morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-22
From: Springer Mt. Shelter, GA

To: Hawk Mt. Shelter, GA
Miles today: 7.4

I was asleep last night before 9 PM. Woke up around 11:30 PM to go to the bathroom (aka pee in the woods) and woke up about every 2 hours thereafter. It was a bright and clear night from a full moon. A litle windy but I stayed warm in my tent. Finally woke up and got up at 8 AM and was on the trail by 9. One thing I did not mention yesterday was that when I got to the official start at Springer Mountain I was momentarily overcome by a sense of the enormity of the task I was about to undertake. Walk to Maine? Was I crazy? Then there was a sort of imperceptible shift inside me and I toom my first step and then another and then I was on my way. Today's trail was easier than the Approach Trail. Some small up and downs, but only one mountain, Hawk Mt. to go up and over at the end of the day. I am feeling pretty good but still wanted to take it easy these first few days and let my body acclimate to the rigors of trail life (I think I may be getting blisters on my pinky toes already). It was perfect weather again today and the forest here reminded me of PA, except with more pine trees and rhododendrens (sp.?). At no point does the AT in GA go below 2500 ft. By contrast the AT in PA never goes much above 2000 ft.I met a guy today who owns GoLite, an ultralight backpacking company in Colorado. He was out testing gear and trying to prove that ultralightweight gear can handle heavy loads. He was carrying a 120lbs pack and was not planning to resupply until he got to Virginia. INSANITY.
Date: 2008-03-23
From: Hawk Mt. Shelter, GA

To: Gooch Gap, GA
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to a gray and chilly morning, but by lunchtime it was sunny and warm. Another perfect hiking weather day. If this keeps up I'm going to get spoiled. Went up and over Sassafras and Justis Mountains today. Also passed the GoLite guy again, he looked about ready to die from his 120lbs pack.My legs were a little sore when I woke up this morning and I now have 3 blisters, one on each pinky toe and one on the 4th toe of my left foot. Lanced the one on my right pinky toe as it was like a 2nd pinky toe growning out of the first one and it just about exploded when I lanced it. Pretty gross. Have them all taped up now and they feel better now. Also caught a few whiffs of something while hiking today and then realized I was smelling myself. Three days without a shower will do it.As I was hiking today I saw a house in the distance and it reminded me that the AT is not the remote wilderness experience most people think it is. Usually you are never more than a day or two from civilization. I also had the line 'the first days are the hardest days' from the Grateful Dead stuck in my head today. Despite the soreness and blisters I am feeling pretty good and can already feel my body getting stronger.Happy Easter! Hoppy Trails!P.S. - Experienced my first 'trail magic' (when something unexpectedly good happens on the trail) today when a biker at a forest service road crossing gave me and a section hiker a bottle of water. It wasn't much but it meant I didn't have to resupply water for the rest of the day.
Date: 2008-03-24
From: Gooch Gap, GA

To: Walasi-Yi Center, Neel's Gap, GA
Miles today: 14.2

Woke up to a cold and clear morning, but ended up hiking mostly through cloudy weather and snow squalls all day. It snowed enough to cover the trail and myself but would melt as soon as the sun came out. There were only 3 others at the camp site last night, 2 guys from South Carolina and the GoLite guy. Not sure how GoLite keeps catching up to me, but it reminds of the time in college when my friend Maggie and I took fitness walking. We didn't take the class very seriously but at one point a girl with a crutch and a cast on her foot passed us walking.Today was my biggest hiking day on the AT so far. Went up and over Big Cedar Mt. and Blood Mt., the highest point on the AT in GA. It looked monolithic from afar, but the climb was not that bad for me, probably because I was fueled by adrenaline from the snow. Also passed Slaughter Creek campsite on the way up Blood Mt. Charming names, huh? Apparently there was a big Indian battle here years ago. At the top of Blood Mt. is an old stone shelter from the 1930's, very creepy looking. At the top the sun had come out and I was able to get some of the best views of this trip so far. I could look south and see all the mountains I had crossed so far.I did not linger too long at the top of Blood Mt. as I wanted to get to the hostel at Neel's Gap. I got to the hostel, which also has an outfitter/resupply center, just before it was about to close for the night and got the last spot left, a couch in the common room. Got a discounted rate and was happy to take the couch as it was going to be a cold and windy night out. Can't wait to take a shower tonight.
Date: 2008-03-25
From: Walasi-Yi Center, Neel's Gap, GA

To: Low Gap Shelter, GA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Slept pretty good on the couch last night and missed all the snoring in the bunkhouse. Had french toast, homefries, bacon and sausage for breakfast. So good. Watched an old Clint Eastwood western and Into the Wild last night in the hostel. I thought Into the Wild was well done but sad and disturbing. I felt pretty bad for the old man. It was cold and clear out this morning when I started hiking and went up and over Levelland, Cowrock, Wildcat and Poor Mountains. Met an older guy from Kentucky out for a day hike who told me about wild pigs in the area. It's interesting how the Southern accent differs from region to region down here. The other day on Big Cedar Mt. I met an older guy from GA whose accent was so thick I had to ask him to repeat himself. So far most of the hikers out here, including thru-hikers seem to be from the South. There are still no leaves on the trees at this elevation in GA so it means I can see mountains through the trees off in the distance whichever way I look. It also means I can get sunburned until the leaves come out. I got a little windburnt the day it snowed. Not so windy today though. So far I also tend to hike alone during the day and haven't found anyone going my pace yet, but I socialize with other hikers at night at the shelters and campsites and also chat briefly with hikers I pass or pass me during the day. Tonight I'm sitting around a camp fire with the guys from South Carolina and a section hiker from Minnesota named Cancun. No sign of the GoLite guy today, so I must have finally put enough distance between myself and him, or else his ridiculously heavy pack tipped him over and he was unable to get back up. I'm planning for a shorter day tomorrow as my feet were hurting a little the second half of today. Actually it is more my toes than anything else that hurt, and mainly while going downhill. Feels like they are being pinched a little on the outsides. I'm going to try wearing a double layer of socks tomorrow to see if the extra cushion helps.
Date: 2008-03-26
From: Low Gap Shelter, GA

To: Rocky Mt. Campsite, GA
Miles today: 10.7

Woke up to the warmest morning so far. As usual I was on the trail by 9 AM. It was warm and sunny out today and warm enough to finally bring out some of the bugs towards the end of the day. I ended up going further than I intended today when some other thru-hikers said they were going further. Since it was only 1:30 PM and I had already reach my destination, I though I should go a little further too. Well I'm paying for it now. I am up to blister #4. I finally called it quits for the day on top of Rocky Mt. after crossing Blue Mt. (which I thought was rockier than Rocky Mt.). It is over 4000 ft here at the top of Rocky Mt. so it'll probably get chilly tonight. I learned the lesson today to listen to my body for when to stop and not to what other hikers around me are doing. There's only 1 other hiker staying here tonight so it should be quiet. With regard to my toes I think I am just going to tape all of them. If I keep having problems I may have to get new shoes or boots. Should be in Hiawasse (another town I was mispronouncing) by Friday. Clipped my fingernails today too and was surprised by how much dirt came out after just having a shower 2 days ago. Going to try to listen to my cheap FM armband radio as I am getting a bunch of signals from the top of this mountain from Atlanta and Greenville. Only the 2nd time I am trying to use it as a few days ago the only station I could pick up was an old time country station playing a song with the chorus 'I want to go home' over and over. I didn't think this was good for morale so I kept the radio off until today.
Date: 2008-03-27
From: Rocky Mt. Campsite, GA

To: Deep Gap Shelter, GA
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to a mild and clear morning. Another perfect hiking weather day in the North Georgia mountains. 7 days and still no rain. Came down off Rocky Mt. and went up and over Tray Mt. (4500 ft.) and after a series of nameless bumps I ended the day by going over Kelly Knob. Kelly Knob deserves the name mountain in my opinion as it is over 4000 ft. Maybe it was the end of the day and lack of switchbacks over the knob but I found it tiring. Anything over 4000 ft. should be called a mountain. My latest theory on my feet is that they are too wide for my boots and that is why they are being pinched on the outsides. I think I will go back to just one sock tomorrow as the doubling up method seems to pinch my big toes. Can't have the big toes going down. Otherwise the rest of me is going strong and feeling well. Tomorrow I will head into Hiawasse, GA to pick up my first maildrop/resupply and stay the night. Spent this evening sitting around a campfire chatting with a cool section hiker named Backtrack.** Note ** - Rainbow was tenting at this shelter but I did not actually meet her until the next day in Hiawasse, GA. I consider her my first hiking partner. We hiked out of Hiawasse together and hiked to Franklin, NC, where she took a zero day and I moved on.
Date: 2008-03-28
From: Deep Gap Shelter, GA

To: Hiawasse, GA
Miles today: 3.5

Short day into Hiawasse. Woke up to a mild and cloudy morning. And then the rain finally came. After 7 days of no rain I walked though about a half hour of drizzling rain. But I was walking through rhododendren tunnels most of the time so I barely got more than damp. It did remain pretty humid out until I got to the road crossing a little after 11 AM and is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. As soon as I got to the road crossing I caught a shuttle from a woman who owns a hostel called Cloud 9 outside of Hiawasse. From there a thru-hiker who works at the hostel named Crutch gave me a ride into Hiawasse where I picked up my maildrop at the post office. My pack will be much heavier again with a full food load. Hiawasse is a pretty small town, not much more than a main street, although it sits next to a sizable lake and has numerous vacation looking boat houses in the surrounding hills. After the post office I walked down the main street to a hotel called the Hiawasse Inn, where the innkeeper immediately sat me down for a chili dog lunch. I got a shower and then gave him my clothes for the laundry service. I'm looking forward to a night in a bed, resting my mangled toes, and watching some March Madness.
Date: 2008-03-29
From: Hiawasse, GA

To: Hiawasse, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero day (as in zero miles hiked) today mainly because I felt like it, to give my toes some re-healing time, avoid the all day rain, and oh yeah to watch some more March Madness. I'll be back on the trail tomorrow and should hit North Carolina by Monday if all goes well. Oh yeah, I also wanted to thank Gutsy (thru-hiker '96 - same year as Bill Bryson) for buying me dinner last night. Very much appreciated. Hung out and chatted with Rainbow and her two dogs Mokie and Journey afterwards.
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Hiawasse, GA

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter, GA
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to a cold and foggy morning in Hiawasse, GA. It was hard to leave the hotel but Rainbow, her dogs and I were dropped off at the trailhead in Dick's Gap (where I got off the trail on Friday) at 9 AM. I wore my rain gear but it was hard to tell if it kept me dry as I was sweating so much underneath it. It was so foggy that I could only see about 20 to 30 yards around me, so there was really not much to see other than wet trail and trees. Also, because of the dense fog, I had no conception of how high I was climbing or when I was reaching the summit of a hill, which was kind of good because I was pleasantly surprised when I did reach the summits. Only did a short day today because of the weather and I wanted to ease my feet back into hiking mode. Tonight will be my first night staying in a shelter due to the rain. The one here is pretty nice. It has three levels with windows at the top. I have the top level to myself, but the other two levels have filled up with people getting out of the weather. Hopefully it will be warmer and drier out tomorrow.
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter, GA

To: Standing Indian Shelter, NC
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

NORTH CAROLINA!!! 1 state down, 13 to go. Slept in the shelter last night and had the 3rd level all to myself after standing around a campfire several hours last night. After my first shelter experience I have to say I think the ground outside in my tent is softer and it is certainly more quiet in my tent. But I stayed nice and dry and since I was on the 3rd level it got nice and warm. Also, no mice sightings, bonus. It was chilly and foggy out this morning. It got warmer throughout the day, but again I pretty much walked through a cloud all day with not much to see until I got to the North Carolina border. There was a sign on a tree indicating one side was Georgia and the other side was North Carolina. A little further along was a famous twisted oak tree on the trail. Stopped and took some pictures. This felt like a huge accomplishment - my first state down and had a big impact on improving my morale with 2 days of rain and fog. Small goals are important to me out here, especially on a day like today when it is impossible to keep things dry because it is so chilly and damp out. I'm staying here at the shelter again tonight with two section hikers from Florida, Slap Happy, Machete, and Rainbow and her dogs. Hoping to keep warm and dry tonight, but it doesn't look likely.
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Standing Indian Shelter, NC

To: Carter Gap Shelter, NC
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to a chill, foggy, windy and wet morning. It was pretty hard to get out of my sleeping bag, even though it was also wet due to the wind blowing the rain right into the shelter last night. Ah, the life of a hiker. Pretty much everything I own or am wearing is wet or damp. Part of the shelter roof is metal so the rain pounding against it kept me from getting much sleep. All this being said, I am still having a great time.By noon the morning revealed itself to be an April Fools' Day joke, as it got nice and warm and sunny out. I went up and over Standing Indian Mt. this morning, which is the highest point on the trail so far at 5498 ft, but unfortunately it was still too foggy out to see much from the summit of the "Grandstand of the Southern Appalachians". I only ended up doing a short day to Carter Gap Shelter so I could dry all of my gear out in the nice warm sun. Will probably spend my 3rd night in the shelter here. I am kind of liking not having to tear down my tent in the mornings. I met a guy here, Glenn, from Lebanon. My 2nd Pennsylvanian I've met out here. Also met another guy who had a bear grab his pack and tear it apart back near Neel's Gap, GA. His trailname is 'Bearpack' now and suffice it to say he has all new gear. Not sure if I could get back on the trail again so quickly if I saw a bear eat my pack. Now that it is dry and sunny out again, North Carolina has revealed it is rivaling Georgia for beauty, if only it stays like this! Also now that I am out of Georgia, the shelter spots do not necessarily come equipped with bear cables from which to hang your food, which means I have to resort to the old fashioned bear bagging method (which I hate doing at the end of the day). On the feet front everything seems to be holding steady, no more blisters. Only one spot rubbed raw on my second toe on my left foot from the tape on my big toe of all things. Even when I am trying to take care of my toes they still inflict pain on their blister free neighbors. My overall assessment of Georgia is that it was hard, but I do not think it was as hard as I had built it up to be in my mind before leaving PA. ** Note ** - This was the first day I met Bearpack and Bearbait, although we did not really interact much or for long as they only stopped in the shelter area for water and then moved on. Interestingly and probably appropriately I met them on April Fools Day. Essentially, with a few small breaks, I hiked with them from Franklin, NC to Hanover, NH. They were my longest hiking partners.
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Carter Gap Shelter, NC

To: Rock Gap Shelter, NC
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

It stormed last night starting around 8:30 PM, so I was glad that I stayed in the shelter again. This time however, everything stayed dry. I woke up a little after 7 AM to a cool, clear morning and got my earliest start yet by getting on the trail by 8 AM. It was fairly easy hiking today, with the exception of a steep climb right before reaching the summit of Albert Mt., another high peak at 5250 ft. Got some of the best views of my hike today so far. I cuold see lots of mountains in the distance with fog/clouds in the valleys and lowlands below. The climb up Albert Mt. was a little surreal as there were clouds right next to the mountain on the way up so close that I felt I could reach out and stick my hand in them, while the trail I was on was in bright sunlight.Today also marked another milestone because I crossed the 100 mile mark on the trail. It is still less than 5% of the trail, but it certainly feels like a big milestone to me.
Date: 2008-04-03
From: Rock Gap Shelter, NC

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Stayed in the shelter last night. It was a more rustic shelter, although it was equipped with bear cables. There was a sign a few days back of an 'active bear' in the area, whatever that means. Woke up about 6:30 AM and it started raining shortly thereafter. I was on the trail in the rain and fog by 7 AM and caught the shuttle at the road crossing into Franklin, NC to Ron Haven's Budget Inn to avoid what looked to be nasty weather for the rest of the day. Ron Haven is a semi-famous hotel owner to thru-hikers as he goes out of his way to shuttle them to and from the trail and around town. I'm sharing a room with Rainbow and her dogs tonight so it is a pretty cheap deal. I'll be back on the trail tomorrow and she'll be staying here another night. Will spend the rest of the day drying things out again, doing laundry, showering, and resting my toes.
Date: 2008-04-04
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Shelter, NC
Miles today: 10.5

Woke up in the hotel and got the shuttle back to the trail head at Winding Stair Gap. The weather was windy, foggy and rainy. Western NC is rapidly resembling a rain forest. Got wet but the stuff in my pack stayed pretty dry. The combination of the short day yesterday and the weather today spurred my hiking to a rapid pace. Also there was nothing to see because of the weather. I did go over two balds, Siler and Wayah, today. Balds are open grassy areas at the summits of mountains in the South. There are no trees on the balds but not because the area is above the treeline. There does not seem to be any one explanation for their occurrence. At the top of Wayah Bald there is a stone tower that I took refuge in for about 10 minutes and briefly debated whether to just try to spend the night in there but the wind was blowing the rain right into the tower and there was no door. I lucked out though because it turned out there was a brand new shelter built within the last year within a mile of the tower. So I am staying in the new shelter and due to the weather it will be a full shelter. This shelter was not in my 2007 guidebook or maps. Also because I have the 2007 guidebook I was not aware that an extra mile was added to the trail somewhere back in Georgia. So somewhere along the way I hiked a really long mile without realizing it and my total mileage is off by a mile.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Wayah Shelter, NC

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: light rain

Wow, my longest day yet. Woke up warm and dry in the shelter, but it was foggy and rainy outside. The trail was a muddy, soaking mess all day and I was wet all day. There was nothing to see and I was too focused on getting to the Nantahala Outdoor Center to notice much else. The NOC is a big whitewater rafting/outfitters/resupply/hostel that the trail goes right through the middle of on the Nantahala River (the largest river crossing so far). I got here just in time for dinner and to watch the Final Four games at the Paddler's Pub. Coming into the NOC the last 5 miles are all steep downhill beginning with a point called the Jump Off. Right after the Jump Off I slipped on wet roots and leaves and fell backwards on my pack twice within 5 minutes. No harm done, but Mr. Bones and Stubbs got to see my first two falls on the trail. Things are also much more in bloom down at this lower elevation.I also picked up my maildrop here. Overall this place is a lot bigger than I imagined it would be. It has a crunchy, granola feel to it for sure. I'm staying in a tiny two person bunkhouse tonight with a thru-hiker named Hungry Jack. He's thru-hiked before and his feet are much more torn up than mine are. Tomorrow I will take a zero day here to rest my feet, dry things out and move to a motel room. I should be in the Smoky Mountains in 3-4 days.
Date: 2008-04-06
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero Day. Moved from the bunkhouse to my own room. Did laundry and showered. Dried stuff out. Sat out by the river for awhile and just generally relaxed. I was so tired I couldn't stay up past 10pm last night. Saw some blue sky and the sun even came out today. Hopefully this bodes well for tomorrow.** Note ** - This is the first day I met Dust in the Wind. I saw her through the Smokies and off and on throughout Virginia. I did not see her again until Massachusetts and then hiked with her until Maine. I also met Inchi/Gumby this day, who I last saw in Shennendoah, and Hammer, who I later saw through large parts of New Hampshire and Maine.
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC

To: Cheoah Bald, NC
Miles today: 8.1

Flamethrower showed up at the NOC late yesterday afternoon. It was the first time since Hawk Mountain Shelter, GA that I've seen him. Another March 21st-er. Woke up to a beautiful morning, checked out of my room and was on the trail by 9:30 AM. The first 6 miles were all uphill going from 1700 Ft. to 4700 Ft. I took a short break at Sassafras Gap Shelter and then followed Bearpack and Aaron up to Cheoah Bald, and glad I did. Awesome views. Just over 5000 ft. I renamed Cheoah Bald Johnny O's Bald in my head. Thru-hiker Pop Tart came up to join us and we got a fire going. Tonight will be my first night in my tent in over a week. Hoping to catch a good sunset from up here.