morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-03-17
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

We had a great day and great start to my Appalachian Trail Journey. First, we had to make it to the Springer Mountain trailhead which is essentially an up and back for the first official mile of the AT. We met our shuttle driver at Neel Gap around 8am after spending the night in nearby Dahlonega, Ga. We had a bit of a scare on the way over when a car pulled out right in front of us and missing us by inches. That would have been quite a start to my AT journey. We met Ms. Dixie Wisser at the Gap and she was sweet as could be. She was subbing for her husband Wes who was dealing with some health issues. The ride over to Springer trailhead was on an old gravel forest road that had what seemed like a record number of potholes and bumps. I was bouncing around in the back like a kids inflatable bouncy house. The 90 minute ride took years off my life for sure. Ms. Dixie never stopped talking the entire trip, but she was delightful. We had decided ahead of time to not kill ourselves on the first day. I hiked with Cindy the entire day and enjoyed the time immensely. We found a great spot in a beautiful pine forest for lunch which was awesome. The trail was as easy as its going to get today which made for a nice warmup. We made it to Hawk Mountain Shelter at the 8.1 mile marker and set up our tent nearby for the night. We have approximately 25 other hikers her tonight from all over. Cindy and I had dinner at the shelter with several other thru hikers. We spent a lot of time reflecting on this experience and everyone shared why they're hiking the AT. I was impressed by the honest emotion that each person shared and what brought them to the trail. We have already met some very cool people which I know will be the favorite part of my journey. Some hiker names include Growler from Plymoth, Mass. (he loves craft beer) and Rolling Stone from Florida. Most of us don't have trail names yet, but it will come soon I'm sure. It's well past hikers midnight (8pm), so I'm going to hit the hay. We have 13 miles to complete tomorrow in order to get to Woody Gap. The forecast is calling for rain overnight with possible thunderstorm in the morning. Looks like we'll be breaking down camp in the rain. Oh well. Thanks to everyone who has posted a note so far in my guestbook. It is greatly appreciated and very encouraging for sure.Until next time.....The Mountains are CallingKeith
Date: 2017-03-19
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Great stay last night at the Hiker Hostel near Woody Gap. It is a 5 star hostel for sure and is more like a B&B than hostel. They put on a huge hiker breakfast this morning which fueled us well for the day. They dropped us back at the Woody Gap trailhead and we were on our way.Today was Blood Mountain day and I had heard for years how hard of a climb it would be. It has a 1600 ft elevation gain over 5 miles. The initial climb is very gradual with a sharp 800 ft climb over the last mile. Quite honestly the climb was a lot easier than yesterday's climb up Sassafras Mountain. We were blessed with a magnificent sunny day and endless views. The real prize was getting to the top of Blood Mountain. You could see forever in all directions from 4457 feet in the sky. Blood Mountain Shelter is the oldest shelter on the AT with stone walls and old wooden beams in the ceiling. Pretty cool to see. The final 2.4 miles was a steep, rocky downhill. We had to climb up and down boulders and large rock steps much of the way. We made it down to Neels Gap and had a chance to go into the famous outfitter, Mountain Crossings. It's a full service outfittter with anything a hiker would ever need along with a hiker hostel. We picked up some soft drinks and snacks for the night. We're staying at Blood Mountain cabins at Neel Gap tonight. This is Cindy's last night on the trail and I wanted her to have a nice treat. The cabins are rustic, but well equipped. They even make pizzas for you and have free laundry if you want it (great for stinky hikers). Looking forward to a good nights rest and feel spoiled to spend the last 2 nights in such nice accommodations. This is only short lived since Cindy leaves in the morning. It will sad to see my honey of almost 34 years leave. We had a great time together for the first 31 miles.Until next time.....Keith
Date: 2017-03-20
From: Neels Gap

To: Poplar Stamp Gap
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Please note: I add a few pictures each day which can be seen by hitting the photo button on the left hand side.It's a banner day on the AT because I got my trail name. I always wanted the name to come naturally from people I hiked with and today it came a fellow thru hiker (Juke Box/formerly Ginko). She suggested Tigger because I always appear to be bouncing down the trail with joy and positivity. I accepted and from now on I will be known as Tigger on the trail. Juke Box had no idea that we raised our kids on Winnie the Pooh books and videos. Love it! Everyone sing along.....bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy 1, 2, 3, the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one, I'mmmm the only one! It was also a sad day today because Cindy had to go home to Cincinnati. It was an emotional goodbye for now, but I will see her agiain in 3 weeks to celebrate our 34th anniversary. Can't wait. Good hiking day from Neels Gap to Poplar Stamp Gap. Low Gap Shelter area was full when I arrived so I move ahead 1.4 miles and got in around 6PM. Total of 12.9 miles for the day with lots of climb and steep downhills. I prefer climbing or flat (which is rare) because downhills hurt the knees and ankles. I always channel my inner Ben Kendrick when I'm climbing Hope you're doing well buddy. I had my 2nd and 3rd trail magic today from a 2016 thru hiker and a nice older gentleman from Iowa who has been doing this for 7 years. He has never hiked himself, but gets a kick out of seeing AT thru hikers. They both served cold drinks, fruit and snacks at road crossings. It was so awesome!Met a ton of thru hikers today from all over the world including married couples aqua man and sapphire from Hawaii, and Rick and Linda from Missouri. Also met a lovely couple from Australia , Kate and Hitch, Lion from Germany, Texas Ranger from Houston, Editors Choice from Florida, Ninja from Maryland, Uncle Ned, Rockstar and Energizer. Camping tonight with Tristan and Leon from Germany as well. I literally talked to someone new on the trail the entire day. I loved getting to know them and their stories. That's the best part of being out here. Until tomorrow......Keith (Tigger)
Date: 2017-03-21
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Old Cheese Factory Camp Site
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Not a good nights rest last night, but up on on the trail by 8:30. It takes at least and hour each morning to pack up your sleeping gear, tent and all other essentials. I also cook a warm breakfast of oatmeal, couscous porridge or granola. I mix in fruits and nuts for extra calories and protein. To get ahead a bit, I filter water the night before and fill my water bladder and small Gatorade bottle for an electrolyte drink. We call all of the morning and evening activities camp chores. It's an important routine to help guarantee our success and well being. It's kind of like the movie Groundhog Day every day on the trail. Hiked a total of 12 miles today with climbs at Blue Mountain and Rocky Mountain. Rocky was tough because you start a steep 1000 ft climb after just finishing a steep 1100 ft climb down Blue Mountain. The leg muscles were burning and the heart was pumping overtime. On top of that we were trying to get to camp and setup before the huge thunderstorms rolled in. We made it just In ime. I'm in my tent right now with hard rain, thunder and lighting. It's all part of the experience and something we just have to roll with. Hiking the last couple of days with Justin who is a Navy Vet and Penn State grad and works on research vessels around the world. We get along well and will both stay at the infamous Top of Georgia Hostel tomorrow night. Also camping tonight with another old timer from Australia. He's a really cool guy. Today's photos include a pic of Blue Mountain Shelter and the view at the top of Rocky Mountain. Please note that in the next couple of days I'll switch my name on the trailjournals page to Tigger. You can either scroll the pages to find me or search under real name or trail name.Until tomorrow... next stop, Hiawassee, GeorgiaTigger
Date: 2017-03-22
From: Old Cheese Factory Camp Site

To: Top of Georgia Hostel: Hiawassee, Ga.
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Today's Pic: Taken at top of Kelly KnobWe survived the huge thunderstorm last night that gave us all we wanted and more. It was a great test for my gear and willpower. Both came thru with flying colors. My Zpacks Duplex tent that is only 21 ounces withstood the 40 mph winds and kept me dry. The only bummer is packing up wet gear in the morning. I was able to air out my pack and tent tonight when I got to the hostel. I'm good to go in the morning.I was really motivated today by the thought of a nice hostel and town food. I had two hard climbs up Tray Mountain and Kelly Knob. Both were over 1100 feet straight up. Once again, the steep downhills were much tougher than the climbs. Your quad muscles are in constant contraction for 1-2 miles down. Ouch! The final downhill comes into Dicks Creek Gap on US 76. It's a half mile walk up to Top of Georgia Hostel. I was blown away by the high level of customer service here. I was greeted with a cold soda and offer to do my laundry. This stinky hiker is now shower clean with fresh smelling clothes. It's a good day. They also shuttled us into Hiawassee for dinner and resupply. We ate at the popular Daniels All You Can Eat buffet where I splurged on salad and vegetables. I finished it off with a pitcher of sweet tea. The hostel is full with 30 thru hikers tonight. I continue to meet and spend time with great people from all over the world. We're all in the same boat and make very easy connections whenever we meet. I'll be out of Georgia tomorrow and into North Carolina. One state down and only 13 to go. Woot, woot! Bouncing down the trail with joy and positivity...Tigger
Date: 2017-03-23
From: Top of Georgia Hostel: Hiawassee, Ga.

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

After a great night at Top of Georgia Hostel, they shuttled us the .5 miles back to Dicks creek Gap where I came out yesterday. We started the day again with a climb up which is common when you leave a Gap. We were all excited today to cross into North Carolina @ mile 78.2 and officiallly be done with one state. Only 13 more to go.Since this day 7 on the trail already, we are forming bonds and little trail families now. We hike together in pairs or near each other throughout the day and usually reunite at the same Shelter or campsite each night. After doing camp chores like setting up you tent, air mattress, sleeping bag and filtering water, we meet in and around the Shelter to cook our meals and chit chat. There's a lot of story telling and laughter most nights along with reviews of the days hike. For dinner I ate a delicious chili that I dehydrated before my trip. I also dehydrated a hearty spaghetti, rice and beans and tuna mac and cheese. They taste great on the trail. Today we hiked thru the area that was devastated by forest fires last fall. These areas near the NC/GA border and where we're tenting tonight. The burnt forest (see in photos) smells like your barbecuing on the grill. Sad to see, but the forest will heal itself. These fires started before and after the Gatlinburg fires. The AT in this section was closed for quite some time. I added some additional photos today including fellow hikers on the trai. These include the couple Lawn Dart and Waffler, Eli (hiking the trail alone in her Gap year between high school and college), Slipnslide from Orlando, Justin from San Francisco and others . Spent the day hiking with 2EZ from Agustin, Ga. He's retired from the navy and has a spouse who is still active duty. Good guy and a very strong hiker. He's the one who talked me into 16.7 miles today. It's past hikers midnight so I'm going to head in to my sleeping bag. Cold night in the mountains and we're at 4700 feet.Until tomorrow...Tigger
Date: 2017-03-24
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Long Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Poor reception tonight so I'll update more tomorrow. We passed the 100 mile mark today which feels awesome. We only have 7 miles into Franklin, NC tomorrow and plan to be on the trail by 6:30am. Looking forward to 1.5 days of rest and good food inFranklin. I'll catch you up with more details tomorrow. It's 8:15 and past hikers midnight. Thanks for following along with me on this journey.Tigger
Date: 2017-03-25
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

We were up by 5:45 that this morning and hit the trail with headlamps by 6:30 am. Our trail family now includes Hobo Joe and his wife Kim, Elly, Justin, Captain No Beard and me. 2EZ has decided to hike on today and not go into town. We will miss him. We were all so excited to get to Franklin, NC for a much needed rest. The 7 miles flew by and we were at the Gap by 9:20 to pick up the shuttle into town. We're staying at the Baltimore Jack Hostel which is setup nicely for AT Thru hikers. Baltimore jack is a famous Thru hiker and trail angel who just passed away last year We have 4 bunks in our room and share a bathroom. Showers and laundry were the first orders of business before lunch. Franklin is a GREAT little Mountain town and prides itself in being one of the top AT trail towns in America. I would agree. It has a lovely Main Street with quaint shops, restaurants, bakery, candy store and a terrific Outfitter. The culture is warm and friendly with southern charm.We all met st the Lazy Hiker (great name) brewery that had a terrific food truck onsite. The burger I ordered was bigger than my head and tasted great. Hikers come to town hungry and we crave real food and beverage. We hit the jackpot at this place. I included pics of our group that included Justin, Elly, Hobo Joe and wife Kim, Dance The Hiker (like Chance the Rapper), Frog and our new friend from the UK. What a great group of people who I would never had met if it wasn't for the AT. The ease of connection and fellowship is like none other. We plan on taking a ZERO day tomorrow to rest our bodies and refuel with more good food. A ZERO is when we hike no miles on that day. This was my 9th consecutive day on the trail and now it's time for some R&R. Sightings: I met the infamous trail angel Ms. Janet today as she was shuttling hikers in town (pic) and Forest from the Hiker Trash videos. Quite an eclectic mix of people .Tigger
Date: 2017-03-26
From: Franklin, NC

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

It's been a very pleasant and restful day in Franklin. Our little hiking family and many other Thru hikers decided to take a Zero day here in town. We fill the restaurants and pubs along with the local Ingles grocery store and Walmart. The town welcomes us in with open arms. My day started with another form of Trail majic put on by the local Baptist Church. They picked us up at 7:15 am in a large church van and drove us to the church for a huge, all you can eat breakfast of pancakes, bacon, fruit, coffee and OJ. It was awesome and they treated us in such a special way. They've been doing this for 10 years and serve hundreds of hikers each year. What a blessing!Looking forward to Geting back on the trail tomorrow. Only 4-5 days to the Smokies. Hard to believe. Tigger
Date: 2017-03-27
From: Franklin, NC

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: fog

We took the 9:00 shuttle from our hostel back to where we left the trail on Saturday at Winding Stair Gap. By chance we ran into Seven (trail name) who has become famous on the AT for his hiker trash videos. He is quite a character for sure. We had also run into Ms. Janet and Forest in Franklin this weekend as well... all very well known in the AT community and culture. Our day started with a long uphill hike up to Siler Bald. A Bald is an open, grassy area on a mountain with very few trees. Some bales are natural and others are man made for farming or other agriculture. The sky's opened up for awhile and we hiked in the rain and mud. Thankfully it was a warm day. I still put on a rain jacket and waterproof pack cover to protect my gear and electronics. The rain stopped as we got to Wayah Bald at 5342 ft. This area was also hard hit by fires last fall. The top of the lookout tower was destroyed (click on photos to the left). With this elevation it feels like your on top of the world looking down. The views are endless. We ate lunch on Wayah Bald before moving on another 6 miles to end our day. Our trail family is tenting/hammocking near the Cold Spring Shelter. Our campsite is on the edge of a mountain top @5000ft. I have amazing views tonight right from my tent and the sunrise should be spectacular in the morning.Heading down the mountain tomorrow to the world famous Nantahala Outdoor Center on the AT. Looking forward to seeing this place in person.Gear Update: I decided to change out of my hiking boots and bought a pair of Brooks Cascadia 12 trail runners. They are light weight, well cushioned and have a rock plate to protect your feet from roots and rocks. This is a big change for me, but a trend for a large percentage of Thru hikers in recent years. I'll keep you posted. TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-03-28
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We survived another big thunderstorm last night and hit the trail by 8:30. We were all looking forward to getting to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, but we're also dreading the 7 mile severe downhill climb. The big rains on top the mountain turned the trail into a stream (photo). Water runs downhill and often the easiest path is the well trenched AT. After 3.5 miles we came to Telico Gap and our first break of the day. We drink and snack up for no more than 10 minutes and get back on the trail. This may also be time for potty stop which consists of a trip further into the woods. We made it up to Wesser Bald and climbed the observation tower at over 4627 ft. We had the best.views of the trip so far with 360 panoramic views. Incredible beauty! From Wesser Bald we climbed down to The Jumpoff where we had to scramble down and around huge rocks over a mountain ledge (photo). Our final 4 miles was a steep downhill into the Nantahala Outdoor Center. These severe downhills are by far the hardest on my feet, ankles and knees , but also a necessary evil. The NOC was a welcome site and we decided to stay in the bunkhouse for the night. This is the Olympic training center for white water kayak events. They have sent several of their own to the Olympics, including 2 gold medals (see photo of whitewater slalom). It's a beautiful evening in the mountains with highs of 74 for tomorrow. I'm drying out my tent from last nights storm and will be good to go in the morning. We have a huge climb to start our day which will take a few hours.Shout out to my buddy Tim in Matyland who I first met last fall while hiking the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. He suggested that with a trail name like Tigger that I should sign off TTFN each day. Great idea Tim! Thanks!Ta Ta For Now (TTFN)Tigger
Date: 2017-03-29
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

The big news of the day is that we passed the 150 mile mark on the AT. It's been less than 2 weeks since I started and the miles are flying by. We'll reach Fontana Dam tomorrow which is the entry point into the Smokies. My body is holding up well and I still feel so thankful and appreciative for this opportunity. It's the journey of a lifetime!Today was a tough climbing day as we came out of the NOC. Our first 7 miles was uphill for a total of 3300 vertical ft. The trail at times had a 25-30% grade...very steep. We peaked at Cheoah Bald near 5062 ft. By now it was lunchtime and we were all ready for a break. We had 9 miles left to camp and knew we had to hit it hard to make it before dark. We had a series of ups and downs to Stecoah Gap before our last big climb of the day. 'This climb is called Jacobs Ladder and one of the steepest to date. We all made it and only had a short downhill to camp. We were surprised to find this remote site so full and had to set up tents on a slight slant. We're so tired tonight that we could probably sleep anywhere. Camp chores and dinner was completed just before dark. We hung our bear bags and headed to bed. Looking forward to our hike to Fontana Dam tomorrow and the Smokies. Thanks to everyone who is following my journey on trail journals. Your comments really help to inspire and encourage me. If you haven't had a chance, please add a comment to my Guestbook on the left. It's a great "pick me up" at the end of a hard day.TTFNTigger
Date: 2017-03-30
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Visitor Center
Miles today: 13.2

Up and out by 8:00 this morning with Fontana Dam in our sights. It was a rough nights rest due to no flat tent spots along with other Thru hikers coming in loudly well past hikers midnight. Nice people, but they just forgot the unwritten rules on the trail. This was the easiest hiking day since our first day on the trail. It was mostly a gentle downhill with less rocks and roots on the trail. We were flying at over 3 mph which is unusually fast on the AT...especially with a 28# pack on my back. Even though I started with a pretty good base of fitness, I can tell that my trail legs are getting stronger by the day.We hit the Fontana Dam Shelter before getting to the Dam. This Shelter is also called Fontana Hilton because it has a glorious view of the lake along with showers and a recharge station for your electronics. We decided to push on to the Dam and get a shuttle to the Lodge for the night. I really need a good nights rest before hitting the Smokies in the morning. The lodge has a full service restaurant which we'll enjoy as well. Since we have a little trail family going, we agreed to split the room cost which makes it very cost effective. Getting a hot shower was worth it all. I don't smell myself tonight which is a good thing. We're off to the Smokies in the morning. It's 71 miles in length and we hope to complete it in 5 days. Wish us luck and good weather.TTFNTigger
Date: 2017-03-31
From: Fontana Dam Visitor Center

To: Russell Field Shelter 
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: light rain

We made it into the Great Smokey Mountains after a long, blustery walk across Fontana Dam. AT thru hikers must have permits to enter which we printed off in Franklin. The cost is $20.00 which seems fair to me. We tear off the lower half and place it into a box at the start of the trail. We put the other half into a box at the end of the trail. The Appalachian Trail travels 71 miles thru the Smokies. My goal is to get this section done in 4.5 days. There is endless beauty to behold, but the weather is fickle and unpredictable. For those of you who have hiked or visited here I'm sure you'll agree. The size and position of these enormous mountains create unique weather patterns. I'm hoping for sunshine and dry sky's all the way through.Thanks again to everyone for following along on my journey. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like more details on a section. You can do this thru the Guestbook tab on the left.TTFNTigger