morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-05
From: Mt. Collins Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: broken clouds

We hiked down, then up, into Newfound Gap - a first! NSC's sister and brother in law were there with our food drop. We used real bathrooms (yay), but they had changed to recycled water for the toilets and removed the sinks in favor of hand sanitizer dispensers. I was really looking forward to washing my hands for real.   We were all a bit tired from the tough terrain of the last few days, so made the decision to evaluate how far we wanted to go at the first shelter. It was an easy decision. The first shelter (Icewater Spring) was mostly empty and had sweeping views of the mountains. We decided that the additional 7.4 trail miles (plus .5 more to the shelter) would turn into a slog that we wouldn't enjoy very much. It proved to be the right decision when it started to rain just before 6. We would likely have been too late to get a shelter spot, so would have to set up a tent in the rain. PQRST method at work!   We had time to hang out damp clothes to try, plan out future days in AWOL and just enjoy the beauty of the mountains. Tonight's home-made dinner was a white bean, lentil and orzo gratin. It was hot and wonderful. Someone here has a crank radio, and we listened to the weather forecast. I am sitting here in my hiking shirt, longer sleeve hiking shirt, fleece and down jacket - it was 85 in Nashville!!!"What you're missing is that the path itself changes you." Julian Smith "The Flinch"
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

What an amazingly beautiful day for hiking. I still have a hard time getting going in the morning. It is cold and I want tea - but not the fuss if making it. It was a lovely hike today. It was a bit easy across ridge lines in the morning (for the Smokies!) and then some tougher climbs in the afternoon. I saw a deer in the woods, but still no bear spottings which is just fine by me! There were several views that were amazing. We walked past many fallen trees that the trail maintainers had cut to clear the trail. It smelled like Christmas!We hiked about 12.6 today to the Tri-Corner Knob Shelter and it is the least crowded shelter so far. We are on the top bunk and enjoying a lovely evening. Dinner is done, bear bags are hung and it is time to get ready for bed - at 7 pm. Life is good. "Only with a leaf can I talk of the forest." Visar Zhiti
Date: 2015-05-07
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

Today was a pretty short and easy hike to the Cosby Shelter. We thought we would make today a short day as tomorrow will have some steep downs followed by steep ups the following day. We passed a site of a plane crash. A 73-year old man told me that the people survived the crash, but froze to death. He also said there were two military plane crashes in the past. I have no signal, so I can't look any of this up. It was pretty buggy when we got here, but the view is incredible. It looks like rain, so we ate early and hung out packs and food bags. It is recommended that we hang the whole pack due to bear activity. "Anyone who has spent a few nights in a tent during a storm can tell you: the world doesn't care all that much if you live or die."Anthony Doerr
Date: 2015-05-08
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: few clouds

And, just like that, we were out of the Smokies! And never had to show my thru hiker permit. We left Cosby Knob before 8 and headed down (mostly) toward Davenport Gap. It got much hotter as we descended, reminding us that we had been 5,000 - 6,000 feet above sea level. We saw more wildflowers bursting open, the lower we went. There was a note that someone had spotted a rattlesnake on the trail, but I never saw it.   Gnome ( who was just ahead of me) saw a big bear right on the trail, but I missed that too, which was just fine!The trail was hard to follow for a bit when it crossed the Pigeon River and I-40, but we found it just fine. We hiked up the road to the Standing Bear Farm hostel. NSC, PQRST, Gnome and I are sharing a cabin here. It is very rustic, but welcoming to hikers and they have COLD BEER!!!! I met two hikers from West Springfield. One of them plays some killer Clapton and Zeppelin on the guitar. On toward Hot Springs tomorrow. "If you seek creative ideas, go walking. Angels whisper to a man When he goes for a walk." Raymond Myers
Date: 2015-05-09
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It has been rumored that the hike out of Standing Bear was difficult. And they weren't kidding! But first, I got lost. PQRST, NSC and I started out together, but I held back to fasten my gaiters. When I was finished they were gone. It was difficult to follow the AT to Standing Bear as there was some road walking involved. PQRST was pretty certain of the correct route, so I started out in the direction he had indicated the previous day. I stopped and checked Guthook and saw that I seemed to be going the wrong way. The challenge was that one section of Guthook ended at Standing Bear and another started, making it a bit confusing. I ran into Gnome who was also heading the same way. It took some convincing, and I almost had him convinced, when PQRST and NSC called out to us. They had gone nearly 3/4 of a mile the wrong way (and back again). Their plan was to hike to a shelter for a short day and then to Max Patch to be picked up Sunday. I didn't want to have any gaps to make up, so I hiked over MaxPatch to the Roaring Fork Shelter.   The final up was tough after so much altitude gain early in the day. At the shelter were two other hikers contemplating getting off the trail. Later (after we were asleep) several younger hikers arrived.   "It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you may as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default." JK Rowling.
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Thank you for the early Mothers' Day wishes. I cannot tell you how much you emails, texts and journal notes help. The forest today looked as if it was preparing for a wedding. A sprinkling of white petals dotted the trail. spent a lot of time today thinking about 5 mothers in my life. First to MP, my birth mother. I am using initials to protect her privacy. You gave me life at a cost to your reputation. I thank you for that and wish I had been able to know you. Then to Cecelia.   You loved and cared for me despite your health issues. I cried a lot today thinking that it has been 40 years since I could wish you a Happy Mothers' Day. I have lived twice as long without you as with you. My third granddaughter has her middle name in your honor Then to my Grandma who showed all her 10 grandchildren (two adopted) equal and unlimited love. The to Ellie - my beloved mother in law that we list too soon. You were an amazing influence on my adult years. Lastly, to my daughter Courtney. All of these women are part you. I watch in amazement at how you juggle three little girls two and under plus a career and staying fit. I was happy to get into Hot Springs after a hard two days and enjoy a burger and a beer. "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God... and I firmly believe nature brings solace in all troubles." Anne Frank. "Diary of a Young Girl"
Date: 2015-05-11
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0

We spent last night at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn and enjoyed a wonderful waffle breakfast. Then I headed to the laundromat to get my clothes marginally clean. Then I went to the Hot Springs Resort to have a mineral bath soak. It felt wonderful, but even after a long shower last night and an hour long soak, I still stink a little!My daughter came over from Nashville for a belated Mom's Day visit and brought 8 month old Ela, who got lots of smiles at the Iron Horse Station. While it was great to see them, it makes the homesickness much worse. I had some pain in the balls of my feet prior to the Smokies and NSC recommended insoles that worked for her as we both have high arches. They worked so well, the pain was gone instantly. However, in coming down to warmer temps, my boots felt tighter and my arches are now sore. Coupled with a few dozen gnat bites, I am feeling mighty sorry for myself!Tomorrow I return to Black Bear to pickup where we left off before the Smokies. I am hoping my feet just needed a rest and that the mineral bath and zero days help. If not, I will get things checked out in Damascus, which might be in the middle of Trail Days. "Those who travel to mountain tops are half in love with themselves and half in love with oblivion."Robert MacFarlane
Date: 2015-05-12
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Black Bear Resort
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Conventional wisdom says never to quit on a down day or a town day, but the pull to go home right now is tremendous. I don't know if it is from seeing my daughter and granddaughter yesterday, general homesickness, the pain in my feet, the huge change in temperature, so many others getting off the trail here, or having to shuttle north and be in a completely new bubble... Or maybe all of the above.   Even the thought of returning to work sounds good. (!!!!)I have cried (virtually) on St. James' shoulder last night and again this morning. How am I so lucky to have found this man of such extraordinary kindness? Although I cried again when he mentioned Tommy, Miss Claudie and Finley - our little menagerie. I had a long talk and many texts with my daughter. She has become a great coach and counselor. I stayed at the Hot Springs Resort last night in the most comfortable bed I have been in since home - and still slept poorly.   I thought my daughter might stay with me to avoid 10 hours in the car, and I wanted a place where she could feed the baby comfortably and where a baby crying wouldn't bother others. I keep thinking that I don't want to do this anymore - but also thinking that I will let so many of you down if I stop my journey.   I think of two of my nephews who have had to fight such tough battles with illness this past month and so admire their tenacity. Compared to what they have done, hiking up and down mountains is a cakewalk.   I ran into another hiker at breakfast who said that I didn't have the usual sparkle in my eyes. Even though he is leaving the trail, he is hoping that I find the will to continue. So as much as I really don't want to do this, I have a plan. I will catch a ride to the Black Bear Resort in Hampton later today. From there I have a slack pack arranged to get me past the Watauga area with camping restrictions due to bear activity. From there I should have 2-3 days into Damascus. I will use this time to reflect and make a decision on whether to continue on. I don't want to hike the trail just to say I did it. I want it to be an experience I will treasure. I really hope I get my mojo back, but, if not I have a wonderful home to return to. "You can dress it up any way you like, but walking remains resolutely simple, basic, analog. That's why I love it and love doing it. And in that respect - stay with me on this - it's not entirely unlike a martini. Sure you can add things to martinis like chocolate or blue-cheese stuffed olives or, God forbid, cotton candy, and similarly you can add things to your walks - constraints, shapes, notions of the mapping of Utopian spaces - but you don't need to. And really, why would you? Why spoil a good drink? Why spoil a good walk? Geoff Nicholson. "The Lost Art of Walking"
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Black Bear Resort

To: Wilbur Dam Road
Miles today: 11.5

It turns out that my friend, neighbor and fellow hiker, Grandbob, is at the Black Bear Resort. He was trying to hike north from where he left off after an injury, but it just wasn't working. He met the folks here after being injured previously and has remained friends - helping out with shuttling hikers.He is headed south to visit a friend in Georgia and then back home to Florida; there is a seat in his car for me if I want to join him. I had another rough night from a sleep perspective last night. Tired as I was, I couldn't settle down and had a bit of an upset stomach. Not sure if it was the same issue little Ela had or the combination of two Bud Lights, a pepperoni pizza and a Klondike bar. Bob (Grandbob) dropped us at Wilbur Dam and I planned to slackpack SOBO back to Black Bear. This would let me test out my feet and avoid the need to camp near the closed Watauga Shelter - closed due to bear activity.I started out with the orthotics in - arches hurt on my right foot. Then I tried without them - ball of foot and toes hurt. So I tried a new method and used part of the orthotic with the insole. That seemed to work OK. I stopped for a quick lunch and after that my stomach started acting up... can I catch a break here? It wasn't a good day due to stomach distress, but, I find my inherent stubbornness won't let me quit. Unless my tummy gets really bad tonight, I will hike another day!Thank you for all of the messages yesterday and today. The combination of tough love and amazing kindness had me crying and smiling at the same time.
Date: 2015-05-14
To: Farewell
Miles today: 0.0

FarewellI woke up this morning feeling tired after a restless night. The thought of packing up and moving north had zero appeal. I had come to the realization that I loved getting on the trail most days, but hated the long miles and "all weather" commitment needed for a thru hike. No rain, no pain, no Maine. I know that I could likely work through the pain and hike on. But it would be only to say that I made it. At the age of 60 I don't want to spend time on things that don't bring me or my loved ones joy.   I know that the real challenge of a thru hike is the emotional one. I had found my "hiker legs" to go up and over mountains, but I didn't want to hike for 8 hours or so a day. I didn't want to pack and unpack and pack some more. I wanted to be able to stop and enjoy the wildflowers and the streams and waterfalls. Some of this surprises me; I really thought I would want to hike as long as I could each day. My first goal was Neel's Gap; my second to get into North Carolina. Check and check. The next was to get out of North Carolina. Check again. But here the train derails.   I stopped my hike about 30 miles from the Virginia border. If I am to hike the entire AT, it will be as a section hiker. I want to thank all of you that supported my through notes and texts and emails. Your encouragement was amazing. I especially want to thank my husband, Jim, (aka St. James) for being "the wind beneath my wings" and my daughter, Courtney for sending all the photos of my granddaughters to keep me smiling every day. And I want to thank the Class of 15 for just being awesome support. Good luck to Captain K, Philco and Forrest, Huckleberry and Jot, C-Shell and D-No, Drop Bear, Pockets (NSC's brother that I just met today) and especially, BonBon. I guess I will have to drive to Maine to get there this summer. Maybe I'll see you and do a little trail Magic. Tonight I am back in North Georgia staying with new friends, Jarhead and his wife Tina. Jarhead attempted a thru hike with Grandbob a few years ago. It really is the kindness of the AT community that is a big part of the magic of it all.
Date: 2015-05-20
To: Disappointing News
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, the appointment to get my feet looked at by the doc was for earlier this morning. My pack has been sitting (unpacked) in the living room since Grandbob dropped me off on Sunday. I think that deep down I was hoping the doc would say all I need is some rest, anti-inflammatories and custom orthotics. Then I could pick up where I left off or start again with BonBon and do the missed section later. Sadly, that is likely not the case. The ball of foot issue is likely from six weeks of banging on my feet and a shot of cortisone, plus the hoped-for solutions above, should have me fixed up quickly. I would need to ease back into hiking, but that would be doable. The issue is this small lump on my arch. I had never noticed it before, but he thinks it is unrelated to the hike as this type of tumor(!!!! - a very bad word) is usually genetic. Thankfully, they are almost always benign. Treatment options are to ignore it and see if it is less bothersome once the ball of foot issue is corrected, or surgery. Most orthotics to help the ball of my foot, would increase pressure on the lump, which is what was happening in the Smokies. The surgery is far more aggressive than you would think as it would necessitate removal of part or all of the plantar fascia. Recuperation could take several months. In the meantime I will take today to feel very sorry for myself, and tomorrow I will get back to the gym and get a trainer appointment to help me workout without putting too much pressure on my feet. If there is a way that I can summit Katahdin with BonBon, I will!
Date: 2015-06-16
From: Pearisburg, Virginia

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night we had a meatloaf and Mac cheese dinner at the Mac Arthur Inn plus baked beans and Brussels sprouts. The portions were suited to hikers, so, not having hiked for weeks, it was impossible to finish. But I ate every bite of the chocolate cake and strawberries for dessert. After dinner I strolled across the street to Grant's grocery store. I bought 3 candy bars plus the largest can of beer I had ever seen. Grandbob and I sat outside at the inn and shared the beer. Then it was time to get ready for bed. At breakfast we met Alan, the owner of the inn. He bought it to prevent it from being demolished. He has a wing with rooms for hikers, plus more upscale rooms for tourists to the area. He has a spectacular handlebar mustache and is something of a legend in the town of Narrows. Alan dropped us off at the trail head and we were off. Surprisingly the trail descended at first. I was concerned with sliding forward since I am not using boots, but things seemed to be ok.   The trail was pretty kind today, but it was HOT. I hope I can get my derri re up and out early tomorrow to avoid some of the heat. Right now I am at the Rice Field Shelter enjoying the view and a cup of tea. With this heat, I think I am going to begin carrying Propel to add to my water as an evening cocktail. A thru hiker named Mamba (sp?) was here for a bit; he looks so much like my son I did several double takes!!!!Once Grandbob arrives, it will be time for dinner and bed. My feet held up well!!! A really good first day. "I hope to repair certain important connections burned through by artificial speed, by in attentiveness. I walk, like everyone does, to see what lies ahead. I walk to remember." Paul Salopek
Date: 2015-06-17
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't get a great sleep last night. It seemed all of the water I drank yesterday needed to be eliminated. That was coupled with storms moving through and the usual first night sleeping issues. Even so, I woke up fairly well rested at 6. (St James, if you are reading this, I can prove it by my SPOT tracking!)Today was a mostly gentle terrain day. It was showering lightly when we hiked out. We miscalculated the distance to the next water source (in a good way) so I cameled up and hiked on. This was the only water for 7 miles which was a bit scary given the heat. We stopped for lunch with a view - but I forgot to take a photo. Grandbob has a pic of a butterfly that landed on me. I hiked most of the afternoon with Kamakaze. I heard her call out to me, but didn't hear what she said. She was letting me know there was a bear off to my left. I spooked it in walking by and never saw it. I thought about No Spring Chicken and her brother, PQRST, a lot today as we saw lots of flowers today: rhododendron, mountain laurel, Solomon's seal, wild roses, phlox, ghost pipes, fire pinks, Dianthus, and Spiderworts In the afternoon, we had one tough up, but the rest was fairly easy. We are sleeping tonight at the Pine Swamp Branch shelter. GrandBob's knee is in a lot of pain, which is pretty scary. My feet are holding up. All in all a good day for me, but hard for Grandbob. Note to all: there has been no cell service at this shelter and in some other spots. Don't be concerned about posting delays!"We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need ourselves already."J.K. Rowling
Date: 2015-06-18
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: WarSpur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I left fairly late this morning after having breakfast with Kamikaze. We heard some crashing about in the woods and she thought it might be a bear. GrandBob decided that he needed to get off the trail. He has a likely stress fracture. He was going to hike down to The Captain's and get a ride from there. The captain's house is across a stream with a zip line. He offers hikers the use of his yard for tenting. The trail was so beautiful near here as it ran parallel to the stream. We then crossed over a raised footbridge that was clearly marked and then... nothing. I didn't see a double blaze so I continued straight, but the trail felt different. I don't know...maybe it was the wide, flat needle covered surface? Or maybe the bench and lookout deck over the stream? Something told me that I wasn't in Kansas anymore! I didn't follow the pine-needled road very far, but doubled back and saw a considerate hiker had made an AT sign on the ground showing the right way. I really hadn't looked at the elevation changes today beyond the portion GrandBob would have to cover with his sore knee.   There was a shelter about 4 miles from Pine Swamp, so I thought I could be there by 10:30-11:00. Au contraire! It was up, up, up and it took forever. AWOL and Guthook had indicated lots of water, so I planned to fill up near the shelter. I went down a steep blue-blazed trail to, what appeared to be, a dry creek bed. So I went back up and got to the shelter. Kamikaze was there along with Jumanji and Crusty Goat. Apparently I just needed to go a bit further.   The trail was so rocky in spots that it made for a long day and I needed to take more breaks than usual. Thunder started off in the distance and I was hoping to be at the shelter before it hit. I got in around 6:30 and spent the night there with the same group from lunch. I was glad I didn't tent because the storms moved through overnight with a vengeance!"It always rains on tents. Rain storms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain and a tent. "Dave Barry