morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-04-03
To: Last weekend in Texas
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The count down is on... I leave on Monday for Atlanta. As originally planned my last weekend was a Rio Grande Turkey hunt in Smithville (Bastrop County), Texas. I was smart of enough to bring my hiking kit as I had to break out some of the thermals for this morning's hunt. Temps read 45 at dawn (chilly). I hunted with my Nephew Phillip and we were crafty enough to fool one gobbler Saturday morning.Special thanks to Justin Wisian and his dad Mike, they were kind enough to invite me out to their place. Great ranch and even better hospitality! They bombarded me with questions about my hike.... Mostly probes checking for sanity. Well.... Next post will be from GA! I have to drive back to Houston in a bit, stow my turkey gear and get ready for out flight at 10:00 am Monday.What a great way to spend the last weekend in Texas.
Date: 2016-04-04
From: Southern terminus

To: Forest Service Road #42
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: clear sky

So Kelly and I finally made it to Georgia and we ran the gauntlet of country roads, forest service roads, logging trails and abandoned paths and found the secret entrance to Springer Mountain, which houses the southern terminus of the longest footpath in our country.... US Forest Service Road #42. Upon arrival it was evident we weren't the only sleuths in the woods as there were several people parked at "the bat entrance".Our plan was to hike the one-mile back to the start of the trail ( why do all my adventures always start by going in the wrong direction?), relax a bit, take a few pictures, sign the log and then walk another mile back to the car. With this accomplished Mile One of my hike would be in the books. From there we would take it to Amicola Falls State Park, drink wine and rest our tired bones.So that being done, this officially means my start date was today (April 4) and my total trip miles northbound so far is 1 mile. Just so that I clear the air, I did carry my backpack the two mile round-trip.... despite the obvious lack of need, there was no way in hell I was slack packing the 1st mile of this epic adventure, to do so seems as if that would earn instant bad karma. I did however let Kelly carry it some of the way.... You know, just so she could experience it. Since it was late in the day by the time we reached the start of the trail the place was fairly deserted. We saw one other thru-hiker (Emily from Montana) sign in and do a quick about face and started heading back north. In the log we also noted several other thru-hikers who had come and gone earlier in the day. At the top we also met Stephen and Johnathon, a father son team from Georgia who had hiked some 17 miles today from Woody Gap. After we did the mile back to the parking lot Stephen asked if we could give them a ride down off the bumpy Forest Service road where his wife was to pick them up. We were happy to save her the grind as Forest Service Road #42 is as advertised.....a bumpy ride. We ended up giving the father son team a ride back to Amicola Falls State Park where his wife was waiting. They then offered to return the favor by dropping a box of resupply items at Mountain Crossings which was on their way home. This saved Kelly and I a haul. In addition they shared with us many great thoughts on hiking AT Georgia as they had hiked most of it. They were also generous enough to give me some great maps that will serve as supplements to AWOLs!It's been a long day starting all the way back home in Houston. I am very excited to head back up and start mile two in the morning. It's going to be odd as my one mile partner Kelly will be dropping me off and getting back to holding the fort down as I blaze on.
Date: 2016-04-05
From: Forest Service Road #42

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

I was hiker #1,289 as we signed in at Amicola Falls this morning after a quick breakfast with Kelly. She had to get back to the Atlanta airport so my insertion was to be hasty.We made the kidney jarring ride back up Forest Service Road #42. It was cold still, colder than I anticipated. We said our good-byes and I was off. Yes, the good-bye was not all that easy on either side of the hugs. I made it to my designated goal by about 4 pm(Hawk Mountain Shelter). There was space in the shelter so my first night on the AT I will be battling Hawk Mountain Shelter mice.I could have pushed for a few more miles, but I wanted to start off slow. I am feeling good.I met some good people today including trail ridge runners and several thru-hikers. People from all over....Matt from Manhattan, Code and DJ from Mass. These were younger cats and after breaking at Hawk Mountain they moved on.I visited with Kennebec for a while. He is an 80 year old guy. Ya, not a type O.... 80!!! He was from Maine, but now lives in Florida. He was day three into his hike. He seemed a little down about his progress. I listened and we discussed options. I suggested he keeps trucking along and when the April bubble plays out in Georgia, come off the trail and rest, then shuttle up to Trail Days and catch back up with the bubble. I could tell he really enjoyed my visit. We were soon joined by Huckleberry who is 70. I realized I was 20 years YOUNGER than the hikers I was conversing with. Then I was humbled by being left in Huckleberry's dust when our conversation with Kennebec ended. Huckleberry is here at Hawk Mountain tonight... He is playing the slow as you go game. The same game I am playing. Many people have piled into into the shelter for the evening now. I was told by the ridge runners that over 30 people started today. End of a good day. I am going to go for Woody Gap tomorrow.Things I realized as I took my first steps this morning....1. I will miss Kelly, 2. I will make it to Maine and 3. I will be a different person when I get there. It's all good.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

4/6 - Day TwoI was happy with my decision to pick the loft at the Hawk Mountain Shelter when the winds in the middle of the night turned intense. I was warm, comfortable and there was minimal snoring taking place. Additionally, the feared shelter mice did not show.I woke up early. Several of the tent campers had already pressed on. Not wanting to stir the shelter I stayed in my bag until about 8 am. I woke up, had a hot cup of coffee and jetted.Today I would tackle Sassafras Mountain and Justus Mountain. Both are inappropriately named. Their names should be Kick Your Ass Mountain and Kick Your Ass Mountain Part Two. The talk is today's hike is the hardest part of Georgia.I hiked most the day with J and we met along the way several folks from Hawk Mountain. We were going to press on to Woody Gap, but with rain in the forecast for night, we stopped at Gooch Mountain Shelter. Many of the people who are here tonight I already met along the way. Giant is a .... Well a tall dude....that is on his THIRD thru-hike. H us a good cat and offers good advice.I am staying once again in a loft. Piled up top are Walt (who carries a ukulele), Jake from New York (yup two Jakes in one shelter), J, Trek (who also slept in the loft last night) and guest of honor Peach. Peach is a southbound hiker who will finish the trail at Springer tomorrow. Peach has been on the trail for 10 months (including injury and dead of winter hiatus). He hiked through most of winter. Impressive.I am feeling good. Definately sore. The slow as you go plan is the way to go (for me anyway). I would like to hit Neels Gap at end of day tomorrow, but most likely I have one more night out and will hike in Friday am.
Date: 2016-04-07
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

4/7 - Day ThreeThe decision to grab a site inside the Gooch Mountain Shelter paid big dividends when, as they say in East Tx, a "it come a turd floater" in the middle of the night.   People were piled into the shelter...sleeping underneath it, one kid named Twinkie slept on the picnic table and a guy named Shatterproof and his girl took refuge underneath the picnic table!It rained for several hours. I heard the rain for a minute and heard two loud clasps of thunder. It made for great sleeping because we were dry. So that means I slept good. I hiked all day with Giant. We shared a common pace. Many people who camped with us at Gooch are heading into Neels Gap tonight. Giant and I stopped at the Woods Hole shelter for the night. Mountain Goat, Smoke and Bob from NH are here. Our plan is to tackle Blood Mountain in the morning and head into Neels Gap. Blood Mountain is the highest point on the AT in Georgia. This way we will get there early and get a bunk room for Friday night. We already have a small group to split the cost of the bunk house up. I will get my resupply box from Mountain Crossings... Thank you Stephen again for dropping it off.The Woods Hole Shelter is small. It is within the restrictive bear canister area where bear canisters are required. Because we have so little food left, we are going to put in what's left after dinner into some section camper's bear canisters.I planned the first few days right. I have just enough food and will roll into Neels Gap completely light and foodless.At Woody Gap there were garbage cans. We threw away our trash. So with no food or garbage my pack is only about 25 pounds. I am carrying minimal water as springs are available. The powder Gatorade and Kool Aid makes the water taste good.I am ready to tackle Blood Mountain in the morning and kick it for the rest of the day at Neels. More rain is expected tonight and I actually was rained on as we made it to the shelter.Wildlife sightings so far consist of one ruffed grouse and an area that looked pretty well rooted up by hogs. It's raining now. Night three of the AT and I am once again in a warm shelter. A guy named Smoke we have been hiking with just came. He was rained on at the end of his hike and fell into hypothermic conditions. We found him a space blanket and I got him into a sleeping bag. It's cool...50 degrees and raining. And he is over there shivering and babbling. It looks like he will survive, but this is prime hypothermia temps and conditions.Saturday temps are supposed to be low and possible snow. Hiking in the day is a mix between warm and cold.... Depends on what side of the mountain you are on. I have not overpacked. Tonight will be cold.
Date: 2016-04-08
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Mountain Crossings - Neels Gap
Miles today: 4.6

4/8 - Day FourLast night was a rough not for the crew in Woods Hole Shelter. After the hypothermia scare we all eased into our places. Seems like everyone was tossing and turning. There was a reported snorer....but I did not hear it as I was asleep every time the snorer started snoring. We had a short day today. Up Blood Mountain and back down into Neels Gap. The hike up was not hard and due to fresh legs, cool morning temps and full stomachs we were up on top of the highest peak in Georgia along the AT (4,400 feet or so). The view was good and the Shelter at the top was made of stone and very cool. I was told it was the oldest shelter on the AT?The hike down to Neels Gap is billed as an ass kicker, but I thought it was moderate. It might have something to do with knowing we were stopping at Neels Gap for the night. Carrying light packs with no food also helped. It also did not hurt to hear rumors of hamburgers and hotdogs being given away at Neels Gap!At Neels Gap is the famous outfitter, Mountain Crossings. The AT runs through the building and is the only part of the AT that is covered. We all bought $18 bunks in the hostel that is part of Mountain Crossings. We originally intended to stay at Blood Mountain cabins down the road, but they were sold out.The hostel is very cool and filled up fast. Alot of hikers we have now seen for a few days are here and more are down at Blood Mountain cabins. It will be a big day launching out of here in the morning with the crew.Right now I am waiting on the washer. To be honest, I don't feel dirty or grimey. I am going to shower here shortly... I think everyone has gone ahead of me.Me and Giant tried are luck at hitching to town for beer. But no one wanted to pick us up. I told him it was due to the fact he is 6.9 and was wearing goofy hiker shades he found in the hiker box in the hostel. There was all kinds of stuff in the hiker box... I scored a few things, but most of the stuff is in there for a reason. Right now there is a sweet Buck knife that is too heavy to consider. Seems like all the big cutlery gets ditched! In the hiker box there was a lot of good food, as folks tend to overpack at first. Giant scored when two Canadian guys that were with us ended their section hike a complete resupplied him with their leftovers! In addition to pots, Gold Bond, bear spray, there was a ton of bug spray in the hiker box.I have taken a shower now. So everyone knows, for your $18 you get a shower which is monitored by the towel you are given. Laundry is $5 and that gets you a packet of detergent.I am excited to start again in the morning. It is supposed to be cold. We have to be out of here by 9am and we are going to do 11 miles. Regarding Smoke and his near death hypothermia.... He couldn't understand how the cold "got him" after all he lives in his grandma's attic in Cleveland. It really may have been his pack weight, which weighed in at a hefty 50 pounds here at Neels Gap. Yup, the character factor is high here in the AT!
Date: 2016-04-10
From: Blood Mountain Cabins

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

4/10 - Day SixWe ate breakfast at the cabin and headed out leaving Neels Gap, Mountain Crossings and Blood Mountain Cabins behind. The goal was to do 11.5 miles to Low Gap shelter which we pulled off.The walk was not difficult, but my feet and legs felt tired by the time we made it into Low Gap.The ass kicker of the day was the Wildcat Mountain right before Hog Pen Gap!   Oddly enough no one warns you about Wildcat Mountain, it just appears.We took it at a slow pace and when we finally crested the top we still had gas in our tanks and we were hardly sweating. This is nice as the wind can cool you down quickly.We gave up our hard earned elevation gains when the trail descended into Hog Pen Gap. At Hog Pen Gap there was a lot of cars. The spring that is the only water source was weak. Giant and AFK grab bottles and went to the spring as I watched the packs.As they were down there a trail angel pulled up and was dropping a guy named Nick and his dog Vinny off at the trail. The man tossed me a bottle of Dasani, and it was very appreciated. As I was waiting for Giant and AFK to come back with water several other hikers came through all heading for Low Gap.A girl named Janett and her dog Kica Bear came by. Both Nick and Janett are here at Low Gaps. Their dogs are absolutely cool and were hanging out earlier. There is a good group here tonight. A guy named Ranger we met, Mountain Goat just came in (he was hiking slow with his wife), Smoke and many others. At Hogpen Gap I met J's wife Sarah. She was hiking with J and was returning to the gap to go home. She asked me if I was Jake! I said yes. Evidently NH Bob is ahead and told them about the big hypothermia scare the other night. The story is running our section of the trail.Today's hike included some nice ridge walks. This makes the walking easier, but the wind can be punishing. We were happy to see Low Gap as it lives up to its name and is low and wind free. As I type this I am crushing a good Mountain House dinner (Chicken and Rice) with Kica Besr laying next to me in the shelter. Once again I am sleeping in a shelter... My tent has become a pillow.
Date: 2016-04-11
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

4/11 - Day SixI had my days wrong up until now. Today is day six on the AT and I just finished a short 7.3 miles to Blue Mountain Shelter. Not exactly the longest day, but there is rain in forecast and the next shelter is 8 miles away and on top of Tray Mountain. Tray is billed as "one you will remember" and "brutal". So the call was made to chill at Blue Mountain, stay dry and hit Tray fresh.Getting to camp early enough means that I am once again in a shelter. Regarding shelter sites, there are camping areas along the way, but they are fairly spread out and often lack water. Stealth camping is possible, but wind comes into play as well as the slope of the hills. Camp in the wind and your night will suck. The morning when we left Low Gap it was gloomy and looked like rain. Many hikers left hunkered under rain jackets and pack covers. The gloom lasted until about 11 and then burned off. I broke out my rain jacket for the first time for about half a mile.The first part of today's hike was an easy ridge walk. I noticed that part of it traversed along an old road bed that ran along the ridge. This was the first sign of any former civilization on the hike so far. I am feeling a little behind, but I keep seeing familiar faces... So I am definately not the only one on the "slow as you go" program. My pace will pick up after awhile and I plan on spending less time in towns like Hiawassee to make up for the slower pace. All the young punks burning up the trail plan to spend a night in Hiawassee or at the Top of Georgia hostel. I will deal with being dirty.... It has not bothered me yet at all.There is a funny story making its way up the trail. Evidently some guy earned his trail name on night one when he accidently discharged his bear spray inside his tent. He is now known as Mace. I spoke to another guy named Blaze of Glory today. He was carrying bear spray (second person I have seen). Blaze said he wish he had the best spray with him on his last hike as he ran into a bear and a cub. I paused for a second then said.... Well it looks like you survived the encounter. We both laughed.I have been meeting all kinds of people from all over. Giant and I ate lunch today on the trail with two dudes from an island in Maine. We both agreed these dudes had what it took to walk back home and they sported Down East Dickering beards to prove it. When we left them we laughed thinking about the fact that the cooler temps (to me) were more like a heat wave to these guys. Familiar faces are now filtering into the shelter. I think the short day was a good call.
Date: 2016-04-12
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

4/12 - Day SevenI woke up before light today when stirring in the shelter brought the end to the Blue Mountain Shelter Snoreathon. I was told I took second place.Giant and Smoke were already shoving off. Evidently, Giant concluded the hiking in the Georgia Mountains in early April without a tent or sleeping bag was a bad idea. He had his dad mail his stuff to Helen and the plan was for him and Smoke to run in and get it and we all meet up at Tray Mountain Shelter tonight.I shoved off about 45 minutes after them alone. I was hiking in the mist and everything was wet. The first challenge was to descend down into Unicoi Gap (where a road passes through). The descent was not treacherous, but I had to watch wet flat rocks as these were a sure fire way to end up on your ass. Despite the slick rocks I made it down quietly. I was hoping to slip up on some critters, but all I saw was a squirrel.It is interesting in that above 2,500 feet the mountains are dead. Once you hike below 2,500 one noticed buds and some green. I am assuming most animals are "off the mountain" as what has to be an annual bumper crop of acorns are long gone.I made it into Unicoi Gap (1,000 feet descent). I was gearing up to make the next ascent (which was indeed an ass kicker) when I saw Giant and Smoke getting out of a pickup. Evidently they caught a quick ride and the guy even brought them back!!! So we started up the next climb. Between the Tray Mountain Shelter and us sat Rocky Mountain and then the king ass kicker Tray Mountain.I don't get the names of these mountains? Tray Mountain. I think "The Mountain That Never Ends" is more appropriate. Just as you thought you hit the top there was another switchback and more damn mountain to climb. I am glad to say the climb up Tray Mountain is behind me.Just as soon as the trail crests the top of Tray it starts to give up hard won elevation and descends down to where I am tonight, at the Tray Mountain Shelter. The total hiking distance today was 8 miles, but it was a real 8 miles with few breaks. Many people are still coming into the shelter area and most settled with limited miles due to the Tray Climb. I am feeling physically in great shape. Today's hike was tough, but I did it.
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Gooder Grove Hostel

To: Lazy Hiker Brewery
Miles today: 0.0

4/17 - Day ElevenToday was a zero day. I started the day by picking up a box Kelly had mailed to the Three Eagles Outfitters. The box contained new reading glasses, deer jerky, Powder drink mix, my Carolina Panthers bandana, a cotton shirt and three Mountain House meals. Thank you Kelly!!! I was given a lift over to the outfitters by a mother/daughter team who had driven down from NJ to pick up a rabbit! I shared the back seat with a rabbit in a cardboard box. The daughter had thru-hiked last year and she met someone who raised rabbits in NC (or GA?) and used it as a reason to come down and see her friend. After picking up the box I headed to the Lazy Hiker. The entire crew showed up at the Lazy Hiker Brewery here in Franklin, NC. The entire crew! Hikers came and went all afternoon. Frolic and Lee ducked in for "one quick one" and planned to get right back on the trail. Three hours later and several Slackpacker IPAs later their plans changed. It is unbelievable how many hikers I have gotten to know in the short time on the trail. I am staying at the Gooder Grove Hiker Hostel this evening. I am well rested and resupplied and ready to hike in the morning. The mood here is mellow tonight. I want to throw a special shout out to Zen. Zen runs the Gooder Grove and he is a great mellow guy. He spent the day shuttling hikers all over Franklin.