morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-03-15
From: Low Gap

To: Rocky Mountain
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day Seven Low Gap shelter to Rocky MountainThis morning I slept in so late! I actually did wake up but didn't hear anyone moving around and knew that if I got up Melkie would wake up everyone. By the time I did get up there were only a few people still around so I expected to be last everywhere today. The first few miles just flew by with only gentle ups and downs and I was passing people! I couldn't believe it! I was thinking how great it felt to be alive! The weather was perfect and I was doing something I have always wanted to do! Later on in the day I would be thinking please let there be trail angels at the road! It was just after two when I saw the shelter I was aiming for and decided it was too early to stop and just kept going. Then it got hard! I had been going up for a long time and when I hit the top it got steep and rocky/muddy. It made for an interesting afternoon. By the time I got to the bottom it was 4pm but because I was at a road crossing I couldn't stop so I had to go up this crazy steep mountain. I'm still not at the top of it but I saw someone setting up a tent and decided to camp here too. I was just finishing dinner when James and Kiryan arrived to set up camp as well. It's apart 7pm now and I'm headed to bed. I saw some awesome campsites earlier today at the very top of a mountain on a ridge, too cold an windy for me but I hope I get a chance to stay at a site like that sometime this summer. Good night!Trouble"You never know what's around the next corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you've climbed a mountain." Tom Hiddleston
Date: 2013-03-16
From: Rocky Mountain

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Day Eight- Rocky Mountain to Deep Gap ShelterIn the second day of this trip we saw an owl about twenty feet away and then he took off. Last night there was an owl so close and his woot woot was so clear it almost sounded fake. It was cool! I still had to finish the up part of Rocky Mountain and then came a long steep down and then..... Trail magic! Fishhook and Panda GA>ME11 had chicken, biscuits, snickers, fruit, beer,pop,Gatorade you name it waiting for us at the bottom. It was awesome! I started writing this on my lunch break and its a good thing cause now I'm exhausted. I only did 12 miles but a lot of mountains. I ran out of water again today and by the time I got to a water source I had to go down a long steep hill to get it and walk all the way back up. I was not happy. There is never any level ground, it's always up or down. Sometimes both are hard. The sun was setting as I got here, it took so long to get to this shelter that I thought I had missed it. I rushed to set everything up and now I'm headed to bed. Good night world!Trouble"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Date: 2013-03-17
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dick's Creek
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day nine- Deep Gap to Dicks CreekI am at the Budget Motel in Hiawassee writing this right now and I'm clean! Wow! Does is ever feel good to be clean, have clean hair and be wearing clean clothes! The Internet here isn't very good and I can't get it in my room but everything else about this place is great! There are two all you can eat places down the road and a subway next door, what more could a hiker want. Everyone here is a hiker! I spent most of the afternoon in front of someone else's room catching up on journals and talking to people.I haven't really mentioned the social aspect of the trail, mostly because I've been too exhausted at night to write or hang out with people but everyone is SO friendly! Everyday I see a few if the same people as the day before either on a hill break, lunch break or at camp and meet a ton of new people each day as well. If I were to set up my hammock in sight of the trail anywhere near the end of the day I can guarantee that within a few hours there would be a mini tent city around me. Yes, I have been hiking by myself its easier with the dog but if I wanted people around there are lots here doing the same crazy thing as me. Here at the motel, I have met just as many hikers as on the trail but had the time to go out for dinner with them or just hang out (there is a huge bonfire on the motel lawn right now surrounded by hikers). A section hiker just offered to buy us all subs as his form of trail magic! That never happens at home! Never have total strangers walked up to me offering food, drinks,rides.... Yet here it happens all the time! The first time someone was waiting at a road crossing with coffee, water, orange juice and boiled eggs for any thru hikers. How cool is that! At another road crossing a lady and her son pulled over when she saw me and we talked for 20 minutes, she took my picture and gave me her number! Past thru hikers have loaded us up with food at road crossings and people have offered to bounce stuff up to the next trail town so we don't have to carry so much. It too bad we all couldn't be as helpful in everyday life as people have been to me just in the past week. Anywhere hikers congregate in towns there is what is called a hiker box. It's supposed to be a box of leftovers. For example, if I buy toilet paper obviously I only need one roll so I would put the rest in the hiker box for other hikers. Today I looked in a hiker box for the first time, I couldn't believe what I found. Someone must be stocking it! Thank you whoever you are! It's been a pretty relaxing day, Melkie has slept through most of it. I'm going to sleep in a bit tomorrow and take the late shuttle back to the trail. I'm not sure when I will be in a town next so I figure I should soak up any luxury I can while I am here. Good night!Trouble"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." Flore Whittemore
Date: 2013-03-18
From: Dick's Creek

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 9.0

Day Ten-Dicks Creek to Bly GapLast night I'm the motel I hardly slept. I could hear the hum of electricity all night long, I can't believe that I am used to being out in the woods already! I went to pick up my food that I had forwarded from Mountain Crossings but it hadn't arrived so I grabbed a few meals from the hiker box and headed to the grocery store for dog food. On the way back I stopped at a cafe for breakfast and sat out on the patio with Melkie. It was nice! Back at the motel I finished packing up and waited for the shuttle to take me back to the trail. I hadn't realized it but most of the hikers I had been talking to were getting dropped off at a different location about a day behind me. That made me feel better because they had all started after me and I was starting to feel like a turtle. Anyway, it was almost noon before I got back to the trail and even though it was uphill I realized after about forty feet that it felt so good to be back! The uphills didn't bother me that much today and get this, I am now in North Carolina! I am finished with Georgia! One state down thirteen to go! I pretty much stopped for the night as soon as I crossed the state line. I needed water desperately (again) and there is a nice stream here and a hiker that I had met a few days ago has his hammock up already. Perfect! I'm definitely taking a picture with the two hammocks together! Zen came along later (another hammock hanger) and I tried to get him to stay but he was off to catch up to his friends. Today was hot but it felt so good to be hiking again that It didn't bother me. I did notice that the bugs are getting bigger though. I did laundry yesterday but my clothes stink already and my hair feels just as gross. I wonder if going into town was really all that worth it? It's after 8pm tonight and I'm off to sleep wonderfully in my beautiful, peaceful surroundings. Good night world!Trouble"...I begin to think there are better things than being comfortable." George MacDonald
Date: 2013-03-19
From: Bly Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: broken clouds

Day Eleven - Bly Gap to Standing Indian ShelterToday started all wrong! I woke up to rain and a wet Underquilt and hammock. I couldn't even go to the bathroom right! I was camping with one male and no bushes for cover. Why is everything more difficult for females! After packing everything up the hill in front of me was impossible! It took me almost three hours to go up three miles and I was exhausted. I stopped at the next shelter for something to eat and headed out again in the rain. It wasn't that bad but I was soaked and cold by the time I hit this shelter and pretty much stuck here in case it turned into a lightning storm. My stuff is still wet and I'm not sure how I'm going to sleep tonight. I strung up my giant tarp to block the wind across the front of the shelter but because I don't have a foam pad It's still gonna be a cold, cold night! There are eight of us here and someone added a second tarp so hopefully there is enough body heat here. North Star, Peanut, Jordanna, Zen, Sour Patch and Preacher all stayed in the shelter with Melkie and I and Peanut Butter (from PEI) stayed out in a tent. Only 2100 miles to go!Trouble"Never, never, never give up."Winston Churchill
Date: 2013-03-20
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Long Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Day Twelve - Standing Indian Shelter to Long Branch ShelterToday is perfect! The sun is shining, the skies are clear and the trail is friendly. I started with a long gradual uphill and then an even longer downhill. I could see mountains on both sides of me until the trail went through a pretty green tunnel. I heard what I thought was going to be a huge waterfall but when we got there it was just a small rushing stream. Most of my day was like this until I got near Betty Creek Gap that's when the steep hills returned. I stopped and had an early dinner and then powered through the ups. I planned on stopping for the day before Albert Mountain but there was still daylight and I was close to walking 100 miles! I did it! It was the steepest and highest mountain so far at 5250ft. And right before the fire tower at the top I hit the 100 mile mark! I still had two more miles to go before I found a brand new shelter to stay at. I am exhausted and headed to bed. Good night world!Trouble"Your off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way." Dr. Seuss
Date: 2013-03-21
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Day Thirteen - Long Branch Shelter to Winding Stair GapThis morning I was in a rush to make it to a road to catch a shuttle into town. In my rush I left my camp shoes at Long Branch Shelter. I did make the bus though! The owner of the Budget Inn was driving it and he was hilarious! He told us stories from when he was a kid along with all kinds if info about the town (Franklin,NC). Later he drove us around wherever we needed to go, and tomorrow after we have free breakfast at a church will drive us back to the trail. How amazing is that! Thank you Ron Haven! And when I got back from dinner Sour Patch was here and he brought my camp shoes! I know it doesn't seem like much but he had to carry them for 6 miles. Thank you! Today I felt too rushed to enjoy the hike part and I 'm going to try to remember that there really is no rush out here next time. My in town experience today was wonderful, Franklin is a very hiker friendly town and I'm glad I decided to come here. Thanks for all the encouragement both here and on fb! I actually checked my messages today even before I had a shower and that says a lot! Thank you!Trouble"Hiking a long distance trail is not about giving up six months of your life. It's about having six months to live." Keith Foskett
Date: 2013-03-22
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Licklog Gap
Miles today: 12.3

Day Fourteen - Winding Stair Gap to Licklog GapI woke up early this morning for a free breakfast put on by the First Baptist Church in Franklin. It was great! Then I went back to the motel and slept for an hour, if I had unlimited funds I would have stayed here another night. I liked this town, plus there were still a few things I needed to do. I took the 11:00 shuttle back to the trail and while on the bus found out just how awesome this town was. If a hiker wanted to go anywhere a restaurant a store you name it all the hiker had to do was phone from the motel and someone would come pick them up, take them and deliver them back to the motel. I should have spent more time and money there. Anyway it was cold in Franklin when we left for the hills, it was freezing when we got to the hills. I put everything on including my down coat and started hiking. Surprisingly it wasn't that bad and within minutes I was peeling layers. I did really good until about 3pm and then I slowed to a crawl but I had to continue over Wahah Bald (5342ft) because it was far too cold to stay up that high. When I finally got up there it was beautiful! I remembered that I had an app on my phone for 360 * pictures so I tried it out. It was amazing up there but because it was so late in the day I had to hurry to get to lower elevation before sun down. I only made it three more miles and had to stop for the day. I'm not totally happy with where I am, it is freezing cold here and I am shivering in my hammock already. I should have made myself a warm meal but I needed to get out I the wind. Maybe it's just the cold but I wish I had stayed in Franklin. Good night!Trouble"The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Today and tomorrow are yet to be said. The chances, the changes are all yours to make, the mold of your life is in your hands to break. J.R Tolkien The Hobblit
Date: 2013-03-23
From: Licklog Gap

To: A Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 14.2

Day Fifteen - Licklog Gap to A Rufus Morgan ShelterI woke up all alone in the woods. No one had made a little tent city around my hammock while I slept and it was cold. So cold that my water bottles were frozen solid cylinders of ice and there was a really cool ice pattern on the inside of my tarp from condensation. I packed up quickly and then took off at a turtles pace up the next hill. I blamed my slowness on the lack of breakfast but when I came to the next road crossing two miles up the trail I hit the jackpot! Trail Magic! Passionflower GA>ME12 was there with a car full of food and a fire going to keep us warm. I loaded up on food and melted my ice cylinders and carried on thinking I'd be quicker. No such luck! I just didn't seem to be able to move anything other than slow. Maybe I need a zero ( a day with no miles). So far I have taken nearos (days off with just a few miles walked). My goal was the Nantahala Outdoor Centre but I was so tired that I soon gave up on that goal and just kept walking. I took a break at a road crossing after a couple of section hikers witnessed my wipeout in the mud coming off the trail. Then I headed up to Wesser Bald. At the top the views were awesome and there was a tower too. Normally I can't get Melkie's pack off quick enough an he heads straight for the stairs of the towers. Not here! He wouldn't go close to the tower and freaked right out when I went near it. Needless to say I didn't go up the Wesser Bald Tower. We headed down and I thought it would be all down hill from there but I was wrong again. There were lots of ups with steep downs some of them opened out to gorgeous views of the mountains others I had no idea what my surroundings were. At one point I saw what looked like an old shelter with no sign so I thought I only had one more mile to the NOC. Wrong again! As it was starting to get dark I approached a tent city, turns out to be the real location of the shelter. I decided to stay and quickly set up my hammock and started to boil water for my dinner. I ended up eating a cold oatmeal while waiting for my dinner because I just wanted to get to sleep. I ended up saving my dinner for tomorrow. In my hammock I couldn't believe how hot I was, I actually had to take off layers. Coming down in elevation makes a huge difference in temperature! I hope tomorrow is a better day!Trouble"Because in the end, you won't remember the time working in the office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain." Jack Kerouac
Date: 2013-03-24
From: A Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Centre
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day Sixteen - A Rufus Morgan Shelter to NOCIt rained all night and I didn't get wet!!!! And it stopped before 8am so I could pack up and hike the one mile to the Nantahala Outdoor Centre dry! I was a little disappointed when I got here because it looked like they had nowhere for me to stay and I had to get my breakfast to go because there weren't any tables on the patio. After getting some real food (you have got to try sweet potato pancakes) I went to ask again and this time they were so helpful! They gave me a cabin to myself for $19 so I might just stay another night! I have just been relaxing in the cabin and catching up on my journal pictures. I noticed that my journal is a day in advance right from the start but I am just going to leave it that way. The weather forecast is not good for the next couple if days (snow and if I wanted to walk in snow I could have done that at home) and Melkie needs a break from wearing his backpack (it's irritating his armpit) so I will try to get this little cabin for one for night. It's been nice doing nothing all day. There is a kayak race going on here all week end so there are lots of people around and there is a nice restaurant here too! It's a good place to stay. Trouble'The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail.travel too fast and you miss all you are travelling for.' Unknown
Date: 2013-03-25
From: Nantahala Outdoor Centre

To: Nantahala Outdoor Centre
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Day Seventeen- Staying at NOC!I couldn't sleep last night, I think I was too warm inside. I'm staying another night, it was pouring rain this morning and Melkie could use a rest day. I went down and had breakfast by myself. I assumed that everyone I knew was now a day ahead of me. Breakfast was awesome! It was a bed of home fries with saut©ed tomato, onion, mushrooms and broccoli on top. Then a layer of bacon, two eggs and cheese on top. It was so good! I basically hung out in the cabin this morning uploading pictures onto Facebook. This afternoon it cleared right up and was sunny. I headed out with Melkie to see what was going on and I bumped into several hikers I thought were ahead of me! We met up again mid afternoon at the restaurant by chance. I'm so glad I went for lunch! I don't want to talk about other hikers but it was so neat to hear the conversations and feel part of such a diverse community. We all came from different places and there was around a forty year age difference between the youngest an the oldest but we could all relate when one of the younger guys talked about how it brought tears to see how beautiful it is on the mountaintops. Or when someone mentions an animal they saw it heard or wonders about the cool moss hanging from the trees, we could all relate. And everyone really is looking out for everyone else out on the trail. I don't know how many times I heard someone ask about so and so because they hadn't seen them in a day and they should have been right behind them. It's nice to know that even though we barely know one another there is a definite sense of community here. After lunch I had some rewashing to do. Apparently when you are a hiker one wash doesn't quite get the smell out! It's all good now and I smell great! It amazes me how clean Melkie is even after rolling in mud he seems to be able to shake it all out. I wish it were that easy! It's raining again, I'm so glad I stayed the extra night but no matter the weather I am heading out and up tomorrow. It's been nice catching up with everyone at home these last two days and I will miss you when I'm back on the trail.Trouble"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do."
Date: 2013-03-27
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day Nineteen- Sassafras Gap Shelter to Brown Fork ShelterI'm alive! I woke up cold but I woke up! And during the night Sour Patch and his brother arrived and thought the shelter was too full and set up their tent! It's like minus crazy cold and they slept in a tent! I couldn't believe it! To me at this temperature a shelter is never too full for anyone who shows up! Anyway I slowly got packed up and ready for another snowy cold day and left. Melkie loved it, I dreaded it. I guess it wasn't so bad, enough people had left before me that the trail was marked in footsteps pretty good. Thank you everyone who blazed the trail today, seriously I don't know how you did it! I was slow M80, Trooper and Willow passed us and then Hobo and Quaker passed but we ended up hiking together. Quaker shared a lot of his goodies today and both Quaker and Hobo shared water (mine was frozen). At lunch Hobo went on ahead and again Quaker shared more treats. I am going to have to buy more junk food/ trail snacks for this. We carried on thinking we were closer to the shelter than we actually were and ended up disappointed that we still had farther to go an that we still had Jacobs Ladder to climb. It was crazy steep, so steep that your ankles hurt to be in that position. We made it by stopping to talk or stopping for more treats. Quaker is awesome! I can't imagine how brutal Jacobs Ladder would be on a hot day, I think the snow and cold was a blessing in disguise! After Jacobs Ladder we only had one more mile to the shelter and surprisingly when we arrived there was still space for us (the shelter only holds 6)! I hung up my hammock from rafter to rafter and used the tarp to block the open side of the shelter. It feels warmer than last night anyway. Going to bed to keep warm again.Trouble"The future lies before you, like a field of pure white snow. Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show." Unknown