morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2022-08-28
From: Calf Mountain Hut

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

The walk down from Calf Mountain Hut to Rockfish Gap was only notable in that there was a great deal of tall grass to walk through and my shoes were soaked with morning dew. Also there were a couple short but steep climbs. Once down to the highway overpass, I texted the Hostel and told them I was ready to be picked up. They came fairly promptly. Once at the Hostel, I was briefed on the rules and given a quick tour, and lastly, showed my room. From there it was a flurry of activity. First find some loner clothes that fit me reasonably well and head for the shower. Took three washings to get my hair clean. Then back to my room to collect all my dirty laundry, and to the washer to get my laundry started. Back to the bathroom to shave my neck. Back to the room to look at maps and decide how much food to buy. Downstairs to throw a frozen pizza in the oven. Then back down to the washer to get my clothes drying. Back upstairs to get my pizza out of the oven to eat while my clothes dried. Once dry I took my clothes back to my room to check that every article was present and accounted for. Then, change into my clothes (optional), then walk to Walmart to shop for food. I am not very good at shopping so it always takes a while to find everything that I need. Walk back to the Hostel, take my food down to my room to remove the extra packaging and get it into my food bag. Once completed, update journal and Facebook. That left my about 30 minutes to talk to other Hostel visitors, text my wife and think about dinner. I went to the local all you can eat Chinese Buffet with a couple of people that I had met earlier, on the trail. By the time we got back to the Hostel it was 8:30. Just a half hour before hiker midnight (9:00 pm). Relax a bit before turning in. I need to get back on the trail so I can get a little rest.
Date: 2022-08-29
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: scattered clouds

The two hikers that I had dinner with last night decided the would slack pack today. That means that they were to get dropped off further south on the trail, with very light packs, and they used today to walk back to Rockfish Gap. The van leaving to take them to their starting point was to leave at 8:00 am. I asked if I should ride to Rockfish Gap on the same trip, and I was told it was out of the way and not wanting to delay my hiker friends, I said I would wait for the van to return. By the time all was said and done this put me at the trail at 10:00 am, just when the day is just getting the hottest. When I planned my food it was with the assumption that I could get 20 miles in today. With the best hiking part of the day already gone, this would be a challenge, but I like a challenge. The terrain was pretty tame so I actually made it to the Maupin Field Shelter, 20.7 miles to the south by a little before 6:00 pm. I am here all alone, so I am sleeping in the shelter.
Date: 2022-08-30
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: The Priest Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Todays hike was only 13.8 miles but at the end of the day it was a 3000 ft relentless assent up "The Priest". It was actually a pretty civilized climb in terms of switch backs and grooming, but being at the end of a long day, and given the effort that I gave for the race with the sun yesterday, it was a tough climb. And, as if that were not enough, we got our afternoon rain just as I was closing on the top. I had planned to make it 6.5 miles more to the next shelter, but with the rain and the tired legs, the Priest Shelter will have to do.
Date: 2022-08-31
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: few clouds

Today's 22.4 mile walk to Brown Mountain Creek Shelter was pretty normal. There was a long decent at the end, but nothing special. This is the first day that I walked most of the day with another south bound hiker. He is about my age and we have many common interests, and most importantly, our pace is about the same. When we arrived in camp there was a super nice, inquisitive young hiker there. I decided to sleep in my tent, but the guy I was hiking with wanted to sleep in the shelter as did the young guy. My hiking partner asked what the young guy was planning to do with food. The young guy responded that he had heard that there was not much bear activity in this area, to which my hiking partner responded that he had seen one just two days prior and it was important to him that there was no food in the shelter. The young hiker asked what we did with our food and we told him that we hang it from a tree limb using the PCT method. Being a nice and inquisitive young hiker he wanted to learn the PCT bear bag hang. He had some rope and a bag for his food. He had to borrow a carabineer from my hiking partner, and we used my old rock sack, but I showed him how to properly hang food. I hope he remembers how to do it for tomorrow night. He is heading into an area that had a lot of fairly fresh bear scat.
Date: 2022-09-01
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

Today's walk to Johns Hollow Shelter was 18.3 miles. There was 4734 feet of climbing with a good portion of it at the end of the day. I still run out of gas on the long climbs and I am not sure if I will get stronger or if this is as strong as I get. I am doing pretty well, but it would be really nice if the long climbs were not as taxing.Today I crossed the point we're if I were a north bound hiker, I would have hiked 800 miles from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain. I got off the trail at NOBO 240, so that means I am less than 560 miles from completing the southern half of the AT. It is still a long walk that is yet to be completed, but I'm making good progress. Tomorrow is a town day. Only 1.8 miles to walk to get to the Hostel pick up point. Then all the chores. I might do a 15 mile slack pack on Saturday. More on that later if I choose to do it.
Date: 2022-09-02
From: Calf Mountain Hut

To: Stanimals 328, Waynesboro
Miles today: 1.8
Weather: clear sky

Today's hike was just 1.8 miles down to the James River parking lot. Easy hike, we were early for our 9:00 am pickup but magically so was the Hostel manager, so we only had to wait a few minutes for him. Once at the Hostel, loaner clothes, shower laundry, shopping was all done in time for lunch. There is only one restaurant in town, but it was decent and hiker friendly so it worked out. The Hostel manager, Charlie, is terrific, he is friendly, knowledgeable, customer focused, and generally, just the kind of guy that you would like to count among your friends. He made my stay at Stanimals both relaxing and enjoyable.
Date: 2022-09-03
From: Upper BRP crossing MP 76.3

To: James River Foot Bridge
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today I did what is referred to as a slack pack in hiking communities. The manager of the Hostel in which I was staying dropped me off 15 trail miles south from where he picked me up last night. With a very light pack (snacks, water, first aid kit, rain gear, etc) I walked back north to last nights pick up point. It was an easy and enjoyable day that felt more like a day hike. In order to do a slack pack you have to book a second night at the Hostel, but it was nice to have another shower and get my walking clothes clean again. So today's hike was 15 miles north back to the James River parking lot.
Date: 2022-09-04
From: Upper BRP Crossing MP 76.3

To: Cove Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: broken clouds

Today I did a different kind of slack pack. Hostel Manager, Charlie, took me to the same place that he dropped me off yesterday and instead of hiking north I hiked south, but the agreement was that Charlie would meet us 13.7 miles up the trail with my full pack allowing me to carry a day pack for most of the day. Charlie had a stack of loner day packs, but the one that caught my eye was the Batman day pack. Everyone at the Hostel said that I simply had to rock the Batman daypack so I did. During today's hike we passed the Guillotine. It is a rock formation where there is a roundish bolder that is stuck between to vertical slabs of rock. The boulder looks like it could fall at any time, but my Batman backpack protected me and the people that I was hiking with so that although the trail goes right under the rock, nobody was crushed by the boulder. Not sure if the boulder is still up there, but I suspect that it is. Once I got my pack from Charlie, he took us to a campground to grab a quick burger and some water, the he brought us back to where we left off on the trail. It was a mad scramble 3.2 miles up to the ridge and to the Cove Mountain Shelter. This was done with extra water as the Shelter is dry. Altogether 16.9 miles for the day.
Date: 2022-09-05
From: Cove Mountain Shelter 

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

The good news is that it did not rain much on us while we were hiking. The bad news is that it rained all night last night, so everything on the trail was wet. I also spent a good part of the day walking in a cloud, so the humidity was an important factor. That means that by the time I arrived at Fullhardt Knob Shelter all my hiking clothes, including my shoes and socks, are wet. Today we covered 20 miles. We are only 5 miles from the town of Daleville. I should not need to resupply there, because my wife will be down here to see me on Wednesday, but I will go into town with my hiking buddy and maybe get some new socks.
Date: 2022-09-06
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter 
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

From Fullhardt Knob Shelter it was a quick, mostly downhill walk into the town of Daleville. Once we hit the main drag we spotted a farm stand. Nice people sold me a couple oranges for a buck and pointed us in the direction of the Krogers. Since my wife, Terri is meeting me in a couple days there was no major need for me to resupply, but my hiking buddy needed to resupply so that he can make it to Pearisburg. I just bought an sports drink, a vegetable drink, a donut and some ice cream, must of which I consumed while I waited for him to shop. There was an outfitter in strip mall so I stopped in to buy a couple pairs of socks since my originals pairs of outer socks all have holes in the heels. We walked back to the trail and then proceeded up the Lambert's Meadow Shelter for a total hike of 14.4 miles. Lambert's Meadow Shelter has an interesting arrangement. There is a strict rule against mice sheltering there, and the landlord, a black rat snake, enforces this rule with an iron fang. We gave the landlord space to come and go as desired but he just sat in the corner, by the roof and made sure that no mice were allowed to bother us, our packs, or our trekking poles all night. I slept like a baby under the watchful eye of the snake landlord all night.
Date: 2022-09-07
From: Lambert's Meadow Shelter 

To: VA 311 Catawba Valley Drive
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

My wife drove down from Michigan to meet me in the parking lot on VA 311 for McAfee Knob. We would grab a hotel and she would help me resupply.  I was planning to take a zero and see some of the area sites with my Angel.  I got to the parking lot a little early and had to wait for her to arrive.  As soon as she got out of the car, I could see the stress in her body language and I knew that my hike was going to be on hold again.  We did get a hotel so that I could clean up for the drive up to Michigan.This will be the end of my journey for 2022.  I completed 635.6 miles for 2022.  I am hoping that in the spring of 2023 I can get back on the trail and finish the southern half of the trail.  Maybe if it goes well, I will be able to do the northern half as well.  I love to hike, but my love for my wife is the greater of the two, so I must do what I must to make sure that my wife feels safe and loved.  Hope to pick this up again in 2023!
Date: 2023-03-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

2023 Appalachian Trail plans and training are coming together.  On March 12th my wife and I will drive down to Hot Springs, North Carolina where we will stay at the Little Bird Cabins for a few days.  On Monday 3/13, my wife will drive me back to the point that I left the trail back in May of 2022 (NB mile 240) and I will hike north to Max Patch.  She will meet me there and bring me back to the cabin in Hot Springs, thus "slack packing" me (I will carry a small, light pack with just lunch, water and other emergency supplies.) for day one of my 2023 adventure.  She also will slack pack me on 3/14 and 3/15 (Tuesday and Wednesday).  On Thursday she will drive me up to north most point that I reached on Wednesday.  From there, she will drive North, back to our home in Michigan and I will hike north on the AT hopefully completing the missing Southern section (NB mile 240 to NB mile 710). Plans to get off the trail are not cast in stone yet, but will probably involve a shuttle to Roanoke and then a train ride home.For training I have joined my local senior center and I have been using the well equipped gym there as well as the stairs there when the weather is bad and I have been using the stairs in the local park so that I can work out in the fresh air when the weather is good.  I am feeling pretty good about my fitness level at the start of this hiking season.If this 470 mile section goes well I am hoping to complete the Northern half of the trail this summer as well, but more on that later.
Date: 2023-03-13
From: I-40 Under Pass

To: Max Patch Parking Lot
Miles today: 13.3

Slack packing again. Yesterday, my wife and I drove down (from Michigan) to Hot Springs, NC. We rented a cabin for 4 nights so the my wife could slack pack me for a few days. Because she drops me off and picks me up, and I sleep in the cabin, I only have to carry a very light day pack with lunch and emergency supplies. This is called slack packing. Today I hiked from where I left off in May of 2022 and hiked north to Max Patch. After about 30 minutes of hiking it started snowing. After another 30 minutes there was an inch on the ground. After 30 minutes more the trail was covered in snow, especially on the north facing slopes. This made going down hill a bit more tricky, but I completed the 13.3 mile hike without falling. My wife hiked up part of Max Patch with me. Tomorrow I will hike the whole thing. It was a lot of climbing, so I am thankful that my wife slack packed me. It was a good day for a light pack.
Date: 2023-03-14
From: Max Patch Parking Lot

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 20.6

Day two off the couch and I turned in a twenty (20.6 miles) albeit with a day back (another slack pack day thanks to my wife). The snow from yesterday was still in the higher elevations, but it was more frozen and crunchy, so I had excellent traction most of the day. The challenge today was the cold and the wind. Neck gaiter, double gloves, beanie over ball cap and a fleece jacket and I was never overly warm even on the uphills. It was almost unbearable at the top of Max Patch with the cold wind cutting through all my clothes. Speaking of weather, it is supposed to rain all day on Friday then turn bitter cold for the whole weekend. Sounds like a great way to get hypothermia, so I have made a plan that has me in hostels Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I have started to inquire about reservations, so I need to stick to my plan. Platinum blazing, hear I come. (Platinum blazing is when you plan you days so that you can stay in a hostel most if not all nights. Only really a thing on the AT)
Date: 2023-03-15
From: Allen Gap

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 15.0

Today started out pretty chilly, but it was a clear blue sky, and as soon as the sun got high in the sky, the temperature increased into the mid 40s. Yesterday I mentioned that it was cold enough to make the trail crunchy. The advantage of that was obvious in the afternoon when the frozen mud turned to slippery mud. Traction was pretty iffy in places this afternoon. Still it was really nice to hike with clear skies overhead as a departure from the last two days. Today I actually hiked south bound. My wife dropped me at Allen Gap and I had to hike 15 miles south into Hot Springs NC. The trail started out with a climb leaving Allen Gap. Then there were some smaller hills and one pretty steep climb in the middle. The real challenge was actually the decent down into Hot Springs. It was almost like hiking down a cliff. I guess I cheated since if I had hiked the section North Bound that killer decent would have been a killer climb, but it is generally accepted that you just need to hike past every blaze on the trail. It does not matter the direction as long as you connect your foot steps. I plan to hike another 20 mile section backwards in a couple days. Tomorrow morning I say goodbye to my wife. I will miss her more than she knows. It has been really nice to have her help and companionship these last 4 days.
Date: 2023-03-16
From: Allen Gap

To: Dispersed Site at Mile 311.8
Miles today: 22.1

Today was the first full pack day on this section. My pack has lots of food and warm clothes, including a few last minute additions that were added with an eye to the upcoming weather, so it is a little heavier than usual. I need to be at Spivey Gap to catch a shuttle as early Friday as possible and today was intended to be a 20 mile walk from Allen Gap to Flint Mountain Shelter, but looking at the climbs that I have tomorrow, I wanted to shorten Fridays 23.3 mile walk as much as possible. So as it was 5:00 pm when I arrived at Flint Mountain Shelter, I decided to water up and cook dinner before walking on. I am now in a dispersed campsite at mile 311.8. That means today was 22.1 miles, and tomorrow will be 21.3 miles with 5965 feet of accent and it is supposed to rain. Two tough days in a row, but I can't blame anyone but myself.
Date: 2023-03-17
From: Dispersed Site at Mile 311.8

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 7.8

I got up at 4:30 am so that I could get my tent packed up before the rain started. Just like clock work the rain started right at 6:00 am as I was putting on my pack to walk up the hill. It was still dark so I was navigating by headlight. I only got off the trail once (missed a switchback). It was kinda fun to walk in the dark and in the rain. I got to the dark until I reached the top of the 1500 climb. At that point my legs were just burned out. I decided to switch to plan B which had me getting off the trail at Sam's Gap. I checked with the shuttle driver, but he was too busy, with the rain, cold and all. There is a Hostel 2 miles from the Gap so I checked with them and she was able to get me in. I am sitting in the common room in front of a wood burning stove, nice and warm. Tomorrow, I will hike over Big Bald to Spivey Gap where the shuttle will take me to the hostel in Erwin, TN. I will be there for two night to avoid the cold Saturday and Sunday night. My next two days will be less than 12 miles so I will have a chance to rest. Today's hike was only 7.9 miles.
Date: 2023-03-18
From: Sam's Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.4

Today could have not been more different from yesterday. Last night a cloud swept over a freezing cold Big Bald Mountain. The result was that every tree, bush or blade of grass was covered in a delicate white coating of ice. The climb up Big Bald was mildly challenging, and it was super cold and super windy, but once I got to the top, I did not want to leave. If I had stuck to my original plan (if I had the legs for it) I would have crossed Big Bald in the rain and the clouds. Visibly would have been poor, and the experience would have only a fraction of the thrill I experienced. Guess I am glad that I had to bail on that plan. I am staying in a hostel again tonight to avoid the below zero wind chills expected tonight.
Date: 2023-03-19
From: Spivey Gap

To: Uncle Johnny's Hostel
Miles today: 11.2

Today was another easy day (11.2 miles) with little elevation gain and a net loss in elevation. Making it even easier, I left most of my food bag and some other heavier non essential items at the hostel, so it was another slack pack today. It was sunny but cold, which for this Michigander, is perfect hiking weather. I was back to the hostel by a little after noon. The trail did not have a lot of scenery until the decent into the outskirts of Erwin TN. I talked with all the people that I have been hiking with and sorted my pack. Later we went to town for dinner. All in all a restful day which I think is good for my legs at this point.
Date: 2023-03-20
From: Uncle Johnny's Hostel

To: Uncle Johnny's 
Miles today: 0.0

It was cold this morning and it is supposed to be a little cold tonight, so when one of the people that I have been hiking with said he was considering a zero today, the rest of us caved within seconds. Today I took a shower and did laundry and little else besides talk to friends and eat. The guys I have been hiking with are starting to form a sort of tramily (trail-family). Tomorrow I get back to the trail with a big climb and a 16 mile day.
Date: 2023-03-21
From: Uncle Johnny's 

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.2

Today I left Uncle Johnny's. It was sad to say goodbye to the wood burning stove that had kept me cozy warm for the last three night, but it was getting warmer out, and it was time to say a final goodbye. I hiked up and over Unaka Mountain and then some rollers until the trail dropped into the Cherry Gap Shelter. It was going to be crowded, so I happily set up my tent. Overnight low inside my tent never got below 37 F, so I slept nice and cozy under my quilt. Today was a sunny day. I get so much energy when hiking under a bright sun. Tomorrow is supposed to be rain all day, so hopefully my energy reserves will last.
Date: 2023-03-22
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Ash Gap Dispersed Campsite
Miles today: 15.7

The original plan for today was to walk 17.8 miles (with 5482 feet of elevation gain) in the rain, from Cherry Gap Shelter to Roan High Knob Shelter. I could have made it, but the clouds are low and visibility is poor. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny, so since I wanted to go over Roan Mountain when there would be a view, I decided to stop a couple miles short and camp at a dispersed site at Ash Gap. I ended up wearing my rain coat all day long and my rain skirt after I got chilled while eating lunch. Gloves were going on and off all day as well. It was a cold wet chilling walk, but now I am under my nice warm quilt. Hopefully the clouds will burn off early tomorrow so I can get an early start over Roan Mountain. Tomorrow is resupply day. Have to make sure I have enough to make it 70 miles into Damascus.
Date: 2023-03-23
From: Ash Gap Dispersed Campsite

To: Station 19E
Miles today: 18.2

A bald is a mountain that is devoid of trees at the summit. Some are natural, cause by a combination of poor soil, elevation and weather. The Roan high knob is not a bald and there is alone a bit of a view at the site of an dismantled historic hotel. But after the trail goes over the roan high knob the trail then proceeds through Caver Gap then over a series 4 balds. The view from each bald is a little better than the last as is the effort required to reach the summit. This section is definitely best done north bound. My right knee started hurting yesterday, and all the down hills portions of today's hike really irritated it. I have started a ibpropfen regiment and I am trying to stretch, although, this knee pain is a little different than what I am used to, so I am not entirely sure how to stretch it. We will spend the next to nights at a inexpensive hostel (station 19) so I can rest, resupply and do laundry.