morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-07-03
From: Bull's Bridge, CT

To: Mt. Algo Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

We woke up to overcast skies in the field behind the Bull's Bridge Inn. Our tents were wet from the overnight rain, so I hung up the rain fly to try to get it to dry some. There was a gas station next door so we went over to it to get some breakfast. As we ate breakfast the clouds started clearing out and the sun shone through to start drying things out.  We made the decision to road walk into Kent to give us maximum time to resupply and get my mail-drops. I was concerned that if we hiked the AT to get to Kent we wouldn't get there until mid-afternoon and it would be a rush to get laundry, mail, resupply done before stores closed, and we didn't know what would be open on the 4th.We took off walking along US 7 to get to Kent, only 4 miles away. ( 7 miles by the AT trail). We tried hitchhiking but were unsuccessful at getting a ride. It may seem silly to not enjoy walking along a highway when you are trying to walk 2189.2 miles of trail, but road walking is truly unenjoyable with the noise and the cars rushing by. About a mile out of town Burps saw a guy working in his garage and went up to him to ask if he would give us a ride. I would never have thought to do that, but Burps thought it was fun to try.  Chris was a biker looking guy with long hair and a bandanna. He said sure, no problem and hopped in his car and off we went. He gave us a nice tour of Kent and dropped us off right at the laundromat.Kent is set up beautifully with the laundromat, post office and grocery all right together. We threw our laundry in, got my mail and went to the IGA for food resupply. My wife had mailed a resupply of freeze dried dinners, and my son had mailed me a surprise treat of Beef Jerky! A short walk away is the pharmacy, bank, and the new Kent Welcome Center where we were told they have bathrooms and a shower for hikers. ($2 for 4 minutes of hot water in an outside shower). The shower was amazing, and for the first time in 8 days we had clean clothes and clean bodies!  We then walked down the street for lunch and had great hamburgers at The Villager. A couple more stops at Sundog Shoes and Annie Bandannies (the outfitter) for supplies and ice cream and we had used up most of the day as I had expected. It was 5 pm when we walked out of town back to the AT.  A short road walk back to the AT and a climb up a hill southbound got us to Mt. Algo Shelter. A beautiful Shelter spot with tall trees and a rushing stream nearby. Another hiker, Robin, was already set up and a few other hikers came in as we were setting up our tents. Our plan was to get up in the morning and hitch a ride back to Bull's Bridge and then slackpack (dayhike) back to Mt. Algo where we would leave most of our stuff. That way we could make up the 7 miles we skipped a lot faster.We both agreed we needed that Nearo day.  We were able to resupply, get cleaned up, eat some good food, and give our feet a much needed rest. Independence Day tomorrow! Let Freedom Ring!
Date: 2017-07-04
From: Mt. Algo Shelter

To: Breadloaf Mountain 
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up ready to do our slack pack plan from Bull's Bridge back to Mt. Algo Shelter, but that got interrupted. I had a tent pole break yesterday and contacted LLBean for a replacement.  They were great and were shipping one out to me to Dalton, MA where we would be in a few days. Last night I had used duck tape to patch the broken tent pole and thought it would hold for a few days. It didn't. The aluminum pole was disintegrating and no amount of duck tape was going to hold it. New plan, I felt a strong need to get those new tent poles as soon as possible and I told Burps we needed to move north. My tent was useless so I'd be sleeping in shelters or with him in his two person tent until we get to Dalton. (I'll have to come back later to do those 7 miles, which I thought would be fun on my way back to Kansas in the fall)We packed up and headed down Mt. Algo, across a field and back up into the hills through pleasant paths. The trail here was really nice with dirt or leaf covered paths and fairly open forest, the ups and downs were gentle and it was a beautiful day to walk; it was Independence Day. There were a fair number of nicely running streams so it made for a great hike. We ascended Caleb's Peak and had a nice viewpoint for lunch with views of the Housatonic Valley.After lunch we headed down from the peak and got back to reality, there is a very steep descent down an area called St. John's Ledges. Reminiscent of Pennsylvania, the path went steeply down for 250 feet through a large jumble of rocks. The trail continued down the mountain and at the base we were down to a path that paralleled the Housatonic River. We would follow the river for 5 miles and it was a nice change, with one exception- gnats! Swarms of gnats were everywhere. I finally pulled out my bug net and put in on, I hate wearing it but it beat swatting at gnats.The day was really pleasant, not too humid and not too hot and we passed a number of dayhikers. One gentleman had a huge 500mm Nikon lens on his camera and we stopped and talked with him and his wife for a while about the trail, birding, cameras. (www.canosaphotography.net). You just meet some really interesting people out here.  We finally left the river path and had an 850 foot climb up Silver Hill. It was a tough climb, steep and rocky in places. We passed up the Silver Hill campsite and continued up and over Silver Hill aiming for Breadloaf mountain. Another steep descent and a sign recommending a mile detour around a swollen stream put us on the side of Breadloaf Mountain. A short 300 foot climb and we were at the summit with a nice view of the river valley.  The sun had set so we hurriedly set up the tent, bear bag, and started dinner. As we ate, we could see fireworks going off in the distance, probably Kent 13 miles away. Happy Independence Day!
Date: 2017-07-05
From: Breadloaf Mountain 

To: Belter's campsite 
Miles today: 11.0

Burps slept in really late and I didn't try to wake him since I thought we had a short day today. It was a beautiful cool morning with a nice sunrise on top of the mountain. We packed up but didn't head down Breadloaf Mountain until about 9:30., lulled into complacency that we were only trying to do 11 miles. The trail and forest was quite nice once again. We came to Pine Knot Loop Trail and met a lot of dayhikers. One lady we met proved to be yet another inspiration. Cathy was an unassuming day hiker who turned out to be an AT 2000 miler!  She had done the whole AT in sections as her schedule would allow. As we continued to talk to her we also found out she had hiked the entire PCT (Pacific Crest Trail), and after further discussion she admitted she had hiked the CDT (Continental Divide Trail)!  She had down the Triple Crown!  She said she was a slow hiker, but just persisted and added that she knew she needed to be flexible to adjust when the trail or weather were not cooperating. Cathy was not a big husky hiker, but one whose spirit and passion kept her going when the going got tough. A real inspiration!We talked to Cathy way too long, but finally said our goodbyes and headed up the trail. She had warned us this next section would be tougher, and I really wasn't quite prepared for it. The trail profile looked like a lot of small continuous climbs and descents, but what it didn't show was that a lot of them were rocky and steep once again. All afternoon long the trail was up and down a few hundred feet at a time, mostly on rocks. We crossed several good streams for water, but a number of them were drying up. The bugs were horrible and I resorted to using my bug net once again.Finally as the sun was setting I found myself walking along a high ridge and watching a beautiful sunset through the trees. I descended down to Belter's Campsite as the sky glowed orange in the west. Burps had gone ahead and set up his tent. I arrived as it was starting to get dark, exhausted after what should have been a short day. Never underestimate the AT.
Date: 2017-01-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Dear Ansley and Delaney,Yesterday my new 2017 AT guide arrived in the mail...actually two of them..one for me and one for Papa so he can follow me in the guide. He followed me last time and enjoyed trying to figure out how far we'd go each day. Reality is starting to sink in as is my excitement! But then today....new shoes! Went to the mall with you two and your mommy to get Delaney her first real pair of shoes and Ansley a pair of new pink and black tennies. Rode the train around the mall; rode the escalators up and down; then had to pick a 3 year old off the floor at Macy's where she had decided to lay down because she didn't want to leave...and of course I couldn't stop laughing! But then it hits me...as excited as I am to start my journey (again)...I will miss these two terribly. But in many ways I'm doing it for them...to encourage their adventurous spirits...to teach them to dare to be courageous and explore this beautiful country we live in. I hope one day to share my love of hiking with them.
Date: 2017-01-26
To: Goals
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Dear Ansley and DelaneyOne thing I have learned in my 61 years is to proud of your accomplishments even if you don't achieve your goals. I didn't always think this way. For my very first marathon in 1992 I picked the Grandfather Mountain Marathon in Boone, NC. Why? Because my parents had bought a summer house there and I hadn't had a chance to visit. And I wanted to run a marathon...sort of a kill two birds with one stone concept! So I trained for my very first marathon in the flatlands of Florida and decided my goal was 4 hrs 30 mins. Now keep in mind I had never been to Boone to see what real mountains look like, or had run a marathon. I finished the marathon in 4:50 and was deeply disappointed in myself... almost ashamed. I look back on that now and laugh. I should have been proud of myself for attempting and finishing something that most would never consider. I went back to the Grandfather Mountain marathon again in 2002. Being much older and wiser...and knowing what running 26.2 miles in the mountains was like...my goal was to finish...which I did with pride! So my dear girls... set goals... set them high...if you don't meet them...pick yourself up...be proud...and aim again!I fell short of my goal in 2015. But I equate it to my 1992 marathon. I attempted something that most never would. And I'm proud of that...I've picked myself up and re-aimed!
Date: 2017-01-28
To: Trail Name
Miles today: 0.0

Dear GirlsAs part of my preparation it was time to think of a Trail Name...What's a trail name you ask? Well it started in the 60's when people hiking the trail...there weren't many of them back then...started using Trail Names sort of a as GAFIA (get away from it all) concept. You leave who you are at home. On the trail you're not a teacher, student, retiree or doctor. You are your Trail Name. There are those who come from the school that they'll let the trail name them... be named by others on their hike. Then there are those who choose there own trail names. Me? I didn't want to end up as Freckle Face Strawberry, or Granny Get Goin'... and I wanted it to mean something to me personally. I always wanted it to be cat related... yes my two sisters and I are all crazy cat ladies. Although Aunt Nancy and Aunt Beth are much crazier than I... as I only have two.... Cougar and Merlin ( from Top Gun of course) They came to me via Aunt Nancy as she did feral trap, neuter and returns in her home town in NC. They were born to ferals under an abandoned building. Aunt Nancy rescued them and now they are fat and happy in Florida. So on to my Trail Name...You know how Papa loves to buy us things that aren't necessarily good for us. Well at Publix a few weeks ago he saw that KitKats (the unwrapped minis) were buy one get one... and he knows I can't resist. That night as I settled in with my glass of wine and IPad to continue my binge watch of Homeland (girls be forewarned... wine and one click buying on Amazon is a dangerous combination) I couldn't help myself... I darted to the freezer and grabbed one of the bags of KitKats. The next morning, looking at the empty bag in the garbage, I implored to Papa... STOP BUYING ME KITKATS!! And BOOM..a Trail Name was born!
Date: 2017-02-06
To: Papa
Miles today: 0.0

My precious girlsYour certainly have a fun Papa...horsey back rides, walks to the park, and pepperoni pizza delivery man. But to me... he's the reason I'm able to embark on this journey... and for that I am truly grateful. When you get older you'll understand this and you'll understand how this question would play out in most households... Honey, do you mind if I leave for a while?Where are you going?I'm going on a hike.How long will you be gone?Not sure...could be one month...could be five months.At this point, most husbands would look at their wives as if they had two heads...but not in our house. After 37 years of marriage he understands me and respects my passions. He willingly gets on board and supports me....I understand how fortunate I am. His response when I posed my question? Just promise me that you won't go alone...So while I'm gone if your Papa needs a kiss, a laugh or just some hugs...Please be there for him.I promised Papa that day that If I were ever alone that I would leave the trail. But now I have a Wingman....which is a post for another day
Date: 2017-03-11
To: Wingman
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dear girls,In case you were wondering where I was last weekend, I was with my Wingman.But let me start by explaining my Wingman picture. You know I've said that Aunt Nancy is the explorer...my Trail Angel. Well Aunt Beth is the creative one...my Trail Scribe. She had this picture of Cougar and Merlin done for me which is perfect. Aunt Beth also did an incredible scrap book of my 2015 hike and will continue it for this year. I'm so fortunate to have two amazing supportive sisters.So onto my Wingman. It was by chance that I met Nancy "Jeboots" in 2015. Turns out she noticed on the women's hiking FB page that we had a common friend even though we had never met and live at opposite ends of Florida. Jeboots wanted to get back out on the trail so she reached out to our common friend who convinced her that we would be great hiking partners. She headed out on the trail knowing I'd be at Hawk Mountain Shelter my first night where we met. We then hiked together to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) where she had planned to get off. I continued on to Fontana Dam but we knew that one day we would continue on together. So where was I last weekend? Jeboots and I met up at the Appalachian Trail Kickoff (ATKO) at Amicalola Falls Lodge to game plan for our upcoming hike. It was a great event with vendors, speakers, trail legends...and others just like us...those who just want to go one step at a time to fulfill a dream. So when Papa made me promise that I wouldn't go alone I knew I had a Wingman....
Date: 2017-03-21
To: Not For Everyone
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dear girls... to answer your question as to why your Daddy or Papa don't join me on the trail...this pic of Violet and Apache (courtesy of Aunt Beth of course!) says it all... plus no TV or AC also presents quite the obstacle!Three weeks from tonight I'll be sleeping in a tent in the Great Smokies Mountain National Park. I hope one day to take you there...The countdown has begun!
Date: 2017-04-16
From: Fontana Dam

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 40.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Dear girlsSo sorry for the delay in posting but between no service and being in my sleeping bag at 7pm, I just really now had a chance! We have truly been blessed with beautiful weather so far, because the week before we left a snowstorm hit the Smokies that stranded many hikers. As I said...timing is everything! I won't bore you with every detail such as what time we broke camp or whether or not a climb has switchbacks, so this will be a journal of highlights! We are right now in Gatlinburg having been ferried here by our trail angel Aunt Nancy. She picked us up yesterday at Clingmans Dome and we slackpacked today to Newfound Gap which provided two lovely short days! Day one, Tuesday 4/11, we left Fontana Dam and headed into the Smokies. We planned on a short day and tented at Birch Spring Gap. It was a glorious hiking day. Day two took us to Russell Field Shelter. In the Smokies you have to stay in the shelters unless they're full...only then can you tent. Day three was the hardest so far. The climb up to Rocky Top was steep and grueling...but the view was amazing. That night we stayed at Derrick Knob Shelter which also had a very steep climb to get to it which made for a really tough day. Day four took us to Double Spring Gap Shelter. It was not a bad day as far as climbing goes and when we got to the shelter it was full so we were happy to be able to tent! Day five was a short relatively easy hike to Clingmans Dome where Aunt Nancy picked us up...was so looking forward to my first shower in five days...and oh yes...a burger and a beer! Having hiked to Newfound Gap today, Aunt Nancy will drop us off there tomorrow where we'll head into the northern section of the Smokies...rain is expected along with cooler temps...I'll update when I can.
Date: 2017-04-20
From: Newfound Gap

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 33.5

My precious girlsWhat a hike it was through the northern part of the Smokies! From Newfound Gap our destination was Pecks Corner Shelter, a little over 10 miles...there were many tough climbs and open ridge walking...then we got caught in a wild hail storm! We were pelted with rain and hail for about an hour until we finally made it to the shelter...drenched and cold! The next day was a very short day to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter due to weather...because of the rules in the Smokies about staying in shelters everyone was jockeying to get a space because of the non stop rain. The Smokies became a chess match to try to secure shelter space. No one likes setting up a tent in the pouring rain and packing up a drenched tent the next day. Our last night in the Smokies was at Cosby Knob Shelter which was packed. The following day we made it to Standing Bear Farm Hostel which was an experience unto itself! This Florida girl needs a dose of sunshine!
Date: 2017-04-24
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 33.1
Weather: overcast clouds

My dear Ansley and DelaneyOur stay at Standing Bear Farm was quite the experience...it's a very bohemian, bare bones hostel...but the people were so nice and accommodating. We decided to slackpack from Brown Gap back to Standing Bear, about a 10 mile hike over Snowbird Mountain. Maria, the owner shuttled us there, and we were lucky to have decent weather, and even some sun, till we got over Snowbird, and then the rain followed us the rest of the way in. The next day we were dropped back off at Brown Gap and we crossed Max Patch before the skies opened up again. Max Patch was beautiful and the views were amazing! That night we stayed at Roaring Fork Shelter. Since we had no cell service we had no weather report when we headed out on Sunday, although it had rained most of the night. Not far into the day the weather deteriorated to pounding rain, sleet and high winds. We ended up crossing both Walnut Mountain and Bluff Mountain in the horrendous weather in order to get to lower elevation to set up our tents. On Monday we packed up our wet gear for a 9 mile hike into Hot Springs for some much needed r & r!
Date: 2017-02-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'mgoing to start this log by reviewing how I got to this point. Throughgrade school and High school, I do not recall even hearing of theAppalachian Trail (AT), maybe I was sleeping in class that day. After High school, I went on a weekend trip to the Great SmokyMountains National Park with my friends Bob O'Donnell and DaveBuchele. On one of the stops that weekend, we came across the AT, andDave forced us, and I mean forced us to walk it for a few miles. Thathike did nothing for me. Years later, I was dating Penny Morgan andshe had said that the two of us should hike the AT. I literallylaughed in her face. I believe that it was in the summer of 2005 that I read an article in the paper about people hiking the AT. I stillremember my reaction to that article, it was ¢hmm¢. A year later,I read another article and was asking myself, why anyone would dothat, but after that, each year in the Spring I would start thinkingabout hiking the AT. That thought would stay with me until late falleach year. In 2012, living in greater Detroit, at a normal familydoctor's visit, I asked the doctor a few questions about if I wasphysically capable of hiking the AT. He told me that I should have noissues. 2013 saw two major operations, both of which would help mewith hiking. The big problem that I could see about this hike wasthat I was a big city flatlander, and the trail is the opposite.That is when my friend Larry Barker did God's work by getting metransferred down to the mountains of Virginia, there each day drivinginto the parking lot at work, I could see where the trail was on thenext mountain top. Now living a few minutes from it, I started dayhiking on a regular basis. My job ended in late 2015, so I needed tostart planning for life after work. It seemed to me that it was nowor never for an AT hike. With Any kind of a review, one could seethat I was not ready at any level for a hike like this. So I startedthinking of a 2017 thru hike. Throughout 2016, I was purchasing theequipment that I would need, and increasing my training.
Date: 2017-02-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

2/20/17:My hiking mentor, Ron White (whose trail name is Pack Rat) and I wentto Grayson Highlands State Park and hiked 15 miles of the AT. Youneed to see a local map of the AT to know why I did this. The trailhas a big loop in it, and that is what we hiked. Now when I comethrough, I will take a short passageway and will not need to redothis part. The hike was all rocks.On2/24/17: Ron and I hiked 6 miles just north of Damascus VA, which has big elevation changes. When I pass this in a few weeks, I will justbypass this section using the Virginia Creeper trail.