morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2021-10-29
From: Harpers Ferry Quality Inn

To: Harpers Ferry ZERO
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The rain and wind started at about 1 AM and, with only brief let ups, is still going strong as of 5 PM. My wife¢s cousin Carol and her husband Norm, who live in Frederick Maryland, have generously rescued me from the Quality Inn and took me to their home for the night.It¢s been a day full of good food and pleasant conversation.I did manage to start the day with a little exercise and sightseeing. Umbrella in hand, I made my way through the pouring rain to the Country Cafe for a hearty breakfast, arriving at 8 AM, only to be told they don¢t open till 8:30. The nearest safe harbor was a 7-Eleven a couple of blocks away where I purchased a paper to kill some time.I returned to the restaurant promptly at 8:30 and was rewarded with an exceptional western omelette and home fries. I highly recommend this place! The food was fantastic and the portion size generous.From there, I sloshed my way towards the ATC headquarters, dropping and cracking my iPhone on the way and enduring three umbrella inversions. It was great! Picture Jim Cantore in the middle of a hurricane on the Weather Channel.I am now officially registered as an ATC section hiker, with my picture in ¢the book¢. Good company there.The plan tomorrow is back on the trail, rain or shine. Norm will drop me off about 7:30 to begin the two-day, 40-mile final leg of this journey to the Pa. finish line. The forecast is still for rain but hopefully the winds will subside by then. The first nine days of this hike, my umbrella has come along as a passenger. I am thinking tomorrow it¢s finally going to earn it¢s keep.Happy Trails!  Lone Ranger
Date: 2021-10-30
From: Harpers Ferry 

To: Pine Knoll Shelter Tent Site
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: light rain

Day-10:  53,136 stepsAfter a quick breakfast and coffee, Norm dropped me off at 7:15 this morning back in Harpers Ferry. The day started overcast and misty, and gradually a light rain built-in. I broke out the umbrella and moved merrily along, with a nice easy start along the C&O towpath.Turning off the towpath, the trail quickly regained about 1000 feet of elevation and, with only occasional small ups and downs, pretty much stayed at that level all day. Maryland has been a real joy to walk so far. The trail frequently breaks out into areas of historic importance such as Civil War battles and monuments.I could easily have walked a few more miles today. My legs were feeling great and my feet even stayed dry in my waterproof socks! Unfortunately, daylight is at a premium at this time of year.I stopped at one of the many small parks for an early lunch and discovered my spoon was missing. That¢s never fun. Fortunately, my lunch of cheesy potatoes had the perfect consistency to stick to a stick! Problem solved.Tomorrow should be my easiest day of the trip with only about 17 or 18 miles to go. It will be back to Norm and Carol¢s house for a nice dinner out, then a late morning flight home on Monday, finally to be reunited with Mrs. Ranger. Can¢t wait!
Date: 2021-10-31
From: Pine Knoll Shelter Tent Site

To: Mason-Dixon Line
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day-12:  47,200 stepsMy final day on the trail. The alarm went off at 5:45. Out of the sack, headlight on, unzip the tent and stand up and......BAM...a wall of white! The glare from my headlight on the super-dense fog was so bright I couldn't see my feet! It turned out this wasn't the only surprise I would get today.After yesterday's really easy trek, I was naturally expecting more of the same today. And with only a bit over 17 miles to go, it looked like a short day in the offing. Driving through Maryland always left the impression of pastoral rolling hills and I expected the trail to mimic that. And in fact, the first few miles lulled me into complacency as they once again presented an immaculately manicured, perfectly engineered and moderately graded walk in the woods, just like yesterday. But the state of Maryland and the mix of weather conditions conspired to make this, my final day, the most difficult. Maryland's part was to throw in recurring rock tumbles in places where rocks logically shouldn't be. And the dense fog, followed by on-and-off showers, made things super slick & slow. It didn't matter how consciously careful I was on those rocks, I still ended up slipping and sliding. Fortunately, I made it through the day, and the entire hike for that matter, without hitting the ground once.In the end, after recurring re-calculations pushing my E.T.A. back, I coordinated my pick-up with Norm at just before 5:00 PM....10 hours on the trail to cover 17.5 miles. The shame of it!In the end, I don't think I could have had a better 12-day experience. The first 9 days were perfection! Blue skies & sunshine all the way with temps in the 60's by day and high 40's at night. The PACT does an incredible job of maintaining Shenandoah & north. The 10th day was awful weather-wise, but Norm & Carol came to the rescue and I spent a pleasant day and night at their home. And because I had an easy 3 days set aside for the final 40 miles, I was able to cover that distance in 2 days & still stay on schedule for my flight home. My only regret was that I didn't have that extra time to stick around Harpers Ferry and explore the sights.I've now covered 800+ miles of the A/T, from Rockfish Gap to mid-Vermont. I'm not sure what's in store for the future. The further from home, the more difficult the logistics, and certainly I'm done for this year. If I do rejoin the A/T, I'm inclined to head back up North. Finishing Vermont & into the Whites sounds like fun and certainly a big change, and challenge, from this last section.Thanks for tuning in to my little adventure. And as always....Happy Trails!   Lone Ranger
Date: 2021-04-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am finishing packing for my AT thru-hike. I think I have everything, but I won't truly know until I hit the trail. Some thoughts:The airline is charging me for a 50-pound checked bag, so I'm taking my first five days of food with me. It's 2,700 to 2,800 calories per day. I think it will be enough.My plan is to try to hike 5 days between resupply points and take a zero/nero every resupply.The first few days may be lower mileage while I get my trail legs, but ultimately I would like to average about 25 miles per day. With the zero/nero days, my trip average should be about 20 miles per day.I am sick of packing out toilet paper on the trail, so I'm going to try a trail bidet. I've heard good things, but I have zero experience using one.I was hoping to be rid of a nagging groin injury, but it persists. Who knows how problematic that could be, but I'm taking a brace, just in case. I should be able to ditch it after a week or two.
Date: 2021-04-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This is my last night sleeping in my "city bed". I have spent most of today going through my equipment for the 10th or 15th time. My clothes and tent are all treated with permethrin (insect repellent), which I've only ever done for Agogee (Vermont in June). I've read that many AT hikers do it and I already had a bottle on hand, so I might as well. Tonight, I said TTFN to my daughter. It was tough and I know I will miss her terribly. I've already been through some of that in my OT hikes (up to 9 days), but 4-5 months is something else entirely. The rest of tonight will be spent stuffing everything in my pack and doing some house cleaning.My flight leaves early tomorrow morning. I have a shuttle scheduled to pick me up from the Atlanta airport and bring me a fuel canister. Then, it will be off to Amicalola Falls State Park, where I have a room for the night at the lodge. I will wake up on Thursday morning, grab some breakfast, register my hike, and begin the 8.5 mile approach trail. I'm anxious, but excited to finally get started!
Date: 2021-04-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

The first step of any journey is always the hardest and that first step for me was simply leaving the comforts of home, knowing what likely lies ahead.The flight to Atlanta was uneventful, but my shuttle was 30 minutes late because he had to do an emergency pick-up for a hiker in trouble. I couldn't check in at the lodge until 4pm anyway, so waiting at the airport or at the lodge didn't make much difference to me.My equipment made it without issue, though the IKEA bag had a big rip in it. Better that bag than my backpack! I checked in to the lodge at 4 and found out that hiker registration at the visitors center was open until 5. I went up to my room, threw on my pack, and beat feet down there. I arrived about 10 minutes before they closed, signed the book, weighed my pack, and took a photo at the approach trail arch.Getting back up to the lodge wasn't fun as the trail is pretty steep and my adductor is already complaining. Time to have a good meal and get some rest before hitting trail early in the morning.
Date: 2021-04-22
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Mile 17.0
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: light snow

The low was 27 degrees this morning and I think it was 30 degrees when I hit the trail at 7am. I decided to wear my tights, which kept me nice and warm throughout the day. They also created some chaffing. I won't go into detail, but suffice to say I won't be wearing them tomorrow! On the approach trail, I actually saw ice crystals where water had seeped out of the ground. It was a weird site to see in Georgia toward the end of April.I saw a number of people on the trail and they were from all walks of life. The first one I talked to was a "local ridge runner". I haven't researched it, but I guess she monitors the trail. She had a name tag and was the only person all day wearing a mask. Most everyone was very friendly, with only one or two grumpy guys this morning. Maybe they were still waking up.Nothing to report, really. I feel good. Of course, my feet and legs hurt a little. That happens when you stomp 25 miles through the mountains. My adductor muscle is holding up okay and I plan to keep wearing the brace for a while.I am camped next to a road. Not ideal, but the site is spacious and a short trip from a water source. Only 1.2 miles back is a shelter, but I am not keen on staying in shelters here unless there is rain. The forecast is clear, so I am outside.
Date: 2021-04-23
From: MM 17.0

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 25.8
Weather: clear sky

Last night was terrible. I don't think I slept more than 1-2 hours at a time. There were some car campers who set up after I was already in my tent. They made a ton of noise and played the worst music until 1am. I tossed and turned a lot as well.7200 feet of elevation gain in one day is a lot, and probably more so on the 2nd day of hiking. That is roughly 700 feet more than yesterday. I probably won't do that again. I think capping daily elevation gain at 6000-6200 feet is a good idea.I made it to Neel Gap around 1230 for lunch. There were a ton of people there, hiker, bikers, and everything in between. I picked up some snacks and had a great lunch.Tonight, I am staying in my tent, but close to a shelter and a water source. There are 7 other hikers in tents and a couple in the shelter. I have talked with most of them and they are very friendly. The majority are younger with one being a retired LEO.Tomorrow morning, it is supposed to rain before daylight and throughout the day. I probably won't do many miles.
Date: 2021-04-24
From: Low Gap

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't sleep well last night...again. Maybe it was due to my tent being pitched on a slope. Maybe it was my aches and pains. Maybe it was the very certain forecast of rain today.It was to begin raining shortly before sunrise. I was basically waiting for it. Packing in the rain is miserable and carrying around heavy, stinky, wet equipment isn't fun either. I woke up at 4am and started charging my devices. At 4:30, the first drops of rain hit my tent. I quickly packed my stuff, ate breakfast, and hit the trail by 5:30. I managed to keep most of my equipment dry and felt good about the day.My enthusiasm didn't last. I eventually became completely soaked, temps were probably in the low 50's, and the wind was whipping around. It was especially bad on the tops of mountains (of which there were many).I saw MANY hikers still in their tents, even after noon. I really don't blame them. I stopped at Tray Mountain Shelter around 11am to have some lunch. It was freezing up there and the shelter was PACKED. People were inside, outside, and camped all around it. They had a regular community of miserable souls. I quickly got off the mountain and made for the next shelter (Deep Gap, my home for the night).The entire 7.8 miles to Deep Gap, I was thinking about how cold and awful it was. I was thinking about most people would flock to the closest shelter. I was wondering if there would be any room for me. Well, it worked out. There was a nice woman at the shelter when I arrived, but she was packing her stuff to leave for the nearby hostel. I have the place to myself!Hoping for a good night of sleep and an available bunk at the hostel for my nero tomorrow.
Date: 2021-04-25
To: Around the Bend Hostel
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: clear sky

It was a nice day to sleep in a bit (trail at 7:30) and rest my legs. I arrived at the hostel around 9:30 and there was only one other person here. I hung around and they shuttled me to town for free to buy groceries. I was able to find nearly everything I have been eating and bought some different food for dinner.I also took a shower, shaved, and did laundry. I think I am ready for the next 100 miles, which will put me at Fontana Dam for the next resupply. I will stop at the NOC like I did at Neel's Gap, but probably won't resupply. I would rather travel light when I can and only stop when necessary.
Date: 2021-04-26
From: Around the Bend Hostel

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: clear sky

I wasn't trying to be so ambitious today, but it looks like I set a new PB for a daily climb at a little over 7700 feet. It was...a lot.Last night, I slept okay, but not nearly as well as I'd hoped. For some reason, I am waking up every 1-2 hours. At 7am, I was on trail and putting in some miles. I saw several people, but fewer than previous days. I am camped by a shelter with at least a dozen other people. I rolled in at 5:30, which apparently is late because everyone was already set up. It is a little buggy and the water source is a bit of a hike, but otherwise not terrible.
Date: 2021-04-27
From: Carter Gap

To: Wine Spring Camp
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: clear sky

It was a hot day without much shade, which seemed to sap my energy. I started pretty strong and made it up a monster climb in the early morning , but by mid afternoon I was ready for the day to be over.Making matters worse, when I arrived at camp, it was buggy. It was also in some trees, which blocked nearly all of the breeze. I took care of camp chores and was in bed by 7:30pm. I didn't notice my hands and neck was sunburned until I went to wash up. I guess I should start wearing my buff and wetting it down at the streams, like I have been doing with my hat.I should also mention that I am changing my trail name from Drax to Fox. I have actually been going by Fox for a few days now. My first day on trail, I was waiting for a couple of young ladies to complete a simple water crossing. They were obviously new to such things. After some time, they made it successfully. I followed by bouncing across the rocks and logs, which apparently was quite the show. One said, "Wow! You went across that like a fox!" So, Fox it is.
Date: 2021-04-28
From: Wine Spring Camp

To: The NOC
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up at 4:30am, broke camp, and was on trail by 5:30am to do a little hiking by headlamp. This is the second time I've done it and I'm growing quite fond of the super early start.The terrain today was relatively easy, with just a couple of ascents and a bunch of descents. I was trying to make it in to the NOC as early as possible to snag a room for the night, do laundry, take a shower, shave, and generally reset for the next stretch of trail. This may be the last time I get to do it for several days.Everything worked out very well, though the outfitter didn't have a single thing I was looking for and the food resupply was somewhat lacking. I had a great lunch at the restaurant and hope to sleep well tonight in an actual bed!
Date: 2021-04-29
To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I know it is going to rain tonight, so my goal was make it to Cable Gap Shelter early enough to snag a spot inside and stay dry. I arrived around 3:15 and was the first person in the shelter. Two more people joined me later, in addition to 6-8 tent campers.The shelter is in terrible shape. The floor is visibly bowed and you can see sunlight through holes in the roof. Morale in camp is Hugh and the people are nice, but I have little hope of actually staying dry.
Date: 2021-04-30
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: moderate rain

Last night was terrible. It rained (as expected) and the roof of the shelter leaked (also, as expected). The leak I had to deal with was a single drip, about 6 inches from my sleeping bag. I woke up because the splash was hitting me in the face. Luckily, I caught it early and was able to throw my rain jacket over my sleeping bag before it got too wet. My shelter mates were not so fortunate.I left out of camp by headlamp at 5:30 and the rain had stopped. I hiked into Fontana Marina for another day of food supply so I can hike straight through the Smokies without resupplying.Tonight, I think I am technically in Tennessee. The Smoky Mountains are the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, so the state can change several times a day.Tomorrow, Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT and third highest point East of the Mississippi!
Date: 2021-05-01
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Mount Collins Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

The highlight of my day was to be Clingman's Dome. I hit the trail at 5:30am and thought I would make it by noon or a little later. It ended up being around 2pm. Being Saturday, there were a TON of people. A road goes up to the area and there is a parking lot, gift shop. Tourists were being pretty rude and self-absorbed. I took a couple of pictures and headed to the shelter.The terrain to Clingman's was tough and it continued to the shelter. I was pretty miserable by the time I arrived around 4pm. I quickly set up camp, washed, ate, and went to bed. At least 10 additional people showed up close to dark. There must have been at least 30 of us.
Date: 2021-05-02
From: Mount Collins Shelter

To: Tricorner Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

I actually slept okay last night! I still woke up often, but I felt rested in the morning. It was another early morning. My aim was to get ahead of the group of people that had arrived at the shelter and make it 20 miles to another shelter to actually stay inside. There is a good chance it will rain tonight and it will definitely rain tomorrow.Everything worked out. I made it to the shelter at 2pm and snagged a good spot. The shelter is pretty much full and there a few people in tents. I have a feeling it will be a race to the hostel, tomorrow.There were a ton of amazing views, today! Much of the trail was along the top of the ridges. I took a couple of pics, but was mostly focused on the trail. Most of it was rocky and/or roots. My feet didn't like it too much, but they're holding up okay.
Date: 2021-05-03
From: Tricorner Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 18.1

I woke up early and started hiking in the rain to Standing Bear Farm. It was nearly all decent, which was easy, but also tough on my feet. I made good time and arrived around 12:15 to something out of a movie. The place looked older than the mountain itself and everything was run down. At least it was cheap and convenient. I resupplied, did laundry, showered, and charged my batteries for the next stretch of trail.
Date: 2021-05-04
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 30.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The day started normally enough. The air was very humid and rain was expected mid-morning. I had to shed my rain jacket because the constant climbs were making me pour sweat. I passed a FAA instrument station on my way to Max Patch, a huge bald known for being a great place to catch a sunrise or sunset. That is when the storm moved in. Most of the rest of the day was wet, windy, and cold. The trail became extremely muddy and I was sliding all over the place. One time I was sliding on one foot (recovered) and another I completely bit it and covered half of me in mud.I was only going to do 20 miles today, but the shelter was full when I arrived at 1:30pm, so it was another 10 miles to the next shelter. I am exhausted. I may see if I can grab a good breakfast in Hot Springs tomorrow morning.
Date: 2021-05-05
From: Deer Park Mountain Shelter

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: moderate rain

I decided to sleep in a little this morning and hit the trail at 6:30am - no headlamp needed! I made the downhill trek into Hot Springs, NC. It is a nice little town and the AT passes directly through it. I stopped at a gas station and bought an apple danish to celebrate my first 30-mile day. It was pre-packaged, but 500 calories of deliciousness. The rest of the day was mostly uphill. None of it was especially steep or technical, but it went on forever. Oh, and it decided to rain around noon. It wasn't as bad as yesterday, but enough to make the trail challenging in spots. As I was concentrating on my foot placement, I heard someone yell "Copperhead!". I stopped in my tracks and saw an adolescent copperhead snake about 10 feet in front of me. A day hiker had seen it and was stopped. I grabbed a long branch and flung the snake far off the side of the trail. I was a little slower the rest of the day as I was scanning up and down trail.I made it to the shelter at 4pm and snagged the very last spot inside. There are five of us and a few more in tents in the area. It isn't much, but it's dry and that is all I need. Hoping for better weather, tomorrow.
Date: 2021-05-06
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was great and such an amazing departure from yesterday. The morning was cold and I started with wet shoes and wet socks. After a technical climb to the top of a mountain for an amazing view, the rest of the day was fairly easy terrain. It didn't rain and my shoes and socks finally dried out. When I arrived at camp, I snagged a spot in the shelter. A guy named "Tunes" had a ukulele and started a campfire. Several people stopped by to eat and talk before moving on. There is now a permanent camp, full of people. Morale is high.I plan to push on to Erwin, NC tomorrow. It will be a 26 mile day, so I ate a little extra for dinner.
Date: 2021-05-07
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel
Miles today: 26.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up early to make the 6-mile push into Erwin, NC. It was cold and drizzling rain. As the morning progressed, the weather worsened. On the approach to Big Bald, the wind really picked up and there was some sleet. Without trees to serve as a wind break, Big Bald was miserable and the sleet really started coming down. My hands were freezing with the thin gloves I had on, so I stopped to pull out my waterproof gloves. I must have lost my long spoon in all that mess, because now I can't find it anywhere. I made it through the storm and the afternoon was very pleasant.I arrived at Uncle Johnny's just before the shuttle left for Wal-Mart. I had a great dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and am all resupplied for the next 3-4 days. Unfortunately, I will need to wait for the hostel store to open in the morning so I can replace my spoon.