morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-25
From: Mt Katahdin

To: Greensboro, Georgia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

After completing Mt Katahdin on August 23rd, I had a relaxing day on the 24th. Breakfast at the Applachain Trail Cafe to start the day. We went on a float plane ride that took us by Katahdin, the new national forest and some of the previously hiked trails. We saw one Moose in one of the lakes. A lot of fun. We then went to the River Drivers restaurant on the water near Twin Pine Cabins for lunch; a great place with a view of Katahdin. Thursday, Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul & Mary! Flew to New York to Atlanta. When we arrived in the ATL we were met by my 2 sons, Vince & Chan and Kari, Parks and Reeves (Vince's wife and kids). We had a celebratory dinner with drinks at the airport. It was a great surprise for them to show up to meet me! And finally, the Highway 20 Ride by Zac Brown; we arrived home in Greensboro around 11:00 pm! Friday, got up and started packing to head to the beach Saturday for a week; North Myrtle Beach! I have enjoyed playing golf, body surfing and sitting on the beach; deep sea fishing planned for Thursday. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem by Kenny Chesney!
Date: 2015-11-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I guess it really all began when I was a kid. Long before I ever heard of the Appalachian Trail, I loved the woods...I always felt a strange sense of peace and belonging. Climbing trees, making forts, and pretending to be on some great adventure are some of the best memories of my childhood. About 16 years ago, I read A Walk in the Woods and was introduced to the A.T. for the first time. I've been hooked ever since. I have longed to have the opportunity to complete a thru-hike, but wondered if the circumstances of life would ever allow it. On October 28, 2015, with a simple text from my dad, my dream started to become a reality. "I'm in," is all he had to say. The "Negotiator" and I are planning to start on April 1, 2016. It is hard to contain how excited I am, but the planning is helping to channel some of that energy. Dreams really do come true!On cloud 9,
Date: 2015-12-06
To: Getting Ready!
Miles today: 0.0

Who knew trail gear took so long to research and decide upon? Negotiator and I have been reading all we can to make the best decisions with regards to gear. We were able to purchase all of the "big 4" (tent, sleeping bag, pack, and shoes) last week online thanks to Black Friday/Christmas sales. We are heading to the famous A.T. outfitter, Mountain Crossings, at Neel Gap today to purchase the remaining items and to get some much needed wisdom and advice from the staff there which are all thru-hikers. I have tons of questions for them. I can't believe we only have 117 more days until we begin!Still on cloud 9,
Date: 2015-12-06
To: Gear List is Almost Complete
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Thanks to the Negotiator and the knowledgeable staff at Mountain Crossings, our gear list is almost complete. It was a beautiful drive to Blairsville and Zack "Blueyes" Finney was such a phenomenal help in giving advice and helping with choosing exactly what we needed. Now to focus on the best way to pack and what we'll be eating...I'm a pescatarian so it'll be a little more challenging than for most. Beside myself with excitement...
Date: 2015-12-15
To: Hard Day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

One has to expect that most everyone will never understand your reasons for wanting to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Sometimes, even listening to yourself sounds a bit unconvincing. However, that unexplainable yearning will not silence itself in my heart, even after having someone I look up to and admire offer no real interest or support, only focusing on the complications of this desire I've had for almost 16 years. I cannot lie, their response saddened me, but more than anything it solidified the peace God has given me about pursuing my dream. "The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
Date: 2016-02-06
To: 1st Prep Hike w/Negotiator
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Negotiator and I, along w/my good friend, Lisa, went on an 8.6 prep hike today at Pine Mountain, GA. When we stopped for lunch, we used our pocket rocket stove for the first time. We cooked up a couple of Mary Janes Farm organic vegetarian meals and they were great! It was a beautiful day and my pack felt heavy, but comfortable. Still loving my Salomon's and looking forward to our 3 day, 2 night hike in a couple of weeks.
Date: 2016-02-18
To: Pine Mountain Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Negotiator and I went on a 3 day/2 night practice hike at FDR State Park and covered the 23 mile trail out and back for a total of 46 miles. My toes were squealing by the end so I'm going to get some SuperFeet insoles to try. Overall, it was a great prep hike...all of our gear worked well and the scenery was beautiful!
Date: 2016-03-20
To: Last Prep Hike!
Miles today: 0.0

Today I got to see Negotiator's training ground at Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham, AL. We hiked the yellow trail out and back for a total of 12.6 miles. Dogwoods are my favorite tree, and I got to see several starting to bloom. My new insoles are working great...my toes feel so much better. I think we're ready!
Date: 2016-03-25
To: Feeling Loved!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

You always see quotes about how teachers impact students' lives....well I'm here to tell you, my life was impacted tenfold in the outpouring of love, support, and encouragement I received today. Hugs were bountiful, tears flowed, and touching cards, gifts, and letters of encouragement to open for every week I'm on the trail were received. I am overcome with emotion to say the least, and so very thankful to have the privilege to be a teacher!
Date: 2016-03-31
To: One More Day!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I am just about 24 hours away from realizing a 16-year old dream. Excitement and anticipation don't quite fully describe how I feel! What I know for sure is that this is the "literal" path God has made way for me to take, and I will be forever grateful to Bill and the boys, Dad (without his willingness to go this wouldn't be possible!) Barbara, my Central Christian family (for letting me take a leave of absence), and all my family and friends for the encouragement and support these past 5 months! Please don't stop dreaming because sometimes, dreams really do come true!
Date: 2016-03-31
To: Thru-hike Eve
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My nerves are starting to kick in. I'm completely at peace about the thru-hike, but sure will miss my family! We had a great evening at Amicalola Falls Lodge together. I'm so thankful to have such an encouraging and supportive hubby! My boys have been amazing, too! Not thinking I'm going to be getting much sleep tonight...
Date: 2016-04-01
From: Amicalola Lodge

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 15.3

What an awesome first day! We had some special trail magic thanks to my friend Lisa when we got to Springer Mtn., the actual start of the A.T., and also at about mile 6 thanks to the North Georgia Hiking Club. We hiked a total of 15.3 miles to Hawk Mtn. Shelter. We met several other thru-hikers and all were really nice. Looking forward to getting to Woody Gap tomorrow night to spend the night at the Rector family's cabin (one of my student's parents)...what a treat!
Date: 2016-04-02
From: Mount Katahdin

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 2 started off great. We had rain last night, but our gear held up well, and the strong winds dried everything off before we had to pack up and head out. We tented next to a sweet young girl named Summer who is from PA. The hike today was tough in the morning. Sassafras and Justus were challenging mountains, but the hike from Justus to Gooch Mtn. was pretty pleasant winding around a beautiful creek for a few miles. We had lunch there w/a fun group of young guys we had played leap frog with all day that were laid off last November. We finished our day by hiking to Woody Gap for a total of 13 miles. There, we had some more trail magic and met one of my student's parents, Tom Rector, who along w/his wife Paula, invited us to stay at their beautiful cabin that is on the Trail. We had 5 Star accommodations in a gorgeous setting! As if that wasn't enough, Tom cooked us a gourmet meal of grilled lemon pepper salmon, cheesy rice, veggies, salad, and sourdough bread. Tom is an AT section hiker, so he had lots of great information and advice to share. We ended the evening with some amazing brownies that definitely were the perfect ending to a wonderful day on the Trail. ??
Date: 2016-04-03
From: Mount Katahdin

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 3 - We headed out of Woody Gap well rested and clean. Preaching Rock had some beautiful views in the early morning. We had Blood Mountain in our sights and reached the summit around 1:30 pm. The views were amazing! After our hike down, the famous Mountain Crossings was waiting for us with frozen pizza and Diet Coke. We decided to stay at the hostel, because it's one of the "musts" to do on the Trail. We had a great time with Teradactyl, Seadog, Rucker, Golden, Fargone, Daniel, Lobster, and Walmart. Didn't sleep so well though as the symphony of snoring was quite out of control. ??
Date: 2016-04-04
From: Neel Gap

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 4 - Got an early start at around 7:30 am and it was a good thing because we had Levelland, Cowrock, and Poor Mountains to cross in addition to Sheep Rock Top. We had a great view off Cowrock while eating our snack. We stopped at Low Gap Shelter for water after 11 1/2 miles and because it was only 1:30, we decided to keep going...and going we did...a total of 18.8 miles...I thought I killed my dad on day 4. I have to say it was both our ideas to keep going, but I did think the next shelter was only 5 miles, not 7. We hobbled into Blue Mountain Shelter and hunkered down for a windy, cold night.
Date: 2016-04-05
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 5 - We woke to the most beautiful sunrise and the realization that we survived the night after our marathon hike yesterday. Later in the day I realized I am no longer human, I am now a mountain goat. I also realized something else today while hiking over Rocky Mountain (GA not TN) and Tray Mountain...mountains have friends and they are called knobs. I hate knobs. For some reason they are usually nestled on both sides of their friend Mountain, but the builders of the AT decided it was best to just go straight up them instead of nice switchbacks like those of the mountains. In fact, I wrote a poem to communicate just how much I don't like them:Knobs are sneaky, knobs are bad.Beware of them or you'll be sad. There's always another, on that you can bet, I haven't found one that I've liked yet. There are the views and the crest, but going down them is the best.Despite the knobs, we had another high mileage day of 15.5, I saw my first butterfly, walked through the most beautiful rhododendron grove, and heard my first owl conversation while drifting off to sleep.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 6 - Cardinal Rule #1 when it comes to food on the Trail - never leave food or wrappers in your tent or pack. I left trail mix in my pack, and thus, had a little friend visit me. ?? Fortunately, it only chewed a hole in the pocket on my hip belt and not my actual pack and somehow got in w/o chewing a hole in my tent. We hiked 3.6 miles to Dick's Creek Gap and got a ride to Top of Georgia Hostel to get our 2nd maildrop, do laundry, and take a shower. Veggie pizza and ginger ale made for a great lunch. Afterwards, we got back on the Trail and hiked another 4.5 miles to Plumorchard Gap Shelter. We tented near the shelter and talked to a really nice hiker named Rainbow Express that had hiked the Trail in 1980 and had returned to hike it w/his son. We also met Ladybug and 'A Jude...two nice ladies from FL. We had thunderstorms overnight, but our tents held up well and kept us dry. Getting excited about having one state down tomorrow. NC...here we come!
Date: 2016-04-07
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 12.2

Day 7 - One state down, 13 to go! We made it to NC pretty early and she welcomed us w/gale force winds and an almost vertical 900' hike up Couthouse Bald. We hiked a total of 12.2 miles to Standing Indian Shelter and had to practically run the last mile because it began sleeting really hard and we decided to try and get a spot inside the shelter since the weather report was calling for more heavy winds/sleet through the night. Thankfully, we did get a spot and met some other really nice thru-hikers...Mike and Stephanie from Milwaukee and Bunyan from Mercer, PA. Rucker, who we met at Mountain Crossings was also there and we were really glad to see her again. The weather was so bad, we all fixed dinner as fast as we could and got in our sleeping bags around 6. The shelter had a tin roof and it was downright comical at times how loud the sleet and wind were. Dad raised up out of his sleep at one point and said, "I think we made a wrong turn and went to Alaska!"
Date: 2016-04-08
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 8 - Well we aren't in Alaska, but we did wake up to the most beautiful snowfall! The hike up and over Standing Indian was breathtaking and reminded me of visiting Santa in a "winter wonderland" as a child. It was our highest summit yet at 5435'. We hiked a total of 16.2 miles, which were relatively pleasant until we reached Albert Mountain fire tower. It was a very SCARY near vertical rock climb to the top where I found myself throwing my poles up ahead several times and crawling on my hands and knees up the wet muddy rocks. Negotiator and I both made it safely and had a spectacular view from the top. We stayed at Long Branch Shelter, which was a very nice double-decker. Rucker and Bunyan were both there so we all shared the loft. Bunyan and Negotiator made a nice fire we all enjoyed before heading to bed to weather another cold windy night.
Date: 2016-04-09
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

Day 9 - We woke to another cold windy day, but Franklin, NC was in our sights and only 7.3 miles away. We got to Winding Stair Gap on US 64 around 11:30 to meet our own personal trail angel, one Lisa Coley, but there were a whole bunch of others, too, from Connecting Point Church in Athens, GA. The fire they had built felt wonderful and we enjoyed some Sprite and Pringles as we chatted w/the angels and other hikers. Lisa treated us to an awesome Mexican feast and then took us to Walmart for a few things we needed. She also provided clothes and pjs for us to wear while washing our clothes and some additional toiletries so we could feel "normal" for a day...needless to say, once we reached the hotel and showered, we felt grateful and were so appreciative of her thoughtfulness. Later in the afternoon, we went through our packs, dried out our tents, washed clothes, and, of course, watched the Masters. ?? For dinner we decided to go to a local place called Mulligan's because we figured we could continue watching golf. We had to call a "shuttle" and that proved to be quite interesting. Our driver was an elderly gentleman who was adorable. He was in a 4-door Jeep and gave us lots of info about the area. He also had section hiked the entire AT back in the 70's. He agreed to pick us up after dinner and that's when the fun began. Now, being elderly, he did a great job of driving slow and watching carefully, however, about 2 mins into the ride home he took a turn at a red light and here was the conversation: Driver - "Hey, am I okay over here?" Me - "No sir, we are on the wrong side of the road and there is traffic coming straight toward us." Driver - "Oh, oh, that's okay...we'll just do this..." And we drove right over the concrete median in that Jeep and just like that, we were safely on our way home again. ?? (And we thought the Trail could be dangerous. ??) Not sure if the mountain air has effected our judgment, but we asked the same driver to pick us up in the morning to take us back to the the Trail. Overall, we had a wonderful afternoon/evening in Franklin and I sure am looking forward to sleeping in this bleach smelling, 4 pillowed hotel bed!
Date: 2016-04-10
From: Franklin, NC

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 11.0

Day 10 - Our adorable driver got us safely to Winding Stair Gap to begin our day. Because we didn't start until around 10, we decided to only try and get to Wayah Bald Shelter which was an 11 mile hike. We got to see our first two "balds"...Siler Bald which was just a grassy hill and Wayah Bald which was nothing short of phenomenal. The Trail up to Wayah Bald took us on our first (other than crossing a road) paved part of the Trail. The views were simply breathtaking.
Date: 2016-04-11
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 11 - Well that was quite the sleepless night. ?? Our shelter had mice and our other shelter mates were not the most considerate. Consequently, we got up at 5:30 am to get ready for our 16.5 mile hike to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). It was a tough hiking day, but as we descended down towards the NOC, I saw my first blooming Dogwood tree w/an AT blaze just before it. ?? We also saw another previous thru-hiker, forty-sixer, who we've seen almost every day on the Trail going southbound because he is supporting his wife, forty-sixer-2, on her first thru-hike. He is 73 yrs old, from Vermont, uses no poles, and moves like the wind! And such a nice man! We enjoyed a good meal at River's End Restaurant and were glad the storm held off until after dark.
Date: 2016-04-12
From: NOC

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

Day 12 - The rain subsided around 10, so we headed out for our toughest opponent yet, Cheoah Bald, around 10:30. We had decided to stop at Sassafras Gap Shelter because of our late start, but we were feeling good and got there around 2:30, so we decided to just get it on over with and hike to Locust Cove Gap. The summit was difficult and unfortunately there were no views because of the looming clouds, but we at least got a photo by the sign. ?? We made it into camp about 5 pm and met some really nice section hikers from Greensboro, NC...an ER nurse, a trauma flight nurse, and a pharmacist...we were feeling mighty safe for once. I was VERY happy to be back in my humble abode...my good ol' Big Agnes. ??
Date: 2016-04-13
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 13 - Great Smoky Mountains, here we come!!!!! Negotiator and I both woke w/much anticipation about our destination today...Fontana Dam...the southern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We had a difficult 17 miles before us, but we were excited about the milestone. Along the way, we met Jane Owl, an avid hoop girl, her boyfriend Yoshi, and Burly from Lafayette, IN. We got to Fontana Village around 5 pm and neither one of us had cell svc to call a shuttle. Dad decided to try his hand...uh, thumb, at hitchhiking, but thankfully another hiker had already called a shuttle that was happy to take us to the lodge to get our next mail drop. We enjoyed some fried green tomatoes and pasta and got a nice hot shower. I'm excited to begin our journey thru the Smokies tomorrow!
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 65.2
Weather: clear sky

Days 14-18 - Great Smoky Mountains...you now have my utmost respect. Folks...it's been a hard 5 days. For us, it was difficult physically and mentally, coupled w/the fact we had no cell svc to be able to whine to our loved ones . On our first day, we got a late start because of laundry duty, so we only went 7.4 miles, but felt pretty cool walking across Fontana Dam. We camped at Birch Spring Gap and met a really nice hiker named Lucky. Day 15 is when the difficulties began. Because we had low mileage on Thurs., we decided to hike 17.2 miles to Derrick Knob Shelter...big mistake. Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mtn. were tough and there were 5 knobs ( waiting for us after that. Day 16 was better...we hiked 13.5 miles and made it over Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT at 6667'. We stayed the night at the beautiful Mt. Collins Shelter and met Older Dog who attempted a thru-hike last year and had lots of great tips. Day 17 we hiked 14.5 miles to Pecks Corner and got to see the famous Charlie's Bunion. Day 18 we hiked 12.6 miles to Cosby Knob Shelter where we ran into Papa Bear and Easy Tiger from Austin who are a father/son pair who actually had taken our picture for us on Cheoah Bald. The beauty kept us going...pictures just can never do it justice. In addition to the majestic mountain views, we saw spruces and firs, gorgeous wild flowers, and felt many times like we were walking through an enchanted forest in a storybook. However, we did see two snakes, but they scurried out of the way pretty quickly and it made me really happy that Negotiator leads the way on the Trail everyday!
Date: 2016-04-19
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 19 - We officially exited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park today. It was beautiful to see the abundance of trees and flowers blooming as we hiked down into lower elevations. After 5 days out, we decided to stop at Standing Bear Hostel so we could shower and resupply our food for the 3 day hike to Hot Springs, NC. The staff was very nice, but it was quite a peculiar experience. I love that everything is on the honor system. You just write down what you buy and pay in an envelope when you leave...pretty crazy. We met several interesting hikers, too...Shawnagan, Sinatra, Nubs, and Seven. Papa Bear, Easy Tiger, and Tom (a great guy we met a couple of days ago) were also tenting there. It was a fun, relaxing evening chatting by the fire.
Date: 2016-04-20
From: Standing Bear Hostel

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

Day 20 - Shawnagan took us back to the Trail this morning and we headed toward Groundhog Creek Shelter. It was a long upward climb to Snowbird Mountain and when we reached the top we found this FAA tower that looked like a spaceship atop the grassy bald. Dad built a great fire and there were only a couple of other people tenting so it was a nice quiet night. Bill is meeting us in Hot Springs in a couple of days where we are going to take our first zero day. I can't wait!
Date: 2016-04-21
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 23.0

Day 21 - Max Patch is one of the most famous summits on the Trail. It was cleared for cattle years ago and is now maintained as a bald. Being in a pasture on the top of a mountain was pretty cool. I felt a bit like Maria in The Sound of Music w/o the snow caps in the background. We had a marathon day of 23 miles and made it to Deer Park Shelter for the night. We woofed down our Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and went to bed dreaming of hiking into Hot Springs the next day.