morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-05-27
From: Gooch Mtn Shelter

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Gooch Mtn Shelter 15.8 miles to Woodys Gap (20.8 miles) : hiked 5 miles  I slept great last night. I did not wake up until 6am. I got up and fixed breakfast and coffee and proceeded to pack my stuff and take down my tent.I hit the trail at 7:40.It was going to be short day since I decided I could not make Neels Gap which was 15.8 miles away and would have to hike over Blood Mtn. The last 8 miles before Neels Gap requires bear canisters and most hikers do not carry them due to the weight.There were great views along the trail this morning ( I will post pictures) The terrain was still hard and very up and down like yesterday. I reached Woodys Gap at 11:10am and had gone 5 miles. Marilee booked me a bunk at Hikers Hostel for tonight which is 7 miles off the AT. I had a snack and Hiker Hostel picked me up at 12:15. I felt better today but still a little tired-- I wish I could hike a few more miles.I have spent the afternoon taking a shower, washing all my cloths (2 shirts, 2 shorts, 2 pairs of socks and my long tights- I wore my gym shorts as laundry was being done), and catching up on the internet since wifi has not been available on the trail. The Hostel is very nice and very clean. I am in a bunk room with 2 bunk beds.A great story: I broke my reading glasses on the trail today. The Hostel did not have a pair I could buy and they suggested I call Mama's Taxis to take me in town (14 miles away) to buy some.I called the taxi but no one answered. I took my shower and called again. Martha answered and I told her what I needed. She said the fare would be $50 so I told her I would do without my glasses for a few days. She calls me back in 15 min and told me she was in a Dollar General and had reading glasses. She said she could buy and drop them off at the Hostel later tonight. I told her to buy me 3 pairs (cost was $3). She delivered them about 4pm. She just wanted me pay for glasses - I gave her a pretty tip and she did not want to take it because she said she was just doing me favor. I got her to take tip.. There are still good people out there.I spent the afternoon on the porch (picture) checking out things on my phone and catching up on my journal. I order a medium pizza from Papa Johns. I could only eat half of it. Check weather and calling thunderstorm in the morning- not good.That is it for today. I am heading to bed at 9pm.
Date: 2017-05-30
From: Poplar Stump Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 8.3

May 30, Tuesday:  Poplar Stump Gap (44.6) to Unicoi Gap (52.9) for total of 8.3 milesAs I said it was raining last night when I went to bed at 9:30. I woke up several times during the night due to the noise the heavy rain was making as it hit my tent. At 5 AM it had stopped raining. I got moving at 6 AM and I began to pack my back pack. It was dry inside my tent but very muddy outside. I did heat water so I would have coffee & oatmeal. I was the only person in my campsite last night and it was located right next to the trail.I hit the trail at 8 AM. I packed so if it started to rain I would have my rain gear available. It was cool when I started out. There were no tracks on the trail this morning. It was muddy. I was thinking as I walked that I was the first person to hit the trail.About an hour into the hike I noticed a very fresh print in the trail. It was the paw print of large black bear. (See the picture) I never did see the bear but it had to be close. I moved along at a pretty good pace.At 10:45 AM I had gone 5.0 miles. The terrain on the trail was better today about 70% of the time. It was foggy. I was walking in the clouds. Also there were a lot of flowering trees along the trail. I did hike over Blue Mtn today at a height of 4025 feet. After I cleared Blue Mtn it was downhill to Unicoi Gap over rocks & boulders. They were very slick due to the mud. I think I would have fallen 8 to 10 times if it were not for my trek poles helping me maintain my balance. I made it to Unicoi Gap at 1:15 PM. I called the shuttle yesterday and arranged a pick up for 4 pm (since I wasn't sure of the terrain or weather and I didn't want the person to wait on me). I called John, my shuttle guy at 12:45 when I had cell service and told him I would be there around 1:15 PM. He picked me up at 1:30. I am staying at Holiday Inn Express in Hiawasse Ga tonight. I dried my tent by hanging it over chairs around the pool. I washed my clothes and took a shower. And Ingle Grocery Store was about .4 mile from my hotel so I walked up there to get some re-supply and more moleskin for my feet.I had dinner at a Mexican restaurant at 6:30 PM. I got back to my room and prepared for tomorrow. I plan on hiking without my big backpack. I will do a day pack and will need to do 17 miles since that is the place John, my shuttle driver can pick me up. He will bring me back to the same hotel for a second night.I will be heading to bed before 10 PM since tomorrow will be a long day. I had a great day. I hope you did also.
Date: 2017-06-01
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

June 1, Thursday: Dick's Creek Gap (69.6) to Muskrat Creek Shelter (81.4) for 11.8 total miles.Got moving this morning about 5:30 AM. I wanted to have time to work on my right foot (blisters/ hot spots) and pack before I went down for breakfast at 6:30. Today will be my 7th full day on the trail. I have enjoyed having wifi available the last 2 nights. I could not get wifi any other nights I was on the trail. (I write up my journal, text it and photos to Marilee and she posts for me.) The last 3 days I have met 15 people who had planned  5 day treks to full thru hikers who have quit early because it is harder than they thought it would be. However I also get reports from south bounders that 5 of the people that I camped with the first 2 night are still going because they tell people to tell me "hello". They recognize me because I have on a white baseball cap and the group I know tells them to say hello to Gordon from KC with the white hat. It is interesting how the communication works on the AT.I got picked up at 7:15 AM and was on the trail by 7:35 AM at Dick's Creek Gap at 69.6 mile marker. It was a great morning to be hiking - 60's, and gentle winds with lots of birds singing on the trail. I had several mountains to hike over today. 3700 ft elevation gain and 11.8 miles. I hiked over Buzzard Knob, Rocky Knob, and Courthouse Bald. The terrain was good but it was very steep; the last 3 miles having 2400 feet elevation gain. Some places I could not step up high enough to get to the next rock. I would sit on the rock and roll to the next.Another interesting thing about the AT, the trail is normally about 2 - 3 feet wide but sometimes the brush is thick which makes it even narrower. A lot of the times the trail is cut into the side of a mountain. Because of this, my treking poles on the cliff side of the trail often do not make contact with anything.The big news for the day, I crossed over into North Carolina (see pictures). There was no big fanfare or band playing when I crossed over but I was still excited to make it to NC at 78.2 miles. I arrived at Muskrat Creek Shelter at 4 PM today. I am sleeping in my tent. I was on the trail for 8 hours and 25 minutes today. I covered 11.8 miles with a lot of elevation gain. Muskrat Creek is at 4562 ft elevation which means it will be in the 40's tonight. I have covered 81.4 miles. This trip now registers as my longest back packing trip.I am heading to bed at 9 PM as I hear the birds chirping and the stream flowing next to my campsite.
Date: 2017-06-02
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Campsite South of Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.0

Friday, June 2: Muskrat Creek Shrlter (81.4) to campsite south of Betty Crerk Gap (97.4) for 16.0 miles today.I said goodbye to people at the shelter and hit the trail which was 10 ft behind my campsite at 7:15 AM. The big task at hand for the day was the hike over Standing Indian Mtn at 4742 ft elevation. I reached the top at 11:30 AM for 6.4 miles. It was quite the climb. For the next 6-8 miles I hiked through forest that had been damaged by the forest fires last year but you could still smell smut, the worst 6 miles of the hike. I reached Carter Gap Shelter at 3:15 and there was no water source. I had little phone service (it had been limited all day) but I called a shuttle driver for tomorrow. After trying to call Marilee and a hotel for tomorrow, I gave up and decided to try for the next campsite at Betty's Creek campsite another 3.7 miles away. I moved at a fast pace even though I was already tired from the 12+ miles on the trail today.As I was hiking I met people who said Betty Creek Campsite was closed. I camped at an individual campsite that was .4 miles before Betty's Creek. I arrived at 5:30 PM. I shared the campsite with 2 people (an uncle from Denver and his nephew from OKC) who I had flip flopped with during the day. I was exhausted after a 16 mile day. I went to get water (1.4 miles round trip), fixed dinner (beef stroganoff), and went to bed after a 10 hour and 15 minute day on the trail. But all is good. The longest pack day ever for me.
Date: 2017-06-03
From: Campsite South of Betty Creek Gap

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 8.6

Saturday, June 3: Campsite south of Betty Creek Gap (97.4) to Rock Gap (106.0) for a total of 8.6 miles today.The big task for today was a straight up climb to the top of Albert Mtn at 5250 ft. It was a 2.5 mile trek to the top. The climb was the toughest I faced so far on the trail. The boulder or log step ups sometimes were above the height of my knees. It was a tough climb but I made the top at 9:40 AM. I took a break, took some pictures of the view and the fire tower atop Albert Mtn. The hike to Rock Gap wasn't bad since the trails were good and downhilll. I arrived at Rock Gap at 1:30 PM and waited for my shuttle. My driver called and said he had a flat tire.  In the meanwhile a guy pulls up in an old pick up truck and asks me if I want a cold Budweiser. I said "sure" and asked him "how much?" And he said it was free and he explained they were only 67 cents a bottle at Ingrams Grocery. And it was cold bottled Budweiser. I sat and talked and he told me his dream was to sail the inter coastal waterway from Florida to Maine. I like to ask people "what's your story?" The people are an interesting part. The backup driver arrived at 3:15. I checked into the Comfort Inn, washed my clothes, took a shower,  went to buy groceries, and went to dinner. I ate at Willy's BBQ. It wasn't bad but of course the last 2 nights my dinner was out of a foil bag. It's amazing all the thoughts I have as I am walking throughout the day. The reoccurring thought I have is "I'm the luckiest man alive". I learned about 8 years ago what real success in life is and for me that is that my loved ones are happy. I am so fortunate to have a wife I love and she loves me and my children are happy. Plus I get to spend my time helping other people and doing things I  enjoy doing. This lucky guy says "Goodnight!"
Date: 2017-06-04
From: Rock Gap

To: Wayah Bald
Miles today: 13.7

Sunday, June 4. Rock Gap (106.1) to Wayah Bald (119.7) for 13.7 miles.My regular 5 AM wake up. I needed to work on my feet (they are a lot better) and check the weather. I'm planning on doing a sack pack today for 13.7 miles. However the story of the day is going to be the weather.I ate a huge breakfast at the Comfort Inn and my shuttle driver, Jim picked me up at 7 AM. Jim is Italian and a Purdue Industrial Eng and at 71 years old, retired and moved from Chicago to Franklin. Jim told me that he had another pick up at the Budget Inn this morning. When we arrived I realized it was Gabriel and Sebastian, my 2 Montreal friends from the first two nights on the trail. I was impressed I was able to keep pace with them. Plus my brother and sister team from New York were also staying there (they were driving to New York today).I hit the trail at 7:40 AM in a light drizzle and by 10 AM it had developed into a heavy downpour. At 11 AM I was walking to a shelter where I was planning to ensure my phone was dry. After a half a mile hike down I decided I was not going further down the side trail. I had just added an extra mile to my day.My Kuhl Jacket has waterproof zippers and keeps the water out. The rain plus thunder and lightning had me concerned but I kept walking. The trail was flooding and I was walking through water, sometimes over my boots for several hours. Today I ate lunch as I walked. I normally only take a few minutes break during the day plus about 20 minutes for lunch so when I am on the trail I am walking which is how I am able to keep pace with much younger hikers. The rain stopped at about 1 PM and I arrived at my destination at 2:30 PM so I was on the trail for 6 hours and 50 minutes today.My shuttle driver, Jim picked me up at 3:30 PM. I was soaked. I got to the Comfort Inn, washed my clothes, dried out some other stuff, and took a shower.I ordered dinner in tonight by having a pizza delivered to the hotel. I talked to Marilee and finished packing. They are calling for rain like today for Monday and Tuesday so I am preparing my back pack for rain. I am going to look for possible destinations for tomorrow and head to bed.I am almost 120 miles and I'm feeling good. Thanks again for following my adventure.
Date: 2017-06-05
From: Wayah Bald

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 17.6

Monday, June 5. Wayah Bald (119.7) to Nantahala Outdoor Center (137.3) for 17.6 miles todayWow. I thought a few days ago I said I would never do another 16+ mile hike in this terrain again. I actually had a plan. It was projected to rain all day (and it did) so I decided I would try to get to Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) so I could dry out. Then I would rest in the morning and try to do 6 or 7 miles on Tuesday. The weather was scheduled to be clear by Tuesday afternoon.The day consisted of 17.6 miles, rain, a fall, and NOC. What happened? I got up at the usual time, 5 AM to pack for the rain, get prepared, and eat my breakfast. My shuttle driver, Jim was supposed to pick me up at 7 AM (he was a little late) to take me back to Wayah Bald. I hit the trail at 7:50 in a light mist. I was in the clouds. At 10 AM it started to rain harder and I put on my rain jacket. I had two big peaks to go over today, Cooper Ridge Bald and Wesser Bald. At noon it stopped raining. I had lunch at Tellico gap at 1 PM and had gone 9.5 miles. It started to rain again and at times it was raining very hard. I climbed to the top of the second peak. By this time I was very tired and it was raining hard so I missed the trail and went about .6 of a mile out of the way (1.2 miles round-trip). I wasted 1 hour and 15 minutes doing this. I finally got started back on the trail at 3:15 with 7 miles to go to NOC. By this time it was raining very, very hard and the trail was mud, slick rocks and slick roots. Plus a steep decline. It would drop over 3000 feet over the next 3 miles. All of this made it difficult to travel at a fast pace. I had several near falls. Finally about 2 miles from NOC my feet went out from under me on a very tricky part of the trail with lots of mud and rocks. I hit hard and strained my back trying not to fall.I made it to NOC to check in at 7:15 PM. I'd been on the trail for 10 hours and 25 minutes today. By the time I made it to NOC my back was very stiff. I made it to my bunk (see pictures) and started to unpack and dry out.I went to take a shower and on my way back met 3 school teachers in their 20s and 30s on an adventure in the next bunkhouse to mine. I met them because I was moving very slowly down the stairs to the bunkhouse and they asked if I was OK and I told them about my adventure for the day. 10 to 15 minutes later I heard a knock at the door and they asked if I wanted a cold beer. So my dinner consisted of peanut butter on a tortilla and a beer. I talked to Marilee, took some Aleve and went to bed.What a day! I covered over 17 miles with my backpack on hard terrain in bad weather. I'm proud I was able to do that and it is supposed to be sunny tomorrow. Thanks for following.
Date: 2017-06-06
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Grove Gap 
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday, June 6. Nantahala Outdoor Center (137.3) to Locust Grove Gap (147.7) for 10.4 miles todayPRE-HIKE NOTESI'm feeling much better today after a good nights rest and the Aleve kicked in. i'm a little bruised and sore but I will be able to backpack today. I was up at 5:30 AM getting my chores completed. I went to the laundromat to dry my clothes from yesterday and while I did that I had a great breakfast overlooking the river race course. The outfitter was next-door so I purchased a new pair of shorts. One of the pair I had did not do well in the rain. I also saw Sebastian (my Montreal friend), and John (my Pigeon Forge friend) who was buying new boots at the outfitter. I went back to my room and plan to hit the trail at 10:15 AM. It's going to be a beautiful day.POST HIKE NOTESI hit the trail at 10:10. The first climb out of NOC was long. It was a 2500 foot elevation gain for 6 miles. It was a beautiful day and I had a great view almost the entire trip.Also the trail coming out of NOC is a huge chop in the side of the hill and it narrows.There was not much of a breeze today. Something I've noticed the last several days, when the air is still and a breeze comes I can hear it in the trees before I ever feel it.I reached Sassafras Gap Shelter at 3:15 and decided I did not want to stop walking. My back felt loose and the Aleve helped so I decided to go the 3.7 miles to Locust Grove Gap at the 147.7 mile marker. This puts me only 17 miles away from Fontana Dam.As I said the walk today was great and I only saw one person on the trail today. So the last two days I've walked 27 miles and have seen 2 people.I got to Locust Grove gap at 6:05, did all my camp chores and at 9:15 I'm ready for bed. Thanks for following. Gordon
Date: 2017-06-07
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Wednesday, June7: Locust Cove Gap 147.7 to Cable Gap Shelter 159.2 for a total miles of 11.5 milesNo one else camped at my campsite last night. Actually I have passed only one person on the trail and no one has passed me the last 35 miles or three days. I wanted to get on the trail by regular time of between 7:15 and 7:45 so I got up at 5:30 AM. I had coffee and a couple of breakfast bars while I packed. I hit the trail at 7:20 AM. There were a lot of ups and downs today but no big peaks to crossover. However there were a lot of places to climb down or up on boulders to continue the trail. I had to stop and think how will I climb down or up on this. I was also thinking as I was doing about 15 feet climb down across boulders, that this is quite dangerous. I actually was thinking with how our government operates, how would they let the general public do this? On the trail today they were several of those spots. A couple more things about the trail today. At Stecoah Gap which was about 3 miles into my hike today I saw my Montreal friends, Gabriel and Sebastian. They were going to have a zero day today at one of the hostels a few miles off the trail to let their bodies rest and their feet to heal.Also I met on the trail as they were hiking south from Fontana Dam to NOC, the three ladies who had the bunk next to mine at NOC who brought me the beer. I found out today that they are from Winston-Salem. I arrived at Cable Gap Shelter at 3:45 and went 11 1/2 miles and was on the trail 8 hours and 25 minutes. I wanted to mention something about my family because I really miss them. Tyson finished second in his division and fourth overall in his PDGA tournament this past weekend. Dani and Chris celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary on Monday by going to see one of their favorite bands, the Disco Biscuits in Utah . Gordon and Paige, his girlfriend went hiking in Colorado over Memorial Day. Graham is staying in Manhattan this summer and started summer school on Monday. Marilee, my partner and I really miss him. She went to visit her mom in Altoona PA for a few days which leads to why I am really excited about tomorrow. Marilee is going to meet me in Fontana Resort tomorrow. I am currently 5.5 miles to Fontana Dam where I can catch a ride to the village. Thanks for following. I am really looking forward to tomorrow.
Date: 2017-06-08
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam 
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

Thursday, June 8: Cable Gap Shelter 159.2 to Fontana Dam166.3 for a total miles of 7.1 miles. A note on last night - I went to bed at7:30 PM and a person came into camp making all kinds of noise at 8 PM. I got upto see what was happening. It was Jon, my Pigeon Forge friend with sore feetarriving at the shelter and just saw a bear so he was making noise to scare thebear away. I talked to him for a while and went to bed at 8:30 PMI slept great and I was up at 5 AM and packed my stuff in mytent. No coffee today since I was going to hit the trail early. I was hiking at6:20 AM. There was a steep 800 foot elevation gain starting out but the trailwas good except for huge boulders to climb over. I arrived at Fontana Dam at 10:30 and had no phone service.Service has been very limited the last few days. But they have a phone at therest area so you can call a shuttle to pick you up. The phone did not work.There were some people at the dock so I asked if anyone had phone service andthey said they did not have any. As they came walking up to me they noticed my white Wolfpack hat; the father and son both graduated from NC State. The fatherin '72. I graduated in '71. I told him that I needed to catch a ride or walkinto the village. The wife/mom, Gloria Harter was heading that way so she gaveme a ride to the lodge. She's also minister at the only church in town. I checked in at the Fontana Dam Village Resort at 11 AM,took a shower and then went to the laundromat. While my clothes were washing Iwalked up to the grill at the resort and ordered the biggest cheeseburger andfries they had, to go. Back at the laundromat I ate lunch as my clothes werewashing. I just laid in the bed in our room the rest of the afternoon. No TVand no nap, I just laid there and rested. I moved to the outside deck with aview of the mountains around 4 PM and to the grill area at 6 PM to wait forMarilee. She arrived around 8 PM from a scary ride on curvy roads fromKnoxville. It was great to see her. It was a great day.
Date: 2017-06-09
To: Zero Day 1
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Friday, June 9First zero day on the trail after 15 days of hiking. I read30+ journals on through hikers. They take at least 2 down days during the first2 weeks. I had 1 schedule but skipped it. I'm not sure that was a good idea. But now I can be at Fontana Dam Lodge when Marilee arrives. My body and feetneeded to rest.Marilee and I had breakfast and then went to the generalstore for my big food supply for the next four days on the trail. I soaked myfeet with Epsom salts to help reduce some of the swelling. I had no feet issuesduring my 75 mile Philmont trek but the terrain on the AT is much moredifficult and hard on the feet. We just relaxed most of the day but did visit the FontanaDam Visitor Center in the afternoon. Fontana Dam is the tallest dam east ofthe Mississippi. We went to dinner and met a lot of interesting people when wewere at the lodge. We quit early. Thanks for following.