morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-03-21
From: West Cornwall Road 

To: US RT 7 
Miles today: 7.0

Before 7 o¢clock this morning there was a knock at the door. Papa Big Swig had breakfast ready, and the table set for four. A much anticipated guest came through the door...BIG KAHUNA!!!  I¢ve kept it a secret, but he¢s hiking the next three days with me! I couldn¢t be happier!  Myself, Baby Girl, and Big Kahuna hit the trail about 9:30 this morning to finish up Connecticut. It was not real cold, but it was spitting ice and snow.  The morning started out going UP. There was a little bit of bouldering which somehow got us off trail briefly. Baby Girl had mentioned she though we should go the other direction, and she was right. Around 11:30 we saw a group of rocks about butt high. We took out our sit-upons and sat. It was a nice little break. We grabbed a snack, and we were good for the rest of the day.  The rains/ice/snow came and went all day long, but it was still a good day. The terrain wasn¢t bad, and conversation was great!  Big Kahuna found an abandoned hornets nest today. It was nice to see it up close and let Baby Girl see it. He also pointed out an old tree stand. Me and Baby Girl would have missed them both. Our hike flew by quickly. It was a fun day! Were predicted to get several inches of snow tonight, but my boots will be back on tomorrow. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018/2019)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2019-03-22
From: Jerusalem

To: Jacobs Ladder Parking 
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

Our boots hit the trail about 8:30 this morning. Just as we began our trek snowflakes started falling. They fell the rest of the day. There were a couple of small water crossings, then the trail carved it¢s way through a couple of fields. We began our first UP. It was a little over 1800 feet elevation. This will be Baby Girls highest climb. The climate changed a bit up there. It was colder, more windy, and more snowy. All of that sounds bad, but I loved it! Winter hiking remains my favorite. Big Kahuna and I knew what to expect, but this was a brand new experience for Baby Girl. She fell once. There were tears but she got herself back up and carried on. I am so proud of her! This is not easy! We were hiking past a pond known as Knee Deep Pond. It was mostly frozen over, but not completely. Big Kahuna noticed a Beaver¢s Lodge out there. He ALWAYS sees the cool stuff! He called me and Baby Girl over to the waters edge to look at it. What an experience! The lodge was perfectly constructed, and Beavers were poking their heads up through little holes in the ice. It reminded me of the game Whack-A-Mole!  We went UP from there and found ourselves in a pine forest. The snow on the pines was absolutely beautiful! I enjoyed every step through there.  Before I knew it we could hear cars whizzing by on the road below. We came out of the woods and walked down the road to Big Kahuna¢s car. A GREAT hike occurred today! Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018/2019). Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2019-03-23
From: Jacobs Landing Parking

To: Washington Monument Road
Miles today: 9.4

The snow continued through the night. Big Kahuna and I made the executive decision that today would not be a good day for Baby Girl to hike.  We were right.   We started our hike going UP Beckett Mountain 2180ft elevation. The actual climb on a snow free day would have been easy peasy.  This was NOT our day!  Slowly but surely the snow got deeper and deeper until we took a step and sunk down to our knees...over and over again...for miles! It was fun, but physically exhausting!  My calves were having spasms, my left hip too.  Nonetheless we laughed and enjoyed our snowy adventure. There were moments when the sun would poke its head out between clouds. It felt good and made our endless search for blazes a little less chilly.  Since most blazes were covered by snow and ice we had to use our sixth sense and Guthook¢s to navigate the trail. I looked one direction and said this looks ¢trail-ish¢, then Big Kahuna would lead and say that looks ¢trail-ish¢.  And the truth is, not one time did our mountain instincts steer us wrong!  We weren¢t too far past a frozen pond when we heard someone coming up from behind us.  It turned out to be two someone¢s and a dog!  They are Trail Runners.  Trail running is a big thing in these mountain areas.  They run the A.T. On a regular basis and know every twist and turn by heart. This was the jackpot for me and Big Kahuna! We had footprints in the snow to follow!   Those boys ran about 4 or 5 more miles past us then turned around just before a shelter. They chatted a bit as they passed us again on the return visit. Then  Big Kahuna and I had double footprints to follow!  It was still deep, but nice. We followed their tracks, and some bunny prints all the way to October Mountain Shelter. We were both pretty spent.  He took the bottom bunk on one side and I took the other side.  We ate a snack and took a much needed rest.   Big Kahuna found a blue blaze back to the trail. About a mile later we met a couple of teenage boys with full gear heading to that shelter for an overnight.  They had gotten off trail. It¢s so easy to do in the snow. Big Kahuna saved them some grief.  He directed them to our tracks which would take them straight to the shelter. It¢s nice to be able to give back. It felt like no time at all had gone by, when we found ourselves on the road a few yards from where Big Kahuna¢s car was waiting.  I was a little sad. This will be my last A.T. hike with my trail brother.  We had Big Kahuna¢s famous spaghetti for supper, and one last game of Phase 10 before calling it a night. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018/2019).Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2019-03-24
From: Washington Monument Road

To: Gulf Road
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

The four of us went out for breakfast early this morning. I rode to my start with Big Kahuna. We followed Papa Big Swig and Baby Girl there. Everybody patiently waited while I got my hiker gear on. Then it was time to hug Big Kahuna goodbye one last time. Tears filled my eyes. Our A.T. days are over.  The snow was still too deep for Baby Girl, so I started off alone. I could hear Big Kahuna singing the knapsack song as I hiked away.  Yes the snow remained a challenge, but at least there was no wind today. Yesterday we watched little snow devils blow up and spin around off and on all day long.  I hiked in the deep snow about 3 miles. I enjoyed the solitude and just got lost in my thoughts.  I got tearful again thinking about Tammy & Maryann my sisters in law.  I had only been hiking about two weeks in Georgia. It was during a time when I was questioning my own ability to do this. This particular weekend they showed up at my hostel! I was soooo happy to see them! We made a Walmart run, and met up with my tramily at a microbrewery. It was a great day!  Then I wandered off to my original tramily. We are still very close. Texas is in the middle of a move near the A.T., Feathers begins her PCT hike in a few days, Daddy Shakira is getting married next month, and Flower Boy will be completing the A.T. with me!!!  The secret is out!  He¢s driving to Mass from Maine when he gets off work tomorrow. He will hike Greylock with me and help me finish what we started together. I¢m so excited to hike with him again!  About three miles in I came to a road. The snow was much less deep, and I recognized the area. Big Kahuna had shown me pictures just this morning at breakfast. He had recently hiked that section and said Baby Girl would love it.  I had cell service so I called Papa Big Swig. Within 30 minutes Baby Girl was there with her boots on! Seylor Jo came too.  We started going UP. This is a popular local site and there were several people with dogs. We all had to leash up more than usual.  Up we climbed to the summit of Warner Hill 2050ft elevation. What a view!  Mountains for miles!  The local folks enjoyed the view and went back down. Baby Girl and I continued hiking northbound. The snow did get deeper on the less traveled area, but we managed fine.  It was a little snowy during our blue blaze to Kay Wood Shelter. Named after Kay Wood a lifelong volunteer, trail angel, and hiker.  We enjoyed a snack and some rest before taking the snowy journey back to the trail.  The DOWNs going into Dalton were icy and steep. Baby Girl took one on her butt all the way down. Finally we popped out of the woods, over railroad tracks, and into town.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018/2019)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2019-03-25
From: Outlook Ave 

To: Gulf Roaf
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: moderate rain

Baby Girl started the day with me. We decided to go SOBO and end this day right back in Dalton. Our hike began in a pasture. In only a few yards we were blessed with our first view of the day. The sun was shining and the breeze was soft. We are in for a great day!The trail took us through some cornfields and down into Cheshire Mass. Cheshire is a small quaint mountain town. We walked through Cheshire to the edge of town and started back UP into the mountains. This was our first experience with icy inclines today. Many more would follow.  We did stop for lunch during this first climb, but it took 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach our summit. What a view! The icy descent proved to be too much for Baby Girl. Down went McGinty for the first time today. She would have 9 falls before this hike was over.  Our journey took us past a semi-frozen Lake with a little beavers dam. Then past a tree with three huge holes that I¢m assuming are from woodpeckers. Wood dust and chips were on the ground below. We crossed a creek and started up. Just as we came to some power lines there were large deep tire prints in the snow. They went up the Appalacian Trail for about a quarter mile. Now I¢m not complaining because it made for much easier hiking in the snow, but isn¢t the trail for foot traffic only? The rest of the day was an even mix of UP and DOWN, ice and snow. We popped out of the woods to a parking area where Papa Big Swig was waiting. This will end my A.T. adventure with Baby Girl. I¢m so glad she spent some time in the woods me. Wouldn¢t trade it for anything!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018/2019)Where¢s your faith?
Date: 2018-05-03
From: Sassafras gap 62.7

To: Dicks Creek gap 69
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: broken clouds

Cruised into the gap with dingo in the morning and he went to Top of Georgia, I waited for a ride from Jo Ray. Stayed the night with Jo Ray and John the parents of my friend Sami.Had a great time in hiawasse, Jo Ray took me to see brasstown bald ( the ga high point) as well as Walmart and some of the TVA lakes in the area.
Date: 2018-05-04
From: Dicks Creek gap 69

To: Standing Indian shelter 85.7
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: broken clouds

This was the second time I camped with Az and fuego, having met them at sassafras gap 2 nights prior. On this day we kept running into each other on the way up from hiawasse, and ended up camping together because the shelter (and standing Indian mountain) were all crowded.
Date: 2018-05-09
From: Brown fork gap

To: Fontana dam marina
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

Went into Fontana Marina and took the shuttle to the lodge. Az and fuego had a room and I crashed on the floor. The Fontana lodge was great.First time we met fingerlickin, jawz and mf mouse outside the laundromat while doing our laundry.
Date: 2018-05-10
To: Russell field shelter 180.4
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Into the smokies.In the morning, passed fingerlickin going south on the trail with a dog she had aquired. I've been told she found him a good homeI remember getting to the first shelter (Annie's?) and then sitting inside and watching it dump rain. After this stopped walked to the next shelter without having gotten at all wet. Mf mouse, jawz and fingerlickin joined myaelf Az and fuego here.
Date: 2018-05-20
From: Big bald shelter 327

To: Erwin 343.8
Miles today: 16.8

Today was very wet at the start but dried out fairly quickly. Kept waking up in the shelter in the middle of the night due to thunder and Torrential downpours. Thankfully the shelter kept me from being further wet. In the morning, I fully expected the ground to be a puddle but it was surprisingly dry. Even all of the mud we slid through on the way to the shelter wasn't as bad as the previous afternoon. Maybe it helped that I was the second to last one out and 8 others had already walked there. Descending from 5k feet to 1500 was fairly humid, luckily the sun came out and burned through the clouds mid-day. In the morning I ran across a lady looking for her cellphone that she had dropped and I was luckily able to spot it on the side of the trail and recover it for her. I think she was slackpacking, since she's at the same hostel I arrived to. Arrived into town and got a bed at the hostel in a room with raccoon and Dave. Resupplied for 3 days at the Walmart and should be ready to go in the morning once I go to the post office. Haven't decided for sure if I will zero or not, been considering it for a while.
Date: 2018-05-21
From: Erwin

To: Unaka mountain
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Leaving uncle Johnnie's in Erwin was slow, I had to get a box from the post office and the shuttle was for breakfast and post office but took 90 minutes. So I was up at 6am per usual but unable to actually do anything that I needed to. I was able to pack all my stuff and be ready. Still after the shuttle and po and breakfast thrn dallying around with other hikers at the hostel, I didn't leave until 1130.  The hike today was a big incline, starting from the river basically go up the hill 13 miles to 5000 feet. I felt really good and passed a bunch of people, saw a bunch at the first shelter and then a few more when it started raining. The rain was constant but not deluge level so my socks were able to stay dry which was great. Found the group all at the top as we had discussed the morning and we had a fun afternoon making a fire.
Date: 2018-05-22
From: Pine forest

To: Ash gap
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

The morning started off really foggy. I was camped with Az, fuego, finger lickin' mf mouse and terra. We had a great evening up at that elevation it was nice and cool and after some early evening rain did not presist.  Hiking through the pine Forest in the mist was really neat. Started off slowly but got past the (tiny) shelter and up the trail. Found a nice sunny spot on top of a knob to dry out my gear. Some good views from there and then continued on. The spot we ended up camping is quite grassy so it will probably be wet tomorrow. Some small thunderstorms are going on now in the afternoon.
Date: 2018-05-23
To: Mountain harbour hostel 394.8
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Ash gap to hwy 19- Mount harbour hostel.Woke up to a giant puddle forming under my tarp by my legs. Got up and got out before anything got too wet.  Up and over roan mtn was very much walking in a stream bed. Top of roan had no views because of thick fog. The rest of the morning was socked in until approx 1130 while climbing little hump mtn. Dried out my sleeping bag atop The peak and then cruised down to the highway. Past doll flats was a sign for AT leaves NC, apparently we're just in TN now, and no more border hopping. Lots of mud all day made it very tough walking with all the slipping and sliding.  Mountain harbor had no beds left but tenting was $10. The whole crrw was already there. they had washers and dryers and showers. They also took us back into NC to buy beer.
Date: 2018-05-24
From: Mountain harbour hostel

To: Campsite at 411.5
Miles today: 16.7

No rain overnight meant most of my stuff was nice and dry in the morning. Great breakfast spread at mountain harbour. The owner lady bakes all of the pastries and they are awesome, the rest of the food was really tasty as well. Left at 9 with a ton of people to head north. The trail had dried out a bunch overnight so there wasn't as much slipping.  We passed 2 waterfalls and a river which I was happy to jump into and splash around in. There was also something called hardcore Cascades but I'm not quite sure what the big deal with that was.  Lots of really nice trail, passed 2 trail crews that were working hard to make it even better. Crossed over many bridges on little creeks and eventually pulled into camp around 5. Weather report is clear through sat so going old school and cowboy camping tonight.
Date: 2018-05-25
From: Campsite at 411.5

To: Boots off hostel
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: moderate rain

Went by Laurel falls which were incredible. Went for a swim in the water but stayed away from the falls due the the whirlpool warning in the awol guide. Lost touch with the group because they were going to skip pond mountain. I originally meant to hike out of boots off (I got there at 2) but it really looked like it was going to rain and they had one open bunk left so I grabbed it. Had an amazing subway sandwich from probably the most meticulous subway sandwich artist ever. said goodbye to bubbly Vines and gypsy what are both heading off trail.
Date: 2018-05-26
From: Boots off hostel

To: Double springs shelter 451.6
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: light rain

It was dry overnight while I slept in the really nice bunkhouse but it started raining right at 7ish when I thought about leaving. I ended up sticking around until 830 then headed out.  The first part of the trail included several sections of trail that were submerged up to thigh deep. Needless to say I got my freshly washed socks wet pretty early on. Got up to the dam pretty quickly and then it was a wet slog. I fell a couple times in the mud. The new rainy day ensemble of shorts and shirt got soaked and muddy but I never got that cold. I think I'll continue doing this and keep the goretex away. I got to the vendeventure shelter (9miles)at noon and spent an hour drying my feet and eating a spare dinner that I had. This was a great idea to rewarm midday. Talked with monk about the day. Either go 7 more miles to the next shelter or 14 more to the one after that.  By the time I got to that next shelter (in about 2 and a half hours) I felt pretty good, all of the little injuries that has been bugging me weren't even noticable so I dried out one more time and decided to push on.  The sun came out to play at the hwy 91 crossing so I sat and dried out yet again. This part was super nice and went through a cool meadow and an active pasture. By the time I got the double springs it wasu biggest day so far on the AT by 3ish miles. I was kinda tired. The shelter was full so I found a (slopey) spot by monk and raccoon ate and went to bed immediately.
Date: 2018-05-27
From: Double springs shelter 451.6

To: Damascus va 469.9 - 
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up and packed up kinda early, just in time to hide from a huge deluge in the shelter. I had a hot breakfast under the shelter awning with a bunch of others and then headed out at 7. I was apparently flying, I got to the 4 mile marker(a road crossing) in about an hour and 15m.
Date: 2018-05-29
From: Damascus va 469.9 - 

To: Lost mountain shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Out of Damascus, hit the post office,got my resupply and new shoes, mailed some extra stuff up trail to pearrisberg then hit the subway on the way out. missed the turn off and did a bonus mile on the creeper trail. The whole hike was kinda cool with lots of forest and you stay kinda above the creeper trail and Creek. When the creeper trail rejoined I saw Andrei whom had stopped hiking at mountain harbour. He was riding a bike in the creeper trail and seemed really happy. On the bridge, there were two snakes mating? Not sure they were laying in each other at writheing. Headed up to the shelter from there where we hung out with a bunch of section hikers til bedtime.
Date: 2018-05-30
From: Lost mountain shelter

To: Wise shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

From lost mountain shelter to wise shelter. Very windy foggy cold day. Actually hiked with the Houdini on for a while because the wind was making me really cold.  Lots of rocks to walk over made the hikingjarder than the last couple days. Also at times the trail was just a creek. It must have really rained a ton last night. Took the mile side trail to Mt Rogers the Virgina high point, no view from up there, even if the fog hadnt been, it's completely forested.  From there headed just to wise shelter, all the rocks and stuff made my feet tired so I didn't want to push too many miles.
Date: 2018-05-31
From: Wise shelter

To: Trimpi shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Wise shelter to Trimpi shelter. 20.1 miles.Perfect day. Clouds cleared up as i emerged from the forest to leave a beautiful view during a ridge walk to the scales area. Right before the scales there was a large group of bighorn cows and a bunch of ponies.  After that the trail was pretty nice and ok. It had been muddy and slightly a stream beforehand.  Saw 3 bears, 2 baby ones and a slightly larger one that must have been mama before the falls. After the falls met the trail maintenance guy who provided me with an icy drink and an orange. After he took off an older couple stopped in their car and offered me a ride to town, when I refused (nicely) they instead gave snacks and another soda. From there it was 4 miles into this shelter. I arrived just after4, set up for an easy 10-11 into town tomorrow. Originally I was considering going to the partnership shelter to order a pizza but I think going to town tomorrow will be better.
Date: 2018-06-01
From: Trimpi shelter

To: Chatfield shelter 540.5
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Trimpi shelter to Marion to Chatsworth shelter.Absolutely crushed the 9.8 miles to partnership shelter in the morning with rogue cartographer. I left trimpi right before 7 and arrived at partnership just about 10. It was sunny and clear out and the trail was very nice and soft.  Once at partnership I took a shower and we headed up to the visitor center to wait for the 11 am bus. Apparently we had *just*missed trail magic, which turned out to be Az, feugo, fingerlickin and co.  Once we had taken the bus to town we went to an all you can eat Chinese place next to Walmart and Ingles. The food wasn't awful and we sure got a lot for our $10. While there fuego found us via text and came to say goodbye. It had only been a couple of days since I saw them at Damascus but it felt like a lot longer. They shared their ice cream with us in the parking lot lol.  Resupplied at Ingles and Walmart and then waited for the 225 bus back to the visitor center. While waiting I picked up a chicken philly to hike in, fuegos plan from forever ago that I'm not sure he ever did. Probably boittoi much food cuz my food bag is heavy. Have about 4 days worth. Hopefully enough to get into pearrisberg.Got back to the trail around 3 and hiked the 7 miles to the first shelter. Got in just before a short flurry of rain.  Tomorrow will be around 15m into quarter way inn hostel where I have a bed and shower reservation as well as a couple boxes.
Date: 2018-06-02
From: Chatfield shelter 540.5

To: Quarter way inn 555.3
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Chatfield shelter to quarter way inn.Was supposed to be an easy day but it was really muddy and frustrating. Once we got even remotely close to the highway (81) it was really really loud. Had a bit of confusion at the road junction but figured it out. Met up with a section hiker that was a captain in the infantry and had a good chat while blasting up a hill. Meeting that dude saved my day and I got to the road junction for the hostel in no time.  The hostel was super nice and in a wonderful meadow. Met a bunch of hikers and got a shuttle to town for dinner. Ruby Tuesday witj an endless salad bar was legit. Had a good night and great breakfast the headed out.