morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-08
From: Bear Spring

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

started my earliest day....6 am!!! only 4 miles to the shelter, then 5 miles to the town....going to take a few days off and rest my feet, tent at the YMCA....met Aileen, cool chic from Baltimore MD, doing some cross country traveling from Shenendoa National Park out west to California then north towards Washington and back home....checked out the library, and got my mail drops at the post office.....thank you Raymond Kozma from New York for the food package and the trail magic! everything is greatly appreciated and God Bless!!!....had a nice relaxing day at the ymca tent site, and take a long hot shower at the center...
Date: 2011-06-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My first full zero day here in Waynesboro....more time at the library, and just checking out the town....it's large and spread out over a couple of miles, restaurants, dollar stores, etc...got lunch at Ming Garden Chinese, AYCE buffet...best i think i've ever had.....beef and broccoli, general tso's chicken, many other hot items, salad bar, very awesome sushi bar, grill bar, where you fill a plate with whatever meat and veggies and sauce and they cook it for you, and a huge dessert bar...had 5 plates of lunch and 2 plates of dessert!! lol...and still keep off the weight....also went and did some long-awaited laundry and just tryed to relax my foot all day...
Date: 2011-06-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

another awesome day....good quality quiet time at the library and time on the computer, said goodbye to Aileen, she had to get on to her trek out west...met Al from Bayonne New Jersey, hanging out with him for the next couple of days then maybe hiking out together...he's doing a section hike for 40 days, started at Catawba VA and ending at Harpers Ferry WV meeting his wife....keep meeting very cool people, and adding them on facebook too!!! also found a cool quiet spot down by the water in the shade at the Y campground to rest and relax my foot...it is much hotter and more humid this week in the town then up on the trail in the mountain...
Date: 2011-06-11
To: OLD VIDEO AT NOC GATLINBURG TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

forgot about this one...was walking with these guys for a while back near the smokies, coyote, puddle duck, joker, and yo-yo (he has his own channel on you tube aka 'iconhiker')http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaK3EEGXI_0
Date: 2011-06-12
To: OLD VIDEO GATLINBURG TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

another video, this is yo-yo and joker, we were trying to hitch back out of Gatlinburg, this was about 11 at night, and me and another guy were just past that gas station past the light...we got a ride back to the trail but they ended up getting stuck there for 2 more days..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o9COPLXByA&NR=1
Date: 2011-06-13
To: LOL!!!
Miles today: 0.0

i was standing right behind Yo-Yo here, this was before the 4 of us split up on different corners to hitch out of G-Burg.... i can't believe you can't hear me laughing!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-L-JHuSQ-4&NR=1
Date: 2011-06-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

going to try to make this my last zero here before heading out...my foot is not really feeling any better, even though i am not hiking i am spending a lot of time walking around in the town just try to get out of this heat and humidity, the tentspots here are pretty much in direct sunlight at the Y and very hot, so even though i've been off these few days i havent stayed off of my foot as much as i should have.....
Date: 2011-06-15
From: Waynesboro VA

To: Loft Mountain Wayside
Miles today: 0.0

got my ride set up to pick me and my friend Al up at 9 from here at the Y campsite....he decided to give it a try hiking with me, i reminded him that i'm slow and injured so i understood if he needed to get going on his own at some point but appreciate the company and support...got dropped off at I-64 around 930...only made it the 5.5 miles to Skyline Drive 99.5 Beagle Gap, and it took about 4 hours...i am in extreme pain, and i even have an ankle brace on and an ace bandage....we then met some travelers that saw i was injured and was going to the Loft Mountain Wayside to hike the small Fazier Discovery trail, so we got a ride with them...this put us about 22 miles farther...i called my friend and told him i wanted to make it at least to Harpers Ferry or i would feel like i let myself and many others down, but he told me not to hurt myself anymore and go slow and if i couldnt do it then i couldnt do it....i went up the Discovery Trail to where it met the AT and pitched tent early for the day, then returned back down the the Loft Mountain Wayside to check it out....my foot has not hurt this bad yet...
Date: 2011-06-16
From: Loft Mountain Wayside

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

got up early this morning, called my friend, told him i was still in a lot of pain and didnt know what to do....i told him i wasnt even sure if i could make it to Linden to my next mail drop...finally decided after very much getting upset that i was finished. he said to wait there and he would take off from work and leave that night to get me...it was a 15 mile drive for him to come and get me from Gainesville, Florida...going through serious emotional problems today now....i am officially off the trail now...i made 882.5 miles of it, and now I am going to rest my foot for about 6 to 8 weeks and see how i feel and then possibly return some time to complete my thru hike....i have thouroughly enjoyed many aspects of hiking, there are however many things i would do differently next time to make my next hike more physically endurable and less painful, mostly hiking with a much lower pack weight....i just walked for too long with my foot already damaged and didnt tell anyone until it was too late and now if i continue i have a great chance of permanently injuring myself which i cannot afford...i apologize to anyone that i may have let down by leaving the trail at this time, and also want to thank everyone again for all the help and support...God Bless and I hope to be able to give new updates someday soon in the future...
Date: 2011-03-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Pat and I had a nice breakfast together and dropped off my rental car. Bill drove me to Durango and my big adventure kicks off. On time flights and Andrew picks me up at Pittsburgh airport in a zip car. Cool concept. Cars are parked around town and you reserve them online. We get to his house and Casey is cooking a big meal of beans, rice and veggies. I meet Charlie the dog and we just hang out and have a nice evening.   Andrew took off Friday and Monday and Casey took off Monday so we could hang out. We took a lot of walks around Pittsburgh and just generally hung out and caught up on things. I like the house they bought and think it suits them well. Dan Rock and his fiance were invited over for dinner (venison loin) but couldn't make it. Once the cooking got started, it took on a life of its own. We had home made apple pies, home made donuts, biscuits, greens, loin, mashed potatoes, gravy, beans and rice and ate like kings the rest of the time I was there. We also took some time to fix a couple of little things on the house.   Monday was a fun day for all of us. Andrew and Casey took me to Southside. Southside is s redeveloped area in Pittsburgh where they both work. We stopped in the coffee shop Casey works at and had some lunch then went down to the t-shirt shop where Andrew works and said Hi to everyone. After that we took a walk along the river and ended up at REI. Casey had to go back to the house and we had to pick up a zip car after 6 downtown for tomorrow. During a bit of last minute shopping at REI, I met B-man, a thru-hiker, who invited me to a St. Patrick's Day party at a shelter in Georgia. Walked around some more. Andrew bought me a burger and we went downtown to get the car. Once again, plenty of food at the house. Since we had the car already, we ran some errands.
Date: 2011-03-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

   Andrew dropped me off early at the airport so he could get the car back and be at work on time. It was a great visit and I am really impressed by the way Andrew and Casey live.   Another easy flight. Lil and the kids met me at Hartford and took me back to the house. It was cool to meet Mark for the first time. Katie and James are noticeable bigger. I mostly spent the week playing with the kids. James is so active, it's hard to keep up with him. I have no idea how Lil finds the energy for all three of them. Mark is 10 weeks. Katie 2 years and James 3 1/2 years. Doing anything is quite a project, and I'm amazed that Lil can do pretty much everything with the three of them along. The weather was nice and we got to play outside a couple of days. We also took trips to Chucky Cheese, a bounce house place and Cabella's. James was in his glory in the aquarium cave at the Cabella's store, making up names for the fish and telling other kids. Got to spend some nice time with Mark; he is a really happy baby. Trips to Lil's seem to be a big blur. I guess with three little ones, it's like that. We also took the kids to church for Ash Wednesday. First time I was at mass in a long time. A retired priest gave a sermon about a very loving and forgiving God. I enjoyed that. By the time I left, I was looking forward to the easier pace of hiking. John drove me to the airport and remarked, "In a couple of hours, you'll be in Atlanta, but it'll take 4 months to walk back." Wow. This is a trip.
Date: 2011-03-15
To: In Atlanta
Miles today: 0.0

   Easy flight. Talked to Larry real quick. Weather bad in Atlanta. Caught the Marta train and met Mike and Angie from Minn. They had planned only as far as the train. Since Josh, from the hiker hostel is picking me up, we called to see if he could get them too. No problem, he says. Marta train was entertaining. A couple of "street guys" were cracking me up. The regular riders were looking at me like "don't encourage them." Had to hang out for 1 1/2 hours or so. Josh had us get off early and hang out around REI and a coffee house.   The hiker hostel was nice. My bunkroom was real loud. Two guys that snore way louder than me. One of the guys at the hostel was this crazy Englishman with all this heavy food, who was microwaving a pound of bacon? I thought, no way is this guy going all the way to Maine. His name is Morphine and apparently he already has. I was up at 4:00 am and ran into someone else up, too. I later found out he was up for a training run. His name is Nature Boy and he's going to try for a new speedhiking record this year. Back to bed.
Date: 2011-03-16
From: Day 1

To: Black Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up at 7:00am. Big breakfast served by the hostel but I was too nervous to really do it justice. Filled fuel and weighed my pack at 45 pounds less water. Beautiful ride down to the state park. Saw a nice bunch of turkey's at the entrance. Signed in, weighed my pack again, filled my water bottles, got a picture and headed out. 600 steps to the top of the falls. People would be talking about that staircase for the next week. The day started off cloudy and damp but the sun came out and soon it was hot and humid. I was ready for cold, not this heat. Stopped and tented near Black Gap shelter 1 1/2 miles south of the official start of the AT. Met Mickey from Boston, Freefall today.
Date: 2011-03-17
To: Hawk Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: clear sky

   Sunny and warm. Took my time starting out today, partly to help Freefall get out of camp (he had never backpacked before yesterday) and partly to ensure I keep my miles low. Had a little unofficial meeting today with a guy who's trying to clean up again after getting hooked on meds after surgery. Talked recovery for a few hours while hiking. More than one person out here is trying to walk off some problem. Hiked on to Hawk Mountain shelter and caught up with Morphine, Imtre, Bobby Berry and a whole cast of new characters. Found my cell had turned on and killed the battery and I lost about half of my fuel from not tightening the pump enough at the hostel. there's a big kid named John here who would make a perfect Katz. Also Jack from Pittsburgh and Big Dog met Fortis on Springer.
Date: 2011-03-18
To: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

   Imtre and I were the last ones out of camp. We couldn't figure out what the rush was since everyone said they were going slow and taking it easy. Good to be in the woods. Pretty and close to 80 degrees. Except for the damn gnats, Pat would call this perfect hiking weather. There was a 7 mile stretch of no water that was just wrong in this heat. A local told me to check out a side trail to Long Creek Falls. It was beautiful. Also, great campsite along creek. Tented at Gooch Mountain shelter.
Date: 2011-03-19
From: Gooch Mtn. Shelter

To: Cliffside Campsite
Miles today: 6.4

   Today is the first day that nobody I've met is hiking to the same destination as me. Some of the characters out here deserve a mention. John and Jack are hiking together. John is 19 and makes a great Katz. Everyone loves him for his positive attitude, in spite of his problems. He's already lost 3 toenails because of bad-fitting boots. Jack found a bottle at Springer and can't wait to get to Woody and hitch into town for another. Today was the first day nobody offered me a joint since I got to Georgia.    As I was hiking, I started thinking about a nice cold coke. It was warm out and I just kept thinking about it. As I got into Woody Gap, I saw a row of cans on top of a trail sign in the shade. I grabbed a coke and it was still cold. my first trail magic. As I sat down to drink my soda, a southbound dyahiker came over and gave me trail guide page for my next 2 days. More magic. Using the guide, I found a great campsite at a rock outcrop with great views and I got to enjoy it all by myself. I'm almost out of gas, so I built a small cooking fire and ate dinner watching the sunset and lights come on with a thunderstorm off in the distance over a town. Sitting here on my rock, 1 1/2 miles north of Woody Gap, I'm feeling perfectly content. The funny thing is I didn't really feel like hiking when I got up today.
Date: 2011-03-20
From: Cliffside Campsite

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: overcast clouds

   A cold front came through after midnight and I awoke to bitter cold and very windy conditions. Way too windy to safely build a fire to cook breakfast. I packed as quick as I could to get out of the exposed (to the wind) campsite. As soon as I got down into the woods, the wind died down enough to eat some granola and drink some water. Hiked under threat of rain, in cold wind, until 1:30 pm. Settled into shelter at Woods Hole as Fortis tented nearby. Short day. Made a cooking fire and spent my first night actually in a shelter. Only one other guy in shelter. Everybody else tenting. Redstripe, Tina, Big Dog, Fortis, Speakeasy and Glide from Michigan were all tenting there. Four college guys came in late and tented behind the shelter.
Date: 2011-03-21
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Bull Gap
Miles today: 4.7

   A light overnight rain made me glad I slept in a shelter and didn't have to pack up a wet tent in the morning. A wet morning makes for a slow start for me. I left camp around 10am, just as the sun started coming out. I managed to get enough hot water from last drops of fuel for a hot coffee and some oatmeal for breakfast. The wind seems to have stolen my TP from the vestibule of the tent yesterday morning, so I borrowed some from Speakeasy. No fuel, no toilet paper. It's a good thing I'll be at Mountain Crossings this afternoon.  After hearing all the horror stories of the terrible climb up Blood Mountain, I was surprised at what a nice, short trip it actually is. Once again, a late start provided me with great views from the summit, so I took a couple of pictures. The climb down into Neels Gap is very steep and a bit longer than the hike up was. Mountain Crossings is the outfitter at Neels Gap where they will "toss your pack" and help you eliminate every ounce of extra weight. They are also ready to sell you some lighter replacement for anything you own. It's also home to some trail legends: Pirate, Baltimore Jack, and Lumpy. Ray had told me to mention him to the better known trail names, that it gain me some benefits. When I mention his name to Jack, he looks me square in the eye and says, "Ray Ronan is a great man", as if I was talking about Abe Lincoln. I wasn't ready for that one. Grabbed a cold coke and a banana and sat around for a while watching them go through people's packs. Picked up a maintenance kit for my stove, a t-shirt, and a guide book along with some groceries.    Alan, Jack and Lumpy all offered to "toss my pack", but I passed on that. I acknowledged that it was heavy, old and had unnecessary junk in it. They all smiled and let it go at that. Lumpy was out at the picnic tables with me and said his pack was way heavier than mine. I really liked the attitude; help if you want it, absolutely no pressure if you don't. The only bad thing today was that I missed the free burgers that local churches cook everyday here for hikers. late starts get better views, but you miss out on some trail magic.   Hung out till 6pm. Saw Freefall and John come in and get some much needed help. Then I headed up to Bull Gap to camp with Redstripe, Fortis, Speakeasy and Chris (one of the college students). A couple there had their food stolen the night before by a bear. jack had warned us there was an active bear in the area north of Neels when I was at the outfitters. We carefully hung our food fully confident that we were smarter than any bear and went to sleep. Speakeasy was quicker than me nad had his food hung over a limb 20 yards behind my tent. Fortis, Redstripe and Chris hung theirs over a tree between Chris and Redstripe's tents. My food was hung about 40 yards outside camp.
Date: 2011-03-23
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked to 1/2 mile past Unicoi Gap. Passed Speakeasy, Roo and Taz at Blue Mountain shelter. Worried about wind and cold there, so I hiked past the Gap. Called Pat. Right after phone call at 8:30, storm hits. Very windy and cold. All day threatened rain and breezy. Great trail magic at Unicoi Gap from 2010 thruhikers. Mello yello and turtle. Didn't cook. Just ate magic. too cold and windy.
Date: 2011-03-24
From: Campsite

To: Sassafras Gap Campsite
Miles today: 9.8

Real cold and windy. Packed and started hiking just to warm up. Ate a snickers and later some trail mix. Made breakfast at 1:30 at Tray Mountain shelter. Sunny, but windy all day. Hot dinner, but cold and windy out. Tenting at Sassafras Gap with Depends? and Mellow.
Date: 2011-03-25
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

Cold, hard frost on everything. eventually warmed up to a great day in the mid-60's with bright sun. Got to Dicks Creek Gap at 3pm and found that phones don't work. While I was thinking about how to get to town, the Hiawassee shuttle arrived, so I took it into town and stayed there. Shower and laundry and a subway had me feeling like a new man. Went to the chinese buffet with Depends and ran into Speakeasy. Nice company, disappointing buffet, but nice staff. Forecast for rain tomorrow considered a zero here. A bunch of us are here. A cheap motel, but feels like luxury after trail life. Last couple of days physically harder that I expected. I think I first met Cope here.
Date: 2011-03-26
From: Hiawassee,GA

To: Franklin,NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Woke up at 6:30 am to low thunder. Ran down to the desk to get another night but the rooms are already sold out. Now what to do? Ron Haven shows up at 7:30 and takes me and Redstripe up to his other hotel in Franklin. room is way nicer and same price. We split one to save money. Went to a high school charity fundraiser for dinner with a bunch of other hikers including Morphine, who got in this afternoon. Rain was steady all day and severe thunderstorms are popping tonight.
Date: 2011-03-27
From: Franklin,NC

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Met another friend of Bill W today. Also a guy whose journal I had been reading. I expected lousy A.M. weather, so we told Ron Haven we were in no rush to get back to the trail at Dick's Gap this morning. No rain all morning in Franklin and a lazy morning for me. At 1pm, after dropping hikers in NC, we got dropped off. Weather got better and the sun came out. Hiked in 4.4 miles to Plum Orchard Gap shelter. tenting here. Clouds came in after dinner and enveloped us. Moisture from the clouds is condensing on trees and dripping in big drops onto the tent. Humidity is 100% and temp in 40's making for a much colder feeling night. It's 8pm and I am crawling into my tent.
Date: 2011-03-28
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Despite the forecast of sunny weather, it never arrived. Hiked all day in heavy fog, condensing and dripping from the trees. Feels like March in Ohio, not Georgia. The high point of the day was crossing the state line into North Carolina. Tented at Muskrat Creek shelter. It was a pretty boisterous bunch despite the soggy conditions. They even started a large campfire and were partying until 9pm. That's late out here, by at least a full hour past hiker midnight.
Date: 2011-03-29
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: clear sky

Sun came out and it was a beautiful day. hiked to Beech Gap and tented alongside Nick from Chicago. Should have stopped earlier to dry gear, but it was just too nice of a hiking day. Fog was moving in as I crawled into the tent. I hope condensation isn't as bad as last couple of nights. Rain forecast for tomorrow. We'll see.
Date: 2011-03-30
From: Beech Gap

To: Betty Creek Gap
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: moderate rain

Thunderstorms with lightening overnight. In spite of a good solid rain, my tent was drier than it has been from condensation on those foggy nights. Took my camp towel and dried my tent before packing it, maybe if I start with a dry tent, it will help. No rain, but it was foggy, damp and cold all day. Sun finally showed itself 1/2 before sunset. Camped with a large group of 20 somethings and Taz and Roo from Australia. Some of the younger hikers were up chatting in the tent next to mine way too late for me. Tomorrow, I camp alone! Oh, I'm camped at Betty Creek Gap.
Date: 2011-03-31
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

Cold morning and a slow start for me. Started hiking with the sun on me. The late start worked out great as I was rewarded by the fog clearing just as I got to the top of Albert Mountain. Took some pictures from the fire tower and enjoyed fantastic views. Hiked to Winding Stair Gap and stealth camped just before the road. Should be able to catch the 9am shuttle into Franklin. Here with Taz and Roo and one other.
Date: 2011-04-01
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Franklin,NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Very cold last night. Glad I bought a good sleeping bag for the trip. We were all down at the road, about 20 of us, at 9am waiting for the shuttle into town. Today is the Hiker Fools in Franklin. Free food and entertainment. Room costs a little extra tonight, but includes a rotary spaghetti dinner and 7am free breakfast from a church group. I washed my clothes in the bathtub in the room and dried them next to the heater, after taking a shower. Already finished resupply and waiting for spaghetti dinner at 5pm. Dinner was good. Met Traildust who thruhiked with Ray in 2000 at dinner. He's starting at Springer on 4/3. things with the hiker bash didn't really come together except for the partying and some music.