morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-09-21
From: AT Lodge

To: Rest
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It¢s been 558 days since I signed the register at Amicalola Falls, GA and began the long journey up the Appalachian mountain chain. The northern terminus of the AT is Baxter Peak, more affectionately referred to by its Indian name: Mount Katahdin. This is the tallest mountain in Maine and considered by most to be the ¢best finish¢ of any of the country¢s long trails. Now there is only one more day to go...Spending the day just resting and reflecting at the AT Lodge in Millinocket. To borrow a phrase: ¢What a long, strange trip it¢s been!¢ Hasn¢t gone at all as I had imagined. Despite all the difficulties...Despite all the setbacks... ...here I sit just 5.2 miles from summit. The ¢finish¢ line. It has taken extraordinary patience, love, and help from my family to reach this point. I am in awe of their heartfelt efforts to make this dream a reality. Thinking on it, am sure that this isn¢t an ¢end¢ but a beginning. While it certainly marks the close of this AT journey, deep down I hope, & believe, it is just a doorway to a new walk. A walk with lessons learned from the experience. I trust that a more relaxed, optimistic, empathetic, and patient man keeps walking on the trail down from Mount Katahdin. These are not qualities people would readily ascribe to me in the past, but I plan to live such that they will in the future. It¢s been fun having a ¢trail journal¢ online and really appreciate all of you that have taken time to tag along here. I don¢t ¢do¢ social media. Am not on Facebooks or Twitter or Instagram. But this experience was pretty cool and the support from friends, family, and even people that have never met me, defied all expectation. (So let me just shout out ...Mehl hart, Richard clapp, mark tarnacki, Richard Faulkner, Robyn crisps, Vernon king, Beth Rounce, Wayne Faulkner, Doug Reese, Ellie baughmann, Lydia barker, Chris Burke, Gregory Schwartz, Henry wall, Minnie Mouse, Deja, Buzz, Paula, the tennis gang, CFG, my amazing family, and I hate that I¢m leaving more out...) ALL of YOUR thoughts, prayers, well wishes are the fuel that kept me moving when the darkness tried to take me. When broken legs brought forth thoughts of broken dreams, your support made the difference. Thanks for getting me here...will be thinking of you during tomorrow¢s hike.The plan:Early rise, hit the AT cafe at 5:30am, then at 6:30am the shuttle leaves for the park. The forecast tomorrow is a little tough (Summit High: 37  Windchill: 18 with 1/2¢ snow expected in the morning) but I couldn¢t be more excited to hit the mountain! After 79 weeks and 5 days it is finally here.... Bring it on!Life is truly amazing. What an awesome opportunity we have. You know how I¢m gonna spend my Saturday. How are you gonna spend yours? Enjoy it, whatever it may be. Keep walking!!!
Date: 2018-09-23
From: MT KATAHDIN SUMMIT

To: Acadia Natl Park
Miles today: 0.0

Sunday was a day of rest and reflection. Left Millinocket and drove out to the coast of Maine. Feet are enjoying rest and brain still processing the 20 hour day of adrenaline that was ¢Summit Saturday¢... will post a summit day recap  soon. In the meantime, giant thanks to all for tagging along and the outpouring of well wishes.
Date: 2019-07-25
From: The journey

To: Colorado Trail
Miles today: 0.0

Just a brief update...2019 hike will be a SoBo thru-hike of the Colorado Trail. A new journal for the adventure can be found in 2019 Colorado Trail section of this website. (Link below)https://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/619650#.XT0A_qYk9_4.email
Date: 2017-03-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

In 2000, I hiked with my dog Delilah. Of course Sampson was bestowed upon me by my fellow hikers. She was a Alaskan Malamute and weighed about 140 lbs. Unfortunately, she hated carrying her pack so I was more often stuck with it. She was a great hiking companion and made the trip more memorable; if not more aggravating at times. I will hiking with a dog this year also. Her name is Abbie and is a Border Collie/Australian Shepard mix. Very smart but also very neurotic. We have traveled all over the United States managing National Forest campgrounds so she is well acquainted in being out in the woods.
Date: 2017-06-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I am currently working in Louisiana which has limited hiking opportunities. It also very hot and humid here.  A couple of weeks ago I found a trail called Eagle Loop Trail in Arkansas. It is about 27 miles long and it seemed like a good trail to tryout some of my  new hiking equipment.  It was a great hike and I highly recommend it, although the best times to hike it would be in the spring on fall because of the heat. There was plenty of water sources and you have to cross a river several times. There were seven climbs that totaled about five thousand feet of climbing. The trail is white blazed like the AT, but every side trail or spur is also was white blazed, so I kept on going down the wrong trail which was very aggravating and which added another three miles to the hike. Unfortunately, it seemed like I was the only hiker getting lost.  I tried out my new tent which is a Nemo Hornet. I've always used a tarp which are extremely lightweight, but tarps aren't very stable or keeping out insects. The Nemo only weighs around 2 lbs and set up is very simple. It is a two person tent but it would hardly fit me and Abbie. I also tried out my new pack- Gossamer Gear Gorilla. It also weighs around 2 lbs. It did the job, but for 250 bucks it seemed expensive for a pack. My last pack cost me seventy dollars and I put at least 4000 miles on it. Abbie did "okay". She didn't like carrying her pack even though it didn't weigh more than a pound. She never ran off and mostly walked behind me. We hiked thirty miles miles in two days. It was hot (around ninety), and very humid. To be honest, by the time we got back to the car, I was seriously reconsidering hiking the AT next year. I was exhausted from lack of sleep, the heat, and the bugs. Although my foot and ankle which I've had major surgery and problems with in the past; did great. A few days back at home and my mood has changed more positively  and I'm literally counting the days before I stand on top of Springer Mountain.
Date: 2017-09-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

  I'm still in Louisiana and hopefully fall will bring some cooler temperatures so I can do some hiking.  It has been in the nineties for the last couple of days. I feel trapped by the heat. By the time it cools down, I will in Kentucky. There are some good hiking trails where I'm going which will enable to try out my new gear.   I made reservations for a one-way rental car from Oklahoma City to Gainesville, Georgia. It was only 175.00 which is very inexpensive for a two day, one-way car rental. I will just need a shuttle to Springer Mountain and I plan on starting on the 19th of February. I was vacillating on a start date between Feb and the latter part of March. I've decided on Feb for several reasons: 1. I want to be in front of the hiking bubble. I don't want to be stressed in trying to find a hotel or hostel, made all more difficult with hiking with a dog. 2. The heat. I've hiked in the heat and I hated it. Abbie, with her dark thick coat and plumpness also doesn't have particular fondness with hot weather.  At least when it is cold, you can put on more layers or keep hiking to stay warm, but when it is hot, there isn't anything to do short of jumping into a lake. Plus, there are the bugs. I know, eventually summer will come but I will be up north where it isn't so bad; I'm hoping. I've started around the end of Feb. once and I encountered a couple of snow storms and low temps, but I am better prepared this time around. 3. No time constraints. With my early start date I have plenty of time to make it to Katahdin before it shuts down; at least seven months. I can almost break a leg and still finish. Knock on wood.    I am very excited that in a few months I will be on the AT. I also enjoy reading about the other hikers who will be hiking and wish them good luck on their adventure.
Date: 2018-02-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I pushed back my start date back a week. I had a bout with the flu and the weather forecast called for rain for most of the week. Looking at the Helen weather forecast for the next few weeks it shows very moderate temperatures. The dog will be happy since I had her shaved.  I can tolerate the rain, it¢s the snow and ice that makes hiking difficult and treacherous. Of course, snow and very cold temperatures could happen all the way until May. I was once stuck in a blizzard on Mt Rogers around the middle of April.  I am still sorting out my mail drops and getting my pack ready. I will be renting a car in Dallas and driving to Gainesville Georgia. For a one-way, two-day rental only cost me a total of 150 bucks, which is very reasonable. I still need to find a shuttle from Gainesville to the top of Springer. Everything is coming together very nicely and I can¢t wait to be on the trail.
Date: 2018-02-26
From: Springer Mtn

To: Hawk Mtn
Miles today: 8.1

I got a ride with Ron from Gainesville to to Springer. Arrived at noon. The rain had stopped, but it was foggy and the temps were in the fifties. The was in excellent condition and there weren't any blow downs Made it to Hawk MTN shelter around four. There's about 8 tenters and a couple of people inside the shelter. A great day to hike.
Date: 2018-02-27
From: Hawk Mtn

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 12.0

The weather today was excellent and we hiked under bright azure skies. The temp in morning was around forty and then level off to the mid fifties. My knee was bothering me going downhill but then it suddenly dissipated. Abbie seemed to enjoy herself more today, probably because I carried her pack on the last half. She is completely tuckered out right now. I will be in Neel's gap tomorrow.
Date: 2018-02-28
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 11.0

The rain came in around four in the morning. It was mostly a drizzle. I had a leak in my tent that I will have to check out. My tent is a Nemo Hornet and weighs around two pounds which means it is out of very fragile materials. I already have a couple of smalls holes in it.We left around eight and the trail was slippery and was sock in with fog. The forest was davasted by hurricane Irma with lots of toppled trees which gave it a dystopian effect. However the trail was cleared. The trail maintainers deserve lots of praise. In the wilderness areas they had to use crosscut saws. The climb up Blood Mountain was brutal and were soaked and cold. Everytime I tried to take a break, Abbie would whine. Finally near the top I found a outcropping and by laying flat on the ground we were able to get out of the rain for a few minutes. It was enough to get my core temperature up a few degrees. The old shelter on top felt like a freezer with it missing doors and windows. The trail going down was worst than the climb up. The trail turned into a small stream. I never fell but I did pinwheel a few times to keep my balance. Made it to Neels gap. I only saw two hikers the whole day. I really needed to get Abbie and me somewhere warm. The hostel didn't allowed dogs so we got a shuttle into Blairsville where we got a room and a pizza. I have a blister on my big toe but other than that I feel fine. Abbie is out like a light.
Date: 2018-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero day. Washed my clothes and cleaned my gear. More importantly I got some rest. Blairsville is a nice small bucolic town . I  am staying at The Seasons Inn which is located by the town's square. I'm ready to get back on the trail.  I'm going to try and keep my mileage under ten miles for the next thee days. I want to enjoy myself and not make my hike make my hike into a forced march. When I get into shape I will be able to put in more mileage.
Date: 2018-03-04
From: Low Gap

To: Stealth
Miles today: 12.0

A long day. It was a harder climb up Blue Mtn than expected. Heard there was trail magic at Unicoi but when I arrived they were packing up. Abbie got some snacks. I was wanting to make it to cheese farm campsite but ran out of steam so I found a site by a stream. Abbie kept me up by growling at something prowling around the perimeter of the campsite. If it was a real threat she would have hid in the tent.
Date: 2018-03-04
From: Stealth

To: Campsite 
Miles today: 11.0

It was nice sunny day. The trail up Tray Mtn wasnt as bad as I remembered. Several hikers were napping in the shelter. I felt the pull to stay at the shelter but I pushed on. Found a camping spot about six miles from Dicks gap. Slept well but it was a cold night.
Date: 2018-03-07
From: Dicks Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 9.0

It was cold and windy for most of the day. I started at noon so by the time I made it to Bly Gap it was around dust. There was one other tenter who's trail name is RC. The gap was like a wind tunnel and it was hard setting up my tent. I don't know how cold it got but it had to be below twenty.
Date: 2018-03-08
From: Bly Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: broken clouds

I started hiking the next morning with RC. North Carolina greeted us some snow, ice, and some brutal climbing. The springs seeping next to the trail turned to ice and then covered with snow. We decided to stop at Standing Indian. In Franklin the temps got down to around twenty so it had to be in the single temps.
Date: 2018-03-10
To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 7.8

The hike up Albert Mountain was steep but had some excellent views at top. The climb was actually easier than what I remembered. Made it to rock gap. Had called Gooder hostel earlier and made arrangements for a shuttle. Zen, the owner was almost a hour late. We were ticked off since he kept calling he was on the way when obviously he wasn't. The hostel was okay. I reserved a Pvt room and got a storage room for 45 bucks. The bunks were twenty which was a good value.
Date: 2018-03-04
From: Springer shelter

To: Gooch gap
Miles today: 16.8

Im going to keep these short when im not in town. Ill also upload pictures only when i have convenient access to a computer.Started the approach with patrick yesterday around 10 am. Made it up to springer shelter just before 5pm. Started the morning at the southern terminus and made it 16.8 miles to gooch gap. Lots of people out here, i was #552 to register this year.
Date: 2018-03-05
From: Gooch gap

To: Bull Gap
Miles today: 15.2

I dont quite have my trail legs yet but the days are getting easier. Views from blood mountain were nice. This part of Georgia looks a lot more like the Smokys than i expected. Picked up my first mail drop at Neels Gap and made it about a mile until i decided to set up camp before the rain hit. Its supposed to get nice so im going to wait it out a bit this morning.Dont write anything in the guestbook that others might not want to read
Date: 2018-03-10
From: Carter gap shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 15.9

I was lucky the rain held off for me to get into Franklin where Ill be taking a much needed zero tommorow. There are lots of thru hikers here doing the same. The people ive met these past 2 days have really picked me up and ill be ready to hit the trail again monday morning.Also, i just realized my entries werent exactly showing up in order so ill start adjusting the dates as i post about certain days even though they might not be posted on that day
Date: 2018-03-14
From: Sassafras gap shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

The trail is a lot more empty these days. We estimate about 50% quit by the time they reach the smokies. Its been quite cold out here day and night but nothing i didnt prepare for. For the first time since i started 2 people matched my miles and stayed at the same sight 2 nights in a row, so it looks like i might get a chance to stick with a group for a while.
Date: 2018-03-15
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Birch Spring Gap
Miles today: 13.1

Last night at the shelter the group was asking me about the smokies since ive hiked through before. I helped as much as i could but i think i just scared them even more. When we were packing up this morning a fellow hiker name Jess told me that my trail name is "peaks" because i know about the heights peaks on the trail since i live right next to them. Im writing this from Fontana Lodge where i just picked up my mail drop and got my smokies permit so the day isnt over yet. Im about to take the shuttle back to the fontana hilton (a solar powered shelter for charging devices that sleeps 36 people) and head into the park. That means i wont have cell service or internet access for at least 4 days. If I make it to Birch Spring Gap ill be spending the night at the same place i got chased by a bear last year :) Also, i tried to upload pictures just now and it says i cant upload anything more than 5mb which none of my pictures are less than 6mb so ill have to figure that out on a later date.
Date: 2018-03-16
From: Birch Spring Gap

To: Derrick Knob
Miles today: 18.0

The weather was perfect but the climb up rocky top was just as hard as ever. Made it to the shelter with no water left and luckily still one spot to sleep. I was so tired i didnt want to set up my tent. I had dinner with eddie, bearkat and strider whom i had been camping with since cable gap shelter.
Date: 2018-03-17
From: Derrick Knob

To: Icewater springs shelter
Miles today: 20.5

I got lucky that the rain missed the smokies the entire day. Was happy to be on clingmans dome on a clear day where i had lunch with friends. The path to icewater springs was considerably icy from there which slowed me down and wore out my knees. Luckily i had carried an entire pound of cramp-ons 200 miles for just the occassion! Made it to the shelter well after dark but luckily beat the rain by just a few minutes
Date: 2018-03-18
From: Icewater springs shelter

To: Tricorner knob shelter
Miles today: 12.6

The stretch of trail between charlies bunion and tricorner knob in my opinion has the best views in the smokies. Decided to take it easy and end the day early which worked out well because the group at the shelter was one of the best so far as far as conversation goes (cia agent, lawyer, germans, a canadian and a group of like ten spring break chicks).
Date: 2018-03-19
From: Tricorner knob shelter

To: Painters branch campsite
Miles today: 20.5

It was another clear day in the smokies so i was about as lucky as it gets when it comes to getting thru in the middle of March. Made it to the northern boundary by 330. Had to resupply a bit at the standing bear hostel then decided to use the nice weather to get a bit farther up the trail.
Date: 2018-03-20
From: Painters branch campsite

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: moderate rain

The day started out with nice views and weather at Max Patch but by 430 it was raining and by 10 it was snowing. The shelter was terrible, my feet hung off the edge and the walls and sleeping surface had huge cracks so the wind and snow hit me all night. I should have set up my tent but it was pouring when I got there. Although the group at the shelter was nice they weren't prepared for the cold or snow so that made for an interesting night with them.
Date: 2018-03-21
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.1

I got up at 6am to about 8" of snow and temperatures in the teens so i decided to make a run for Hot Springs. I ended up doing about 3 miles in the dark and got to town by 1. It snowed the entire time but got warmer as I got closer to sea level. Ill be staying at Elmers Sunnybank Hostel until Friday morning to get some rest. I will also make phone calls from their landline when I get a chance but at&t has no service in the entire town.I uploaded a bunch of pictures. Ill go through some other time and label them. It was a pain because I had to edit each one to fit for the website and I think some uploaded out of order so pay attention to the dates. Sooner or later ill figure this out.
Date: 2018-03-25
From: Hogback ridge shelter

To: No business shelter
Miles today: 20.7

luckily the rain was done by the time i woke up. I was happy that it got warmer but that meant a foot of slush for a ten mile stretch while climbing and decending bald mountain. I fell for the first time and then 6 more times after. The view on top was amazing though. Only the smokies were above the clouds. It was almost like being in an airplane the way the clouds were so flat. Slept next to a thruhiking husky in shelter but cant remember its name.
Date: 2018-03-26
From: No business shelter

To: Random powerlines with good view but very windy
Miles today: 15.3

Woke up early to get in and out of Erwin, tn for resupply. Ate at a pizza buffet and got back to the trail. Walked past a guy named rollie pollie who told me about these powerlines. Its so windy i might roll off the mountain, im just going to assume choosing camp sites like this is how he got the name rollie pollie.
Date: 2018-03-27
From: Random powerlines with good view but very windy

To: Clyde smith shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

When i woke up in the morning it was still windy so i broke down camp as quickly as possible and ran to the next gap before eating breakfast. There were some good views throughout the day but not many, Unaka mtn had a nice red spruce ecosystem. The trail has been pretty much empty of thru hikers since leaving Erwin. They must be waiting out the weather. The group at the shelter was fun. I met garfield, fox, squeeze and got a chance to talk to rollie pollie without hurricane force winds blowing us around. The temp was 50 at night for the first time so once my head hit the pillow i was out for 12 straight hours.
Date: 2018-03-28
From: Clyde smith shelter

To: Bradley gap
Miles today: 19.4

The climb up Roan mtn was surprisingly easy but the top and descent was ice for a few miles so i did some skiing. The views from carver gap to where im tenting tonight are great, the 8 mile stretch is a field on top of a ridge so its clear on both sides. I hiked for a few miles with Fox today, he had a lot of interesting things to say. Most notably that his experience out here is split into 2 categories, times that he enjoys and times that he will enjoy talking about later.
Date: 2018-03-29
From: Bradley gap

To: Moreland gap shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: broken clouds

I spent most of the day hiking and talking with 2 brothers named step up and nibbles who are section hiking a few hundred miles this year. Near the end of the day i was eating dinner on a random bench i came across and my friend strider from the smokies came out of no where. Actually i could hear him from a few hundred yards away because he likes to talk and he had just caught up with rollie pollie. So it was good to see him again and catch up on our journeys thus far. The shelter had a bunch of thru hikers i hadnt met yet so it was nice to meet all of them as well. Although it rained at night the weather was amazing all day.
Date: 2018-03-30
From: Moreland gap shelter

To: Boots off hostel
Miles today: 14.1

The hike into Hampton, tn was great. There must have been thousands of hours in labour to build the stone steps and walkways to laurel falls. There were also some really nice bridges at least compared to what ive seen out here so far. I had to resupply in hampton so i decided it would be a nice place to shower, do laundry and sleep in a bed as well. Boots off hostel was clean and the employees were nice (especially "the gatekeeper"). We all stayed up pretty late and drank beer in the common room. I met clothesline, skates, mizman and skids.
Date: 2018-03-31
From: Boots off hostel

To: Double springs shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: clear sky

The weather was amazing and the trail was smooth and flat so today was probably my favorite day of hiking so far. Mizman found a dog that decided to pee on my shoes while i was talking so that was nice. They say its good luck though so its cool. I met nomad, transformer and willow. We are all excited for Damascus and a chance for some rest.