morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Duch Haus, Montebello, VA
Miles today: 40.0

Day five Glasgow, VATired Feet motel bit of a dive for $50 a night. Resteraunt food, not bad but also expensive. Not much for hiker food at the at what passes for the supermarket. However, needed the short day, shower and rest. Day Six Punchball shelter:Guy at Tired foot resturant wanted 20 bucks to drive us back up to the trailhead. Cracker, a hiker I meet at the motel and I decided that was too steep a price to pay for a 6 mile trip, so we walked out to the edge of town and hitched. Took half an hour, but we did finally get a ride up to the trail. Fianally on the trail, turned into another very hot day, with near record breaking temps. No shade and a very long climb out of the gap to the ridge line. Once the big climb was out of the way, the rest of the day was reasonably easy. More through hikers showed up later at the shelter, thier starting to show up. Day Seven. Cow camp ShelterDay started out good and hot again. Almost stoped for the the day at Brown Mt shelter, but was still early so we pushed onHalf way to Cow camp, while climbing up to Bald Knob, a Thuderstorm blew in. Went from near heatstroke to near hyperthermia in minutes. Felt good though. Day Eight Duch Haus, Montebello, VANow its a cold, wet day. Good day to walk for 5 miles over exposed ridges. Did a long day, over 15 miles to get here for a warm bed and a good meal. Bunch of hikers here. Just had dinner, these people know how to feed hikers! Great place.Might take day off tomorrow if weather still nasty, I'm about due for a day off and this place would be as good as any, and beter than most.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Duch Haus, Montebello, VA

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

Day 9:Taking a zero day today. Still cool and wet out today, good day to hang out. This is good hiking weather, but bad camping weather. Being the first week out, time for a day off to rest my feet. This is a nice place to do it, the Duch Haus B+B. Thier main buisness is hikers and they know how to make us happy and feel at home in thier home. Humm, seems I can get a ride to Rockfish Gap tomorrow. It would be nice to get new boots and fix my ankle problem, but would mean skipping 40 miles of trail. Have to decide in the morning.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: zero

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

To my Ham radio friends:Haven't had much chance to play radio. Shelters are getting busy at night, days have been hot and long. Did try last Sunday evening, but was at a shelter in a low, narrow valley and no one heard me calling CQ. I'll keep the radio for awhile longer and maybe can get on a few times while in the Shenandohah's.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 107.0
Weather: clear sky

Shenandoah Nat Park.Day 10 to 17Got a ride from the Duch Haus in Montobello up to the outfitter in Waynesboro, a few miles from the trail crossing at Rockfish Gap. There I bought new boots and it didn't take long for my ankle to feel a whole lot better. The outfitter was kind enough to send my old (well not that old, only used them 10 days) boots home. They might come in handy for something, just not hiking on the AT!Hit the park on Saturday, along will a whole bunch of other people. There were some 23 people at the first shelter (Calf Mtn) that night. Most were starting a section hike to do just the park, but there were a number of through hikers there too. It rained Sat night and by morning it cleared and got real chilly, droping to the high 30's at dawn. Made for some good hiking weather and good views for the next few days, but chilly at night. Good thing I did bring my long johns after all! Not a whole lot to say about the hike through the park. Well beaten trail, occasional good views. Got good and hot mid week, with temps back in the 80's. Hit all the waystations for $10.00 hamburger lunches. Expensive, but impossiable to resist. Easy food along the trail can't be passed up, regardless of the price. One funny incident at Big Meadows wayside. I bought some food, Mountain House and some power bars to get me through the last fews days in the park. I put the items down on a picnic table and walked away to get my pack, which was still by the front door of the camp store. When I turned back to go to the table, I saw a big Crow fly off with my power bar! Actually, my back was turned long enough so that both bars I bought were missing. Darn bird flew off with $3.00 worth of food and would have taken the mountain house dinner too if it wasn't too big for him. I mangaged to get on the Ham radio for the Monday night Spartin Sprint contest. Was in my tent and the location wasn't great for stringin up the antenna, it ended up not far off the ground. I also found my improvised straight key had become intermitent and the first contact was done with pretty erratic sending until I could tighten up the contact screw. After that things went better, but the key still doesn't work all that well. However, did manage to make 5 contacts, couple to Maine, one to Ga, WI and MI. All in all, not bad. last day in the park, we narrowly missed walking into a thunder storm. Thankfully, it stayed just to the north and moved off. It did rain really hard where we were going though, so we lucked out ( we being the other hikers who were heading for that shelter. Now out of the park and doing town things in Front Royal, Va. Hope to be out of here soon and back on the trail. Not sure how many miles I can get in today, at least to the next shelter 4 miles north of there for sure. Will be in Harpers Farry in a couple of days, then soon to be in PA. My alotted time on this connection is running out, so thats it for this weeks explotes.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, Cracker showed up at the hostel last night after pulling a 23 mile day on the roller coaster. So, will be heading into PA with him. Sending some gear home to lighten the pack, like the ham radio rig. Just not able to use it enough to justify lugging it any farther and one of the only things I can afford to loose. Wish I could risk sending the tent home too, probably won't need it much from here on, but can't take that risk. Never know when we'll run into a group of boy or girl scouts taking over a shelter! Will be heading out soon, Queen Deavia, the hostess of the hostel is giving us all some trail magic, then on towards Harpers Ferry - most likely the next hostel!
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Doyal hotel

To: Lickdale, PA
Miles today: 35.0

Okay, so we didn't get too far from Duncannon before ending up here at a Days Inn in Lickdale, PA which wasn't much until they put an exit for RT 81 here and now there's a few motels and fast food joints, which is why we're here.We left Rausch Gap shelter at 7 am this morning, fully expecting to hike some 18 miles to the 501 shelter tonight, but when we got to the Swanatara Creek Waterville Iron Bridge we found out about this place. Cracker and our new hiking freind, Miss Judy, who just started out 100 miles ago and showing signs of teneditous already, plus myself, voted to eat lunch at Dairy Queen and take a room for the night. So, tomorrow we will have to go to 501 shelter anyway, then find a place with a real grocery store to resupply for the last few days in PA. We left the Doyle in Duncannon on Memorial day. After a steep climb out of the river valley and back to the top of the ridge, the trail wasn't too bad, usual mix of loose rock and nice flat easy streaches. We got to a road crossing near Peter's mountian and started smelling hot dogs cooking. Hoping for the best, we went a little farther and saw the "Trail Magic" sign which said "Memorial day cook out, through hikers welcome, come on down!" So we did, about five of us all together. Spent some time there eating bugers, dogs and all the usual cook out fixing and later stumbled the last few miles to Peter's Mtn shelter with full bellies. Best trail magic yet!Next day, which was day 34 for me, we went to Rausch Gap shelter. Mostly an easy hike, but with a few sections of the inevitable obsticals they like to put in the way to make an easy day not so easy.Today was turned out to be a really easy day, as we came here to the motel. Oh, something I've forgoten to mension so far - the damn Gypsy Moth catipillers have been thick here in the woods for last 100 miles or so. They like to hang in the middle of the trail on thier silk so we're always got them crowling over us, while the others are choping on leaves and dropping peaces on our heads. Sounds like it's raining out with all the pieces of leafs falling around us. Not at all pleasent for the most part.Well, it looks like I've got about 100 miles left of PA to do, with luck it will be over in less than a week. But we have the dreaded PA boot shreader rock section coming up after the Lehigh gap.
Date: 2007-08-21
From: Delaware Water gap

To: none
Miles today: 0.0

I haven't been doing much hiking since finishing up my trip at the Delaware water gap. Guess I got it all out of my system for ahwile. Did a quick "overnighter" up to "The Perch", a RMC campsite on a ridge between Mt Adams and Mt Jefferson here in the Whites. It was a picture perfict day, will mild temps and just a hint of a breeze up above tree line. A cool night with brillant stars. Billions and billions of them! Glad I went up there the day I hiked up to the campsite, as by 9 am the next morning, half way down the mountian, the weather changed and got caught in one heck of a rain storm which didn't let up until late that evening. Will likely go out again in a few weeks for a few days during the best 3 days of fall, which is the reason for living here in the Whites. So, its time to close out this hiker journal and start to make plans for next years trip. "The Plan" is to head down to Springer 1st week of April and keep hiking for about 2 months and see how far I get. 6-700 miles would be nice.Slo-go'en
Date: 2007-11-18
From: none

To: none
Miles today: 0.0

Guess its time to start my 2008 journal and add my name to the growing list of AT hikers for this coming season. Quite a few of the '08 journals were started some time ago and haven't been updated since. I wonder how many of them have changed plans and will not actually be on the trail? This coming spring, I will go to Springer Mt and see how far north I can get in 8 to 10 weeks. That could get me as far as Harpers Ferry, but more likely Roanoke. Starting window will be the last week of March. The exact date will depend on the weather. I like to start when I know there will be at least a few days of good weather, though that never happens! I suspect that there will be a lot of other hikes starting out about then! Lets all hope the south gets some rain this winter so the water sources will be in good shape!Happy Tramping,
Date: 2007-03-09
To: Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

To be honest, there is definitely still a part of me that wonders what the heck I am doing. Am I nuts? is a question that goes through my mind more often than not. Why would anyone in her right mind want to hike from Georgia to Maine, nearly 2200 miles, with all necessities carried through literal ups and downs, physical and mental, in hopefully under 40 pounds, but the lesser the better, in a single backpack with which I am about to form an intense love-hate relationship? I do, for known reasons such as a love of being in the mountains, the enticement of my biggest challenge to date, the liberating freedom offered along the way, a community of top quality thru-hikers and the individuals who support them; and other reasons as of yet unknown but which have grabbed ahold of me and won't let go. I hope this force continues to pull me north in the direction of my heart, that my body becomes strong enough to live up to the expectations of my adventurous soul. Scared as I may be, there is no turning back now, for a bigger and greater fear, and what I fear most, is never attempting my journey of a lifetime.
Date: 2007-03-10
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

First day on the trail could not have been better, except possibly with a few less pounds in my backpack, the goal of every potential wannabe thru-hiker. I already sent home a few extra pounds, am trying to decide what to send home next, what straps to cut off my pack, how much more of my toothbrush handle I can discard and still be able to brush my teeth. Although the weather today was gorgeous, even after a few teasing rain drops this morning, it's too soon to get rid of my cold weather gear, but when I do, my pack will surely lighten up a few pounds. Besides perfect weather to start, I found myself surrounded by good people - seeing old friends from college, being welcomed to and sent off from the Hiker Hostel, meeting others as insane as I on the trail. We didn't walk far today, a nice way to ease into the trail until my body becomes a conditioned hiking machine. So far, so good. My feet, shoulders, back, and joints aren't protesting yet, but check back in a couple days.
Date: 2007-03-11
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: few clouds

Rain during the night made me question once again what the heck I am doing - let's face it, it's going to rain - but my doubts were all but washed away with another gorgeous day hiking and just enjoying being outdoors. I feel so fortunate that my journey began with such fabulous weather and company, preparing me, I know, for the more difficult times ahead, with the reminder of what a good day feels like. Not everyone out here goes by trail names; the spring breakers, weekenders, and day hikers prefer to use the ones bestowed on them at birth. But for thru-hikers, acquiring a trail name is part of the culture, a sort of rite of passage, a welcome to the club. The new moniker can refer to what a hiker is, does, or likes in the real world, or for most, comes from an occurrence on the trail. I started off by introducing myself as "Stacy, for now, until someone sees me do something stupid," which given my history, won't be long now, I additionally thought in the back of my mind. No such luck yet, but alas, in a few short days, my voted-upon, hiker-approved trail name has become "Snack Break" for my desire to eat every chance I get. If I'm going to take off my backpack, I am going to eat! Thru-hikers are known for their voracious appetites, amazing others with their ability to down huge quantities of food, about 4000 to 6000 calories a day, impossible to satisfy on the trail when trying to limit pack weight. My metabolism already seems to have kicked into overdrive, so I must agree, my trail name is quite suitable. My trail name makes me laugh every time, and to get through 5 months out here, I need something to keep me easily amused.
Date: 2007-03-12
From: Gooch Gap

To: Slaughter Creek Campsite
Miles today: 11.0

There's something so comforting and inspiring about the white blazes, the 2 X 6-inch rectangles painted on trees and signifying I'm on the right path, literally as I put one foot in front of the other and figuratively as I follow my dreams, now north, but wherever they may lead in the future. Today is the first day I'm beginning to feel more confident and comfortable about where I'm headed. Love it or hate it, my backpack is becoming a part of me, an extension of everything I have and am. I'm starting to figure out the best systems that work for me, such as how to best pack my belongings for easy access and encounter, the process of making camp and cooking each evening, then doing it in reverse the next morning; sure, there are still kinks to be worked out, but the trail is a quick teacher, and I an eager student. My muscles are beginning to ache, but not as much in protest as in the quest to build up strength and endurance, which increase each day. The physical aspect is certainly not easy, but I'm glad I trained beforehand - thanks to Ceil for her fabulous fitness regime, my knee and ankle joints are so far taking the beating well. A good dose of glucosamine and vitamin i (for ibuprofen) each morning with breakfast also do their part.
Date: 2007-03-13
From: Slaughter Creek Campsite

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a pretty exciting day for me as I celebrated my first of many milestones - picking up my first mail drop box that I sent to myself before I left PA. Those at home, please try to contain your enthusiasm, but here on the trail, reaching small but achievable goals are how I will enable myself to go the distance; while hiking the entire AT may be my long-term goal, smaller ones along the way hopefully make the whole shebang more attainable. It's one reason I decided to resupply largely by mail drops, to give me motivation to get to the next town where a big box of snacks will be waiting for me. As recently discovered on the trail, it's always a good time for a snack break. Even though I said good-bye to two of my trail buddies today - Bart and Lisa, thanks for getting me started on the journey, naming me, laughing with (or at?) me - two more trail angels were waiting precisely where I needed a boost of encouragement, plus a few snacks, before continuing on my way. An older couple, Bruce and Myrtle, had set up a tarp at a road crossing offering drinks and cookies to all thru-hikers. It's what is called trail magic out here, the appearance of assistance just when you need it. Actually, I experienced this magic back in PA even before hitting the trail when local snowbirds offered me their home as AT central during my weeks of preparation - Janet and Peg, you'll always be my first trail angels. Experiencing this trail magic is part of the reason I want to be out here. I'm sure I will have many more such inspiring stories to share, giving testament to the human spirit.
Date: 2007-03-14
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I thought is was all about the food, but really, it's all about the gear. I continually tell myself that the gear is not what will get me to Maine, there are so many other more important factors, but nonetheless, good lightweight gear is key...and expensive. Some of my stuff is working out splendidly, other stuff not so much, and the verdict's still out on a few items which will soon be headed to the toss heap if they don't start earning their keep. My absolute favorite piece of gear thus far is my set of trekking poles - kudos to my favorite trail consultant Nic for making me see the light. I cannot recommend them enough for helping with stability and balance, easing impact on joints, digging cat holes - and Walmart sells a Swiss Army version that easily compares to the more expensive models. Coming in at a close second is my 3-ounce Snow Peak stove that boils water faster than any of those around, and so far, seems to be idiot-proof. Although I never before wore those silly zip-off hiker pants, I now think they are just ace, easy to convert, and I'm carrying only one pair of bottoms to double as both pants and shorts, plus my water bottle fits perfectly in the cargo pockets. Camp shoes are a must to air out stinky boots and relax tired feet, although I'm glad I got something with better tread than the popular Crocs because I really don't want to slide and fall on my arse on the way to get water at the end of a long day. Speaking of which, it's after 9 pm, or way past campers' midnight, so I'll save the rest for another time.
Date: 2007-03-15
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Hiawassee - Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

You likely already know that the AT follows the Appalachian Mountains north from Georgia to Maine; what you may not realize, however, is that the trail goes up, over, and down the other side of each and every mountain in its path, some times in switchback fashion no end in sight, as I hear is Georgia, other times hell's fury rock-scrambling straight up or down, as I hear is Maine. My research beforehand tells me that hiking the length of the AT is like going from sea level to the top of Everest 16 times. The constant ascending and descending is not easy, especially on the joints. Hopefully, the pain in my erector-set ankle, the one I busted a few years ago mountain biking, is simply an indication of the rain moving in this evening, and not a sign of something worse. It's too early in the game for that, hiking through pain and wondering what it could be. Knowing I have a full day of rest in a splendid little trail town to look forward to, I was eager to finish my miles for the day. Already a tiring and emotional day, but getting nearer to its end, the sight of some trail magic brought tears to my eyes. There, beside the trail, was a case of Dasani water bottles, quietly and simply encouraging the thru-hikers on. Who ever left it, I'll never know, but the silent push of support weighs nothing when added to my backpack and soul.
Date: 2007-03-16
From: Hiawassee - Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Hiawassee - Blueberry Patch Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The trail magic continues at the Blueberry Patch Hostel in Hiawassee, a Christian ministry run by a former thru-hiker and his wife. Not only do they welcome dirty, smelly hikers into their converted-garage hostel, but they also do our dirty, smelly laundry; run our tired butts into town; cook us their pancakes with very own special homemade blueberry syrup; motivate and inspire us with their selfless acts of kindness which can never be repaid, except maybe by paying it forward. Today I'm taking what is called a zero day, in other words, miles hiked today will be a big-fat, much-needed, none-too-soon total of zero,except what I need to haul my behind around town, which fortunately is a small place. It's a day to resupply, repack, and regroup before I head north again tomorrow when more miles await me. You probably won't believe this, but I actually miss the hiking today.Besides the Blueberry Patch feeling like a home away from home, Hiawassee is a friendly trail town, welcoming hikers with its southern hospitality. It's obvious who are the hikers roaming around town, for we are dressed in either long underwear or rain pants as our hiking duds are being washed, carrying all our important belongings, such as money and IDs, in a ziploc baggie. Even so, the kind librarians inquire "are you a hiker?" as they invite us to use the Internet for the day. I was sad to leave this outstanding place, as Lennie from the Blueberry Patch offered an Irish blessing and extra prayer for my ankle to send me on my way, Gary remarking "you're gonna make it, I can just tell." Like I said before, support, prayers, and encouragement weigh nothing in my pack but make me feel like I can fly over mountains in my path.
Date: 2007-03-17
From: Hiawassee - Blueberry Patch Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Welcome to North Carolina, where the trail gets steeper, the elevations higher, the winds windier, and the temperatures colder. Today is easily 30 to 40 degrees cooler than my first few days on the trail, with refreshingly crisp air, no bugs or sweating, a hefty wind blowing, actually a perfect day for hiking. But a perfect day for hiking does not necessarily translate into a perfect night for camping, with forecasted temperatures dipping to about 10 degrees. Tonight I will see if my sleeping bag really is earning its keep; I can do little else for neither my pen nor the batteries in my head lamp function at this temperature.