morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-08-10
From: Abol Bridge Campground 

To: Summit of Mt. Katahdin 
Miles today: 10.6

My son Jared joined in and we drove to the gate. We were first car thru at 6 am, after being in line since 5:15.Checked in with the rangers and hiking by 7 am. I was the 264th NOBO hiker to register for climbing Katahdin.  (Started 716 at Springer Mtn.) The weather turned horrible just as we broke tree line, with strong winds, cold rain, etc. We wore everything we brought and wished we had gloves.  We summited via the Hunt Trail about 10:30. Took about 30 min at summit and started down, needing to move to keep warm. We took the Abol trail down because it was quicker and offered some shelter from the wind. Got down about 2 pm a got quick hitch back to Katahdin Stream and Jared's car.After a few beers and short visits with other hikers, we headed to Jared's house. So ends the journey and 2,192 miles on the Appalachian Trail. I think I'll go home now.
Date: 2018-12-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Making these updates to get the Journal started. Like many, I have been reading Trail Journals for many years, wondering what it will be like to be out on the Trail. If all holds together, I plan to start on March 22, hopefully my two sons will be with me for the weekend. Who knows, maybe they can join me again for short hikes before I finish. Less than 4 months before it all becomes a reality!
Date: 2018-12-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Making these updates to get the Journal started. At this stage, still reviewing and buying needed items, figuring out what is still needed, etc. I will likely do a few mail-drops, but not rely on those too much. Swapping out winter gear for warmer weather gear, getting new shoes,things like that. Resupply can hopefully be done in trail towns along the way.  After reading so many great journals by other hikers over the years, I realize that there is a real talent in describing ones though processes and planning rituals as one prepares for hike like this. Sadly, in creating these entries to get started, it is painfully obvious why I never pursued a career in writing! Oh well, it is all about the hike, not the writing. Maybe that part will get easier once the hiking starts, I hope so anyway.
Date: 2018-12-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Planning is ongoing, reviewing gear, wondering what is still needed, will I stay warm in the first month or so...? Still wondering about food, what to take, how much cooking do I want to do, reading the pro's & con's of using a stove, I will likely take one and see how that goes. I hope to maintain a Journal, covering any interesting events of the day. Not sure how often it will be updated, but hope to keep it real and describe what is happening on the trail.
Date: 2018-12-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Managed to go out locally and hike 7 miles with a less than full pack at a local State Park the other day, Big Lagoon State Park. Mostly sandy, easy and flat terrain, nothing like what I will experience on the AT, but still good to get out and hike. I was hoping to get some practice walking in the rain, testing the pack cover, etc, but after I started, no more rain came that day. Oh well, from reading journals, I know there will be plenty of rainy days on the trail.I fell pretty good about my basic gear, but still need to get a sleeping bag liner (rather than buying another, warmer bag) and warm, light weight coat for the early cold days. Something tells me these next 2 1/2 months will pass quickly. Still hopeful that at least one or maybe both sons will be able to join the start of my journey, but too early to say on that right now. Trying to work on "journaling' skill set as well. I haven't attempted an update with my phone yet, but need to practice that too. Maybe I will put together my gear list, so I'll see about that. Til next time.
Date: 2019-02-18
To: Blackwater State Forest
Miles today: 0.0

I have met a fellow 2019 Thru Hiker, Popps, from Milton, FL, who will be starting around 3/02, a few weeks before my planned start date (3/22). He has been great to share his hiking/gear/outdoors knowledge and expertise, as well as giving me a couple of trash compactor bags, as I was having no luck locating those. We have met for lunch a couple of times to talk everything AT, from gear to food to logistics and everything in between. We recently did an overnight shake down hike in the Blackwater National Forest in Northwest Florida. When I got to Popps house, he offered to weigh my almost loaded pack. It came in at 30 lbs, so I was pleased at that. It had everything I will be carrying except for extra food and my puffy coat and gloves. The forecast was for rain, which we both wanted in order to test our gear, but the rain didn't arrive until after we hiked out the second day. Regardless, we had a good, though uneventful 8+ mile hike the first day before making camp. Camp was setup, Popps in his hammock, me in my tent, and after a while, we cooked our dinner. It was a rather warm day and humid, so nothing like we will experience in Georgia! Have been doing lots of hiking with a mostly full pack, but sandy & flat is certainly not the same as what I will experience in the mountains of North Georgia, and I understand that. Still, practice is needed to get used to the weight of the pack and how to get the best setup so it feels comfortable. Also breaking in Merrill boots, but my Darn Tough socks are causing blisters, so need to figure out why that is happening. Departure time is getting closer and I am growing anxious about the start and looking forward to the challenge. Local hiking will continue, packing and unpacking continues and I also plan to experiment with cooking the foods I will carry. No dehumidifier, so it will be the usual instant stuff one can find at the stores, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc., along with mixes of tuna and chicken for dinners. I¢m sure that will get old in short order. Oh well, practice will continue along with the countdown. Ready to get started!
Date: 2019-03-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Everything is still on track to travel to Amicalola Falls on Thursday and begin hiking the approach trail on Friday, 3/22. Getting really anxious and nervous about the whole thing!  Have already seen entries on the 2019 AT Facebook page of a few hikers who have already called it quits for a variety of reasons. That doesn¢t help the confidence factor at all. This is my 1st entry using my phone as all others have been done from the comforts of the home PC. Hoping I can make it all work. Adding a picture will be interesting too!  My pack is full and heavy, still need to load my nalgene bottle and not sure where that will be. Knowing there will be cold days & nights ahead I may have more clothes than needed but not much. If I had a bigger pack it would just be heavier so that¢s not the answer. I¢m sure I will figure out what to shed in due time. So many unknowns at this point. Can¢t wait to earn a Trail Name and may start with a self given ¢Perdido", which is Spanish for lost - not because I feel lost or because I am searching, merely because we live on Perdido Bay in Pensacola, FL!  We¢ll see what happens. Looks like phone entries wont be too bad, but updates will be depending on battery life & signal strength and since AT&T is my carrier, can¢t count on that too often either. The journey is about to start & again have to thank my wife for her support of this dream or I could never do this. She will have her hands full with our 2 dogs, bills, her Mom and all the daily activities of living!  Thanks Mic!  Friends & neighbors have also been very supportive & curious about my hike and all say they will help out on the homefront while I¢m gone. 4 days and counting.
Date: 2019-03-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I met two friends, James Melton & James Penfield, from Birmingham yesterday for golf at Perdido Bay Country Club (open to the public!!) and made 1 new friend, Bobby, for a last round of golf for a while. Great fun, nice weather (a little windy) and great company. Had an additional neighborhood sendoff from Brain & Nansea yesterday afternoon and got to talk about the trail. Hard to believe the start is so close after just talking about this for so long.We will drive to Amicolola tomorrow, meet one of my sons and his friends late tomorrow to stage a vehicle for them to hike to and the hike begins on Friday! We will try to meet Hopeful (AT '03 & '11) and Circuit Rider (too many AT's to list - 9 x's!) as we take on the approach trail.It's getting real, doing final errands today, will probably unpack and repack a few more times, see what I can eliminate, and maybe get Hopeful or someone else to do a pack shakedown at Amicolola before we actually start. I better get started on my errands or I'll run out of time! Here we go...
Date: 2019-03-22
From: Approach Trail Ranger Station

To: Springer Mountain 
Miles today: 2.8

Rob, Ross,Leo and I hiked the Approach Trail from the Visitor Center/ Ranger Station Friday morning. I attended a briefing by the Rangers where they talked about everything from bears and other possible wildlife encounters to the LNT (Leave No Trace) and how important is in preserving the AT and the environment. We hikedthe Approach Trail, 8.8 miles, then another 2.8 to Stover Creek Shelter for a total of 11.6 but only 2.8 count for me!  The stairs youmust climb by the waterfall, while pretty, it is physically challenging with a 40 lb pack on your back!We all got our tents set up as the Shelter was full, butnone of us planned to use anyway. Had a decent night, good company and got ready to go for the next day.
Date: 2019-03-23
From: Stover Creek Shelter 

To: Justus Creek
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Hard to describe just hiking all day butthat is what we did. Passed the entry for the Benton McKaye Trail, passed Hawk Mountain Shelter then Horse Gap. Altitude has been up to 3782 feet at Springer down to 2530 ft, then back to 3347ft at the top of Sassafras Mtn. Georgia is known for its ¢PUD¢s¢ - pointless ups & downs and it is true. Up a mountain, down a mountain. The loose rocks & roots keep you stumbling and with the heavy pack it is a challenge!No issues for the 3 young guys, so I tag along, bringing up the rear. Some great views, but it is all about the hiking right now.  We set up camp, had a nice fire, relaxed and ate and before too much longer, turned infor the night. It gets cold quickly in the mountains at night and the best way to get warm is in your tent!  Get ready to do it again tomorrow.
Date: 2019-03-24
From: Justus Creek

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

From Justus Creek we passed Gooch Mountain Shelter, Gooch Gap, then up Ramrock Mountain. Elevations ranged from 2589 ft at Justus Creek to 3737 ft at Preaching Rock, a big attraction on this part of the trail. Lots of day hikers on the weekend taking advantage of the good weather. Rob, Ross and Leo had left a vehicle at Woody Gap for their ride home and we reached the parking lot around noon. They gave me some of their uneaten food and snacks, we all rested a minute, they left for Huntsville and I headed to Neel Gap.  Preacher Rock came after they left and it is an incredible view. Many people were there to take in the view and I passed many on my way up as they headed down. I took a picture and still trying to figure out how to find it and pist with the entry, but haven¢t mastered yet. Also, it may not really be viewable since I only have the camera on my phone. Will do my best to postsome pics.
Date: 2019-03-25
From: Neel Gap

To: Poplar Stamp Gap
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

For Monday, March 25 I want to start off by saying happy birthday to my son Rob and thank he in Ross and Leo again forget helping me get started on my journey happy birthday Rob.In most of the trail stopped it when you re-supply you immediately start a pill for most of the campsite and blood mountain cabins was no different and it rained overnight sleeted even a little bit of snow and hail but fortunately I was inside so it didn¢t bother me but the next morning all the mountains were shrouded in and clouds and fog so it made the morning hike very eerie there were absolutely no views to be seen because again you¢re just walking in the clouds. All of Georgia seems to be just an endless train of the pills or down hills and they are quite strenuous you learned early on that the uphill side hurts your muscles in the down hills in the specially those were they¢ve got steps carved out a number either with rocks or logs or something her your joints so for us old guys in oh it¢s a tough climb with a heavy pack on your back either way you look at it. I have been Surprised at how little While life I¢ve seen have a heard just a very few birds in seeing no other wildlife at all and I¢m really surprised that.Nothing really eventful happened today just a lot of hiking a lot of uphill a lot of downhill and it makes you very exhausted and ready to get into camp and try to get me up at together a little meal in and get your tent set up and crawl in your sleeping bag to get warm most everybody that and so far you know the latest I¢ve heard anybody up is been around 8 o¢clock because again once that sun is behind the mountains and it gets cold in a hurry and the only way to stay warm is to get a new tent and climb in that sleeping bag will see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2019-03-26
From: Poplar Stamp Gap

To: Cheese Factory Site
Miles today: 12.0

After today¢s hike I had my first experience with a lot of rain while in my tent.  I did manage to get my tent set up just before the bottom fell out and I was on a very bare dirt site so all that hard rain splashed mud all over my new tent I wasn¢t happy about that but at least I was inside my tent and dry when the rain started. It made for a very long cold and wet night. No cooking in the rain, so meal was several snacks!  Thankfully rain stopped before dawn but had topack a wet tent. Hoping for decent weather for next few days Experienced my first real Trail Magic today, twice, where different groups set up in parking lots and offered food and drink to hikers. One group was a men¢s Bible Study Group and the other was a Missionary group. Both have been doing this for years. A welcome treat at each site!
Date: 2019-03-29
From: DickÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

At the muskrat creek shelter we met quite a few section hikers and one was from Macon Georgia and one was from Valdosta Georgia and one was from Atlanta so that was a good crowd around and a lot of good conversations of some of the trail names there was doc a lady who is a PA and an American guy I think was in investments.  I was lucky and manage to get another nice tent site right by a small stream so I was able to easily access water in and filter and everything so there was no shortage of water but just like every other day a whole lot of ups and downs on these mountains and gaps so everybody around us was really exhausted in well before dark and again because it¢s so cold down in these gaps everybody crawled into their respective tents and Tried to get some sleep.  Needless to say most meals are not very exciting on the trail.  In the morning some people do try to make some Oatmeal and some of heat water up for a cup of coffee or hot tea or just settle for squished up pop tarts or some other type of a energy bar or something like that to get the morning started. I¢m no different so most anything freeze dried or instant that you can add hot water and try to make a meal out of it. Not exciting at all.
Date: 2019-03-30
From: Explanation Offered 

To: None For This
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I just wanted to offer a brief explanation for the delay in getting any journal entries posted in a can you just let everybody know everything is good but my AT&T phone service is nonexistent iwhen going up and down these mountains. You might be lucky to get a weak signal on top of some of these mountains but it takes too much battery searching for a signal to keep turning my phone on. AT&T service is nonexistent and without it I can¢t make journal entries so this has been a work in progress and I had to wait until I got off the trail and had a steady source of power for my phone and also have Wi-Fi to get on the Internet and without those you cannot make journal entries. I hope to get a better battery pack to help with power but nothing I can do about internet access. Thanks for even looking at my Journal!
Date: 2019-03-31
From: Muskrat Creek

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 4.0

Today would technically qualify as a Nero day which means you just didn¢t hike many miles.  The reason for this for us was because of my miscalculation on which Gap or Road crossing we came to so I could call my friend John Glenn or New best friend Patti!  Regardless after talking with some other hikers at deep gap and they told us that a certain kind of way we were looking for was right down the dirt road we made the call to Patti and after about an hour she came and picked us up that is Jerry and myself because he wanted to get off the trail to the resupply and have a days rest so Patti rescued us brought us to her house and this is where we will spend Saturday night and Sunday night and then resume our travel down the trail first thing Monday morning so it is been most relaxing and wonderful Patti has made us feel like members of her family and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here we have gotten closed washed we¢ve been fed she¢s taking us to town to resupply so we are loaded and ready to head out tomorrow morning.One thing that I remembered is that I failed to mention in the previous post was that we had finally left the state of Georgia and took a picture of the North Carolina /Georgia border sign which of course is a great step to leave one state behind only 13 more states to go. After today I honestly have no idea when I might be able to make another journal entry because again it requires good service and an Internet connection and so far with my AT&T service that is just been nonexistent on the trail so please bear with me it may be a little bit before I¢m able to provide another update but I¢ll be doing the best I can thanks to all of you for the moral support. Updating by phone is tough!
Date: 2019-03-31
From: Otto NC

To: Otto/Franklin NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sunday, March 31 was my first official zero day meaning I hiked no trail miles for this day we had the pleasure of staying once again at Patti¢s house who was kind enough to pick us up yesterday afternoon and tonight we are going to have hamburgers and a big salad for dinner. While at Patti¢s she also invited over her next-door neighbor Carol and zoot and I will so we got to have dinner with them and make some new friends. I¢ll take it vantage of this zero day to try to fill you in a little bit about life on the trail I can assure you it is far from glamorous because he¢ll want to get up and get dressed and then lately of course that means very cold and damp mornings you get on your hiking clothes And start hiking.  The camping and shelters are typically all down in a gap between large mountains because that¢s where the water sources are and also it helps cut down on the wind while you¢re trying to set up your tents.  The steep climbs out of the gaps require frequent breaks, at least they do for me.  Most mornings we wake up and climb into the clouds and fog so as you walk along a lot of the ridgelines even at the view spot there¢s nothing to view right now because it¢s all obscured and clouds just imagine you¢ve taken your hot shower and you go over to your bathroom mirror and it¢s all fogged up, well that¢s basically like the view that we see when we look at the valley far below. Sometime around noon or maybe 1230 we start looking for a sunny spot if there is one and maybe a log or some flat rocks to sit down and have a lunch break and will usually take 30 to 40 minutes depending on what we¢re eating and then we resume our hike. The afternoon is much the same.  As we approach the gap or the shelter where will be tenting for the night, It usually begins a long slow descent.  I think of all types of things I would like to post in my journal while I¢m hiking and also while I am attempting to sleep at night but now that I¢ve gotten the opportunity to do some updating it¢s hard to remember those things so maybe I¢ll get better at this and again just let you know that having Internet access to make a journal update is very very difficult out here and I will do what I can.
Date: 2019-04-01
From: Low Gap

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Patti took Jerry and me back to Low Gap to start our days hike.  It really helped get a boost of energy by staying at Patti¢s for the last two nights and we are very grateful to john and Patti for their help in our journey.  The hiking today was really uneventful just more steep climbs Followed by a long descents into the gaps. We did get one great view today and I did get a video. Haven¢t mastered photo/video download to Trail Journals yet but working on it. Did share on FB. Surprised by number of folks doing their cooking at their tent. I would prefer nit to have thise smells around where I sleep but to each his own. I do hang my food in a bear bag every night away from the tents. Youwould think finding a limd to throw your line over would be easy in a forest, but you would be wrong!  The big trees lowest limbs are too high & the small trees are too small. It gets tricky to find a suitable tree!
Date: 2019-04-03
From: Moore Creek Campsite

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was a really long day we got an early start leaving camp around 7:30. We had some really big mountains to climb today. Up & over Wayah Bald and while on top ran into DJ, one of the guys I shared a cabin with at Neel Gap, and his Mom, Leslie, has joined him for a few days. They are from Alpharetta,GA and are really nice people. While taking a break on top, met Sweetwater from Adamsville, AL. He is hiking to raise money to provide clean drinking water in other countries. Great cause. Not as cold tonight but after very long hiking day, ate something and crawled intentto sleep. Sleep has been hard to comeby even after long days. Tenting areas are noisy. You¢ve never heard so many zippers beans it turn on zipped in all your life if you think about the life of the Hiker just about everything they touch except for food has a zipper is associated with them you¢re sleeping bag has zippers your tent has zippers you have a rain fly with zippers your clothes even have zippers.  My pullover shirt gas a zipper, pants have zippe down by the cuffs so you can slip them over your shoes.  When you have 10 or more tents in an area everybody is zipping and unzipping until they finally fall asleep.
Date: 2019-04-04
From: Big Branch Campsite 

To: NOC
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was going to be a relatively short hiking day we plan to cover only 9.6 miles since we were stopping at the in NOC, which is the Nantahala outdoor center. In the right time of year they do all types of water activities here from kayaks on white water rafting in to the river raft so all kinds of white water rafting in water activities are done here on a Regular basis.  The highlight of today¢s hiking was by far the worst sir bald tower and the views from that structure I think it to was used as a as a fire look out back in the 30s 40s and 50s. When we got to the top of that mountain and up on the tower we were more met there by a couple both were teachers and their two little girls one was for and one was seven and they had camped out on top of the mountain the parents and the older girl we¢re enjoying spring break and I was really surprising to find them on top of the mountain very early in the morning with their tents up there.  It was a very steep descent to the NOC, but worth it since we gotto wash clothes and get real food. We saw many of the people we have been hiking with since the start in GA. Nice to catch up with all of them. Many still don¢t have Trail names. Soon, I¢m syre.