morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-21
From: Loft Mtn Campground

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: moderate rain

So today was a true Shenandoah hike. We left camp at 7:30 so we could make it to the campground store at 8:00 when it opens. Had a Honey Bun for breakfast and bought a ham & cheese sub for lunch. We then left so we could make it to the wayside by 9:00 when it opened for breakfast. I had the Hikers delight 3 plate sized pancakes and 2 sausage patties. Had a nice hike and stopped at the viewpoint in the above picture for lunch. We hiked on to Hightop Hut and beat the predicted rain, stopping early at 4:15.People always asked if I would be hiking alone on the trail and I tried to explain there is always others around who hike similar speeds and distances who become your trail family or as one person said your "tramily". It was nice to spend several days with MacGyver, Cousin Eddie, and CBiscut. Maybe after my retirement and move I can again hike with them or others I have met and spent time with on the trail at shelters or in town.
Date: 2017-05-22
From: Hightop Hut

To: South River Picnic Area
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: mist

So with my amended schedule I decided to return home early to help with packing and finishing up the loose ends before retirement and a move across the country. Today was an easy half day hike down to a picnic area. The hike took me over the top of Hightop Mountain with some nice views like the above picture. My wife arrived on time and took me back home. It is good to be home and once things settle down I hope to return and finish Vermont, NH and Maine. To all the friends and fellow hikers out there be safe and maybe I can see you on the trail again.
Date: 2017-06-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

So today was my last day of work.  Now comes a move before I get back to the trail.  18.5 years at this employer, I may miss it at times but a lot has changed the last 5 years and it wasn't as exciting or challenging. So it is time to go, and now I can concentrate on other things.
Date: 2017-06-12
To: Heart Mountain 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The house is coming together so I did a morning hike. Heart Mountain  trailhead starts at 5200 ft and the summit is 8123 ft. The wife and I attempted it but as she has not done climbs or dealt with elevation she could only do about 1000 ft. I did about 2000 ft and it felt great. I had 180 degee views of 7 mountain ranges.Trying to stay in shape for my return to the AT.
Date: 2017-07-07
From: NY 22 Great Swamp

To: Bulls Bridge mile 1459.9
Miles today: 12.0

So I started back on the trail. Hoped to do 740 miles though New England to Katahdin. Did 1 mile in the wrong direction in the rain.when I got straightened out I came across this water tower and crossed into Connecticut.  Climbed up Ten Mile hill and saw a very large bear on the way down the hill. My feet didn't like the rain and new boots.
Date: 2017-07-08
From: Bulls Bridge

To: Dawn hill road mile 1476.9
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Today started with a climb up out of the valley. Had a nice view to the west. Continued along the ridge. Dropped down to CT 314 to Kent. Some trail angels left 2 twelve packs of soda, tasted good and prepared for the climb up to Caleb Peak. Then went over to St. John's Ledges very technical climb down around the cliff. Saw a porcupine half way down, plus 2 Gardner snakes and a large Bull snake.  Day ended with a 4.5 mile level walk along the Housatonic River and a small climb up to the road.My heels are torn up bad.
Date: 2017-07-11
From: Dalton Mile 1570.7

To: Outlook Avenue
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: broken clouds

I wanted to hike Sunday but my heels and legs did not agree. Took a zero and Monday moved north. Started at the edge of Dalton and hiked past Cheshire. Gore pond was nice as was the Cobbles. Set to hike over Mt. Greylock. Feet still a problem.
Date: 2017-07-13
From: Outlook Avenue

To: Mass Hwy 2 1592.2
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: few clouds

I took a zero yesterday to give my heels a break.  Today's objective was to make it over Mt. Greylock. Mt. Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts at 3491 and involved a climb of almost 2200 feet from my starting point near Cheshire. The climb was not to bad until the last couple of miles which was very rocky walking. There are additional pictures on this journal of Greylock from a distance, a pond near the top, view from the top and a relief display that shows the trails. My heels are doing terrible and I must end my hike at this point to let them heal.  Thanks to all I met on the trail, good luck, have a good hike and be safe.
Date: 2017-07-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I wanted to see the Presidential range of the White Mountains and especially Mount Washington. Today I did, we took the steam powered cog rail line up the sumitt. Saw all the hikers at the top. Saw Matador who I met at Wilson Creek Shelter near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wish I was still hiking but this summer just ended up too complicated and injury and blisters meant too much time off.There are additional pictures of the steam train and the rail line in the photos.Thanks to all I met, hiked with and shared time with this year. On to new challenges but I will be back hiking somewhere sometime soon
Date: 2017-10-10
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Swift Run Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

First day back on trail after a looong break.  Feels great. Hiking with Turtle Stone (Jenny Kelley). Started with this 9 mile slack pack, but I'm not counting this since I already did this section. Today was for Jenny, tomorrow I start where I had left off previously.
Date: 2017-10-12
From: Gravel Springs Gap

To: Tom Floyd Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: clear sky

10-12-17Started out again in clouds, fog, and rain. AND....it rained all day. We resupplied with our 2 sherpas, Pete and Tim, at Compton Gap then continued up and down on rocky trails to Tom Floyd Shelter. The wet rocks and fallen leaves made for some slippery slopes. I was especially careful since I don't bounce off the ground like I used to. Jenny spotted a small black bear and we also saw a young buck rubbing his antlers on a tree. Treated with numerous apple trees and their bounty. Glad to be dry in the shelter, temps dropping through the low 60's, windy, and rain sounding off on the metal roof. Enjoyed sharing the shelter with Sturgeon and Sequoia, 2 through hikers.
Date: 2017-10-13
From: Tom Floyd Shelter

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

10-13-17Rough night of sleep due to rain pounding the roof, but still felt good in the morning. Hiked 3 miles to Rt. 522 to meet up with our sherpas. They surprised us with warm blueberry muffins and hot chocolate. Sweeeeet! After a nice break we pressed on through some rocky trails and of course uphill. Met several southbound hikers including a couple from Germany, 2 sisters from Germany, 10 high schoolers on a weekend field trip, Wolfie, Shiker Quaker and his Parasite friend, and Shep with his dog Ollie. Stopped at another very nice shelter with a deck, picnic shelter with a fire pit, privy, and a solar shower. After my "chilly" shower (no sun to heat the water) I joined Melissa, Jenny, Jack Flash(the fire builder tonight), and 3 ladies tenting nearby for dinner by the fire. No rain, yeah!!!
Date: 2017-10-14
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Whiskey Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

10-14-17Slept GREAT last night. Met our sherpas, Pete and Tim, at a road crossing 3 miles into our day. Resupplied, chowed down, and even washed up a bit in the RV. Heaven! Mary, from last night's shelter, hiked with us those first miles. After 7 miles of mostly rocky trail we arrived at our next shelter. Just beyond Dick's Dome shelter is a newer/nicer one called Whiskey Hollow Shelter. Good stream by both. Glad to finally have some sun today to help dry our gear. Now if we could just fix the humidity! Ended our day with a campfire with 3 "interesting characters". Let's just call them One Eyed Rickie, Clomp Foot, and Batman, who looked remarkably like Michael Keaton.
Date: 2017-10-15
From: Whiskey Hollow Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: clear sky

10-15-17Rained last night and I was awake for most if it. Luckily it stopped by morning. Tim met us 5 miles in at the Rt 50 crossing with treats. We are SPOILED. Pleasant day including just the right amount of challenge and a path through meadows in Sky Meadows State Park. Turned sunny and windy when we arrived at the shelter, so could finally really dry our gear. Nice piped spring to filter water and wash up a bit. Older shelter with a picnic pavilion and 2 rock fire fire pits. If you stop here in the Fall watch out for giant walnuts falling from the trees.
Date: 2017-10-16
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

10-16-17Interesting night. Started raining hard at midnight, so I had to get up and put my rain cover on my pack that was hanging near the roof overhang. Later Jenny woke up and moved due to a leek over her sleeping spot. Shortly after that Melissa felt a leak and moved. Luckily we were the only 3 in the shelter so could move around all night! Four tenths of a mile into our morning trek we started into the "ROLLER COASTER", a series of steep ups and downs for over 13 miles. Today we did 8 peaks in 10 miles. We saw a few nice streams, stopping at one extra nice one for a break. The steepness and the rocks almost did me in, BUT NOT QUITE, cuz I made it to Bears Den Hostel. Tim and Pete met us there for a resupply, brought pizza and salad, and picked up Melissa. She flies back to Colorado tomorrow. It was great having her with us for those days. Gonna miss her company.
Date: 2017-10-17
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: David Lesser Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

10-17-17We had the hostel all to ourselves last night....like having a private room. Made pancakes and tea for breakfast, supplied by the hostel. Mark Cusic shuttled our packs to the Blackburn AT Center so we could slack pack 8 miles. Had some great views on this coolish day at Bears Den Rocks and Raven Rocks. Crossed out of Virginia into West Virginia and finished out the roller coaster. Thank you Lord....I made it. Slow but sure! Took my pic by Wilson Gap. My maiden name was Wilson and my father was born in West Virginia. Enjoyed a stop at the Blackburn Center, where Cheryl "Nike", the caretaker treated us to homemade pumpkin cake and hot cider. Picked up our shuttled packs and climbed the steep path back to the AT. I loved that place....better than Bears Den. Saw 1 buzzard at Buzzard Rocks and another deer (have seen several now). Made it to David Lesser Shelter where we had the whole really nice facility to ourselves. That was surprising since we had once again seen several SOBO's on the AT, including Aristocat, a very nice young man from Oklahoma. There was a porch swing in the picnic pavilion and plenty of seating on the shelter deck. Even though it will be close to freezing tonight we are cherishing this last night on the trail.
Date: 2017-10-18
From: David Lesser Shelter

To: Potomac River, Byron Memorial Bridge
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

10-18-17Lovely last night on the trail for this section. David Lesser was one of my favorite shelters so far. Woke twice last night to distant coyotes howling. Enjoyed the view from my bag looking at the silhouetted trees. It only dipped to the low 40's and was quite comfy in my down sleeping bag. Had a great view of the sunrise from both the privy and the shelter. We had a fairly easy hiking day since we dropped our packs with the guys at Keys Gap just 3 miles in. Had super views from the power lines atop one of the mountains. Met several hikers including Oakie who was excited to share he only had 200 miles left to complete the AT. The weather was perfect, around 70 and sunny, when we reached the Potomac River, the border between West Virginia and Maryland. Yeah! Another state down. After I go back and pick up a 150 mile section I missed down south by I40 I'll have everything from Springer Mt to Maryland. We hiked through Harpers Ferry to the AT Conservancy where our pictures and info were added to the section hikers log book.  Thank you Jenny "Turtlestone" for being a great hiking partner. You are AWESOMER!!!   PS I really did see a Pink Billed Awesomer on the trail today.   I now have a total of 873.4 miles on the AT!
Date: 2017-03-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

T-3 days. The text of this post probably isn't going to communicate the excitement very well because of being swamped with everything that needs to get done before I leave.The plan is to leave MD Friday directly after work and the ballooning program meeting. Ashley is road tripping me down to GA, so Friday night we'll drive until we get tired (with the goal of making it 4-5hours to southern VA), and then do the rest of the drive Saturday morning. We'll meet my sister at the trail head and she'll day hike with us for a little bit before turning back. Ashley is going to camp the first night on the approach trail, maybe snap a pic at the start of the AT on Sunday, and then head back to the car and to MD.This is mostly a test post, but a couple things of note:- I'm just about completely moved out of my apartment... just have one box left to move. The place is alot bigger without my stuff in it...- Indoor camping (sleeping pad/bag on floor) is, for whatever reason, far less comfortable than outdoor camping.- I did a shakedown hike with Ashley at Ramsey's Draft in VA a couple of weeks ago. It went well, temps were in the 30s during the day and the low 20s at night, but we both stayed mostly warm. I'm hoping to not see temperatures that low because they're pushing the limits of my 20deg sleeping bag and extra layers, but I could go a little lower without it becoming miserable. I'm still debating weather to start with my 20deg sleeping bag or 30deg quilt. The quilt is alot lighter, but the bag is warmer. GA is south, but I'll be up in the mountains. Presumably I'll make a decision in the next 3 days.- I made a new alcohol stove last night, YAC stove design. Burns beautifully... flame around the whole circumference, but I did accidentally poke a hole in the side so there's an extra tongue of flame that comes out the side. Also, sanding it to remove the paint after assembly didn't work too well. Not sure if those are enough of a reason to make a new stove, we'll see what I have time for this week. I think I've decided on alcohol stove over canister stove, but the pocketrocket will be in the support gear if I need it. Also, protip, adding fuel to a lit stove is a terrible decision (which I already knew, but have now verified).
Date: 2017-03-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

T-2days. We're getting there... finished packing support boxes today and the last box of my possessions is packed and ready for storage. I also have all my gear ready (see picture)... just need to implode it into my pack. Made a new stove today, figured it was better to do that than to use the one I made last night that had the extra flame coming out the side. Also, I think I've pretty much decided to go with the 20deg sleeping bag. It's another 1.5lbs, but it'll be better to be warm than to not be. I can always trade out if I don't need it, but it'll be better to have it. Spent a good amount of the evening at ballooning helping them get all the ground-to-balloon and payload-to-payload communications working and transferring as much knowledge of the ground system software as I could. Just have one rocksat (sounding rocket payload) meeting left tomorrow evening and one general balloon meeting (to say goodbye to everyone) left. Work is also closing out, a few more loose ends to tie up/pass off with the software and then I'm done. One of my coworkers did give me a "travel-sized" box of Old Bay as a going away present... I'm not normally a huge fan, but the trail changes taste buds and seasoning is essential for trail food, so, in the bag it goes.
Date: 2017-03-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Another busy day... work, another rocksat meeting, watched SpaceX launch and re-land a reused rocket, and then had a wonderful evening hanging out with a friend: grabbed dinner, watched a poetry/music open-mic night at Busboys and Poets, and hung out until late.Seems like word about the trip is getting around DCUL thanks to K^2... heard from B~~~ (thru hiker 20years ago) and HeavyD (Long Trail hiking buddy) with congrats/have fun/advice messages, which was appreciated.Sorry, not much hiking/preparation related stuff today, mostly just getting ready to leave. Hopefully some real content once the roadtrip starts tomorrow!
Date: 2017-03-31
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Aaaand we're off! Had my last day of work today including a great going-away lunch with a bunch of co-workers at an Indian buffet. Then dropped off the last of my apartment stuff at storage, and attended my last ballooning meeting. The ballooning program gave me an SSL and a UMD aerospace engineering polo shirt as a going away present, which was super nice of them. They'll be a nice addition to the work wardrobe (in 5 months).Spent much longer than intended saying goodbye to all my friends there... To my (mock) chagrin the process involved confetti and party hats. After lots of hugs I headed back to my appt one last to pick up a load of laundry and to shave (starting the trail with a blank slate), drove over to pick up Ashley, and headed out. We made it to Roanoke, VA and found a cheap hotel at 2am, exhausted and only still awake because of the Disney songs we were blasting. Long day, but the ball is rolling.
Date: 2017-04-10
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Franklin
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

We awoke just before the sun, early enough so that we could cover the 7mi to winding stair gap before the 11am shuttle. Somehow MagicTouch and SmoothTalker had already slipped out from downstairs without waking any of us, which is fairly impressive. I grabbed a poptart for breakfast as we got moving. Liz and I quickly pulled ahead of Lookout, whose foot was still slowing him down, and eventually I pulled ahead of Liz for the easy hike down to Rock Gap. We found MagicTouch and SmoothTalker at Rock Gap waiting for a shuttle, but Liz and I elected to do the last 4 miles to winding stair gap so that we wouldn't have to double back and do that section coming out of Franklin.Despite getting to the gap 45min before the shuttle was scheduled, we somehow missed it by 10min, so we headed out to the road and stuck out a thumb. The second car to come along, a gray prius, pulled over for us and Rudy offered Liz, I, and Ty (another guy who had reached the gap at the same time as us) a ride into town. This was Liz's first time hitching, but the prius went a long way towards establishing Rudy's credibility (cause only good people drive priuses). Rudy lived not too far from the trail and had sectioned hiked from Springer to Harper's Ferry over a couple trips, so knew what he was getting into by picking up hikers (mostly in terms of smell).We got dropped off at the budget inn, where we had reserved a room, which was swarming with other hikers all arriving on various shuttles. The hotel room left a lot to be desired... Cleanliness, for one, but you get what you pay for and the room we were splitting only cost us $17/pp. After the pack-splosion and showers, we ventured out to meet everyone else, and enjoyed a beer courtesy of Chicken, one of the hikers next door, and an ice cream sandwich courtesy of Turbo, and met Roudy and Boston who they were rooming with.We spent the rest of the day on various chores... We ran up to the outfitter and I picked up some new tent stakes (which will be easier to use with my tent), a bandana (for wiping hands/sweat/etc), and some permitherin (an apply-once, couple month bug repellant for clothes/gear). While Lookout picked up a new pair of shoes, Liz and I grabbed a cider/beer in the outfitter's attached bar and planned food for the next week and the Smokies. We stopped at Ingles to food shop and then Lookout decided to take a night in while Liz and I headed down to a local brewery. Unfortunately their food truck (which is the only on-site source of food) had just closed so we got a supreme pizza delivered (because we need our veggies) to the brewery, because we're classy hikers. Because we're good friends, we brought Lookout back a couple pieces of pizza and hung out with the hikers next door again until about midnight before turning in fit the night.Tomorrow we're going to zero at Gooder hostel in town, which will hopefully be cleaner than the budget inn.
Date: 2017-04-11
From: Franklin

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today's a zero, so also probably a shorter entry...We grabbed breakfast at the Kountry Kitchen, a little diner/breakfast place in town. I got an omelet and a plate of french toast, which was heavenly after a couple mornings of poptarts. After breakfast we stopped by the post office to pick up a box to bounce ourselves some food to Fontana and headed back to the budget inn. Upon returning we found the parking lot SWARMING with hikers... The forest service had closed the next 6 miles of trail due to a forest fire, which meant that all the hikers were headed into town to take an enforced zero. The other alternative, skip ahead to the next part of the trail, wasn't particularly attractive to most hikers, though we planned to do it if the trail remained closed tomorrow. I met up with LogJam (formerly Matt, of Matt^2), ExtraMile (formerly GPS), Hulk, Missionary, NotBad, and several others as they tried to find rooms for the night.Our shuttle to Gooder arrived, Zen, the owner of the place, so we headed over to claim our bunks. I took the opportunity to treat my gear with permitherin (a bug repellant that you apply once every couple months but have to let dry on the gear) and then Lookout, Liz, and I headed over to the Lazy Hiker (a brewery) for a couple drinks. I had a "Springer fever" as well as a "20 miler" (loving the AT references). We moved over to Curahee brewing (where Liz and I had gone last night) and played cornhole and enjoyed the beer for the rest of the afternoon/evening with a bunch of hikers including Tang, NotKyle, and some of their Tramily (Trail Family). Lookout found a beer that, according to him "redeemed all of Franklin" in terms of beer quality... a Russian Imperial Stout called "Dammit, Russia", which tasted like a fruitcake. Liz and I won 4 games of cornhole, but eventually (finally) lost to a couple other hikers. Throughout the afternoon the smoke from the fire was visible... Making the otherwise brilliant blue and white of the sky and clouds a dark brown/orange color to the west. The hikers closed the bar down (not terribly hard when it closes at 9... It is a weeknight even if weeks don't have as much meaning as they used to) and while waiting for a ride back to the hostel from Zen, Liz and I practiced some swing, foxtrot, and waltz in the parking lot and Lookout showed us some bachata and salsa.We got back to the hostel, attempted to watch a movie but all fell asleep 20min into it and headed to bed.While I didn't necessarily originally want to take a zero, it turned out to be one of the best days "on the trail" so far. I've decided to take the trail closure today as a sign that today was meant to be a zero. There's a part of me that's still a little too focused on the goal and thinks I should've made some miles today, but looking back now, those miles wouldn't have been worth what would've been missed. Hopefully I'll get better at ignoring that part and just enjoy this experience as it continues.