poles for S n'S and got last two bunks in a cabin 3 miles away. We were staying there with Iron Foot,B Man,Shooter and Striker. Had a fantastic shower and got our gear dry. We had been left a jeep so we could get around so we headed out to our first AYCE (all you can eat). $16 for two...! we also made a detour to get some beer on way back to the cabin. Had a laugh with the others while watching the weather channel.. There are no other TV stations as far as a thru hiker is concerned. We decided we would give it a go and head out tomorrow with Iron Foot even though we knew we would get wet.. well it's still a long way to Maine, and it is not going to come to us.
Date: 2005-04-01
From: neals gap

To: low gap shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: moderate rain

eventually got up about 0645,checked the weather channel once more, strong coffee and we drove back to Neals gap. the guys at the centre confirmed it would be wet and stormy for the next two days...but if we waited for only good days we could be here till christmas. Plan on 11miles but who knows, the rain held off for most of the day, it was misty but not like our first day at Springer. managed 6m by noon and stopped for a snack with Iron fot and Patch. set off again and now doing 2mph! Arrived at Low Gap and set up out tent, tried to diverd water away from our tent by using rocks and sticks as we know it will rain tonight, Storm started about six, we had just finished eating so to bed it was. The reports were of 4" of rain, and for most of the night I was sure some one had a hose pipe over the tent, so thats our April fools joke.
Date: 2005-04-02
From: Low Gap shelter

To: Unicoi Gap (Hiawiasse inn)
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

it rained HEAVY all night packed away a very very wet tent, we were walking by 0730, not long after snow grains were falling, they were very pretty and it made a change from the rain. We did 5miles in two hours but by now the snow was starting to come down heavy. Climbed to Blue Mountain Shelter and cooked some oatmeal to warm us up.. checked the map 2.5 miles to a road where we could get off the Trail. It was hard going back out but it made sense, got down to Unicoi Gap and a shuttle was waiting to go to town and a hotel..Also got some trail magic from Inspector gadget's dad (a cold Beer) they were waiting to meet up with him and two friends. Checked into a room with Iron foot and Spry, got dry and some food inside us..Managed a few phone calls to France and New York..
Date: 2005-04-03
From: Unicoi gap [Hiawassee]

To: Addis gap
Miles today: 10.8

Rain stopped, got food and then got a lift back to trail at Unicoi Gap. Spry, IronFoot, Slip n'slide (we all shared a room together) bravo and I were walking by 0820. It was very cold and soon as we climbed higher we were walking in snow . At first it was just a few inches then it became a foot to a foot and a half, but we still managed to do 5 miles in 2 hours. Think the snow put us in such a good mood that we were really moving, plus when you stopped you got cold fast. Fantastic view from the top of the mountain with deep blue skies, looking up you would have no idea that there was so much snow around. IronFoot was the one blazing the way through the snow which worked out well until it leveled off then I could not fit into the foot prints as his strides became further apart!!!. later in the day it got up to 60f+ and we really started flying, had planed on our stop for the night but 2 miles before it we came across some signs advertising Trail Magic "12th annual Feast in the Forest" we were unsure if it was an April Fool joke but decided even tho it was half a mile off and down from the trail we would check it out. At the very least there was water there, so it would not be a complete waste.. Nice old forest road down and sure enough we soon saw a few tents and at least 10 people.. This was amazing Moon, Chief and another guy were here for a week with boxes of fresh fruit vegetables, cooked meats, chips (crisps for those across the pond) snacks, Sodas, Beer and much more all for thru-hikers, they wanted nothing in return but for us to sign their register.. We sat down, moon cooked me fried potatoes and bell peppers which were fantastic as there was stew for all the carnivors. It did not take long to decide that we would be camping there tonight it would be rude not to. About 10 more hikers arrived to accept some of this magic, it really blows you away that there are so may Angels out there looking after us in one way or another. After a few beers and the best camp fire on the trail so far we sat down around chatting till late (for us). It was really amazing, we really could not repay these trail angels, and we have a lot to pay back and its only the end of week one!!!.bon nuite.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Addis gap

To: Bly gap [ N.C.]
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up and left the Feast in the forest camp site by 0730 as we thought we could very easily get sucked into staying till midday, and we wanted to make sure there was some magic left for those behind us. Long climb out of the gap and we now under stood why Bravo, that went ahead, did not come back down to the trail magic as it was very tough. It very quickly got above 70f, on to view point and powell mountain where it was very hot and hard work as we are still carrying 5 days food,mainly because we did not eat any of our own food last night!, may have to eat two days food later today to get rid of some weight. Down to dicks creek gap where we had intended going into town, but we did that on Saturday. Hoping to get to Franklin NC by thursday, 5.5miles in 2 hours onwards and upwards . Past Plumorchard gap shelter, chatted to some section hikers while we stopped for lunch, and finally we crossed our First state line..one state up 13 to go.. Just beyond was a nice area to camp at Bly gay 3840'. Spry arrived afer 1800 (he had got a lift into town, then back on to the trail and still made it to where we were). Big day for us 14.6 miles. If we keep this up we may get to Franklin on wed pm.. with lots of food..!!
Date: 2005-04-05
From: Bly gap [ N.C.]

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

 Up late about 7am packed and headed out by 8am, stopped to chat to a couple with dog about 0.1 mile on from our camp site, (miss Hal every time we see a Dog but we know we did the right thing)Iron foot took no time to catch up with us. First 3 miles were tough, stopped for a break at Muskrat creek shelter, 4600' some red squirels running around. If I had stayed there last night I would have thought they were mice....Fairly flat to next water hole and guess the temp is in the 70s, pass Iron Foot on way up to Standing Indian shelter. Man at car park told us of Trail Magic ahead before Albert mountain. (that should be tomorrow) 2.2 miles up on to Standing Indian Mountain, but it felt gentle enough, It was hot and at the top there were patches of snow, so I cooled my feet by walking bare foot in the snow, it felt wonderful for about 20 seconds then it got COLD. The top had some amazing views 5498'. It's the highest we have been so far. Chat to Peanut, Ribeye and Thirsty at the top, there was a small bunch of Daffodils growing just short of the top.3 miles down to Beech gap and we caught up with IronFoot again. 2 more miles in 40 minutes to coleman gap (3mph now) there was a sweet smell as we passed some ivy, can't imagine it's posion ivy! got to Carter Gap shelter which was very run down, no wonder there was no one here, just then Iron foot appeared to fill up with water and told us there was a new shelter 50m up on the right where AT3,bravo and AWOL were.. had a chat and we ( Iron Foot, Slip n'Slide and I decide to push on) had a chat with the others and stories now passing on about some not so good things at places we have stayed but I am not going to get into it here..left at 1720 to go to Betty creek camp site this would mean a 19 mile day!!! it was mostly down hill or level ground so we arrived in 68minutes not that we were counting or running, it was a small opening with already plenty of tents so we camped underneath some rhododendrons. Patch was hiding in the undergrowth getting water and was pleased to hear us as no one else from our troup was this far ahead. Amuzed ourselves watching each other hanging bear bags, especially as there were really only two limbs available to hang on and one was really overloaded. It was also hovering above some ones tent!!! so a bear could bounce off the tent to get to food!..Slip n'Slide was asleep by 9pm so Lights out soon after..