morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-07-21
From: Stealth camping mm 2071

To: Hebron Lake Stealth Site to Monson
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: scattered clouds

No rain last night!  Short day today into Monson to zero and pick up drop boxes.  Hiked the one mile and called Lakeshore House hostel to pick us up.  We were in town by 10:00 am.  The hostel is very nice...set up as a B&B.  We have a private room with 2 double beds...it's wonderful.  Took showers and walked to the convenience store.  We bought big salads for lunch.  I had taco salad and Rosie Red had a chef salad.  They were huge so we ate 1/2 and saved the rest for a snack later today.Did laundry, went to the post office and visited the AT Visitor Center where we got info about the 100 Mile Wilderness we're about to head into.  After all that we went to dinner at a BBQ place in town.  Rosie Red broke a pole a few days ago and we called Leki and they sent replacement parts and they were waiting for her at the post office.  What great service!It amazes me how poor cell service and Wifi are in these small towns.  (I think part of the problem is my phone).  I'm so used to having it at my fingertips almost all the time.  Oh well we lived for years without it so I shouldn't complain.I've lost 38 pounds and Rosie Red 11 (she's only been hiking for a month).  The challenge will be keeping most of it off when I get home.  Speaking of home, we're leaving the trail tomorrow.  We have a funeral to go to and Rosie Red has to go back to work in a couple of weeks so she's finished hiking for the year.  I need to take care of some things at home, but may get back on the trail later this summer or in the fall.  Maine has been difficult for both of us, but especially for me since I'm not comfortable with rock scrambles.  We've had a great time hiking together.  I've now completed about 1/2 of the trail.  We'll see what the future brings!
Date: 2017-08-27
From: North Adams, MA

To: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Back on the trail again. Hiking southbound in MA starting in North Adams, MA. Got on the trail late today because I had to replacethe muffler on my car and drive from Wilkes Barre, PA. Got to N. Adams around 4:00pm and startedhiking at 5:00. I had only planned to do3 miles and I arrived at the shelter just as it got dark (7:45). As usual it was a long uphill climb out oftown (1600ft.). It was a steep climb allthe way.At the top there was a vista with a beautiful view of thevalley. The sun was about to set, but I neededto get to the shelter before dark so I didn't wait. I will be at the top of Mt. Greylock tomorrownight and hopefully will see a great sunset then.Since it was dark when I got here I'm not sure how many arehere. I can see at least 3 other tentsand don't know if anyone is in the shelter. I met 3 guys going northbound on my way up. One was a Nobo who said he is the last of thenorthbound bubble. The next hiker was a sectionhiker but he said he'd turned the wrong way and gotten lost and was now out oftime and had to work tomorrow so he was headed home. I got a kick out of the last person I talkedto. I must have looked really tired becausehe asked me if I was ok and when I told him yes, I could tell he didn't believeme and he asked if I was sure. He actedlike he thought he should do something to help me but didn't know what. Very nice of him to be concerned.Tomorrow is a short day also but climbing the whole time. Got to get to the top of Greylock before the restaurantstops serving lunch (4:30) because you can't cook up there and the dinner is aset menu for $36. I'm sure it's very goodbut too pricey for me right now.  Time to call it a dayand get some sleep.
Date: 2017-08-28
From: Wilbur Clearing Shelter

To: Mt. Greylock Summit
Miles today: 3.3

It was a gorgeous day today...sunny and in the low 70s. I didn't get up until 7:30 because I didn'tsleep well last night. Was on the trailby 9:30. Had a descent first thing for achange but then an ascent up to Mt. Williams where I stopped for a snack. Then did a ridge walk the rest of the morning. Ate lunch at the top of an old ski run (BigBen) then made the final climb up to Mt Greylock which was much easier andshorter than I expected. I only hiked3.3 miles (plus .3 from the shelter). Iwas done for the day by 1:45.It was a nice afternoon...there were hang gliders taking offfrom the mountain top most of the afternoon. One guy crashed on take off but fortunately he was fine but I can't saythat about his glider.Then I walked up 90 stairs to the top of the WarMonument. The view was great. I saw mountains in NH, CT, NY and MA.Tonight there are 2 hikers (Trip and Marshmallow) who are almost done with theirthruhikes. They started in Springer andhiked north until July then flipped to Maine and are now working their waysouth...one to NY and the other to CT. Thethird hiker is Ursa who is about my age and doing a small section around herhome here in MA. This has been a wonderfulday. I met a couple more hikers on the trailtoday so my fear that there wouldn't be many hikers out was unfounded.
Date: 2017-08-29
From: Mt. Greylock Summit

To: Cheshire, MA
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: broken clouds

Bascom Lodge served us coffee, tea and muffins at 8:15 so Ididn't get started hiking until 9am. Itwas downhill all day. The trail was okwith a few muddy areas but not bad. Itwas cloudy all day but never rained. Metabout 12 other hikers going northbound. Got to Cheshire around 2:30 and my first stop after finding St. Mary'sChurch where I'm staying was to the ice cream shop. Mint chocolate chip sure tasted good. Then went back to the church and Mama Duck(aSOBO) had arrived. I had just seen a signsaying hikers had to pitch tents instead of staying inside like the guidebook said. Mama Duck didn't like that change anymorethan I did. I went to the General store and the convenience store to buyVitamin I and allergy pills which I had forgotten in the car. Came back to the church and there stillwasn't anyone to tell us if we definitely had to pitch our tents. A couple that had been hiking arrived and said they hadcalled the church before they came and had been told they don't let anyone sleepinside any longer.  So about 7:00 we wentahead and pitched our tents so we wouldn't have to do it in the dark. It's now 8:10 and no one has shown up yet so we're going out to sleep in our tents. Will update tomorrow with the rest of the story.
Date: 2017-08-30
From: Cheshire, MA

To: Kay Wood Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Well last night was ok. We decided to just sleep in our tents since that's what the signsaid. So we went out around 8:45 andthey came and locked the door and checked to make sure no one was inside at9:30. I slept better than the previous 2nights but still not great. However, Iwas the first one up and on the trail at 8:00. No one else was moving when I got up at 6:30.I hiked from Cheshire to Dalton this morning. Again I met 12hikers in just that section. Got toDalton around 1:30. Today was a socialday. Talked to section hikers Howard (can'tremember where he's from) and Moon Brother from GA. Then talked to a guy who was sitting on abench in town. He had lots of questionsabout the trail. It was a hot walk thrutown but I got a big Diet Coke and some chips and sat under a tree and ate mytuna sandwich and enjoyed myself.  Hit the trail again at 3pm. Nice lunch break!There are railroad tracks at the edge of town and just as Iwas beyond them, a 200 boxcar train sped thru. I was well off the tracks but I'm glad I hustled across them becausethat train was moving so fast and I don't think I could run with my pack on.
Date: 2017-08-31
From: Kay Wood Shelter

To: Washington Mountain Road (Cookie Lady)
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: light rain

Woke up to overcast skies and cool temps...feels likefall. It started misting soon after I startedhiking so I put on my rain gear hoping to ward off any harder rain. It worked!! Mama Duck (from the night at St. Mary's Church in Chesire),  Fleet and his dog who I hadn't met beforecaught up with me. Wierd to say "caughtup" because I'm always the one behind...but to tell the truth they had stayedin Dalton to resupply. They passed meand said they'd see me at The Cookie Lady's house. I arrived there about 1:20 and the Cookie Ladywasn't home. So we sat at the picnic tableand ate lunch. The Cookie Lady came homeand we realized she didn't have cookies today. A thru hiker who had just finished Katahdin (J2) drove up and said he wanted to take apicture with the Cookie Lady because he had missed her when he stopped by inJuly. When I found out he was on his way to Rutland, VT, I asked if he could give me a rideover to Highway 7 so I could catch a bus to North Adams to pick up my car. When he realized that he needed to take 7 toget to Vermont, he offered to take me all the way to where my car was parked. Thank you so much, J2, and congratulations on finishing your hike!!  He said he was just paying it forward for allthe rides people had given him while he was hiking.
Date: 2017-09-01
From: Motel in Lanesborough, MA

To: Jess Treat's Hostel in Sheffield, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Had a leisurely morning at the EconoLodge in Lanesborough. My sister, Yvonne, is joining me tonight to hike the next 4 days. I drove south to Sheffield to Jess Treat'shostel and arrived around 1:30. Didlaundry there and ate the turkey sandwich that I bought in Great Barrington at PriceChopper. Met the other hikers at the hostel--Greg(Running Bear) from GA, Sharon and Nancy from OH.I went to dinner with the group and just as we got our food,Rosie Red (Yvonne, my sis) called and she's at the hostel so I have her drive over to join us. Lotsof laughing and story telling. We then wentback to the hostel and Jess helps Rosie Red and me figure out the logistics (parking lots) forthe next 4 days of hiking. We're hoping to slackpack most of the miles for the next 4 days.Nice zero day but not very relaxing.
Date: 2017-09-02
From: Guilder Pond Picnic Area

To: Route 7
Miles today: 8.4

Today we're doing a section that I skipped last year when I hurt my knee. We had a great breakfast at Jess's before we started out forthe trail. I highly recommend Jess's place. She has a hostel set up in her house and she's very knowledgeable about the trail and a great trail angel. I pulled out of the parkingarea at Jess's and realized something was wrong with my back tire. Got out to look and it was almost flat. Jess told me there was a gas station abouta quarter of a mile away so I carefully drove there and they didn't fix tires buttold me to go down the road a little ways and they'd fix it, so I put air in itand drove down the road and they had it fixed in 45 minutes.Got the cars situated and started hiking at 11:00. Can't believe it...we ran into Wild Child whowe met at The Farmhouse Hostel in Maine a couple of months ago. So good to see her again. The hike wasn't too bad. We had to come down The Ledges which is a rockyarea but they  didn't bother us since we'dalready done harder stuff in Maine. Finished at 4:30 and then shuffled the cars so we could start at LakeBuel parking area tomorrow. We had plannedon stealth camping 2 miles up the trail but we didn't have time before it got dark and it issupposed to rain tonight so we are sleeping in the back of Rosie Red's SUV. At least we'll stay dry and warm!
Date: 2017-09-03
From: Lake Buel Parking Lot

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It rained all night and it is supposed to rain all day so wetook a zero.  Didn't get out of the SUVuntil noon. It rain all morning with nosign of letting up. We spent a good partof the time reworking our plans for the next 3 days. Went to check on my car at the parking lot inTyringham and found a surprise. I had afront passenger seat full of water. Mysun roof had leaked overnight. I've hadthis car for 19 years and the sunroof has never leaked.  Rosie Red scooped the water out of the seatand we put a towel under the visor to catch the water.We had a late lunch at the Pizza Hut in Pittsfield then stopped ata Goodwill Store to buy a couple of towels to mop up the water in my car. Then we went back to the car and it had morewater in the seat. So we soaked as muchup as we could and I opened the sunroof to see if we could find the leak. When I shut it it got stuck and I thought itwouldn't close but I was able to force it and it seemed to seal tighter. We'll see if that helps the problem.Had a difficult time finding the parking lot where we plannedto spend the night.  Finally after 2 hoursof listening to the GPS we found it. We'renow settled in for the night in the SUV and it has stopped raining. Hoping for sunshine tomorrow!
Date: 2017-09-04
From: Mount Washington Road then Mt. Wilcox South Shelters

To: Lee parking lot
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: few clouds

 Slept in the SUV again last night so we were on the trail by7:45. We slackpacked south from WashingtonMt. Rd. to Lee. It was a nice hike...sunnyand in the 70s. We ran into Greg who wasat Jess's last Friday nite. He was surprisedto see us hiking south. We finished thatpart of our hike at 2:00 at the parking lot in Lee and drove my car to the WashingtonMtn. Rd. parking lot where the SUV was parked and moved one car to Tyringhamand one to Lake Buel parking lot. We packedour big packs and hiked north to the Mt. Wilcox South Shelters where we pitched ourtent for the night. We met a Brazilianhiker that we met in Caratunk, Maine at the Sterling Inn. He's making good time. We went through The Ledges section of trail(rocky section but not difficult just a steep ascent). I thought we had done The Ledges on Saturday, but I was mistaken.We're hoping to beat the rain tomorrow morning and get mostof our 8.9 miles done before it starts. We'll see how that plan works out.
Date: 2017-09-05
From: Mt. Wilcox South Shelters

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Overslept to 6:30 but wanted to get up earlier to get as muchhiking done before it started raining at 11:00 (that was the forecast). Anyhow got out by 7:45. It turned out to be a sunny, nice day untilclouds moved in around 2:00 and we had just finished the first section of myhike for today. The roots and rocks werestill slick from Sunday's rain and I fell. Just a slide on my backpack so it was ok. That was my first fall in MA and hope it'sthe last. The trail was pretty today. Had some climbs but not too bad. Thisis Rosie Red's last day hiking this section. I'll miss her but tomorrow is my last day and I will have completed MA...hooray,one more state done. When we finishedhiking we had to move cars around and we had lunch at McDonalds. Had a quarterpounder w/ cheese, iced tea and an Oreo McFlurry. Yum! ThenI dropped my car at Tyringham parking lot and Rosie Red dropped me at Lee and I hiked southto Upper Goose Pond Cabin. Just after Istarted hiking at 5:30 from Lee, the trail crosses I-90 on a foot bridge over theinterstate. I stood there a few minutesand saw Rosie Red pass under the bridge. She saw me up there and honked...kinda corny but fun.Luckily I got to the Cabin with no rain. There were a couple of hard showers before I goton the trail but the sun came back out. Got here at 7:00 and got the last bunk, at least I'll be dry. It was a top bunk, haven't slept on one in years. Hope I don't fall out.   It was a good day!
Date: 2017-09-06
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Tyringham Parking Lot
Miles today: 6.9

Well I didn't get much sleep last night. I was afraid I'd roll over and fall out andthere was no ladder and I had to stop on a 4-inch square post to get down fromthe bed, so I couldn't get down easily...if I missed the post or slipped, I'dfall into one of the caretaker's beds...not a good idea. At least I was dry! There was a good rain shower at 10pm but nonethe rest of the night.Finally climbed down out of bed at 6am. Got dressed and packed up. Pancakes were ready at 7:00. Ate a couple of them and headed out at 7:45. Wish I had more time to spend here...they havea dock and a beach and canoes that hikers can use.  It started pouring rain a couple of minutes afterI started. The trail was fairly levelbut very wet and slick. Terrain was a lushgreen with lots of mud and water.  Onlysaw a couple of hikers and they were headed SOBO like me. Took a tumble just before finishing this section. I was headed downhill and my boot slipped on a wet root and down Iwent. No injury.This section finished the trail for me in MA. I got to theparking lot at 12:15. I was soaked thruand had to change before I could start the drive toward home stopping at Hazleton, PA for the night. MA was a welcome change from the difficultyof ME. Even with the rain it was a goodweek and a half.
Date: 2017-10-19
From: Clingman's Dome

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm hiking this section between Clingman's Dome to Newfound Gap since I was unable to hike it in April since the road up to Clingman's was closed due to snow and ice. My friend, Pam, was planning to hike with me but she is having trouble with plantar fasciitis so we just did the .5 hike to the trail and then about one mile with me and then she turned around and went back to the car and I continued on. It was a perfect day for hiking...sunny and in the 60's. There was fog in the gaps between the mountains so the views were beautiful. The trail was mostly descending all day with just a couple of small ascents. Unfortunately fall is running behind schedule so not much color. At the end of the day there were a few trees turning so I did see some color.Didn't see any hikers until after lunch. I met 3 or 4 SOBO's this afternoon and they told me the SOBO bubble was 1 or 2 days behind them. The rest of the day I met several day hikers just hiking a few miles from the Newfound Gap parking lot. It was a good hike...but I can tell I've gotten out of shape in just 7 weeks.This is the last hike for the year...will be back in the spring and start in Bland, VA.
Date: 2016-12-06
To: A/T North Bound Start end of March
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I was born in St. Petersburg FL. Around 1973 I did a week hike on the A/T with three other friends. I retired from Florida and moved up to GA in 2002. I've done a small amount of hiking on near by trails and a little day hikes on the A/T.My wife and I are currently in the process of moving to OK and have purchased a house in Edmond, OK. I selected the trail name Okie due to the move but actually have more roots in FL & GA.Due to the duration and miles of the A/T being greater than previous hikes I will being adding information to this trail journal on attempting to go UL. My goal will be to obtain a pack weight of less than 30 #'s. My current body weight is 160#'s.
Date: 2017-01-03
From: A/T North Bound Start end of March

To: Planning
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ordered the DVD WALK IN THE WOODS. Will view when it arrives. Several people recommended the video. I'll get back with you on my review after watching.Also ordered The A.T. AWOL Trail Guide.Currently using WINDOWS phone and as soon as I get my Android phone I will be selecting an app for the trail.Sleeping bag decisions going on between 15 degree <2# bag around $679.00 or go with something like a 20 degree <3# bag around $125.00. And there are lots in between.
Date: 2017-03-23
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I spent the day loading everything in my pack including food to get me easily to Neels Gap. Pack weight was 27 - 28 pounds including a quart of water. I also started entering much of my gear to the gear list. I then reviewed current hiker entries around the start of the trail. Hiker journals indicated they had hail during the last couple of days which devastated several of the hikers. Seems like the weather they are having currently is in the low 40's. My weather search for Dawsonville, GA. (By Amicalola Falls) shows 70 - 55 degrees with 40% scattered showers.
Date: 2017-03-25
From: Arches at Amilcola Park Approach

To: Stover Creek
Miles today: 2.8

Start my hike with Buz who retired from same job. Went thru Arches at Park opening at 8:39 right after breakfast at the lodge. We both had 28 pound packs. The steps we the falls was a great warm up challenge for the start of a possible 6 month thru hike. 8.2 miles landed us on Springer Mountain being the official start of the trail. After signing the log book we hiked 2.8 miles further to Stover Creek shelter and due to reported rain decided to stay in the shelter. Lots of rain that night and we stayed dry.
Date: 2017-03-26
From: Stover Creek

To: Justus Creek
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Hiked towards Gooch spent much of the day putting on and off our rain suits. Was getting late to make Gooch so we stopped at Justus Creek at the 14.4 mark hiking 11.6 miles. This was our 1st night we set up our tents.
Date: 2017-03-27
From: Justus Creek

To: Lance Creek
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Decided we wanted to plan for spending time at Neels Gap which was further than we wanted yet for one day so we headed for Lance Creek. Still on and off with rain suits. Shortly after noon we hit Woody Gap where GA 60 crossed. As we crossed the large parking lot Buz headed for the out building and I looked over and saw two young ladies yelling and waving for me to come over. As I neared their table I realized we just came across our 1st trail magic. They opened up three pizza boxes and it did take but a second former to grab from the first box opened. Hot pizza, power aid, banana did not take long for me to consume. Our angles were Dana and Emma who completed their thru hike in 5 months and decided to offer trail magic to give back some of the hospitality they had received. We talked probably one error half hour picking their experiences and took off at a slow pace but happy. We hiked a total of 9.8 miles ending the day at Lance Creek set up for 6 tent pads. Well we were a little concerned because after setting up our tents I counted 17 tents. Buz waited until after dark, skinned his light on the outside of my tent and spoke in a very low voice "Forest Ranger I need to see your permit for the non-equipped site". Had me fooled for a moment we might need bailed out of jail. Tremendous rain,lightening, and thunder.
Date: 2017-03-28
From: Lance Creek

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

Day started with no current rain. Packed a wet tent, ate two sandwishs, and took off. Beautiful day, started out with foggy morning and cleared up when we got to Blood Mountain. Got some beautiful photos. On the way down we we took photo of a large boulder supported by two small columns. Made Neels Gap, stayed in the Walasi-Ying hostel. Charging phones, battery chargers, and got a much needed shower.
Date: 2017-03-29
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hiked past two water sources with warnings claiming the water was contaminated with the Roto-virus. Most hikers used Sawyer water filters which does not kill the virus. I carry the SteriPen ultra which uses ultraviolet light to alter the virus DNA making it safe to drink. I sent about 20 minutes treating many other hikers water. During the day we hiked Blood Mountain which is the tallest Mtn. On the A/T in Georgia at 4,457.
Date: 2017-03-30
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Met our 2nd Trail Angles at Unicoi Gap. They even gave us a ride to the Top of Georgia hostel. Great being inside due to heavy rains that night. The hostel was great giving us rides to town and back to the trail. I got rid of my hot cotton slacks and got light weight hikers slacks .
Date: 2017-04-02
From: Plum Orchard Gap Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Met lady who was suffering from possible heat rash on her hands. Cold in the mornings and hot in the afternoon noon. The trail takes it toll on many. We have already past the point where 25 % are said to drop out. Buz and I made it to NC at the 78.2 miles mark and stopped at 81.1 miles at Muskrat Creek Shelter.