morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-02-25
From: Springer mountain

To: Hawk Mountain shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Snowy, very cold start! When starting at Springer mountain, you must hike one mile in the wrong direction to get to the starting pointing at the top of springer mountain. I made it to the top, imposed on a fellow thru hiker to take some pictures of me, excitedly headed down the mountain full of myself. Halfway down I realized I had forgotten to sign the register located in a rock at the top of the mountain, turned around and headed back up the mountain, sheepishly told my plight to a fellow hiker coming down the mountain, no Choice but to tell her, she had talked to me at the top of springer, she laughed and said that's what happens when you get too excited. Reached the top again, signed the register, took some pictures for a married couple at the top of the mountain, and headed back down the mountain towards Maine with much more humility.
Date: 2016-02-26
From: Hawk Mountain shelter

To: gooch mountain shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

Arrived at hawk mountain shelter around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday February 25th and hung my shelter and hammock. To tired to cook, ate two poptarts for dinner. Wind howled all night and ice pellets fell on and off all night, cold as hell. Next day was beautiful, made it to gooch mountain shelter well after five, ate rehydrated beefish stew. New pocket rocket stove worked well. Decided to sleep in the three sided shelter, 28 degrees was the low tempature, I found if I put my Stetson hat over my face it helped keep my face warm. A pleasant surprise was that we had no mice problems that night. Shelters are overrun with mice, not unusual for hikers to wakeup and find a mouse sitting on their chest looking at them eye to eye. I guess it was to cold for them that night.
Date: 2016-02-27
From: gooch mountain shelter

To: Woody gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

I took my time today leaving the shelter, sore as can be, it Will take time to get into trail shape, more experienced hikers have been telling me the smart move is to take it slow at first to reduce the chance of injury, they say eventually you will work your way to big miles per day. I am heading to woody gap, where I can call wolfpen gap country store which has a hostel over top the store and try to get them to give me a ride to their hostel. I met a group of folks who were day hiking and we chatted for a few minutes, well, when I got to the parking lot at woody gap, those folks were waiting for me and offered me a ride to the hostel, a little trail magic, what wonderful and caring people. I am staying at the hostel tonight, had a great burger and French fries lots of sweet iced tea at the restaurant inside the store. Zero day tomorrow, let my body recover,
Date: 2016-02-29
From: Woods hole shelter

To: Woods hole shelter
Miles today: 7.4

Within first half mile today sprained both ankles at the the same time, now that's talent folks! Hiked 7 miles on swollen painful ankles, shortened trekking poles to act as canes. I camped with some hikers I had met on the trail that day, good guys. Around midnight hiker named rerun shows up and sets up his tent, next morning told us for part of the afternoon a bear had followup him at a distance on the trail. the area we had camped had been posted as a problem bear area. Oh well,adds to the excitement of the hike.
Date: 2016-03-01
From: Woods hole shelter

To: Neel gap
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: clear sky

I made it to the top of blood mountain, challenging climb but not nearly as tough as the over two mile descent to Neal Gap, scrambling over slippery rocks, lots of steep steps, and with two sprained ankles, made it down before rain started which would of made it much more slippery. When reaching the bottom of blood mountain, I checked in at mountain crossings outfitters hostel. They only let you stay one night, will need to find a place to stay for a few days to rest my injuries. Hostel is full, one woman was crying, home sick and missing her husband. Some vetrain hikers told her funny hiking tales, cheered her up. I am bunking next to orange who is a lawyer from Georgia, Frodo a former Florida game warden and a guy about 31.7 miles from finishing his 2190 mile north to south thru hike, he was in a very good mood to say the least. He Entertained all of us with his humorous wit. Another cold night, nice to be inside. A young former professional hockey player is thru hiking, his parents were visiting him and cooked all of us some delicious stew.
Date: 2016-03-02
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, young twenty something Frodo who I met at mountain crossings hostel, agreed to share the cost of a cabin at blood mountain cabins. The cabins are within easy walking distance of mountain crossings. Frodo (who really does look like Frodo) went ahead of me to blood mountain cabins to rent the cabin while I got something to eat at mountain crossings. While purchasing my food I meet coach who was looking for a place to take a zero day. So he agrees to stay with us cutting the cost even more. While inside the cabin coach spots a hiker he had befriended named goat gas walking down the hill, we invite goat gas to stay, now the cost is down to $18.50 a day. We spend the rest of the evening watching tv and Getting to know each other.
Date: 2016-03-03
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We hired a shuttle service to take us to the Engles grocery store in Blairsville Georgia. Our shuttle driver goes by the name, don't give a damn Sam, he was very funny and told us about the local lore. We resupplied for the trail and bought groceries for dinner. While traveling in the shuttle an unexpected snowstorm hit when we returned from town, we had 14 miles of snow covered winding mountain roads. Got pretty hairy, we passed one car that had slid off the road. Don't give a damn Sam did a great job of getting us home safely. We grilled steaks on the grill and drank beer. A fire in the fireplace and watched the men in black movie. Great conversation from all, a lot of fun.
Date: 2016-03-07
From: Neel gap

To: Whitley Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally back on the trail! The owners of Blood mountain cabins were very good to me, wonderful cabins, great stop for hikers or anyone who wants to get away from it all. Ankles still sore but not to bad. Made it to side trail for Whitley Gap Shelter and camped at campsite there. The side trail to shelter was 1.2 miles, to far for me. Met a hiker today who looked to be in his early fifties, bushy white hair, talked to himself constantly, a little scary. We talked briefly, friendly enough but something not quite right.
Date: 2016-03-09
From: Popular Stamp Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

Hard day, ankles still better, right ankle most sore, I decided to take two more zeros to give ankles more time to heal , staying at Holliday Inn express in Hiawassee Georgia. Hiawassee is 14 miles from the trail. I met to females hiking together, Deb and Claire, Debs husband John is supporting their hike meeting them at the end of the day in his pickup and take them back to their camper. They were kind enough to give me a ride to Hiawassee. Very kind folks! Hiking the trail is like, doing a stair master all day with a pack on your back, with a extremely uneven constantly changing surface.
Date: 2016-03-10
From: Unicom Gap

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Rest is doing my ankles some good, left ankle all but healed, right ankle taking longer but improving daily. Great hot breakfast served here, included with price of the room. I have decided to cut my pack weight, I will make some decisions tomorrow and mail to Virginia what I can live without. A lighter pack will help the ankles and make hiking more enjoyable. The pic I posted are fellow hikers who stayed in the same hostel I stayed in the night before we all started at Springer mountain. We were all getting ready to start up Springer. It's so much warmer now, thank goodness!
Date: 2016-03-11
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I mailed 14 pounds of my backpack contents back to Virginia, my pack is sooooo much lighter. Going stoveless, and sent hammock system to Virginia, as well as other things, I kept enough that I can hike safely but no frills left. I have a poncho I use when it rains that is designed to be used as a shelter, I will now be doing things similar to the hard core ultra light hikers do, I am still not as light as I could be, time will tell if I made the correct cuts, if not I can always bring the equipment back. The pic is my cabin mates leaving for the trail back on March 4th, I miss those guys, I hope they are doing well! I am back on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2016-03-12
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I Am back on the trail today. I Had Sam I don't give a Damn shuttle me to Unicoi Gap. There were two different trail magics going on at the Gap, I had a coke and a hotdog. Two retired air force veterans were giving the hotdogs and drinks away. I sat and talked to them for a while before hitting the trail. They both had been section hiking the AT for years and only had about 300 more miles left to do. Today they were just doing trail magic. The Hiking was much easier with my trimmed downed pack. I am spending the night at the Tray Mountain Shelter with three other hikers. This is a beautiful spot at night you can see the lights of the communities at the bottom of the mountain.
Date: 2016-03-13
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.4

When I arrived at Deep Gap Shelter today, I found Goat Gas was spending the night there! Goat Gas had been one of my cabin mates at Blood mountain cabins. We had a wonderful time catching up. Goat Gas tented and I stayed on the second floor of the shelter, no mice problems during the night. Goat Gas called Top of Georgia Hostel from the shelter and reserved two bunks for us, we will hike together tomorrow to Dickson Creek Gap.
Date: 2016-03-14
From: Deep Creek Shelter

To: Dickson Creek Gap
Miles today: 3.6

We arrived at Deep Creek Gap the moment the shuttle to the hostel arrived, perfect timing! When we arrived at the hostel we were given a free soft drink, we were given surgical scrubs to wear, while they washed our clothes for a five dollar fee. I went to dinner in town, taking advantage of the free shuttle provided by the hostel, not bad for $25.00 a day, plus a free pastry breakfast. The woman who makes the pastries used to make the pastries for Starbucks. This evening the owner of the hostel, trail name Sir Packs alot, did backpack shakedowns, for two of the guest, all the hostel guest watched the processes which teaches us what we can eliminate from our packs to avoid carrying unnecessary weight. Sir Packs alot is a triple crowner (he has hiked the AT, the PCT and CDT for a total yards 7800 miles) The young woman in the picture is from Germany.
Date: 2016-03-16
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The owner of Top of Georgia Hostel, Sir Packs Alot, is a triple crowner, meaning he as thru hiked the AT, PCT and the CDT, for a total of 7800 miles. He gives daily lectures on hiking. He champions the principle of you need to be your own best friend. Meaning to take care of yourself and not feel you are doing something wrong. He also teaches to not let small problems become big problems, Such as minor injuries. With all that in mind I have decided to stay here at Top of Georgia Hostel until Monday March 21st to give my ankles more rest and healing time. Ok, with that out of the way, the county this hostel is in is where they filmed the movie Deliverance. I have not heard any bangos yet but I am staying alert.
Date: 2016-03-18
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Staying at the hostel multiple days you have the opportunity to meet new and interesting people daily, hikers normally stay one night or day and are back on the trail. One hiker staying here is doing his second thru hike, trail name, right foot, in the real world he is a corporate pilot, he flies high rollers for casinos all over the world and US. The jet is capable of flying in excess of mach and cruises at a much higher altitude than commercial airlines. The plane could carry 16 passengers but is decked out for 8, making it roomy, it does have high end flight attendants as well. Very cool job! There were two teenage hikers here, a guy and a gal who are childhood friends. They both just graduated from high school and will be attending college in fall, both are from New York City. Both very sweet and charming. They are not dating but argued like an old married couple from New York City, it was like watching a movie, very funny and entertaining. Last night a guy who works at the hostel and a guest played guitars together, the guest had a great voice, both of the young men are very talented. Nice unexpected experience.
Date: 2016-03-21
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0

I was planning to hike out of here today but developed a major toothache over night. I was able to get a 9:30 AM appointment at a dentist in Hiawassee Georgia. I hired a shuttle to get me there, the dentist determined I needed a root canal. The closest dentist that could do the root canal was in Clarksville Georgia 45 minutes away. I was lucky enough to get an appointment the same day at 4:00 PM. I had the shuttle driver take me to Clarksville, I checked into a super 8, and then hired a cab to take me to the dentist office. It was discovered the tooth was cracked, so the tooth could not be saved. The dentist did a temporary root canal and then sealed it so when I get to Virginia I can have my dentist pull the tooth and start the process of a tooth implant, that will take me off the trail for a few days when they do the bone graft, then it take some months for that to heal, and then they can install the permanent implant. The good news is, I can hike while I wait for it to heal, so I can complete my thru hike!
Date: 2016-03-22
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My shuttle driver picked me up at my motel at ten this morning, the driver and her life partner moved to Georgia from Florida some years ago and started a shuttle business, they both are very grateful and happy people. Tonight a group of twenty something young men are teasing a 70 year old hiker they have been hiking with, his trail name is owl. Owl is from Maine, he has a great sense of humor. They told him that he is so old that they expect that one day he will be hiking and just turn to dust. I start hiking again tomorrow! Let's hope my tooth behaves all the way to Virginia.
Date: 2016-03-24
From: Campsite at mile 76.3

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I made it out of Georgia!! Now hiking in North Carolina. It started raining at the end of day, cold and very windy. When I arrived at the shelter it was packed with hikers, it was raining so hard and was so windy, I didn't even try to set up my tarp. I was so wet and cold I was worried about hypothermia. There was no place for me to sleep in the shelter, fortunately the shelter had an overhang with a dirt floor. I had to sleep there on the ground, I put my tarp over my sleeping bag. The wind blew the rain in on me all night. I pulled my tarp over my head, it was a long cold miserable night.
Date: 2016-03-25
From: Standing Indian Shelter

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

I am tired from my ordeal last night. There is plenty of room at the shelter tonight, thank goodness. There is a hiker staying here who is a biologist and she gave everyone staying at the shelter a lesson on lichens that grow on the trees. lichens are her main field of study. Her trail name is lichen PI. She is very passionate and loves to share her knowledge, everyone enjoyed her lecture, she even had a magnifying glass so we could see the details of the different lichens. There was a guy at the shelter with his dog which is some kind of pointer, the dogs name is huckleberry. Huckleberrys job is to clean his master's cook pot at the end of his master's dinner. Sort of like having a portable dishwasher.
Date: 2016-03-26
From: Carter Gap Shelter

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

The shelter I am staying at tonight was built in 2012 and is very nice. I have decided to have my hammock system mailed back to me, I can't always depend on sleeping at a shelter and my tarp is not suitable during high wind rainy nights plus I can hike right up to dark when I have my hammock system. It will be worth the extra weight.
Date: 2016-03-27
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: moderate rain

Made it to Winding Stair Gap which is the jumping off point to get to Franklin NC for a few zeros. After 40 miles of hiking with no break I need to rest the ankles. When I arrived at the parking lot, I ran across Jordan and John, a father and daughter team that are thru hiking. They are from New Hampshire. I have stayed at the same Hostel with them as well as at shelters. We decided to share a motel in Franklin, we were walking towards the road to hitchhike to Franklin when a lady pulled up in a van with Maine license plates. She offered to take us to Franklin! She is supporting her husband's thru hike, what a nice person. Once at the motel, we got showers, walked to a great Chinese restaurant, then returned to the room and watched TV. We enjoyed several episodes of impractical jokers. Tomorrow Jordan and John will go stay at a hostel. I enjoyed their company very much. I hope our paths cross again.
Date: 2016-03-31
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

My hammock shelter system is waiting for me 27.5miles up the trail. Possible dangerous thunderstorms tonight, because no guarantee of space in shelters, I am waiting storms out at motel. Great weather forecast next several days. My ankles are in much better shape due to zero days. Ready to get going.
Date: 2016-04-02
From: Silver bald shelter

To: Wayah bald shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: clear sky

I wanted to go further today but it's suppose to be in the twenties and 50 mph winds. So another short day, there was space in Wayah bald shelter so playing it safe and staying here. A gentleman staying here tonight is originally from Vietnam, his trail name is chicken foot.
Date: 2016-04-04
From: Zero day

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0

This is a very nice hostel! It is operated and owned by a British couple. The guest are a couple from Germany who are on a three year vacation, a gentleman from Wyoming, trail name Bighorn, a bartender from Wilmington NC named Bryan, a high school music teacher, trail name Quazzybird and a lady with her cocker spanial, she is from Alaska, trail name Trooper.
Date: 2016-04-05
From: Tellico Gap 6

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

It was great to slackpack today, slackpacking is when you hike without your pack, you just carry a small backpack ,a small amount of water and a small amount of food, maybe a jacket. Hiking was so easy not having nearly 30 pounds to carry. You leave your pack back at the hostel and they drive you up the trail and you walk back towards the hostel. Bryan, quazzybird, Bighorn and I had burgers and beers at a restaurant next to the Nantahala River. I'll be back sleeping in the woods tomorrow.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Cove Gap 
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I climbed out of Nantahala Outdoor Center which is a 5.8 mile climb, that's with 30 pounds on my back, I did a total of 10.4 miles, it rained most of the night and the wind howled.
Date: 2016-04-07
From: Locust Cove Gap 

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: light rain

I decided to do more slack packing. I called Creekside Paradise on the AT, which is a B&B less than two miles from the trail. They had a vacancy and they provide slackpacking transportation, they picked me up at Stecoah Gap. I am sharing a room with another hiker. A retired couple owns the B&B, the wife is a retired veterinarian and the husband is a retired airline mechanic. The have a redbone hound, black and Tan hound and a hunting breed dog called a black mouth curr, the dog has stripes. I will start slackpacking tomorrow.
Date: 2016-04-10
From: Fontana Dam Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

I entered the smokies today , 4.5 mile climb to start my day, 70 miles to get through the Smokies. You have to go from shelter to shelter which means some long hiking days and some short hiking days to make it through the Smokies in the eight nights your permit allows for.
Date: 2016-04-13
From: Silers Bald SHELTER

To: Clingmans Dome
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: broken clouds

I made it to Clingmans Dome the highest point on the AT. I met up with my friends, Cheshire and Nightingale. We decided to share a motel room in Gatlinburg, TN. We are ready for a zero day in what is called the Disneyland of the South. We are not quite halfway through the Smokies.
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Clingmans Dome

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We are enjoying Gatlinburg TN, we had dinner last night at the Smokey mountain brewery. Big Horn, Cheshire and Nightingale were there, more beer ,burger and French fries for me. Tonight we are going to the Mellow Mushroom. Our motel room is $45.00 a night, complete with roaches!
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Tri corner Knob Shelter

To: Cobsy Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

When I got to the shelter I could hardly walk, sharp pain in right ankle and I have to get out of the park tomorrow or be in violation of my permit. A huge bear has been circling the shelter, he was in the shelter earlier in the day according to another hiker. I will be in my hammock at the shelter, which is known as a bear burrito, I ain't scared of no bear, just as well cuz with this ankle I can't run. It's the story of my life, to slow to run so I have to stand and fight. I am envisioning the last scene in the movie Legends of the Fall " It was a good death."
Date: 2016-04-18
From: Cobsy Knob Shelter

To: Green Corner Rd
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

I woke up this morning and my ankle was still in bad shape, I was wondering what l was going to do , when Big Horn offered Me some Tylenol. Along with the ibuprofen, the pain was subdued. I could walk again! I made it out of the Smokies and then made it to Standing Bear Hostel, I have a room in the bunkhouse. I will be here for a few days trying to recover.
Date: 2016-04-23
From: Green Corner Rd

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: few clouds

The picture with this post are the repurposed hikers shoes in front of Standing Bear Hostel. I am back on the trail with plenty of Tylenol and ibuprofen, the ankle still hurts but somewhat better. I plan on making the approximate 33 miles to Hot Springs in 3 days. It was a hard day, 4.5 mile climb to start the day.