morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-11-08
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Wayah Gap (or, NOC)
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: few clouds

Looked into slacking again- brought the price down to $60. The cold and the idea of a real meal at the end of the day are doing strange things to my mind, so that seemed reasonable. And, as it turned out, it kind of was. It took more than an hour and a half to get to Wayah Gap, just 22 trail miles away. HP and I started hiking north to Wayah Bald next to a dirt road that goes to the summit. I made a wishful comment about waiting for a ride all the way to the top. After a few minutes of hiking, HP stopped to take his jacket off and I continued hiking. The trail was maybe 25 feet from the road through some thick brush, and I heard the unmistakeable sound of car wheels hitting gravel. I sprinted downhill towards HP (who was closer to the road) pointing frantically towards the road and yelling "HITCH! HITCH! HITCH!" and so on. Ryan sprinted through the brush as the truck went by, and they either saw his thumb or were frightened into stopping. We ended up getting a ride to the top, which made a 22-mile day with an 11:00 start a lot easier by turning it into an 18-mile day with an 11:15 start. Wayah and Wesser Balds were gorgeous, and I can only imagine that the last 5 miles north down to the NOC were much more pleasant than the usual 5 mile southbound climb.We passed Contact and Cedar going the other direction. They had sped up to finish on the 16th among friends and were doing things the traditional southbound way.It was dark by the time I made it to the NOC, and I had a burger and headed back to the bunkroom. I thought I heard familiar voices next door, so I knocked and found Dutch, Yellow Bird, Caveman and Salty Dog! Last seen in Hot Springs slackpacking themselves with a rented car (genius), they had hitched from Clingmans Dome in order to finish on the 17th (also genius).
Date: 2007-11-09
From: Wayah Gap (or, NOC)

To: Standing Indian Campground
Miles today: 12.2

Having slackpacked back to the NOC from Wayah Gap, I didn't want to repeat the same hike southbound. I also didn't want to pay $60 for another ride up to Wayah. Instead, I hitched. It only took 5 rides and 3.5 hours!
Date: 2007-11-10
From: Standing Indian Campground

To: Plumorchard Shelter
Miles today: 29.4
Weather: overcast clouds

There was ICE in the foot of my tent this morning. Took the Kimsey Creek Trail, a really gentle stretch on an old railroad bed, up to the AT. A lost hunting dog that looked like a beagle on steroids followed us for miles until we took a break to celebrate GEORGIA!!!!!!!!!!!!Two hikers heading north passed us and the dog turned around to follow them. I hope he gets found soon!!!Floated through the day on the knowledge that I'm in GEORGIA!!!!!At the shelter there were a couple northbound hikers with another lost hunting dog that had followed them for days. While I was cooking dinner, its ears pricked up and it bolted into the woods. We could hear it baying for about an hour, and when it came back it was carrying a wild baby pig (dead). He ran off to hide and and anytime one of use got up and even looked in that direction he got up and growled at us. As if I would want his dead baby pig.
Date: 2007-11-11
From: Plumorchard Shelter

To: Hiawassee
Miles today: 4.3
Weather: overcast clouds

After dark last night the shelter cat came in. Super friendly but skinny and cold. Poor thing... he slept on my sleeping bag and under my tent half the night until I freaked him out by moving my legs. This morning I wanted to put him in my food bag and bring him to Hiawassee to see if there was an animal shelter that could take him, but the dog scared him away and he never came back. Had a hard hitch into Hiawassee but a truck eventually U-turned to pick us up and take us to the super-hiker-friendly Hiawassee Inn.
Date: 2007-11-12
From: Hiawassee

To: Unicoi Gap (or, Hiawassee)
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Slacked from Unicoi back to Dick's Gap. Lisa from Hiawassee Inn helped us out with the rides and fed us breakfast. The trail in Georgia has been really nicely graded but with lots of updownupdownupdownupdown action... I was happy not to have a pack today.Once again passed Hedgehog, Tengu, Contact and Cedar doing the traditional southbound thing. Today I forgot my skirt so when the rainpants got too hot I Macguyvered my fleece into a skirt. Lisa picked us up at Dick's Gap and took us back to the Inn for a shower and then to a buffet. The appetite's getting stronger.Tomorrow we slack to Neel's Gap!! As of now, 50 miles to Springer.... Tomorrow I'll only be 30 miles away!Quote of the day: "Now I'll finally say it: ME-->GA. There was no need to be overly optimistic before now." -Fresh
Date: 2007-11-13
From: Unicoi Gap (or, Hiawassee)

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Lisa dropped us off at Unicoi Gap and took our packs to the hostel at Neels Gap. Today's scenery was mostly unremarkable but the trail was amazing! This is what I've been waiting for since Maine. Soft, level, unrocky, pine needly bliss. Found Pirate working at Neels Gap. He offered to take us into town to a Chinese buffet. He crashed the van before we even got out of the driveway, but with some duct tape and a little luck we made it into town alive. After a delicious buffet and a quick resupply we headed back to the hostel to watch Blues Brothers and fall asleep.
Date: 2007-11-14
From: Neels Gap

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: few clouds

Another easy day on awesome terrain, with great views! Blood Mountain was gorgeous and not at all the killer mountain northbounders told us about. Shared Gooch Mountain shelter with High Life, Contact, Cedar, a hunter and his son, and an ex-marine heading north to NJ with an 80-lb pack. Had fun looking back to Feb/Mar/Apr in the register and seeing entries from some of the NOBOs I met.Tried to fall asleep to a downpour, thunder and lightning... but the weather and that fact that Springer is so close kept me awake most of the night.
Date: 2007-11-15
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: SPRINGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm done! What now?Woke up around 4:00 to see the hunter and his son lighting one of the easy-fire logs they had carreid in from their car. He later explained, "I thought if I got a fire going everyone would get up and hang out." Um. No. But thanks?HP and I headed out around 9. The path was incredible- like a soft road. I was hoping to see rangers (the army kind) out and about near Hawk Mountain Shelter, but alas. Maybe they were too well camoflaged. Made a quick stop at Stover Creek Shelter, where I had planned to stop for the night. It was freezing, so HP and I quickly decided to head on to the summit and try to hitch out to town. It seemed like it would be a fitting end to the hike. Northbounders insisted that Springer would be anticlimactic. To be fair, it's a smaller mountain with an easier trail and only a partial view. And to be fair, it took me a second to notice the plaque at the top. But the northbounders were wrong. Whether your hike ends on Katahdin, Springer, or any place in between, it's the same feeling.
Date: 2007-11-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

After summiting, HP and I toyed briefly with the idea of staying at the shelter near the top and celebrating with Cedar and Contact the next day. But it was freezing and I felt that a different (warm, and indoors) celebration was in order, so we headed back to the road. After trying (and failing) to get a signal to call a hotel or hostel, we head a car coming down the road. FAST. So I did what I had to do, which was to run out in the road and physically block the truck from leaving without us. It took a long time to convince the hunters that we needed a ride. "How y'all doin?""Good... so, we just walked here. Can you give us a ride to a town?""Where'd you walk from?""Maine""How far away is that?""A little over 2,000 miles, if you walk.""So you have a car down in town?""No, we walked here.""Then why do you need to get to town?""Because we walked here. We need to get to a hotel.""Which hotel? Is that where your car is?""No, no car. We walked here. From Maine. With all this stuff. No car.""You WALKED here?""Yes.""From where?"This went on, compounded by the fact that neither was sure where exactly Maine was, for about twenty minutes. But they finally told us to get in and gave us a ride to a Quality Inn in Blue Ridge, 40 miles from Springer. First order of business was to get a pizza from Dominos, a pint of Ben and Jerry's, and a bottle of wine. And then to run back to the store to get a bottle opener. Next: a shower. It was weird to shower knowning that this was the last time I would be washing away the hiker grunge, at least for a while. And to get in bed and know that I wasn't going back to the trail in the morning.
Date: 2007-11-17
To: Atlanta, GA
Miles today: 0.0

After a continental breakfast, the Quality Inn guy let us put our now light packs behind the desk while we waited for Cori, a girl we met in Erwin. She lives a couple hours away, but she had volunteered to pick us up and drive us down to the airport in Atlanta. Our last (big) bit of trail magic.Before she came, we tried to transform ourselves into normal people. We found a store with clothes, and I came out wearing jeans and a sweater. Part of me was happy and part of me wanted to cry. Cori and her sister dropped us off at the Hilton, where HP's dad had arranged for us to have a room, dinner and champagne the night before our flight. Thanks, Perry! It was very different from the hostels and hotels we had been staying at along the trail, to say the least. Last night it was strange to go to bed knowing that I wouldn't get back on the trail in the morning. Tonight it's strange to go to bed knowing that in the morning I will undo the past 5.5 months in just 2 hours.
Date: 2007-11-18
From: Atlanta, GA

To: Marblehead, MA
Miles today: 0.0

Model UN shenanigans in the hallway kept us awake until 2, and we left for the airport at 5am. The woman sitting next to us on the plane recognized us as hikers. Either the Crocs gave us away- but they seem to be a pretty mainstream thing- or we just look like hikers. Thought: I'm no longer hiking the AT. I hiked it. My parents met us by the baggage claim. It was so good to see them. Being homesick was one of the hardest parts of the trail for me. They made us an awesome ice cream cake with bears, lean-tos, a car (for hitching), moose, trees, a white blaze, a canoe (kayaking/Kennebec), hikers, deer, mice etc. It was so cool to have my trip summed up on a CAKE!Now what?
Date: 2009-08-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Two years later, I came back to finish off the journal and to ruminate. Because I love nothing if not ruminating. The first few weeks off trail were bizarre. HP and I moved into an apartment in Maine, and I tried to get used to the ins and outs of everyday life out of the woods. Among the changes: Having an oven. Not being able to pee wherever I want, whenever I want. Paying bills. Having more than one set of clothing. Having more than one of anything. Being able to buy food for taste/nutrition, not for weight. Having everything I didn't have on the trail remind me of the trail. Having things I DID have on the trail remind me of the trail. Having my body, which held up heroically on the trail (sort of), start to ache. Not being able to go up or down stairs without holding on to the railing. Having lots of snow. Being able to go inside and avoid snow completely. Sleeping in the same place every night. Having constant cell phone service and battery life. Not wanting to use my cell phone. Having the internet and cable. Not wanting to use the internet or cable. Having too much stuff. Being able to get rid of stuff I never thought I could living without before. Being able to drive. Some of the changes I expected. Some I did not. Some I liked. Some I did not. I've gotten used to some things. For instance, I'm ok with being able to shower daily, but I still don't think anything beats the satisfaction of heading into town for a shower after five days in the woods. I'm ok with being able to cook myself nice meals, but I still don't think anything beats a Lipton dinner (or, a pint of Ben and Jerry's) after a twenty mile day. In any case, the trail changed everything. I'm still trying to mold the person I was and the life I was leading before the trail with the person I am now and the life I'm leading now into a coherent whole. My guess is that that will be some time in coming. That's ok.
Date: 2011-01-08
To: Anchorage, AK
Miles today: 26.2

Hi everybody! I finished my crazy/wonderful southbound adventure on November 15, 2007, and I'm finally ready for another! This time, though, it's not for me! I'm trying to raise $7,500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a great non-profit that funds patient services, education, and research with the goal of ending all blood cancers. As part of the challenge, I'll be getting up off the couch to train with the LLS Team in Training for the Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage, AK. If you'd like to be a part of my next journey, please visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/anchor11/aframekxey and make a donation! I'll update trailjournals every so often with my training foibles.
Date: 2007-03-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I've read portions of several journals on this site and it seems everyone has their own reasons why taking a 2100+ mile hike through the woods might positively impact their lives. I'm no different. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to escape the rest of my life to endure a thru-hike so I've set my sights on a section from Springer Mountain to Damascus, VA.Hiking the AT has been an intriguing idea to me for many years and because of some changes in my life this spring seems to lend itself as the right time. I suppose I need to take a long walk and clear my head a bit.My preparations continue as I¢ve made some equipment decisions and am making the final arrangements for mail drops and other logistics. Trying to keep the pack light seems to be the name of the game so I don't end up tossing half my stuff down a mountain like Bill Bryson's hiking buddy, Katz, in "A Walk in the Woods". Other hikers gear lists have been a big help.I¢d like to thank my support crew (Joanna and Luke & Lori) for your help. It's becoming more clear that without someone at home to help with the behind-the-scene work this would be significantly more difficult. I will be updating this journal as often as I can from the trail for those interested in the experience from my point of view.
Date: 2007-03-09
To: Food, itinerary, & gear
Miles today: 0.0

It seems like food, my itinerary, and gear decisions are occupying a lot of my 'free' time these days. All major gear decisions finally done, itinerary - maybe a few minor changes, so it's on to food. I've decided to use a few mail drops along the way for food and a few other items I'll need. Buying food, much less planning what I'll eat, for a month is a lot more involved than I'd originally thought. Especially for someone who typically plans a meal based on what is currently in the refer or what looks good on the grocery shelf. I'm trying to mix it up a bit since I'm quite sure ramen noodles, beef jerky, and GORP will probably get old on day 2 or 3. Then again since I've set an aggressive pace maybe I'll be too tired at the end of a day of hiking to care. We'll see...For those interested in reading an entertaining journal try Big Red's 2002 journal. His is an amazing story of "eating the elephant" one bite at a time. Great quotes too.
Date: 2007-03-18
To: Training on the AT
Miles today: 0.0

I had a great day hiking along the AT in conditions I don't think I'll see in GA/NC/TN next month. It hovered around freezing, 6 inches of snow and a nice breeze all day. Crossed the MD/PA line on the trail so I suppose I can add 2 states to the list despite only hiking 10 miles. That doesn't seem reasonable considering there's 40 miles in MD and several hundred in PA. All in all a good test of the equipment, pack was comfortable and the boots kept the feet dry. I've got to get the pack more organized though, nothing where I expected it to be, pain in the rear to find the camera and forgot my spoon. I found out eating pasta and spinach alfredo with trail-made chopsticks isn't so bad but I suppose I can afford the added 1oz if I can remember my spoon for my trip. Took the advice of many on this site and bought a pair of hiking poles and have to agree with all those out there suggesting them. Easy to get into a rythem with them and they're especially useful in snow/ice both ascending and descending over rocky terrain. Managed to only fall on one occasion.The trail offered exactly what I'm looking for...solitude, time to think, get some fresh air and a little exercise. The woods, mountains, open space have a way of bringing new perspectives for me. As much as I enjoyed being at sea and crossing oceans I much more enjoy the variety offered on the trail. Both, however, do make one realize how large the world can be. Since I tend to think I could use the exercise as well as the solitude, coupled with the fact that I haven't perfected the art of walking on water, a trail through the woods seemed the natural choice.
Date: 2007-03-27
To: Final days in civilization
Miles today: 0.0

It's really setting in that this is more than a few days away from it all. My pack weight is pretty good at 20# but after reading Ray Jardine's "Lightweight backpacking" at this late stage I'm feeling like a pack mule. I must admit that his influence has caused me to leave my hiking boots at home in favor of my running shoes. I won't cut out the tongue as he suggested though. I'll consider it a luxury item. How funny is that? Tongues in your shoes a luxury item...such is life in simple terms. And that is really the purpose of this excursion. Breaking life down to bare metal has a way of helping one with perspective, coming to some conclusions about the importance of certain aspects of this journey around the Big Blue Marble. I'll leave the poetic for the trail; more on preps...I set up the tent for the first time and it took all of 2 minutes. My initial impression is that the Tarptent is a great choice. Who needs a rainfly anyway? It's pretty expensive real estate when you consider the cost per square inch but who can complain when they've purchase their 'home' for $225. Despite the fact that I would like a titanium shell between me and Yogi the Bear I think that the combination of hanging my food from a tree and a 1/128th inch thick piece of fabric will do the trick.I'm now the proud owner of 4 different camp stove; 2 homemade, 2 purchased. Decisions, decisions. Funny when I think it all comes down to boiling a little water since everything is freeze-dried. Typical since I enjoy cooking so much. The last addition to the pack is a suture kit. A buddy was going to secure one for me and I got some interesting news from him. Instead of the the old needle and thread I'll be carrying a nice new human staple gun so should I run across anyone in need of medical care on the trail, even a minor scrape, I'll offer up a staple or two. I think I'm ready now...
Date: 2007-04-02
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Three Forks
Miles today: 12.9

Anytime you can beat my sister at Slugbug by finding 2 VW buses next to a rusty trailer in the woods you know it's gonna be a great day! Joanna dropped me off at the approach trail at 10:15 after a brief stop at the ranger station. Another hiker tried to convince me to hitchhike with him to the top of Springer Mountain reminding me that the 8.8 miles to the "official" begining of the AT doesn't count. In my mind that's like skipping foreplay or the introduction to a great book. I came to hike, not hitchhike.Well the approach trail was difficult but I made it to the summit and begining of the Appalachian Trail at 12:15, took a few pictures and continued on to Three Forks where I made camp near a stream, had a quick meal, hit the bag early.I'm a little disorganized and a little sore from the hike but I'm sure that I'll work that out in the next few days.
Date: 2007-04-03
From: Three Forks

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Got an early start after a fitfull sleep and started pounding out the miles. It's quickly becoming evident that I enjoy the uphill but coming down is a bear on the knees and ankles. The hiking poles help a lot however, the downhill pounding still seems to take its toll.I met several interesting people on the trail today; Gavel (a retired judge) and The Bandaid Kid (wildlife biologist) and Thumper. Obviously all trail names. The whole trail name thing is a bit goofy but it does make it easier to remember them and there's no confusing one JimBob with another. I decided to re-name Thumper Beowolf after he recited a poem naming every river in Maine that has an Indian name. Quite impressive. Took at least 5 minutes to recite.I arrived at Gooch Mt shelter at 4pm (10 miles into the day) when one of the other hikers mentioned something about getting a cold beer in Suches, GA at Woody Gap. That sounded pretty good to me so despite the additional 5 miles off I went in search of some cold barley soup. It was a difficult 5 miles (BTW, I passed that hiker about 20 minutes in and never saw him again) and was relieved to arrive at Woody Gap around 6:15. Unfortunately, the town of Suches is 3 miles down the mountain road. A beer,still sounding good, kept me going. No luck hitchhiking but I made it to Suches just before the skies opened with a nasty thunderstorm. For those of you who've never been to Suches, GA all you need to know is there is one 3-way intersection, a gas/convenience store, and the T.W.O. (Two Wheels Only) Biker 'Resort'. Pitched the tent at the 'Resort'. Awoke to another nasty thunderstorm at 1:45 a.m. when the wind blew open my tent vestibule and rain poured in sideways. Somehow the tent held, not before the rain reminded me you ALWAYS get wet when sleeping in a tent in the rain.I never did get that cold beer...Suches, GA is in a dry county! I'm not too clear on my constitutional law but I seem to remember Congress repealed Prohibition the year before I went to college. Someone needs to let the good folks in Suches know about that.The T.W.O. is an awesome place though. I had a great breakfast prepared by the owner, GT, a hot shower, and GT allowed me to put all my wet gear/clothing in the dryer. There was only one biker there that night. His name amazingly was Luke Bradshaw. Good Karma...
Date: 2007-04-04
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Hitchhiked from the T.W.O. back up the mountain at noon where I found Gavel and The Bandaid Kid who had just come in from Gooch Mt where they rode out the storm. The temp is in the 20's and the wind is relentless at 30+ mph. Not long after a few miles and a short break I came around a bend to find Bandaid Kid who had dislocated his ankle. He wrapped it up and set off while I tailed him for a couple miles. Interesting fellow; from Vermont. We traded some New England/Maine jokes and I left him around 2:30 to make my way to the Walasi-Yi Center at Neels Gap. The trail in GA is a tough introduction as I'm told it's a challanging section. I have to agree. Not only a lot of elevation changes but add to that a rocky trail at times, some steep downhills and it makes for an interesting time.The Walasi-Yi is an outfitter store and the only building that the AT actually passes through. I arrived at 6:30 in time for my first dose of "trail magic". Cheeseburgers, chips, salad, etc, that the owner puts on for the hikers. Nice way to end the day.I enjoyed a small campfire on the ridge beyond the Walasi-Yi before going down for the night. Very cold and windy with temps in the 20's and high winds for the second night. I understand there is an unseasonable cold front that came down on the heels of the jet stream from Canada. Thanks, Canada.