morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-09-14
From: Katahdin Stream Campsite

To: Katahdin 
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

Part 1/2Last night I could hardly sleep. I wonder what percent of Katahdin summit day journal entries echo this sentiment. I don't know who could. Even after my biggest mileage day, the physical exhaustion couldn't conquer my mind. I wish my thoughts last evening could have been deeper or even introspective in the least. Here I am about to finish a great journey, my greatest adventure and all I can think about is what to pack and wear, how long it will take etc etc etc. Throughout the night I think that perhaps I will just get up and start hiking. See the sun rise on the mountain, feel the completion of this most excellent adventure (as Bill and Ted would say). They called for a chance of rain for today, increasing tomorrow, and who knew from there on... We hesitated about the weather- rain had been in none of our sights- but realized at 5000+ ft the elevation was going to be what ever it wanted to be. We would go today. And be done today too.I woke up a dozen times to see if it was time to go. I was so disoriented at times I would reach to find the wall verses my neighbor. It was Butters, Rocksteady, Bondi and I in the shelter. It seemed that any time anyone of us made an audible indication of wakefulness it was echoed. A sort of rudimentary wordless language that spoke legions- "None of us are sleeping, we all don't know what is going to happen next". At one in the morning I woke and climbed out of the shelter to use the "facilities". It was one in the morning. Rocksteady, half asleep, asked me if it was time to go.Finally I chose that it was time to go. It was turning shades of gray from the black of night. I did a final pack check and made sure I had all the essentials and just the essentials. I would not carry anymore then I needed, they actually recommend leaving your full pack behind.I said goodbye to the rousing pile of boys, signed in at the ranger station and headed to the trail head as thru-hiker #248.... To be continued when I return to the states
Date: 2008-03-09
From: Springer mt.

To: DICKS CREEK GAP
Miles today: 67.5
Weather: clear sky

Well today I am back in Atlanta at home. Starting last monday, march 3rd, Me and my dad started from the top of Springer Mountain on what was to be a week long hike to dick's creek gap. The trip was outstanding even though we got absolutely pounded on two of the five days, three of them were unbelievable with outstanding sights and sounds. Tuesday we got hit by downpouring rain almost all day as we made our way from gooch gap shelter to neel's gap, about 16 miles and the hardest of them. But as we got to the top of Blood Mountain the sky opened up and it was amazingly sunny and clear for about an hour or two. The sight from the top could only take my breath away. About halfway through this section hike it became pretty apparent to me and my dad that my intentions had changed and now was the time for me to start my through hike, although many would tend to disagree, however It is what is is, and you just have to trust instinct and I feel like I need to do this. Very few people can understand this, but that is ok. So we pumped out the miles and finished late friday, and here I am in Atlanta, making my final preparations as I will be returning to the trail on this coming saturday, less than a week from now. Post more later.
Date: 2008-03-15
From: atlanta

To: DICKS CREEK GAP
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Ok well it Saturday, mid-evening and about to head up to my cabin in elijay, and from there will be leaving tomorrow morning and finally back on the trail right where I left off, at dicks creek gap. From there im heading to Franklin, about 40 miles north, and expect to arrive by wed. or thurs. at the lastest. Just finishing up my final preparations(mentally as well). I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to say goodbye's to everyone I know and love, as well as sasha, my golden pup a little over a year old, she is like a daughter to me now, and I worry about her even though I know she is in good hands. I guess thats how my parents must feel as well. Saying hold on for 6 months is hard for anyone to accept, even me. Not much else to add, I'm really excited and a little scared, but this will be a once in a life experience and I can't wait. Good luck to all thru-hikers!
Date: 2008-03-17
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Well I cant believe this is working from my iphone all the way out here when i turned it on to listen to some tunes to drone out the noise of the wind tonight. Well today i got off to a late start from muskrat creek area, hiked out with hairbear(remember dad?) and this cool dude peacock. Me and peacock ended up hiking together all day, it was so hard to keep up with him but im proud to say i did! We did 3 1/2 mph!(took an Hour long huge break and still got 12 miles to carter gap shelter by 3.) needless to say we blew by a Lot of people,( windjammer and bearpaw as well dad). I didn't plan to be moving so quickly and ill make it to franklin hopefully tomorrow or wedneday, a day ahead of plan. The people out here have been awesome and trail life is great once again. To Cheifdaddy and hikefarm- yall are still way ahead of me by the look of the shelter journals, by about a week, so if u see this maybe ill catch ya way later. Good luck all!
Date: 2008-03-18
From: Carter Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap- Franklin,NC
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: mist

BEAR ENCOUNTER ON THE TRAIL:-THRU HIKERS BE CAUTIOUS- Well I always thought my first bear encounter out here would be exciting BUT pleasant, but not today. Read on, today blew my mind as well as everyone else out here I'm friends with. Left Carter Gap site this morning around 8 o clock, and made it about a mile and a half in the wind and fog and rain, I was just in the zone and looking down when I came around this bend and,(understand that there is no exaggeration in the next few sentences guys) no more than a buslength(25ft!) ahead of me, right in the middle of the trail, was the biggest black bear ive ever seen, it was really about 550lb-600lb range, male. I have NO idea how he didn't hear me coming, im guessing it was all the wind and rain and because it sounded like people were stomping around all over but anyways, I came around the bend and startled him big time, he did a full 180degree turn to the other side of the trail, completly stood on two feet and made a back off snarl all in one rediculously quick motion. I already as I came around the bend had started lifing my pack and clacking my poles, and a second or two later he dropped back to all fours and started away. I have NEVER been so scared of anything. As he ran away, I could hear the thud of his paws he was so large. I actually started about 20 minutes later than the person in front of me, Ishmael, and I waited till I got about 100yards past the area, and then started to literally RUN, and I ran for an hour strait, pure adrenaline, looking back every 5 or 10 min. Call me a wuss but nobody out here usually sees anything more than the butt of a bear from 30 yards as it runs away, because normally they hear you before you would EVER hear them, but not for me today. As fate would have it later in the day at a road crossing in a gap I met a couple guys who were out looking to run bears with their dogs who said that they were looking for a particularly "brave" one reported in the area. BINGO~ Anyways, booked it the full 16 miles to Franklin(felt good)in order to beat the weather thats coming tonight and tomorrow im going to take a breather, and hit the trail on Thurs. morning early for NOC. I still can't believe that happened, i still get goosebumps. GOOD LUCK ALL!
Date: 2008-03-24
From: Winding Stair Gap- Franklin,NC

To: Fontana Village, Great Smoky Mountains NP
Miles today: 54.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Its been since Franklin, NC since I was last able to post an entry and so the miles are all messed up on this system so im gonna just quickly break down what ive been doing:March 19- a zero day in franklin because the weather was ridiculous. Great town. Ron Haven is an amazing guy, really.March 20-Winding stair gap to Cold Spring Shelter. Hard 15.8 Miles. At Fifteen Randomly, there was a trail angel named apple who posts up next to the trail in a HUGE tent with cider sodas and hotdogs for all the thru hikers. Amazing end to a good day, and the view from the top of cold spring campsite where i pitched was unbelievable. I snapped a pic.March 21-Went from Cold Spring all the way to NOC, down a few thousand feet in one day. 11.5 Miles that wooped me, fell once for a few feet at a rocky ledge. NOC is an AWSOME place, kayakers and river and caters well to hiking and outdoor community. Did not stay at hostel, pitched at an awesome site down the train tracks a few hundred yards right by the river with Colin, Jarod, Driftwood, Voodoo, and Rabbitsfoot.March 22-NOC up to Sassafras Gap Shelter-6.9 Miles,SOOO hard up from about 1740ft elevation to 4330.March 23-Happy easter everyone! Wish i could have been with the family and then over to nonna's with steph. Went from Sassafras Gap shelter ALLLL the way to Fontana, this was a HUGE milestone for me. 21.8 Miles!(cant believe i did it!), and it had some hard climbs and downs as everyday. Made in to Fontana by 830, 12 hrs strait of hiking, loved every minute, cheoah bald was incredible and a great easter present, sweet view. Got a place to sleep in the Lodge with Free Hugs, Furniture, and Fish, great guys and a free sleep and shower! Fontana is cool, but right now like a ghost town its pretty weird.Today im headed out on my way to Newfoundland Gap, where ill hitch into gatlinburg, TN and hopefully I can update from there. Will take me about 4 Days. I can't begin to describe how amazing the life and people really are out here. I miss and think about everyone back home. GOOD LUCK ALL 08 THRU HIKERS
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Fontana Village, Great Smoky Mountains NP

To: Hot Springs N.C. 
Miles today: 109.2
Weather: light rain

Hey everyone, I regret that I never did post an entry when I was in Gatlinburg, I definitely had access but never got around to it. After Fontana Dam, I made my way up into the Great Smoky Mountains, up shuckstack mountain, about a 2500 ft rise in elevation, and the smokies were a really challenging and tough hike, but also one of the most beautiful. It was rainy and cold and foggy much of the time, but i came across a few balds(tops of mountains covered only in grass) and did have some spectacular views, which blew away any of the others I had previously seen. I passed clingman dome, the highest point on the A.T. at about 6600 ft elevation, but again too foggy. Still hiking with many of the same people I have been, I now have a running list of around 50 or so people, and I hear MANY more are behind us. I reached Newfound Gap, had some amazing trail magic from patio, mcgruff, and jawa, hotdogs and cookies, gatorade,chips, candy and all. Hitched into Gatlinburg and took a zero, CRAZY place when you've been hiking for awhile, a little invasive. My beautiful and supportive Stephanie made it up for that weekend and that was an awesome surprise! I couldn't have been any more lucky than to get good food and to have the support of one of the many people who loves me. Out of Gatlinburg, then made it to Standing Bear Farm, about 30 miles away, where me and Mule did some work for stay. Great place, awesome people. Another 35 miles, beautiful terrain and out of the Smokies finally, and now im in Hot Springs, NC.   I arrived on Thursday late, and am working for stay again at a place called Elmer's Sunnybrook Inn, an unbelieveable place run by Elmer Hall for the past 30 years in a HUGE 1800's country house! They make gourmet vegetarian meals for breakfast and dinner, and when i arrived they were full but elmer is an awsome guy and put me up on a couch. In return I have had the wonderfull experience of working with his 4 person crew, previous thru-hikers who live there and work, and I have done some landscaping and tending to the garden while here. I will be leaving by monday or tuesday, but was ahead of the crowd so wanted to wait for some people who are still behind, and I didn't want to miss the chance to have this experience, I think that so many people get antzy to get back on the trail and miss out on stuff like this so I'm stayin for a day or two more, then I'll be headed to Erwin, Tn. I love you all, and cant thank you enough for all the support and posts that you have kept sending me. The trail so far has been incredible and I wish I could put it into words, even though this is by far one of the most challenging things i have ever done. Till next time ya'll!~LastMinute
Date: 2008-04-06
From: Hot Springs N.C. 

To: Hot Springs N.C. 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hey Everyone, I just wanted to post today as now i've been here in Hot Springs working with the staff for a week, made some money, met lots of awesome thru-hikers that have stayed here at elmer's, and have gotten a taste and awareness of a totally different way to live, and broadened my experience. Despite the people who have come through so far, I am still about a week and a half in front of what Amicolola said is a HUGE group of the thru-hikers that will be coming in. I'm ready to hit the trail again, but If asked to stay for one more weeks worth of pay and work with the staff, I may consider it since I know it will still not affect the timing of my hike. The weather has been gorgeous, spring is out, and the sun has been shining. Missing everyone as usual, Will post again in Erwin if possible. Happy Trails everyone!P.S. Going to take another dayhike back to Max Patch on Sunday, it is an AMAZING view.
Date: 2008-04-23
To: U.S.19 E
Miles today: 114.9

Well I haven't added in awhile and I only have a minute so here it goes. I stayed in Hot Springs for a total of 11 days, then left out for erwin, roughly 70 miles away. The terrain and weather was pretty decent, nothing too bad until the elevation drop coming down into Erwin, Tn. Erwin was a cool little town with a hostel right as you get off the trail called Uncle Johnny's. Stayed there for a night and got a few hitches into town to resupply and pick up my camera(thanks Lauren!)which im really happy to have now I can post up some pics for everyone. Then left out headed for US19E, a gap about another 50 miles away from erwin. Leaving Erwin, the terrain at first was much like the smokies again and very beautiful, we past a nice little bald called beauty spot and then started our approach up Roan Mt, the last BIG mountain(6300ft.elevation) until further north. This was by far the hardest climb in my opinion so far, it took me a few hours going up and it was really rocky but so beautiful. After coming off the mountain and into the gap, the terrain almost totally changed from that point on and I started to realize how far north I'm getting, we first hit three huge balds with rolling hills to the sides and totally different vegetation. Then we came down into overmountain shelter, which was a huge barn that had been converted and the view from there went straight into the valley below, it was really unbelieveable, that was my best day on the trail by a long shot. The next few days was just really nice terrain with balds over and over, ending with one really hard mountain climb up a large breathtaking bald (great pics)and then about 5 nice miles down into US19E gap, where me and a few of my fellow hikers got picked up from Atreau's boss and we have taken two or three days here in Wilkesboro, where we are working at Merlefest, a huge annual bluegrass festival with some really big bands playing. The expeierence thusfar on and off the trail I cannot put into words. The trail always keeps throwing new challenges and new beauty my way all the time. I'm really getting excited to be passing through Damascus, Va here in about a week or so where I will post again. Trail days(the huge trail festival put on in damascus as well) is May 16-18 and I will be hitching back for that. I'll post again soon! I love and miss you all thanks for all the support and care...lastminute
Date: 2008-05-05
From: U.S.19 E

To: Damascus, Va
Miles today: 74.5
Weather: clear sky

Hey everyone, hope everything is going well for all who read. Well Merlefest was a total sucess, we even got to meet a band I love called Hot Buttered Rum, who signed my pack with a quote from one of their songs about hiking, "Wade into the streams that lead you to your dreams". I thought that was an amazing experience to meet those great guys, and talk to them about hiking, and got some good pics. Anyways, me and the three guys I've been hiking with, Atreau, Voodoo, and Mountainspice, got to stay with an older lady who was working with us at the festival, and she had a beautiful cabin right next to Boone, NC where she did laundry, made us food, gave us showers and dropped us back at the gap the next day, Thanks JANET!..Made my way about 30 miles from their and me and Atreau got this crazy idea that we could make it from Kincora to Hampton, Tn to Damascus in one 24hr strait shot, after we had heard it's never been done before. So the next day we started, and hiked all day and all night, stopped by a tree for a 2-3 hr nap, woke up and continued hiking all that night into the morning and then Atreau and I split up a little by afternoon, and by that evening I had made a 52 mile day!!, it took me 27hrs total, but everyone here says it counts. Shortly after I learned that Atreau had hitched in with a guy on a motorcycle, haha, about 10 miles out. It was the most difficult thing I have ever put my body through, and ever will, but it is somthing few can claim. The last 10 miles I was dehydrated, starving, seeing colors, screaming with pain, and literally falling over alot but I knew I would make it. Anyhow, Damascus is amazing, took a couple zeros, shookdown my pack to where its really light now, and got a new, smaller pack, and im really looking for trail days in about a week or so, but im hiking out today, and want to put about 60-70 miles behind me before hitching back. I can't wait to see Steph and Chris who say they are gonna make it up, as well as all the friends I have made on the trail. The hikes have been beautiful and the weather has been great. I miss and think about all of you, thanks for the love and support, will post again at trail days here...Happy Trails!
Date: 2008-05-19
From: Damascus, Va

To: atkins va
Miles today: 75.6
Weather: clear sky

Hey everyone, well im about to leave out from Damascus, Va where I met up with Stephanie and Chris for Trail Days festival. It was amazing! We had a lot of fun, saw lots of my trail friends and ate LOTS of food, ive been trying not to lose weight and suprisingly have done really well as I weighed in at 166lbs. according to tow different scales, for the first time ever this weekend(the most ive ever weighed!) I left springer at around 152lbs. They brought my dog sasha which was the best gift besides themselves, I was so happy to see her, and now I have decided to hike her out with me after fitting her for a pack at mt.rogers outfitters, great people. Anyways, the time off the trail here has been unbelieveable and so good for me as the fact that I am walking such a long ways from atlanta has really started to set in, as well as the change in myself after seeing two people who know me so well, that I haven't seen in a long time and probably wont see again for quite awhile. So Im going to say my goodbye's and wish my beautiful girlfriend luck and happiness as she leaves in a week or so for Italy, on study abroad and more, and try to package up this whole weekend in my head as an awsome memory which I'm sure I'll be thinking back on the rest of the way to Maine. That being said, I'm in outstading condition(the best in my life probably) and ready to be back on the trail asap, and will probably not be posting for awhile as I'm planning on making some big miles and my aim is to be in Harper's Ferry(the halfway point) by july 4th at the latest. I hope all is well for all who read this, I love and miss all of you as my journey moves on..Happy Trails!
Date: 2008-05-28
From: atkins va

To: Pearisburg Va
Miles today: 89.4
Weather: light rain

Hey everyone me and sasha are in pearisburg, Va. mile marker 624ish, sorry im kinda in a rush on this computer. We are making good time, sash is doing really well and seems to have great spirits and lots of energy even after long mile days. Angels rest was an amazing view on Pearis Mt. and looking forward to Mcafee Knob coming up, hoping to get some of my pics posted soon. Heading out tomorrow morning, loving every minute, thanks to all of you for the love and support!
Date: 2008-06-15
From: Pearisburg Va

To: Dutch Haus BB
Miles today: 187.0

Happy Fathers Day! Sorry I don't have a phone to call from. Its been awhile since ive been able to write a post, but after pearisburg things did change. Sasha had a heat stroke, and sadly had to leave the trail, thanks again dad for coming to pick her up, and to mom and billy for taking her in for me,i hope she is doing well. During the heat wave I also had my share of troubles, even stopped sweating one day and it was a real scare, luckily I was close to a pond to jump in. The water has become a little more tough to get to, but no big deal because now without sash ive been putting in some longer days, and plan to continue that way. Ive been a little bummed as well seeing freinds and other hikers getting off the trail a whole lot more recently. I'm at mile marker 811 and will be in Waynesboro the day after tomorrow. I'm extremely excited, however, to be about to enter the Shenandoah National Park, one of the most traveled and well known areas on the entire A.T. and something all the hikers look forward to because of its well known wayside grills and such, as well as the beautiful terrain well maintained from what I hear. I have also passed the 120 mile stretch from Mt.Roger's to Dragon's Tooth(Amazing) which according to the ATC is the lonliest stretch of the A.T. Not for me, though. Anyways, the trek remains tough but rewarding, some of the sights including McAfee Knob have been awesome, and the list goes on. The experience is always changing, as am I. I love and miss all of you, thanks for everything. Aunt Kelly and the kids sent me a package and it was AMAZING. THANKS SO MUCH!! Ok I gotta go hike, hope to update again in Waynesboro or Harpers Ferry....