morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-07-07
From: Toms Run Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up late today. I felt like staying in my hammock all day, but I can't do that, so I hiked a little less than I had wanted. I tried the half gallon challenge, but I only are the large carton of ice cream, and opted for a burger and fries instead of another pint.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: few clouds

I hiked to Duncannon, PA today. The weather is cloudy and cool. The guide said there an extremely rocky section, but it was no more rocky than what I've passed before; why this section was pointed out I have no idea. I'm staying at the Doyle tonight. The Doyle is as old hotel/bar. The place is falling apart and need a good cleaning, but it has charm. I would rather stay here than at a Holiday Inn.
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Stealth camping 1164.3
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I left the Doyle this morning and had breakfast at Goodies, a breakfast only diner.   The portions were huge and the prices were low. The weather is great today, a little cloudy to cut the heat, and not quite hit enough to drench myself in sweat. I was ridge walking most of the day. There was a nice combination of rock scrambles and flat ridge to walk on. I'm enjoying Pennsylvania so far.
Date: 2015-07-12
From: Stealth camping 1164.3

To: Stealth camping 1164.3
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I zeroed at the campsite and slept till 1:00pm or so. The sole had been falling off my shoe and this was a good chance to glue things back together. I spent the day reading, listening to music and enjoying the weather.
Date: 2015-07-14
From: Stealth camping 1180.6

To: Stealth camping 1199.0
Miles today: 18.5

I've finally started hitting the rocks of Pennsylvania. It's like someone dumped a row of large stones and that's the trail. Some of the stones pivot when I step on them making the going slow. I hiked about 17 miles today, tomorrow I'll hike 18 more and head into port clinton.
Date: 2014-03-19
To: Ann Arbor
Miles today: 0.0

Might as well get started with an introduction. It's a year distant, which is almost enough time to get your head around this...hike. I'll be 60 a month before we start. Why do I say we? Because it's not a solo journey; though we hike our own hike, we hike as a community. A life goal, something I've planned for, worked for, lived for. I'm looking forward to making new friends and running into them in another state. I wonder what has changed in eight years. I wonder if I learned anything in 06 about sore feet and wet clothing. I wonder if any of those hats I left sitting on logs are still there. OK probably not. It's shoe time! This weekend Beth and I will make a trip to REI to see what we can find. The rest of the equipment is bought and weighed. Oh I'm sure there will be replacements. The focus of this year will be the two pairs of shoes that will carry me on the 2015 AT. Checking in..
Date: 2014-03-23
To: Metatarsals and Stuff
Miles today: 0.0

Well, I decided on a pair of shoes to try out. It's really a hit and miss, and I've never been a very good shot. This time, I mean it, and I started studying things like pronation and foot disorders. Finally I got enough key words to seriously Google the subject and found out what actually went wrong on my last thru hike.Metatarsalgia: a condition marked by pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot. And it happened before I crossed the North Carolina line. But along with finding out a name for it, I found some preventions for the condition as well.Best I can tell it began to occur not long after I had my boots stretched to they didn't pinch my toes, and at the same time added Superfeet to the mix. I'm not dissing Superfeet, but I'm not selling them to anyone either.Solution: get a Dr Scholl's foot scan and pick up some good orthotic inserts. Now I did this before I learned about Metatarsalgia treatments, that included a pad right at the metatarsals. Guess what, I went and studied the pads and sure enough, the metatarsal pad was there on the pads recommended by the foot scan.Is this the answer? I'll let you know about the time I get to Natahala next year.
Date: 2014-04-07
To: Weather for Cheesburger Lovers
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So I've started posting a little on WhiteBlaze.net, which is a pretty good forum to keep up with the latest trends in gear and general trail information. I'm not really big on forums, because people tend to exploit their internet anonymity making the forums troll fodder, but you can get some good info as well. Rarely do you read about the weather on WhiteBlaze. Seems every day is a walk in the park.I decided to include some pictures from the 2006 Thru hike, to spice it up a little, for some of those folks who already started following me. I made up some hiker cards to point folks here. Why? Because for me it's my people who keep me trudging forward on those rainy days. And trust me, there will be rain and cold and wind and mud. Oh, and lots and lots of bugs... yum! But there are people too. Those back home who wish you success, those on the trail who share a laugh or two around a campfire, and a smile, when those cheeseburger moments happen. It's the people who diminish the worrisome effects of the cold rain.
Date: 2014-04-12
To: Spreadsheets and Pillow Talk
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So the orthopedic inserts may have a serious drawback in the category of durability. Now, one thing about trail gear, if it isn't durable it's going to fail right when you need it. Just another variation on my life list of Murphy's.The trail is coming upon 11 months out. Some folks might think it's just a little bit early to be counting grams on a spreadsheet. I think it's about right. Passes the time with thoughts about what to keep, what to leave behind, what's new out there in techie land. In the last 8 years, there have been absolutely amazing developments in lightweight gear. The new backpack attributes to that. As an engineer I know how difficult it is to make a piece lighter, especially when it worked well to begin with. I'm fascinated by companies like Granite Gear who continually push that envelope. I had a goal this time of achieving a base pack weight of 12 pounds. I won't make it, but it was a worthy goal. Right now I am sitting at a base pack weight of 13.2 lbs. Now that's purely summer weight, but I'm happy with it. The early portion of the hike requires winter gear, which is on another tab of the spreadsheet.I had the good fortune in 1984 to run into an amazing person. Undoubtedly the most influential person of my life. It's been 30 years now, and she is still my greatest inspiration. She's a spreadsheet guru, a logistics wizard, and I can still talk about this stuff to her as an ongoing an interesting conversation.
Date: 2014-05-19
To: Interview with a Thru Hiker
Miles today: 0.0

I had the honor this past weekend to attend a gathering of Class of 2015 AT hikers. Among them, a thru hiker named Clinker, who shared her experiences from her 2014 thru hike. Our host, Captain K '15 and his gracious wife Wietrobago, an aspiring trail angel, cooked some fabulous food and opened their house and their yard to eight of us. The opportunity was priceless, and the gathering was a huge success thanks in large part to our hosts. We chatted the night away and many excellent questions were discussed. Answers can be elusive in this environment. Clinker and I shared our experience and I believe we embodied the HYOH creed. While sharing a common opinion on weather and snakes and the beauty of the trail, we diverged on matters of equipment. That's the beauty of it. Clinker's information about how and why she used certain equipment was very helpful to me, and I am sure to the other attendees. She was the first person to ever convince me that alcohol stoves are viable. I still won't use one for personal reasons, but I won't try to discourage anyone from using one either. As I slept for the third night in my new tent, I have yet to find comfort. The pad has excellent insulation properties and is comfortable, but I need to work on the pillow system. As a weight concious person, I need to find a comfortable pillow within the gear I have and resist adding another piece. Still, that inflatable pillow that Clinker pulled out looked mighty appealing.
Date: 2014-06-05
To: Shakedown #1
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I considered a hike on the AT as a shakedown, but then, there are other places to hike, and one of my favorites is Isle Royale National Park located in the North West corner of Lake Superior. It takes longer to get there than it does to a good portion of the AT and I never leave my home state of Michigan.This shakedown is primarily going to stress test my lightweight gear. To be honest, some of it may go in the rejection heap. I love my light weight, but I really don't like it when a piece of gear doesn't stand the test. Case in point my Thermarest Neo-Xtherm air mattress. Plenty of R value, but also plenty of not wide enough, and plenty noise every time I roll over, which is often.So this will involve 7 full days in the back country with roofed sheds, sound familiar? I think one of the campsites is tents only and we will stay there two nights out of eight.The terrain is not hilly like the AT, but it is rocky. Boots will be put to the test, and I'm getting frustrated finding something I really want to do a thru hike in. At any rate, first week of July my brother and I will head out for another adventure, and it is shaping up to be a great one.
Date: 2014-07-11
To: Shakedown Thoughts
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The shakedown hike brought many thing to light about the new equipment I've selected for 2015. A lot of it sucks. Tomorrow, I will be driving over to REI with the NeoAir XTherm sleeping pad in tow and handing it back to them with some choice words. This has to be the most uncomfortable pad I have ever used. While a company I admire with a US manufactured product has several excellent properties such as R value and minimal weight, they compromised on the one thing a pad is expected to provide... comfort. The iPhone worked great for notes, stars, compass, timer, stored info and clock, but sucked as a camera. Pictures on the AT are too important to compromise, so I'll also need to carry a camera. The jet-boil performed flawlessly. We did triple duty with it for five days on 1 - 100g canister. Winner! The Granite Gear VC60, lots of compromise to lose that 3/4 pound and it reveal itself in lost comfort and nasty little cords everywhere, but it gets a pass.The Solio solar charger was at a disadvantage with the lack of full sun we experienced, but the iPhone lasted 6 days in airplane mode with lots of use, so we defer to a charge stick for that backup iPhone and camera charge. Mostly to save weight, but also to save the hassle of babysitting the charger. A shout out to some new friends I've met along my journeys! Nicholas, who will soon be a new daddy! Semper Fi! Nicholas and Solo, who taught me more wilderness medicine in 10 minutes than I thought possible.
Date: 2014-08-13
To: And the tent got wet
Miles today: 0.0

Good news! the tent got vetted. Yup, two nice storms, zero wet gear. Just returned from a 42 mile kayaking trip in the Apostle Islands. Been camping all summer and up until now, no rain, so I never really knew how the BA Fly Creek II would perform in a storm. The thing is, until the gear performs, it's not really goin in the bag.    So this wasn't a hike, but none the less a shakedown, which is what this summer is all about. Found out that tiny bic lighter works once. Toss! Matches work once too, but you carry several. The new BA Q-Core pad is still narrow, but it's more comfortable (strictly my opinion) than the Thermarest Neo-Air. Not really sure why the manufacturers think 20 inches is a good width, but to get something wider comes with a lot more pad. Kinda weird if you ask me. So I roll off the pad then roll back on, that's all.   August rolls around and soon enough the better gear testing weather will be here. Then the snow shoe time, and serious winter workouts. Actually it's all rolling around pretty fast. March will be here before we know it.
Date: 2014-10-09
To: Winter Camping 
Miles today: 0.0

Well, autumn is here. Soon enough it will be time for balancing the winter gear with the needs of a cold spring. Folks keep saying it's going to be another cold winter, but I prefer a more optimistic outlook.One thing for sure, it still gets cold in Georgia in March. I'm trying out some pretty good lightweight but warm layers, but I'll need really cold temps to see if I have the right balance. For me, weight management is very high on the priority list. I don't call myself a minimalist, but I can see why others might think that. I think the key is finding the right layers. I recall those couple of nights in the 20s and that's my target for backyard camping.Did get a nice rainy night last week in Northern Michigan. The FlyCreek UL2 is awesome. Not a drop, just the right size. Sure was a mess packing up the next morning though, it doesn't shed water as well as some heavier materials. Maybe I need to rainX it ;-)
Date: 2014-11-02
To: The Electronic Wilderness
Miles today: 0.0

Things have changed since I last hiked the trail. Now, I'm not sure, but something you just don't see much of anymore is pay phones. In 2006 they were abundant, and maybe they still are along the trail. I didn't carry a cell phone, and my camera had batteries back then, but it could not tolerate getting wet.So OK, I decided to take advantage of things like Smart phone technology and rechargeable water-proof camera. Now... bah, what's a smart phone weight? negilgible right? Camera... doesn't look all that heavy. Oh yeah, need cords, oh yeah, need two cords, oh yeah need a usb wall converter, oh yeah, need a backup recharge stick case one of em gets drained... oh yeah, you guessed it, that one needs a cord too. Let's protect the phone with a water proof case. Lets put them all in a water proof bag so they don't float around in the pack.OK, weight check 566g (1.25lb) yikes! I thought about tossing the camera and using the phone, but the LifeProof phone cover really hurts the image quality and I really want to capture more images of the trail this time. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice. To be honest, it takes every bit of will power to not try and bring the big camera. I'd love to actually capture those vertical Maine trails in a way to bring them to life.
Date: 2014-11-22
To: Mail Drops
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Several people have asked me about mail drops. I've given it some thought, and that is no small feat, so I went ahead and posted via the Trailjournals mail drop section. Lief and ZipDrive did a great job with that section, and it turned out to be easy peasy. And a SHOUT-OUT to my friend Paisley, who inspired this post.Here's the deal. I don't do food drops, and I really don't care to hitch hike. Getting into town for me generally happens one of two ways, I walk in, or by some serendipity some trail angel is offering me a ride. In 2006 I hitched three times. Somewhere in PA near 501 shelter (nightmare) then later into Vernon NJ, which I will by-pass in 2015 and finally into Rangeley ME, which I will do again. Rangely was awesome, and although not right on the trail, a great place to zero. Getting to a post office off the trail is not my idea of hiking. Getting to a post office during their business hours, well, let's just say it's not a business. Getting to a post office because you need to re-supply? Gimme a break. Now, my hiking buddy Eagle-Eye did it with elegance. I remember a day in Caratunk ME, where we barely made it to the Post-Office. Yes, Victoria, there really is a Caratunk Maine.So, my mail drops are for a bounce box. Places where the Post Office is in a trail town. Gear change-out, AquaMira resupply, maybe some new socks, refill bottle for Gold Bond packet, down jacket that sort of thing. Also so my ever supportive wife to have a reference just in case.
Date: 2014-12-19
To: Winding Down 2014
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, it's almost that time. I've been counting the days in the corner of my whiteboard for months, but for some reason it all became pointless when it came down to single digits. I've been doing this work for many years, and now it's time to leave it behind. Forever. I have yet to realize what that means. One thing for certain, is that hiking this time around will not carry that urgency to get back to work so I can earn more money. In 2006, it was a motivational burden, both a reason to push on, and a reason to drag my feet. I do realize that September is not all that far off. Maybe that, in itself, is a reason to drag my feet a little. With two more days of work, ever, I seem to be waiting for something before diving head first into the future. Working on my two month checklist, checking it twice... or a few dozen times. It's time for some serious reflection. Something like standing on Katahdin with career milestones replacing the view. Hasn't sunk in yet. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Date: 2015-01-07
To: All Hills End
Miles today: 0.0

At least that's what I keep telling myself as I stare at the dozen TV monitors simultaneously. I try not to look at the timer on the cardio workout controls, at least until I'm on the "down hill" side, so to speak. The stair stepper is worse. The trail can be tough, but I'm sure it would be a lot tougher if the folks who clear the fallen trees, fix the washouts and countless other things that befall the trails were not there doing the hard stuff so we hikers can make miles.Meanwhile, I get up out of bed every other day and go climb the stair-steppers, and run the tread-mills at the local Planet Fittness trying to convince myself that it will make those Georgia miles a little less heart pounding. Each day at the gym, admittedly not my favorite thing, is more about my own trail maintenance than I'm willing to admit. It reminds me why my personal fitness choice is outdoor recreation, and that on the trail, I can tell myself with assurance, all hills end.
Date: 2015-02-03
To: Six Weeks Out
Miles today: 0.0

As February rolls around, the trail is six weeks from my start date. The winter here in Michigan has been typical, with not as much snow as we saw last year, until last Sunday that is, then we got 14 inches in a single storm. The weather is what it is, and I find myself re-thinking some of that winter gear, especially the Yaktrax. Last Saturday a few friends and I went for a hike on a local trail, and I'm thankful I brought the Yaktrax along. They fit well on my Altra Olympus shoes, and made a huge difference on the icy path. It was good to get out and hike, and as an added bonus we ran into my good friend Paisley (nobo-15) at the half way mark. We joke about the possibility of her catching up with me this season on the AT, but with a two week head start, it's unlikely.Tossed half of my first-aid kit and all of my camera out of the pack today. I decided the IPhone does a fine job with pictures as long as I keep the aperture clean. Pretty much down to my minimum comfort level on weight though. The winter base pack if hovering around 16 lbs.Reading to pass the time, and what else, but AT memoirs and trail journals from last year. Re-read A Walk In the Woods, just for the laughs, and digging into some more serious ones now. All perspectives on the trail to remind me of the mental challenges... and where to find ice cream ;-)
Date: 2015-02-11
To: The Waiting Game
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I just can't hold to my self imposed limit of once a month prep entries. It's just an exciting time, even though there is a smidgeon of boredom with the winter and all.Reading some good books and journals lately. A mix of previous years journals and trail memoirs. Here are two I can recommend. Flossie and Gray Squirrel, GA-ME 14, who wrote a complete day by day account, and I was forever impressed by a positive attitude even in the scary times.and the book - Between a Rock and a White Blaze. The main thing I got out of this book, was the reminder about staying positive during the difficult times; particularly when the rain seems like it will never end. It will.Then there is the voluntary registration that the ATC is asking of us. I went ahead and did it. I would rather them have accurate information then to guess, but I don't think anything can diminish the crowding in Georgia. The window of opportunity for most thru hikers is March-April. Some of the shelters like Hawk Mountain, and Low Gap are simply going to be crowded in March and limiting the amount of hikers starting will only slightly alter the composition of the bubble. It's just another trail condition that hikers need to contend with, and try to leave no trace. Picture from Hawk Mountain, my first bit of culture shock, but I met friends here that I stay in contact with to this day. It's all good.
Date: 2015-02-21
To: The Support Team
Miles today: 0.0

It occurs to me frequently that this hike would not become a reality if not for the support of my wife, Beth. Not only does she maintain the home front, but she provides a variety of equipment change outs, interim visits and above all, moral support. She actually talked me into doing the thru hike nine years ago in case my original plan to do it now in 2015 fell through, due to unforeseen events.Still today, she is my primary support. As we discuss the upcoming send off, her questions are voiced in such a way as to make me give extra thought to the details of gear and logistics. We've made plans this time for her to be present not only at the start but also at the end of the hike, which is not an easy assignment. I sometime liken her interim visits to a rendezvous between the lunar module and the command module. She drives alone for a minimum of 12 hours to be in just the right spot on the map based on my best guess calculations made weeks in advance. It was actually amazing timing on her part during the three interim visits in 06. Having a support person is a comfort that is difficult to do without on the trail. I'm just ever so lucky to have found her nearly 30 years ago. My hope for everyone is that they can have the kind of strong support from home that I do.So this is a salute to my better half. The person who has always illuminated the path to make my dreams become reality.
Date: 2015-03-04
To: Last Week of Prep
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Well, if the weather holds steady so that Beth doesn't have to drive home from Georgia in fowl weather we depart a week from tomorrow for Amicalola Falls SP. If the weather doesn't cooperate then we'll delay two weeks, still hitting the trail in March.A friend stopped by today to review gear and discuss options. He will be heading out in May for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail So we had a lot of ideas to share. Still, I'm pretty set on the gear list. Just hard headed I guess.Right now we are a go for starting the approach trail on the 15th, which will put me on Springer Mt, nine years to the day from my first thru hike. I'm kinda hopin this weather will iron itself out, but I did buy an insulated hose for my CamelBak. In 06 the tube would freeze and I went with out hydration for a time. Just one of many little cold weather adaptations I've made based on that experience. The temp range in GA during March swings between extremes, it's a plain fact.Next entry will be from the trail. Stay tuned