morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-13
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: clear sky

Beautiful day on the trail. Included stopping at the Audie Murphy memorial middle of the day. Audie Murphy was the most decorated American soldier during WW-II. There is a memorial to him on top of a mountain along the AT. He was killed in an airplane crash near the memorial in 1971. Ended up at Pickle Branch Shelter at the end of the day. This shelter is a 0.5 mile long hike downhill off the trail. It's just Travis and me at the shelter tonight. The NY sisters must have found a campsite along the trail to tent tonite. They all talked about going to the Pines Hostel the next night so they can get to the AYCE country restaurant nearby for dinner tomorrow night. I'm still undecided on that, will decide tomorrow morning.During the night we hear some really loud owls and other creatures. In the morning we hear wild turkey nearby.
Date: 2013-04-14
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Wakeup to another beautiful day.   Travis and I hike up to the AT trail junction, then he goes on ahead.   I decide to go to Catawba Grocery for lunch and pass on the hostel, keep hiking.   During the morning, the AT again goes along a very rocky ridgeline with fantastic views of the valleys. Finally it comes to the Dragons Tooth, a huge granite monolith on the trail, and popular with dayhikers. The AT then does a steep, rocky drop to the next road crossing. It involves hand over hand climbing, steel ladder rungs that remind me of Appalachain Gap up in Vermont along the Long Trail. Finally I come to the road crossing, and I venture down the road about 0.3 miles to Catawba Grocery for lunch. They have cheeseburgers, pizza, and the best homemade chicken salad sandwiches. I stay here about an hour for lunch, then return to the trail.   The trial crosses several farms before climbing back up to the ridgelines. Here I can see the AYCE restaurant in the valley below, imagining the NY sisters and Travis down there, I wave, doubt they can see me.   Later in the afternoon, the trail arrives at McAfee's Knob, and there are hundreds of day hikers here on nice spring weekends, but it's late, and by the time I get here, there are only 2 day hikers left, but the gnats are TERRIBLE here!   And it's getting cloudy, rain forecast tonight. I stay here about a half hour taking pics, then decide to hike to the next shelter. End up staying at Campbell Shelter, a nice shelter with a large wooden deck in front.I make some calls to arrange for a shuttle ride to the Greyhound station in a couple days. I've decided to get on home on Tuesday after getting into Daleville on Monday.
Date: 2013-04-15
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Wakeup to drizzle and fog.   The trail passes some really scenic overlooks at Tinker Cliffs, but it's all fogged in. The trail passes along another ridgeline with views toward Roanoke, VA. I see 3 white tail deer near the power line towers. The final descent to town crosses some railroad tracks, then goes thru a mud flat area. Just before coming into town, I pass a Trail Logbook Register on the trail around 2 pm EDT, and sign out:"Florida Mike returning to civilization again, back to road rage, mindless FM Radio, hot coffee in the mornings, and fast food. I'll miss you AT! Hasta el proximo!" Little did I realize as I wrote that, the Boston Marathon bombing was to occur in less than one hour.I arrive at the highway crossing in Daleville around 2:30 pm.   A short walk down the road puts me at the Howard Johnsons Express motel where I check in.   After getting to my room and turning on the TV, the first news is of the Boston Marathon bombing.  Incredible, I can hardly believe it. I get cleaned up go get some food at Wendys, visit the Kroger grocery for some cheapie reading glasses (lost mine a couple days ago), then return to the motel to watch the news. I've decided to go back home in Florida, take care of some urgent business there, and then try to return back to Roanoke in 2-3 weeks to resume the section hike north.I have a shuttle ride to the Greyhound station in nearby Roanoke VA scheduled for 8 am the next morning. My bus leaves for Marion, VA at 9:55 am the next day.
Date: 2013-04-16
To: Florida
Miles today: 0.0

In the morning, Hojo Express in Daleville has a great continental breakfast, no wonder this place is a hiker favorite. While in the breakfast room, I meet a couple other AT hikers staying here. "Hedgehog" is thru hiking the AT nobo, he's from Wisconsin, and left Springer Mtn in GA back on March 4th. We're talking about the terrorist attack, and he said he has run the Boston Marathon 8 times in years past. He looks like a marathon runner. This is his first zero day since leaving Springer.I also meet an older AT hiker who is a real comedian, and I can't recall his name now. Turns out he is also going home to Marietta, GA on the same bus I'm going to be on this morning. He talks a lot about hiking the AT over the years and the old days. After breakfast, I check out of the motel and "Del" my shuttle driver arrives and takes me to the Roanoke bus station. It's about a 20-30 minute drive. Costs me $30 for the shuttle ride, and the bus ticket to Marion, VA costs $42. It's a 2.5 hour bus ride, and it's a great ride. This is one of the newer Greyhound buses, and it is not crowded.   The bus arrives in Marion around 12:30 pm, where I call Marion taxi, and a taxi ride back up Hwy 11 to The Barn costs me another $20. My car is there, a bit dirty, but okay. I went inside the Barn restaurant, get a sandwich, and while at the cashier counter, I see a Barn AT journal entry dated April 5th from the NY sisters. Brings back memories of that first day on the hike on Apr 5th, the snow, and meeting the NY sisters a couple days later. The trip home goes well. I stop in Atlanta at our favorite Czech deli where they sell the best Czech meats and bratwurst. Can't wait to return to the AT for the next section hike. I'll have to wait til I get home, take care of some business there, then look at the calendar to plan a trip back up to finish the next section to Harpers Ferry. I'm also still planning a Long Trail E2E hike in Vermont this September.This hike was my 13th AT section hike since August 2009. Several repeat sections in different seasons. Geez that's a lot of miles driving up n' back from Florida and Greyhound bus rides. Not counting the repeat miles, here's the tally:Total AT mileage hiked: Springer Mtn GA to Daleville, VA = 723.5 mi RT-2, N Adams, MA to Maine Junction, VT = 109.3 mi AT total = 832.8 mi
Date: 2013-05-03
To: Florida
Miles today: 0.0

Getting back up to VA is delayed, I had planned on taking the bus back up to Roanoke VA this week, but came down with bad head cold/bronchitis the last few days. Had my gear all ready to go a couple days ago, but symptoms got worse today. Decided to go to Dr today, got a Z-pack and some meds, should clear this up after the weekend. Also have decided to drive up this time, Greyhound from PC to Roanoke has a 5 hour layover transfer in Atlanta (10 pm to 3 am), no thanks.
Date: 2013-05-12
To: Florida
Miles today: 0.0

Only time enough this trip for 3-days further north in central VA, from Daleville to Glasgow/James River crossing. This has been a great hike. Wish I had more time to get to Harpers Ferry this month but not possible. Glasgow to Harpers Ferry will be for another AT section hike to come. Saw some fantastic scenery, met some great hikers on the trail, and visited another new section of the VA mountains. While visiting the small grocery store in Glasgow across the store from the pizza place, I meet a man going into the grocery store, he walks up and asks "are you a hiker?" He introduces himself and we talk for about 45 minutes. He is a newspaper editor from the Washington DC area, he and his wife own a 2nd home down here in the Glasgow area. I grew up in the DC area so we talk a lot about the DC area over the years and why he loves the VA Blue Ridge mountains and coming down here to get away from the stress of the big city. He says this area is the most beautiful part of the country he has ever visited in the fall. He absolutely loves it here. I really enjoy talking with him about all kinds of stuff including football and sports.My shuttle driver Del from Daleville, VA picks me up at the Glasgow pizza joint, drives me back to my car in Daleville in the late afternoon, on the way we drive over Natural Bridge which is very close to Glasgow. Del has turned out to be a very reliable and likeable shuttle driver with fair prices. I'll use him again when I get up here. I arrive back home on Sunday afternoon. Summer is finally here, I'm now planning an End-2-End Long Trail hike in Vermont this September. I love hiking in Vermont, can't wait for that trip. Also doing several 2-3 day hikes on the AT in north Georgia this summer. Cumulative AT mileage hiked since 2010: Springer Mtn GA to James River Foot Bridge, VA = 780.3 mi RT-2; N Adams,MA to Maine Junction,VT = 109.3 mi AT total = 889.6 mi
Date: 2013-11-03
From: Florida

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

The plan is to get in one more short section hike on the AT before winter hits. My plan is to hike the AT northbound thru Great Smoky Mountain National Park, from Fontana Dam to Standing Bear Farm hostel, which is located just past Davenport Gap and I-40 at the northern end of the national park. I've already made reservations for the AT shelters in the park, thru the new online NPS backcountry reservation system, and it works well.   You have to carry a copy of the permit with you while hiking. It costs $4/night per hiker at each shelter.   Thru hikers can get a permit for $20 for their hike thru the park.   I'm excited to do a late fall hike thru the Smokies.   My other hikes in the Smokies have been in the months of May, August and early September.   I will encounter weather similar to the weather in Vermont in September during my LT hike this year. In fact it will get even colder this coming week in the Smokies.The drive from PC Beach to Standing Bear Farm hostel is long but goes well, I arrived at Standing Bear Farm in mid afternoon on Sunday Nov 3rd. I'm the only hiker at the bunkhouse tonight. Curtis and Rocket tell me it's been a busy but normal year for the hostel. In early November, fall colors are very evident at lower elevations along the highways, but near the mountain peaks the leaves are on the ground.   A few southbounder AT thru hikers are coming through here this time of year. The weather predictions are for a couple nice days, followed by another storm front, then much colder temps by later in the week.   I eat the other half of my Subway sandwich I picked up along the drive and turn in early.   Curtis is going to shuttle me down to Fontana Dam tomorrow morning early, we agree to leave at 6 a.m.   It's about a 2 hour drive from Standing Bear Farm to Fontana Dam.   Rocket works for Curtis here, he kind of oversees the bunkhouse and visiting hikers. Curtis is a great guy, does a lot for hikers, this hostel is in a good location for AT hikers. He offers long term parking here for $5 per day for section hikers. His shuttle prices are competitive with other hiker shuttle services. I'm using most all the same hiking gear and clothing I used on the Long Trail, with just a few new wrinkles. I brought my Montbell UL Down parka on this trip, and new Leki Carbonlite hiking poles.   Also brought my Snow Peak Lite max canister stove, plan on fixing dehydrated meals, because it will be colder.
Date: 2013-11-04
From: Fontana Dam

To: Russell Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It's a cold morning. My car is parked in Curtis' long term parking area just up the gravel road from the Standing Bear Hostel bunkhouse.   We leave in his van around 05:45 a.m, before daylight. I want to get an early start at Fontana Dam, in order to make it to Russell Field Shelter before dark. Elevation at Fontana Dam is 1700'. Russell Field Shelter is at 4367'. Sunset comes early in November. Curtis stops on the way for gas, and there is a great little country diner along the road where he get's gas, so I get some breakfast and coffee to go. It is a beautiful drive watching the sunrise over the mountains, and the final drop down into Fontana Dam is really pretty seeing the fall colors over Fontana Lake.  On the drive, Curtis shares many stories from the hostel, various hikers that come through, and stories about the local Tennessee area.  Curtis drops me off at Fontana Dam around 7:50 a.m. There is nobody else here this morning, it's a cold breeze, and just a couple cars parked in the parking lot. I meet 3 or 4 southbound AT hikers today, and several southbound AT section hikers who tell me they started at Newfound Gap and are hiking back to their cars at Fontana Dam parking lot. There are many ways to do section hikes in the Smokies.   The weather is a really nice fall day, sunny to partly cloudy, breezy and cool. Much different weather than I hiked the Smokies before. I'm hiking through a blanket of leaves all day on the ground. The lower elevations still show pretty fall colors around the lake. As the trail makes the climb up to the ridgeline, there are few leaves left on the trees, making for better views in the distance. Morning is still hazy and cloudy, so I skip the climb up Shuckstack tower.  This climb is steady with many switchbacks, it is a little hard to follow the trail in some sections due to the thick blanket of leaves on the ground. I recall how hard this section of the trail was for me in May 2010, on a much warmer, humid day. Today is perfect weather for hiking.I am thinking maybe try to make it to Spence Field Shelter today, but I have already made my reservation for Russell Field Shelter, so I decide not to push on to Spence Field shelter, which is another 2.9 miles north. I get to Russell Field Shelter around 4:15 pm.   This shelter has been completely renovated since I was last here in May 2010, when it still had the chain link fencing in front. Now it is really a nice shelter, designed like the other Smokies shelters, with a large stone fireplace and two sleeping platforms.   Later one other AT section hiker, a southbound guy from New Orleans arrives to spend the night. He is hiking with friends from Clingmans Dome south to NOC. He has a few more days hiking ahead. They have gotten ahead of him.   He is an experienced hiker and we enjoy chatting about different trails, gear and hiking food.
Date: 2013-11-05
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Double Springs Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

Day 2 of the hike starts early. We both wake early, and get on the trail around 7 a.m. It's another nice fall day. I pass several more southbound section hikes today, and a few AT sobo thru hikers. I get some real nice views to the west and south from Rocky Top in the early morning hours. s I also see several large groups of wild turkey today along the trail. Late afternoon as the trail passes over Silers Bald, the later afternoon sun makes for some really nice views of the Smokies and Clingman's Dome to the east. This would be the last nice views of the hike, as the weather would turn bad overnight and the next 2 days of the hike. I get to Double Springs Gap shelter around 4:45 p.m. There is one other hiker here already. He is a young first-time backpacker from Chicago. He took a bus down from Chicago to Knoxville, rented a car and drove to Seveirville, TN. Then hitched to Gatlinburg and Clingman's Dome, where he began his hike a couple hours ago. He is hiking southbound, intending to hike down the AT to Fontana Dam, then along Fontana Lake to do some fishing. He is carrying a large pack and heavy load and we talk gear, hiking, food, and many other subjects. He seems a bit nervous and high excitable as he tells me of his many recreational drug habits. Later a southbound AT Thru hiker shows up at our shelter. His name is "Google". We all three have a good time trading trail stories and jokes.   It's a clear night, so we can do some star gazing. Google tells us about his thru hike adventure. He is from Deleware, a 26 yr old guy who worked at Walmart.   He is a fast hiker, hoping to finish at Springer Mtn in 12 days.   Finally we turn in late and it's almost like being at summer camp again, with the jokes and other noises from the young Chicago hiker.
Date: 2013-11-06
From: Double Springs Gap Shelter

To: Icewater Springs Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: scattered clouds

It is cloudy, foggy, windy, drizzling and colder in the morning.   I am first to leave the shelter, say good byes and head off toward Clingmans Dome. I pass a very large group of southbound older section hikers on the way to the summit. They are out for a short dayhike. When I get to Clingmans Dome, I hike up the access trail to the Clingmans Dome tower. There is nobody else here this morning. There are no views anywhere, the mountains are socked in with this storm. It is very, very windy and cold at the tower, so I dont' stay long here.   I hike on down to Newfound Gap, where I arrive around 1 p.m.   Even in cold, bad weather, it is packed with cars and tourists. I meet a couple AT sobo thru hikers here plotting their strategy and struggling to find a cellphone signal.   I make a quick stop in the public restrooms, then eat a snack outside, then head north on the AT. I meet a young Japanese-American dayhiker from northern VA on the trail just 30 minutes later. We stop and talk football a while. Then I push on to Icewater Springs shelter. When I approach the shelter on the side blue blaze trail, there is a large deer standing in the middle of the trail near the shelter, he leaves when he sees me. I am first at the shelter, getting here very early for me to stop, but again, I have made reservations here and don't want to try to push further with this bad weather. Predictions are for colder weather and more rain tomorrow and overnight. The next shelter is Pecks Corner, another 7.4 miles, and Pecks Corner is 0.5 miles downhill from the AT on a blue blaze trail.   So I decide to stop here and just enjoy the day and rest a bit. I take the time to explore around the shelter and look for any wildlife. Plenty of time to get water at the pipe spring too. There is a nice new privy here at this shelter too. The front of the shelter is covered with a large tarp to break the wind. Later 2 young hikers show up at the shelter not long before dark. They are 2 LSU students who have driven up to hike the Boulevard trail out to Mt. LeConte tomorrow.   It is their first backpacking trip and they are very excited about their new adventure, but not too thrilled with the nasty weather predictions. A bit later, a sobo AT thru hiker arrives, he is pretty cool, a young guy from France, he has a good sense of humor, we all enjoy talking. He is not too much full of himself like many of the sobo AT thru hikers I have met. It is a pleasure to trade stories with him and talk.   We eventually all turn in for the nite after fixing dinner.
Date: 2013-11-07
From: Icewater Springs Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: broken clouds

Day 4 begins with very bad weather. It is colder, windy, and foggy and drizzling rain.   I put on all my base layers and rain gear today. It is going to be a Vermont-like nasty weather day today, and the trail is muddy and standing water in many areas, some like a stream. The shame is this is one of the nicest sections of the AT in the Smokies, and there are no views today until the very end of the day. I pass absolutely nobody all day today.   I pass the airplane crash site in early afternoon.   There is evidence that the AT SWEAT crews have been doing some good work in this section of the AT. The trail has new steps and good erosion control done in many areas.   i stop briefly at Tricorner Knob shelter for a lunch break, and the rain is finlly beginning to let up, even a few rays of sun come out.   Eventually I arrive at Cosby Knob shelter about an hour before dark. There are bear warning signs all over this shelter, this shelter has been closed much of the summer due to bear activity, but not now. I have seen a lot of bear scat along the trail the last couple days. I have the shelter to myself tonight, and it is getting down to the low 20s overnight. I do get a weak cellphone signal here tonight. There's a tarp over the shelter entry which helps a lot. Now I am very glad I brought my 15 degree down sleeping bag for this trip.
Date: 2013-11-08
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Hostel - Green Corner Rd
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

I wake up at 4 a.m., it is in the low 20s outside the shelter. Hard freeze overnight. I decide to get an early start, so I pack up, eat my last Oatmeal n' Raisin Probar, and start hiking before daylight. First hour and a half by headlamp, and it is a beautiful fall morning with frost on the ground, the mud from the day before is almost frozen solid this morning.Passing along the peak of Mt Cammerer, I can see the sunrise over the mountains to the east, it is really pretty this morning. I can see the city lights to the north in the pre-dawn hours. Finally I get to Daveport Gap after daylight, and it is getting warmer so I shed some layers. The trail here crosses the Pigeon River bridge, then under I-40 before a short climb thru the woods back to Green Corner Rd, where a short walk up the gravel road returns me to my starting point at the Hostel. I pass Curtis just leaving with his van full of hikers on another shuttle ride.This has been a great hike, a nice 4 day late fall hike thru the Smokies, got to try out some new gear in wet, cold temperatures. Everything worked great. I clean up at the hostel, say good bye to Rocket and start the long drive home. By getting up at 4 a.m., and finishing the hike early, I am able to get to Atlanta and get to the Patek Deli before they close for the day, and get some good Czech smoked meats to take home. Get home around 11 p.m. in PC Beach, FL.
Date: 2013-03-03
To: home
Miles today: 0.0

Preperation preperation preperationI am often asked ¢What are you doing to get fit enough to walk 1000 miles¢ How do you train for such a long walk? I am sure that people are expecting me to have a programme like:1) Monday walk 20 km2) Tuesday rest3) Wednesday walk 30 km with 45 kg on my backWell we don¢t. We are currently resting for the Argus Cycle Tour on Sunday. Then next week we will rest from doing the tour. I suppose after that we will back in gym doing squats with 15 kg¢s on our backs and running up and down stairs to strengthen our legs. If you see us around Stellenbosch or Somerset West or in the gym with our rucksacks on come on over and say Hi. (Leslie is the one with the green bag) Of course we will be walking up Table Mountain with our 15 kg rucksacks before we go. We also have a few day walks planned in the Helderberg Nature reserve and Jonkershoek. Come and join us for a day. I will post the dates on face bookThe big shakedown hike will happen the weekend of the 21 March where we will do a 3 day hike in the Grootwinterhoek Nature Reserve. We will be testing all our equipment. We will be sleeping in our tent, on our self inflating mattresses, in our down sleeping bag and cooking on our new stove. This should be a great opportunity to test all our gear and make sure we know how all of it works.Hopefully our tent will prove to be snug and cozy (and waterproof). Fortunately (or not) we won¢t find out if our tent is bear proof.We are raising funds for The Peninsula School Feeding Association.