morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Glencliff

To: North Woodstock
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: light rain

I woke to the sounds of everyone moving about and getting ready. My alarm wasn't on, so at least I didn't over sleep. The weather was a bit clearer this morning, but still foggy in the mountains. Everyone was finally leaving the hostel. I was one of the first out, and one of the first to enjoy the crossing of the brook almost immediately. I took my shoes and socks off. No way was I going to soak my feet first thing in the morning. The climb up was long and rocky. It got a bit strenuous at the end, with a bit of a steeper climb over the rocks. It seemed to go on forever, up and up and up. Eventually I reached the tree line, and I was hit by the powerful winds. The trees seemed to shrink and then there was nothing around me except for grass and rocks. It very quickly became cold. I had to get my coat on and move quickly. My hands were freezing holding onto my poles. The wind was blowing so hard that I had to lean into it just to stay upright. I heard BigBen scream from behind me when the wind tried to steal his new hat. It was so insane. I have seen warnings about the weather conditions in the Whites and the need to bring winter gear. I didn't take it really seriously, because it's July. But wow, I'm very glad that I have enough cold weather gear.After a couple pictures on the rocky, windy top, it was time to move quickly back to the trees for safety. From there it was only 3.8 miles down, but it took me over two hours. It was incredibly steep and rocky, and so slippery. I fell a couple times and had some near misses. There was no possible way I could have climbed it yesterday. And climb is the word, there were points where I was hanging onto rocks or metal rails. The latter part of the trail was following a waterfall. It was a nice view.I saw a couple camera crews on my way down, which is highly unusual for the AT. It turned out that the man who is trying to break the record, Scott, was going to be passing by later that day. There were a lot of day hikers who were hiking up and hoping to meet him along the way. I didn't see him, but I met some other camera people who gave BigBen and I a ride into town. We got a motel room in North Woodstock, at the Autumn Breeze. It's an exceptionally nice motel, especially compared to the hostel from the past few nights. I haven't seen a single spider! The fridge is stocked with complimentary drinks, and the laundry was free. We went to the Woodstock Inn for lunch, I had a massive sandwich. It was appropriately named "Death By Sandwich" and was three layers of bread. I actually couldn't finish it. Since then, I've managed to resupply and take a couple baths. We tried to organise slackpacking and to stay here another night, but unfortunately tomorrow is the start of the 4th July weekend (American Independence Day). This means that absolutely everywhere is booked up. So maybe it's a good thing that I'll be out in the mountains for it. Tomorrow, I'm back to sleeping in the mountains but first I need to climb up them. Here's hoping that the sunny weather that has been promised by everyone will actually last.
Date: 2015-07-12
From: Baldpate Shelter

To: Andover
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 131. Baldpate shelter to Andover. 8 miles.I woke up at 2am, when two hikers came into camp an set up their tents. Their headlamps were bright enough to filter through all the trees and looked like strobe lighting inside the shelter. They chatted the entire time, and it took me more than an hour to get back to sleep. I woke again at 6am, and set off just after 7am. The trail was just straight up for the first part of the day, on west baldpate, and then a bit of a fun climb up east baldpate. The east mountain is just all bedrock, so I had to climb diagonally up these rocks whilst trying not to get blown back down by the wind. The sun was also shining fiercely, it was another baking hot 90F day. After that big climb up, there was a long, annoying, steep climb down that mostly hurt my toes and my knees. Then the next few miles were actually okay. It was all wooded and the trail was a lot like how it used to be, before the trail got really difficult all the time. I got to the road crossing at about 11.20. I stayed at the side of the road for 15 minutes, trying to hitch hike. There were only 3 cars, and they went flying by. I eventually got a ride from a day hiker, otherwise I suspect that I would have been there for hours. I'm staying at the only place you can stay in Andover, at the Pine Ellis Hostel. It's nice enough, and I'm typing this from the hammock in their garden. I'm constantly batting away bugs. Big Ben just ran screaming from his chair because of a spider. The town of Andover itself is the quietest town I have ever seen. There are no traffic lights because there is just no traffic. It somehow manages to sustain two virtually identical stores that also serve food and sell worms. I shopped at the Mills Market, where of course it was all way over priced, and I had dinner at the General Store with Big Ben. The burger was really good, and I enjoyed the milkshake. I've spent most of the day just lazing about and trying not to bend my knees too much. Tomorrow I am going to try to hike 19 miles, which will be my longest day for while. I'm sure my knees will be feeling awful regardless. I would be surprised if I have any knees left by the time I get to Katahdin.
Date: 2015-07-24
From: West Branch campsite

To: East Branch shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: few clouds

I fell asleep quite early last night, the sound of the brook faded into white noise and I drifted away feeling warm and comfortable. It was a little disorienting to be laying on flat ground after the night before. I woke up to my alarm at 6am. By the time I was getting ready, BigBen had already packed up his tent. I left first, about 7. I was quickly followed by BigBen when we had to ford the river. I hadn't even bothered to put my hiking shoes on when I left camp, since I knew I would have to take them off so fast. The river crossing was fine, but it was absolutely freezing. A very unpleasant way to wake up in the early morning. The first few miles from there were relatively flat, and we made decent time. I got to the first shelter about 9.20, and from there the trail went up a mountain. There were four mountain peaks to climb today. The good thing about the trail in this section is that it is generally well maintained, and there has been a lot of effort put into building stone steps up and down the mountains. It makes a massive difference compared to having to clamber over rocks and roots the entire way up, and the stairs are usually quite small so it doesn't destroy my knees either. The rain started about 10.30, and didn't stop until after 1. This was almost the exact length of time it took for me to climb the mountain ridges, so I didn't get to see any views at all, and I did get soaking wet. I put on my water proofs as usual, but got too hot, as usual. The only time they were really comfortable was when I was going downhill. At the top of White Cap, I was supposed to get some of the last decent views of Maine before Katahdin (which I should have normally been able to see). But it was just cloudy, rocky, windy, and miserable. I left as quickly as possible and hurried down to the next shelter, a mile away, and had lunch there. It was just after 1pm, and I had only 3 miles to go.The rest of the trail was really nice, apart from the puddles and mud. It was largely flat or gentle downhill. I got to the shelter before 3pm. There was already a group of Boy Scouts and their handlers in the shelter, but there was enough room for the three of us. It started raining again after 4. It was good timing, since we had just made tea and all three of us were sat inside the shelter drinking and listening to the rain. Now we're all in our sleeping bags, waiting for enough time to pass so we can eat dinner. There are quite a few mosquitoes about, so I might have to sleep in my bug net.
Date: 2015-07-26
From: Nahmakanta Lake

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: light rain

I got up at 6am and had the extremely miserable task of putting on wet and filthy socks. The inside of my tent was soaked with condensation, and my sleeping bag was wet too. This was offset by the bagels and coffee that the Trail Angels had ready for us. I had two bagels with cream cheese, some coffee, a brownie, and then my own breakfast oats. I ended up leaving after 7.30, and had to break spider webs for the first couple miles.Once again, the weather was cloudy and then drizzled later. There was just one mountain in the morning, but again I didn't have a view of Katahdin because of the clouds. At this rate, I'll be entirely surprised by the mountain when I do finally see it. The morning seemed extremely long, and the afternoon even longer. I stopped for lunch at the Rainbow stream shelter, but I had barely covered 11 miles. The terrain was a bit rougher than yesterday though, with a lot more roots, rocks, and mud. Immediately after lunch, I slipped in the mud and then on a root. Both times were unpleasant and painful.The trail did a few pointless ups and downs around ponds. I mostly felt really exhausted. My legs truly felt like they had hiked over 2,000 miles.Every 15 minutes I was checking my watch because I thought and hoped that I had covered more miles. I didn't get to the shelter until 5pm. BigBen and Not Yet were already there, with a large fire burning. I really appreciated that, because the mosquitoes have been chasing me all day. I had to reapply DEET and wear my head net earlier, but finally the smoke was keeping them away. I've set up my tent so that the bugs can't bite me tonight. I think that's part of the problem I had today, since I was bitten ten times yesterday and I think it just helped to make me feel so literally drained. I spent a while beside the fire, first trying to dry my socks (or at least make them smell of smoke) and then just staying warm. We played a game of "will it burn?" on various items from our food bags. Powdered milk makes quick massive flames, but predictably Babybell wax burns really well too. Today was really hard, not because of the trail so much as how tired and how bored I felt. I am so glad that I never have to hike a long day ever again. I don't know if I could. I am also extremely filthy right now. With all the mud and absence of showering, I've just been getting increasingly grimy. We're heading to the camp store and restaurant at the end of the 100 mile wilderness tomorrow, and I'm going to need to wash my hands straight away.
Date: 2015-04-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

OK. Running a little behind on the post, but wanted to get something out there in case anybody actually reads this. noticed a lot of hikers with monster packs and walking sticks the size of trees. Interesting to see how these get downsized as time goes on. Seems like a cruel joke making a person walk almost 9 miles just to get to the trail, and for fun, they start it with a 500+ staircase. But the falls were beautiful. Springer mountain magical with hope and excitement. Hikers at nails gap a little more subued but still determined after their blood mountain test. And Georgia? Just the word brings much swearing. The do love making you cross every mountain top. It's absolutely great. Will do better posting and add great pics when I find a way to upload from my camera. Later.
Date: 2015-04-09
To: hot springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Finding out that AT&T sucks out here. Think it'll get better up north, but really limiting on how often I can update. There is so much we want to say, but hitting the trail fully resupplied and trying to get a jump on the rain. Ouch, heavy packs after reloading, but no way I'm leaving these wonderful cherry twizzlers berthing. Ha. meeting wonderful people and having a blast.
Date: 2015-04-10
From: hot springs NC

To: Hot Springs, Nc
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Been wanting to catch up on some updates, but in truth, between little signal and being so dog tired when reaching the stopping place, I haven't been able to do it.Received our first trail magic at Max Patch. Was a rainy cold morning, plenty of mountain climbs, on the way down to a gap, I saw a pickup truck parked. The guy sitting there was named Blue and he had hiked the trail the previous year. He had driven here from Co because this was the place that the trail had changed his life and he wanted to give back. So he did with coke, nutty buddies, little debbies and everything else we could stuff in our mouth. Thank you Blue!Max Patch - I should read the trail guide more because I didn't know what to expect. I'll upload a photo later. I don't know what Mt Olive looked like for the sermon on the mount, but Jesus should have transported everybody to Max Patch, because I don't think there could be a more beautiful place on earth. Treeless, grassy mountain top with a 360 view of the mountains and valleys on each side. Blew me away. You could camp there and watch the sunrise and sunset without having to move.Wet, cold, but absolutely awesome.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Hot Springs, Nc

To: Erwin, Tn
Miles today: 0.0

Somehow I have to get the mileage updating on this thing. We've actually slowed down a little bit and the last few days have been 12 - 14 milers. That really doesn't sound like much, but it's steady climbs only to give them up with a downhill that hurts worse, then back to climbs. Packed around a wet tent for the last few days, really glad to get into hot springs.Camped with the breakfast clan (wrecker, mouse, squeeze and sweet eyes) and then reunited with them in hot springs. Had a blast on the French Broad River swapping stories and just hanging out. The restaurants are full of backpackers and everybody pulls in tables and chairs until we're all clumped together with no way to move and barely enough room to eat. So fun. And breakfast was art.So easy to spot hikers, they are all nursing limps and bruises now. Or, they are hanging out in front of the laundry mat wearing their rain coats while they wash everything else that they own. This is a wonderfully simple life. As great as it is to get to town and get real food, by nightfall everybody is itchy to get back on the trail.Picked up my maildrop, the dehydrated food is working out great. Sometimes I feel guilty watching everybody else eat tuna or noodles while we have some hamburger or chicken. Of course, not guilty enough to skip eating. Can't wait to walk.
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Erwin, Tn

To: Erwin, Tn
Miles today: 342.0
Weather: clear sky

This last little section has been the most challenging to date. All of the wet conditions has led to Palomino blistering on both feet. Not regular blisters, there is literally no skin left on either heel. We haven't been hiking at the same pace, but sometimes when I'm ahead and stop for a break I'll see her trudging on without complaint, but the pain is evident. We'll try to get to a medical center in Erwin to ensure that she can stop the infection. We stopped in at Laural Trading Post and Hostel in hoping of resupplying. What a miserable little place. The hostel was a shed with bunks lined with chicken wire. No bathroom or shower. The store had next to nothing for resupply except a few outrageously priced items. No fuel and we're out. Couldn't wait to leave that little jewel.The rain, mud, and blisters have slowed us to 12 miles a day. We could push for more, but hoping that slowing will help. We've started rationing food since it was obvious that the delay would mean that we'd run out. Camped at low gap. Good time with Mainer, StayAwhile, Ghost and Weebe. When was packing up, caught the breakfast clan busting across the ridge. They had that beautiful single file hiker formation with a fantastic pace going. Squeeze had picked up his dog since he was out of the Smokies and allowed to have him now. I ran up the ridge and saluted them as they passed. They inspired up to get a move on.When we hit the no-business shelter, there was a sign pointing to Erwin - 7 miles. Checked our food supply because food = energy. 2 peanuts and 3 M&Ms was what we had left. Hard to split a M&M. Down they went and on we went. As much as we wanted to hit town, I had to stop at an awesome overlook. It was so peaceful looking down on the river and town. After a while Palomino showed up and had to grab some photos. We'll upload later.Now we're at Uncle Johnny's Hostel. It's definitely a hiker place. Rooms and amenities a little rough. But they're super nice, shuttle you to town and have a great resupply store. And they have fuel. So, everything is great. Life is awesome. This experience is wonderful.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Erwin, Tn

To: Indian grave gap
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: moderate rain

Whew! Been a few tough days bleeding out money at Uncle Johnny's Hostel waiting on the antibiotics to kick in and for blisters to heal. Was so hard watching all of our friends pass us by. But... Made many new ones. Couldn't take it anymore and packed up this morning and made the trek to Indian grave gap. So much pent up energy, covered the hilly 9 miles in 3 hours. Seemed early to set up the tent but this is where my friend Joel is meeting me tomorrow and palomino is rejoining. When I got to the gap a man was set up doing trail magic. Iced tea, fruit, banana nut bread. Hung out with the gang for a bit. Connected with South paw. Shes from Orlando and a lot like us, restructured everything to try this hike. Hope we catch up later. As I was wondering what to do next, a truck pulled up and I heard people screaming Rougarou. Turns out friends that I met in hot springs had commandeered a truck. Rode back to the hostile with them. Palomino is in great spirits and ready. Trail life should be back to usual tomorrow.Thanks for the kind notes of support friends. And since I'm typing this on my phone please overlook the typos.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Indian grave gap

To: elk creek
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Meet up with Joel, my friend from Orlando. Was a blast backpacking with him. Plus, we got an egg, cheese, sausage biscuits when he left. A brilliant plan to keep them warm, including seat warmers and jackets. Thanks so much. Favorite memory was Joel wondering why we were climbing into a windowless van after being promised soda and cookies. "This is what our parents told us never to do". Ha! Trail magic is weird but great. In normal life you'd never consider that. Amazing what you do if it's cold and windy enough. Stayed last night on Roan Mountain, highest shelter on the trail. Questioned or decision after seeing that we were the only ones there and crossing over patches to make the summit. Great time and nobody froze or lost limbs. Back into the mountains and rain tomorrow should be interesting to experience the famous balds in these conditions.
Date: 2015-04-26
From: elk creek

To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

All right AT gladiators, here is your challenge for today. Start in the famous Roan Mountain Balds. For fun, let's do it in the clouds with freezing rain and sleet, a relentless wind, 10 minutes of clear sky's with spectacular views, more rain and then a 5 mile descent through a boulder strewn mess called a trail. Wrap those 16 miles up by 4 if you want to hit town in time for dinner. Why accept this challenge? Did I mention those 10 minutes of spectacular views. Completed and worthwhile.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: who knows

To: Damascus
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: few clouds

Hot Springs, NC. loves backpackers, Damascus Va. is backpackers. For the last few days, you could feel the excitement building in the air. The fabled town of Damascus has a magnetic pull on backpacker's souls.   Communication on the trail is done via trail ledgers in shelters. It is a way to leave notes for friends behind you and to see how far other friends are ahead of you. Increasingly, the ledgers have been filled with entries of strategies on how to reach Damascus as fast as possible. Some are abandoning articles from their packs, excess food, burning sweaters and socks, anything to lighten the load and hurry their arrival. Some are writing that they will try to trek up to 30 miles, meaning to hike thru the day and night. Some are successful. Some forced to bivouac on the mountain side in the bitter wet cold subfuscous night. Most are limping, bruised and sore searching for their dovecote or safe haven. Gone are the friendly trailside chats. Grim, focused determination is now pushing each traveler on. The mecca, the 500 mile mark, the escape from the iron grasp of the NC/TN borders. The town quietly, yet forcibly calls. We answered that call by completing a 20 mile day and the instant we stepped out of the mountains and onto the streets we understood why. The road to Damascus, brutal, beautiful, and so worth it. Rougarou
Date: 2015-05-09
From: Damascus

To: Atkins Va
Miles today: 43.0
Weather: few clouds

I'm not sure where to start, so much has happened in the last week. First, the kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me. Mike gave us food so we could slow down and spend another day in the Grayson Highlands, which is possibly the most perfect place on earth. You get to backpack through the herds of wild ponies there. Ron Jeramy (his trail name) stocked partnership shelter with cokes and donuts, so nice. Circuit Rider shipped in pizza to us. Storyteller caught us and gave us a ride into town for resupply. Beer Man has come thru on multiple occasions. Ms Genny, a spunky 90 year old put is up for a couple nights in Damascus and fed us like kings. And today, on the way into Atkins, the Methodist Church surprised us with fruit, chips and drinks. People are amazing. And, even though it sounds like we are eating a lot, I'm down 14 lbs and palomino is down 9. Impossible to get enough calories. The blisters are gone and we hit a few big mileage days, but slowed down for the current section. The Virginia Creeper, wild ponies in Grayson, right thru bulls with horns longer than my hiking poles, Buzzard Rock, summiting Mt. Rogers (Va's highest point), and so much more, have all been perfect. Now reunited with friends in a little hotel, were all about to go and try to eat the hiker special, a 1 lb hamburger. Things are beautiful and I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity. Thanks for all who follow and encourage us, it really helps. And I think I've missed some text messages since I've been away from a signal for so long. Sorry. Will try to update soon.
Date: 2015-05-11
From: Atkins Va

To: chestnut knob
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: broken clouds

Ha! Them some ugly feet getting a little cool breeze. Knocked out 16 miles yesterday. Shorter 10 mile today so that we can stay at this shelter. Whoever said Virginia was flat should be shot. Some is absolutely brutal, and maybe the heat is adding to that. Today a few of us stopped at a river and built carens on the bank and then swam. Crystal clear and freezing. Now on a mountain side, overlooking some little town, we're chilling.