morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I've sent out an email today to several people whom I had promised to send a link to my journal before I departed on my hike. So if you followed the link, welcome to my journal. You can check in from time to time to see how I'm progressing if you like. Once I've actually started there will be an update at the top as to see where I spent the night and where my day's destination is, how many miles I've hiked that day and what my cumulative miles are. I won't always be able to update every day, as cell service is spotty in several areas. But if you see "Destination Home" that will probably be a good sign that my hike is at an end. I leave next Sunday for my attempt. You can sign my journal if you like by clicking the link on the left. I can certainly use all the encouragement I can get. Keep in mind that only about 20-25% of those who attempt hiking the AT actually end up succeeding. So if I fail badly, please, go easy on me.
Date: 2014-03-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

We leave tomorrow morning to head up to North Georgia to visit with Gail's mother and brother before I depart.We'll be about 2 hours from Amicalola Falls, so we'll head over Saturday afternoon where I"ll meet my brother. He will be doing a seven day section hike with me. He's really looking forward to it and would probably seriously consider a thru hike if not that his life is so very full already. It should be a lot of fun and I can hardly wait.Thanks all who have signed my journal with words of encouragement. The plan is to hike as far as I can but if it becomes unpleasant and the bad days start to be more than the good ones then I'll be done. I really think I can do the whole trail.Next update should be my first trail update.
Date: 2014-03-23
From: Amicolala Lodge

To: Strover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: light snow

It was such a full day today. So much living the day.My brother-in-law came over from Dalton to hike the approach trail with my brother and I. We left from the Lodge about 8 o' clock. It was pleasant 8 mile hike to the top of Springer. Al was going to hike up and then go back down to return to the Lodge, a 16 mile hike. Fortunately when we got to the top a nice guy who drove up the Forest Road offered to give him a ride back to the Lodge. My brother and I hiked on to Strover Creek shelter. We got there about 4:30 for a total day's hike of 11 miles. There were about 20 people at the shelter, most thru hikers but not with trail names. They were a great group of people. Tomorrow we will try to get to Goch Creek shelter, it's about 12 miles.
Date: 2014-03-24
From: Strover Creek Shelter

To: Tent Site @ mile 9.5
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: few clouds

It got very cold at Stover, which slowed everything down when we got up Tuesday. We got a late start and had intentions to make Gooch Creek shelter. We made it 6.7 miles and found a nice campsite and decided to stop there for the night. Coming out of Strover Ferral Dog asked to hike with us, so he too is spending the night. We'll see if he continues with us, as I think we are slowing him down a lot. The cell service has been lousy, though my brother's AT&T service has gotten out a couple of times. It's early to bed tonight so we can get an early start tomorrow.
Date: 2014-03-25
From: Tent Site @ mile 9.5

To: Gooch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.5

We stopped a little early at a tent to try and catch up on our sleep. Last two nights saw little sleep, so we were both pretty tired. We turned in at about 7:00 but as it turned out that was the time the Army Rangers chose to start their training exercise. We were serenaded to heavy machine gun and cannon fire. They kept this up till around nine. Around midnight it started to rain lightly. When we got up it had stopped, but of course everything was wet. We got a pretty early start and made pretty good time, but around 11 the weather started to change for the worse. It got much cooler and a high wind picked up. By the time we got to Gooch Shelter it was really nasty, with snow flurries. With lows predicted for mid teens, it wasn't a hard decision to stay at the shelter rather than getting in a few more miles. So we're turning in with all the clothing we have on expecting a cold night.
Date: 2014-03-26
From: Gooch Gap Shelter

To: Lance Creek 
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

It was very cold and windy last night, so we all slept on the top level of the shelter. When we got up it must have been in the upper teens. My brother really doesn't have the gear for being out here it this cold weather. Besides sleeping cold each night, he's been carrying about 35 pounds. It didn't take much when others decided to get a shuttle at Hooch Gap, a couple miles from the shelter.It was really nice hiking with my brother, but I think he'd gotten his fill and left to head home.Fural, Hat Trick and I headed to Lance Creek and got in fairly early. We had time to get a tent spot, and now the place is filled up. People are finding it hard to find a spot to pitch a tent.We head to the AT famous Neel Gap tomorrow.Cold morning at Gooch Gap shelter
Date: 2014-03-27
From: Lance Creek 

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

A nice day of hiking. We took our time doing Blood Man. The down may have been harder than the up. There were many rather difficult rock fields where you had to be very careful not to blow out a knee or ankle. I read that about 20% of thru hikers give up their quest by Neel Gap. I can really understand how that is now. It is really more difficult than you can imagine. Before I had read a lot about how hard it is, but it's really different when you do it. A church group came by and served everyone in the hostel dinner. A terrific treat after so many tuna dinners.Weather for tomorrow looks like rain all day. Our first hiking in the rain days.
Date: 2014-03-28
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Drizzling rain, misty fog, muddy slippery trail, it¢s a great day for a hike in the woods.We made our best mileage day yet.I hiked today by myself. Jay was having a gear shakedown, and I got antsy and went ahead. They came in about a half an hour after I got here despite me leaving an hour and half before them.I saw my first good size animal today. A white tail deer bounded across the trail about 50 yards ahead of me and was gone in a blink. It's amazing how few animals I've seen, a couple squirrels, and a few birds and that's it.More rain forecast for tomorrow. I keep telling Jay and Feral it builds character.
Date: 2014-03-29
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Cheese Factory tent site
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain soaked trail from today and yesterday¢s rain. Muddy and slippery with many mud puddles to walk through.Note to Columbia Sportwear, your North Plains WP hiking shoes are NOT waterproof.My hiking poles have become appendices with a mind of their own. I can't count the number of times they saved me from slipping and falling.I again am hiking ahead of Hat Trick and Fural. They stayed at Low Gap to dry out their clothes and treat Furals New blisters. He picked up new hiking shoes at Neel Gap and probably over did a first day with new shoes. They both hike faster than me so they will certainly catch up soon.Hoping I can make Hiawassee tomorrow. There's a new hostel that opened close to the trail and a warm bed and shower sure sound nice.
Date: 2014-03-30
From: Cheese Factory tent site

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

It was a bitter night, wind and freezing temperatures. After two days of rain, so many things were wet, so when I got up my socks, gloves, hat, and most of the things I hadn't had on while sleeping were frozen. I spent a couple hours cooking articles of clothing over my camp stove to thaw them out. Putting on wet cold clothes and then hiking in them, guess that's what the trail is all about.Hat Trick caught up with me early afternoon, but Fural took a zero day at the shelter to treat his blisters. He'll catch up. They both hike so much faster than me.Didn't make Hiawassee, but got close. So tomorrow a short hike of 3 miles and then I take the rest of the day off.
Date: 2014-03-31
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap (Top of Georgia hostel)
Miles today: 3.6

It was an easy short walk to Dick's Creek Gap. A new hostel has just opened a half mile from the trail, Top of Georgia run by a triple crown thru hiker Sir Packsalot so Jay and I stayed there. By the end of the day he had a full house.They offered free shuttles into Hiawasse where I mailed home my tent which just was not water proof after I had bought a new Lightheart Gear tent. Stopped next at a supermarket and resupplied for the next few days to get me to Franklin.Next it was McDonald's where I consumed an enormous amount of calories. Got back to the hostel, showered, got my laundry done and had dinner with Sir Packsalot and a couple of other hikers. The guy is a wealth of knowledge about hiking.Tomorrow, always a big day for hikers, we should cross into North Carolina.
Date: 2014-04-01
From: Top of Georgia Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

After rejuvenating at Top of Georgia, I felt really good all morning. I made (for me) excellent time getting to the Ga/NC border about one, which was about 8 miles.After that, it was not so easy. It was like NC said welcome, and gave two steep climbs in a row. Still I made it to the shelter by 3:30 which gave me some free time.While at Top of Georgia, I upgraded my tent and mailed my old one home. Liking this new one a whole lot.
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Muskrat Creek shelter

To: Carter Gap shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

I started out pretty strong again today, two good days in a row. Got in six miles and the top of Standing Indian Mountain by 11:30. Stopped and had lunch, but slowed down in the afternoon, even though the trail wasn't as hard. Really thought about trying for 15 today, it would have worked much better with getting into Franklin tomorrow but just couldn't push on once I got to the shelter. Now I'll have to get off at Rock Gap in order to have enough time to get things I need to get done in town.Ran into a group of trail volunteers in the afternoon who help maintain the trail. Because there are no power machines allowed in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness area, they do all their maintenance with hand tools. They had just finished cutting a large Oak with a cross cut saw. He said it had taken thirty minutes.Volunteers who maintain the trail with hand tools
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Carter Gap shelter

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Shortly after leaving Carter Gap Shelter, Yank and Jolly called me to a short side trail were there was an amazing view that I would have surely missed if not for them.Six miles blew by and I got to the base of Albert Mountain before eleven where I had but three tenths of a mile to summit. It was the hardest stretch of trail I've done. Hiking poles were useless. It was mostly rock and large rocks at that. The part that was trail was mostly large steps with risers of two to three feet. After that grueling climb I was rewarded with some magnificent views and the knowledge that I had passed 100 miles of AT hiking.A long afternoon of six miles got me to Rock Gap around three, were I caught up with Ryan who had passed me an hour earlier. Yank had gotten there earlier and had called for a shuttle pickup from the Budget Inn. So while we waited we were treated to some wonderful trail magic of hot dogs, chips and ice cold coke, given to us by Tabsco, a section hiking waiting for the weather to warm up north to finish.After about an hour, it became apparent no shuttle was coming, so Tabsco loaded four of us along with his rather large dog and drove us into Franklin.There are some really great people that I've already met on the trail, and Tabsco is at the top of the list.
Date: 2014-04-04
From: Rock Gap

To: Franklin NC Budget Inn
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Today started with the First Baptist Church of Franklin treating all thru hikers with all we could eat breakfast of pancakes and bacon. There were probably 25 of us there.The shuttle got us back to the trail at Rock Gap around 10 o'clock. What looked like a pretty bad storm system fizzled to almost nothing. I walked two hours in my rain suit sweating profusely and finally stripped it off. I think it scared some of the people at the Budget Inn to taking a day off. Weather, you just never know.Because of the late start, I hiked till five o'clock, and stopped at a lovely campsite.
Date: 2014-04-05
From: Tent site

To: Wesser Bald shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke to a freezing morning and it took awhile to get going. I lost my gloves several days ago, but didn't miss them till today. Very hard to stuff your tent away with numb hands.Today was filled with spectacular views. In the morning I got to Wayah Bald which has a beautiful stone tower on top. Early in the morning from the top were incredible views of the mountains. At the end of the day I got to Wesser Bald, which has an old fire tower on top. The views from here were even better. There was a full 360 degree view of spectacular mountains. Truly an amazing day of incredibly sites.In the middle of the day when I hit Burningtown Gap I was treated to more trail magic, courtesy of the Burningtown Baptist Church. I stuffed myself with burgers, coke, chips, and two glasses of oj.It was a very good day.Trail magic at Burningtown Gap by Buringtown First Baptish churh
Date: 2014-04-06
From: Wesser Bald shelter

To: Sassafras Gap shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Wesser Bald shelter was packed, so I got a bit of a late start. There were a couple of great views a little way from the shelter.I still managed to get to NOC by 11:30.My original plan was to stay at their hostel, but after a nice big lunch, a quick stop at the outfitter, I decided to push on to Sassafras. It's a pretty challenging climb up to Sassafras and I was plenty tired when I dragged in at 5 o'clock.There is a pretty big crowd here also. I hope to get to Fontana day after tomorrow where I have a reservation at the Hike Inn, which means tomorrow I'll have to put in some big miles.
Date: 2014-04-07
From: Sassafras Gap shelter

To: Cody Gap tent site
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Thanks to all who've signed my journal, it really is encouraging to me.No pictures today. It rained all last night and today till around ten. When it rains I put on my rain grab, cover my pack with a rain cover and hike ever so carefully. The mud, and rocks become very slippery and my pace goes way down.I had hoped to make three more miles (would have been my first fifteen mile day) but the wet kept me from making it. But it was not just the wet trail that slowed me down, but when I packed up this morning, so much was soaked, my tent, tarp, ground cover, it added a few extra pounds of water that makes for a heavy pack. So enough with the excuses, I need to make it to Fontana Dam as early as possible to get provisions for the Smokies. I've reservations at the Hike Inn, one of those AT legendary places.Now if it would just stop raining and let my stuff dry out, would be so nice.
Date: 2014-04-08
From: Cody Gap tent site

To: Fontana Dam (Hike Inn)
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: broken clouds

Short day today of hiking. I wanted to get to Fontana Dam as early as possible to get checked in, clothes washed, me washed, get my park pass printed at the local community college and get enough provisions to get through the Smokies. Which made for a pretty hectic afternoon.We were taken into town by Nancy, who along with here husband Jeff have been running the Hike Inn since 1993.Had dinner at a Mexican restaurant with Why and Why Not and Mallet.Early to bed tonight, as I start 70 miles of The Great Smoky Mountain National Park bright and early tomorrow. Jeff and Nancy Houch, Hike Inn owners
Date: 2014-04-09
From: Fontana Dam (Hike Inn)

To: Russell Field shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: light rain

Got an early start, as Jeff was right on time for a 7 am shuttle back to the dam.Most of the morning it was a steady claim up. It was too bad of an incline and I was able to keep a steady pace to the top of Shuckstack Mountain. There a short side trail to a fire tower, but I passed, the was still a heavy mist that limited visibility.Because of the early start I was able to get to the shelter early before the crowd arrived. Surprisingly Giggles and Chuggles (two young ladies I had meet earlier) along with LAF and Hearsay came in. They had taken a zero day at Cabin in the Woods. It's now a full house with a few overflow tenting it. In the park your required to stay in the shelter until it's fully occupied.
Date: 2014-04-10
From: Russell Field shelter

To: Derrick Knob shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

Got a late start for me. I didn't set an alarm as I didn't what to wake everyone in the shelter.It was a beautiful day for hiking, sunny with a cool breeze. Still it was a difficult day, with several steep climbs and two mountains, Rocky Top and Thunderbird.The trail in GSMNP is really not in great shape due mostly to overuse. So many people walk the trail that it churned to mud. It hasn't rained in about four days, still the trail is full of ground up mud.I stopped at Derrick Knob which was only 9 miles. I was starting to get down as most all who had been at Russel Field had gone on to the next shelter (another 5 miles) but then I was greeted by Ray (who finally got a trail name, Hat Trick) who somehow I had gotten ahead of.The mechanics of the flow of hikers is really strange. You meet people and they get ahead and they get behind. Just when you are sure you've seen the last of them they show up. There are so many interesting people who are hiking with many interesting stories. Today I met Bypass and Songbird, both retired from the Navy, and Bypass then worked as a CIO until he retired. Bypass got his trail name because he had triple bypass surgery five months ago.
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Derrick Knob shelter

To: Mount Collins shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a pretty good day. I did 13.5 miles and the trail did not seem quite so hard, even though we climbed up to Clingman's Dome the highest point on the AT (it's all down hill from here)So there's a couple hiking together, Sprinkleburst and Cupcake, and it's Cupcake's birthday. Hat Trick gets ahold of his Mom and asks her to bring cupcakes for a birthday party at Clingman's Dome. Of course word spreads and by the time we get there it's become a large group of hikers. Though I had to leave to make the shelter before they arrived, there was a lot of camaraderie as the AT hikers became the curiosity of the tourists at the Dome.Hat Trick is taking a zero day tomorrow with his Mom, but I told him he'll catch up with me down the trail for sure.Long hike to the shelter and I got in about five thirty.
Date: 2014-04-12
From: Mount Collins shelter

To: Pecks Corner shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: few clouds

Today I got a good early start. Other people were stirring earlier than what I had my alarm set for so I got started early. The morning was cool and I walked through pine forests that smelled like Christmas.I got to Newfound Gap and was rewarded with trail magic provide by Godspeed. It couldn't have been better, a ham sandwich, chips, root beer and a ho ho.But I was in a rush, as I had a lot of miles to put in, so I didn't hang around. Had a cell signal which is rare occurrence in the Smokies and gave a quick call to Gail.A few miles up the trail, I was being passed by a guy and girl, who recognized me. They had spent the first night on the trail at Strover and remember my brother and the Makers Mark he had brought. The ebbs and flows of the hikers on the trail is really amazing.Stoped at Charlie's Bunion and over came my fear of heights and climbed out to some absolutely amazing views.After that it was a long six miles to the shelter that passed over many guidelines, where there was little but down on each side of the trail, but had simply amazing views.I taken so many pictures of amazing views and passed on many more. None really does justice to actually being here to see them.
Date: 2014-04-13
From: Pecks Corner shelter

To: Cosby Knob shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: broken clouds

Got out early, but had to hike a half mile back to the trail from the shelter. Two early climbs and I then several miles of walking through dense, moist, shaded pine Forrest. With a crisp cool breeze it was an awesome walk. I kept expecting Gandalf and Frodo to come around the corner.It became very warm, almost hot as the the day went on. It was the closest I gotten to running out of water before I made camp.Last day of the Smokies tomorrow.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: Cosby Knob shelter

To: Green Corner road (Standing Bear hostel)
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Short day of hiking, but I was just about out of food after four days in the Smokies.Cosby shelter became the most crowded shelter I've stayed at. As the day wore on more and more hikers showed up. Southbound, Sprinkles, Cupcake, and others came in. Every flat or near flat piece of ground around the shelter was taken up along with an over crowded shelter left three hikers sleeping on the floor under the eating tables.It was ten miles to Standing Bear hostel, mostly downhill. There was a threat of rain and falling temperatures so we all passed on the Mt. Cammerer side trail which was supposed to have awesome views. Later I regretted it, as the weather didn't change.Toward the end of the hike we paralleled a lovely stream with many small water falls that flowed down to the Pigeon River.Some final thoughts on GSMNPAfter Clingmans Dome, the condition of the trail improved noticeably. Maybe they are working their way south. A lot of area's are filled with rock, which is not so great to walk on, but helps with the soil erosion. Other areas are fortified with logs and earthen work. If you never hike the AT or section the Smokies, do yourself a favor and visit Clingman's Dome. I'm told that often the views aren't so great because of smog or weather. The day I was there it was absolutely beautiful views of the mountains. Take that view and multiple it many times over and its hiking through the the park. Just countless vista's.Also Newfound Gap is a very worthy spoof to visit. I was told Roosevelt dedicated the AT from a presidium that still there. You might also catch site of Godspeed handing out food to through hikers.Cosby shelter privy is handicapped equipped. I'm sure it's to be in compliance with the law, but it just looked so silly.Lastly, I'm told that it's very unusual to make four days this time of year without bad weather in the Smokies, that you have to be really lucky. I guess I'm just lucky to be out here.