morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-21
From: Rainbow Lake Campsite

To: Katahdin Stream Campground 
Miles today: 21.2

August 21Rainbow Lake Campsite - Katahdin Stream Campground21.2Maine is a beautiful and unspoiled state. The lakes/ponds and serenity of landscape is something I will never forget. Today was final push to Baxter State Park and Katahdin Stream Campground, which is starting point for climb of Mt. Katahdin. Plan is to summit Mt. Katahdin on Tuesday, August 23, weather permitting. Monday, August 22 will be a rest day in Millinocket, Maine. Hike today was typical roots and rocks for the first 10 miles, but did level and smooth out the final 10 miles. About 5 miles from Katahdin Stream Campground I was passed by three Park Rangers who had received a medical call from a hikers emergency notification device. We later learned the hiker was air lifted off the trail via helicopter, not sure of the hikers status. On a more positive note, I was about 2 miles from my destination when I looked up and saw Jill and Aubrey coming down the trail. What a wonderful surprise and reunion. We hiked the final 2 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground together. I had not seen them since May 24. While this has been an incredible journey filled with a lifetime of memories my body is beaten up and worn out and as mentioned earlier I am ready for my thru hike to end. Looking forward to resuming a normal life again.
Date: 2016-08-22
From: Katahdin Stream Campground 

To: Katahdin Stream Campground 
Miles today: 0.0

August 22Katahdin Stream Campground - Katahdin Stream Campground 0Zero day in Millinocket, Maine. You know you are an AT thru hiker when; you automatically take 2/3 jelly packets at a restaurant, take toilet paper from any available dispenser, wake up in a motel and start to pee at the end of bed instead of the bathroom and Snickers is a food group. All habits I can now break! Washed clothes and got a hair cut. Also visited The Appalachian Trail Cafe and wrote my trail name on ceiling tile as 2016 thru hiker. Enjoyed nice dinner with Forrest, his friend Sherrie, Mustard Seed, Subman, Suds, Rabbit and his wife, Spirit, Jill and Aubrey. We plan to pick up Whitney and Nick at 5:30 am and head to Baxter State Park for Mt. Katahdin climb.
Date: 2016-08-23
From: Katahdin Stream Campground 

To: Mt. Katahdin 
Miles today: 5.5

August 23Katahdin Stream Campground - Katahdin Baxter Peak5.2Today was the day I have looked forward to since March 9. Every thru hiker that begins their journey at Springer Mountain, Georgia dreams about climbing Mt. Katahdin and having their picture taken at the iconic Mt. Katahdin sign. Well today I realized the dream and summited Mt. Katahdin to complete my AT journey. My wife, Jill, and my daughters, Whitney and Aubrey, who have supported and encouraged me from the onset hiked to Mt. Katahdin with me. The 5.2 mile hike is tough with significant elevation change, along with technical rock scrambling and boulder climbing. I am proud that they accompanied me and completed this difficult hike. Special thanks to my hiking partners who pushed me, encouraged me and motivated me along this journey; Steve the Hiker, Volunteer Dave, DC, Mom, Orbit, New Dave and last but not least Forrest. I spent portions of the last 5 1/2 months with this group and learned much from them and enjoyed their company. Thanks to all who have offered support and encouragement during this journey, it has motivated and kept me going during difficult times, i.e., I could not have completed it without you! This has been an incredible experience and allowed me to see 14 states in a way that most people never will. I know I can accomplish any goal I set my mind to and push myself beyond my comfort zone. I now join a select group that have thru hiked the Appalachian Trail, i.e., less than 20% who start a thru hike finish a thru hike. I am proud of myself and this accomplishment.Now I return to the status of Husband and Father!
Date: 2016-09-02
To: Back Home Again
Miles today: 0.0

I was so happy that my family was able to summit Mt. Katahdin with me. My wife, Jill hiked the first mile with me in March at Springer Mountain and hiked the final 5.2 miles at Mt. Katahdin, along with daughters Whitney and Aubrey, what a thrill and memory. Mt. Katahdin is a tough hike, but each persevered and reached the summit. In fact, Whitney who has run marathons and completed Iron Man Triathlons, described the hike as "brutal" and said she would rather run a marathon. Enjoyed lunch at Appalachian Trail Cafe in Millinocket, Maine and signed my name to a ceiling tile as a 2016 Thru Hiker. After finishing we took a side trip to Bar Harbor, Maine and visited Acadia National Park. We rented bikes and toured the park, took in the views from Cadillac Mountain and spent time in Bar Harbor. It was a great way to unwind. The first night in the motel room Jill called my name several times and I did not respond. Aubrey called out "Hooshr" and I immediately responded. Responding only to your trail name for 5 1/2 months will take some time to adjust. The first thing I did upon my return to Roanoke VA was to visit my Mom, who is 96 years old. She did not immediately recognize me, i.e., 30 pounds lighter and now have facial hair. She was thrilled that I completed my AT journey and am now home in Roanoke VA. Big Thank You to my Roanoke friends and neighbors for the party you had for me on August 29. It is now time to rest, recover, recuperate and decide what I will do next!Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement. If you are comfortable please send me your name and home address. I would like to acknowledge your support with a personal response. Again, thank you for making this journey of a lifetime a reality!
Date: 2016-03-09
To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Hello! My name is David Hester. I am 59 years old. I retired last September after 37 years in the chemical industry. I currently live in Pinehurst, TX. I grew up in East Tennessee and was introduced to the AT by my father who was an active member of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club. I did numerous day hikes on the AT as a child and helped my father maintain the section of the trail he was responsible for. My first overnight backpacking trip on the AT was with my brother when I was 15 years old (1970). While in high school and college (UT Knoxville), I did numerous trips with friends and a few solo trips. I have hiked the AT from Fontana Dam, NC to Damascus, VA (300+ miles). My last trip on the AT was over 30 years ago. My dream is to do a thru-hike of the AT. Today I am starting a section hike from Springer Mountain, GA to Fontana Dam (165 miles). I am hiking with Jim Beeson (Hoosier) who is starting his thru-hike. Jim and I met at an AT hiking class a year ago. - UPDATE: On 3/22, I transitioned from a section hiker going to Fontana Dam to a thru-hiker going to Maine.- TRAILNAME: It only seemed right that if I am hiking with a guy from Indiana whose trail name is "Hoosier" that a guy from Tennessee should have the trail name "Volunteer". So Volunteer it is. Also I hope to have the volunteer spirit along the trail and help any and all along the way anyway I can make their trek to Maine or wherever they are going.
Date: 2016-03-09
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today Jim Beeson and I started off from Springer Mountain. My brother, Robbie, picked me up at the Atlanta airport yesterday and drove me to Amicalola Falls State Park. We spent the night at the lodge. Robbie shuttled me up to the Springer Mountain parking lot and we hiked the 0.9 miles out to Springer Mountain together. Then we walked back to the parking lot, I donned my backpack, and Jim Beeson (Hoosier) and I hit the trail.
Date: 2016-03-10
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter, GA

To: Gooch Gap,GA
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Here I am somewhere along the AT on Day 2. I rolled my right foot about 9 am and felt something pop across the top of my foot. I thought I was done but was able to walk it off. This is the foot I have been going to a podiatrist and physical therapist for for over a month to treat plantar fascitis. About an hour later, I rolled my right ankle and felt a sharp pain up the outside of my leg above my right ankle. Again, I thought I was done, but was gradually able to walk it off. I would say it was a mild ankle sprain. I tweaked it several more times that day. It was a rough day!
Date: 2016-03-11
From: Gooch Gap, GA

To: Neels Gap, GA
Miles today: 14.5

It was a tough ascent up Blood Mountain (elev 4457') on my bum ankle. It was even tougher coming down into Neel Gap as we had to walk over a long stretch of steep rocks. We overnighted at Blood Mountain Cabins. I iced my ankle that evening which helped. In the morning, I bought an ace bandage and wrapped my ankle and also bought a roll of athletic tape in case I needed to tape my ankle. I bought a set of walking polls to help my balance and to stabilize me (hand crutches!). My ankle got progressively better each day from here on.
Date: 2016-03-12
From: Neels Gap, GA

To: Poplar Stamp Gap, GA
Miles today: 12.9

This is our hiking group that has come together over the first 3 days on the AT.On the left is Steve Toth (Steve the Hiker). He is a retired staff sergeant from the Army's 82nd Airborne Paratrooper Division. Steve is 48 and lives in Cleveland, OH. Second is yours truly (Volunteer, age 59). Third is Al Skrocki (D.C.) from Grosse Isle, MI. Al is 62 and a retired deputy police chief and just retired again as a criminal justice professor from a college in MI. On the right is Jim Beeson (Hoosier). Jim is 60 and just retired as VP of HR from a defense contractor. Jim currently lives in Roanoke, VA. The average age for our group is 57.25 years old. Steve, Jim, and I all met at the AT hiking class last April. We all have about the same hiking ability and have good chemistry on the trail.
Date: 2016-03-16
From: Dick's Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter, NC
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

We were all excited to finish the 1st of 14 states on the AT. Georgia had some tough climbs but is only 4.5 on a scale of 1-10, whereas NC is supposed to be a 6. More tough climbs ahead. We are proud of the 78.5 miles we walked across GA!
Date: 2016-03-18
From: Carter Gap Shelter, NC

To: Rock Gap, NC
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: few clouds

Hit the trail at 7:15 am and enjoyed the beautiful sunrise. Climbed steep rocks for 0.3 miles up to Albert Mountain fire tower, the toughest climb of the trip so far. Good thing it was only 0.3 miles. Fantastic view from the fire tower in all directions. We picked up a new hiker in a group today - Richard Baker from Grady, AL. Richard is 61 and a retired National Guardsman and retired from the City of Montgomery, AL. With all these retired military and law enforcement guys I am hiking with, I have never felt safer in my life!
Date: 2016-03-19
From: Rock Gap, NC

To: Winding Stair Gap, NC
Miles today: 3.7

Came into Franklin, NC to re-supply. Also, Steve's knee is bothering him and he needed to rest it. "Slack-packed" this short section today to get a few miles in and avoid the rainy, cold weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Had pancake and bacon breakfast at FBC Franklin. Very nice!
Date: 2016-03-20
From: Winding Stair Gap, NC

To: Wayah Bald,NC
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

- "Slack-packed" this section today with our group.- 33F was the high for the day and we had light snow on top Wayah Bald- Staying in Franklin, NC again tonight to avoid temps in the teens tonight- Weather is supposed to warm gradually this week
Date: 2016-03-21
From: Wayah Bald, NC

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light snow

Started at Wayah Bald (elev. 5342') @ 10 am. Temperature in the low 20s and 2 inches of fresh snow. First day in new Brooks Cascadia 10 trailrunners. Great view of Smokies and Fontana Dam from Wesser Bald observation tower at mile 130.6.
Date: 2016-03-22
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Grassy Gap, NC
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

Cold hiking starting the day at 8:30 am. 6 miles and 2500' downhill to Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Lunch at River's End Restaurant - trout sandwich and tater tots. Transitioned from section hiker to Fontana Dam to thru-hiker to Maine on the banks of the Nantahala. Crossed Nantahala River and hiked 2.4 miles / 1300' up to Grassy Gap. Glad we did part of the ascent out of NOC this pm so don't have to do the full 6 mile / 3000' ascent all at once tomorrow. Full moon and clear night. Didn't bother to put tent up. Slept under the stars.
Date: 2016-03-23
From: Grassy Gap, NC

To: Stecoah Gap, NC
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

Finished ascent to Cheoah Bald (elev. 5062') at 11 am. Fantastic view! More ups and steep downs all the way to Stecoah Gap. A tough day of hiking. Overnighting at "Cabin In The Woods" (Donna proprietor) to do laundry, shower. Great dinner of salad, baked chicken with carrots and potatoes, and vanilla ice cream.
Date: 2016-03-24
From: Stecoah Gap, NC

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

We hit the trail at 9 am after a great breakfast of eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy by Donna at Cabin in the Woods where we stayed last night. Hiked 15.2 miles today, our longest distance to date. Steep uphill going up Jacobs Ladder (600' in 0.6 miles). Rain was nipping at our heels in the pm. We got to the "Fontana Hilton" shelter just before the rain came down. We are at mile marker 165.9. We got into Fontana Dam a day ahead of schedule. We have averaged 11 mpd for our first 15 days on the trail. We got a room at the Fontana Inn since more rain is expected tonight and there were 15 people at the shelter.
Date: 2016-03-25
From: Fontana Dam, NC

To: Fontana Dam, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We took our first zero day after last night's rain. Robbie was returning from Kingsport, TN and got to Fontana around 1 pm. We all rode into Bryson City, NC to have lunch and re-supply until Newfound Gap in the Smokies.Our plan for hiking the Smokies is the following: Sat, 3/26 - 11.0 miles to Mollies Ridge Shelter (177.3)Sun, 3/27 - 12.0 miles to Derrick's Knob Shelter (189.3)Mon, 3/28 - 13.5 miles to Mt. Collins Shelter (202.8)Tues, 3/29 - 4.0 miles to Newfound Gap, resupply, 3.3 miles to Icewater Shelter (210.1)Wed, 3/30 - 12.1 miles to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter (222.2)Thur, 3/31 - 7.1 miles to Cosby Knob Shelter (229.9)Fri, 4/1 - 10.7 miles to Standing Bear Farm Hostel (240.6)Weather looks good for Saturday with a high of 61 and low of 51. Sunday is 60-70%chance of rain. We have been told it is rare to get 6 days of good weather hiking the Smokies. Expect 2 good days, 2 bad days, and 2 days of either getting worse or getting better.We are hitting the trail at 7:30 am tomorrow and will start by walking across the top of Fontana Dam.
Date: 2016-03-26
From: Fontana Dam Shelter, NC

To: Spence Field Shelter, TN
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

Great day of hiking - 17.3 miles, our highest daily total to date. Got to Mollies Ridge Shelter around 2:30 pm, our original target for the day. We hiked 6 more miles, passing Russell Field shelter and arriving at Spence Field shelter around 5:30 pm. Bad weather supposed to come in tomorrow pm so getting an early start to get us much walking in as we can before the rain comes.
Date: 2016-03-27
From: Spence Field Shelter, TN

To: Double Spring Shelter, NC
Miles today: 13.5

Happy Easter! He is risen. He is risen indeed!We hit the trail at 7:40 am enveloped in fog. We crossed over Rocky Top in the first couple of miles. I sang a verse and a couple of choruses to Rocky Top, the Univ. of TN fight song, as I walked across. The rain hit us about 10 am. We came to a shelter at 11 am and got out of the rain and had lunch and rested. The whole day it was a cold, windy, wet 55 F and we slogged along the muddy trail. As they say " No rain, no pain, no Maine"! That was today. We managed to walk 13.5 miles despite the conditions. Supposed to clear tomorrow.
Date: 2016-03-28
From: Double Spring Shelter, NC

To: Newfound Gap, TN
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: snow

We thought most of the rain passed during the night, but at 5 am we had another downpour. Fortunately it passed through quickly and we were on the trail by 7:40 am. It was cold, windy, muddy and misty starting off as we ascended Mt. Buckley (elev. 6590'). The sun peeked through around 9 am and we had some great views to the south. Once we got to the top, we were above the clouds. We skirted Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT and highest point east of the Mississippi River, and shortly thereafter passed the 200 mile mark on our trek. The rest of the day was sunny and we had a nice walk into Newfound Gap despite the muddy trail from the previous day's rain. We caught a shuttle into Gatlinburg, TN to resupply and cleanup. We will be back on the trail at 8 am tomorrow.
Date: 2016-03-29
From: Newfound Gap, TN

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter,TN
Miles today: 15.1

We were back on the trail at 7:30 am after re-supplying and overnighting in Gatlinburg. It was very cold and windy starting off, probably in the upper 20s. Richard Baker, our retired National Guardsman from Grady, AL decided to end his thru-hike today. A buddy of his had a bicycle accident and got a severe head injury and had surgery. I hated to see Richard go. He was a true gentleman and a strong hiker and a nice guy to be around. Richard - if you are reading this, one day I am coming to Grady, AL and you and I are going out to eat that chicken-fried steak that we didn't have at Fontana Lodge. So now our group is back down to four and we continue on. The trees were covered in frost along the way and the trail was like walking on permafrost. We took the short side trail to Charlie's Bunion and had an incredible view. We pulled into Tri-Corner Knob shelter around 3:30 pm and called it a day after doing 15.1 miles and the next shelter being almost 8 miles down the trail.
Date: 2016-03-30
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel (Hartford, TN)
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: overcast clouds

We had our earliest start of the trip and were on the trail at 7am. Tri-Corner Shelter was overcapacity with 20 people crammed in so we were eager to get out of there. Lots of great views along the way. We took a short side trail to see the wreckage from the 1984 crash of an Air Force F-4 Phantom II jet near Inadu Knob (elev. 5876'). Later we took the 0.6 mi sidetrail to the Mt. Cammerer Lookout Tower built by the CCC back in the 1930s. From there you have a 360 degree panoramic view. The weather forecast was for bad weather to come in during the night so we hump-ed it the rest of the ways through the Smokies to Standing Bear Farm hostel. Including the side trails, we walked closed to 20 miles today.
Date: 2016-03-31
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel (Hartford, TN)

To: Standing Bear Farm (just past Davenport Gap)
Miles today: 0.0

We took a zero today to rest up after humping it through the Smokies in 5 days including re-supply in Gatlinburg. We got shuttled into Newport, TN this pm to re-supply at a Walmart. We will get an early start tomorrow to gain some miles back since we had zero miles today. The next re-supply point is in Hot Springs, NC, which we will reach in 3 days. Hot Springs is the first "trail town" where the AT actually goes through the middle of town.
Date: 2016-04-01
From: Standing Bear Farm (just past Davenport Gap)

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter, TN + 1.5 miles
Miles today: 16.5

We left Standing Bear Farm and were back on the trail at 7 am. We crossed over Snowbird Mtn., a grassy bald, where there is a FAA tower on the summit (elev. 4263'). We continued on and around noon and after hiking 10 miles, we reached Brown Gap. There we were treated to some fabulous trail Magic by the Orr family of Fort Worth, TX. This family of seven (father, mother, son, 4 daughters - the youngest age 8) thru-hiked the AT in 2015. They had received trail magic at Brown Gap on their thru-hike so they had driven 14 hours from Fort Worth to do the same for this year's hikers. They treated us to grilled hot dogs, sodas, chips, brownies, and sugar cookies - just what every hungry hiker craves. From there we headed over Max Patch, a beautiful bald with outstanding views in all directions. We hiked until about 5 pm and tented at a campsite past Roaring Fork Shelter.
Date: 2016-04-02
To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 16.6

We were on the trail again at 7 am. Chris List from Romulus, MI who Jim, Steve, and I had met last year at Warren Doyle's Appalachian Trail Institute had driven 14 hours and through the night after getting off work on Friday to meet up with us. He took us to re-supply in Hot Springs and then we went to a BBQ place for dinner next door to the laundromat where we were washing our clothes (a clean hiker is a happy hiker!). Chris then jumped in his car and headed back to MI. Now that was some real Trail Magic!
Date: 2016-04-03
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Mile 289.5
Miles today: 15.8

We made our way down the main street of Hot Springs, NC, the first town directly on the AT, at 7 am. We promptly stopped at the Smoky Mountain Diner. I refueled with 2 eggs over medium, sausage, hash browns, a biscuit, and coffee. It was so good! I have learned that one of hikers' favorite topics of conversation is food. We continued on through town and crossed the French Broad River and then headed up our first mountain of the day, shortly passing Lover's Leap Rock. Around 10:30 am we reached Tanyard Gap and were treated to trail magic (snacks) by Melvin Roberts of Seneca, SC. Melvin was an older gentleman who claimed to have been struck by lightning 12 times, the world record. Now there's a guy I wouldn't be standing next to on a golf course during a thunderstorm! He said to google it if we didn't believe him (haven't done it yet). We walked until 5 pm and tented in a low area off the trail. It was very cold that night. A blanket of cold air must have settled right on top of us.
Date: 2016-04-04
From: Mile 289.5

To: Mile 303.0
Miles today: 13.5

Today was a tough day of hiking with a lot of rocks and roots to navigate along the trail. We had to climb over a boulder field up to Big Firescald Knob (elev. 4544') at mile 297.5. And now for a great customer service story. Jim and I were both wearing Brooks Cascadia 10 trail running shoes (2015 model) that had numerous reports from hikers of being defective. As one outfitter explained the problem to me, the mesh fabric would split at the metatarsil and the toe box would open up like a taco. Sure enough, after only 100 miles, both Jim's and my shoes were starting to split open. Jim called Brooks from atop Big Firescald Knob and reported the problem to Adam, the customer service person who took the call. He knew immediately the problem we were having and said we would have a pair of Cascadia 11s (2016 model with problem corrected) waiting for us in Erwin, TN when we got there two days later. Around 2:30 pm we reached mile 300.0 at Jerry Cabin Shelter. We tented at a campsite at mile 303.0 about half way between Jerry Cabin Shelter and Flint Mountain Shelter.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Low Gap, NC

To: Spivey Gap, TN
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

We were on the trail at 7 am after another very cold night. We crossed Big Bald around 9 am. The 360 degree view was fabulous. We moved on quickly after getting a few pictures as it was still very cold and the wind was gusting upwards of 30 mph. We reached Spivey Gap around noon where "Guiness" (trail name), a recent thru-hiker from Asheville, NC and his cute 4 year old granddaughter were handing our drinks, donuts, and snacks to thru-hikers. We took a shuttle from Spivey Gap into Erwin, TN as we were low on food and fuel and stayed the night at Uncle Johnnie's Nolichucky River Hostel. We re-supplied with food and fuel that evening. Our new Brooks Cascadia 11 shoes were waiting for us in Erwin as promised. Again, great job by Adam at Brooks taking care of the problem with our shoes.