morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2023-02-26
From: Woody gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.8

I met up with Paula and timeout this morning.  I slackpacked today (hike with a small pack and only carry food and water). Blood mountain is very rocky and slippery when wet and I needed to do 11 miles today so that is why I decided to slackpack.  I started around 8am and finished at 5:45pm. It was a very hard 11 miles so I am happy I didn¢t have my full pack. Paula and timeout went back to the hostel. They said for $50 they got dinner and breakfast and there was a Roman tub that they could soak in.  When I finished the hike I said my goodbyes to Paula.  I had only just met her a few days ago but she gave me a small wooden cross that was very special to her. She made me cry.  She is just such a sweet person.
Date: 2023-02-27
From: Neels Gap

To: Hog pen Gap
Miles today: 0.0

went to post office this morning to mail packages home and mailed a few packages forward to hostels and post offices.  Got dropped off at Neels Gap Crossing Store and started backpacking around 11am. Rained lightly all day with high winds. Was only going to go 6 miles to shelter but when I got to the sign for shelter it was another 1.2 miles off the trail. No way was I going to hike the extra miles.  Read that there was an unofficial site further so I continued to Hogpen Gap unofficial tent site. There were about 7 other tents and barely got here before dark.  I was exhausted but had to set up in the dark
Date: 2023-02-28
From: Hog pen Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.9

woke up about 7 am today.  Not so windy this morning and sun is out  so trying to dry out tent and clothes before I start the hike.  Have to do 10 miles today to get to next tent site.  Ups and downs on trail today look a bit easier.  Started hiking around 10:15.  All my clothes and gear did dry before I started hiking.  Only made it to an unofficial campsite just 1 mile short of the shelter.  I had to stop here because it was getting dark and only had a few minutes to setup before I lost daylight.  There was nobody else here and I had to camp all by myself.  Did not expect to have to camp by myself so early in the trip but there was nothing else I could do.  Tent site at Mile 49.1
Date: 2023-03-01
From: Tentsite 49.1

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Last night all by myself in the tentsite area.   Was a bit nervous at first but I did finally fall asleep.  Will try to get out of camp by 8 today. I need to do 9 miles today. I could only hike 1 mile.  Did a zero day(day off from hiking) at Blue Mountain Shelter. Saw 2 bearded brothers , Hopper , and girl with dog Piper. Realized I hadn¢t been eating dinner and was just hungry and exhausted.
Date: 2023-03-02
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Indian Graves Gap
Miles today: 5.0

Rained all day.  Mud and slippery rocks.  I fell 2x and bent one of my hiking poles.  Got picked up at Indian Graves Gap.  Lennon picked me up(his trail name because he looks like John Lennon).  He was very far and informative.  Him and his wife finished trail last year and working at Around The Bend Hostel. It was gorgeous!!  My room has 4 beds. 2 big picture windows in Living Room looking out to Mountain View¢s.  Shower and laundry and grocery store and breakfast included in stay.  Roommates- Turtleback he is hiking southbound and almost finished with the trail, a young guy and girl and she was having terrible knee pain
Date: 2023-03-03
To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Today was raining all day long with high winds and Tornado warnings all day.  I am doing a zero day(No miles rest day).  Electricity went out at hostel and the whole town of Hiawassee for about 2 1/2 hours.  Came back on and I cooked spaghetti and meat sauce in the kitchen. 2 bearded brothers came in for the night along with groceries and they looked exhausted.
Date: 2023-03-04
From: Indian Graves Gap

To: Dicks creek gap
Miles today: 14.0

Decided to slackpack today to make up some miles (slackpack just carry a days food and water). Left around 7:30 and got to trail around 8am and finished 14 miles by 5pm. Weather was great and slackpacking even better.  Got back to hostel shower laundry and rest of spaghetti.  All packed up and ready for tomorrow.
Date: 2023-03-05
From: Dicks creek gap

To: Boy Gap
Miles today: 9.0

started hiking around 7:45am. Beautiful sunny day. Lots of uphills (ups)  I felt good today. Hiked to about 4pm. Piped stream right below campsite and was 3rd person at tentsite.  Within 15 minutes about 8 more people showed up. Got here just in time and got a nice level tentsite.  I passed the Georgia/North Carolina state line today!!!  Lesson - the zipper on my sleeping bag needs to be underneath me instead of on the side dueto drafts in the zipper area which makes the bag much warmer.
Date: 2023-03-06
From: Bly Gap

To: Standing Indian Campsite
Miles today: 7.7

I got up and out of camp by 8:30. Trying to start earlier.  First 2 miles were very hard and then got a bit easier. Got to standing Indian campsite around 4pm. Hopper , girl with piper the dog Dan , goose and maverick were there.  Set up camp and had meat and mashed potatoes. After 2 days my phone was at 20% battery so I needed to charge it with my battery backup.  I looked all through my stuff and could not find the wire to charge my phone. Surprisingly I did not freak out.  I was pretty calm but knew I could not be on the trail by myself with a fully charged phone.  Since I knew 5 people at the site I asked Hopper  and he had the wire I needed.  So he lent it to me for the night so I could charge my phone.
Date: 2023-03-07
From: Standing Indian Campsite

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0

I got up at 6 am because I needed an early start.  I have reservations at Chica and Sunset Hostel on Thursday and wanted to try to go 11 miles to a tentsite today. I started around 7:45 today. I gave Hopper his phone wire back and my phone was at 100%.  Left it on airplane mode and didn¢t listen to any audiobooks today because I had to conserve the battery. It was a beautiful day and the hike was mostly switchbacks and pretty easy.   I did the 11 miles to Betty Creek Gap.  This was the prettiest campsite with a bunch of little tent sites nestled in little alcoves of the forest.  It is suppose to be very cold tonight.
Date: 2023-03-08
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.4

it was freezing last night!!  Went all the way in sleeping bag and shut phone off to conserve battery.  I only had 1 more day to hike before getting a wire for my phone.  Didn¢t get up til after 7:30 and out of camp by 9am.  First 2 miles were awful!!  Albert mountain was a big climb with rocks do I was on my hands and knees with my pack on trying to get up the mountain.  Once I got to the lookout / fire tower it was an easy downhill. I hit the 100 Mile Marker today!!! Rock Gap Shelter was a brand new shelter and had only been open for 2 weeks and you could still smell the paint.  I need to wake up by 6 am and out of camp by 7 am to hike the 4 miles in order to be picked up at 11 am to be taken to the hostel. That gives me 1 mile per hour.  I hope I can make it in time!!
Date: 2023-03-09
From: Rock Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair
Miles today: 4.0

picked up at Winding stair at 11am.  I made it!  Chica and Sunset Hostel was very nice. Duplex home with 2 levels. They lived upstairs and we were downstairs.  2 bedrooms with 2 beds in each room a bathroom, laundry living room and kitchen with breakfast in the morning.  They completed the AT and bought the hostel 4 years ago.  Very clean comfortable accommodating and friendly
Date: 2023-03-10
To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0

Nice relaxing Zero Day.  The owner of hostel said that most people make it to winding stair on day 14 of hike so I feel really good about my hike so far. (This was my 3rd zero day got to winding stair in 14 days of hiking).  It is suggested that you hike only 8-10 miles a day the first few weeks to prevent injury and pain. I have not taken any advil or Tylenol for pain as of today
Date: 2023-03-12
From: Wine Spring Camp

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.6

it rained ALL night. My entire tent was soaking wet and my sleeping pad was a little wet but thankfully all my gear stayed dried.  Ever of Dan¢s was wet.  Misty all day. Hiked to Cold spring Shelter.  I swore I would never sleep in a shelter.  ( A shelter is a 3 sided structure with a roof which usually sleeps 5-8 people.  There is no privacy and there are lots of snoring going on.  Mice usually come into the shelter at night looking for food.  No way would I be able to sleep with mice running around.  Well it happened. I could not set up my tent because it was so wet and cold. 3 guys and 1 other girl in the shelter.  Went to bed at 5:30 pm because it was so cold.  Slept most of the night and only got up 3 times but went right back to sleep.
Date: 2023-03-13
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Telico Gap
Miles today: 0.0

I did not get out of sleeping bag until 8:30 am. It was freezing.  There was frost and everything and was snowing!!  NO mice last night.  At least I did not see ,feel, or hear any.  My ursack food bag that I tie to tree away from camp due to bears was frozen to the tree and I had to cut the bag and pour hot water to untie it and get my food out.  Called to get off trail. Only had to go 3 1/2 miles to get a ride. I never walked so fast in my life.  At the pickup road was trail magic ( 3 people who brought food and drinks for free to the hikers.  They were very sweet and had plenty of food for the taking). Got picked up and went to Wing and Hoof mountain Escape. There are 6 tiny houses on a little farm property. It is very cute. Staying here 2 nights.
Date: 2023-03-14
To: Tiny house - zero day
Miles today: 0.0

yesterday Monday until Friday will be in the low 20¢s and high teens all week. I stayed in my cozy tiny house all day. Loved it!!  There are 2 miniatures donkeys , a few goats, horses and alpacas.  Might slackpack 8 miles tomorrow and sleep at hostels the rest of the week due to the freezing temperatures.
Date: 2023-04-02
From: Hot Springs 

To: Rich Mountain camp
Miles today: 8.3

Since my last night on the trail was freezing I needed to get off the trail and take a break for 2 weeks and wait for the weather to warm up just a bit.  I also planned on skipping the smokies  because the weather was so bad. It would be in the teens and 20¢s and snowy, Icy and just miserable.  I rented a car and went home for 2 weeks.  I plan on making up the part I skipped in June. I need to go home again in June for my daughters graduation and the smokies will be much more enjoyable to hike in June.  Drove a rental car from Orlando Florida yesterday to Asheville Regional airport in North Carolina. Shuttle driver picked me up at 8am this morning and took me to Hot Springs. This is a quaint little town and the AT goes right thru the town.  There was a horrible wind storm last night and the whole town lost power.  Meet up with Paula at Laughing Hostel and we started hiking around 10am.  It was a beautiful day to start backpacking but it was all uphill and very tiring.  After being home for 2 weeks it was like starting all over again. I lost my ¢trail legs¢. Hiked 8.3 miles today.  Staying at Rich Mountain Camp which is on top of mountain and it was very windy and had a hard time putting up my tent. We had a fire that night which warmed us up.
Date: 2023-04-03
From: Rich Mountain camp

To: Monday
Miles today: 0.0

we woke up this morning and Paula¢s knee was bothering her. She decided to get off the trail and have her husband pick her up. I hiked 11.2 miles today to Little Laurel Shelter.  I was absolutely exhausted and this Shelter was at the top of the mountain and even more wind than the previous night.  I struggled to get my tent up and after 30 minutes of my tent acting like a kite I was finally settled in to sleep.  No dinner for me just a snickers.
Date: 2023-04-04
From: Little Laurel Shelter 

To: Tuesday 
Miles today: 7.3

Since I only had 7.3 miles to get to the next shelter I did not leave camp until 9:30.  Ate last nights dinner for breakfast this morning and started out to what I thought would be an easy day.  But I was wrong.  There was about 1 1/2 miles of rock scaling.  I had to take my pack off 2x to squeeze by the rocks or go down the rocks.  I almost went the wrong way which could have been a disaster.  I missed the white blaze to my left and in front of me was a rock face going down hill.  I thought the only way to get down was to slide down on my butt. While thinking this through another hiker came up from behind and said I was going the wrong way!!  If I had slide down I do not know what was at the bottom of the rock face nor would I have been able to get back up.  Someone was watching over me thankfully.  Huge Lesson learned today - double and triple check for blazes before you climb up or down any rocks!!  Got to Jerry¢s Cabin Shelter after 5:30 and while setting up my tent saw Dan (dang bird). He said the smokies weren¢t too hard but was very cold and icy.  Also found out there was a side trail off the AT that skipped the rocks I encountered today and that some people use the side trail to avoid the rocks or when the weather is bad.
Date: 2023-04-05
From: JerryÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs CabinShelter

To: Unofficial campsite
Miles today: 10.0

Got out of camp around 9 and had to hike 10 miles today to get to an unofficial campsite. (Tentsite which only has room for 1 or 2 tents , no shelter, no water, no privy at the site).  A few more rocks to climb today but just a small section.  A young guy stayed with me to make sure I was ok going thru the rocks which was very sweet.  Stopped at a shelter for an early dinner.  The shelters in NC are right off the trail which is nice.  In GA you usually have to walk a few minutes off the trail to get to the shelter and tent sites.  Saw Dan at the shelter with 4 young kids.  They just laughed and talked about food the whole time.  they were really funny.  I needed to continue on for another 3.5 miles to the unofficial tent site so I could get my 10 miles in for the day.  Slept at this site by myself.
Date: 2023-04-06
From: Unofficial campsite

To: SamÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Gap
Miles today: 8.0

I have to hike 8 miles today to get to Sam's gap and then I will get picked up and taken to Nature's Inn Hostel.  It was a hard day: 2 big ups and 2 long downs.  It was supposed to have rained today but it did not. Got to Sam's gap around 3.  The hostel is very nice.  A big cabin with a kitchen and living room and plenty of food to buy here.  There are about 6 cabins and 2 bunkhouses.  A bunkhouse is just a big shed with beds in it.  There is a bath house and laundry room.  There is also a little stream right behind the bunkhouse.  Danny Boy , Maverick and Goose were here along with a few other people. (Met Sir-Sits-A-Lot today )Someone who was just day hiking had a car so they went to the grocery store and bought a bunch of steaks and salads and veggies and we had a cookout.  Lots of fun and lots of laughs.  There is usually a guitar at each hostel and one guy entertained us by playing the guitar and singing.  Just me and 1 other women in the bunkhouse tonight. Tomorrow will be a zero day.  Just resting and relaxing
Date: 2023-04-19
From: Harper's Ferry

To: HarperÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Ferry
Miles today: 0.0

Well here we are on April 19. The day before we start our NOBO Flip Flip. So thankful for my wife Theresa and my friend Peggy for taking Tim and I to the start in Harper¢s Ferry. It promises to be a beautiful start to a long anticipated adventure  I will miss my beautiful wife and my family
Date: 2023-04-20
From: HarperÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Ferry

To: Crompton Gap
Miles today: 10.1

had a grand start to my adventure  It was a beautiful day warm but not hot. Theresa Peggy and Tim were with me. Tim and I have jointly agreed to take the first week easy. We plan to average 12ish. That leave a lot of time at camp but this is a marathon so we will start slow and see what we can do later. Looking forward to a hot shower at my sister Claire¢s on day 7. It was great to start this hike with my wife  She has shown me that we can do more than we think we are able  As Nike says just go out and do it  I am looking forward to her joint us again  Maybe at Katahdin or again at Harper¢s Ferry for the southern leg
Date: 2023-04-21
From: Crampton Gap

To: Annapolis Rocks
Miles today: 14.1

Another beautiful warm day. It¢s great to be out in the spring sunshine. Had breakfast with my friend Tom. He is working south. Our plan was to stop at Pine Knob shelter but after looking at the rain we decided we wanted to be at Ravens Rock as early as we could on Saturday as the rain is due at 2  Stopped at the original Washington Monument  it was built 60 yrs before that other one   Was running a little low on water when lo and behold an Angel appeared.  Pick (Pick of the Litter) was out dispensing Gatorade  this was a great pick me up and got me though the extra mile and a half
Date: 2023-04-22
From: Annapolis Rocks

To: Raven Rock
Miles today: 11.9

The goal today - avoid the rain.  Ravens Rock is 11.9 miles away and we have been managing 2/hr including stops  We are concerned that it will fill up before or arrival so we got an early startI left Tim at about mile 2. It was a tough day as it had three climbs the hardest at at end. Started spitting when I was .2 out  Tim arrived about 20 minutes later  ten minutes later the rain came  the only mishap being that I cracked the screen of the Kindle that Ian let me use  I was looking forward to a couple of hours of reading. Guess I¢ll just have to nap
Date: 2023-04-23
From: Raven Rock

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 13.2

The run in to Raven Rock was hard.  We were pushing the speed and there was a final steep long climb up to the shelter.  I was worried that the trail was going to wear me down after that day. Fortunately today was easier, the weather was cooler and I felt good. Completed our first state when we crossed the Mason Dixon line into PA. One state done 13 to go. Tim and I leapfrogged the day and arrived at the shelter mid afternoon.  We decided to stay in the shelter as it was promised to be a cold night. Had my first equipment failure today. One of the extra tough bags Tim and I use to collect water had a leak. Not to worry as I carry a spare
Date: 2023-04-24
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Quarry Gap
Miles today: 13.2

I guess the best place to start is while asleep, or while trying to sleep.  Went to bed around 6 just to get out of the cold.  You basically endure the night when you are not warm. We normally get up at 6 and do breakfast and break camp and get on the trail by 7:30-8. At five am I formulated a new plan. Get up skip breakfast and get hiking to warm up.  At six I crawled out of the warmth and put on my cold hiking clothes and two extra shirts and my winter coat and my rain gear.  Nope still cold. Tim was going to follow his morning routine despite the cold Went to grab my food bag which was hanging up to keep away from the bears and other critters. It¢s up about 15 ft in the air  When I got over to my bag it was sitting on the ground with scrapes and scratches all over. No sign of bear prints so I figured a raccoon had figured out how to jump over to the pole and unhook the bag. No matter at this point as I just wanted to get movingFortunately the trail out was an uphill climb.  That warmed me right up. When I stopped at and nice sunny shelter for breakfast I found that the raccoon had punctured 4 out of 5 of my special odorless food bags. Luckily they only damaged a few bars and my powdered eggs.  I bear bag didn¢t stop it¢s claws from puncturing the bag but they couldn¢t cut it and open it up. So it worked as advertised!went down to fill up on water and found my second (spare) water bag developed the same leak!  I can manage the leak by holding that spot closed while using my other hand to squeeze the bag to filter the water  hope it doesn¢t spring another leak Aside from the climb out in the morning it was a pleasant day cold but short sleeves and gloves were all that were needed  passed through Caladonia State Park  Remembering family hikes while at Nawakwa Arrived at Quarry gap shelter through a tunnel of rhododendrons  this would be a beautiful walk when they are in bloom Met Tom x the caretaker of the shelter  he keeps it lick  a luxury accommodation  there are pansies and Lillie¢s and hanging plants  he had just freshly painted the floors  there is a hanging chair a bench in the sun and a spring ten yards from the entrance One can easily see the care and time Jim had invested over the years  We hikers would not be able to do what we do without the support of Jim and the thousands of volunteers up and down the trailoh and it¢s going to be freezing again tonight  sleeping in my tent in the hopes it adds 5 degrees of heat  I¢m planning g on an early exit tomorrow
Date: 2023-04-25
From: Quarry Gap

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 17.3

So I slept in the tent and yes it was warmer.  Tim said it was generally warmer and he slept in the shelter. I read the thermometer (yes the finer shelters have a thermometer) it said 30 so I don¢t believe Tim¢s assessment.  I went to bed with my socks my long PJs, a tee shirt a long shirt a button up long sleeve shirt my winter coat my sleeping bag liner and of course my bag.  Other than my rank hiking attire I had no other clothes to put on. So yes it was warmer. I slept till 4:30 before the cold work me. On waking Tom was still planning on eating in the cold  Like yesterday I set out  Again thankful for a long uphill out of camp to warm the bones (Hah the Body).  The day steadily improved. Was hiking in a tshirt and pants after an hour. Had thoughts of The Last if the Mohicans and dad as that was one of his favorites. I felt I was one of the Iroquois (yea I know it¢s the wrong state) walking the ancient pathways. But they would not have taken us up and down every hill between here and thereOr original plan had been to hike to Tom¢s Run shelter, about four miles shorter, bit both Tim and I were running low on cooking fuel. As there was a general store at Pine grove we decided to go the additional miles   This store is the site of the infamous midway point where NOBO thru hikes eat a half gallon of ice cream  We we¢re concerned that had store would close sooner than the 7pm time listed in the AT guide so I pressed on alone.  Upon arrival I found the store to be closed but fortunately the owners daughter was there making preparations to open and she let me buy the last canister of fuel  We camped at the state park on a beautiful grassy patch.  More importantly the sun was shining and the temperature was pleasant.  It was the first time in the trip that I was relaxed at camp  Although it was going to be cold at night the temps were going to be in the low 30s and I had learned to wear everything, the night did not hold as much dread as the last two nights
Date: 2023-04-26
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: PA 34
Miles today: 8.6

Woke up to a light rain but the cold snap is over.  Tim decide to skip breakfast and get on the trail. We headed out separately but I gave him bum directions. I planned to hit the pavilion and the big bathroom by Fuller lake. As I needed water and a bathroom that¢s were I headed first and made coffee figuring Tim would be by shortly.  Tim went to the pavilion and had a bar breakfast figuring I¢d be by shortly.  When I was done I thought I had missed Tim so I headed out. Well after five miles of not catching him I realized I was ahead and not behind. The day became sunny but slight cool. When I got to Tagg Run I decided to sit at the bridge and waitClaire picked us up around 12:30. I was great to get off the trail and get a hot shower and sleep in a bed  She had prepared chicken and Ailsa/Brad¢s famous giant sweet potatoes for lunch and for dinner.  After relaxing with a couple of Guinness and Paddy¢s, Bob cooked a roast in the Sous vide with asparagus and baked potatoes. Excellent diner accompanied by Aja and Holly. We couldn¢t have had a much welcoming and accommodating hostess and host. Thank you again sis