morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-08
From: Dahlgren backpack campground

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

Last night I was in my tent at 10:00pm and it was 82 degrees. I was laying on top of my sleeping bag sweating like a pig and thinking I only have 17 more miles to hike to get back to my truck. I can't wait to feel the air conditioning again. This morning I hit the trail at 6:00am knowing that the forecast was to be hot and close to 100 degrees. The 17 miles wasn't all that hard, it was that in the last ten miles there weren't going to be any water sources. I had made the first 7 miles pretty quick considering my feet still hurt from yesterdays 23 miles. I managed to drink 3 liters of water during the morning heat and then load up 3 more litters for the last ten miles. By the time I walked into the edge of town I drank my last sip from water bladder. From the edge of town I still have 1.5 miles to hike up hill trough town to get to my truck. I stopped within the first 50 yards at a pub and ordered 2 large glasses of ice water and 2 beers. I stepped out side through out my thumb and the first car that came by gave me a ride all the way to my truck. I love it when luck happens. I cleaned up at the hostel and climbed into my truck for a long 9 hour drive home.
Date: 2011-06-09
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

As I reflect back on last year and this years hike I feel really good to have hiked over 1000 miles. The best part was all the great people I meet along the way. The southern half of the AT has some of the best trail towns, Hostels and friendly people that were willing to pick up stinky hitch hikers from the trail. Most of all I will cherish the people I met along the trail. Appalachian Trial hikers are a special group of people with the sample goal of experiencing the great outdoors and hiking long distances. Young and old, no matter their background we were a family that watched out for each other, we were one. No one will really understand until they have gone to the trail and spent at least a month hiking. It is a very special place in my hart. I will continue to hike more of the trail each year until I have reached Maine. I have added pictures from this section of the trail. Enjoy. "Tennessee Tom"
Date: 2011-03-19
From: Springer Mountain, Georgia

To: Stover Creek 
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: clear sky

I'm starting this journal a little late because I didn't find out about trail journals until Neels! I started from Springer on the March 19th and have been having a blast from there! In my next entries I'll try to summarize my journal to get this journal quickly caught up. (theres a 30 minute limit on the computers)
Date: 2011-03-20
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Justus Creek
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

This is the 19th and 20th combined. March 19th- Said goodbye to the family today and began my big adventure! I kept the miles short for the first day just to ease into it. Stover Creek was an awesome shelter and I'm already starting to meet a lot of nice people. March 20th- Hiked about 12 miles today a lot faster than i should have for it being my second day and my knee really felt it. I got my trail name "Tex" today as well.
Date: 2011-03-21
From: Justus Creek

To: Big Cedar Mountain
Miles today: 7.2

Had a slow start today with a breakfast of jerky and coffee. Knee is still bugging me and it rained a little bit last night. I'm not planning on going as far as I did the day before (I think thats why my knee is hurting so bad). However, other than my knee I'm having a great time and really enjoying the hike so far! Finished the day with Mellow, Breeze, and Depends on top of Big Cedar Mt. and the view was just incredible. The door of my tent perfectly faced a rocky outcrop that overlooked a deep mountain valley. My knee did better today and I took my first splash bath in a freezing cold stream which helped me feel better too!
Date: 2011-03-22
From: Big Cedar Mountain

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise out the front of my tent today. On the menu for breakfast was tuna to give me some fuel to keep up with Mellow and Breeze. Those guys like to really book it. My knee started blowing up on me again and I eventually had to drop off from them. Put my headphones in for the rest of the day and jammed out as I began the approach to Blood Mountain. The uphill for Blood wasn't bad at all but the downhill made my left knee just explode. I am so glad to be in Neels gap. After my shakedown at Neels I ended up sending home about 8 lbs. of stuff which will make the hike a lot easier. I got a bunk in the hostel and met Pirate (the caretaker). A church group came and made baked ziti! I ate three huge plates of it. Full stomach and a shower and ready for a good nights sleep.
Date: 2011-03-23
From: Neels Gap

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

Taking my first zero day at Neels gap to give my knee a chance to heal up a little bit. Pirate took pictures of all of us and hung them up on the wall with all the other hiker pictures from 2011 so far. A church group came and made burgers for lunch and Pirate made white bean chili for dinner. My knee is starting to feel better and spending time with my new buddies and telling stories always helps me to feel better too!
Date: 2011-03-24
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Left Neels gap today after a breakfast of pancakes made by pirate. The wind was so strong today that I felt like I was going to get blown right off the mountain! Really great views today cheered me up but my knee is still hurting pretty bad. There was some trail magic around lunch time where a guy had sodas snack and beer and some lawn chairs laid out at one of the gaps. Supposed to freeze tonight so I bundled up for a cold one!
Date: 2011-03-25
From: Low Gap

To: Blue Mountain
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: clear sky

Woke up this morning with frost on my tent so I decided to take a slow start and let some of it melt and dry up before packing it. Had a solid hike today and my knee felt great all day long. Got into Blue mountain and Cope came running in shortly after all sweaty and out of breath because he pretty much ran 18 miles (at least) from neels gap. Rainbow went with Pacemaker, fire starter, truancy, and maps and got some beer and jim beam for everyone. Had a great time with freinds and good stories and drink around the campfire, and our name the "blue mountain recipe" was born.
Date: 2011-03-26
From: Blue Mountain

To: Tray mountain
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Woke up with a puddle in my vestibule because it rained last night. Had some granola and crowded up in the shelter to stay out of the rain fro breakfast. Decided to be nice and get everyone water because I figured it might as well be one person going out to be miserable getting water than all of us. The storm today was pretty epic, but the terrain matched it too. The mountains were enormous and the rain turned the trails into rivers. Had to set my tent up in the rain which wasnt too bad and I cooked dinner in my tent which warmed the place up a little. My knee felt much better today so I hope its getting stronger. Hiawassee tomorrow!
Date: 2011-03-27
From: Tray mountain

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked into Hiawassee today and hitched a ride with a couple that had fixed up their van to live out of it and tour america and visit trails. Got into the hotel and laid everything out to dry which was so nice. After everyone got clean we went out to a restaurant called the yacht club and I ordered a 14oz steak which was delicious. Looking forward to getting out tomorrow after a great nights sleep!
Date: 2011-03-28
From: Hiawassee

To: Plumorchard shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great nights sleep and after resupplying (going into a grocery store hungry is never a good idea because youll get too much food) hiked on to plumorchard shelter. Plumorchard was an awesome three story shelter and I stayed up on the top floor and it was really toasty! Cant wait to cross the border tomorrow!
Date: 2011-03-29
From: Plumorchard shelter

To: Standing Indian shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Crossed the GA/NC border today! What a great feeling to have a state behind me already. Finally feel like im getting my trail legs, my knee hasn't been hurting as much either. Its supposed to rain tonight again but my tent has been doing a great job of keeping me dry through all these rain and fog spells. Still hiking with the BMR and loving it. It feels like I've got a family out here to hike with.
Date: 2011-03-31
From: Betty Creek gap

To: Franklin
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Got a very slow start today and was the last one out of camp. I had turned my GPS on because I figure if i'm going to be carrying this piece of junk i might as well use it to see some stats. Well that might not have been the best idea because it motivated me to try and break 4mph which i did. I saw everyone that got an earlier start with me and met up with gumby and peaches in the afternoon to make the push on into franklin. We got to franklin and got our room with pacemaker maps and bravo. That made 6 people to one room which came out to 25 bucks a person for 3 nights! pretty sweet deal.
Date: 2011-04-03
From: Franklin

To: Wayah Bald shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

Gumby and I went to church today before getting out on the trail. One of the guys from church that also owns the outdoor 76 store in franklin took us by the grocery to resupply and then drop us at the trailhead. He told us that when we get into the smokies were going to poop our pants because its so pretty, I cant wait! Had a nice hike with gumby today into wayah and the weather has been nice for a change. Speaking of nice weather weve been hitting some of the balds now and the views are just amazing. Should hit NOC in 2 days!
Date: 2011-04-04
From: Wayah Bald shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Had a great hike today jamming out on my headphones, met back up at lunch with Gumby and peaches and we hike on into wesser bald to prep for the hailstorm that is coming tonight. Had a great time in the shelter and the sky dumped all it had on us, I was very happy to be in the shelter listening to the hail hitting the tin roof insteady of worrying out it ripping through my rainfly and hitting me!
Date: 2011-04-05
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Sassafrass Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up dry and the storm was gone. Got an early start and began the epic downhill into the NOC, my knees started acting up again but I made it into NOC alright. I had an awesome breakfast at the restaurant at NOC and they had boxed liters of wine at the resupply shop so I got one to pack up the 3k uphill for the second half of the day. Pretty much ran up the 3k uphill and got a spot in the shelter, that wasn't a great idea for my knee though. Had a lot of fun at sass and a great nights sleep. Its always nice to be in a shelter.
Date: 2011-04-06
From: Sassafrass Gap Shelter

To: Cody gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Had a really painful day into Cody Gap today. Woke up and could barely move my left knee and crutched all day long on my poles. There were some hard downhills and sick uphills that didnt help either but I eventually made it into camp and decided to sleep under the stars next to the campfire coals. What a treat it is to cowboy camp. That was probably the best sleep ive had on the trail yet! Just being able to fall asleep looking up at the stars is a great feeling!
Date: 2011-04-07
From: Cody gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: clear sky

Had an agonizing day today as I descended into Fontana. My knee is really starting to bum me out and not having any battery for my ipod really makes it tough. When I finally (and frustratingly) got into fontana, i felt like i needed a wheelchair to get around so I made the decision to stay at the hotel with a few other guys and take a zero tomorrow. Dinner was great though, I had a full rack of bbq ribs and a wedge salad!
Date: 2011-04-08
From: Fontana Dam

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Takin a zero today was exactly what I needed but im bummed out that im behind most of the BMR now. Surely i will catch up to them soon enough. Met a guy named broomstick that im zeroing with today and ive just been hanging out and icing my knees all day which has really helped. Hopefully ill feel better tomorrow. I cant wait to get up into the Smokies! P. S. A really nice guy paid for me and my buddies meal tonight! Unbelievable trail magic! I can't wait to get back on the trail tomorrow!
Date: 2011-04-09
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Woke up rested today but my buddy Broomstick was getting sick as soon as he rolled out of bed. After I got ready to go, Broomstick had decided to stop hiking and go home. He offloaded some of his food onto me which consisted of some awesome honey buns made in his hometown. Started hiking around 9 and on my way past the Fontana Hilton saw Wet Beard and Wrong Way, they said they were getting off the trail because someone had broken into their apartment. So already today was turning out to be a pretty sad day with people dropping off around me. I miss my group and hope to catch up with them soon. My knee healed up a little from the zero but still hurts. Made it up into the Smokies today and the shelters look like cabins with one side open!
Date: 2011-04-10
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: few clouds

Had a great morning getting out of the shelter and a great nights sleep. Another beautiful day to hike. Lots of nice views and a blazing hot day. Made it to Derrick Knob for the night and the gnats have been driving everyone crazy; swarms of them are eating us alive. Knee still in pain but it's getting better.
Date: 2011-04-11
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautifully easy 7.2 miles today. My knees felt great for the most part so I'm planning on getting a lot more miles in tomorrow. Looking forward to Clingmans Dome in the morning. The Smokies are a truly awesome place. The sky is supposed to fall tonight so I'm glad to be in the sturdy shelters of the smokies. The roof of the shelter is a clear panel and I'm set up right under it so I can enjoy watching the hail and rain pelt it during the night.
Date: 2011-04-12
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: moderate rain

My hands are so cold that I can barely write (or do anything at all that requires dexterity for that matter). The ink in my pen is also not writing well because of the extreme cold. During the night last night a snow storm blew in and I hiked in a literal "white out" today. There was no view waiting for me at the top of Clingmans Dome, just an icy windy pathway leading up to an icecicle laden observation tower. Once I finally made it to the shelter for the night I could not feel a bone in my body and just putting on a change of dry clothes was a chore. I caught up to my freinds though so it made it all worth it. Quite an epic day.
Date: 2011-04-13
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke to the persistently frosty weather this morning, but it has at least stopped storming now. Once my hike was underway for the day and I warmed up, the trail opened up to beautiful ridgeline views. Made it to the shelter for the night and the sun was bright and shining with blue skies. There was a hill behind the shelter that allowed me and my freinds to climb up on the shelter room and catch some rays! Another great day of hiking.
Date: 2011-04-14
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked into Davenport Shelter tonight. A few of my freinds had gone on a mission to find pizza since we are so close to a road crossing, they were successful. A delicious pizza party then follwed at the shelter. This shelter is the last shelter in the smokies and the only one with a bear fence still remaining. Good thing there was a fence because I'm sure bears love pizza and we had plenty of it!
Date: 2011-04-15
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Sad to have my last morning in the smokies today, I will definitely have to come back and visit these mountains again. Hiked down to Standing Bear Hostel to resupply and then do a steep climb out to Groundhog shelter. Played a game of rocks after dinner. Rocks is a game that we came up with at davenport to entertain oursleves. Rocks is played by picking a large rock downhill that you throw smaller rocks at, if you bounce off the ground and hit the rock its one point, hit the rock directly and its two, land your rock on top of the target rock and its five. The first player to reach ten points wins.
Date: 2011-04-16
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Bluff Mt.
Miles today: 15.6

Passed Max Patch on my hike today! Max is by far one of the most beautiful things I have seen. While I was hiking along the patch I witnessed a proposal right as I passed the couple, that was fun being the first people to congratualte them. Stealth camped on top of Bluff Mt. tonight in ice cold weather.
Date: 2011-04-17
From: Bluff Mt.

To: Hot Springs 
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

Woke up with frost on my tent which motivated me to pack up very quickly so I could begin my hike to warm up. The early morning part of my hike today was awesome, all of the trees and plants were crusted with shimmering frost in the sunrise. Made the descent into Hot Springs and went directly to the diner for lunch and coffee. Hot Springs is a fun town and a zero here tomorrow will be great.
Date: 2011-04-21
From: Spring Mt. Shelter

To: Hemlock Hollow Hostel
Miles today: 5.3

Hiked into Hemlock Hollow with Frosty and IronWill today. I talked to the owner and she let us chop some wood so we could sleep on the porch of the hostels restaurant for free. Stayed up late on the porch playing cards and sharing stories!
Date: 2011-04-23
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Made it over 300 miles today! Had a great solo hike today and cranked out a tough 15 miles. The whole day was amazing as far as how my body felt. The last mile did feel lenghty though, as I was closing in to the shelter. Feeling some big miles tomorrow, possibly doing my first 20 miler.
Date: 2011-04-24
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Left Hogback in the mood for big miles today. Felt a little stiff coming out in the morning but settled into my stride after a few miles. Beautiful views from some balds today. Stopped at Bald Mt. shelter for dinner and to prepare for the second ten mile push. We prepared and readied our headlamps (Bubbles, Frosty, and I). We hiked the majority of the second half of the trip at night which was quite an experience. Finally reached camp at 11:00 and tried to quietly set my tent up. After I got settled into my tent however, Mice began to run between my rain fly and mesh wall so I began punching them as they ran around hoping to scare them off from eating holes in my gear. Into Erwin tomorrow!
Date: 2011-04-25
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Erwin
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

Woke up pretty sleepy from the mice keeping me up all night. The water at the shelter was a hassle to get down to so we thought we could do 6 miles without water which was a bad idea in hindsight. Made it into Uncle Johnny's hostel in time for the lunch shuttle to a AYCE pizza place.
Date: 2011-05-05
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Icehouse
Miles today: 8.6

Had big plans of knocking some miles back today but Frosty and I were drawn in to the icehouse's burgers. It was too enticing to be able to just hike off of a side trail to get there. Well a burger and a few games of darts later we decided we were going to stay at the Icehouse and the owner let us sleep on the floor after he had closed for the night.
Date: 2011-05-08
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Got a relatively early start today, feeling great and ready to take on a nice 18 mile day. Made it to Iron Mt. shelter for lunch and coming out of the shelter saw my first bear! I looked up just in time to see him look up at me and then dart off into the woods faster than I thought an animal of that size ever could. Made it into Damascus and had some Buffalo wings at the pizza place and got a bunk at a hostel.
Date: 2011-06-14
From: Buena Vista, Va 

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey everyone! Sorry it has been so long since my last entry. I have gotten behind in my journaling and need to catch up! So more entries are soon to follow. I got to see my first movie in a theater on trail this week which was fun. The weather has been exceedingly hot lately and since my camel back decided to burst inside of my backpack I have been carrying a plastic gallon jug for a water container to make sure I stay hydrated. In about fifty miles I will be hopping in a canoe for a little bit of the Shenandoas to perform what is known out here as aqua blazing. So the adventure continues and I'm having a blast! For those of you back home, you probably won't even recognize me anymore! I have lost a total of 30 pounds so far, putting me at 190, which was my college swimming weight! So the physical aspect of the trail is going great but the mental aspect is getting more difficult, as I miss everyone back home and my pup more and more every day! I want to thank everyone for all of the support and encouragement y'all have given me! It really means a lot!
Date: 2011-08-07
From: Home

To: New Hampshire
Miles today: 0.0

Well, the Amigo's are finally fixing to hit the trail again. This time we will venture north to New Hampshire and get #1 his final peak (Isolation, of course). Seems like everybody leaves this one til last. Has been really hot in the south this year which always makes it hard to prepare. Seems like we have had 100 degree days for two months now, come to think of it we actually have. Believe me this is miserable....... We will all fly out on Aug. 21st and meet in Atlanta to board the bird for N.H. Am really looking forward to this trip as it has been a while since we were last on the trail.# 3 Amigo
Date: 2011-08-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Trying to get everything ready to go. Worked out of town this year a good bit and my wife took the opportunity to hide all of my hiking equipment. Actually she calls it straightning up and while I admit it is cleaner looking it sure make finding all of your gear a pain. "Honey, where is this? Honey where is that?" Finally found the correct closet and the correct boxes and got some of it together. Will have to trim some stuff so I can carry some extra weather gear. I remember my last trip up there to this area and I will be prepared as best as I can.#3 Amigo
Date: 2011-08-09
To: New Hampshire
Miles today: 0.0

Looked over our hike plans today and they look sound, that is if the weather holds. We plan to leave Rt. 302 at Crawford Notch and climb up the Webster Cliff trail to Neumans(sp) campsites the first night. Day two will be the Crawford Path to the Lakes of the Cloud hut where we plan to drop the packs and summit Washington light then return for a stay at the hut. Day three will be down the Davis Path to Summit Isolation which will give #1 his 48th peak. We plan on staying somewhere between here and 302 that night. Day 4 down to 302 and back to the condo in Conway. Hope #1 knows that he has to carry the bubblie in his pack.....#3 Amigo