morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-10-09
From: Massie Gap

To: Massie Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well it poured overnight and the wind really blew. Glad to be out of tropical storm Nate. When we woke up the power in the room was out. The general store has backup generators, so Wi-Fi still worked. Trail Snail (TS) spent the better part of the morning on the phone trying to change her flight back to Germany. Dealing with phone menus and being on hold had her frustrated. At one point, she was on with a call center in India who had trouble with her accent. After she was all done, she said she had almost been ready to just fly back next week. It's kind of ironic that after six months on the trail, her hardest days have been dealing with civilization. TS gives the impression that it is much easier to get a real person on the phone for help in Germany.The weather cleared around noon, but it was too late to get started. We have to hike ten miles above 5,000 feet. We had pizzas for a late lunch and made plans for Dennis, the owner, to drop us off on the trail tomorrow at 7:30. Plan for tomorrow is to hike sixteen miles to the next shelter below 5,000 feet. That will be a long day. I expect a good portion of it to be on balds, open areas on top of the mountain. I hope two zero (rest) days make it easier. The weather forecast for tomorrow keeps bouncing around. Hopefully, the thunderstorms will stay away or at least wait until late in the day.
Date: 2017-10-10
From: Massie Gap

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We met Dennis at 7:30 for a ride back to the trail. The trail from the parking lot to the Appalachian Trail was 0.6 miles, and it doesn't count as AT miles. The ponies were out at Grayson Highlands again, without the crowds. It was peaceful and serene in the morning. We were as high as 5,400 feet and it was still warm and muggy. The balds, clearings on the tops of mountains, were quite the change in scenery. You could see for miles. The day kept going between sunny and cloudy. We were concerned about being caught on a bald in a thunderstorm but made it through.We stopped at Thomas Knob Shelter for a break and met a hiker, Scare Bear . His name is because his snoring can scare a bear. We're camped behind Lost Mountain Shelter, 3,400 feet, and Scare Bear came in as we were eating dinner (lasagna tonight!) and set up his tent not too far away. Hopefully, he isn't really that loud. In any case, we're on a mild thunderstorm so all you can hear is rain on the tent.This is my last night on the trail, bittersweet. Tomorrow it's about another sixteen miles into Damascus and a night in a hostel. Dolora picks me up on Thursday. I've enjoyed hiking with Trail Snail but she still has about 500 miles to go and expects to finish in the end of November. I'm ready to head home and catch up on the things that I've put off to hike. On the trail, you miss home. At home, you miss the trail.
Date: 2017-10-11
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Well fittingly it rained all night. I started this hiking season on the AT in April with rain. I'll finish in October with rain although the last couple of weeks have been dry except for the tropical storm, when we zeroed and last night.Wizard came in last night and tented nearby along with a hiker from North Carolina and Bear Scare. There was a family in the shelter, mother and father, soon and daughter, about eight or nine, and possibly an older sister, high school or college age. They were up by dawn, making a bunch of noise and left early.We were on the trail around eight. It was slippery because of the wet leaves. The morning was misty with a few short drizzles, making it warm and humid. We caught up the family after about four miles. They were taking a break at a pound. Even the children were carrying backpacks. We crossed over a mountain around noon and it was much drier on that side. Still hot and humid. We hiked on and near the Virginia Creeper Trail where we saw lots of bikes. The Creeper Trail is one of the rails to trails projects. Someone told Trail Snail that you can get a shuttle and ride your bike seventeen miles downhill. Too bad that wasn't seventeen miles of the AT! There was a short AT detour back on the Creeper Trail where a bridge was out. I don't think that shortened our day. It still left us with a 700 foot climb which wasn't too bad except for the temperature and humidity. Surprisingly, we saw a lot of hikers out today. We got into Damascus around four. The trail goes right through town. We were looking for someplace to eat and stopped at the three outfitters along the trail. Trail Snail needs new shoes. The place where we planned to eat was out of business. By then we were nearly at the Woodchuck hostel. Woodchuck, the owner, showed us around. The hostel is highly rated and full tonight. We decided that showers and laundry would wait, dinner was more important. The place everyone recommended for dinner is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The closest place was a Mexican restaurant called Hey Joe's, so Mexican it was. We stopped to pick up ice cream for tonight.Back to the hostel, laundry and showers, then ice cream. Should sleep good after back to back sixteen mile days. Looking forward to waffles for breakfast in the morning.Tomorrow, Trail Snail needs to get new shoes. Dolora should arrive around noon. We'll resupply Trail Snail and I'll head back home while she finishes her last 470 miles.
Date: 2017-11-05
From: Newfound Gap

To: Clingmans Dome
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dolora and I met Trail Snail on Friday at Newfound Gap in Smoky Mountain National Park. It was foggy and drizzling at altitude. Trail Snail was happy to see us and have a couple of days to relax. We had rented a cabin in Pigeon Forge (Near Dollyland!) for a couple of days. After a zero for Trail Snail on Saturday, she wanted to know if I wanted to slack pack from Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome on Sunday. We convinced Dolora to be our shuttle. Since I was not prepared to do any hiking, I wore my running shoes and didn't have my hiking poles. The trail was in nice condition but wet since most of the hike was in a heavy fog. I missed hiking poles on the downhills but since Clingmans Dome is the highest point on the trail at over 6,000 feet, there weren't lots of downhill.Hiking took about four hours and then we met Dolora. The park has been incredibly crowded for the weekend. Then it was off to Gatlinburg for lunch. Gatlinburg was even more crowded. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are really commercial. Think of the Ocean City boardwalk and multiply it by at least ten times.Trail Snail has "only" two hundred miles left to complete the trail at Springer Mountain in Georgia. She plans to take her time and finish at the end of the month as long as the weather doesn't get too cold. It was good to see her and we plan to head to Georgia and meet her again when she finishes.If you click on photos on the left, I've added a photo of Trail Snail celebrating 200 miles left and the view from Clingmans Dome.Trail Snail keeps a blog. It's in German but the Google Chrome browser seems to translate it for me. You can find it at: https://nic-unterwegs.tumblr.c...
Date: 2016-06-19
To: It is Decided...2017 SOBO!!!
Miles today: 0.0

Today is Father's Day and Vet (Caboose) and I have committed to our long dream of a through-hike starting June 1, 2017. We are excited to share this journey with friends and family. Those who know us, truly know how long we've dreamed of this adventure. With retirement only months away, preparing for the journey begins!
Date: 2016-06-20
To: Getting gear together...
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Okay, I KNOW it's almost a year away, but we're excited and wanted to start going through our gear to see what's going to make the cut. As much as I would love to get some shiny new gear, 95% of what we have has been tested and made the cut. Other than some new tent stakes and better bear hanging cord, it looks like we are going to be pretty good. We'll post a gear list soon.
Date: 2016-09-20
To: Change of plans
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Okay, after much deliberation, we've decided to head NOBO on March 8th instead of going SOBO in June. There were many reasons for this decision, but in the end, we are looking for a more traditional AT experience. Wow, that instantly gave us 3 fewer months to get everything ready...we better get to work.
Date: 2016-12-06
To: It's getting closer!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

The last couple of months has gone by so fast. We have done a bit of traveling...well, more than a bit with over 5,000 miles of driving in a month. But, it was so good to be able to spend time with family and friends. Caboose got to spend Thanksgiving with her sister and they enjoyed cooking a holiday dinner together for the first time ever. As I typed that, it sunk in how sad it is that two sisters who love each other so much have spent so little time together. Life gets in the way of really living all too often. I think that's partly why we are so excited to finally be on the verge of starting this amazing journey together. It's something we've waited a long time to do.In other news, we were accepted as bloggers for the class of 2017 on the website at Appalachian Trials, now known as The Trek. Here's a link to our first blog...feel free to chime in. :-)https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/thanksgiving-lessons/See you on the trail!
Date: 2017-01-16
To: What an awesome day!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Caboose and I had a fantastic hike on the Florida Trail from the Pruitt trailhead to Ross Prairie and back yesterday. It was a bit warmer than we're used to this time of year, almost 80 degrees, but under the canopy of oaks it was very nice.The gear is working out very well and the Zpacks packs were SUPER comfy! Caboose finally found shoes that fit right and her happiness over that shows in her photo. In other news, all of our mail drops (there's only 5 of them) are finished and ready to go. We're so excited, but there is so much to do around the house getting everything ready it seems like we'll never get it all checked off the list.50 days till we launch! :-)
Date: 2017-02-01
To: Big news
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, for those who know me, this will come as no surprise. After much discussion and searching for input from various sources, we have decided to move our departure date ahead from March 8th to February 26th. While I'm known for getting antsy before a trip, and usually end up leaving early, this was honestly for different reasons. Over the years since we began dreaming about a thru-hike, the trail has changed fairly dramatically. Back in the 1980's when this grand adventure first became a lifelong goal, there were a few hundred hikers every year. Now, a combination of greater population and increased awareness brought about largely by Hollywood has caused a relative explosion in thru-hiker numbers. Over the past couple weeks, as we looked at the ATC registration charts for 2017, it became apparent we would be looking at starts of over 50 hikers per day on average. Some days would actually be twice that number. Now, yes, I can be a bit unsociable...but for this experience one of my goals was to work on that. We want to share the experience with other hikers, just not to the point where it's hard to find a spot for your tent.So we decided to push it up just 10 days or so, which really moves us ahead of a large portion of the early "bubble". The weather isn't that much different from late February to early March anyway. Although Caboose is no huge fan of the cold, she's working on it. Yesterday we took advantage of a cold morning in central Florida and she kept a smile on her face as we left the trail head in 37 degree weather. It was an amazing hike and the gear is finally dialed in. We're ready...and as of this morning, this is the month. 25 days until we launch on the biggest challenge (other than raising four awesome daughters)we'll ever face!
Date: 2017-02-18
To: 1 Week To Go
Miles today: 0.0

The months have flown by and tomorrow morning we'll wake up with only 1 week to go until our grand adventure begins. We are both like kids waiting for Christmas...time is flying by, but we're ready to get started. It's been a very busy few weeks getting final details around the house taken care of, as well as visiting with friends and relatives. Caboose has been fighting a bad early allergy season with sky high pollen levels, but in a few days she shouldn't have to deal with that...not much pollen in the mountains this time of year.The final pack shake downs have been completed and with winter gear our base weights are in the 12-14 pound range. Once we send the winter gear home, our base weights should be close to, if not under, 10 pounds each. We've done all we can to get the gear weight down without sacrificing all creature comforts, now we just have to be safe, not get hurt, and stay motivated.Based on the long range forecasts, it's looking like a wetter and warmer than average spring...no rain, no pain, no Maine... :-)
Date: 2017-02-23
To: 3 days to go
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Well, we are leaving home in a few hours...only 3 days until we take that first step. We're so excited, so nervous, so filled with thanks to be able to do this! Months and months of preparation and waiting are now over. It's time to make good on our commitment to help each other succeed.But not just each other...We are going to support everyone, however we can, in their journey to Katahdin.See you on the trail... Lets do this!Engine & Caboose, GA>ME 2017
Date: 2017-02-25
To: One night to go.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Well, we checked in at Amicalola and we are going to be hikers 209 & 210 for the class of 2017. After paying for parking we took a quick look at the archway, but we won't step under it until early tomorrow morning. Until next time, thanks to everyone for your support! Engine & Caboose GA>ME 2017
Date: 2017-02-26
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Hawk Mtn Campsite.
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light snow

After years of waiting, the day finally arrived and we took our first steps on this odyssey. It was a beautiful day, if a bit cold...temps were in the mid to upper twenties most of the morning. Caboose did great though and overcame her personal kryptonite which happens to be the cold. We stopped at Springer and signed the register, got our photos, and continued on. After a stop to enjoy the views at Long Creek Falls we finished a 16.2 (only 7.4 on the AT) mile day at 2:45 in the afternoon. We met some really great people, including Big-O, Voodoo, Catnapper, Dicey, Popcorn, Grizz, Seven, Big-Dog, Sarge, among others.PS- It's a long hike to water on the Hawk Mtn campsite trail!
Date: 2017-02-27
From: Hawk Mtn Campsite.

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: clear sky

It was a cold rainy day with lots of wind. We pushed farther than planned and ended the day at Woods Hole Shelter after a long 20.5 miles with lots of elevation gain and loss. By the time it got dark we were squeezing 8 tired hikers into a shelter which was sized for about 5. Lots of good guys at the shelter. Thru-hikers are a good bunch.
Date: 2017-02-28
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We grabbed a cabin for 2 nights at Blood Mountain Cabins to get out of the forecast severe weather, which supposedly includes a high risk for tornadoes on the 1st. Not good for the masses planning to start tomorrow. A nero and a zero are probably good since my knee is not happy with the downhills right now. I've had this issue before, but with rest it gets better. We bought a new MSR Pocket Rocket stove to replace our old alcohol stove which really failed to meet expectations in the cold. Tonight we're relaxing in the cabin after getting our laundry done and having just enjoyed a bowl of potato soup with a delicious Frito topping. Tomorrow will be a zero day. Hope everyone stays safe out there!
Date: 2017-03-01
From: Neels Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We took a zero day to rest my knee and avoid the weather. It's been good to chill out in the cabin, reorganizing food and gear. We were very attentive to having enough food, but our appetites have not been able to keep up. So we donated some to the hiker box at Blood Mountain Cabins. Tomorrow we're back at it...
Date: 2017-03-02
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: few clouds

After a stormy night at Blood Mountain Cabins we got an early start and hiked with John Wick most of the day. John and I complained about the slave driver Caboose turned out to be...She crushed us all day. The weather was great, sunny and dry. Although it was cold and windy with wind chills in single digits much of the morning.It was very early when we got to Low Gap Shelter but we decided to stay and enjoy the company of a great group of hikers. A large crowd had stayed at Neels last night and everyone headed out today...So it's a full shelter and lots of tents.Gonna be a cold night...But we're having a great time!
Date: 2017-03-03
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: few clouds

Given the need to stay warm on a brutally windy and cold day, we kept moving all day except for a couple short breaks to get water. When we got to Tray Mountain shelter it was still early afternoon and we decided to push on for a while longer. By the time we reach Sassafras Gap we were both done for the day after 20 miles and over 5,000' of climbing.After a quick dinner we dove into our tent to get out of the wind and plumiting temps. The quilts were tested by temperatures in the low 20's, but we slept well. It was a good day to be a thru-hiker.
Date: 2017-03-04
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

After a cold night we were treated to a glorious sunrise! Caboose and took a few minutes to enjoy the feelings viewing a wonderful sunrise can bring, then we packed up and pushed hard to make the 11am shuttle in Dick's Creek Gap. Let me say, the climb out of Addis Gap is on well graded trail, but it goes straight up for about 800'. In my opinion, the hardest climb since Amicalola...We made the gap by 10:15 and proceeded to spend a wonderful 30 minutes basking in the sun. We were actually warm for the first time in days. While waiting a very nice couple, Don and Donna, pulled up and shared some trail magic in form of chocolate covered almonds. It was so tasty! By 11:25 no shuttle showed up so I called the Budget Inn and found out the times listed are for departure from the motel, not arrival at the gap. Just as we were getting ready to enjoy a burger provided by a group of trail angels, the shuttle arrived and we had to head out. No harm though, we ate a LOT in town and now we're relaxing after having resupplied for the push to the NOC. Until next time, Keep on keeping on!
Date: 2017-03-05
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

After a restful night at the Budget Inn coupled with lots of tasty chow, we hit Dicks Creek Gap at 9:50 and started our day. Caboose and I started the long day with Acorn and John Wick. We all must have been sensing the North Carolina border, we flew up the mountain! After celebrating with a quick lunch and a few photos, the four of us, with The Captain in tow, started up Trey mountain. That was a climb...Ughhhh. But we enjoyed our day in glorious weather. In fact, at one point I became choked up when looking at a view on top of a non-descript mountain. Caboose and I enjoyed the tunes on our ipods and celebrated our best day yet!
Date: 2017-03-06
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

This was the kind of day that tries the patience of a long distance hiker. The wet rainy fog and biting cold that cuts to the core were trying. Given the rotten weather, it was an all day race to reach the next shelter to get a spot out of the weather. After getting to the shelter, we had a great night with new friends though. Ginger Snap and Rash received their trail names, and we decided John Wick should be changed to Early Bird. He's up and out of the shelter at least 30 minutes before everyone else and he would arrive before everyone if his navigational skills were a little better. You see, sometimes in the fog a white blaze is hard to spot...
Date: 2017-03-07
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

100 miles! We got an early start out of Carter Gap and decided to push on to Winding Stair Gap, so we could grab a room in Franklin. After a few days of rain and cold, a warm room was just what we needed. On the way we took a moment to celebrate the one-hundred mile mark under the fire tower on Mount Albert. The climb up Albert was a scramble in the rain, but Caboose powered up and we gained the top.Well, word quickly spread of our plans and before you know it, we had 5 tired wet hikers headed into town to share a room.We called and reserved a room at the Budget Inn in Franklin while hiking. Acorn, Ginger Snap, and T-rex joined us in sharing a room together. We grabbed a shuttle into town and pigged out at the Chinese buffet. The rest of the evening was spent enjoying each other's company before bed.
Date: 2017-03-08
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

In order to get Caboose feeling better, we rested her foot. A specialist advised more supportive footwear and lower mileage. We enjoyed the day with Acorn, Early Bird, The Captain, MGD, Hummingbird, and Ginger Snap. After getting her mail drop, Ginger Snap got a shuttle with Spoons back to the trail.She hiked over 8 miles in the dark to a campsite below Wayah Bald.
Date: 2017-03-09
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Back at it this morning after a great meal the night before at the Lazy Hiker Brewery. We got to the trail at 9:50 this morning and took our time getting to Wayah Bald Shelter. It was a great day for a hike! Sunny all day and it warmed up nicely by early afternoon. Caboose and I were saddened to see the damage to the tower on Wayah Bald. We had been excited to see the tower again after having enjoyed a morning there with Righteous in the fall of 2013.We moved on to the shelter and enjoyed an evening with friends. Caboose even enjoyed the mashed potatoes with bacon bits for dinner. Cold weather in the forecast, going to be a challenge.
Date: 2017-03-10
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: N.O.C.
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

It was an interesting night at the shelter. T-Rex was bitten on the ear by a mouse and we endured a loud thunderstorm around 1 am. We told each other we would take it easy for awhile...That lasted precisely 1 day. After hiking 10 miles to the Wesser Bald and enjoying a great view from the tower, we headed to the Shelter. After a great lunch thanks to donated food from Ginger Snap and Acorn, Caboose and I decided to go on to the next shelter. We headed down the long drop into the valley and we reached the Rufus Morgan Shelter completely fried.Within 10 minutes we had reserved a room in the bunkhouse and were back on the trail for 1 last mile into the NOC. After climbing approximately 500,000 steps up to the bunk room, we changed and went back to the river for a delicious burger and beer.Tomorrow we climb out of the NOC and we're planning a short day to the first shelter. After a good breakfast...