morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2021-08-15
From: Abol Bridge Campground 

To: The Birches 
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

I couldn¢t have asked for a more perfect day for staging myself at the base of Mt Katahdin. Our hike from Abol Bridge was, for me, probably the most beautiful of the entire AT. Not in offering breathtaking views or epic summits, but for the way it perfectly captured the eastern woods. Underfoot was mostly soft pine needles, the grade mostly level, the roots and rocks kept to a minimum. The air was cool and dry with a soothing breeze. We walked along the Nesowadnehunk Stream for miles with its cascading waters.Our goal for today was to secure a spot at The Birches campsite, reserved for use by up to 12 long-distance hikers. As we understood it, the way to do so is to sign up for one of these coveted spots at a kiosk just inside the Baxter State Park boundary just a few tenths from our start. Last year Gayle left Abol Bridge early, just after 4:00, and sure enough, she signed in as number one. So this morning we left at the more reasonable hour of 5:30 and as we approached we saw three hikers sitting on the small bench under the kiosk with a fourth sitting nearby. I told them they looked like they were waiting for the bus to the summit. It turns out they were waiting for the ranger to arrive at 7:00 with the sign-up sheet. Amazingly, two of them had been waiting since 3:15. (Dan-here might be a legitimate use of an exclamation point.) Gayle¢s rangerless experience last year may have been due to the pandemic. Gayle and I were numbers five and six. Another six came a little while later. We had an hour and a quarter to wait, but conversations were fun and the time sped by. The ranger arrived with the sheet 15 minutes early, we signed in, filled out our cards, and set off for The Birches.We made the easy ten miles by 11:30. Gayle snagged the exact same spot as last year and I set up beside the small lean-to. Afterwards we headed back to Katahdin Stream Campground to fetch water and consume some snacks for lunch. We¢ll need to check in with the ranger to show we¢re one of the lucky twelve and pay our $10 fee. Nobody home at the ranger station so we walked back up to The Birches for naps and journal writing. We¢ve heard that the ranger will stop by here later on to check us in so hoping we won¢t need to make another trek down there. I¢ll be cooking my final trail dinner of mac & cheese and tuna and will try to get to sleep extra early. Our plan is to get a very early 4:00 start for our 4200 foot ascent of Mt Katahdin. It¢s the biggest climb of the AT, after which we need to climb back down. That¢s the part that scares me most. The park offers small day packs for summiting, but I¢m choosing to use my own pack which I will have purged of everything I don¢t need to take to the summit with me. I need to be able to fold up and stash my poles while climbing the steep rocks using my hands and I¢m not sure their little packs would work.There¢s no cell service except at the summit, so we¢ll need to call the hostel in Millinocket from there to reserve a spot on their 3:00 shuttle. Forecast calls for another sunny day tomorrow.
Date: 2021-08-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Gayle and I were joined by Randy ¢Prone to Wander¢ for our post-summit activities.  He¢s from Marietta, GA and also completed his AT section hike. We spent the night of our summit at The AT Lodge in Millinocket and took their 9:00 shuttle in the morning to Medway where we picked up the bus to Bangor airport. Our flights weren¢t till the next morning so we were not able to check our packs. The airport¢s hotel had no vacancies so we booked a room at Motel 6. After checking in and paying an early check-in fee, a Lyft driver took us into Bangor for lunch. Back at the hotel we were able to book an early taxi for the next morning. Fond good-byes at the airport ended our shared adventure.What can I say about hiking the Appalachian Trail that I haven¢t already said? It¢s a very difficult trail. New Hampshire and Maine taught me that. In my opinion, there are places on the AT that are downright dangerous and needlessly so. Most of the trail is through the eastern woods, ¢the green tunnel¢, so compared to the great trails in the west with their vast open vistas, the AT has limited opportunities for views.The AT captured my imagination about 20 years ago. I had read Bill Bryson¢s A Walk in the Woods and in 2002 was vacationing in Rangeley, Maine when I noticed the trail crossing Rt 4. It struck me then about how amazing it is that there¢s a walking path that would take me to Georgia. I began reading books of thru hike accounts, books about hiking, watching videos, listening to podcasts and reading AT blog posts. I became obsessed with doing a thru hike after I retired.The 5268-ft view: Leading up to my 2017 retirement I hiked short sections of the AT, 5 to 7-day trips, to experience backpacking. A 2-week shakedown hike in 2017 prepared me for my 2018 thru hike attempt. After failing to complete my thru hike, I became a section hiker and began knocking off sections until this year¢s completion on August 16, 2021.Would I recommend hiking the entire AT? Probably not for people in their mid-sixties as I was, unless they were in exceptional physical shape and were highly motivated. I was not in the best of shape and it showed. Without exaggeration I was probably the slowest hiker out there. Honestly I passed absolutely nobody this year. Even the 77-year old woman we met hiked faster than I. But of course it¢s not about speed.One aspect of long-distance AT hiking that I very much enjoyed is the hiking community. Fellow hikers, trail angels, shuttle drivers and hostel workers make up a community bonded by the shared experience of hiking. I found myself often making connections with other hikers at a deeper level because of our shared experiences. We share the same challenges of difficult terrain, bad weather, hunger for town food, and dirty smelly clothes and often sharing updates on hikers we¢ve met in common. What were your favorite hostels? Your favorite sections of trail? Favorite state?Finally I¢ll say I¢m really happy I took this on, proud to have completed it, and content to have it behind, leaving me free to look ahead to what may come next.
Date: 2021-05-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi, I'm Legacy from Rochester, NY. In 2019, I began hiking the Appalachian Trail, and from March 6 until July 15, I hiked from Springer Mountain, GA to Kent, CT, a distance of 1,469 miles or 2/3 of the AT.Now, I would like to continue where I left off, and see if I can hike the remainder of the trail to Mount Katahdin in Maine. My 2019 hike humbled me, but I am ready and willing to try. I will be making occasional weekly entries to this journal. Let the journey begin!
Date: 2021-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

In 2019, I hiked from Springer Mountain, GA to Kent, CT, a total of 1470.1 miles, or 2/3 of the AT. When I finished, I was physically depleted and exhausted. I had wanted to thru-hike the AT, and after giving it my best shot, I thought that was that. But life sometimes presents second chances. I thought of areas I could change that might present the opportunity to complete my hike, because that's what I'm looking for: opportunities, not guarantees, because on the AT the only guarantee is that you will be humbled. I did many things well in preparing for my 2019 hike. I modeled my gear list after a young Rochester woman who was both an ADK 46R and an AT thru-hiker. But toward the end, I also did some things wrong: I violated the AT's mantra - "hike your own hike" - by not taking zeros I badly needed because I chose to remain with a hiking partner who eschewed them.Now at age 68, I knew I would have to make changes if I wanted to reach my objective. A pack for a 22 year old is too heavy for me. So, these are the changes I made: (1) Reduce my pack weight, by buying a lighter tent, quilt, backpack and other gear (2) Performed 4 months of physical therapy for my hip and core, supervised by my selfless P.T. daughter, (3) Improved my training regimen in anticipation of the AT, and (4) Reworked my AT diet to include more calories and protein, things I normally don't analyze in my everyday life.Will these changes be sufficient? I finished the AT at about the same weight as when I started, which remains my weight to this day - an indication that I continue to have the svelte body that women drool over. Obviously, being a superbly trained athlete, such as my friend Rick would say, is not the only factor. The only way I can answer the question about whether I can finish the AT is to go back on the trail and try. So that is what I will do.Of course, it could come down to "mental toughness", which could put me at a severe disadvantage. I score much higher in the "mental fluffness" category!
Date: 2021-05-30
To: Manchester Center. VT
Miles today: 40.2
Weather: light rain

I left Bennington with renewed spirits, buoyed by a zero, talking with family and an uplifting email from my neighbor Marcia. (She said some nice things about me, so contrary to legend, it's not always "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia".Although they sometimes show up at shelters, I see few hikers during the day. I met Mojo and Scanner, 70 year old section hikers, who said they'll finish the trail when they're around 100. Again it was buggy, but I found that using my Buff as a partial head scarf helped. (Apparently it's hard for the buggers to fly while laughing about their target.) I was solo at night for the fourth time as the temperature dropped under 40.In good spirits, I found the trail fun in the morning, catching a 360 degree view from the fire tower at Mt Glastonbury. The day was cooler too, a welcome respite from the bugs, who must have stayed in their sleeping bags for warmth. The day offered a time for deep reflection, like which animal's scat I saw four times that day - 1 inch round balls that resembled Cocoa Puffs (milk chocolate ones!) And as I saw on previous days, there was an interesting fungus on particular trees, sometimes shaped like a half bell in relief. "Oysters on the half-bell, anyone?"I finished early on Friday when it started to sprinkle as I scouted where to pitch my tent, then made an early dinner while the rain continued. It rained until 1230am, then began again at 130am as the temperature dropped. At 3am, I noticed the ground was a different color - snow for Memorial Day? Rochester looks good by comparison - and knocked the snow off my tent. Being the cautious hiker I am, I had sent home my base layer bottoms and fleece a couple days earlier. Still, I stayed warm enough, but was acutely aware of the importance of keeping my clothes dry to avoid the chance of hypothermia.The next morning, I knocked out of habit on the privy door despite it being locked from the outside. Nonetheless, when I entered there was already an occupant - a mouse had fallen / dropped into the 5 gallon bucket used for composting materials. I pardoned the mouse if he promised never to return and dumped him outside. Snow continued throughout the morning, but there was even more at Stratton Mtn, and I didn't even attempt to climb the icy fire tower shrouded in mist. I was reminded that I was doing better than some when I saw a thru-hiking couple rush past, not looking particularly happy in their skimpy running shorts. There were many weekenders at the shelter, and was certainly warmer at lower altitudes. Today I hiked quickly to my motel, to pick up a maildrop and dry out. Motel days are busy with chores, but this was particularly irksome when I learned that my maildrop had not been delivered. Fortunately, Price Chopper helped me forage boring, same day meal plans for 5 days to get me back on the trail tomorrow. I won't have the shave I desire, but I will have showered, hand-washed some clothes and food. What more could a hiker want?
Date: 2021-04-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I attempted a Thru Hike in 2020 but COVID got in the way.  After 9 days and 109 trail miles (118 with the approach trail), the ATC asked hikers to leave the trail and go home.  After some thought, I decided leaving the trail was the best thing to do.  It was very disappointing after all the training and working out to get ready.  But, on the bright side, only 1 family member got COVID and recovered.  Others were not so lucky. Now I am fully vaccinated and can feel confident around everyone.I did do some additional hiking in 2020.  The Colorado Trail (CT) in July and some AT in MD and PA in October.Fast forward to 2021 and I am again ready to hike.  Just not a thru hike.  I will pick up where I left off and hike until I have had enough or Harpers Ferry, WV.  There is a certain amount of psyching up that has to take place to do a thru and I just don't have that again.  I may try a thru in the future, but not in 2021.I've reduced pack weight, worked out hard at the gym and am ready to go.  I will be one of the old guys out there at 57 but I tend to be one of the faster hikers.  Hopefully things will go well and I will reach my goal. See you on the trail.G
Date: 2021-05-05
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Bald Shelter 
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

May 5 - Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Bald Shelter - 11.0 miles (11.0 trip miles) - About 28000 StepsI was up at 4am for my flight at 6. Both flights were on time and I arrived in Asheville just as my shuttle driver Nate ¢Zach Galifinakis¢ arrived. We had a good discussion during the hour drive to the gap just past Franklin, NC. I would recommend him if you need a ride in the Asheville area. I got started hiking at 1123 and planned on an 11 mile day. Of course, coming out of a gap it¢s all up.  There were some views but it was mostly cloudy. I went to Siler Bald Shelter to have a quick lunch then moved on. The balds in this area are mountains that are partially or totally bare of trees. There is mixed scientific opinion if they were cleared long ago for grazing or occur naturally. Either way, they are interesting and provide great views from the top. The next stop was Wayah Bald. But just before the summit I visited with the resident gnome (see photo). At Wayah Bald there is a stone tower that provides great long range views. From there it was about 1 mile down to my camp for the night at Wayah Shelter. I arrived at the shelter area at about 515. There are a few other hikers here. Most are thru hikers and all have been friendly. Dinner was a pork jambalaya meal. Overall it was a good day. I got to where I planned with no injuries or issues. The weather was good and looks to remain that way for a few daysUntil tomorrow.
Date: 2021-05-06
From: Wayah Bald Shelter 

To: Rufus Morgan Shelter 
Miles today: 15.5

May 6 - Wayah Shelter to Rufus Morgan Shelter - 15.5 miles (26.5 trip miles) - 38247 stepsIt¢s cold in the mountains on a clear night at 4500 feet. Probably about 40 at sunrise. Surprisingly I slept OK last night. I don¢t tend to sleep well the first few nights out when hiking. I was moving by 615, took care of camp chores, packed up and on the trail by 740. With almost 15 hours of daylight I don¢t need to hurry in the mornings. From the shelter the trail was . . . flat and easy for about 2 miles. That is rare for the southern end of the AT. Finally there was a moderate climb to Cold Springs Shelter where I refilled my water bottles. The spring had a pipe and was right next to the shelter. From there it was a long descent into Tellico Gap where I had some snacks. Next was an 800 ft climb to the Wesser fire tower. Today was clear and calm and the views were spectacular. Few clouds or any haziness. Leaving the tower it is 5.7 miles mostly downhill to tonight¢s camp. I had heard this section of trail was very difficult and is known to ruin knees. There were a few steep rocky parts but I didn¢t think it lived up to the difficult billing.I got to camp about 420. I thought about going on, but it¢s only day 2 and there will be plenty of opportunities to push the miles. I had a Mountain House meal of chicken fried rice. It was OK. My son makes a version that is better but he doesn¢t deliver here. Tomorrow¢s plan is to go down into the NOC and see what¢s there. Then climb for about 8 miles. Assuming the climb doesn¢t kill me I plan to make it to Sweetwater Gap at 15.7 miles. The guide says there are some tent spots there  Overall today was excellent. The great weather doesn¢t hurt. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2021-05-07
From: Rufus Morgan Shelter 

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 17.1

May 7 - Rufus Morgan Shelter to Brown Fork Gap Shelter- 17.1 miles (43.6 trip miles) - 41046 stepsA loooonnnnggg day. Didn¢t sleep so well but did get a few hours in. Started breaking down camp at about 7, enjoyed 2 packs of Pop Tarts and left by 8. The plan was to get to a gap that may have camping spots. But that¢s why they are plans and not reality. The trail started out with an easy .8 miles down into the NOC at 1727 feet. This is a large kayaking, rafting, and outdoor adventure area on the Nantahala River. Unfortunately I was there before anything opened and I did not need any supplies so I moved on. From the NOC the trail heads west and climbs for about 7 miles. Some steep and some not so steep. But it keeps climbing. I stopped in at Sassafras Gap Shelter for lunch then did the final 800 feet to the summit of Cheoah Bald at 5052 feet by 1pm. The trail then is mostly down to Stecoah Gap at 3127 feet. From this gap I had planned to stop early at Sweetwater Gap. The guide and comments implied there was space for tenting. I was tired and my legs were done by this point.  When I got there it was obvious I was not staying. There was nowhere to set up a tent. Now what to do? It¢s 1.4 miles to the next shelter. Not far at 530. However, there is an 800 foot climb in .5 miles. A local passed me at the start and said this straight up climb is called Jacobs Ladder. It was a brutal way to end the day. But I made it by taking 20 steps at a time then resting. The shelter is not the best. I prefer to tent but there is no flat ground. So the shelter it is with 4 other folks. It is supposed to get into the upper 30s tonight. We¢ll see how the mice and snorers do tonight.Tomorrow I am only going 5.4 miles where I will tent in a person¢s yard. They will pick me up from a road, wash my clothes, take me into town to resupply, I can take a shower and they will return me to the trail in the morning. All for $20. Today there was about 5700 feet up and 4300 feet down. Tough day. Until tomorrow.
Date: 2021-05-08
From: Brown Fork Gap Shelter 

To: Yellow Creek Gap Road
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: clear sky

May 8 - Brown Fork Gap Shelter to Yellow Creek Gap Road - 5.4 miles (49.0 trip miles) - 13389 stepsThe first reason I prefer not to sleep in the shelters is because there tend to be mice in and around those shelters. Last night there were no mice but there was an axman who had a very loud and large chainsaw. What he really needed was some good oil and lubrication to quiet down that chainsaw. I have never heard snoring that loud. I did eventually get to sleep but only for a few hours so I will try hard to avoid sleeping in the shelters and go with the tent.I got going this morning later than normal because I only had 5 miles to go. Such a short day makes this a Nearly Zero (NERO) day. I left camp at approximately 915 this morning. The trail overall was very good, smooth, good grade with few rocks or roots and I arrived at Yellow Creek Gap Road at about 1145. There was one good spot with views into the Smokies. Unfortunately my ride is not going to arrive until about 1 o¢clock so I¢ll work on this journal until then and eat some more food out of my food bag. I¢ll also put together a resupply list. It will be interesting to see if I come close to it. I was picked up right on time  brought into Robbinsville for resupply, lunch and to go dinner.  I should have enough food to get through the Smokies.  Tomorrow¢s plan is to leave as early as possible from the home where I¢m staying tonight and get into the Smokey mountains. In the Smokies you must stay at designated campsites or shelters. There is a campsite approximately 14 miles from my starting point tomorrow. That will be the goal. We¢ll see how that goes.Until tomorrow.
Date: 2021-05-11
From: Derrick Knob Shelter 

To: Mt. Collins Shelter 
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: overcast clouds

May 11 - Derrick Knob Shelter to Mt. Collins Shelter - 13.3 miles (93.8 trip miles) - 35166 stepsToday was a tough but rewarding day. The miles were lower than hoped for but that is due to shelter distance and no desire to go into Gatlinburg. I got camp packed up quickly, had a couple of oatmeal packets and hit the trail. The weather was great from the beginning with just some thin clouds and cool temperatures. The trail started off easy then got tougher through the day. It was mostly walking in the trees so views were limited to start. Then some climbing began. Sometimes steep. I made it the 5.7 miles to Silers Bald Shelter by 10. Had a snack and moved on. Next up was a short stretch to Double Spring Gap Shelter where I topped off my water bottles. Next up was a 1200 foot steep climb to Clingman¢s Dome. It was tough and some of the steep sections were quite steep. I arrived there at about 1. When you get close to the top the tourist numbers begin increasing. When you pop out onto the path to the summit spaceship tower it¢s a zoo. Since I walked 91 miles to get here, I was going to the top. The views were great and the air was clear even with the clouds. Snapped a few pictures and got down from the tower. I chatted with a ranger and some other hikers then headed out. The trail down from Clingman¢s was treacherous. Very rocky, rooty and eroded. I finally made it to the side trail to Mt. Collins Shelter and had to decide what to do. It was .4 miles to the shelter that don¢t count as trail miles. It was 8.3 miles to the next shelter. And Gatlinburg was out. I didn¢t think I could make 8 more miles, and that ranger I spoke to said the next shelter, Icewater Springs, is the busiest in the park due to its proximity to Newfound Gap. I chose to stay. It¢s a small group here tonight. Probably due to the distance from the trail. It is supposed to get down to the upper 30s tonight. It¢s before 7 and most hikers are settling in. Until tomorrow.