morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-02-19
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Top of Georgia Hostel
Miles today: 9.7

Okay, so... Yesterday's plan didn't exactly pan out. Today, I had planned on getting up early, getting to Blue MTN shelter about 10:00-11:00, having a nice, leisurely lunch/rest before heading out for the last 8 miles for the day. However, I didn't hit BMS until about 11:45-12:00ish, which meant 2 things: 1) I hadn't been moving nearly as fast as I had planned, and 2) I had about as much hiking light to walk 8 miles as it had taken me to walk 7 miles on relatively flat ground. That was no bueno.So I got to Unicoi Gap, and decided to catch a shuttle to a nearby hostel (Top of Georgia), even though my night in Neels was only 2 days ago. Since my mail is still in Hiawassee, and unavailable today due to it being Sunday, I think I'll go back to the trail tomorrow, get at least as far as Tay Mountain shelter, probably as far as Low Gap, and then catch a ride into town on Tuesday, and possibly take a nero on that day (although it would have to be my last hostel stay for a while, since I hadn't planned on nearly this many, before heading out early the next morning). I need to be hitting the Smokies, about 100 miles away, before the end of February, so I'm going to need to keep an eye on that. I do feel like I'm starting to get my trail legs, though, which is a big plus.
Date: 2017-02-20
From: Top of Georgia Hostel

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was exhausting. It was alright until this afternoon, when suddenly, all at once, both of my knees and my left foot started hurting. I was going up Kelly Knob, and it was all I could do to keep myself moving. When I got to camp at the shelter tonight, after getting water, I realized why my foot was hurting. I had had a blister. "Had" had because it had already popped by the time I noticed it.I think my socks are part of the problem-I kept meaning to get socks that fit me before I left AR, but I never got the chance. I'll see if they have any at ToG tomorrow. Also, there are mice in this shelter as well. Other than those things, today was alright. I got as far as I hoped, made some decent miles, and I'm in a position where I can get out early tomorrow--just 3 miles to the hostel. Looking forward to that nice bed. Well, good night. I'm going to put some Neosporin and a band aid on my foot before it gets infected.Night all.Nemo
Date: 2017-02-21
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Top of Georgia Hostel
Miles today: 4.1

I went into town today. Actually, I should probably start at the start. I woke up this morning and my foot was feeling better. I was able to make it to the hostel, about 4 miles away. When we got to the hostel, Butterfeet and I both took long, hot showers, and both got our laundry done. He's been really helpful to me these past couple days, so I covered his cost for the night. We went into town, to the Mexican place this time. Their salsa was excellent-smooth, not chunky, just how I like it. I got "La Changa," which is 2 chimichangas, baked or fried, with either beef or chicken, and topped with cheese. Too bad for everyone else I left my lactose pills back at the hostel by accident. It was probably the best Mexican I've had in a while. I went to the store today, Ingles, with Butterfeet.I got some spices to make the Mountain House meals actually edible. Butterfeet and I decided to hike together at least as far as Nantahala, about 5 days away. He's also an Eagle Scout, just like me. He's a fun guy to be around, despite his #northvirginiaproblems, such as, my personal favorite, having 2 or 3 things you could do that weekend and only deciding on Friday night, because you don't want to "waste your weekend." Literally his exact words. Having most of the day to just chill was pretty nice, although I'm definitely itching to get back on the trail. Thankfully, my blister healed today, so that's a big plus. I'm going to get an early start tomorrow, so I'd best be getting to sleep now.Still not lost, Nemo.
Date: 2017-02-22
From: Top of Georgia Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was more fun than an ENTIRE barrel of monkeys. An ocean barge full of barrels of monkeys. First, I wanted to leave early, but wasn't able to actually be packed up and ready to go until about 9 (had to wait on Butterfeet to pack some things). Then, we finally made it on trail about 9:15, and we made it to the first shelter, Plumorchard Shelter, by about 11. That's nice, about 2 mph, so we decided to have a quick snack at the shelter, where we met "Nickel" from FL and "Ranger" from OK, and stayed talking. Good thing is, they said that "Courthouse Bald" was actually pretty easy. Pretty quickly, 5 minutes turns into 30, and it was almost 11:45 by the time we made it back onto trail. We stopped for lunch about 1:30-2:00, a little before crossing the GA/NC border. It was decent, but nothing special. Next, we came to this "not that bad" hill (*cough*mountain*cough*). It was steep. I mean REALLY steep. I mean "Cliffs of Insanity" steep, in a couple places. Seriously. This was that same mountain that Nickel had told us wasn't actually all that bad just that morning. Ha. It was even steeper in some places than in the book. By the end of the day, I was so tired I wasn't making much sense, nor was I in a very good place mentally. Butterfeet actually made me lie down on his pad for a little while and rest with a nature valley bar and some water. Dinner was pretty good. I finally had that teriyaki and salmon I'd been carrying since the first day. It was absolutely delicious.I did realize, however, that instead of pushing on to Nantahala Outdoor Center like I had hoped, I have to stop in Franklin, NC. My pack is the wrong size, and there is no way to adjust it. It makes for a lighter pack, which I suppose is the point of an ultralight pack that removes even the frame itself to save weight, but it means that I have to get an entirely new pack. There is a pretty good outfitter in Franklin, Outdoor 76, that should be able to help, and for much cheaper than NOC. Then, I'm going to push on to NOC and get my mail and take a little bit to sort everything out. Looking forward to that hotel room in Franklin, though.
Date: 2017-02-23
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm having an interesting conversation about drinking laws with Milkman and Amanda ("Just Amanda for Now"). It's difficult to capture in a journal. Some of the views today were amazing, especially because we were in a cloud yesterday-literally, walking inside a cloud. The evidence of the recent fires today, especially compared with yesterday, is startling. Talking about politics is generally problematic. The people are interesting, though. I made it 12.5 miles today, which was cool because it's been my longest day so far, but not cool, because I need to be making more, and also because making those 12.5 made me very tired. I wasn't loopy like I was yesterday, though.
Date: 2017-02-24
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

This conversation is actually pretty interesting-I need to be taking notes. The topic has now moved on from drinking to politics to hiring pick up girls using my AT experience. 1. Beard. Large beard, not Mutton Chops-have Paul Bunyan beard. 2. Whip out the AT itself as an accomplishment. If they don't know what it is, embellish wildly. If they do, brag about mileage and overall hiked, combined with pack weight.3. Be rich and famous.I also realized that I need to focus and buckle down if I'm going to finish.Night.Nemo
Date: 2017-02-26
From: Franklin, NC

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 0.0

Sorry I haven't written in a couple of days. On the 24th, Friday, I made it into Franklin, NC, but it was too late to buy my pack. I did, however, order over $50 worth of Domino's pizza and sides (sandwich, chicken wings, pasta, breadsticks, etc.). I actually only even got 1 pizza. It was all pretty good, though nothing special. The reason I didn't journal last night, the 25th, is because I didn't even GET to camp until 8:00, and then I had to set up my hammock and everything, so it was about 9 pm by the time I got to sleep. Anyway, I got a very nice pack from Outdoor 76 - an Osprey didn't Atmos 65. It can hold everything I brought, except 2 Nalgenes which I didn't need, so I sent them home with my old pack. I got to talk with Diane tonight, which is cool, so that's nice.Until next time,Nemo
Date: 2017-02-28
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I met up with a couple more guys today - "Storyteller" is one. I think I actually didn't mention Penguin last night. He was getting onto the trail yesterday at the NOC, and his mom was dropping him off, so I've been ragging on him about that ever since. Acadicus dropped behind today - his knee has been giving him some trouble, so he's been shelter hopping. I left him behind - as I was finishing up packing up after lunch, he was just walking up to the shelter.Sara made it to the shelter last night, but she didn't make it to the shelter tonight because of the storm. Butterfeet is now bragging about how good he is at snowboarding and skiing. I think that I'm going to see how tomorrow looks before making any final decisions on planning. It is still storming off and on outside, but inside the shelter is nice and toasty, no wind, and - most importantly for a good night's sleep - completely DRY.Goodnight, John Boy.
Date: 2017-03-01
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Hilton Shelter
Miles today: 6.7

So... There was a massive rainstorm yesterday which got us all soaked, but today, God upped the ante by hitting us with an even BIGGER thunderstorm. We made it to Fontana - Butterfeet, Penguin, Storyteller, and I - in time for lunch, and even had a few hours to do laundry and go through our (Butterfeet's and mine) packages. Mostly, they were full of food - way more food was in each than I think the TWO of us could eat. Sara came up as I was finishing up my laundry, so we started chatting a bit. She found the fact that I talk aloud to myself amusing, since she generally just keeps it in her head. For reference, I have started just... talking... to God. Just, while I'm out here, alone, talking to him. I try to listen when he answers, which generally is not just hearing a voice that tells me "yes" or "no," but rather... it's difficult to explain. It's more than a feeling (no, not that song), but also less certain - kind of. It's really hard to explain, so I'll just leave it at this - I can GENERALLY tell when I thought something up, or when it came from God (though not always). Like I said, it's difficult to explain, with a lot of uncertainty. Anyway, I also talk out loud to myself about other things as well - for instance, I had a solid 45-minute "argument," with myself, about the various types and strengths of optical jutsu (Sharngan, Rinnegan, and, to a lesser extent, Byakugan). Seriously. Talking, out loud, to myself.Anyhowsoever, as much fun as it is to spin my wheels talking to myself on my own (not that song, either), and as much as it helps the miles pass by, talking to myself probably is not the best habit to get myself into, seeing as how, back in society, talking to someone whom others cannot see is frowned upon. Anyway, I'm going to try to hit the ground running tomorrow, so that I can get as close to Nana and Papa as possible by Saturday. I've decided to just let my permit be, even if it technically is the "wrong" permit. Hopefully, the rangers won't notice (or care, if they do) that my permit is a little off on the dates, although I'm not sure how likely that is.I shall simply say goodbye, til it be morrow.
Date: 2017-03-04
From: Double Springs Gap Shelter

To: Newfound Gap Rd
Miles today: 10.4

So... I skipped a few days in my journal again. Oops. Actually, I thought about it both nights, but it was so COLD that I couldn't find the energy to do more than make a hot dinner and go to sleep. Also, I got my music to work on 3/2, but I'm not sure how much I'll use it, since it is interfering with my conversations with God, although the mania I can FEEL coming on doesn't help matters in the slightest. I went to a Western Sizzlin' style place with Nana and Papa tonight. I ate 4 whole plates worth of food! (I got 5 plates, and the stuff that was no good was left, but it was enough to fill a plate.) Spending some time with Nana and Papa was pretty cool. Apparently, though I forgot, Butterfeet was invited also. I guess that it's a shame he wasn't willing to press on with me yesterday. His loss. Anyway, that ice coming down Clingman's Dome today was also NUTS. It ticked me off so hard. I'm going to poke a hole in this journal if I keep thinking about it, so no more. I took a bath tonight. It was just as relaxing as I thought it would be - calm, peaceful, hot. My new backpack seems to be holding up well, especially since Nana and Papa brought me a neck pillow - that'll certainly help my neck feel better, and it means I'll have an ACTUAL pillow to rest my head at night. They also got me a space blanket (yes, please), a towel (thanks), and a... cooling rag? In March? Okaaayyy... They also brought me a poncho (nice thought, but I don't think I'll use it) and one or tow other knick-knacks that I'm not sure about. Anyway, it's 12:02 am, so I gotta go until tomorrow.Au revoir.
Date: 2017-03-05
From: Newfound Gap Rd

To: Peck's Corner Shelter
Miles today: 10.3

So, tonight I'm trying something different. I'm writing this as I'm making dinner, first off (which is jambalaya with sausage and chicken), and second, because it's different because it's not right before bed. Hopefully, this extra time I have will help me write things down more. Anyway, I ran out of meds today. My Lamictal ran out last night, and my Adderal this morning. Dinner smells great. I only have to simmer it for another 10-15 minutes (which is VERY difficult with a pocket rocket, I assure you), so I'll be eating soon. The wind keeps blowing the fire away from the pot, which is not good, so I'll probably leave it on for just a little while longer than the directions say. My spice rocket Nana and Papa got for me is awesome, as are the towel and neck pillow. I'm actually SITTING on the neck pillow right now because it is a very nice, comfy cushion.My food is ready now, so I'm going to eat, filter some water, and possibly continue this entry just before bed. Remind me to talk about the views.
Date: 2017-03-10
From: Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sorry I haven't written in awhile. I only missed 3/6 on trail, because 3/8-9 were in a hostel. I knew I SHOULD write both days. I was just not feeling up to it. As for 3/8, I was super tired and just went to bed early. 3/9 - I don't really have an excuse. I had my first full, true ZERO day, as opposed to just neroes. It actually turned out alright, I just wasted a lot of time that I COULD have spend getting ready for today. Because of that fact, I didn't get on trail until 2:45 pm, so I didn't get to camp until 7:30ish. The sun set @ 6:30, so dark really fell about 7:00. And I DID (note past tense) have grand plans, both for yesterday and today, but OF COURSE they went awry. There was a lookout tower I went up to, but it was quite windy, and the floor was so rotten there were holes in some places. I took a few pictures and went back down. The views today, all two or three of them, were really quite nice. I managed to get my music up and today, courtesy of Dad (thanks to him, by the way). It is pretty cold here right now, so I'm not sure how much more I'll write before I go to sleep. Night hiking was SLIGHTLY better than I remembered, mostly because my headlamp has good batteries and I was wearing my jacket. Oh, that reminds me - 3/7 - I got hypothermia. Yay. I got caught in a sudden rain - Ok, so it had been lightly raining for awhile, but it all of a sudden picked up big time. I didn't have rain pants, so my legs still would have gotten cold, but I could have put on my rain jacket to protect my core. Luckily, I had my pack cover on, so all my gear stayed dry, but I was still very cold that night. The first thing I did when I got to camp was to change into dry clothes and crack open 3 hot hands. Two went in my sleeping bag, but the third stayed in my pants pocket. It helped somewhat, but not terribly. I was definitely glad that town was the next day, because that meant I could wash and dry my clothes, as well as grab my down coat from my box. That went right in with my dry clothes (my pjs that are never - repeat NEVER - to get wet, so they make sure the down stays dry as well). So, my fingers are almost numb, but I have a little more to write. The meal I had at the Smoky Mountain Diner in town was AWESOME! I had a double cheeseburger with bacon and a "side" of curly fries. I use quotations because it almost filled the plate - it didn't because the burger itself was probably 6" across. It was HUGE. The shower, as well as the warm bed in a PRIVATE room, was extremely nice. The hostel, Laughing Heart Hostel, was super chill about everything, so that was nice. They had a full kitchen, complete with food there, as well as some other cool stuff. It was a sweet gig, and pretty cheap too. Only $35/night for my own private room. In fact, everything there (except for the outfitter) was pretty cheap. My burger, fries, and drink was only $11, after the tip.
Date: 2017-03-10
From: Hostel at Laughing Heart Lodge

To: Spring Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Crazy Tree interviewed me tonight. I was really tired, and I said that I graduated from college last year instead of high school, but here it is anyway. The interview is in the last 3 minutes of a 25 minute video. He's hiking to raise money for the Children's Hospital in Atlanta. If you subscribe to his videos, you'll also see a lot of the trail I'm seeing and the people I mention. Thanks, Crazy Tree! (My momma said the video made her cry, but she cries at the drop of a hat anyway, and I've made it a personal goal to make her tear up whenever possible!) https://youtu.be/uVFbSOHYOYs
Date: 2017-03-12
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

At least I made it this far tonight. It's 15.5 for the day, which makes me sad (I was hoping to hit Bald Mtn. Shelter - 25.6 - for the day). Unfortunately, I didn't get up and moving with my alarms - I didn't even get out of my sleeping bag until almost 10:00, and I didn't hit the trail until 11:50. I need to get moving when my alarm goes off tomorrow. I'm hoping to make 20 miles, but I only made it here as the sun was setting (actually the sun had already set, but only just). If I could have gotten moving when my alarm went off at 5:30, I could have been on trail by 7:00; in that case, I could easily have made the 25 miles today. But alas, 'twas not to be.Anyway, one of the 3 guys from last night came to THIS shelter tonight. One of them chose to stay at the first shelter, 6.7 miles for the day. The last one apparently went to Erwin (I'm pretty sure by catching a lift from Laurel Hostel - sketchy place, would NOT recommend). Funny story, he's as old as my parents.Anyway, today was surprisingly difficult. I'm not sure why; hopefully tomorrow will be easier. If I can make it the 20 miles, I'll only have about 5 or 6 before Erwin. I need to make it there at a time when resupply is available, since I only brought 3 days worth of meals. Today is the 2nd day (the 3rd for my budgeting of dinners, because I wasn't planning on being full still from lunch on Friday), so I've got enough breakfast for tomorrow. Thankfully, my lunch for the 3rd day can be broken up so that I can have half for breakfast the next day, and then it'll only be 6 miles or so into Erwin, so I can resupply, eat lunch there, and then push on.Also, I've been having some trouble with my alarms, so I hope that goes away when I wake up tomorrow.Anyway, the views today were great, but it's getting late, so I've gotta get some sleep. I don't want a repeat of this morning tomorrow (although the lack of snow should help). Anyway, night guys.
Date: 2017-03-13
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Good pace (2.5-3 mph) before mud, then VERY slippery mud on the way up to & down from the bald, cut speed in half. Got to shelter before dark.on. Today was disappointing. I didn't get nearly as far as I had hoped, so that stinks. I'm glad that I chose to stay in the shelter, though, listening to the rain outside makes me glad I didn't try to push I would have had a hard time of it, and I don't think I would have made it to the next shelter before the rain hit. The reason I stopped here tonight, instead of pushing the extra 10.6 to No Business Know Shelter is because, when I got here I was cold, frustrated, and depressed. I don't know if I wrote about Clingman's Dome in my journaling (answer is... yes, I did). Anyway, the mud today was just as bad. Worse, actually. For one, it was LONGER than the ice, and for two, the mud wasn't just slippery - it also sucked at my boots when I was trying to lift my foot to take a step. That was not fun. Anyway, I decided to stop and have plenty of daylight for my evening preparations. I've been getting to the shelters pretty late, because I've been getting late starts. Unfortunately, that means my body doesn't want to get up and moving as early as I would like, so I get a later start... Hopefully, getting in early (and, thus, to bed early) will help reset my system. I decided that I'm going to sleep in the next day's clothes, so that's one less thing to do in the morning. Another thing I'm going to (try) to do is unzip my sleeping bag slightly more than is really comfortable (although I'll be sure to be comfortable enough to get some sleep), so that I have one less reason to stay in my sleeping bag in the morning. Hopefully, that'll mean I can wake up earlier. I also moved my alarms BACK some, to make sure my body wasn't going to fight them in the morning. I remember reading something about "sleep inertia" in Reader's Digest, where if you keep waking up to your alarm, but then hit snooze and go back to sleep, you're telling your body it's okay to continue being asleep, not that it needs to wake up. Anyway, I'm hoping to hit Erwin tomorrow (otherwise I've got no food), so I need to get up bright and early. That means going to sleep now.Good night. Hugs from God.
Date: 2017-03-14
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 16.8

I made it to the hostel. Actually, I barely made it in time to even catch the shuttle for dinner. I'm glad I did make it, though. I got to see Butterfeet and Penguin again, which was cool. They were staying at a hostel about 30 miles back, but the hostel had a shuttle to Erwin, so they decided to catch that. Anyway, the dinner shuttle went to a little strip mall with a Mexican place (where we ate), a liquor store (not interested), and and Italian place (also delicious) that was dinner tonight, then went about 200 yards to to Walmart behind the strip. I was able to resupply there for all the way to Roan Mtn, TN (my next goal).Funny story... So, a couple of people just showed up-Doc and his daughter Tunes. Apparently, they have been exactly a day behind me for a month-they've been playing "Finding Nemo" since like the third or fourth day. I just think that the most interesting part is that they've been exactly a day behind me-when they stopped for lunch, they looked at the register and I had stopped for lunch exactly one day before. When they got to the shelters at night, they saw that Nemo has stayed there the night before.