morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-05
From: Atkins

To: base camp
Miles today: 0.0

Decided to stay and help do stuff. We set fence posts, pulled wire, mowed lawn, cleaned dishes and the kitchen and did a food run. Debbie, they have a farmers market that you would have liked. I had strawberry short cake for breakfast.....yum! Getting stuff ready for the departure tomorrow.....damn back to reality. Plan to keep pressing forward.....harpers ferry is just over the hill....lol.doing hot dogs and coronas got lunch. PJ I think you can add another 6 beers to the total. Take care and thanks to all for the comments...they help push me on. Takes care be safe.
Date: 2012-05-06
From: base camp

To: Broken 
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

well I'm broken and off trail. My bad ft just isn't getting better once I put pack weight on it. If I could walk the trail with five lbs it would work. Limping along yesterday my right leg, knee and calf muscle let me know they couldn't do the trip solo. I finally pulled the calf muscle due to it doing all the heavy lifting. When I tried to climb five steps uphill this morn I couldn't do it. it took me 2 hrs last night to go 1/2 mile to a level tenting area. Alli this made me realize I can't keep hiking with a bum ft. my left heel has a golf ball size bump above the heel, just like it did a year ago and the only way to get it better is to rest it for months, or have surgery. I was just hoping I could go a little farther, but, with two bum wheels....its time to look at the good. I've met great people, hiked 1/4 of the AT, have memories that I'll laugh abt forever and I didn't quit due to not liking it or the physicality of the tasks. I think I went pretty far and I'm proud of how I tried to tough it out. I'm missing eight toe nails, I've had a wrap around blister a quarter inch deep the size of silver dollars and I over came those. My ft I just can't overcome anymore. The ft would tease me by loosening up for a few hrs, but I've taken too much ibuprofen and exceeded the limits too long just so I could get it that way. Long term health concerns are when I said I would stop. The calf muscle pull was a way of saying, hey....don't be stupid, stubborn is good, stupid...no. I'll never be a long distance hiker unless the doc can fox my foot, but I'm one hell pud a fisherman so I'm going to go home and fish....corona in hand. I'm sorry I failed, but I learned so much abt folks, myself, and saw some great things....that its hard to call this a failure.
Date: 2012-05-07
From: Broken 

To: Home-should be last entry
Miles today: 0.0

Thanks to everyone-friends, family, strangers, people who I've never met but your not strangers any more and my trail buddies for the kind words. Yesterday when I knew I couldn't walk the mt, I headed to rt 42 highway to walk to bland. Figured flat hard surface I could handle if I didn't have to lift my legs too high. Left abt 5 am for what I figured would be 20 miles and all day if I didn't get a hitch. Luckily abt 5 miles into it am elderly gent was driving pout his driveway when I was I guess you would say walking by him. I asked for a ride to bland and he said he was going to wytheville, a bigger city if I wanted to go there. I knew when I said ok, that I was done, but not until that moment did I accept that fact. If I had been one minute later, I may still be walking since no one was stopping and I was getting a little frustrated with my gait. At wytheville, they had a rental car agency, a made a flight home today from norfolk, because I wanted to drive and see a little more of va and I'm ready to go home today. Things fell into place so it was meant to happen. When I offered to pay for his time or gas, the man said"Jesus helped everyone for free and I'm no better than Jesus". My last trail magic and words to probably remember in the future.I plan to heal and then take my dog in to the utah wilderness area by my cabin for a few days hike. My ft can handle that in a couple of months. Spools mom....spools and several others have an open invite to come out to utah to fish at my cabin or ski on the winter and stay at my city house...his family as well had the invite. Miles and a few others plan to hike the pct next year and I have said I can be the drop off pt for their gear and practice runs and then I'll run them to there starting pt and shuttle if necessary for a while. My own trail magic if I can help. For now walling thru the airport I look like I got run over....my right leg got worse over night so I know I did right, I just hate quiting on anything, folks say I'm stubborn, I say I'm determined. Anyway I by chance have two fridges with Coronas ready for me, a dog that will go crazy when she sees me, a wife that is crazy cuz she wants to see me and a boat that needs to be used since I've ben too busy to fish the last three years building my cabin. There is always an open spot on the boat, cabin our house for the folks I've met on this adventure....and an adventure it was. Good luck to all and feel free to contact via my email anytime. I have some unexpected free time now got the sumner
Date: 2012-05-17
From: Home-should be last entry

To: Doc office
Miles today: 0.0

Well had the MRI on my ft. it showed that 50% of my achilles detached/tore from my heel. I know this happened coming down to Neels Gap, so I'm really happy that I continued for another 500 miles. I plan to have the surgery in mid june, five days bed resting it, six weeks isolation boot and then rehab my ass off to be bigger, stronger and tougher next year. I plan to either hike with friends on the PCT our come back and finish the AT next year. I can't just drop this and quit although I'm certain my wife wishes I would. I have this fire in me that I either have to satisfy to my satisfaction or at least try to. I plan to buy a few things so my pack will be lighter, 15 lb base weight is my goal. Shoes I learned the hard way on so I'll be ready. Even though the mts here will have snow in the winter I'll be hiking the higher mts this time around to get the ups and downs in my system better. Thanks to all....Corona SAM will be back for one more try. See you on the trail next year. HYOH!
Date: 2012-08-05
From: Country cabin

To: Country cabin
Miles today: 0.0

Well almost two months has passed since my surgery. When the doc went in he found hamburger as a tendon. it was 90% torn from my heel, it had a ton of scar/dead tissue and my heel bone had to be cut to get to healthy bone. I've just been okayed to walk flat surfaces without the isolation boot so I'm back on the healing road. t's great sering that some of the folks I hiked with are closing in on maine. I wish them the best. Next year I think I'm going to walk Washington and Oregon on the PCT and enjoy the out doors on the west coast. I think I'll walk sobo, which very few do, but I dont have to leave until july which allows me time to really be able to hike when I leave. I plan to do a lot of snow hiking this winter on the mts here at 8-10 k elevation so if I do go I can already have my trail legs. Good luck to all and I'm hoping in two years to finish the AT. The angels and magic was the bight light of the trek and worth the pain. Until next time. Good luck to all!
Date: 2012-01-26
To: The final days of planning
Miles today: 0.0

46 days and counting!This trip has been in the "planning" stage for a few years. I committed to doing it in 2012 around June of 2011 during a weekend up in Grayson Highlands, VA. During that weekend, I met a few Northbounders and I decided it was time to stop putting it off and do it.I gave my job many months advance notice of my departure and the saving and planning truly began. So here it is, six weeks from my journey and I still have so much to do. I am anxious and excited at the same time. Moreso anxious at the moment. Financially, I am cutting it close to coming up with my planned budget amount. Emotionally, I am a wreck lol. I was recently diagnosed with a neurological disease that I feared might threaten my journey. I am choosing to continue on despite a looming medical condition. You only live once, right?
Date: 2012-02-01
To: Got my new camera
Miles today: 0.0

So I finally got the last major piece of equipment for my hike, my new camera.I went with the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010. I got a very good deal on it so it wasn't nearly as expensive as I expected it to be.Everything seems to be falling into place with my preparation. T minus 40 days and counting...
Date: 2012-02-18
To: Everything is falling into place
Miles today: 0.0

23 days, 16 hours, 13 minutes, and... 20, 19, 18, etc.The closer I get to my departure, the more excited I get. I have all my gear, my itinerary is checked and rechecked, I have the first week of my hike completely planned. After that first week, hopefully I won't be sticking to any plans but hike.It is late in the process, but I am still on the fence as to if I am going to do scheduled mail drops. Part of me knows that they will help tremendously in resupplying, but another part of me is skeptical about trusting someone to make sure the drops are sent to the right place and on time. I don't want to come into town expecting something only to find out that someone forgot to mail it.Since my announcement that I will be thru-hiking the AT, there are two main questions that I am asked most (aside from the usual "How long will it take you?", "How far is it?")1: Why am I doing this?A: Two reasons actually. The first being because I have now spent over half my life slaving away at jobs to pay bills. Honestly put, I need a break from life. I am at a point in my life where I have nothing keeping me from doing an adventure like this. The second reason is a little bit more self reflective in nature. I am still a fairly young guy (only 33), but have good amount of bodily problems. Knees are both shot, nerve damage in my lower back as well as a couple slipped discs in there, shoulder has been quite damaged, and the list goes on. I want to do this while I am still physically able to do it. Some people think that I cannot complete this hike and they may be right. I owe it to myself to see if I can. I'm not doing this to prove to anyone that I can because most of their opinions mean absolutely shit to me. I am doing this for me and that's all that matters.2: What am I looking forward to the most?A: I have spent a little bit of time on short sections of this trail and have taken in a lot of the sights and challenges. I think what I am looking forward to the most on this journey is the people I will meet. I am anxious and excited to hear the stories of my fellow travelers. One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Robert Louis Stevenson, "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."All I do now is wait for my journey to begin...
Date: 2012-02-25
To: Waiting...
Miles today: 0.0

I have a little over 16 days to go. That's two weeks! I am getting pretty excited now. All my gear is weighed, accounted for, and ready to be shipped down to the Hiker Hostel. I will be flying into Atlanta on the 13th, stay at the hostel that night, and begin the approach trail on the 14th. I believe that I am ready!I had some hiker cards made so that I can stop writing down this journal for people lol. Now I can just whip out a card and be on my way. It all seems so professional now I even changed my Facebook occupation to AT thru-hiker. It may sound lame but whatever :PTotal pack weight including 2L of water and 5 days of food is 26.63lbs! I am definitely stoked about that. When I shed my cold weather gear in Pearisburg, I should be right at 22 lbs!I've decided to start out the trail with my trusty Lowa Renegade GTX boots (even if they do weigh 3lbs!), I debated getting a new pair of mids or lowcut boots before I left but decided that I know my boots feel good and they are already well broken in. So, I will wear those until they completely give out. Then I will get some mids for the summer months. Hopefully they last at least until Fontana Dam (hopefully all the way to Damascus). Soooo ready to be on the trail!
Date: 2012-03-09
To: Only 3 days left
Miles today: 0.0

It's finally time. Today was my last day at work, and the bosses took me out to lunch for a nice little farewell. I have been packing up my belongings most of the evening.You see, when I leave my roommate will be moving in with his girlfriend. Our lease is up and the little bit of stuff that I do have has to be stored. I jokingly tell people that while I am on my hike I am going to be homeless and unemployed. But that's pretty much the truth.I am fortunate enough to have a friend that is able to help me out with my gear swaps in Pearisburg, VA and Hanover, NH. Other than that, I'm pretty much doing this on my own. I am okay with that. A few people have said they will meet up with me on the trail. Maybe this is me just being the cynical guy that I am, but I honestly don't expect anyone to come to me. Hopefully I am wrong though.I am filled with a myriad of feelings and emotions. I would love more than nothing else to have excitement top that list, that's not the case. I will say that worry is the leader.I worry about my knees and lower back. I am doing everything I can to make sure they are as strong as they possibly can be right now. I just fear that it won't be enough. I have nerve damage in my lower sciatic nerve accompanied by two slipped discs. Both my knees are shot from injuries when I was a teenager. I just hope that my body holds together long enough for me to finish this hike.I worry about my mental state. I fear that this hike will pull me further away from the people that I care about. People are sometimes easily forgotten when they leave. I am doing this for me, in the end. I hope to attain the self reflection I am hoping for. I hope to learn things about myself that I am unaware of. Most of all, I hope to push my limits and do what I haven't done before.I'm going to bed now, the next three days are going to be pretty busy.
Date: 2012-03-12
To: One more wake up!
Miles today: 0.0

Here I sit, in an empty room, in a nearly empty apartment. I am now filled with excitement because I leave for Georgia in the morning. All of my [sparse] belongings are in storage, my Sprint account is frozen for the time being, I have checked-in for my flight, reconfirmed my reservation with Leigh at Hiker Hostel, and my gear is already there. I even have a note taped to my front door reminding me to take my boarding pass.Yes, I just wrote down my mental checklist :PI have been waiting for this trip for many years and have always found some way to put it off. Not anymore. I am really doing this! (Contrary to what some people think, this is not a fictional trip.)I decided to quit smoking for my hike mainly because of financial reasons. Cigarettes add quite a chunk to an already limited budget. Smoked my last one tonight so we will see how that goes.Through some very good suggestions, I've decided to start the trail out with "World War Z" by Max Brooks. I am absolutely fascinated by the whole post-apocalyptic genre of movies and books. For me, the zombie factor puts a great twist on the story, but I just love the genre in general. I think because I am a firm believer that the end of our 'civilization' isn't too far off.Well, I am going to find something to eat. I am cherishing the last few real meals I'm going to have for a good bit, I'm thinking sushi...
Date: 2012-03-13
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My flight was delayed by 45 minutes then when I landed in Atlanta, the metro train I rode kept having delays. I ended up being over an hour later than I was supposed to be. Fortunately, Willy from the Hiker Hostel waited on me. I arrived at the hostel, which is an absolutely gorgeous place to stay, late in the afternoon. They made a run to the local Wal-Mart for last minute supplies. Here is where I made a rash decision...I've decided to skip Neels Gap as a resupply point. I fugure the less time I spend in towns, the less money I will spend. So my first resupply point is going to be Franklin, NC. Which means that I am starting the trail with 10 days worth of food and supplies. That also means, I am hitting the incredibly strenuous Approach Trail with a 47lb pack!I tried to get some sleep, but the combination of excitement and one of my bunkmates immitating a bear attacking a chihuahua is keeping me awake. I start the approach tomorrow and I hear it is pretty brutal (even w/o a 47lb pack!)Stats - 6'4" , 282lbs. , 47lb pack
Date: 2012-03-14
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Woke up and had an awesome breakfast that Leigh from the hostel cooked. After we all settled up, we loaded up for the shuttle. Only three of us are doing the approach trail. Everyone else is going straight to Springer Mountain.I registered at Amicalola Falls State Park before beginning the Approach Trail. I am thru-hiker #325 for 2012.I had never done the Approach before so I had to do it, simple as that... won't do it again lol.You start out climbing 604 stairs just to get to the top of the falls. Then you go over two mountains before you can even see Springer. I haven't backpacked in a couple months and was carrying a heavy ass pack. I made it before the sun set though! I am exhausted but feeling good.I am staying near the Springer Mountain Shelter. There are only a few other people here and no other thrus. I expected it to be more crowded, maybe more will show up later in the evening.
Date: 2012-03-15
From: Springer Mountain

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 10.6

Hit Springer this morning with the sunrise... as planned Made very good time coming down the mountain and stopped to rest a bit at Hawk Mountain Shelter. Shelter was full so I decided to push on until my boddy told me to stop. I am stealth camping (camping off the trail) tonight right at Horse Gap. Major thunderstorms are coming down right now but I picked a good spot for my tent, between a rock and a bit tree so the wind isn't getting to me.
Date: 2012-03-16
From: Horse Gap

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Stopped for lunch at Gooch Mtn Shelter, decided to write a bit while lunch is cooking. The last few days have been taxing to say the least. I am tired and sore. I wouldn't trade this for anything though. My mind is running in overdrive. I expect it to take a few days or a week for everything to slow down inside my head. Going to try for Woody Gap tonight. Had a nice meal and a good rest up, hitting the trail.
Date: 2012-03-17
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I thought I was never going to make it to Woody Gap last night. By the time I got there it was almost sunset and the temperature was dropping quickly. I pitched my tent and traied to sleep. I am still not sleeping well. In and out for an hour here and an hour there. It rained all night. Being exhausted and the sun going down, I made a very poor choice in tent placement. Woke up in the middle of a lake last night. My tent kept me dry though. Was still raining when I hit the trail. I started out real late today. My back is hurting, ankles and knees are shot, and I've pulled a muscle in my shoulder. I am no stranger to pain though. If nothing else, no one can call me a pussy! HAHA. I stopped at Wood's Hole Shelter for lunch and to dry out my gear. It only stopped raining about an hour ago. Cheesy Mac and bacon bits :DLater that day...I conquered Blood Mountain!What's that Mr. Mountain? You want my blood, sweat, and tears? You will just have to settle for my sweat today. Apparently, the shelter on top of Blood Mountain was built in 1937 by the CCC for the Georgia Parks Systems. There is a lot of history in the shelter. Personally though, I think the real history lies elsewhere. The final stretch of trail leading up to the summit is rock face. On this rock face, you can see the thousands of scars from metal tipped trekking pole that pock-mark the stone. How many people have made this laborous climb to your summit? Where are the stains from your blood, Mr. Mountain? Why do you not bleed for me?I made it into Neels Gap tonight. I was planning on hitting up one of the campsites about a half mile north of the store, but ran into a couple guys that were looking to split a cabin. The hostel is full. So, for the same price as the hostel, me and a couple other guys are staying at the Blood Mountain Cabins. The cabin is real nice and I get a queen bed, after a shower...
Date: 2012-03-18
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up this morning completely stiff (not that way either!). I could barely move. I am debating whether or not that bed was such a good idea. We settled up with the owner of the cabins and I hit up Mountain Crossings, the store at Neels Gap, before I started out for the day. I bought a small stick of Body Glide, a Diet Coke, and a pack of Starburst candy. I have been experiencing some minor chaffing, nothing too serious though. I have yet to get a blister, so I am happy about that. Some other hikers I have met so far have some pretty painful looking ones! I felt good most of today. There were a couple of tough climbs, but I made it to my planned home for the night, Low Gap Shelter. This area is full of people tonight. The kid from Berlin is here and Mitchell from Atlanta (shared the cabin with them last night). Eric and Lauren are here too. They are from New Mexico. They are a pretty cool couple, I've run into them a few times. They are pretty fast hikers. My ankles are giving me some real problems, they hurt more and more each day. Might make tomorrow a short day, I'll see how I feel in the morning.Spirits are high and I am doing better than I expected! G'night =)
Date: 2012-03-19
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Rocky Mountain
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: broken clouds

Long day today. I was on the trail shortly after the sun came up. I am still not sleeping well. Last night I only got a few hours of sleep. Like most nights, I wake up after a short doze at "Oh Dark Thirty" and just wait for the sun to come up. I don't have any way to tell time, so I just wait. I heard this really weird sounding owl most of the night.the trail this morning was pretty easy going. Did about eight miles before lunch. Stopped at the Blue Mountain Shelter for lunch. I met Warren there, he's an older man thru-hiking with his wife, I didn't catch her name. James from Scotland showed up shortly after that. Eric and Lauren passed me on the uphill to the shelter... This is becoming a common thing lol.The descent into Unicoi Gap was a treacherous one, steep and rocky. About half way down I rolled my left ankle. I went down pretty hard but didn't get seriously injured. As if my ankles weren't giving me a hard enough time, I have to go and injure one of them. First thing I did was look around to see if anyone saw me fall! LOL! Of course there was no one in sight. After a few moments, I was able to put some weight on it. If I can put weight on it, I can hike on it!Took me a long time to climb out of the gap. I am camped on the summit of Rocky Mountain with a couple kids from Mass, Tortellini and Ducky. Also camped with Wild Turkey and 20 Questions here. Eric and Lauren are camped here as well, I seem to have synced up with their pace lately. They hike faster but I hike longer. I don't mind at all, they are pretty cool people. Wild Turkey is drunk off Wild Turkey and I think he likes to shock people with his "stories" Personally, I think he is all bullshit. I need to make it to Dicks Creek Gap tomorrow to catch a lift into Hiawasee. I need toilet paper and fuel. Ankle is taped up and feeling a little better. I think I will pick up a cheap ankle brace while I am in town.