morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-02-25
From: Back to the trail

To: Georgia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

"Better 3/4" checking in.... Happy to report "Chunky Monkey" is headed back to the trail....Left out very early this morning headed back to Georgia - hoping to get there in time to get a few miles in today.We have been following "Sparky" & "Hugs" and happy to see you guys are moving forward at a good pace.
Date: 2017-03-02
From: Top of Georgia

To: Muskrat
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

So made it back yesterday afternoon. Terrible storm moved through last night - spent the night at Top of Georgia hostel - Today was good - windy - getting ready for a cold night. Glad to be back and ready to move forward.Crossed into NC today and was greeted by a climb up Bly Gap - that is like seeing the blue lights on a NC Highway Patrol Car - it ain't funny!As a side note I want to send a Happy Birthday wish to my nephew Clay who turned 13 today - it was my walk in the woods with him preparing for his boy scout hikes that made me realize my desire to do this.
Date: 2017-03-03
From: Muskrat

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Great day of hiking - but a cold night ahead. Met up with "Survivor" yesterday and we have made good time. We went up and over Standing Indian today and looking at Albert Mtn tomorrow.Saw this today sent it to "Better 3/4" and she pointed out that "Chunky Monkey" met up with "Chunky Gal" - I guess so!!!Thanks to some section hikers we have a fire tonight and getting ready to hunker down.More tomorrow
Date: 2017-03-04
From: Carter Gap

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Great day - no wind - had lunch on Albert Mountain - staying at Rock Gap shelter tonight - headed into Frankin tomorrow for a Nero day, resupply and a cheeseburger or 2 or 4.Trail was a little tough today - covered with ice and water so it was slick had to be careful about your footing. on the upside I crossed the 100 mile mark.Overall I am doing great - traveling with a good few people that makes the miles pass easier.
Date: 2017-03-05
From: Rock Gap

To: Winding Stair
Miles today: 5.0

Made it into Franklin, NC going to Nero today - did chores - laundry done - resupplied - eat from a dinner plate instead of my hand - may zero tomorrow and get rested and ready to hike in the rain on Tuesday to push through the NOC into Fontana.I am good - glad that I am taking this journey
Date: 2017-03-07
From: Winding Stair

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

After a zero in Franklin on Monday I was ready to get back to putting one foot in front of the other.Tuesday was a challenge - it rained all day. Temps were cold and the shelters were full!! Thankfully, my tent is strong and dry. Tuesday brought horrible weather but it was my best day walking so far - 16 miles. As you can see by my picture - views were nothing more than fog.All is well and hoping to update again soon.
Date: 2017-03-08
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 13.0

Great sunshine day after a miserable day yesterday! The climb down to the NOC ain't no joke...you need to be part mountain goat.Got a room at the NOC - our equipment was soaked and our group was wet and COLD. We have dried out, warmed up and ate good. Headed back to the trail tomorrow -
Date: 2017-03-09
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Left the NOC today and it was all UP HILL - A lot of hikers on the trail - I think the bubble has started. They are all younger than me and a heck of a lot quicker than me. I will get engulfed shortly in the shelter tonight because of the threat of rain with 15 of my closest friends.Knee starting to hurt a little - hoping some Advil will take care of that. Will be in Fontana in 2 days - then the trek will begin into the Smokies. The threat of snow lingers for the next couple of days. ugh.Overall a good day - hiking with a couple of great guys and that makes this journey a little better.
Date: 2017-03-10
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Only 9.5 miles today - nursing a swelling knee. We had two big climbs today one of which was Jacobs ladder. Old man like me needs an elevator - DANG it was steep. In the shelter tonight with at least one little mouse running around - you need a bear bag for the mice - Cold night ahead 26 in the valley which means around 18 or less on the mountain with the wind. Pushing on to Fontana tomorrow regardless of the knee. Snow headed in on Saturday and Sunday. Thinking I will start a trail from Miami to Corolla.Thank you to everyone keeping up with my misadventures. The message you leave in my guestbook mean a lot and helps to keep me motivated. This is tough - being sick is bad but being homesick is the worst feeling.
Date: 2017-03-11
From: Brown Fork Shelter

To: Fontana Lodge
Miles today: 12.0

12 miles today. I pushed my knee today and made it in 5 hours which wasn't difficult since it started snowing on me. So between the snow and a promise of a hot shower I was able to get it done.I ate a huge cheeseburger and a grilled chicken taco salad - real food taste REAL good!Resting my knee tonight (Hey SMB snow really does work) sorting through my resupply - dang heavy food bag and planning chores for tomorrow. Snow is falling - the ground is white - we will see what the next couple of days brings.Thanks again to everyone for your continued support and posts on my journal page.
Date: 2017-03-12
From: Fontana Lodge

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Sunday was a day of rest and ice the knee.Monday was a day of decision making - Do I Stay or Do I Go?? At $125 a day I decided to head into the Smokies. Knee felt 50% at best. Got a ride to Fontana Shelter, walked across the dam and to the trailhead and deposited my permit. Started up the trail passed the rock jumble - felt something uncomfortable in my knee and it stopped working as God designed. So then like one of my favorite restaurants "I-Hopped" down the trail back across the dam and was lucky to find someone who took pity on me and took me back to the lodge. On my way back I called my "Better 3/4" who made arrangements with Enterprise Rental Car and long story short I slept in my bed on Monday night - thank goodness for cruise control since it is my right knee driving was a little tricky.Tuesday (today) I have evaluated and tested my knee - swelling has decreased - Wednesday I will contact my doctor - I hope to be back on the trail AGAIN in a couple of weeks in the words of Joe Cocker "With a Little Help from my Friends"All I know is I hope the third time is a charm and not my third strike.....
Date: 2017-01-02
From: gooch mtn shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Cold and rainy again today Met a couple of thru hikers NOBO, Earl and Tonya, from Illinois and Alabama, yesterday and 1 more, Sam from Georgia (aka "youngfire") today. Last day of rain tomorrow, then 20's and snow on the radar for the end of the week!
Date: 2017-01-03
From: neel's gap hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

40's and foggy with 2 min of sunshine at some point in the day! ?????? Nice double decker shelter stayed with a section hiker, Kirkland and his husky dog, Bear, and 2 other NOBO thru hikers, met several SOBO thru hikers along the trail yesterday, congrats to them!
Date: 2017-01-04
From: whitley gap shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Stayed at the hostel at Neel's gap the night before, warmed up a bit, layed everything out to dry, got a hot shower, pizza and other amazing food I didn't have to cook, and also swapped out a few things in my pack at the gear store... new pack weight with food, fuel, and water = 21.2 lb Stayed at whitley gap sheltera about a mile off the trail last night, beautful views of the appalachian mountains on the way. Shared the shelter with Kirkland and his dog, Bear, got a nice fire goin' for a few hours
Date: 2017-01-05
From: blue mountain shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

30's and cloudy today, not too many climbs on the trail today- refreshing! Some really rocky sections though... I thought the rocks weren't until PA? Met back up with Sam (aka Alpine now) and Earl and another hiker, Tom, at the shelter- got a nice fire goin! Supposed to be 20's tomorrow with 10+ in of snow predicted... can't wait!
Date: 2017-01-07
From: deep gap shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Made an attempt fortop of GA hostel at night during a snow storm... not one of my better ideas :/ Left Tray mt shelter around midnight, got to deep gap around 4:30am-- Everything I was wearing got soaked, my emergency hand warmers never activated, Sam (aka Alpine) was at the shelter and lent me some water for boiling and putting in a nalgene for warmth in my sleeping bag-- life saver!
Date: 2017-01-08
From: top of GA hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Hypothermic feeling all night- couldn't warm up- made a break for top of GA hostel just a few miles ahead, everything froze last night, used crocs, a spare light down jacket, and donned frozen snow pants and basically ran to the hostel-- wiped out quite a few times. Crap, wish I hadn't've mailed ahead my microspikes to this hostel.
Date: 2017-01-09
From: Gainesville ER 

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Welp, not 1 week in and already scored a 1st injury-- frost bite a little on both feet, the worst of it on my L foot. Luxurious 1.5 hr ambulance ride down to Gainesville to the ER, doc says no more walking for a while, got fit for a walking boot, bandaged up, and received warmed IV fluids-- yum! Beena (my GF) picked me up at the hostel in Hiawassee-- time to rest and recover for a touch!
Date: 2017-01-29
From: roaring fork shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: few clouds

4-6 in of snow tonight with drifts up to a foot+ deep at elevation, nice shelter, deep enough with good overhang so not a whole lot of snow blew in, down to mid-teens, 1 other NOBO starting on Jan 8th, Ian, also here.
Date: 2017-01-30
From: laughing heart hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Long hike today to get to a hostel just inside of hot springs, tough trudging through some of the snow drifts at higher elevation but a couple of guys broke trail a bit making it easier, 4 of us staying at the hostel tonight- Ian, Sam, Nathan and I, celebratory champagne seems apropriate!
Date: 2017-01-31
From: laughing heart hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero day in hot springs, 8 or 9 other early january NOBOs also here including , mike aka highlander, ian, aka toothache, dillon aka lumberjack, dentin and gretta aka subzero and go lightly, sam aka alpine, and nathan aka cap'n america.
Date: 2017-02-01
From: hemlock hollow inn

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: broken clouds

Slack packed por primera vez from hot springs (after breakfast which included pancakes, eggs, bacon, and an ammmaaaazzzzzzzinggggg chocolate peanut butter hot fudge cake...) to allen gap, great views of the french broad river and over looking hot springs from the cliffs early in the hike, staying at hemlock hollow inn tonight to escape the cold
Date: 2017-02-03
From: laurel hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice hike today, high in the 40's today and sunny = best possible weather scenario for a winter hike! Staying at a hostel 1st year running, owner tim helped with a shuttle ride into the town of erwin for dinner, went to an old diner for burgers and the guy sitting next to me at the diner treated me to a free meal! Thanks tom!!! #trailmagiccccccc
Date: 2017-02-04
From: moutain inn & suites

To: View Entry
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Slack packed otra vez today, summited big and little bald's so plenty of 360 views and hiking across open meadows... maybe best day on the trail yet? Met my girlfriend at spivey gap, stay at a hotel in erwin for the night... dinner tonight = chicken fajita pizza, garlic breadsticks, apple cinnamon calzones, and Dr. P!
Date: 2017-02-07
From: curley maple gap shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: broken clouds

Short day comin' up from erwin, Sam (alpine) is also stayin' here tonight, a little bit of rain but stayed in the 40's tonight... word of bears in this area-- def stayin' in the top level of the shelter tongiht... shelter maintainers left behind a hatchet...
Date: 2017-02-08
From: greasy creek friendly

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Great pines and mossy section at the top of unaka mt today nice break from the typical forest, a bit rainy, but relatively warm-- thunderstorms tonight staying at a hostel just off the trail, trip into town stocked up on honeybuns and cinnabuns and whatnot in an effort to stop losing weight (into the mid 150's now down from almost 180 last year!)
Date: 2017-02-09
From: roan mtn shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.6

Nice hike up to the summit of roan mtn today, 6200+ ft elev, wind gusts up to 55 mph and 10ish deg temps getting the wind chill down into the negative teens ??????, sam aka alpine also stayin the night at the roan high knob shelter, some candles left behind at the shelter were nice to heat it up a touch, 4 wall fully inclosed shelter more like a cabin was great for keepin' the wind out, woke up to frost on my sleeping bag tho despite using a "breathable" emergency SOL bivy on top of it... lovin the "enchanted forest" feel of these higher elevations on the trail-- nice break from the avg woods most of the hike has been so far.
Date: 2017-02-10
From: mountain harbour B&B

To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Today has EASILY been the most beautiful day on the trail scenery and weather wise-- starts out high up on roan mtn where its all winter wonderland + pine forest, then turns to meadows and pass up a couple of shelters, one of which is an old barn (overmtn shelter), then the trail traverses 3 grassy knobs with a scottish highlands feel to them great 360 views plus sunny skies and temps warming up into the 40's. Stayin' at a hostel in roan mtn (the town) and they have a pet goat!
Date: 2017-02-11
From: mountain harbour B&B

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

Slackpacking with beena from walnut mtn rd heading south to a hostel in roan mtn, ran into subzero and go lightly, sam, and a section hiker. Right at the very end ran into John, a section hiker i haven't seen since the top of georgia who spotted us crossing a road as he was driving by-- crazy! Nice hike through the woods and past 3 big waterfalls, tenps in the 50's and cloudy
Date: 2017-02-13
From: boots off hostel & campground

To: View Entry
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: broken clouds

Shorter day today, but packed with cool stuff-- going over pond mtn, past laurel falls, up and down giant stone stair cases, around tight corners between rock walls and a river, across a bund of large wooden bridges, through huge boulder chasms, high up on rocky cliffs, up to the large oddly shaped Watuga lake/. Staying at a new hostel tonight, just opened up in 2016.
Date: 2017-02-16
From: iron mtn shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

High 30's and partly sunny today, no snow leaving watauga lake this morning, but there's several inches up st higher elevation. Some really nice views of town and the lake heading up the mountain. Stopped at a shelter for the night a little shy of halway to damascus, hope to make it there by tomorrow night. Passed 2 SOBOs today, one of which was carrying a 5 lb lawn gnome that i hear gets passed back and forth between the broken fiddle hostel in damascus and boots off in hampton for the winnings of a free nights stay at either destination
Date: 2017-02-17
From: woodchuck hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 26.1
Weather: few clouds

Big push to get into damascus today, cool hike into town the last mile being... in town, lol. Got up to woodchuck hostel and there's Alpine ridin' around on a mtn bike in front enjoying himself- sub zero and go lightly also there, highlander and his wife walkin' around in town too-- PS: HELLO VIRGINIA!!
Date: 2017-02-18
From: slack packing from intersection AT/VA 859

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Beena came in for the weekend- slack packed a decent section with stretches along the VA Creeper trail- nice and warm in the 60's today. PS: Shout out to Great Outdoor Provision for the assist with a resupply package arriving in the mail today!!
Date: 2017-02-21
From: hurricane mtn shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It's wild how today felt like such a short day when a month ago it would have been plenty long enough. Happy I didn't press on though-- 2 other SOBOs Sartec and the Butcher also staying here, played Rummy 500 and built the biggest fire on the trail yet
Date: 2017-02-22
From: trimpi shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Rainy today but this morning there was still smoke coming from the fire from last night short day to trimpi shelter which is unique in that it has a fire place AND it's located in the back and center of the shelter (max warmth). Got a nice fire going despite the wet wood available, lasted till 2am ish 3 sections hikers, jim kevin and pat all from columbus, OH sharing the shelter tonight
Date: 2017-02-23
From: travel inn

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Quick 10 this morning, only 3 and a half hours to get to a highway crossing able to pick up a city transit bus into the town of marion, VA to resupply and let all the gear and clothes dry out before setting out again. Stopped for lunch at a AYCE (all you can eat) chinese food buffet for $7!
Date: 2017-03-04
From: Raleigh, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Testing out the gear: Kayak, padal, life vest, 3 river dry bags (35L for most of the gear, 20L for food, and 10L for misc). Weight of the dry bags is just under 30 lb... meaning that plus my weight 160 lb I can let 80 lb of water spill into the kayak during the rapids on the sheny and still stay afloat under the 275 lb weight limit of the kayak
Date: 2017-03-05
From: port rebublic boat launch

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Due to logistics (amazing help from my GF with transport) skipping ahead to do an AT aquablaze from waynesboro to harpers ferry before returning back to marion to hike back up to waynesboro. I've never traveled more than a mile via kayak and have minimal expirience with ocean kayaking and kayaking around a lake in the past-- so at the least this should get interesting. The south fork of the shenandoah river and the shenendoah river (after the south and north forks join) that I'll cover is somewhere between 130-150 mi and I'm guessing will take anywhere from 1-2 weeks.
Date: 2017-03-06
From: island ford boat launch

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

10 mi kayaking today, temps in the morning in the upper 20's but warmed up to the 40's by mid day. Realizing the water level of the shenandoah is pretty low after getting hung up in some of the rockier sections of the river but never had to get out of the kayak and walk, able to rock and jiggle and push with my paddle back into a flow. Encountered some class I-II rapids.
Date: 2017-03-07
From: shenandoah budget inn

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

14 mi kayak today- two 7 mi sections from island ford boat launch to elkton boat launch and then on to shenandoah public boat launch. Walked with the kayak on my shoulder to a nearby inn half a mi went back for my stuff and a guy in a truck offered me a ride (trail-ish magic? . Some class I-II rapids again today, still haven't fallen out of the kayak **knock on wood**. Some rain tonight, but supposed to be super nice the next two days highs in the 60's and sunny.
Date: 2017-03-09
From: open arms at the edge of town hostel & inn - luray

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

17 mi kayaking today, portages around 1 dam and 1 low bridge, temps got up to 70 today, super huge sections of the shenandoah river today really contrast the low rocky stream-like sections the past couple of days
Date: 2017-03-10
From: foster's landing

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

9 mi kayaking today, colder day 30's and low 40's, supeeeeer windy fighting headwinds on the river most of the time. Realized my tent is pretty much useless exposed to winds > 15 mph. With wind gusts of 40 mph, tent kept collapsing, ended up giving up trying to hold my tent up and stayed at a riverside B&B near the boat launch.
Date: 2017-03-11
From: golden rock capground

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

8 mi kayaking today to a campground just past some class II rapids in which I got pretty soaked needing to dry off anyways, tons of useable firewood washed up on the beach area, got a nice fire going. Temps never got up past the 30's today, dipping into the low 20's tonight.
Date: 2017-03-12
From: super 8 - front royal

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

15 mi kayaking today, set up camp at the shenandoah river state park shortly before getting (politely) kicked out of an apparent no camping area, got a ride into town as luck would have it found out about an upcoming snow storm expected to bring 12" of snow, low temps into the teens, and wind gusts up to 50mph for this area... as exciting as kayaking the shenandoah river through a blizzard sounds- I think I'll end this 86mi kayaking excursion and get back to hiking now . Spending a few days back in raleigh before getting back on the trail in marion, va where i left off this weekend.
Date: 2017-03-20
From: knot maul shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Quite a hike between chatfield and know maul shelters with only camp site in between, super sore I guess I have to get me trail legs back from 3 weeks without hiking, stopped and ate at a restaurant pretty much on the trail passing through Atkins, sharing the shelter with boo boo and her dog yogi/baxter tonight-- they started on Feb 5 haha I think I'll get passed by the beginning of the hiking bubble (march 1st) before I reach kathadin. Got a nice fire going tonight before the rain came and extinguished it.
Date: 2017-03-21
From: chestnut knob shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: light rain

Tough climb up to this shelter, but extactic to find chestnut knob shelter may be the nicest shelter on the AT, fully enclosed, large and room, built in bunks, a picnic table, plenty of hooks and pegs, great fire ring, privy, nearby spring, and an amazing view from the summit at which it sits... i'm amazed reading through the shelter journal how many people pass it up for the next one 10 mi away... enjoy the journey, don't just count the miles!
Date: 2017-03-22
From: st lukes hostel 

To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: light rain

Beautiful view from the shelter this morning, hard to leave such a great shelter (not helped with the cold morning), met a NOBO (Visa) who started in October last year who takes a bunch of breaks like me haha just to the extreme, funny enough he mentioned he was reading my trail journal back in january when I was dealing with frostbite in GA-- crazy. Today trudged through 6ish miles along a super windy ridge along burkes garden (a giant bowl-like depression in the mountains to the L of the trail), supposed to be in the low 20's tonight so i'm doing my first "work-for-stay" at a hostel in burkes garden, may stay another night if it's free and there's food
Date: 2017-03-23
From: st lukes hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

First work-for-stay on the trail, nice hostel owned by a doctor in burkes garden, VA, zero day, goal to get up to pearisburg before the next zero day. Worked on building beds in the upcoming bunk room at the hostel, 2 other hikers, slow motion, a SOBO who's done the trail before NOBO 15+ yrs ago, and another NOBO, suntori, who started last year but got off the trail for an extended vacation.