morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-04
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 31.3

Green Ghost wrote:Getting an Early start it was an easy day. I made it to Partnership Shelter by 1300 for lunch. That shelter is the one you can order pizza from, but I soon found out that they don't deliver before 1600. So I hitched a ride to the town of Marion, VA for Hardee's. It took 3 hours for me to get to Hardee's, have lunch, and get back on the trail around 1600. I went to mile 542 and camped on a grassy ridge. I plan to go into Atkins, VA for breakfast.Post by Shadow for:
Date: 2014-05-06
From: Walker Gap ,VA

To: Bland ,VA
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

Hey sorry for the delay (Shadow) has been busy! This is Green Ghost, I've been doing fine. I'm staying the night in Bland, Va so I can shower and eat some DQ. Today is my 30th day on the trail and 28th day of hiking, I have pics and journal entries for every day but technology sucks sometimes but we will work it out. Well I'm 580 miles in, tomorrow I'll pass 600 miles.  Onward upward! Post by Green GhostShadow: Okay, took me all night but I think we are pretty much up to date other than yesterday. Our Trip miles are still off. I think it may be counting the approach trail, even though i took it off. I will look into that later. He is at 587.1 tonight. I also added a few pictures though out if you want to look back.Post by Shadow
Date: 2014-05-11
From: Mile 693

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 30.5
Weather: few clouds

Green Ghost:Mommy's day! I feel so bad not being home to take care of Brittany for the day!! It was a long day from mile 693 to 723.5. Covering Dragon's tooth and McAfee knob. It was time for Daleville.Shadow: Green Ghost stayed overnight in Daleville and took a half day to rest the next day. I should be getting more updates soon.
Date: 2014-05-19
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 124.9
Weather: clear sky

Green ghost stayed in Waynesboro, VA Saturday night for a shower, resupply, and laundry. He has done well and is at mile 848.4, almost half way there. Hopes to hit his time line by being halfway by day 45. He had a few wet and rainy days but is still going strong. He is now going into the 100 miles of The Shenandoah National Park. Posted by Shadow for
Date: 2014-06-03
From: Mason Dixon line

To: Leroy A Smith Shelter
Miles today: 209.2

Heard from Greenghost a little while ago. He will be in NJ late tomorrow night. He said PA has been by far the worst part because of the rocks. He is still going strong and keeping his miles up. He has now found a hiking buddy who can actually keep up with him. A 22 year old named Sprout. They seem to be doing well and making good time. I'm sure time passes a lot easier with someone to talk to all day. Go to his gallery, I posted more pics just didn't have any post to go with it. Posted by Shadow for
Date: 2014-06-17
From: Kent, Connecticut

To: mile 1572.3
Miles today: 109.4

Greenghost was about 2 miles from Cheshire, MA today. He stayed 2 nights at Hudson's hostel The Bearded Woods. Him and Sprout just happen to run into Hudson on the second day. He took them back to stay with them again and dropped them back off the next morning, where he had found them the day before. They met a film maker, Squatch at the hostel on the first night and shared some of their stories with him. Greenghost had watched some of Squatch's other documentaries about the PCT and Flip Floppin. You can check him out at www.squatchfilms.com. Hudson is the trail journal Greenghost had been reading for months preparing for the trip. He said his hostel was by far the best and he and his wife were great! He is still moving fast and has now lost Sprout at a lake where he decided to have some fun for the day and Greenghost had to move on. He is 613 miles from the end and counting down the days until he is home.
Date: 2014-06-26
From: mile 1572.3

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 214.8

Heard from Greenghost tonight. He is in Glencliff, NH at a hostel waiting out the rain. He hopes to start the Whites tomorrow. He is doing great and pushing thru these last few weeks. He is at miles 1776.3 and has about 398 to go.Post by Shadow for
Date: 2014-06-30
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 100.4
Weather: overcast clouds

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=104803802908855If the link does not work just search White Mountain Lodge and hostel on facebook. Greenghost broke the record at the hostel for hiking the fastest on the 21 miles that cross back in front of the hostel he stayed at the night before. He walked the 21 miles from Pinkham Notch to route 2 in 6 hours and 45 minutes. He is still moving along and will be done in about 2 weeks.Post by Shadow for
Date: 2014-07-07
From: Gorham, NH

To: 2045 mile
Miles today: 158.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Greenghost called tonight from the North side of Pleasant Pond Mountain. He hiked 30 miles today and will be heading into Monson, ME tomorrow. Still planning to be at the top of Katahdin on the 13th. Which makes for a total of 98 days of hiking.
Date: 2014-07-14
From: 2045 mile

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well I did it 2185.3 miles in under 100 days . I topped Katahdin on day 96 of hiking , day 98 from Springer. I'm happy with that. I'll leave you with one of my favorite moto quotes....Imagine if you were blind ¢ Complete darkness, no colors, no views, no beauty, just pitch black. If you were blind ¢ Ask yourself how badly you would want to see? If pushing yourself to your limits could give you sight, would you do it? If there was a cure would you let anything stand in your way? Would you listen to the haters and the critics to see again?Do you really want to succeed? ¢ If you do choose to be blind! Would you really care if they mocked you, laughed at you, pointed at you or bad mouthed you. Would you be concerned about your extreme goal or just embrace the extreme work.What If you would have to learn hurt, trust pain and embrace  struggle, would you still be concerned  being realistic? Would you still figure your odds and calculate your chances?  If you had to spend more time planning your workouts and less time planning your weekends, would it even be a tough choice?If the cure for blindness was humility and pain, would you go for it? If the cure for blindness was looking foolish, would you risk it? If seeing  again took a fight, would you start swinging? If the cure was doing things you can¢t do, would you attempt them?  If a few extra hours, a few more drops of sweat and a little bit more blood was all it took would you claim your sight?Do you really want to succeed? Then choose to be blind and do whatever it takes to see, because if you don¢t then you are just blind anyway.I'll see you down the trail.
Date: 2014-03-14
To: Welcome!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

(Note: I added this page after I finished my hike. The next page is the real beginning of my journaling!)You can read all my journal on this site. Navigation pointers are below.(You can also purchase a paperback version or a kindle version on Amazon - search for "AstroGuy." Post Hike 18 and following describe why I made them and the more-difficult-than-I-thought-it-would-be process! Note that you can view any Kindle book on a computer/tablet/smartphone with the Kindle App - and the pictures are in color!)For those of you new to Trail Journals, here are some pointers:You can use the left column to navigate around the site. --Journal: You can click List to get a full listing of all my journal posts including the title/destination. Or, you can use the drop down box to select a post by date. Each day¢s journal post (like this one) also has links at the top and bottom for going forward or backward through the posts.--Gear: Rather than list all my gear here, I simply refer you to the journal posts where I discuss my gear in more detail.--Photos: This takes you to a photo page. These are slightly larger format photos of those I included in the journal posts. Each photo page has a dropdown box where you can select photos by title and date. The top and bottom also have links for going forward or backward through the photos.--About: In addition to telling a little about who I am, this page also serves as a mini-appendix to direct you to certain topical posts such as Why I¢m Writing a Journal and Advice for Thru Hikers. It also has links to help you follow my journey on maps of the trail.--Stats: Trail Journals automatically computes this; I don¢t enter anything here. I posted some additional summary stats in my Post Hike 2 (Oct 2) post including a chart showing miles each day.--Guest Book: You can either view all the other Guest Book entries or make a new entry yourself (which I like to read!). When you make an entry, Trail Journals automatically sends me an email with your post. Note that if you enter an email address in the email box, it will not show up on the site, but is included in the email Trail Journals sends to me so I can respond directly to you.I used the Pre Hike entries to discuss my preparation for the hike and to practice posting to Trail Journals.I¢m using the Post Hike entries to not only summarize my hike, including final gear discussion and tips, but also to practice my writing by sharing some of the thoughts I had during my hike that I didn¢t take the time to mention in my posts on the trail.Enjoy!
Date: 2014-03-15
To: Cool Kids
Miles today: 0.0

On the AT with awesome GKsI'll write later about why I'm planning to thru hike the AT this year and why I decided to post a journal, but for now I thought I'd get started with a picture of some really cool kids on the AT. (Aaawww!)Whilst driving our daughter and our grandkids from our home in Virginia to visit the "other grandparents" in Georgia, we stopped for lunch at the trailhead in Daleville. The grandkids and I hiked a ways north and back on the AT and took the picture along the way. I had planned to start my thru hike on this trip to Georgia and to have them all see me off at Amicalola Falls. However, I've delayed starting until April 17 due to some commitments in early April. Plus it'll be warmer in the Smokies... I hope! :-)Actually, my original original plan was to start in January, but with this brutal winter, I'm kinda glad I had to delay. Maybe I'll do the winter backpacking next winter... or maybe not...Excited about getting started!
Date: 2014-03-25
To: Testing... Testing...
Miles today: 0.0

Since I've delayed my start 'til mid-April, I won't have to carry as much cold weather gear as I originally planned. However, I still risk some possible snow and below freezing temps until I get past the Smokies. So before I head out, I wanted to test out my revised gear list along with my new SoLong 6 tent in cold temps and snow. Yesterday's forecast for last night and today was perfect - temps in the 20's during the night and 2 to 4 inches of snow today. So I set up my tent and spent the night sleeping in it. The gear worked well and I had a good night's sleep with the temp in the mid to upper 20's all night. Snow starting to stickThis morning I came inside and left the tent up outside to see how it handled the snow, which then soon began. Initially, as the snow built up a little, it would slide right off. As the temps warmed up into the 30's, the snow got wetter and didn't slide off any more. The first picture shows the tent starting to sag just a little from the weight of the snow. Yikes!The next time I checked, the tent was really sagging! The trekking pole on the awning side of the tent had slipped a few inches from the weight of the snow, causing the awning to gather even more snow and the awning pole to bend a little.So I climbed inside, knocked the snow off the tent walls, reset the trekking pole and put the tent in "storm mode" by lowering the awning. It works and looks great! Snug as a bug in a rug!Then the snow turned to a very light rain, then stopped, and the snow continued to melt...A successful test! I know I'm gonna enjoy my gear and my new tent! :-)
Date: 2014-03-26
To: Federal Line Trail
Miles today: 0.0

We live near numerous Civil War battlefield areas, many of which have good hiking trails. One of the trails I enjoy is called the Federal Line Trail. Part of the trail follows alongside the remains of the Federal forces entrenchment during the Battle of the Wilderness. In the video, you can see the entrenchment along the right side of the trail. The Union soldiers were facing their Confederate foes further off to the right.Mostly when I'm hiking these trails, I'm simply enjoying hiking out in the woods. My thoughts range over many topics. Sometimes, though, I'm a bit overwhelmed thinking about all the men who fought and died in these same woods 150 years ago... Humbling.But it's cool to realize that none of the trees are 150 years old. The woods are completely renewed. As am I when I'm out hiking! I chose this particular section of the trail to also show my appreciation to all the trail maintainers who keep the trails in condition for us to enjoy. There's another stretch along this trail where the fallen trees stack up as high as my head, and the maintainers have cleared a path. Thanks Trail Maintainers everywhere!
Date: 2014-04-04
To: Old Rag
Miles today: 0.0

I used my computer to post the previous entries so I could practice journaling and uploading pictures and videos. Now it's time to practice using my phone! Old Rag Last Monday, Linda and our daughter Sarah joined me for a hike up Old Rag - a popular hike a few miles west of the AT in the Shenandoah Mountains. It has a 2500 foot elevation gain starting with a nice trail through the woods with switchbacks, then turning into a good rock scramble at the top. You can sorta make out the rocky top in the photo.We enjoyed gorgeous views along the way up and in all directions at the top. To the west we could see sections where Skyline Drive cut through the trees near the ridge. Fun to think about the AT being there and me hiking along it in a few months! Continuing down the back side is a less steep but rocky trail that joins a fire road that then completes the 8.9 mile loop - a little over 9 miles for us due to missing a turn. :-) Not that way! This Way!The rock scramble was a lot of fun and quite challenging at times. It even had a couple of places where we got to go throuugh natural tunnels in the rocks - the video shows us exiting one of them. I got some good practice for my thru hike, including rocky Pennsylvania and an intro to Mahoosuc Notch! Lunch Time!Once again I was impressed with all the work the trail builders and maintainers have done to provide for such an enjoyable experience for so many of us. I always marvel at steps cut into rock along with boulders moved, cut and placed to make the journey easier, or even doable. Thank you!
Date: 2014-04-14
To: Gear update
Miles today: 0.0

I decided that converting Quicktime (.mov) video to mp4 was just too much trouble. So I'm replacing my camera with the next one up - a Canon Elph 340. It records video in mp4, plus has better specs.Got our reservations for Wed night at Hiker Hostel today! Linda and our daughter Sarah will be driving me down there Wednesday, and will be hiking with me for four or five days. What a great way to start out!
Date: 2014-04-16
To: Back in Georgia!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We're in Georgia!Linda, Sarah and I are on the road, headed to the Hiker Hostel where we'll meet a bunch of other hikers and spend the night. Tomorrow morning they'll drop us off at the Springer Mountain parking lot where we'll hike the one mile to the top, take pictures, and head north.I discovered and enjoyed the following winning video by Hector Reyes Miller for the 2012 ATC contest. Good motivation for my start! Hope you enjoy it, too!Looking forward to meeting other hikers and to begin this adventure!
Date: 2014-04-19
From: Hogpen Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Last night we discussed how to spend Linda's and Sarah's last two days with me. The next two sections between gaps are Neel to Hogpen (6.9 mi) and Hogpen to Unicoi (13.3 mi). It's forecast to be a bit rainy the first day. (today) and a beautiful day tomorrow for Easter. So, we decided that Sarah and I would slack pack the 14.3 miles from Hogpen to Unicoi today, with Linda dropping us off and picking us up. Tomorrow we'll all three get a ride to Hogpen Gap and hike back to Neel Gap. Then on Monday they'll drop me at Unicoi Gap and head home. :-(It was a misty rainy day and we met very few folks on the trail, but we had a great hike. Sarah joked about all the wildlife we've seen so far. Let's see... several birds, two large slugs, a small snail shell (which may or may not have been occupied) and a dead millipede.When we stopped in the last shelter before Unicoi Gap, we saw a full backpack and no one around. On the way down to the gap, we met a trail runner hiking up the trail. He said that was his pack and they were rescuing a woman who had some medical problem at the shelter. Apparently they were transporting her down by some small 4 wheel wagons by some back roads. There were an ambulance and an EMT vehicle at the gap when we met Linda. Just before we left, they showed up with the woman, who looked OK at that point. I'm impressed with the good folks who rescue people in any circumstances, but especially in the wilderness.We're spending the night in the Blood Mountain Cabins again, as we will again tomorrow night. I'm spoiled! Especially spoiled having Linda and Sarah join me for the start of this adventure!
Date: 2014-04-20
From: Hogpen

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

Happy Easter!This morning we got a ride to Hogpen Gap from Sallie. We heard about the Joyce and Sallie shuttle service when Linda dropped Sarah and me off at Hogpen Gap yesterday and Joyce was dropping another hiker and his son off there. Good folks!This is a special section of the trail to me, so it was good to share it on my thru hike with Linda and Sarah. When we first moved to Gainesville several years ago, I was doing a dayhike out of Hogpen Gap. On my way back from Tesnatee Gap I met and walked with a thru hiker named The Band Aid Kid. He introduced me to Trail Journals and I followed along all the way to Maine. I think he knew every plant and animal; even recognized birds by their sound. It was also along this section of trail that I rode out a thunderstorm one night in my tent when I backpacked all of Georgia in sections. That was an exciting night!But today it was a gorgeous Easter day. We stopped ar cowrock for a photo op and met Billy Goat, who took the picture. I had already heard of him - from Wired, I think. There was a tall thin hiker from Iowa there, too, who said his wife was reading my journal. I didn't get his name, but thanks wife-in-Iowa for following!In the picture, the ridge in the background on the left is the AT between Hogpen and Tesnatee. The side trail to the shelter follows the ridge to the right. The AT drops down the backside of the ridge to Hogpen just behind us.We met lots of hikers out on this fine day. It was a wonderful last day on the trail for Linda and Sarah.After getting cleaned up, we drove into Helen for dinner at a good cafe right on the river. Their Reuben was delicious- good thing I'm burning all those calories hiking! After dinner we returned to the cabin to listen to a podcast of last year's Easter message at National Community Church (this year's wasn't posted yet). We then got ready to leave in the morning. Tomorrow the family vacation is over and I'll be hiking on my own... but with dozens of other hikers! What can I say? I'm a blessed man! :-)
Date: 2014-04-21
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: broken clouds

A sad but exciting start to my hike today. Linda and Sarah drove me to Unicoi Gap where we said our good byes and they headed off into the sunrise. I'll miss them!Today was another beautiful day for hiking. The views along the AT are so much better in the winter before the leaves come out. The past two days the trail followed the ridge a lot, which provides spectacular views to both sides. The ground plants are starting to come out, with several different delicate flowers blooming along the path. The AT is nicknamed the long green tunnel, which is what it will be when the trees leaf out in a few weeks. The periodic side trails to scenic views will make more sense then!The views to the sides are broken up periodically with walks through mountain laurel tunnels. The evergreen has really cool twisted trunks that give the groves a magical look. I'm looking forward to when their flowers start to bloom.I didn't meet very many folks on the trail today. It's a Monday and I guess most hikers are thru hiking north at about the same pace. I got to Dicks Creek Gap about 4:15 and hiked the half mike down the road to the Top of Georgia hostel. Bob, the owner, said that about 20 to 25 percent of thru hiker starters have quit the trail by this point. There are only about 6 or 8 other hikers here tonight, some thru and some section hikers. No young folks.Spent most of my time using their wifi to catch up on my journals. Also stuffed myself with spaghetti and meat sauce, salad, bread with cheese and a big piece of cake! (For lunch on the trail I had a big slice of leftover pizza and a fresh pear.) Won't be eating like that for a while!I don't know what the reception will be like on the next section of trail. I sent my tablet home with Linda - it just didn't get reception as well as the Verizon phones and my AT&T phone did just as well or better.Miss my bride but having a great time!
Date: 2014-04-22
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

Well..... that's one down!When Linda and I go on driving trips, we have a tradition when we cross a state border to say "Well, that's one (two, three...) down!" With the "well" drawn out and it all timed so that we say the number just as we cross the border. Today as I approached the GA/NC border, I planned to do the same and got my camera ready to video my crossing. I noticed about six guys taking a lunch break at the sign so I asked them to say it with me.Three of them were guys I played leapfrog with all day - Bart, John and Chosen One. I passed them 4 miles into my day when they were just breaking camp. They'd pass me on the uphills, I'd keep up with them on the level and downhills and they'd take longer breaks. In the picture, Bart and John are on the left and Chosen One is second from the right (with the dreds).I felt really good all day. I didn't set a particular goal on how far to go; I'm trying to just let my body tell me when it's time to stop. It surprised me with how far it went! As I approached the end of the day, I was thinking about tenting at the top of the mountain a mile or so before Beech Gap. It didn't have water on top, so I filled up a bottle at the last stream before climbing up. When I was almost at the top, I reached back for my bottle and it wasn't there! I had filled it up, treated it, set it on the trail, put on my pack, picked up my poles and headed up the trail, leaving the bottle behind. I carry two water bottles for longer distances between sources, but usually fill up my body and only one bottle when I stop for water. One will do me fine until I get to the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) a few days up the trail. But I'd better not lose the other bottle!So I continued on down the mountain to Beech Gap. A Rhododendron tunnel trail led me about 1/4 mile to a little clearing with a stream nearby. A delightful spot to set up my tent! This is first time since camping with Sarah on the first night of this adventure. I crawled into my sleeping bag tired but feeling good.