morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-12
From: Neel's Gap

To: Hogpen Gap
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Yesterday was taxing but made a great 7 mile day. The night before I stayed at Neel's Gap with a couple that were also hammock camping, and it was WINDY. My hammock was rocking slightly in the wind and I could feel the trees I was hanging from swaying. It was like being in washing machine on gentle without the water.Got up, had a mediocre shower and re-supplied at the Neel's Gap outfitter, then continued on. It was a big climbing day, but the real kicker was that there were no signs designating gaps and mountains.Allow me to explain. The guidebook includes a list of all waypoints for the entire trail (shelters, gaps, roads, towns) - you choose which point you are at, where you want to end the day and then you can use the points in between to tell how far you have gone every hour or two.Only without these signs, you are just walking and walking and are unsure exactly where you are or how far you have gone. I didn't discover until my 6th mile how far I was. Needless to say, once I hit the 7th mile I made camp for the night even though everyone else kept walking to the next shelter.Everyone is incredibly supportive and kind, and it's a real mix of people - guys in their 20s with a dog that have never hiked before, a couple that is hiking to North Carolina because they are moving there, guys in their 70s that just retired. I'm happy I'm doing it at this point in my life - not too old, and not too young.My right knee aches a bit so today I'm taking a shuttle to Helen, GA and spending a night at a local motel - also known as a "zero" day. Anything to stay on trail, as they say. I'm going to start 5 mile days again until they don't feel quite as exhausting, then build up.
Date: 2003-08-10
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Clarendon Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: light rain

Day 108This section of the AT is shared with the Long Trail, a 400-mile trail older than the Appalachian Trail. When the AT turns east into New Hampshire, the Long Trail continues north to the Canadian border. This is a busy piece of trail, with AT thru-hikers (NOBOs and SOBOs) and LT hikers.Last night, AT NOBOs Nooge and Tucker came into the shelter at 11 pm, having found the previous 2 shelters full. The only positive consequence of the 9 straight days of wet weather would be that day hikers might be staying home, and long distance hikers might be making more town stops and taking zero days.The rain is hard on my shoes and the feet inside them. I've lost 5 toenails; 4 from one foot. One of the remaining toenails is cracked and hurting today.I test the water at Little Rock Pond, and it's not that cold. Maybe this is my last chance to skinny-dip on this hike, so I strip down and jump in. Only feet from the trail, I know I'm risking an audience, but no one passes. Yesterday I was eating lunch at an excellently engineered and built Peru Peak shelter when a LT hiking couple passed by. He asked her to rate the shelter on a scale of 1-10. "Five" she says, glancing at it from 15 yards away. Maybe she mistook the question and was giving me a rating of 5, which would have been generous, but this shelter deserves better. Today I'm sitting at a parking area when the same couple comes thru, and meets an older couple in a car that has brought lunch. They pull out coolers and set up a picnic, not offering me a thing.It was raining and my toe was throbbing when I hit the road near Clarendon, so I wanted to bail out to a cheap motel. I went down the road and ate at the Whistle Stop and further down the road hiker Rain Crow came by in his car (more explanation below) and took me by a motel that I didn't take because it had no A/C or phone. Just as well - the rain stopped and I was feeling better so I hiked on to this shelter. A section hiker is the only other hiker here.Rain Crow's car hiking:Rain Crow will leave his car at a trail head, and hitch or catch a bus to another trail head a few days away. He hikes back to his car and repeats the process. He will hike either north or south on each segment, whichever is more convenient, but overall he is traveling north.
Date: 2013-05-14
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0

I posted a lot of pictures so far of my trip, hit the "Photos" link on the left and keep hitting the "next" button.My zero day continued here in Helen but I'll be back on trail by tomorrow morning. It's been a clean and relaxing day and a half and my knee feels much better. It's strange, some chronic aches and pains I have had while hiking before have completely disappeared on this trip while new ones pop up. Either way, I feel strong.It's been a full week on trail now, and it has now become my new reality - all my previous obligations and daily routines back in Jersey are now fading memories, and my mind is now focused on the next week of climbs and mileage.What I've learned in the past week:- Stop over-buying food (I made this mistake tonight at the country market and now have two weeks of food)- Its awesome to see the same people every day, but don't let it dictate your mileage - you will end up exhausted.- take breaks based on time, not miles. Big mistake there.- The hills will never end, just accept it. But after each one you are a little stronger.- You may find yourself camping completelu alone in dark Georgian woods late at night. Don't let your mind wander to any "Walking Dead" scenes.I also must say, Georgia is beautiful - it's like Vermont but below the Mason-Dixon Line.
Date: 2003-08-12
From: Rutland, VT

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Day 110In the summer in Florida there are thunderstorms on many afternoons. Usually they are strong but brief. This front we have been in every day in August is different. There have been few strong rains. Mostly it rains on the trees and drips on us. All day it is gray and humid. Every rock, branch, and leaf is wet. Where the trail is flat there is mud or standing water. When streams are nearby, they overflow and make the trail a stream too.This isn't whining, I'm just describing what the trail is like right now. Rain is the dominant feature. A hornet stung me again today.For the first time there was a stream that I couldn't rock-hop across. I waded through the shin-deep stream wearing my Waldies.A crowd of hikers is here. Wizard, Off, and 56 teach me to play Yahtzee. Also here: Katouri, Baby steps, Woods, Wildflower and others. 10 of us are in a shelter that would comfortably sleep 6. Still more are tenting nearby.Hiker Info:The Rosewood Inn (mile 1711.3) is no longer in business.
Date: 2013-05-17
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 7.0

Dear Staypuft,You idiot. You haven't been drinking enough water during your shelter stops and you felt it today - you almost passed out on the hike down into Unicoi Gap. Yes, I know you are sitting pretty now with 4 sodas and water, but next time don't assume you will find water on the trail unless its listed in the book. This is probably why you haven't been feeling great at the start of each day during the past week as well.Either way, you hit the 50 mile mark today! 1/44th of the trail done! And 15 pounds gone to boot, even after non-stop pasta, snickers and tuna. Yes, things are working out. But remember the lessons you have learned in the first two weeks:1. HYDRATE, especially during breaks and at shelters - drinking a lot during the hike each day is not even the bare minimum.2. Keep your shoes loose - normal tightness when you first start in the morning will become blood-pressure cuff tight within 2 hours.3. Start early, hiking by 7am. This will give you enough time to do 5-7 miles by noon, have lunch in the hammock, then do another few miles after. When you start mid/late morning it's too easy to call it a day by mid-afternoon. You might even reach a 10 mile day this week, you rapidly-shrinking bastard!4. Plan a weekly town visit but don't go nuts. Seriously. This is your second motel stay in a week. And you are being punished this time because there is a huge fast & furious car show in town, and you get to watch 10,000 chubby vin diesel wannabes trying to impress their girlfriends with their coffeecan muffler antics.Love,DaleP.S. ill write a new entry every 3 days or so, because writing every day will just be template "I'm tired but it's beautiful here."P.P.S. I smell really bad. Really bad. Really really bad.
Date: 2003-08-14
From: West Hartford, VT

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 112I'm in New Hampshire after an easy 10 miles from West Hartford to Hanover. The trail is through Hemlock and Birch forests. Vermont didn't get fair representation, since it rained every day I was in the state (except today). I am staying in the basement of the Phi Tao House on the Dartmouth campus, thanks to a tip from a SOBO hiker. The Panarchy House stopped taking in hikers.John, my host, thru-hiked last year. It is disappointing that no other hikers are here. John had even gone to another trailhead attempting to do trail magic and no hikers were around. It is so peculiar how hikers get distributed - either too many or very few.This was a good nero (near zero) day, I made some arrangements for the upcoming days, hit the P.O. and Co-op grocery store, and got some students to let me into a dorm to do laundry. It¢s in the wash right now while I write - guess where - in the basement. I've had a lot of basement time lately.
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Carter Shelter
Miles today: 30.0

The kindness and generosity of people on the AT continues to amaze me. Yesterday alone there were three instances: - An older gentleman who camped next to me that I chatted with for a while. When I woke up in the morning he was gone but left me free food and a very supportive note. (See photo)- An entire Boy Scout troop raced over when I managed to pull a rotten tree over that I hitched my hammock to. Kids not even 10 years old telling me my head looked fine and how glad they were that I was ok. Heartwarming. (Btw I'm fine, just got grazed by a branch as it fell. Lesson learned.)- A couple that was camping near me gave me some granola bars and candy and told me I would be in their prayers after hearing about my trip.I'm done with Georgia and am in North Carolina now! First State down! I left Hiawassee Friday morning after taking a zero at the Holiday inn and have hiked about 8-9 miles a day for the past three days. As soon as I crossed the border between Georgia and North Carolina the climbs got tougher. Literally, like 10 feet into the state it just went UP. Saturday was hard, but Sunday was relatively easy and flat. I'm so happy that I have finally started hitting 8 mile days without any pain or feeling like I'm dead at the end.Physically, I can feel myself getting in better shape. My legs just keep going and going. My head doesn't spin after a long, breathless climb. And I can recover from being winded in less than a minute and keep pushing forward. It's pretty gratifying, and probably due in part to the fact that I take an hourly 15 minute break, and eat like a pig for dinner. My hiker's hunger finally kicked in, and my cooking pot every evening is an orgy of starches, fats and random snack items that don't belong in a meal. Like tonight, mashed potatoes, spicy tuna with mixed nuts and raisins mixed in. Just the texture of this lumpy, calorie-packed sweet and salty hiker's gruel makes my mouth water.I have two more 8-mile days until I reach Franklin, NC and a hotel room, laundry and pizza. Hopefully getting there from the trailhead will be easier than getting into Hiawassee last week.Last week I decided to try my hand at hitch hiking and started to walk the 8 miles to Hiawassee with my thumb out. There were very few cars on the road and no one stopped, so I finally called the hiker hotel to see if I could get a shuttle. They said $15 and look out for a gray Ford F150.About 20 minutes later a 35 year old Ford F150 pulls up, piloted by a rather large Hillbilly. The truck had a large rubber skull hanging from the rearview mirror, was filled with takeout containers from the days of styrofoam, and smelled worse than I did.The driver's first question, did I was my window open? Uhm, hell yes. He instructed me on how to pick up the window, pull up the rubber doorstop holding it in place, then lower the window, jamming the doorstop back into place once I get it to the desired height. At one point he honked the horn by reaching near his feet and twisting something. No joke.
Date: 2003-08-15
From: Hanover, NH

To: Firewarden's Cabin (a shelter)
Miles today: 23.4
Weather: clear sky

Day 113Underneath the Hemlocks and Birch trees there is sparse undergrowth and many mushrooms. They are white, red, orange, yellow, blue, purple...all colors and shapes. They are as small as a pencil eraser and as big as a saucer. One thing I dawdled with today was getting pictures of the mushrooms. I must be getting slower, because I got here just before dark. I was too tired to cook, so I snacked on food John (from Phi Tao) gave me. I averaged 2 miles an hour on the day, and I didn't feel like I took too long or too many breaks. I saw Commander In Chief (also on TJ) on and off during the day.   The climb up Smarts Mountain was difficult, especially at the end of the day. On top of the mountain is a fire tower, and a rickety old fire warden¢s cabin, now serving as a shelter. I've seen 3 mice before getting in my sleeping bag. Viking, a NOBO from Germany, is the only other hiker here.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Carter Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

First, an announcement: my new trail name is "Jersey". Why? Because it's where I'm from, where I'm heading, and people seem to call me it once they find out where I'm from. Also, no one under 30 seems to get the Staypuft reference - some new college grad asked me if it mean I was a stoner. *facepalm*I finished up my last two days this week with about 8-9 miles each day, and I felt pretty good. At least until I got to Albert Mountain, which was a rock scramble to the top for the last quarter mile. Of course the other side was a gently-graded slope to the bottom which made up for it.Yesterday I practically ran the whole hike since I knew it was a town day - hotel! Pizza! No bugs flying into my throat! I did the 8 mile in 4.5 hours, which for me is pretty damn fast. I didn't take any hourly breaks though, and I felt it - by the time I got to Winding Stair Gap my feet were throbbing.Any pain was quickly forgotten though because I stumbled into my first bit of trail magic!! Someone left a cooler filled with ice, sodas, juices and snacks right at the trailhead for hikers (see photo). I helped myself to a cold coke and it was just the best I ever had.While drinking the soda I ran into a trail shuttle driver who was there to pick up a couple of hikers who had not arrived yet, so he kindly offered to drive me to Franklin, 10 miles down the road. An older retired gentleman, he told me a LOT of thru-hikers that started in March and April dropped out this year because the weather was so terrible. I'm so glad I started in May!He only charged me $10 for the ride and I got to my beloved pizza and hotel bed within an hour. Today it's re-supply, send some stuff home (extra clothing and cups), laundry and cleaning my camping kit. Then I'm off for another 5-6 day hike, and I should be in the Smokey Mountains soon.
Date: 2003-08-17
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Kinsman Notch (NH 112)
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: light rain

Day 115Today I entered the White Mountains, one of the most anticipated and difficult sections of the trail. The profile map for these mountains looks like the output from a Bill Clinton polygraph.All of my slack-packing miles today (again with Arrow's help) were on one mountain, Mt. Moosilauke. Headed up the mountain I saw a porcupine that climbed up a tree and clucked at me while I took his picture.The trail goes through a dense forest of pines, about 20 feet tall. As I go higher they shrink down to perfect little 3-foot tall Christmas trees. Then they disappear altogether and the AT is above treelike for the first time. It is cool up here and I question the wisdom of coming with only the clothes I'm wearing, shorts and a sleeveless shirt.Going down the north side of the mountain is the steepest, longest descent so far, following a waterfall much of the way. There are rebar handholds and wooden steps fastened to some of the boulders. It is slow and scary.At the bottom, Arrow, his mom and step dad grill more burgers and hotdogs. Hikers Duff and Ken and Marcia stop to chat and eat. Arrow drove me to North Woodstock, which is situated where I can return after hiking tomorrow.
Date: 2013-06-07
From: NOC

To: Fontana Dam/Lodge
Miles today: 30.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked out of the NOC and made it the 30 miles to Fontana in 2.5 days. First day was a 7 mile climb and felt great. Second day was a 12 mile mixed hike and I felt very strong - thought I was going to hit 15 miles but then the rains came halfway between shelters.So, I stopped at a gap and in the rain managed to put up my tarp and hammock and make dinner in the mud puddle at my feet - no fun. But I stayed dry in my hammock and finished the last miles yesterday into Fontana. I was wet and chaffed but knew I had a room waiting for me at Fontana lodge to dry off, do laundry and re-supply for the Smokies. It's really nice here, more of a full resort than a lodge. Lots of motorcyclists and families. I was nervous about the tropical storm coming up the coast, but apparently will pass me before I start out again tomorrow morning for 7 straight days going through the Smokies.I'm still not sure how exactly I am going to schedule the rest of my hike. I had my heart set on finishing the first leg in NJ, then flipping up to Maine to hike down through thanksgiving, but it would be at least Labor Day before I got to NJ and then up to Maine.So, I'm thinking of just stopping wherever I am August 1, spending a week back in NJ to see everyone, then flipping up to Maine and hiking down to wherever I left off at, which would be somewhere in West Virginia.One other option is to hike to NJ, then flip up to Vermont and hike back down, leaving New Hampshire and Maine for some other time. The fact that they are the toughest states might clinch this option for me.We'll see.
Date: 2003-08-18
From: Kinsman Notch (NH 112)

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: moderate rain

Day 116In the morning I saw something I haven't woke up to in weeks: sunlight. Bright at only 6 am. I didn't feel like getting up to hike. I was sore and worried that I was getting sick. I felt better after breakfast, and wanted to take advantage of what looked to be a beautiful day.I stayed at Cascade Lodge (an $18 dive) last night and will stay again tonight. There is a road from here that goes south to Kinsman Notch (my start point) and one that goes north to Franconia Notch (my end point). I left most of my gear in the room, and the owner Bill drove me to the trailhead, and at the end of the day I hitched a ride back. On the ride to the trail, these steep mountains looked wonderful with a backdrop of Windex-blue sky. It makes you want to be up there.Mt. Kinsman was the main feature of the day, and like yesterday it is a treacherous rock scramble down from the mountain. Unlike yesterday, it is also a rock scramble going up. Near the top a storm rolled in and soaked me.Well on the way down I saw a day-hiking family; mom, dad, an unwilling daughter in her pre-teens, and a reluctant dog. All had full packs on. Dad was dragging the dog on a leash and yelling at it for nearly causing him to fall on this dangerous slope. Daughter was asking if they could turn around. They said they were headed for a shelter I had passed on the other side of the mountain, and gauging by the time it took me, they would arrive about an hour after dark. They are irritated, dispirited and headed for a night hike on a wet trail on one of the most dangerous sections of the AT. Gotta wonder why people push themselves into these situations.
Date: 2013-06-14
From: Fontana Dam/Lodge

To: Fontana Dam/Lodge (again)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

So I ran into a medical issue my first real day in the Smokies.After the long hike up I felt great, made camp and went to sleep. When I awoke in the morning, however, I felt like a softball had been shoved into my intestines and left there just to jiggle around.It was quite painful - desperately call for help but no one was around painful. After deciding to hike back down the 7 miles to Fontana to seek help, I realized that my 40 pound pack was only going to decrease my chances of making it down. So after taking out my wallet and phone, I left everything in my hammock and started hiking down.The hike was long but I actually felt better , and once I reached the trailhead I got a ride from a very nice couple back to Fontana Lodge. From there I took an ambulance to Bryson City, where the ER diagnosed a kidney stone through a CT scan and urine test.The nurses were kind enough to ply me with water and coffee, and about 3 hours later, just 10 minutes before being discharged, I managed to pee out what appeared to bloody sand (You will never un-read that) and felt instantly better.I found my way to a very nice old motor lodge nearby and spent a day recovering and trying to figure out how to get my pack back, which I was very worried about as it was just sitting in the woods still unattended.I posted to Reddit and Whiteblaze.net, and got VERY lucky - one very kind trail angel by the name of John gave me a free ride for the 30 miles between Bryson City and Fontana, and two other angels (Dave and Marcy) hiked the 14 mile round trip and brought my pack back to me. All I can say in the face of all this kindness is that it will be paid forward.So I'm washing and cleaning today, and then tomorrow is the Smokies, take two.
Date: 2003-08-21
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Mizpah Hut
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

Day 119The first 5 miles out from Zealand Hut were excellent, easy and level so I was flying. From the right a bear and cub were also moving fast, on a collision course with me. We both retreated, but the dummy cub treed itself so mom had to come back and stand guard. This is nearly the same scenario I've had with all momma bears. So I can confirm what you probably already suspected - females of all species are more difficult to deal with.I walked the first 7.7 miles in 2 1/2 hours, and hitched a mile down the road to eat lunch at the Willey House. The remaining 6.4 miles took me 4 1/2 hours. That¢s how much difference the terrain makes.From Crawford Notch up to Mt. Jackson kicked my butt. About a dozen times the trail would dead end in a boulder 15 to 30 feet high. Oh, I'm supposed to go up here. They weren't completely vertical, so if I slipped I wouldn't free-fall. I'd bounce a few times before hitting bottom. I am surprised how much scrambling is required and wonder how blind Bill Irwin and 80-year-olds have managed to complete this trail.It was fun to do some of this, but I had to shorten my day, and fortunately the steepest bouldering was uphill. There were great views from Webster Cliffs back to the mountains I've been on, and from Mt. Jackson I could see ahead to the presidential range that I'm headed to tomorrow.Biscuit, Butter (SOBO), and I are doing work-for-stay again tonight.