morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Tray Mountain Shelter 

To: Top of Georgia Hostel 
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: moderate rain

I woke up at 6am today and i thought to myself should I go back to sleep or get the heck up and get my pack packed before it starts raining. I was on the trail by 7am. It didnt start raining until around 8:30 made the right decision. By 12 I was at deep gap shelter (7.5 miles). I called the hostel and they said they didnt have any bunks but they had a tent site available. I thought about hanging out at deep gap and trying for a bunk tomorrow but i couldn't make a reservation because my debit card was in a box there. I sort of wanted to catch up with morpheous and ponyboy. I wasn't sure where they were at and I didn't want to waste the rest of the day to be in the same situation tomorrow without a reservation so I took the tent site and pushed on. I got picked up by the nicest guy around 2:30. When I came into dicks creek I saw a note on sign post with Rue on it!!! It was from Morpheous and Ponyboy I read the note and their kind words and cried in front of a porch full of guys staring at me. The top of georgia hostel is lovely. I have picked up my maildrop and debit card and now I feel less anxious about that situation. I checked in with my friend kelly that I hiked the first couple of days with... she had to get lifted off the mountain, was bit by a brown recluse and had to go to the hospital. When i was picked up the guy mentioned that han was staying here tonight, i was really excited to catch up, we stayed at the hiker hostel together. It was so nice to see a friendly face The hostel lent me some scrubs to wear while my laundry is doing. Saaawweeeeettttt I plan on taking a zero tomorrow and just hanging out all day. My feets are killing me.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Top of Georgia Hostel 

To: Top of Georgia Hostel 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

0.00. Thats right folks. My first zero day. Im sitting in a comfy arm chair with a blankie and a cup of coffee. I don't have anywhere to go and nothing to do. I have to reorganize my food and incorporate my mail drop and take things out of my pack to send home. My tent is still up in the back yard (drying). I am thinking of taking a nap. awww yea. I have not really gotten to say what type of experience I have had with nature. My very first day I ran into a little lizard man. He did a little up down up down dance. I thought to myself aww you little guy and then that little sucker charged me! I shooed him away. I saw a little salamander man on the island i camped on next to the stream. I saw a skinny mean centipede pulling a big fat centipede and I thought oh poor fat guy and then the fat guy started fighting back and an ant was taking shots at the two of them, so intense. I separated them with a stick and put each of them on one side of the trail. Cheesh. I saw a ton of little snail men I saved one from a puddle yesterday. I also saw a little green plant trying to grow out of under rock so I moved the rock to give him some room to breathe. I feel good that my pace albiet slow has given me an opportunity to see all of the things I came here to see.
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Top of Georgia Hostel 

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

I was ready to leave the hostel this morning. I think Ive lost about 10lbs so far. The hard way. My pack with two liters and an 8 day resuppy was about 38lbs. What an improvement from my last weight 45lbs with 6 days at mountain crossings. I sent home my warm fluffy sleeping socks, my camera, my free church hat, my guide to wild berries, all kinds of things. About 5lbs. I ripped about 6 stories out of my book of short stories and sent the rest home. Sir packs alot helped me shakedown my pack, wonderful man, proprietor of the top of georgia hostel, triple crowner. I cant wait to get into the middle of this trip and get into the bottom of 30 lbs. i meant to let myself off the hook and only hike about 5 miles but instead i ended up pushing all the way into north carolina! Yesterday was so nice, i read a short mystery/romance novel about a magic coin. It was nice to do some of the things I like, snuggle with coffee, read a book in a rocking chair on a porch in the warm sun, pet doggies, relax! Im out on an 8 day trip, Ill do my best to keep you updated. 1 state down 13 to go!
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Bly Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter 
Miles today: 7.7

It was raining when i woke up this morning. The lady camped next to me said it sounded like a hurricane last night. I didnt wake up when it started raining or when the wind trued to blow me away. I dare say im used to sleeping out here. I didnt even have ear plugs in! I had packed up wet stuff before but I hadn't actually packed up in the rain. Its easy to lay in your sleeping bag a while A guy named weefee a week or so ago told me I needed to get used to being a homeless person. I told him I didnt know what he meant. He said you've got no money, no credentials and no place to live today i felt like a total homeless person having bought a trashbag from top of georgia and wearing it as a rainskirt all day. It worked quite well I might add. I walked to a shelter about three miles away and then stopped to have breakfast. It rained all day and its raining right now still. I know the rule about always keeping a pair of clothes dry but what about when your sleeping bag and tent are wet? everything is wet. I heard its supposed to rain everyday this week. When it's raining like this the fog comes. Visibility is about 20 feet. With a rain jacket hood up you can hardly see or hear anything. The fog does crazy things. Every snake like stick slithers, every noise is either something that wants to eat you or haunt you, every shadowey figure is a bear (of course its a good thing bill made me listen to different owl hoots before I left. I guess thats what those noises are.... yikes.North carolina is no easier then georgia. A long hard cold wet day. Sometimes my feet hurt so bad that ill step on a rock or a root and the pain takes my breath away. My left knee has been hurting a bit. I am going to try to get some insoles at the NOC. I was thinking today how seriously badass I am. Everyone can hike. Some people can even backpack but hardly anyone can carry a pack this size up and down mountains. All day. Every day. This is no joke. Im feeling very fortunate to be in pretty good shape so far. No blisters no spider bites, i know a girl on the trail whose feet have swelled three sizes so far, she's on her third pair of shoes! Despite the conditions I hiked happy all day. I know im just as suprised as you are
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Standing Indian Shelter 

To: Carter Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

For my pin pushers i think i am still in the Nantahala national forest near Franklin NC. Move me :pIt rained all night and was raining when i woke up this morning. Again. I was warm all night even though i was all wet. Thank you synthetic insulation In case I have not mentioned this already, the real bad part about wet stuff is that it's heavy. One liter weighs almost 2.5 lbs. So two liters (which is about what I usually have to start the day) is about 5lbs! Wet tent? Much heavier then a dry tent. Wet sleeping bag? Weighs a ton. Now off you go up and down mountains This morning in the shelter i said "will my things ever be dry again... "It rained all morning but Ill tell you, the switch backs were gloriously graded, the scenery was superb and I was a happy girl. The afternoon was 5 miles on an (adjective better then glorious) amazing gradual downhill and when it stopped raining I was even happier. I hiked into the North Carolina wildlife bear sanctuary. It is beautiful. Really really pretty. Stream crossings, level easy terrain and the green tunnel of rhododendron i have been waiting for. Incredible. When I got to the shelter the sun came out and there were lines everywhere to hang your stuff on. That whole thing about the trail providing is true stuff. I asked and received. Still not dry but not all the way wet anymore. Today was my favorite day so far on the trail. I did accidentally pee on a salamander looking critter. I was going and then i saw a tail snake under the leaves I was going on and so I felt terrible imaging my urine burning his slimey skin so i tried to find him under all the leaves so I could rinse him off but I couldn't find him so I just emptied my water bottle in the general area. I still feel terrible. Just now as im laying in my tent i hear the soft sound of a harmonica playing that song that goes "day is done, gone the sun, from the lakes from the hills..." only here our hero carries on northward.
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Carter Gap Shelter 

To: Long Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

What a difference a day makes. I am so wet and so cold and so grouchy. Raining when I woke up this morning, rained on and off all day, its raining now. Everything is wet. Everything is cold. My stuff has been wet for three days! I can't take much more. The rain on my tent last night sounded like popcorn popping. Im right at the town of franklin, even though I don't need to resupply it sure would be nice to get dry and sleep somewhere dry and damn it all if I have to pack up a wet tent again tomorrow Im really going to be angry. I am laying in my tent freezing. I dont know anyone at this shelter it seems like people keep wanting to tell me about my miles per day or my pace. It requires a ton of patience. How about ill hike my hike and you hike your hike? Older gentlemen especially. Of course I have to go the bathroom every single time I lay down. You see how slippery this slope of negativity is? You have to watch out for it for sure. I climbed a crazy section of trail today. I was on all fours at points. It was like one of those climbs that you have to make sure every footing is stable before moving on and in some parts even take the faith like in rock climbing. Crazy. All the way at the top? Fog. Lousy. My compression shorts haven't dried since I washed them out three days ago. I tried to hike in my rain pants yesterday but they were too sweaty in the uphills it was like hiking in saran wrap. Today i went with just the skirt and trashbag. I figured if the rash i was making hurt enough Id put on the wet cold shorts. It didnt until the last two miles but by then i just pressed on. Cold wet and rashy. Come on tomorrow.
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Long Branch Shelter 

To: Panther Gap Tent Site
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained all night and was raining when I woke up at 7am. So i went back to bed. At 9 when I woke up again it was not raining but everything was still really wet. Hey. Ill take it. Packing up wet everything stinks but packing up wet everything while its raining on you is worse. I walked for a while and before coming into a gap I thought "hey maybe there will be trail magic" and then i started thinking of all the things id like. Veggie burger, big bun, all the fixings, fries, big fat crinkley fries with cheese on the side, salad bar, many salads, milkshakes. All the milkshakes. And then i decided id settle for a salad. When i got to the gap some thru hikers i knew were just coming back from Franklin. They said want some salad? I walked over and there were cut veggies and lettuces just straight up in a plastic bag. Well. Yes sirree I dug my filthy paws in the bag grabbed two handfulls and poured a bit of the orange juice they had on top. I am not ashamed to have eaten lettuce from a shopping bag in a parking lot today. I was happy to. It started raining again around 4. I came into winding stair gap (I bet you can guess what was on both sides of the gap...) i came to the road and couldn't see where the trail picked up on the other side. It was pouring rain and cars were flying by. Man. Have no fear your girl can run across interstates with a pack no problem I wanted to stop around 8 miles today but it was way to close to the road. I didnt want to break my cardinal rule already so i thought id get to the shelter. On the way I just couldn't go on any further so I picked a flat spot and set up my tent in the rain. Oh the joys of thru hiking the AT in spring. Hoping there is no day 5 of rain. I pooped in the woods for the first time. I have been lucky enough to have been around privies. Life goes on
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Panther Gap Tent Site

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The usual routine.. i woke up, it was raining. I went back to bed when i woke up again the sun was just peeking out so i laid in my tent a while and then packed up wet stuff. Again. Grumble grumble. I ran into a guy who showed me the doppler and it was not looking pretty. Evidently 4 more days of rain. i hiked along and then at 2:30 guess what happened? Yep. It started raining. My poor feet have the trenches i am doing the best I can to take care of them but everything is just so wet. I am sleeping with my wet socks tonight trying to dry them out. Both sets and my boots are soaked. I thought all day that Id get to tell you the highlight of the day was a flush toilet but evidently I missed the side trail, no toilet, no highlight. I am also out of toilet paper and was planning on stealing some from there. Ah well. When I got to the shelter all my friends were there, its always nice when that happens. i have two days of food left and im about 16.5 miles from my next resupply. I almost think I ought to let my poor feet dry out but even if its not raining nothing dries. My best bet is to wash and dry at the NOC. Three more days. Of rain probably. Grumble grumble.
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: few clouds

Today i woke up, packed up my wet tent and put on wet cold clothes. I smell like i was left in the washing machine and forgotten about. Putting on wet cold clothes is no fun. Ah but its all part of the fun. Wizz decided she would be willing to take it easy today and hike with me. Im a walk in the park kinda pace. At one point Wizz was like um are you boiling water for lunch coffee and you have your boots off?!?! Hahaha yes, thats how i roll. My feet are in really bad shape. They look like they are wet even when they are dry. I know, its bad. Both sets of socks were wet. I have been trying to dry them and putting powder on them but they are still crackley. Wizz donated a pair of socks to the cause. IT DIDNT RAIN ALL DAY!!!! I have been feeling slighted because all the big climbs I have done so far have been in the rain which means no views. Blood Mountain, Tray Mountain, Standing Indian Mountain, Albert Mountain, all fog. I was rewarded though on the observation tower on top of wesser bald It was nice hiking with someone today, I have been hiking by myself for the most part. Made the big miles today go by fast. Short day tomorrow into the NOC. Oh boy baby cant wait.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center 
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained all night It was pouring when it was time to get out of the tent and pack it up. I packed everything into my pack and then put the pack cover on and threw it outside the tent. Then i unhooked the tent from the poles from inside the tent and took out the poles with the fly on and protected the inside. Worked like a charm quick day into the NOC pouring rain the whole way down. Soaking wet i arrived the bunkroom is forever away from laundry which is forever away from the showers. Ah well. I got a veggie burger with fries and a salad and a coffee and a brownie supreme at the restaurant. My stomach hurt so much after but it was so goooood. So many things to do before I hit the trail tomorrow. Today coming down to the NOC i noticed so many more types of flowers! I even saw a couple of magnolia blooms it smelled so good, like the easter flower stand for the firehouse I stood in the downpour just breathing in life. Incredible. It was like a tropical rainforest. I did see a little red tree frog looking frog and also a big fat slimey slug Though these housing conditions seem deplorable this place has everything I need. I can't wait to get back into the woods. I just wanted to mention guys Ill put up more pictures so you could if you wanted look through the photos page at some time in the future to check them out in case I have tagged them to entries you have already read. More photos to come.
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center 

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Today was hard. Took everything I had and then some more. 2961 feet of elevation gain in just under 6 miles. I climbed for 6 hours with a brand spanking new full resupply. I got my laundry done early at the crappy NOC, had breakfast at the restaurant and then hit the trail around 11:45. I hiked up out of the valley for about 30 minutes before realizing I forgot my sleeping pad. Back I went Today was a beautiful day. It was perfect hiking weather. Every time the breeze would stop the warmth from the sun would settle on me like a blanket and then the breeze would come and blow it away. The birds and the butterflies and the bees were out, everyone is happy, its spring! The flora closed in around me today, some parts of the trail were barely a single file. Bugs were also out, its pretty much rain or bugs. I swatted the little buzzes and held my breath and crept by the big buzzes So many of you have asked some really great questions and I intend to answer them soon now where are these "trail legs" i have been hearing so much about?
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was a bit chilly. I wasn't warm but i wasn't cold either. When I spoke to the crowd in the shelter they said they were fareezing! Another good reason to pitch a tent. One time when I was hiking with the angels from ely their doggie started getting excited so I shined my headlamp on the shelter and there were 5 or so mice running around underneath. The image stays with me. I like my tent. Gives me space and privacy and a good nights sleep. No one snoring or rolling around or farting. No mice. No spiders. No norovirus or hantavirus. Just nice tent. In case you were wondering why I set it up rain or shine. Today was a beautiful day for hiking. Not too hot, not too cold. Lovely switchbacks for most of the day, lots of ups and downs, a pretty tough day overall. The last mile or so of my already long and hard day is so despicable it has its own name..."Jacobs ladder" about 600 feet of elevation in only a half mile. Straight up. Every step was like when you stretch the back of your leg muscle on the curb crazy. When I got to the very top I imagined M.O and M.A looking at each other and saying "what do you think should we go down and come back up?" I thought of morpheous' neon orange t shirt too I conquered the ladder, I limped into the shelter feeling triumphant. In a couple of days i'll be in the great smokey mountains and Tennessee. I can hardly believe it, I have come so far. Thank you everyone who has dropped me a line, its great to hear from you. Now I have to get some rest... I've been getting about 12 hours a night.. honest it's awesome. Only thing is if you don't get out of your tent until 9:30 and you don't get on the trail until 11 or 11:30 its hard to get big miles in. I have to get the ball rolling a bit earlier. Sometimes I am eating breakfast when the first wave from the day before rolls in (they have already done 5-8 miles haha. Ill tell you what though, 12 hours makes my body and muscles feel new again. Im trying to start earlier honest.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: broken clouds

I had to speak too soon about my tent being mouse free. Last night I was laying on my back around 4am and i saw a mouse run up and over my head on the tent, in between the tent and the rain fly. Now. Im not one to freak out (like some bny mellon ladies I know) but then it sounded like he was trying to eat through my tent. Cman. I draw the line there. I tried to fend him off until about 5:30 when I feel back asleep. I think he was after the two oreos i had in my pack brain and the last of stacy's cookies Needless to say I slept until about 10 and then didn't get on the trail until noon. I had the before mentioned cookies for breakfast in bed. Yum. It took me forever to get packed up. I think my body was telling me not to do the 12.5 miles I had planned for today and so i listened. I had no go today. I have been feeling blagh for a couple of days. My trail friends gave me vitamins and emergen c so i hope that does the trick. Short day means i made camp earlier and bedtime is earlier. Heres hoping I am on the trail before noon tomorrow. The fontana shelter is called the hilton so hopefully it doesn't dissapoint
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Cable Gap Shelter 

To: Fontana Dam 
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't journal today so this is my recollection from today's perspective (04/25) The hike down into fontana dam was very nice. Nice weather - beautiful sunshine, warm and nice. The first views of the lake and dam coming down were amazing The short miles today and sunshine were a great motivator and the shelter did not dissapoint. There was a beautiful view of the lake from the deck (yes the shelter had a deck ) I just relaxed, got a shower at the bathhouse that was only a short walk away and just enjoyed life. Aint it grand. I had too nice of a view and too good of company to spend any time journaling.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter 

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: moderate rain

A storm rolled in late last night. It ripped through my tent, I wish I had been more with it last night and pitched it tighter for weather. When i was taking it down this morning the thing nearly blew away as soon as I pulled the stakes. Packed up and headed out into the cold rain and fog. I was feeling relieved to have short miles today, it was 5 or 12 and I was not ready for another big day. I bandaged my heels as best I could and was off. I hiked behind and then along with an awesome couple today. The terrain was practically flat and the conversation was good. Thank goodness. My body doesn't care that there were bears too close to the campsite or that the park requires you camp in designated areas, it just knows we did too much yesterday and it needed a break today. There were rumors of thunderstorms and strong winds so we made it to the shelter and prepared to hunker down. Instead the sun came out and shined all afternoon. There are alot of hikers here tonight, its great to know so many smiles. 10 miles tomorrow and 8 the next day into Gatlinburg for my next resupply. Over 200 miles by that time. This trip so far is 24 nights longer then my only other backpacking trip. Onward! To Maine!