morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-04-02
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

I was up and out the cabin door by 7:30 this morning. I only went a quarter mile before 3 other tramily members caught and passed me.  It would have been 4 but he stopped at the outfitters for shoes.  The Journey started out up hill as it always does, but I felt good after a zero, and knocked out the first 3 miles fairly quick. It was hot today and I went through the water. I stopped to go 100 yards off trail to a stream for water resupply, when I saw my first sign of a bear. There it was...Bear poop! I filled my water bottles and went back up to the trail. Just a short ways further up I ran into Texas. He had his new shoes and had passed me while I was getting water. I enjoyed the view a moment and went on. He quickly caught up to me and we hiked the next mile or so together( sort of). The trail crossed a road at the base of our biggest climb and there sitting on the bed of his truck was a trail angel. He had fruit and water for us. We each took a Halo and a bottled water, dropped our packs for a minute before taking on the nearly straight up 1 mile climb staring right at us. Turns out this gentleman and Texas had a love of airplanes in common. Texas is actually in the Air National Guard. I had posted reserves previously, but it¢s fixed now.  He¢s a pilot too! I went ahead and started the climb while they talked. I¢m so grateful for the water and tangerine. I would not have made it over that mountain without the hydration and fuel. Texas caught up and passed me during the climb. I spent the rest of my hike alone. I think I had about 5 miles left.   Alone time on the trail leaves your mind wide open. I had a bajillion conversations with myself. Mostly things like my pack isn¢t fitting quite right, to getting rid of my cotton clothing. It gets so sweaty and doesn¢t dry out over night. Today for the first time I had to do some real soul searching. Even a little motivational speaking to myself. I got through it and arrived at Low Gap somewhere close to 6 pm.  Thank GOD for my tramily! They had a pad ready for my tent, gave me water when I arrived, and saved two hotdogs for me. They even cooked my hotdogs while I put up my tent.  Lifesavers!   We¢re all exhausted, it was a big hike today.  Tomorrow is 7 miles only.  My next featured tramily member will be Flower Boy, but I¢m just too tired to write anymore tonight.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-04
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Gap
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up this morning at the Quality Inn in Helen GA.  It was wet outside from the giant storm that rolled by around 3am.  I only know this because Gene our shuttle guy told us about it.  He said it was a symphony outside.  I missed the performance!  It was a good night of sleep Texas and I decided to go out for breakfast this morning. Yesterday I learned that a female burns approximately 590 calories every hour when she hikes on the A.T.  Men burn over 600 calories per hour.  When we calculated my calories, I realized  that I have been shorting myself a lot!  No wonder my body gave me a hard time yesterday.  My breakfast this morning of homemade corned beef hash with two eggs and bread had to have been 2000 calories. I drank water and Gatorade, and had a great day hiking!  Water was plentiful today. There were two good ups but otherwise mostly ridge hiking and downs. Ridges are my favorite because you almost always have a view.  It is windy today though, so depending which side of the mountain I was on made a difference.    I hiked by myself most of the day.  Came upon some trail magic at Tray Mountain Gap.  It was bottled water.  I drank a whole one and ate a KIND bar before I started up. Tray Mountain was my big climb today at 4398ft. The summit had a view for miles!  Breathtaking is the only word I have. The wind continued to increase, and the temperature is dropping so I stopped after 6 miles near a shelter with a privy. Texas was already here.  The shelter only holds 8 and I was number 15 or so, which means I¢m in my tent.  It¢s falling into the 20¢s tonight up here on this mountain. I guess my sleeping bag will be put to the test.  I¢m layered up, but I¢m shivering.  I¢ve got my Sawyer Squeeze in my sleeping bag with me so it doesn¢t freeze up. Bad things can happen when your filtering device stops working!  My last tramily member to highlight is Feathers. I find her the most interesting of all of us. She¢s 36 years old, a single mom of a daughter and the epitome of what I feel a strong woman really is.  She¢s lived several places in the country and made it on her own as an artist. Not just any artist.  She¢s done amazing work in NYC and other places.  Check her out at katecloudart.com  Feathers is also a well seasoned hiker. She¢s the youngest person in our tramily, but she beats us all with experience.  She has a good soul and a strong spirit.  So glad the trail brought us together. I need to give thanks to everyone who leaves messages in my guest book. I read every one of them, and I¢m feeling the love!  Tomorrow is a long day so I¢m going to try to sleep while this wind is whipping my tent every which way.  Until Next TimeBlue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-06
From: Hiawassee Georgia 

To: Hiawassee Georgia 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I woke this morning around 6:45am and quickly ran to the one and only washing machine this hotel offers. There¢s probably 50 hikers here all trying to get their laundry done. By the grace of God it was available! From the third floor laundry I could smell bacon! I quickly went back to the room and coerced Texas into going downstairs for breakfast. It wasn¢t my first choice for food, but it sufficed. I was stuffed!  After breakfast I threw my wet clothes into the dryer and laid back down. I fell fast asleep! I think about three hours later I made it back to the dryer, and my clothes were still there!  I thought for sure they would at least be on top of the dryer. So glad my morning nap didn¢t mess anybody up.  No hiking miles today. It¢s rainy and cold!  I got a new roommate here at the Holiday Inn Express. Orlando stayed at the Hostel last night, but she wanted a posh day in the hotel. That worked out good for me because Texas¢ wife flew in to see him today so they got a room of their own. Lucky me, I¢ve been able to split the cost each day. Tomorrow Orlando and I both will take the shuttle back to Top of Georgia Hostel where we will spend our last night before getting back on the trail Sunday morning. I think Texas is taking an extra day with his bride. I hope we get to meet up again before his thirty days are over.  Orlando, Texas, and I walked to Blimpies for lunch. I¢ve never had one of their subs before but it was good. Mine was buffalo chicken with all the fixin¢s and ranch dressing.  The purpose of zero days is to rest your body and work on the ailing parts. Most hikers try to use their zero days during times of bad weather. Backpacks weigh a lot and wet backpacks weigh a lot more!  And at least you don¢t feel guilty not putting in the miles.  My current ailments are horrible blisters on my feet, swollen aching right knee, and cracks on my fingers and thumb. I walked to the local grocery store today and bought a few things to help remedy my issues. I hope they work. In the meantime I can already tell the rest is helping. Fingers crossed for a pain free start on Sunday.   It was the $8.95 buffet for supper again tonight. You can¢t beat the food or the price.  A hikers delight!  I think I¢ll go back to the hot tub now and give my feet a treat.  Until Next TimeBlue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-07
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was another zero.  I told myself it was due to inclement weather, but actually the daytime weather would have been great for hiking.  Mother Nature did show up this evening though.  It would have been a miserable night in my tent.  So here I am at Top Of Georgia Hostel.  They¢re very strict here with the rules, but they¢re only a half mile from my starting place in the morning.  They also offer a shuttle down there PROMPTLY at 8am and/or 9am.  If I miss both of those times, I will be walking!  Orlando and I spent the morning transitioning from the Holiday Inn Express to the Hostel.  They picked us up with their shuttle and brought us here around 9am.  We weren¢t allowed in our bunk room until noon, so we sat around the main area and used the WiFi.  I FaceTimed with my grandkids!  It was nice catching up with them.  Keep my grandson Logan in your thoughts.  He recently read for a part in a play. He¢s hoping to get the part of a dog, but we all would like him to be the Mad Hatter. I hope those making the casting selections can see that in him.(and that he sees it In himself too). At noon we could get into our bunk room. I ate 2 hot dogs for lunch, and then I laid down with ice on my knee and Country music in my ears.  I think I dozed a bit.  I remember listening to Kenny Chesney and thinking I have seen him 7 times!  Then I thought... big deal.  I was even more lucky to have known Chuck Nott...now that¢s a big deal!  Met 3 new hikers in the bunk room. One of them is an older gentleman from North Carolina.  He spent two years nursing his wife through cancer treatments, and she¢s now cancer free!  This hike was her gift to him.  Pretty awesome gift I think. My sis-in-laws drove up from Cartersville to see me.  I knew they might, but I didn¢t want to get my hopes too high.  When it really happened, I came to tears! It was so nice seeing them!  The most beautiful faces of the day!  They drove me a town over for a much needed Walmart run. I¢m now stocked and ready for the 4/5 days hike to Franklin.  Can¢t believe I¢m almost to North Carolina!  After Walmart they asked what next?  Of course I said dinner!  They knew my tramily was meeting up for dinner in Franklin this evening.  Texas¢ wife was here with a rental car so the two of them drove over to meet up with Flower Boy, Shakira, and Feathers who have already hiked that far.  Because of my curfew at the hostel and a chance to be with family I chose not to go. But Tammy & Mary Ann weren¢t having that!  So, tonight my family got to meet my tramily!  Every single one of them!  Dinner was not a sit down get served dinner... it was off a food truck at a brewery, but I am satisfied, and my heart is full.  Tammy & Mary Ann were definitely my trail angels today!  The time off has been good for my feet and knee. Both are improved. By the grace of God I will hike again tomorrow.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-08
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

Orlando and I caught the shuttle at 9am to Dicks Creek Gap.  It was pretty chilly this morning in the low 40¢s, but It only took the first up for me to decide to take off my coat. It really was a great hiking morning!  Right about lunch time ice shavings started falling from the trees. So much so that I had to check several times to make sure it wasn¢t snowing.  I was near the top of a mountain at the time, and as I looked around I saw a crystal forest.  Most bizarre thing ever!  I sat on a rock, and put my jacket back on to watch it for a while.  When I started hiking again all I could hear was the ice crunching beneath my feet.  A few other hikers came by during this event equally confused as myself.  Orlando was a good ways behind me at the time, but she said she saw it too. So after the ice episode, about half way up the next mountain it turned into a mid summer day.  This is no exaggeration!  When I say each mountain has its own weather system, I really mean it.  I hiked 4.6 miles to a shelter.  My intention was to stay there tonight, and for once I could get a spot in the shelter! Orlando arrived a few minutes behind me and we both decided it was too early to stop hiking for the day.  We did another 4.5 miles to Bly Gap.  The cool thing about Bly Gap is that it¢s in North Carolina!!!!   That¢s right folks I¢m out of Georgia!!  Over all it was a good day for me physically.  I think I¢m finally getting my hiking legs.  Tonight will be challenging.  It¢s very cold up here in my tent.  I¢m sure it will be below freezing again.  We have some hikers around us who like to party loudly, and even though they apologize every 10 minutes it continues.  This is my first experience with loudmouths on the trail.  The fire is roaring so I¢m pretty sure they¢ll be up late.  Orlando and I have retreated to our tents.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-09
From: Bly Gap

To:  Muskrat creek Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was still drizzling this morning when I woke up.  A storm had rolled through sometime during the night. I ran to the nearest far away tree for my morning business, and was shaking from the frigid rain. I was too cold to try to cook anything for breakfast, so I had peanut butter on a tortilla and a cheese stick.  I knew the sooner I got moving, the sooner I would warm up. So I packed up a wet tent, and started  moving. Sure enough about 5 minutes into my first up I was too hot to keep my jacket on. It was very foggy this morning, but just as we came to the top of our first mountain we could see the clouds right beside us.  It felt like we could just reach out and touch them. Orlando said ¢isn¢t that beautiful¢.  Right then and there we both forgot all about our rough start to the day. It was only 3 miles to a shelter so we made the decision to stop and stay. A shelter is a 3 sided mice ridden structure with a roof.  It gave us the opportunity to hang a line and start drying out our equipment.  We¢ll be sleeping on the shelter platform tonight with about 4 other people.  I made myself a hot chocolate when I arrived, and after chores were done I made a Mountain House meal.  It was hot and satisfying!  Today¢s hike is called a Nero, nearly a zero.  Both Orlando and I could have hiked on, but we would have been putting up a wet tent and sleeping in a damp sleeping bag. It¢s supposed to be down in the 40¢s tonight, so the shelter was our decision. It¢s  3:30 PM now and others are coming off the trail to settle down for the night. I think a  couple of guys are trying to get a fire started.(not looking promising) Our clothes line is already in full use.  Everybody has wet gear!  On a good note, the rhododendrons are coming out in full force. They¢re so beautiful making a canopy of green on the trail. Next month they will bloom and double the beauty.  The birds are getting busy too.  I saw a really fat robin this morning searching for any morsel she could find at camp, and here at the shelter were a pair of titmouse birds busy building their nest. I love their tail feathers...so pretty! If the forecast holds true, the sun will come out tomorrow!  Until Next TimeBlue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-10
From: Muskrat Creek shelter

To: Carters Gap
Miles today: 12.6

This day started out beautifully!  The sun came out and reached a high of 60 degrees.  That¢s perfect hiking weather! I did a whopping 12.6 miles today, and actually I¢m at mile marker 93.3.  My journal total is incorrect.  I¢ll try to fix that the next time I¢m in a town.  Yesterday I got a message from Texas that his Achilles is not better, so he went home with his wife.  I hate to lose my hiking buddy, but I completely understand.  I lost Orlando today too. She¢s just staying at the gap before this one.  I think it¢s about 3 miles back.  So tonight I¢m on my own.  Other hikers and tent campers are around me though so I¢m not completely alone.  I hiked alone all day today. It was great!  The terrain in North Carolina is much easier on my knees.  I stopped every couple of hours and took care of my feet, and I even took a couple of blue blazes just to see the views.  After all, that¢s why I¢m here.  It feels good to hike my own hike. I¢m planning another 12+ miles tomorrow because Papa Big Swig will be there at the end.  I can¢t wait to see his smiling face!  Until Next TimeBlue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-11
From: Carter Gap Shelter 

To: Rock Gap Parking lot 
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

I woke up this morning in my tent. It was about 34 degrees outside. Mornings are the worst part of my day. It¢s always very cold and it¢s hard to get going, but I make myself move in hopes of warming up.  I walked to the privy so I could potty and change clothes. The privy¢s are not enclosed structures. They are a small three walled building with a roof. They are built up high, and a hole is dug below it. There is usually a wooden bench with a toilet seat attached to it. Voil¢a! A place to potty and change. Needless to say at 34 degrees with a slight breeze, changing clothing is the last thing I want to do in there, but I do it quickly and start breaking down camp.  It always amazes me how the weather changes throughout the day. I decided not to wear my jacket from the get go. It was a smart move. 10 minutes into my hike I was sweating, and by noon I had taken off my long sleeved shirt. I think it got up to 60 degrees today. That left me in a sleeveless shirt until about 5pm when the temp again changes drastically to really really cold! It will be almost freezing again tonight.  North Carolina¢s trail is well maintained, but there are still signs of the horrible forest fire they had two years ago. I took my time again today to see the views from the blue blazes. It was a fairly gentle easy hike until about mile 7. Then the up started. It was all boulders, and I had to physically pull myself up and over several times. Most of the boulders were as big as a small car. This takes time with a 32lb pack on my back. But I made it all the way up Albert Mountain 5210 feet of elevation! Today¢s photo is of the view atop Albert Mountain.  I spent a good while up there soaking it all in before starting back down the other side. About a half mile later I crossed the 100 mile mark! Can you believe it? I¢m more than 100 miles into the A.T.!  The rest of my hike was just pleasant. No other word for it. I hiked a little while with Melissa and her dog Basil. We¢ve met up the last two days around 3pm. It¢s just our time. She¢s much faster than me so we chat about 20 or 30 minutes while hiking at my pace, then she gets back into her fast pace. Turns out she and her boyfriend are moving from Nashville to Vermont. He¢s picking up Basil in a few days, and Melissa will be walking the rest of the way to Vermont!  So once Melissa moved on, I was left to walk alone again. When I had about a mile left to go, I looked up and saw Papa Big Swig walking towards me with our fur babies! Yay!! Yay!! Yay!!  Papa Big Swig had yellow rice and chicken waiting for me at the camper. I ate until my belly was stuffed! I took a warm shower, ate some ice cream, and right now I¢m laying in a comfy bed!  You guessed it! Tomorrow I will be princess hiking again!  I¢ve got him for a few weeks of princess hiking. This will be great! I¢ll be able to put in larger miles with less wear and tear on my body. I thank God for him every day. It takes an understanding spouse to support such a big adventure. I¢m blessed. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-04-13
From: Wayah Gap

To: Wayah Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I made it to the clinic about 8:30 this morning. They did a great job. I was in and out by 9:30am. The doctor was great, and his name was Dr Golightly...can¢t make this stuff up! At any rate, if you need medical care in or near Franklin NC my recommendation is Angel Mission Clinic. That clinic was my trail angel today!We left there and started driving to Wayah Gap. It¢s quite a drive which meant my start would be about 11:00am. I had decided to do a Nero of only 5 miles. This way I could be done before dark, and take it a little easy on my newly injected knee.   Then what to my wondering eyes should appear? A text from Orlando saying ¢I¢m here¢!  Thank you Jesus she is well! Hubby turned the vehicle around and we drove straight back to Rock Gap. There she was talking with her hubby on the phone, backpack and poles on the ground, all in one piece!  Just like that we were headed back to Franklin. We picked up Hugs who¢s still in pain, Went to the outfitters for some gear changes, and then for a $10 lunch buffet. Hugs bought mine and Papa Big Swig¢s lunches. She didn¢t have to do that, but I am grateful and full!  And suddenly I realized that I have taken a zero! The weather is beautiful and hiking would have been lovely, but knowing my friend is good was worth a zero and more.  Hugs¢ foot is not fractured. It¢s a rather severe case of plantar fasciitis. She¢s at least 4 days off the trail. I¢ll have to move on ahead of her. That¢s how the trail works. I¢ll be taking time off in June, and we¢ll probably meet back up in July.  Orlando is staying with us tonight, and we should be slack packing tomorrow. I¢m 10 miles ahead of her right now. We¢ll have to strategize our start and pick-up locations. It¢s a lot of driving for Papa Big Swig! Hoping it works out so she can stay and slackpack a few days.   I never did get my Mexican dinner, but tonight looks promising. Until Next TimeBlue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?