morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-02-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This would be the toughest day so far. I would climb from Lance camp to Neel Gap over Blood Mountain. There would be a total elevation gain of nearly 1800 feet in a series of mountains with the most gain of about 600+ feet on Blood Mtn. The AT conservancy does a fantastic job of maintaining the trails. There were multiple ascents with stone steps maintained in these remote locations. Brutal to climb of course. I think I averaged a minus 5 feet per second in places. Managed to make the Blood Mtn summit by 1300. There is a stone shelter built in 1937 there at the summit. Great vistas in all directions. There were dozens of day hikers here as well. The two mile descent proved to be more difficult due to the difficult in getting good footing in the rocks. At Neel Gap I found that my REI pack could not be fixed. The person at REI in Madison told me I would have to return the pack to them and then they would send one to me. This much different could take three or four days. I had to buy another pack. The good news was the store at Neel Gap is the only place on the AT where the trail passes through a building. A staff member evaluated my pack items and managed to convince me that I could do without 16 pounds of gear. Tomorrow will be day.
Date: 2014-02-25
From: Low Gap 

To: Rockey Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today we decided to do 11 miles. The last 1.5 miles was a climb with a gain of 1000 ft over 1.5 miles of switchbacks. It is a good time to say that the linear mile world has to be left behind. When I was standing in the parking lot looking up the mountain there was only a 100 feet of trail I could identify. From then on the rocks obscured the path into a mass of rocks and bolders. The AT conservancy could only use the path of least resistance. Upon reaching the summit of Rocky Mtn I realized that I had misread the trail guide and there was no water at the summit. I had to descend more than a half mile to get water, fortunately without my pack. We made camp and are awaiting the winds at 4017 feet.
Date: 2014-02-27
From: Rockey Mountain

To: Dick's Creek Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Resupply at Hiawassee, GA . We called the Blueberry Patch Hostel and were picks up by Gary. Gary is going to be hard to beat as a host from now to Maine. He is wonderfully pleasant and accommodating. The facilities are clean the supplies plentiful. I will remember with fondness my stay here.
Date: 2014-02-28
From: Courthouse Bald

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

I left Dick's Creek at 1000. I was planning on going to Bly Gap with Hiccup and Sharp Knife. I passed the GA/NC border and was feeling good. When I got to Bly Gap there was a note from Sharp Knife that they decided to go on up the mountain. So I went down a steep side trail about 100 yards for water and then proceeded up Courthouse Bald. This was a near 800ft climb and I was spent at the top. Daylight was fading so I camped at 4666ft. The wind blew steady all night and it began to sleet around 0300. I had to knock the sleet off the tent every so often and didn't get much sleep.
Date: 2014-03-01
From: Courthouse Bald

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

So far the rumors about NC being more rolling hills than straight up climbs as were in GA is true. Lots of long gentle paths. Often I felt they could have been someone's home garden paths. The night was near windless and 30 degrees. I am sure sleep will be better.
Date: 2014-03-02
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Great hike today. At mile 100.1 the AT conservancy threw in a near straight up climb to the top of Albert Mtn. of 385 feet. I was on all fours several times. Great fire tower at the top of the mountain.Small area to camp in tents so we had a treat because we were in hearing distance of Icicle and Quail Man reading chapters from the Hobbit to each other.
Date: 2014-03-04
From: Franklin, NC

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Miserable, miserable day. The day started with ice on the steps of Winding Stair Gap. It was foggy and just above freezing. The weather never changed and no matter the efforts of climbing I never got warm. The cold made my Raynauds the worst thus far.
Date: 2014-03-05
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

What a difference a night can make. The weather cleared and the Sun shined all day. The temperature was upper 50s. I started at 0840 and made good time to Wesser Bald at 1340. I made the decision to go on thinking I could make good time on the 2000ft descent over several miles. It was not to be so. The trail has not been maintained this year and there were several places where I had to kick my foot into the side of the hill to continue, never fun with several hundred feet of nearly straight drop off. Other places I had to scramble on my butt over rocks and in others one has to take several seconds to determine the next safe foot step.
Date: 2014-03-06
From: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 7.7

Beautiful start to the day. Cool but above freezing. One mile walk to the NANTAHALA Outdoor Center where I had a good breakfast before starting hiking. Today had been billed by other hikers as one of the toughest days on the AT. The ascent is 6.9 miles with almost no descents or flats. It proved to be true. I hiked continuously until 1245 then took a 30 min lunch break and then continued. All in all a very rewarding day. Not fun but satisfying.
Date: 2014-03-07
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Cody Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

The rain stopped around noon and the temperature rose quickly. I think I have said this before but I am convinced that the AT Conservancy made this trail difficult to make sure people take it seriously. Another very difficult climbing day, "Jacob's Ladder", was in the middle of the day. Total hiking time today 8hrs 15min. My old bones are feeling tired.
Date: 2014-03-08
From: Cody Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Great hike. Ups and downs were steep but short, only 100-200ft. I made great time. I was finding that my arms have become so fatigued I avoided using my poles to assist in climbs. I will plan on a zero day tomorrow to get ready for Smokey Mountains National Park.
Date: 2014-03-10
To: Katadin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am in the last mad dash to get life in order before take off time. I feel like a chicken with my head cut off... and the REI sales people now seem to know me by name. How odd. I drive down to NC on the 14th with "Bonnie Rascal," who, along with her fellow Battle Cat, will hike a few miles with me from Standing Indian Shelter to Winding Stair (20+ miles over a couple of days). They will leave me there with some fresh supplies and some supportive hugs. I'll update this thing as often as I can so people at home will know that Yogi Bear hasn't yet mistaken me for a pic-a-nic basket.I feel like I'm building towards take off. My stomach is doing a fluttering dance, as though anticipating a monstrous drop on a roller coaster. I am scared. I am excited. Am I prepared? I'll know in a few days.
Date: 2014-03-11
To: Standing Indian
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We will drive tomorrow from Richmond down to Ashville, NC, where Bonnie Rascal and I will spend the night in a hotel (one last night of comfort) before we hit the trail on Saturday morning. We are hopping on at Deep Gap (about 7 miles north of the Georgia/North Carolina boarder in Nantahala National Forest) and will hike a short day to the closest shelter. Together we'll hike about 25 miles north over the next four or five days until we hit Franklin, where she'll have her car parked. I've spent the last four days dashing about saying goodbyes, finalizing gear and packing up food. Last week I bit the bullet and bought a zero degree bag and a lighter, but somehow warmer, sleeping mat. I froze my buns off two weekends ago on a prep hike when my 15 degree bag couldn't quite make up for the 8 degree temperatures. Plus my water bottle burst around 3 am and soaked into the down. It was miserable and I don't want a repeat performance. The Smokies will be daunting enough without the added irritation of being cold at night. As I've dashed about packing and preparing anxiety has been a constant side dish. I worry about being diligent and determined enough to do this. It frightens me to think I might not have the mental strength to push myself through unpleasant conditions, step-by-step monotony, and possible illness or injury, etc. Looking straight into the eyes of my own departure I am faced with the reality that I am indeed an untested pansy. It's pretty humbling. The flip side to this line of thought is that people have been coming up to me over the past few weeks and offering sincere good wishes and support. Despite some self doubt I find that I am being buoyed up with promises of prayers, emails and, occasionally, even offers of would-be-weekend-hiking-companions and trail support. I have rarely been more touched and I am so thankful. If I actually do make it and complete this crazy task I am very aware that I have not done it alone. So, let's take a breath... because something is about to begin. And I am so very glad that you are here with me. I will carry each of you in my heart every step of the way.
Date: 2014-03-17
To: Carter Gap
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain, rain, rain. It started our first night out and didn't stop until this afternoon. Day 2 was a bit miserable: cold and wet and a lot of up as we ascended Standing Indian Mountain. Even with proper rain gear (of which I was missing rain pants) nothing remained untouched. Bonnie Rascal and I walked 7.6 miles to the next shelter and gave up. It was only noon and we stripped to our skivvies and hopped into our sleeping bags, packing ourselves into the over-crowded shelter. At one point we had 14 people in a space built for 6. I slept almost nose-to-nose with an older guy, trail name New Timer. Good chap. BR and I got up early this morning and decided to push and do a longer day to try to get to Franklin so we wouldn't have to sleep in wet gear... Out tents had been drenched and packed wet and our boots and all of our clothes were no longer tolerable. 12.9 miles from Carter Gap shelter to Rock Gap where we hitched a ride into town with 5 other hikers. My first stop was to the local outfitter for some rain pants and water proofing spray for my rain jacket... It was absorbing more than repelling. Over night here in a very comfortable hotel. Every piece of our gear is spread out as we try desperately to get everything dry enough to hike out tomorrow.So very, very tired, but also really pleased. I hadn't planned on hiking a double digit day until at least my 2nd or 3rd week on the trail. So thankful for BR'd presence for the last few days as I've gotten my legs under me. It's been very helpful.I've got to go to bed. I'm all in. Good night!
Date: 2014-03-21
From: NOC

To: Sassafrass
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The people on the trail are initially the most entertaining aspect of thru hiking. The place is a melting pot. A week on the trail and I've met people of every age and socio-economic background. The best advice is to assume nothing about anybody because you will usually be wrong. The chick with the most expensive gear or the high school quarterback with health and exuberance on his side might be the people to wash out before Clingman's Dome, while the 54 year old 200 pound accountant, who had no idea how to set up his tent at Springer Mountain, could potentially be the one to walk up Katadin on the final day of the season. There's just no telling. Trail names too are usually objects of great pride, and, often, indicators of some serious contemplation. Some people pick theirs up after a few days on the trail, but more often than not people come prepared with this new title of definition. I certainly did. My parents are the only people that will ever get to name me and in my opinion they kind of botched it, so this was my chance to be "a rose by any other name." And after all self definition is much of what this journey is about. Everything takes on new shape and becomes redefined again and again. Your body changes. Your spirit shifts. Your mental faculties are out through the wringer. And, yes, the name change comes to reflect that. In six days I have lost seven pounds. I have talked myself up and over over 15 mountain peaks. And people now call me Sisyfus (that Greek guy that ticked off Zeus or Hades and was doomed to roll a bolder up a hill for the rest of eternity). And I gotta say I'm so pleased with life right now that I can hardly stand myself. I am taking a zero day in NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center for those of you who are not in the know) today as I wait for some gnarly blisters to heal up a bit. Mom met me here yesterday to join me as I hike the remaining 40 miles to the entrance to the Smokies. I nearly cried when she walked up. I was so glad to see her. I hiked 25 miles in 2 days so that I would be here in time and the blisters are proof. I hurt. Tomorrow morning we will begin the 7 mile 3,000 foot ascent out of Nantahala National Forest. Life is good!
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Hot Springs

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Napoleon, Trail GuruWith a name like Napoleon there are some obvious visual equations made, but the only similarity between the French dictator and this trail hippie is diminutive size. But like his famous predecessor personality overrides any thoughts of his height. Stories of him follow his comings and goings, making him trail legend. His speed, vibrant energy and plethora of trail knowledge are oft repeated adages amongst the NOBOs. "Napoleon says..." begins many a conversation. And oddly he's well worth all the lip time he generates. He's an honest to Pete character. Like most I the men here he's got a beard, but you can tell the thing has been cultivated much longer than his trail time. This is his second AT thru hike and he's passionate about everything trail. "Love the trail, baby girl, cuz she's just gonna keep lovin' on you." He is the only man that has ever been able to get away with calling me a pet name besides my dad and my Uncle Dale (the former calls me Clipper and the latter used to call me Toots... Which still makes my heart melt a little). To qualify that statement: I hate nicknames and pet names. I don't do "babe," "love," "dear heart," "honey," etc. But Napoleon, with his Louisiana drawl and Cajianisms can somehow get away with it and even make me enjoy it. The man is a machine. The day before yesterday he hiked a 35 mile day in 17 hours with a gal that's been hiking with him. They got to Hot Springs in the wee hours of the morning. What's more, the man hardly sleeps!!! I can verify this because I've spent two nights sleeping with him in shelters. I'll wake up at 3 am to the sound of crackling as he prepares himself a midnight snack with his headlamp turned to red. Dude's always going. There is not an ounce of fat on his frame... Unlike the portly dictator. He wears shorts and trail runners in all weather because he just generates that much metabolic heat. "If I get cold it just means I'm not hikin' fast enough, baby girl. The trail! She just loves me warm." He's fun. He talks a mile a minute and smokes about as fast too. Usually that kind of personality and energy can be annoying, but Napoleon isn't. He's genuine. Genuinely interested, kind and excited. He's a man in love and entirely thankful for the entire experience: both good and bad. And so he's rightly famous because he's a walking lesson to us all.
Date: 2014-04-04
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: campsite sometime after flint shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

I HurtI have upped my milages yet again and am cultivating new set of blisters. I need new shoes. I love my Vasques but they are no longer cutting it for what I'm trying to do. High milage with a medium sizes pack... The darned things weigh over a pound a piece and retain water better than all the dams in the Netherlands. I can swish about in those things for a week before they begin to dry. I've been searching around it it would see that Salamons are the flavor of the month. Everyone seems to have a pair. Most people are in trail runners, but those just make me nervous. They have no ankle support and all see when I've checked them out at the outfitters is an image of myself sidelined for the season because I busted my exposed ankle on a misstep. But even so, I need something with more range of motion, better flexibility and lighter material. In the last week and a half I have not done under 15 miles a day. Yesterday was my first 20 and tomorrow I am trying to hit a marathon... Ha. We'll see. I am trying to to place too high a hope upon that distance. Is be pretty happy just making it 20... But the intention is fun.Hauling my heavy, wet Vasques that distance, though is a real deterrent. I have blisters on the bottom of every toe and alone the side of both heels. sloth took a needle and floss to the worst one, so it can drain and heal a little quicker, but even so, I think it's time for a change. I hiked the last part of my day today in my Tevas and was so thankful that I had thought to make sure I could hike in my camp shoes. It was heaven to let my feet breath. But even so... No ankle support. Yikes!Once I get to Damascus, though I am going to have a field day in the shoe department! I'm looking forward to it!
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Greasy Creek Gap

To: Highland Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Roan Mountain and the Roan Highlands!!!Pushing out of Greasy Creek I was faced with the impressive towering bulk of Roan Mountain. It was my last 6k footer until New Hampshire and I was properly intimidated. But my only options were to go back to the hostel or push on, and after my crazy lazy day I started to feel nicely motivated to push on. I was only 100 miles from Damascus and Virginia and I had heard about the amazing beauty of the Highlands after Roan. So up and up I went and watched the oak forest giveaway to the alpines. The weather was perfect: warm and sunny and the fresh smell of pine wafted about me on the edges of the slight breeze the tickled around my face. I took a few moments at the top of the mountain to revel in my defeat of the climb an then pressed forward to the High Roan Shelter, the highest shelter in the AT btw, in search of water. I ran dry early in the day and was close to desperate by the time I hit the top. And then onward to some of the best trail and most beautiful views I have seen yet. The highlands were an somehow both anticipated and yet unexpected. I had no idea that terrain like that existed in the US. It was like walking next to William Wallis in Braveheart as he trudges over the Scottish highlands trying to bring all the clans together. Gorgeous!!! You could look down on farms far below as though from an airplane window. I was blessed with perfect clarity and minimal wind. I stopped for the night at a shelter that was a converted barn. It's the best shelter I've ever seen. Beautiful views to wake up to in the morning. Well maintained. Clean. Perfect. And what's more I caught up to four friends! Dundee, New Timer, Senator and H2O were all there to greet me. And new friends were there to be made as well- Shroomer and Dusty became my fast friends when they greeted me with a handful of ramps (wild onions) to spice up my dinner. I like people that give me food.
Date: 2014-06-13
From: none

To: lavellette, NJ
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

My deepest apologies. I have been silent too long. I am in NJ trying to recoup. I seem to have either a virus or a parasite... The results are still out in what it is I have exactly. I pulled off the trail on the 7th and have been trying to get my feet back under me for the last week. I'll post an update for the intervening time on the trail that I have yet to post and will let you know when I'm heads back out onto the trail... Which I hope is very soon.
Date: 2014-07-15
From: Lincoln, NH

To: Pike, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

2 Rain DaysI took two days off trail to avoid a polar vortex that was pushing through the northeast. I spent the days with my cousins, Jennifer and Darwin, who live in Pike on the side of a big hill, looking over towards at Moosilauke. They have a beautiful home and you can see the years of effort and care they have put into making it so. Everything is functional, neat, and well thought out, and yet shows personality. Photographs and folk art hang on every wall and hand crafted wooden furniture and odds and ends, made by Darwin, are arranged through the main living spaces. And the home is, as most homes are, a projection of its owners. Jennifer and Darwin are both "do it yourself" personalities. Not in the "Pinterest" kind of way, but in the "if it breaks I will learn to fix it, I want to learn more about this, I wish to be both useful and functional" kind of way. They are just darned handy people! I am always in awe when I spend any amount of time with them. They make things look easy, and yet I know that constructing your own dinning room table, manning a vegetable garden, making your own maple syrup, and picking wild apples to make homemade applesauce all take time and energy, and yet these are just a few of the things that these two very busy people do. They utilize their land and try to use the natural resources around them. They don't take more than they need, but are not stingy. They learn as they go and are unafraid of trying new things.And so, visiting them is always and adventure. Jennifer, who just learned to identify Chanterelle mushrooms, took me on a long walk around the property to hunt in all her favorite spots. We ate our findings for supper the following evening. Besides mushroom hunting the pair of us went on a tour of southern Vermont during the second day of rain. We went to Calvin Coolidge's childhood home over in Plymouth Notch and toured a Simin Pearce glass blowing studio, where we watched artisans and apprentices make wine and lowball glasses. For lunch we stopped by the Cabot cheese shop to make the rounds for samples. Oh boy, I like that place. There's an entire table covered with mini chunks of cheese just waiting to be sampled and there's a little side shop which sells maple flavored liquors and will supply tastes of maple bourbon, gin and vodka. Yum. Good day. I went to bed early that night, ready to begin my trek again. The next day was one of the most beautiful sections of the entire Appalachian Trail: Lafayette and the Franconian Ridge.
Date: 2013-11-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Lots to do - 1-Physical prep - started actively working out last evening. Have a Nordic Track Teton treadmill and hope to use it or walk/hike for increasing distance/ workload/ duration on daily basis until start date.2-Gear - to follow - hope to keep total weight <40# for start, then decrease to <35# when weather warms.3-Food/ Maildrops4-Ongoing work, life, family, holidays, home maintenance, etc.Not all who wander are lost.
Date: 2013-11-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It is Friday of the weekend before Thanksgiving. 1-Physical prep - I plan to continue daily treadmill workout or walks for the next week - 30-45 minutes/day. 2-Gear - Plan to go thru all my gear and lay out stuff I can use, then take a trip to EMS this weekend and window shop/explore. Next week going to Atlanta for family Thanksgiving, will visit REI while there. 3-Food/ Maildrops - I have been buying some Lipton and Knorr "sides". Will lay these out and start to plan some kind of ? weekly menus for possible maildrops. 4-Ongoing work, life, family, holidays, home maintenance, etc. - Lots to do outside this weekend to clean up yard before winter - the physical exertion this takes just adds to my physical prep.Not all who wander are lost.