morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Standing Indian shelter

To: Carter Gap shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

Start 10:02End 2:28Best part - Hiking stick burnt in fireBiggest complaint - Boots falling apartWhen I went to leave this morning my hiking stick wasn't on the tree where I had left it. I mentioned it to Cory and he said he had indeed used it for the fire. When I leaned it there I thought it might get put in the fire if I leave it here but I figured not a problem, I'm ready to move on to a new stick anyway. I found a stick that was a little fatter than what I normally find. After a while I was ready to try something not so fat. I put my stick down and started to move on when I realized the fatter stick was better for me to use. I get corporal temporal syndrome, tingling in my hands, from clenching my hiking stick and a thinner stick lets you clench your hand tighter which is bad while a thicker stick makes you grip less tightly which is good. The fatter stick doesn't feel right but using it makes my hands feel better.This morning I reached Standing Indian mountain top. This is a spot I've camped at before. My friend Rick is friends with Ron who lives near here. We've backpacked in this area setting up a base camp and then doing day hikes. One year after staying at Mt. LeConte in the Smokies with my wife, sister-in-law and her husband they dropped me off at Winding Stair gap and I hiked to Rock gap which is where I'm hiking to tomorrow. From there I took a short cut to Standing Indian mountain and met Rick and Ron and the gang. After some camping and hiking with them Rick gave me a ride back to Ohio.When I reached the mountain top I called Rick to let him know I was at Standing Indian. I also called my wife and found out my son is taking my wife to the Kentucky Derby for Mother's Day. I told them to put my money on Blue Nose.
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Carter Gap shelter

To: Rock Gap shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Start 8:37End 3:33Best part - 12.1 miles wasn't badBiggest complaint - None reallyThe trail was pretty nice in the morning and after Albert mountain it was nice the rest of the way. Albert mountain has a fire tower with great views. It's also a good place to make phone calls. The climb to get to the top is tough and reminded me of Maine. Fortunately it wasn't too long of a steep climb.I talked to Tish and also called one of the outfitters in town and found out they carry Keen brand of hiking boots. I've decided I'm going to bite the bullet and go ahead and buy new boots. I want to get the same brand and style I'm wearing now to make the breaking in as easy as possible. Tomorrow I'm going to catch the Macon County Transit shuttle bus. From Feb 15 thru May 27 they do a shuttle service that picks up hikers at Winding Stair gap, Rock gap and a couple more stops at set times during the day. It's more than 10 miles to Franklin. My original plan was to hike the 3.8 miles to Winding Stair gap Monday morning and catch the shuttle there. Then I realized that since I've already hiked that section I can get picked up at Rock gap instead. Not hiking the 3.8 miles gives me a zero day and when I get the shuttle back the next day I'll get dropped off at Winding Stair gap, hopefully with a new pair of boots.
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Rock Gap shelter

To: Gooder Grove hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Best part - Food truckBiggest complaint - Young crowdAfter getting up and doing my morning routine I was just about ready to put everything in my pack and a guy showed up. It's the guy who runs the hostel I'm going to. Now I don't need to wait for the Macon County shuttle. There's two hostels in town and they compete for hikers so he was looking for anybody who might want to stay at his hostel.After a lazy time waiting for my laundry at the hostel I took a ten minute walk to town and went to Outdoor 76. I bought new boots and new convertible trousers. My old convertible pants had fly zipper problems. My new pair are gray instead of my usual khaki. The new ones don't have a zipper at the bottom of their pants leg. With the zipper you can remove them without taking your boots off. Supposedly Columbia does't make them that way anymore.Two guys that were at the shelter the night before were at the outfitter store. Four of us were going to meet at Muligan's. I stopped at an ATM and lost sight of them. When I got there there was one large group and a few people at the bar. My friends were nowhere to be found. I went back to the outfitters. Over an hour later when I arrived with the rest of the group the three hikers I was looking for earlier were just leaving. It turns out they were out back on the patio. Then we walked across that part of town again and went to a brewery. Breweries can sell beer if they have a food truck. The food I got at that food truck was better than most restaurants I've been to.Everybody's young. Bummer.
Date: 2016-05-10
From: Gooder Grove hostel

To: Siler Bald shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: clear sky

Start 9:05End 11:07Best part - Short dayBiggest complaint - Too many peopleI was planning on walking to town and having a big breakfast and then catching the shuttle at noon. The weather report was for afternoon showers and I decided to leave early and beat the rain. I only had 4.2 miles to get to the first shelter. I was the first one there. A ridge runner showed up soon thereafter and got all the trash from the shelter and the surrounding area. She told me about how the Cherokee had lived here. This area was the starting point of the trail of tears.Then Sandy Man showed up. A group of three showed up one at a time. I believe we had a total of fifteen eventually. We had 6 in the 12 foot wide shelter and 9 in tents. It was just too many people. Too much input. At least the group of three, one lady and one couple, were close to my age but not real close. The guy from the group close to my age had been an EMT person and also was an instructor. He said the three words EMT personnel hate the most are 'I'm a nurse'.
Date: 2016-05-11
From: Siler Bald shelter

To: Cold Springs shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Start 8:19End 2:55Best part - View from the campsiteBiggest complaint - UphillThe shelter we were at there was room for six and we were seven. I decided the shelter at capacity would be less desirable than pitching a tent. They appreciated my volunteering to pitch my tent. I also gave away a couple ezbit cubes for fire starters. One guy forgot to resupply his fire starters. They use a stick burning stove. He appreciated the gesture. I do a good deed and get to lighten my pack at the same time.The tent sites for this shelter are up on a ridge above the shelter with a short walk to get to them. We had four tents and three hammocks. You can see a city off in the distance which looks really nice at night. We think it's Franklin.The hike today had a lot of uphill. Tomorrow will have a lot of downhill. I guess it averages out. Doing 11.6 miles was a lot. We hiked by a stone tower today, not too tall but good views. I took a picture of what I think is a jack-in-the-pulpit. If anyone could confirm or deny let me know by signing my guest book.
Date: 2016-05-12
From: Cold Springs shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Start 8:19End 2:55Best part - Ice cream and popBiggest complaint - NoneI got up and took my tent down, did my breakfast and was first to leave again. I amazed myself. I guess I've learned a thing or two.This was a mostly downhill day, 11.6 miles. I got going and didn't want to stop for lunch. Hunger changed my mind so I had lunch around 1:00 PM. Today we came to Wesser Bald observation tower. All the thru hikers I've been bumping into said it was the best view so far on the AT. The room that I have at the Nantahala Outdoor Center is in basecamp, Kempart building, room 4. There's two bunks and a bench. Also supplied were a heater and a fan and a window. I learned a double tennis court is a great place to be assured of 'access to the sky' for my Spot Locater.After finishing my laundry I had a excellent meal at the restaurant including peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream and whip cream for dessert. The restaurant opens at eight in the morning and I hope to get there for breakfast soon thereafter.
Date: 2016-05-13
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Locust Cove gap
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

Start 9:15End 3:37Best part - Long uphill wasn't as bad as expectedBiggest complaint - PeopleThe uphill out of Nantahala Outdoor Center is six miles long. Since most of it was gradual it wasn't that bad. Just past the summit was Sassafras Gap Shelter. That's the spot the thru hikers I had been seeing the last few days hiked past me and now I wouldn't be seeing them again. You just start getting to know people and then they're gone.That night at Locust Cove gap there were several section hikers. Seven tents and two hammocks if I remember right. One lady section hiker who had spent most of her life in Houston has been living in Paris the last eight years. I found I was unable to come up with the things to say in french. It was interesting talking with her. Her trailname is Texpat because she's from texas and she's an ex-patriot. She'll hike until the time she's allocated runs out. She won't be back next year to finish. She'll find some other interesting thing to do. Also in this new group are four guys who work for Fedex, two in Orlando, FL and another two from NC or TN. Also there were another two guys who manage first and second shift at a Hanes packaging and distribution for women's underwear. The first shift guy took the trailname of Underoo.
Date: 2016-05-14
From: Locust Cove gap

To: Cable Gap shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Start 8:22End 2:48Best part - Last to start, first to arriveBiggest complaint - Inexperienced hikersSince I'm no longer hiking with thru hikers I'm actually passing people up. I'm in better shape now and although I was the last to leave Locust Cove gap I was the first to arrive at Cable gap shelter. Most of my fellow hikers have only been hiking a few days and are not in shape.At one point as I was hiking I heard a noise like a branch hitting the ground. I turned around and it had landed right on the trail two feet directly behind me. It wasn't a big limb, maybe six feet long and one inch think. No big deal but it does make you stop and think what if.I watched Texpat put up her tent. It only weighs one pound. Although rather small it looked like it would do the job. She commented that the fabric is such that you just shake any water off, no water absorption to make your tent weigh more wet than dry. It's called Zpacks soloflex and cost $500 so you won't see me saying anymore about it.Texpat said that she had hiked Camino de Santiago, a backpacking trail 800 kilometers long in Spain, France and Portugal. It's not really back packing in that you spend each night at hostels.
Date: 2016-05-15
From: Cable Gap shelter

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: light rain

Start 7:57End 11:50Best part - Running into MattBiggest complaint - NoneThe last day was 7.1 miles mostly downhill. Before you reach the Dam you come to the marina. When I was here 15 years ago there was a soda vending machine and parking for the marina. I use to park here for smokies back packing trips. Now the parking area says 'customer parking only' and there is a separate backpacking parking lot. There's also restrooms and a soda vending machine. I stopped to have a diet coke.I hiked on to the Fontana shelter known as Fontana Hilton. This shelter has electricty, lights and access to showers at the dam. There's supposed to be laundry too but I didn't see that.Continuing on to the dam on the way I ran into Matt, a guy that I shared the Rock Gap shelter with three days before. We hiked together for awhile and he wanted to stop and appreciate the view of Fontana lake. It's good to have fellow hikers that remind you to stop and smell the roses so to speak.I got to my car at the dam. I took time to get a free shower at the dam and then started the long drive home. Now I'll mention that I only got sprinkled on once. It only rained when I was in a shelter or a hostel. I didn't want to say anything before and jinx it.I plan on hiking my last section, 142 miles in Maine, starting in late July.
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To:  Frederick, Maryland
Miles today: 0.0

I spent the day sleeping at the shelter, barely able to go collect water, let alone hike at all. Various people, including Thunderbolt and Iron Mike, stopped by and wished me well. Thunderbolt was kind enough to give me his last Claritin and sown Benadryl. I chose not to take any medication in hopes my body would be able to break the fever naturally through rest and fluids. By the end of the day, I decided I should really be in short walking distance from running water and a toilet, so I called around looking for a trail angel to house me or drop me off at a hotel. Bonnie and Clyde gave me the number of a trail angel, Brave, who was willing to house me and take me to a doctor, but wasn't able to pick me up that evening. I ended up again staying the night at the shelter, and a very nice section hiker fetched water for me. The next morning, Brave drove 45 minutes to pick me up, distraught when she arrived after having just learned of the death of Baltimore Jack, a legendary thru-hiker and hostel caretaker. Brave took me to a Doctor and to get the antibiotics prescribed for my respiratory virus (breeding super bugs in my body!!) before dropping me off at her house. I stayed with Brave through Friday and got lots of rest and water. I also met other thru-hikers Brave had helped out (Magic, Double Dip, and Dirt Face). On Friday, Double Dip, Dirt Face, Brave, and I had a ladies night and made Alfredo, salad, bread with Brie, and strawberries for dinner, then watched a move and ate popcorn.
Date: 2015-12-06
From: murfreesboro, tn

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The tears finally reared their ugly heads as my emotions swarmed my chest, my stomach, my eyes, and my uterus. They had threatened an appearance a time or two, dancing just below my eyelids, but they had been kept at bay with a fleeting thought. But last night, the floodgates had collapsed with the realization of how much I would miss my wife. As she held me in her arms, I confessed I felt guilty for worrying her and my mother when I couldn't even verbalized why the hell I was doing this. She, being the beautiful sage she is, promptly scolded me that her worries were none of my concerns; they were hers to deal with and all I needed to worry about was taking care of myself. It was in that moment I realized part of this journey is simply that: to care for myself. One of the driving forces in my life is caring for others and making their lives better. But after my most recent career change, I've come to realize, while that does provide a great sense of accomplishment and purpose, it also leads to such a high level of anxiety I fail to properly address my own needs and eventually those for whom I am providing care. It's time for me to let go of my responsibilities to others and rediscover my relationship with myself. Imma do me for the next 6ish months.
Date: 2015-12-07
From: murfreesboro, tn

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Obviously, ultralight is the name of the game when hiking the AT, particularly in winter when you have so much added weight in clothing. As I was looking over my list, attempting to find ways to lighten my load, I thought about preparing for my monthly visitor, Aunt Flo. I suppose she must have known I was thinking about her because she decided to visit me without warning a bit early this month. :-/ Anywho, I'm not a lover of the tampons; they've always been exceptionally uncomfortable and even the most technical of brands failed to fit properly, leaving me with pads as being the only viable option....or were they....after a bit of research, I discovered the DivaCup. I'll forgo the details of how it works and anyone who's truly interested can look it up. The item didn't arrive in time for heavy flow, but I wore it over night last night quite comfortably with a light flow. I highly advise anyone wanting to decrease their impact on the environment or not wanting to hike out used menstrual items to give the Diva Cup a spin.
Date: 2015-12-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I learned today it will likely be cheaper to ship by weight rather than using the boxes at USPS. I weighed my "standard" drop box, which had 6 days worth of food, TP, toothpaste, batteries, hot hands, and a fire starting kit. It weighted almost 13 pounds, which means I've done well to stick to the 2 pounds a day for food. ?? I had stuffed everything into a $17.50 Priorty Flat Rate box, but the cost to ship the box by weight was only $13.55. I'm very happy to have learned this because, while my Tetris skills are strong, it will be Annie, not I, who will ship the boxes.
Date: 2015-12-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Life can be complicated. It's intricacies can be both beautifully moving and dramatically altering, particularly for those who are more sensitive to the environment. These people hear the minute sounds which may be slightly aberrant in tone, volume, or rhythm, and a person with heightened sensitivity will hear that above all other sounds, including an engaging conversation. Sounds can be painful, and not just the high pitched shrill of an ambulance...though those are particularly painful. These people can also pick up on the subtly in your voice when you are unable to lie with conviction. These people can be moved to tears with the sounds of joy experienced when a novel idea is understood, the rapture in a person's laughter, or a poetic piece of music. And that's just once of the senses...Smell, taste, touch, sight, vestibular...all at a heightened awareness. Most people who adhere to the cultural norms of American society are barraged daily with an arsenal of sensory input on a daily basis. Driving to work you experience car horns, break lights, anxiety in traffic, a turning signal, car exhaust fumes, the dump (Ugh!), the radio, a bird swooping before your car, a hill that (when you hit the correct speed) makes your stomach flop up and down, causing you to become just a bit dizzy. But that's just the outside. Then there's the tightening of your throat, the jolt of electricity throughout your entire body, and the pounding of your heart in your ears as you slam the breaks to avoid the bumper of the car in front of you. This feeling does not subside when you realize you will, indeed, survive another moment. There's also the tightening of your stomach, the slimy feeling of your sweaty palms gripping the steering wheel, and the racing of your heart as you get closer and closer to the job which makes you feel....And then there is everyone else. Their moods...can become your moods. This is wonderful when you surround yourself with beautifully happy people, like my wife. Singing a song or humming a tune (however out of key) spreads a sense of warmth throughout your body. This is in my (very non-scientific) opinion the energy people put off. This is probably the most difficult daily sensation for me to deal with because I am so sensitive to it. My mood can completely change for hours after spending minutes with someone who is consumed by negativity or drama. Many people are baffled at my decision to hike the AT solo, particularly in winter...but I am excited by the prospect of escaping the daily noise to embrace the symphony of nature. I have this romantic idea I will only encounter beautiful people along my trip....The AT awaits me...Hike your own hike...
Date: 2015-12-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

<--my dog, Eve... 2.5 more days till I'm on the trail...I have prepared myself as best I can and feel confident in my abilities to know my limits and set reasonable goals. I have almost finished documenting all my gear, organizing my mail drops, and other miscellaneous errands. I have created an outline of a schedule which puts me at hiking the summit of Mt. Katahdin on July 23, 2016. I would say that figure has a standard deviation of about 14.75 days. I have even organized the apps on my iPhone so my home screen has everything I will use on a regular basis. I suppose I may be a bit Type-A, but I hope to use that to my advantage to survive the bitter cold winds, torrential rains, and the ensuing aches and pains. This trait will not be of assistance to dealing with the sounds of the forest at night sleeping by myself. I will also have to set aside the need to reach insignificant goals in order to truly appreciate my surroundings by living in the moment. This is what I am most excited about.
Date: 2015-12-30
From: Springer Mtn

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: clear sky

And so it has begun! I awoke at 4am with nausea and vomited a number of times before crawling back into bed. We woke up at 6:30 to my alarm, showered (my last for a week!) and headed for the Saw Mill Place in Blairsville, GA. Due to my continued nausea and windy roads, I was not able to stuff my face as I had the previous night at the 5 Spot in Cleveland, TN (most likely the cause of my upset stomach.)After breakfast, we continuedto Woody Gap to await our shuttle. We met a NOBO thru-hiker, Matt, as well as a group of young men leaving the trail. Ron arrived and we began our journey to Springe Mtn. Along the way, we picked up a young couple who had traveled from Orlando, FL after decid By Christmas morning to hike the AT. They told us of a young girl who had her tent flooded and soaked her down sleeping bag. When they found her, she was so cold she said as not able to light her cook stove. She was planning to thru-hike, so I hope she makes it safely! Don gave us several pointers and dropped us off at the Springer Mtn parking lot. We took off for the southern terminus at 11:40am in a drizzle and arrived at the top in a cloud. The path seemed to be paved in silver and gold due to the Mica. After signing th register, we "began" our 2.8 mile hike to Stover Creek Shelter. After successfully crossing 3 creeks, we arrived wet and surprisingly early at 2:45pm. After we used the restroom, had a smoke, and collected water, a Brazilian family of three from Miami joined us. The father seemed as those his lips were incapable of closing for any extended period of time. He very graciously reminded me smoking can kill you, so I very graciously reminded him of the dangers of automobiles. The family retreated upstairs while we cooked dinner and enjoyed the sunset. The father seemed offended we did not wish to sleep upstairs with them...