morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-09-16
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Slept soundly after exerting myself yesterday. Once awake, I poked my head out of the Hut. The mountain was covered with a thin layer of snow and ice. It looks like a winter wonderland up here. Enjoyed a nice breakfast and a leisurely morning before heading up to the top. The ice on the rocks was somewhat treacherous. I finally made it to the top. I was astonished at the ice formations that were all around. Spent a fair portion of the day on top before heading down. Once back at the hut I began to gather my gear together to leave. One of the hut kids pokes his head out the window and says " Hey Wicked, I need to talk to you. That guy over ther doesn't have alot of hiking experience. I was wondering if you could go over there and help him?" I said that I'd do my best. It ends up that this is the guys first hike and he has packed way to much stuff. I spend 1 and 1/2 hours layings all his gear out and determining what he needs and what should go. Once done, I had one huge box of stuff that he didn't need at all which is to be sent to his momma. With all the extra food that he had, I made two bounce boxes. When he put his pack on he almost couldn't believe that this was his pack. Whats more is that I offered to hike his stuff to the top of Washington and send it off. I sent him off to hike the trail and see what it feels like to enjoy walking with a pack on. His name will forever be known as " Winnabego" Since I have a bit of rapport with the croo they agreed that I could stay the night. They did warn me that there was going to be a festive gathering that evening and that it had the potential to be full blown crazy.. As the evening started many matresses were pulled into the main room. We then proceeded to hang from the rafters and participate in wrestling matches. As the evening turns to morning the party continues on. These kids truely know what it means to rage against the dying of the light. All I can say is " Arms and Socks".
Date: 2007-09-17
From: Lakes of the Clouds Hut

To: Mizpah Spring Hut
Miles today: 4.8

I woke up this morning feeling like a freight train had smashed through me. It took me a moment before I could start functioning proper. I borrowed a pack board and got someone to help me tie the boxes on. Shortly after I started hiking i started to feel better. The rocks were still iced over and it was fun but challenging experience to hike with a packboard on. I feel that I'm on of the few people outside of the AMC workforce that has had the opportunity of using one. Finally made it to the top and was able to get the packages dropped to the post. Afterwards, I looked up a guy , by the name of Brian, whom I had met at the party last night. He works in the observatory and had offered to take me up the tower. Once up on top he stated " You are now standing on the highest point in New England". It was an awesome experience and I'm very grateful for it. The visibility was about 90 miles. This is one of the most beautiful days that I've enjoyed in a long while. I spent a good amount of time on the mountain before it was finally time to leave. It's with much regret that I probably will not be able to stand on top of this mountain for some time to come. I got back down to the hut and the croo is hard at work shutting th place down. I take some time to feed myself and rest up. The feeling I have that the experience here is over and it's time to move on. Said my good-byes and moved on down the trail. The walk was a pleasant one that didn't involve me looking at my feet the whole time. I was afforded many views and since it was later in the day I had the trail all to myself. Before I knew it I was at Mispa hut. I walked in and talked to a young man. I introduced myself and he stated "We have been expecting you. A couple from last night had and extra bed for you. We will just extend that offer to this evening. Are you hungry?" I have never been made to feel more welcome then I had that night. Thank you Nick for everything and I enjoyed staying up and shooting the breeze with ya.
Date: 2007-09-18
From: Mizpah Spring Hut

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 13.9

Kinda slept in today. Missed the main part of breakfast yet I still ended up getting feed. Did some dishes and hung out with the croo. Stated that " The nice thing about traveling is that you end up meeting really amazing people. The hard thing is that you always end up saying good-bye." Left with a determination to see if I could check e-mail and maybe shower at AMC Highlands Center with time left to still make it to Zealand Falls Hut. I had a good time rock hopping my way down to Crawford Notch. Once at the road, I waited around for maybe 1/2 hour trying to hitch a ride. I gave up that idea and continued trekking south. I forgot that the trail for the next 7 miles was an old railroad bed. It was so good to stretch my legs and not worry where I placed my feet. i made it to Z-hut without a problem. The croo there were just putting the finishing touches on dinner and were cool with hooking me up with work for stay. After the guests got done eating, it was my turn. i must say that the meal was the best that I've had in the Whites so far. There was a school group from Mass. It ended up that my presentation on the A.T. was again my work for stay. I tried to keep everyone captivated for a couple of hours. All in all, once again a good show. After the kids went to bed their school teacher and i sat outside watching the stars and talking about working with kids and life in general. By far the most stimulating conversation I 've had in awhile. There is something about talking with a stranger that your able to just open up and be real and raw. Good company, good times and the most amazing shooting stars that I've ever seen.
Date: 2007-09-19
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: few clouds

After saying my so longs to the croo and the school kids my adventure continues. It is a perfect day in the mountains. I've got my shirt off walking along and soaking up the sunshine. This particular section of trail is a continious rock hop. All the way up the ridge, across, and down the othe side my feet rarely touch the ground. On the way down I had the thought that "This is fun." My definition of fun is something that is technical, challenging, scary, and potentailly lethal in certain situations. (From here on out when I refer to something as being fun this is what I mean; i.e Mahoosuc Notch, 7 miles betweem Madison and Lakes huts, etc.....) I made it to Galehead with every intention of pushing on to Greenleaf Hut. For many reasons I ended up staying. All that sun really zapped me of my energy. Besides, there was another school group and one of the group leaders offered me their extra bed. In return for their kindness I offered to share my experiences of the A.T. with them. As dinner was about to be served a thru-hiker walked in to get some water. I knew in a heart beat that it was my buddy, No Pain. No Pain and I had done many miles together and have shared many misadventures. I haven't seen him since 2002. I was just telling the guest about how the trail is a very small community. It was cool to see how the guests started to realize that this happens on trail more often then not. After dinner, I conducted my talk and it seemed to go over well. Hung out with No Pain for awhile and then hit the hay. Once again a soft bed and a soft pillow lulled me into a restfull slumber.
Date: 2007-09-20
From: Galehead Hut

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hung out with No Pain for the morning. We talked of plans to hook up once I get down to Harper's Ferry. It would be nice to have the company, reliving old times while making new memories. After No Pain left, I resigned myself to hanging out and writing. It is a gorgeous day and I almost feel guilty about not hiking. It's all about enjoying the moment and how often does one get a chance to call a mountain cabin home. Besides, there is a little party tonight and I look forward to seeing a certain somebody. I enjoyed meeting all the hut croo at Lake of the Clouds and this is my chance to see everybody one more time. I spent a majority of the day just sitting outside on the porch. I had a 65 mile visibility and was able to look out over the valley. Later on in the day, the other hut kids start to arrive and before long the party is in full swing. The drinking games began with whiskey slaps, followed by flip cup, and topped off with a beer pong marathon. Then just as quickly as the party started it ubruptly ended. Just goes to show that if you are to festive to quickly it equals an early evening. Luckily, I had the sense enough not to over do things and was in the right frame of mind to hang out with a friend. We pulled a couple of matresses outside so we could lay down and look at the stars. It's amazing to view the sky at that altitude with no lights around. The milky way was present and the shooting stars were a sight to behold. The only thing that made it better was the fact that I had someone to share the evening with. We conversed for hours and just talked of life and what we wanted out of it. Reluctantly, as the evening turned to morning, I drifted off into a satisfied state of sleep.
Date: 2007-09-21
From: Galehead Hut

To: Greenleaf Hut
Miles today: 6.6

I awoke this morning to a lot of farwells and so-longs. There was one in particular that was bitter-sweet. I meet many amazing people whom I'm thankful that I've had the chance to hang out with. The hard part is always saying good-bye. There is always the hope that the people I meet in my travels stay in touch but one always tends to get wrapped up in their current life. No matter how much I say that I'll write someone, I always find it to be a challenging task. Cory, from Greenleaf Hut, approached me and said " I would be mighty disappointed if you didn't stop by my hut. The least we can do is feed ya before you head out of the Whites." My hopes were to push out of the area but with an invite like that I would be a fool to decline. The walk between the two huts was a beautiful rock hop across Garfield Ridge to the top of the mountain. It is a bright and sunny day. I've got all the time in the world to chill and relax. That's the great thing about short mile days. The walk across Franconia Ridge was a bit hazy but amazing none the less. I was surprised at the fact that I forgot how awesome this ridge line truely is. I stayed atop Mt. Lafayette for as long as I could. The wind had picked up making things a bit brisk on top and a fog had begun to roll in. I figured that it would be a good tme to visit Cory and the croo for the evening. I arrived just in time to help set up for dinner and then climb on top of the roof so I could take pictures of the sunset. Once back inside the hut, I hung out in the kitchen and waited for the guest to get done with dinner. Afterwards, I helped clear the tables and that is about the time Cory was introducing the rest of the croo to the guests. Then, he says " This is Wicked our residential hiker. Wicked why don't you tell the folks a little about yourself." I told them the basics such as my age, where I'm from and then I said " The interesting fact about me is that this is my first southbound hike but will be my third thru-hike." I noticed a few surprised looks from the guest and then had to feild the standard questions such as " Why again? Isn't it going to get cold? How much money does it cost? When are you going to get done? ect..... Once again, I am doing an impromtu presentation on the A.T. After I got done talking it was my turn to eat. I sat in the kitchen with the croo and Cory busted out a couple of beers to go with a really tasty dinner. I ended up retiring for the evening early since I had stayed up so long last night. I went to bed with thoughts of pushing past the Whites and looking forward to what is further on down the trail. My experience, through this part of the trail has been better than I could have ever imagined. Between the weather, the people that I've met and the rugged beauty of the land I truely feel that it doesn't get any better than this.
Date: 2007-03-15
From: amacaloa falls

To: Long falls
Miles today: 13.5

today brenden and began my thruhikof the appalachian trail. the start to was slow. Last night we came into amacalola falls around eleven pmand camped by the car. Today we began hiking at eleven thirty after we ate breakfast, went through my stuff, and registered for the hike.The approach trail is eight point one miles to springer mountain. We pushed past that today and made camp at long creek falls, no one is here and the falls are beautiful. I am so sore and miss steph. Oh yesterday we stopped in cinnicinati and ate lunch at a place called Nicklesons. Beautiful scattish pub we had to have fish and chips very very good. Finally we are in Georgia and we forgot to pick up a Guiness so we stopped at every gas station in georgia trying to find it and they hadn't even heard of it. But oh well today we finish off the day at 13.5 miles good good day.
Date: 2007-03-16
From: Long falls

To: woody gap
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night while sleeping peacefully in the rain a small dead tree fell on us. It fell on brendens leg and hit me in the stomach and shattered. The tree that fell was probably 9 feet long and 6 inches round but still pretty dead. We set up our tarp and tarptent and went back to bed at 2 p.m. During the day we hiked 13 miles set up camp on top of this mountain ate dinner, alls well. Then around 6 the wind is howling and the trees are swaying and we are paranoid. So we break camp and start looking for a better place to camp. We end up hiking for 3 more hours in the dark and came to wodu gap and the wind is howling and its freezing so what do we do but cowboy camp, we almost slept in the bathrooms. It went down to 9 degrees last night. Brenden and i slept pretty close together.
Date: 2007-03-17
From: woody gap

To: camping spot 2 miles past neels gap
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Last night was very cold as we cowboy camped. Today we went to the top of blood mountain and Neels gap. we lightened my load today and Brenden left. It feels wierd with him being gone I hope i have the driving force. After he left i pushed on for 2 more miles and made camp. ther were 2 other tents there. by the time i had set up camp the people emerged a son and a father. we ended up talkin till 10 they were believers it was nice to talk.
Date: 2007-03-18
From: camping spot 2 miles past neels gap

To: Low gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today I awoke to freezing tips so i broke camp as soon as possible and started hiking till i came to the top of a mountain and ate breakfast. I didnt really feal very well today i felt kind of sick which resulted in a 9 mile day. I came in to low gap shelter i felt really sore.
Date: 2007-03-19
From: Low gap

To: tray mountain
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

left low gap and walked 15 miles to tray mountain today . My knee rally hurts but i seem to be able to push through. at tray mountain was slinky-dog, knockout, bly, plod, jack and dan. Jack got named fidel and his friend Dan named danger so danger travels with fidel. It seems i've been sleeping better now shich is a good thing.
Date: 2007-03-20
From: tray mountain

To: Blueberry patch hostel
Miles today: 10.0

Left tray mountain this morning around 8:15 right before plod. I walked for about a halfhour, looked behind me and saw tentanator. this guy from albany NY hiking in a kilt.(i want one) he had it pulled up in the front so when i looked back i got the full monty. We hiked together till about 12:30 and hithe 1000 ft climb for a mile, hard climb. I had to rest several times, but he just kept going never saw him again. (he was just a weekend hiker) got to rt 76 today at 1 it was 10 miles away. there i met yardsale who took a weed off from the trail cause of his knees (lord please not me) then i hitched a ride to the blueberry patch with plod. actully cloud 9 hostel gave us a ride and really tried to get us to come there but we have packages there, well i was supposed to have a package bumped there but it didnt show so i now live of the hiker box. plenty of food. after a shower and a nice cleaning of the clothes plod and I hit the town had dinner and a beer together good fellow he lives in canada but is originally from london. he started the trail on his 55 birthday.
Date: 2007-03-22
From: muscrat shelter

To: Big spring shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: scattered clouds

awoke early had a good breakfast and walked to big spring shelter. a good 19.3 miles great walk. here tonight is yardsale 3rd times a charm plod dozer footpump and his friend i forget her name. I'm really beginning to enjoy it out here. just a nice community and good hiking
Date: 2007-03-23
From: Big spring shelter

To: Campsite along the trail
Miles today: 19.6

started at 8:30 today left from big spring shelter and hiked to a campsite it seemed today all we did was go up hill. Had a nice thought today spiritual life is lik a hike. all you see is the stone, the leaves the trees. all the time you are walking pushing hard up hill down hill. till finally you come to a bald and see what Gos has put together.
Date: 2007-03-24
From: Campsite along the trail

To: NOC
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

Hiked 16.8 miles today and broke a blister on my small toe and that foot hurt so bad today. So far I have walked 134 miles. i'm still traveling with plod Its good company we had dinner tonight at the NOC and trail magic at liclog gap. tonight andf tommorrow we will stay here a 0 day the first one.
Date: 2007-03-26
From: NOC

To: Cody gap
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Started off thinking i was only going to do about 6 miles today. because the climb was over 3000 ft but i got to the first shelter today at 11:45 and thought i cant stay here all day. when i came over that hill for thw first shelter though i coul hear som strummin on a bango. These three guys had a banjo, mandalin, and a fiddle they sounded great. but i pushed on today to a small gap pitched my tent with 50/50 , spirit healer , ziplock, and nitro. good company around the fire and a little singing of gospel music with a backpackers guitar. i think i walked 19 miles today.
Date: 2007-03-27
From: Cody gap

To: Fontana dam
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Started off at cody gap this morning and walked 11 miles to the fontatna dam docks. ther i met drip dry, ohm, quartermoon and we waited for a shuttle for aver an hour but it was worth it because the shuttle took us to the fontana village where we got to swim in a heated indor pool. Eat ham burgers listen to piano and raid the local grocery store for food . Oh also the excitement from package drops was everwhere. about 8 we headed back with and even bigger group of us and bucked question ou manhood if we didnt walk the last 1.1 to the shelter so ohm and i walked thet last mile in the dark bust at least we got to slack pack it. then we all talked till 11 at the fontana hilton shelter all 14 of us.
Date: 2007-03-28
From: Fontana dam

To: spence shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

so two weeks now seems like forever ago i started. today i crossed fontana dam and started into the smokies 17 mils today. beautiful today and mostly up hill there was one part at the top of this mountain where it was covered with all these little flowers and moss on everything. it was somthing out of a book. I landed in spence shelter with owl , barry manilow, footpeddle and kattipillar oh and a guy from cleveland who is just out hiking for 2 days it was a nice day the smokies are growing on me.
Date: 2007-03-29
From: spence shelter

To: smokies shelter
Miles today: 0.0

today was about a 12 13 miles. i felt tired all day at lunch i stopped at the first helter and ate. owl,and footpump came along and we all just took a nap. i found a blanket at the shelter and used at as a pillow. then five minutes after i left it poured. but then the sun came out and dryed me up. tommorrow were waking up early to go to clingmans dome to watch the sun rise. clingman is the highest spot on the A.T.
Date: 2007-03-30
From: double spring

To: icehouse shelter
Miles today: 13.8

started off from double spring shelter this morning. the time 5:30 packed up and out. five of us footpump, owl,barry manilow, adjetive and myself. decided to hike to the top of clingmans dome. to the watch tower the highest point on the AT. as we were almost to the top barry manilow and i were in front fo everyone. and we saw the sign that read to the the tower and hiked down the path 3/10 of a mile. then realized no one was behind us and we were heading down so we decided to hike back up and we found out we were on the wrong path. finally got to the tower and all we coul see was mist and cold it sucked. oh i think we saw a radio tower 100 yards away. once. so i waked 13.8 today and gto to the shelter really early i met a whole new mess of people today probably 10 to 15. im staying at ice house shelter tonight hopefully 20 miles tommorrow.
Date: 2007-03-31
From: icehouse shelter

To: davenport gap shelter
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: light rain

I left icewater shelter this morning around 8:30 and met up with foorpump around 10:30 he was eating on the ridge. enjoying the nice smokey mountain views. we waked to pick shelter and had lunch. on the way we ran into a ridge runner named shatter who was apparently spreading peace and harmony with his deditation rocks "whatever" Peaple are so fulled later found out he was supposably in a mental institution. any way had lunch with every on and then walded to cosby shelter and arrived at 4:30 doning 20.3 miles then we find out the shelter is really full there. maore and more people kept showing up so barry manilow said he was hiking to davenport shelter 7 miles away so went with him. got there at 9:30 and did 27 miles my record so far.
Date: 2007-04-01
From: davenport gap shelter

To: groundhog shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

left daven port this morning. I was so tired i coulnt hardly sleep. but i layed in bed for awhile. i think it was nine when i finally left. i hiked 3 miles to standing bear hostel and along the way we followed the most beautiful water falling stream. At standing bear i got a shower a laundy shower and some food for dinner. and i made myself a pizza it tasted so good. this place was so back woods it was hilarious some guy showed me around everything looked like it was ging to fall down. it was great becous it was paridise to us. there was even a guy panning for gold in the stream and he foun some. but i hiked ou around 3:45 with mr.easy and no problem. they stayed at a campsite and i pressed on for 10.3 making it 13.3all day to this shelter.
Date: 2007-04-02
From: groundhog shelter

To: Hot Springs sunny bank inn
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: few clouds

last night was wierd i stayed at groundhog shelter with these older people and they went to bed befor the sun went down and wereup 2 hours before the sun came up. they were definatly excentric. one was lonerboner 65 or so and he was telling owl and i he diverced his wife in the 70s or 80s but he could have had here wacked but then he couldnt look the kids in the eyes. it was wierd. today was another great mile day I did 8 before lunch ate two lunches then a nap and saw hermies go by then a halfhour later i took off and cought up with him which he said no one does cause i scared him. then we walked together. he asked if i could keep this pace and i said i cought up with you didnt i. so we waked 22 miles to hot springs. had a burger and now im at a nice victorian hostel with a bed and sheets. aahhhh