morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Damascus

To: US58
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The Place was where I stayed again tonight. I enjoyed a spaghetti dinner provided by the local churches. Was awesome. I did some slack packing so I would be ahead of schedule and not just sitting here waiting on Trail Days to begin. You can look up Trail Days & the trail town of Damascus & also the Creeper Trail, of which I hiked a lot of today on my way back in. Some great things to do for a family. Really enjoyed my time with Flagman, Teaman, Simple Soul, & HammerToe, once again. Thanks for the time, men. Semper Fi.
Date: 2015-05-15
From: US58

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: light rain

Enjoyed breakfast & ride out to my starting point with Flagman, after checking out a couple vendors set up for Trail Days. Thankful that I did the slack-packing yesterday so I can get a jump start on all the hikers still enjoying Trail Days. Town of 850 goes to 30,000 for a weekend! Flagman gave me his American flag to proudly carry on to Harpers Ferry. I will. Have little things here & there. This is probably the best.Actually staying in the shelter tonight. Just me & two section hikers. Perfect. Great day. Good views. Grayson Highlands was EPICEST!!! Saw the wild horses & ponies. They had babies. Some came & licked the salt off my arms. We are definitely coming back!!!!!!!
Date: 2015-05-16
From: Wise Shelter

To: Sugar Grove
Miles today: 29.1

Hot Shower.Hitched a ride into Marion once the trail hit Sugar Grove, Va. Found a cheap hotel. Ordered pizza. Slept on a mattress. Amazing the things we take for granted. Peace. Water. Beds. Freedom. Cell phone service. Haven't even had that for days. People want to try to plan things, do things, communicate...go outside, reconnect with nature, find your purpose, talk to your Maker. Today, I saw a new born deer with it's mom. Watched nature at its finest. It jumped up in the path, bleeted, scareded the crap out of me, ran about 50', layed down. I thought it had a broke leg, it was up over its head, all twisted up. I was afraid to get too close, cause it's mom would tear me up! Don't mess with nature. All the sudden, it jumps up & takes off. Cool. It was just hiding. Ran upon Appalachian Anaconda. Looked like it ate the hiker before me. Geez! Tried to move the guy off the path, just a black snake, he looked back at me like he was saying, "What? You're in my way."
Date: 2015-05-18
From: Atkins

To: Atkins
Miles today: 0.0

Zero Day at HOME - spent the night last night in my own bed, next to my wife, with my kids, in my house. hardly a zero day. Much to do. Glad to be close to home. it's a much faster drive. Makes getting back on the trail a little just a little easier. Did get to smoke some trout on the smoker with buddy Michael while I was home. Enjoyed some down time with my father in law too.
Date: 2015-05-19
From: Atkins

To: davis farm campsite
Miles today: 30.0

This part of the trail seems to be not as well traveled. Very green from new spring growth. Ran into a couple ladies day hiking though. They were nice. Said there was a lady ahead screaming her head off like a crazed banchi. Well, that was interesting. Let's just say I pushed on away from that shelter with every last inch I could muster & slept in my tent in a field. Really wasn't up for the miles. You just do what you got to do. Had a couple views today. It's a very different type of hiking here. Lonely. Saw a honey bees nest. First.
Date: 2015-05-20
From: davis farm campsite

To: Trents Grocery Store
Miles today: 35.0
Weather: broken clouds

Got up looking forward to a hamburger at Trents. I've heard talk on the AT of this. My body is starved! Hiker Hunger! Seriously, when the map has just barely a heartbeat, no camera indicating a view, no drip indicating water, and you go forever seeing no one, I'm the one beating down the path..... Something's got to give. PTSD SUCKS!!! I need to get to that grocery store is all I can think about and once I did, hamburger and coke. Sweet. Then I was the only one camping. Where are all the hikers?
Date: 2015-05-21
From: Trents Grocery Store

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 28.3
Weather: light rain

Cell phone reception is touch & go in the Jefferson. Trail continues to be not well travelled. I'm pushing on to Pearisburg hoping that my family will be there to get me, I so want to be done, & then again I can't give up,,it's just not in me. You struggle with who you are & who you want to become. Beauty & creation all around you reminds you that God is here with you. It continues to be a daily, often minute by minute, struggle. I got cell service, no family, heartbroken, I worked myself up while hiking for hours, due to no view, no other hikers, just a green tunnel.............................Now, I'm camped next to A LANDFILL, BY A STREAM I CANT DRINK FROM, it rained all day, and thankfully I have a dry sleeping bag and tent. God, thank you I'm not truly homeless like some veterans are.
Date: 2015-05-22
From: Pearisburg

To: Wind Rock Mtn
Miles today: 26.1
Weather: light rain

Pretty good day. Was cold this morning. Left land fill and summited the long climb out of Pearisburg when I got on top there was WV-VA sign. I was 30mi from my home! I could've just walked there.... Not yet. Push on. Running low on food. Water is low in this area. Springs & creeks are dry or low. Once again, Verizon must rule the AT, no service, ha! AT&T, you must step it up. I'm camping at Wind Rock on top of the mtn. watching the sun set and eating my dinner....lasagna. Pretty blessed. Good days and bad. Today was good. Yesterday, we will forget about.
Date: 2015-05-23
From: Wind Rock

To: Bush Mountain
Miles today: 27.4
Weather: clear sky

EPICIt's amazing how when you need it there it is...trail magic. Cell service. Always, God. Had a really bad panic attack, couldn't reach Ging or Koalton. My back up- Reached my father N law, talked to him...he calmed me. I was running low on calories, the panic attack had taken its toll. I see this sign where the trail splits, AT goes one way and gate goes uphill to Trail Magic with hours that haven't begun...take the chance? My heart says yes. I trudge up the hill with what I have left and as I get closer hear voices, a stack of pizza boxes, a cooler of coke! A grill with burgers!! I fall to my knees & the guy says, I'm sorry the burgers aren't done yet, have some pizza! I asked him, Sir, Do you believe in God? He replies, Well, yes, we're a Christian organization. I said, God just answered my prayers. EPICEST TRAIL MAGIC & awesome people & cool musicSpirits lifted. Pressing on. BEAST MODE
Date: 2015-05-24
From: Bush Mountain

To: Mcafees Knob
Miles today: 22.1

Something I had been looking forward to, Audie Murphey Mounument. Sat on the bench there for a few minutes and just thought about things. Most decorated soldier of WWII. He survived a war, then died in a plane crash in the mountains here. Anytime. Anywhere. I left Ivy's bracelet she made in honor for my little family and on behalf of Connected Warrior Foundation. On Memorial Day weekend, 4 days before the anniversary date. Got to Dragons Tooth & was surprised to see ladders in the rocks, more rock climbing! Love it! Day hikers too. Finally made it to the summit of McAffees Knob with day hikers and tourists and some thru hikers... They pass me as I'm going SOBO & the thru hikers were like, Warhorse? Are we going the wrong way? HaLittle did I know, Ging and the kids and dogs had section hiked, camped on the AT, asked every hiker about me, & left notes along the way. My SPOT had been off line. No cell service. When I summited, I had service, the first pic I saw was Koalt beside the sign in the parking I had just past, so I called Ging. They met me in the parking lot. Her guessing & mapping was pretty good. She had just missed me at each location by an hour or less each time. FAMILY IS BEST
Date: 2015-05-26
From: Mcafees Knob

To: Buchanan
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

Enjoyed my family finding me on the trail. Seeing their notes along the way. Troutville. Shelter here or there. Amazing. Cannot believe that they did that to find me. My sense of where I am is kind of screwed up right now. When my wife drove us down to eat from McAfee I had no idea how close I was to Roanoke or I81. Felt out of touch. I'm the one who always knows where to go & has the sense of direction. Now it's in the form of White Blazes & a paper map & the sun & moon. Kinda primitive. Like it. I like that I know how to do it & we are still able to teach our kids. Adventure. Loneliness, don't care for. People on trail, friendly. Drugs, I'll pass. Stories, I'll listen. Hairy women, seen lots.. Tired dogs, yep. Beards full of dried Ramon Noodles, seen that too. I like sleeping in my tent. Hike Your Own Hike.
Date: 2015-05-27
From: Buchanan

To: Cornelius Creek
Miles today: 8.0

Ging met me today to do a section of the hike with me. So I will be slowing my pace to make it more enjoyable. It's always better with someone hiking with you. Green tunnel isn't as boring through her eyes. She sees moss on rocks, giant trees, creatures, and things I miss. My tent go a whole lot cozier.
Date: 2015-05-28
From: Cornelius Creek

To: Harrison Ground Spring
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: scattered clouds

This chick can climb hills like a champ. I have never met anyone that can keep up with me in my life other than her. Was humid. Hot. Sweaty. Ging filled up our water from a spring today & loved it. we went for a swim, and enjoyed the waterfall, briefly as we saw a water snake as Ging was filtering some water.... She's good. Her daddy raised her right. Proud of her for braving cold water. She's always cold.
Date: 2015-05-29
From: Harrison Ground Spring

To: US 501
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

Ging got to experience some of the Green Tunnel I was talking about today. It was nice though because we covered a lot of ground in no time, & we talked about our vacation plans, what the next part of the AT holds for me, how the kids are, and just life... You don't always get to see all the views in life. It's ok. Just keep on the right path and press on.
Date: 2015-05-30
From: US 501

To: Cow Camp Gap 
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I have some amazing gym buddies. They met up with me, brought half a cow, half the grocery store, and fed me like a beast! My wife leaves me to head home to our kids, and the boys show up down the road with a truck load. We set up a camp like no other Id saw. Doug. Matt. Thank you. WARHORSE ONWARD! My morale is definitely up. Trucked on up Buena Vista in no time flat. Bald Knob - called Ging from the top. Even up there my phone cut in & out. Oh well, push on.
Date: 2015-04-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

In 2014, I decided to celebrate my 65th birthday by walking a section of the Appalachian Trail. I started at Springer Mountain and reached my goal of Fontana Dam, NC covering 155 miles over a three-week period. Upon reaching Fontana Dam, I was ready to go home, happy that I accomplished what I set out to do, and said, "I'll never do that again!"Well, one year later here I am heading back to the AT. This time with NextWhiteBlaze whom I met last year on this forum. We will pickup at Fontana Dam and head north with the hope of hiking to Erwin, TN (177-mile trek).We'll see what happens....Oh, if you are interested in reading about my 2014 hike, you can find the link in the left-hand column titled "2014 AT".
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: snow

Last night as I was getting caught up on things in my hotel room, I was reading a devotional ¢Our Daily Bread.¢ It was only fitting that the ending included the following paragraph: Today, take a moment to enjoy life in God¢s world. Savor the taste of some fruit. Eavesdrop on a bird and listen to its song. Revel in a sunset. Let the world you inhabit inspire you to worship the One who owns it. I slept well.This morning we left the hotel at 7am, thundering, lightning . . . figures! and then followed wrong directions to where we were to leave our car and meet the shuttle guy who was to take us the hour and a half to the point we were to get on the trail. Drove 30 miles out of the way, but once we finally hooked up with the man who was driving us, we arrived at Fontana Dam and were only 15 minutes behind schedule.Luckily, skies cleared and my hiking companion, NextWhiteBlaze and I began our hike north. Good day on a muddy trail, we passed or were passed by about 20 hikers during the day. Just 2.4 miles into the hike, we crossed the southern boundary into the Smoky Mountains. We arrived at the Birch Gap campsite around 6pm. Dinner tonight was pasta primavera and I am looking forward to an early turn in with thunderstorms in the forecast.
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Birch Spring Gap

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

The heavy thunderstorms that were forecast for last night thankfully didn¢t materialize. Just light rain and a lot of wind. Comfortable night actually. A wonderful day on the trail, not much to report other than just like last year, I¢m meeting a lot of nice people on the trail and in the shelters. Spending the night at Spence Field Shelter. Attached is a photo from yesterday with Fontana Dam in the background.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night I slept with 16 people in the shelter and several more sleeping in tents. I slept on the lower level of the shelter and woke this morning to a wet sleeping bag which is not good because it is down filled and when wet loses all its insulating properties. Hhhhmmmm . . . did rain leak in during the night, did someone decide to pee in the shelter ¢ where did the water come from? Turns out the young lady above me lost all the water from her water bottle, she was a very apologetic person, what can you say ¢ it happened. Fortunately, I was able to air and dry my bag before hitting the trail.We left at 9:30 this morning for Derrick Knob shelter, 6.3 miles away.The two lakes in the far distance to the left is Fontana Dam. We were standing on top of ¢Rocky Top¢ when I took this picture. We sure came a long ways in three days climbing over those mountains. Rocky Top is a famous Tennessee landmark and allegedly the location for which the song with the same name (sung by Osborne Brothers and later Lynn Anderson) was written. Those of you listening to the radio back in 1967 know what song I¢m talking about : )That was the last I heard from Patti, not another word from her since and it is now after dark. Being deep in the Smokey Mountains, I¢m sure she is in bed without cell service (that is unless she is wrestling a bear around one of those hill sides) so it may be sometime tomorrow before we hear from her again.
Date: 2015-04-23
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Clingmans Dome
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

On the trail early, destination Clingmans Dome. No cell coverage last night but I want to say that the hike yesterday to Derrick Knob Shelter was only 6.3 miles and NextWhiteBlaze and I were thinking an easy day. But it took us 8 hours to walk those six miles, a lot of elevation changes, a lot of ups and downs. Some rain in the morning; interesting how that caused us to speed up the pace.Today¢s update. . . it took 10.5 hours to do the 10.1 miles. Because the foliage hasn¢t come out, the scenery is rather drab, but today, we walked through a pine forest which was very pretty. A nice change from otherwise barren trees. From our last landmark, (Double Spring Gap Shelter pictured above) we knew we had to only hike 2.5 miles to get to Clingmans Dome. When NextWhiteBlaze said we only had to hike 900 feet (elevation) that made it sound so much simpler and do-able. However you slice it ¢ it was still a three-hour hike. A side note, Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet is the highest point on the A.T.We arrived at Clingmans Dome at 6:50pm. The temperatures were in the thirties, windswept and cold. We waited an hour for our shuttle to arrive to transport us to Gatlinburg. Friday will be a ¢zero¢ day.This part of today¢s post is From the home front To the hiker .. .. ¢Happy Birthday Lightning¢ .. .. from your daughter, Wes, your grandchildren, your son (somewhere in the Alps of Switzerland), Kristin (on her way to Rome) and your ghost writer husband at home with his dog. We all Love You, be safe. Your Family.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: Clingmans Dome

To: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

NextWhiteBlaze and I took a zero day and are spending time in Gatlinburg which is in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Part of the enjoyment of walking the AT is being able to get off from time-to-time to visit the neighboring towns. It¢s great to grab a fresh meal, take a hot shower, and sleep in a comfy bed. While in town, we picked up some supplies that we needed and did our laundry.   We also ran into a few other hikers that we had previously met. Saturday (tomorrow) we¢ll be back on the Trail.¢Thank you¢ to everyone who has signed my Guest Book and for the birthday wishes. Your kind words and encouragement keep me going.P.S. Something I learned today: Between 8-10 million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year, making it the most visited national park in the country.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Gatlinburg, Tennessee

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

First of all, Happy Birthday to my beautiful grandchildren, Brynn and Benny!!NextWhiteBlaze and I left Gatlinburg early in heavy fog headed for Newfound Gap to meet the shuttle which was to take us to Clingmans Dome so we could resume the hike where we left off. Twenty minutes after our agreed upon time, our shuttle pulls into the parking lot, circles once and pulls back out, the whole time I¢m running behind trying to get her attention. Our ride is gone, vanished into the still heavy fog. We approached the next four or five vehicles asking if they were going to our destination, finally a young couple was and took us to Clingmans dome, and we resumed our hike.First hour we hiked in a light rain, but once that cleared, it was a beautiful day. We came upon a group of high school students from Florida who were in Gatlinburg for a music festival. As it turns out, they were the group who placed first in the competition. We asked them to sing a few bars for us and they joyfully began singing ¢she¢ll be coming around the mountain when she comes . . . ¢. That was the highlight of our day.Few hikers on the trail today. Since we were not spending tonight on the trail but in a hostel, we didn¢t have to carry a 30 pound pack and I sure found that liberating.Today¢s milestone . . . NextWhiteBlaze and I walked more than half the distance across the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Newfound Gap

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.4

Long day, we didn¢t reach the shelter until 7:15pm. Did I say a long day, but I did reach a milestone today, I¢ve walked over 200 miles of the AT. We have been sleeping in our tents, tearing down and setting up camp in the rain is not fun. Woke to a 30 degree temperature reading, wish I had bought a sleeping bag rated to zero degrees!! No photos today because of fog and rain. Fixed lasagna for dinner, but too exhausted to finish it, good night.
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Peck's Corner Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: clear sky

Today was the start of week two on the AT. Morning started out a rough 30 degrees, but by the time I left around 10:30, it was clearing up nicely. Hiked by myself today as NextWhiteBlaze got a later start so she told me to go without her. I ended up hiking a short distance with two other hikers I met along the way.The first was ¢Two Dogs¢ a lady from MA. The second hiker was young and told me her trail name was ¢Hall and Oakes.¢ I told her she was too young to know that group. She looked at me strangely and said it was ¢Hauling Oats!¢Saw a lady hiker fall about 40 feet in front of me. Fortunately she didn¢t get hurt. Just yesterday, I slipped on the muddy, wet rocks and thankfully, falling backwards my pack broke the fall. Chicken and Rice for dinner and to bed.
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Tri-Corner Knob shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Good start to the day, hiked through a long ¢tunnel¢ of rhodendrons. Unfortunately they are not yet flowering but I can only imagine how pretty they will be in full bloom. A woman that has been at the same shelter as us for the last two nights is attempting a thru-hike with her two children, ages 17 and 12. I asked about them not being in school . . she said she is home-schooling them.Along the trail I was reaching in my pocket to pull out a snack and instead pulled out a nail, one of the nails that we were able to keep following the Easter Sunday service at BCC. At that moment, I felt a certain peace knowing that God is watching over me and many prayers are being answered for my safety (thank you, Diane N).Arrived at Cosby Knob Shelter at 2:15pm. It was so nice arriving at a decent time so as to be able to just relax and unwind. Today¢s hike involved a 5-mile continual decent. A little hard on the knees but not bad.Tonight¢s dinner is chili mac with cheese. We hope to get an early start tomorrow, as we have over 10 miles to hike. Then off the trail for a couple of days.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Green Corner Road
Miles today: 10.9

Today we reached the northern boundary of the Smokies . . completing the 71-mile trek. I was on the trail by 7:15 a.m. knowing I had to hike just over 10 miles, anxious to get out of the GSMNP, and looking forward to a zero day in Hot Springs, NC. As I did the last two mornings, I left the shelter before NextWhiteBlaze knowing she would catch up with me later on the trail. NextWhiteBlaze is a much faster hiker than me so this routine seems to work out for us. Sure enough, with just about two miles left she came up behind me. One would think that with carrying everything on your back, it would be impossible to lose anything ¢ after all, where could it go? But I realized yesterday I did not have my maps (not a good thing). With blind-trust I just kept following the white blazes on the trees hoping it would get me to my destination. Today, since we were hiking a much further distance I didn¢t want to push my luck so I penciled a makeshift map to get me out of the Smokies. Of course, with just a short distance from getting off the trail, I reached into the pocket of my rain jacket¢¦.and there were my maps.I¢m sorry that I haven¢t been posting many pictures of the mountains and vistas but as I mentioned previously, the trees are still barren. It was a delight, however, to come upon greenery as I reached the lower elevations.We got off the trail at Green Corner Road around 3 p.m. and are now staying at a lovely B&B in Hot Springs.