morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-03-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dave invited me on his evening walk last night. I accepted and walked right into his trap. We headed down the trail behind our house. We came to a spot where there was a steep path heading up from the trail to the back of an auto shop. Dave stopped walking and said to me, "I want to see you climb that hill...up and down 4 times."Ooh, it was a test!I was game! So I took off up the hill, made it to the top, and turned around and headed back down. I proudly looked at him and said, "That's once!"He answered, "You weren't very observant."I said, "Why? What do you mean?""Well, there's a man in that dumpster up there."Sure enough, right at the top of the hill there was a man climbing out of the dumpster! Not 10 feet away from me!Dave said, "You've got to pay attention. That could have been a bear!"So there you go. I passed the climbing test, but failed the "being aware of my surroundings" challenge. I do have a lot to learn!*Quote: "I don't blame people for thinking I am crazy. I am counting on a buried streak of stubborn tenacity to overcome my personal shortcomings and lack of experience until I learn enough to grow competent. Do I have what it takes for such an accomplishment? I do not know, but I intend to find out!"
Date: 2016-04-01
To: 2 Days!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This is the plan. Tomorrow at 1 PM there is a bridal shower at my house for my granddaughter. At 4 PM, I'm having a kick-off party with my kids and extended family. After all that partying, and the house is cleaned up and last minute packing done, we will hit the road, headed for Georgia. Nuts, right? But I'm pretty much ready. I just have a bathroom to clean and groceries to get...and a funeral to go to this morning. Who is the "we"? My husband can't drive us down there now, so a friend, Pam, and I are driving her car and will park it at the Visitors Center lot for the two weeks that she is planning to hike with me. She is a single gal, a world-wide adventurist, and a whole lot of fun. She has climbed mountains before, but she says she has hever carried a backpack. She's always had an animal or a sherpa to do that. Well, that ain't happenin' on this trip, Honey!We should arrive at Amicalola Lodge in the early afternoon after driving all night. (I told you I was nuts,) The plan is that we will be meeting up with a couple of seasoned hiking ladies from Georgia to climb the Approach Trail stairs. I met them through the Trailjournals site and I'm excited to meet them in person. Debbie has been my mentor and encourager and promises she will go SLOW up those 604 steps!Pam and I will sleep (crash) at the lodge for the night. So it's close! My pack is too heavy, my head is too full, and my heart is skipping a beat or two. *Quote: "Whenever doubt starts to creep back into my head before my trip I simply put on my backpack."
Date: 2016-04-02
To: Going, Going, Gone!
Miles today: 0.0

Here's what amazes me. Many people have said, "What?" or asked, "Why?" or "How?" But no one has said, "Don't go!" (Two people told me to think about it seriously, which of course I have.)And I held this post until the last minute so that I'd be gone before anyone still tried to stop me. Lol.So we are on our way. And I leave my family and friends with this great video. I will miss you all!
Date: 2016-04-03
To: We are here!
Miles today: 0.0

Pam and I left Bloomington at 11 PM and drove straight through to Amicalola State Park in northern Georgia. We met up with a trail friend and her mother and they led us on our first hike of the trip. The weather was gorgeous and the falls were beautiful. We started down the steps from the lodge and along a short trail and headed DOWN the 604 steps along the waterfall. I thought, "Wait! We're not hiking DOWN them, are we?"Well, yes, we did! Down the 604 stairs and then down a long dirt trail to the Visitor Center, where we signed in. I am registered as hiker #1250. We then turned around...and yes, hiked back UP the trail and UP the 604 steps. And don't forget the steps we had to climb back up to the lodge. It was a strenuous day but we feel good and had a great time.I think we deserved the Mexican meal we had in town!*Quote from my Uncle Perry: "You should have a little wagon to pull behind you loaded with gumption, as you will need all you can get."
Date: 2016-04-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

My family presented me with a special gift before I left for the trail. It was a "Judy's AT Survival Kit."Included was:Fake poop - Put this fake poop in front of your tent door to keep intruders away.A plastic whiskey flask - "What was I thinking?" whiskey.A little pack of toothpicks - To keep your eyes open after all those sips of whiskey!A bag of marbles - To replace the ones you lost along the way.A funny purple ski mask - Having a bad hair day? No need for bobby pins! This will do just fine!An adult depends diaper - When you're too tired to climb out of your sleeping bag.Mouse traps - Self explanatory!Wonder Woman T-shirt - MOST IMPORTANTLY! YOU GO, GIRL!What a fun bag of tricks!! We also had a balloon release...one balloon for myself and one for each of my 6 siblings. I had never participated in a balloon release before. We had gale force winds that nearly tore the balloons from my hands, but it was fun to see them fly away.What a great time we had!
Date: 2016-04-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, here we are again. Report on Day 2. It was another beautiful weather day. Perfect, really. Cousin Chuck from Atlanta joined us at the lodge and planned to hike with us the first couple of days. So after breakfast, we three headed out. Chuck is a power house with long legs and lots of hiking experience. Pam is proving to have a lot of stamina, and she looks cute in pictures. I, however, am slow, get tired quickly, and look like a drowned rat.The first 1/2 of the 5 miles today were pretty good. But the last couple miles were a struggle. I made two rookie mistakes. I didn't have enough water, and I tried to keep up even when I knew I needed to slow down and rest. But we eventually made it to the Hike Inn, which is a lovely backpacking lodge in the woods. We have a small 2 bunk room for sleeping, a communal dining room, a library/game room and a clean, but rustic bath house. Here's a funny one. The staff wants me to speak tonight about my hike. Ha! I'm sure I had the hardest time of anyone making it here! There are kids here who run up and down the trail, and strong hikers who aren't huffing and puffing their way along. All I can tell them is that I won't give up easily, I expect to get stronger every day, and all I have to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other. All is fine and good.Thessalonians 5:16: ¢Be joyful always.¢ This is my goal.
Date: 2016-04-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Just a quick note to add to the other 2 posts today...To any family who took a map on Saturday, you'll have to explain to your children that I've been walking for two days and I'm not even at the real trail yet. I heard one grandson wanted to move me about 5 inches up the trail. Tomorrow I should make it to Springer Mt and be on the AT. Hope so.
Date: 2016-04-05
From: Springer Mountain

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: scattered clouds

We made it to Springer and are finally on the official Appalachian Trail. Chuck hiked with us to the summit and then he headed back, and we were alone. It was a beautiful hike and I only have 2 regrets. First, we didn't get a picture of a challenging log crossing over a creek, and second, we didn't get a picture of my first water collection. Grrr. We have to remember to take our time.We made it to Stover Creek Shelter and put up our tents. For our first time, it was at least acceptable! There was a German girl, a mother with a 10 year old girl, and a guy who preached to everyone and anyone who would listen. It was an interesting group.What an adventure!
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: light rain

Today (Wednesday) was chillier and tonight is cold. I said I wouldn't sleep in shelters, but here it is 2nd night camping out and yep...the cold and predicted rain has run me into the shelter. It is packed with young and old from many different places. We just keep making room for one more.Not much new today. So let me tell you about last night. We made it to the shelter and picked our tent spot. Got our tents up pretty easily. Cooked our first Mountain House meal. Got our bear bags hung. All was great until I got into that tent and then the struggle began. I spilled a little water on my sleep mat. So I hunted for my towel. Ruschle, ruschle, ruschle. Seemed like I ruschled through that pack for 30 minutes, making a lot of noise. I found the towel and cleaned up as good as I could. Then I found some things that should have been put in my food bag but it was already hung up in the air, so I hid a few things under a log back in the woods. I blew up my mat, laid out my sleeping bag, and tried to climb in. What a fight! My sleeping bag and I need counseling, big time. You may have noticed I carry a bandana. When I walk outside, my nose runs...constantly. Well, here I'm definitely walking outside. I'm blowing my nose all the time in that bandana. When we ate our meals last night, we both had too much water added and it was a little soupy. So my snot rag became my bib. Later, I had to go to the privy one last time. My wet wipes (I brought no T.P.) were up in the bear bag. Uh-huh. Now what? Well, there's always the bandana. That thing is tucked far away now, not to be used again until I can do laundry. Thankfully I have another bandana to hang on my bag for my nose. Then with one big gust of air, and it got cold. Between the cold, the stupid sleeping bag, my back hurting a little and my hip hurting a lot, I got about as much sleep as I do at home. Not much. Tonight I'm sleeping next to a man who is very quiet and hasn't participated much in the shelter community. (They are discussing mice right now. I'm trying not to think about it.)That's the update. I'm doing fine and glad to be here. Thanks for any and all prayers!It was a very good day!Falls - 0Bears - 0And I'm not headed home yet!Ignore the miles section at the top. It's not right. Guess I have to figure that out yet.
Date: 2016-04-07
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 9.1

Let's talk about the shelter experience. Oh boy. There was a crowd because rain was expected. There were 6 hikers squeezed into the downstairs and 5 squeezed into the loft. And 2 on the floor and tents all around for people who got there late. There was Mickey, the social director. He says, "Who brought a banjo?" He kept all the fun going.There was the young trail buster...everything was GREAT with him. There was the quiet guy in the corner who pretty much stayed wrapped in his bag. There was a gourmet cook, with a chair and a camp tray and all kinds of makings for his supper. He also knew everything about camping and he liked to tell us. There was an older man in the other corner who said he was having leg cramps. About 3 times during the night he moaned out a pitiful, "Oh, OHHHH." I felt so sorry for him because he really couldn't move to relieve his pain.Neither could I! I was tucked in tight between two men. Whenever anyone moved in their sleeping bags it made a lot of noise. I was very careful to stay in my space and be as still as I could be. Thankfully the snoring wasn't too bad, and the mice didn't bother me until morning, when they were running around getting into everything. I'm glad I didn't know about them during the night. It did storm for a bit, and it was windy and cold. It was an experience being in the shelter but i certainly prefer my tent.Today was another nice day for hiking. And boy did I hike. Tonight we are in a hostel in Dahlonega. It's nice. There are 24 hikers here, getting out of the cold. What a hard day of hiking today. There were two mountains ... Sassafras and Justus. And it seemed like the rest of the hike was mostly uphill too. The hardest thing for me are the uphills. I have to say it was a long, long day, but I made it!That's it. Still, bears - 0Falls - 0Going the wrong way - 3 times!*Quote: "I laid down beside the trail and waited to die, but I ran out of patience."
Date: 2016-04-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well I messed up and erased this entry twice. I only want to try to rewrite some of it because I want to remember Edwin.We met Edwin on the Approach Trail. He was struggling and discouraged. He,was carrying 65 pounds and said he weighed 320. He made it to Springer Mountain but I wonder what happened to him after that. We saw another young lady at Springer and then we saw her the following day, heading back, she said, for Plan B. She looked so sad.This trail is hard. It is not for everyone. It's a good thing I am a determined woman. Some might say stubborn! Now I will try to post this. For some reason the final "ok" gets buried behind the text and I can't post. Any trail journal writers have any suggestions?
Date: 2016-04-08
From: Woody Gap

To: Jarrard Gap
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: overcast clouds

We had a nice 7 mile hike today: Pam and I, the Georgia mother and daughter, and two women from Tennessee. The weather again was nice for hiking. We were planning on all camping together for two nights but the prediction is for cold temperatures and lots of wind, so tonight we are back at the hostel and tomorrow night we will be at the mother, Alice's, house.Some have asked how we get to and from the trail each day when we stay off the trail. The way the hostel shuttle, or private shuttler, works is they pick you up at a place the trail comes out to a road. They take you wherever you are wanting to go. In the morning they return you to the same trailhead. That afternoon they will pick you up however far you have hiked for the day. They travel up and down the trail many miles. So you can stay at one place a few nights and not miss or repeat any miles. We see people we've met out on the trail, everybody just doing the best they can. Usually they are passing me and I say, "I'm pretty slow!"Yesterday one guy replied, "You might be slow, but you're lapping everybody at home!"Well, right now we are in a vehicle heading for town and a good meal. It's not ALL blood, sweat and tears.
Date: 2016-04-09
From: Jarrard Gap

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Don't ask me where we are. I have no idea! We drove to Alice's house and we are crashing into our sleeping bags on her couches. This will be short, with more details tomorrow. All you need to know is...we survived Blood Mountain with flying colors and it was a beautiful hike. I have some great pictures to download in the morning. Sleep good everyone...I know I will!
Date: 2016-04-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

After all the fuss of the weather, and all I had heard about Blood Mountain, I was very leery if I could do it. Turns out the weather was a little cool and a little windy but we were all comfy in our hiking clothes. And we hiked with day packs instead of our big ones, which made a huge difference.I had heard there were lots of rocks, and there were, but nothing I couldn't handle. I think my legs are getting stronger and even my breathing might have been a little better. I didn't have to stop so often to rest. The views were spectacular. Alice thought maybe I have exercise-induced asthma. She thinks I should see a good pulmonologist and get an inhaler. First of all, I don't have a good pulmonologist in Georgia, lol, and second, I can imagine his diagnosis. "Why, yes, Mrs. Knobby, I see your problem. You have "exercise-induced you're too fat!"Well I'm working on that climbing these mountains every day! Physical report:1 blister on left footVery chapped upper lipRight hand full of scratchesHip and legs improvingBut most of all, man do I STINK!Now it is Sunday...our first zero miles hiked. People have told me to keep the journal real...so I'll reveal that I spent much of the time at Alice's in the bathroom. And what's worse than having diarrhea at someone else's house? When the toilet won't flush! Horrors! I slept most of the day on her couch. Debbie gave us a ride back to the trail and we are in Neel Gap Hostel tonight. It's pretty rough but it's warm and it's very cold and windy outside. I'm feeling a little better, thankfully!
Date: 2016-04-11
From: Gooch Gap

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: clear sky

It was a fairly quiet night in our dungeon-like hostel bunk. Again I tried to be very quiet. I rarely stay in bed all night at home, so it is difficult to lay in the dark and need to be still. My aching bones need to move!We got up this morning to fog and drizzle and waited for a shuttle to pick us up to take us back down the trail for a short section we missed when we hiked with the Georgia group. It was a beautiful hike and the weather cleared by noon.Tonight we are in the Blood Mountain Cabins. There is a big thunder storm coming tonight and rain tomorrow. We just roll with the flow and see where we land at night. We've caught on to a few things you hear but may be better off not to believe:This is an easy section.This part is pretty flat.If you take this way it's faster.There's free pizza at the hostel.We'll be on the trail early tomorrow.But this is true: it was a great day on the trail!(Someday I'll get a chance to try to get the miles up to date. We are now at 31.7 Appalachian Trail miles. Also check photo section at the left for more pictures.)
Date: 2016-04-12
From: Neel Gap

To: Hogpen Gap
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: few clouds

It was ALL blood,sweat, and tears today.Well, let's not get dramatic. There weren't any tears, and there wasn't any blood, but it was a VERY hard day of hiking. We did only 7+ miles but mostly uphill. The last mile was a cruel, steep climb. Here's what it's like to hike for Mrs. Knobby: Go, stop, breathe, blow nose, go, stop, breathe, blow nose, repeat 1000 times. I finally sent Pam on ahead and told her to wait for me after 30 minutes. That worked well the first time, but the second time I needed a pit stop and for that I would need to take my pack off and if I did that I would want to eat lunch. PAM, WHERE ARE YOU? We are at a secluded campsite now beside a stream for the night. We got water, put up our tents, cooked supper, and hung our food bags from a tree limb away from any bears. It's getting cold but it's not raining. *Note: 30% of hikers have quit by Neel Gap. I'm 7+ miles beyond that, so feeling happy. But oh my, do not underestimate the trail. I have lots of stories, but those are for another day. Time to try to get some sleep.
Date: 2016-04-13
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Blue Mountain
Miles today: 11.9

My battery is low so this will be short. I have so much to tell so hopefully tomorrow.We hiked 12 miles today and are camped a short distance from the Blue Mountain Shelter as there are some sick there tonight. I'll just leave you with this quote: My backpack got a squeak in it today. I thought it was saying, "One more step, one more step." But then I realized it was saying, "You are nuts, you are nuts."
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Blue Mountain

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 2.4

I have time, internet, and lots to tell!First of all, I will go back to the night we were in the Blood Mountain cabin. When we called, they were all booked up, but with the weather report predicting storms they asked around and a man said he would share his cabin with us. Not to scare the worry warts, we left that part out of the story. We wondered who it would be and we were delighted when Living Proof answered the door. He has a very interesting story. He is a brain cancer survivor and he attempted a thru-hike last year but took a bad fall and broke his shoulder. He is back again this year, but was laid up for a few days healing some badly blistered feet. He was so charitable to let us in, thankful that we could share the cost with him, and gave Pam and I each a bedroom of our own and he slept on the couch. I added a picture of him in front of our Raccoon cabin.We saw him again on the trail today. He said he still needs a few days of healing so was going to hole up again in the next town.Then there was Storm and Trooper. He is 38 years old, a weather guru and hiking to Maine. And he's helping along a woman who is...well, let's just say she struggles like I do. But she is a Trooper, indeed. And he is a delightful young man. He goes ahead, drops his backpack, comes back for her pack, takes it ahead, and then comes back to cheer her along up the trail. He is hiking the trail 3x over! And laughing and having a ball all along the way. I was so impressed with him. We camped out two nights and did well. We did 7 miles Tuesday and 11 miles Thursday. Whoa. That's a lot for me at this stage. And the stench! Bad! I desperately needed a shower and laundramat. So the plan for today was to hike to Unicoi Gap and get a ride to Helen, GA. Helen is a unique little tourist town that mimics a German/Swiss town. It was one of the places Pam wanted to see. (I'm conveniently blaming her. )When we got down to the gap, there was Trail Magic! A hiker feast set up in the parking lot...hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, bacon, all kinds of fruit and sweets, as well as toilet paper, toothpaste, anything a hiker might need. Oh yes, and COLD DRINKS! I had about an inch of water left in my bottle and I was thirsty! Wonderful!We hinted around that we were looking for a ride to Helen, and finally one of the persons serving up food said he could take us when they were done. So we waited there a couple of hours. And then did we ever get a ride! He not only brought us to town, but gave us a thorough tour. Up and down nearly every street. He even invited us to go in and see his church, but seriously all we wanted was shower, laundry, and bed! We were very grateful to him though, as the farther we get up the trail, the fewer shuttles or rides there are to find.So we are in a motel tonight and have finally arranged a ride back to the trail tomorrow, where we will tackle Rocky Mountain and Tray Mountain. Still hiking! And tonight, a positive quote!*Quote: I asked him what time it was. He answered, "Half past awesome and a quarter to paradise.¢
Date: 2016-04-15
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Gap
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: overcast clouds

We are on top of Tray Mountain, eating our lunch in the cold wind, waiting for our shuttle ride. The driver very happily agreed to pick us up this morning and drive us back to Unicoi Gap. Once we had that all arranged, we said, "And we'd like to be picked up at Tray Mountain Rd."Then we got an, "Oh, ma'am, that's a very bad mountain road." After a few minutes of telling us the trials and woes of driving up that road, he did agree that he would come.So we started out this morning and hiked up Rocky Top and Tray Mts. We were faster than we thought and now we are waiting on the mountain top for our driver to appear. He thinks it will take him an hour to get up here. Very treacherous! I hope he is exaggerating. This is Pam's last day of hiking. She has to go back to her "big bad job," as she says. Tomorrow she will shuttle back to her car at Amicalola. My cousin Ann is planning to pick me up for a zero day with her in Clayton, GA. Her son is working at a church in Clayton as the music director. I'm hoping I get in some good old gospel music. So tomorrow will be an off-trail day. Sunday I will have to find a brave trail angel to drive me back up to Tray Mountain so I can continue the hike.There's a motorcycle mudhole up here and there were motorcycles here when we arrived. So obviously there's more than one way to navigate this road. Don't worry. I won't be jumping on the back of a motorcycle for a ride. Too cold for that!Hope everybody at home is well. It sounds like farming has started in central Illinois.          P.S. - HE WAS NOT EXAGGERATING ABOUT THE ROAD!!!!