morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Siler Bald 

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: light rain

Out of bed at 5:23 -- on the trail at 6:45. That's not very good again. I keep saying I need to improve, I but haven't figured out how. Nice trail this morning, smooth & mostly dirt with a slight downhill. 2.2 miles per hour for the first couple of miles: that's what I need if I'm going to do a long day.I think I got some nice sunrise pictures. Siler Bald is certainly a good place to view the surrounding Mtns, including Standing Indian, a very tall one straight to the South but which I won't reach for quite a while because the Trail loops way around to the East before it gets there.The first hikers I met were camping: Hollywood, Chili-Mac, Waffle-House, Jason (looked like a couple of more still in tents). At Winding stair Gap, [I meant to learn why it's called that], I met 2 just starting a hike to Springer, and up the hill I met 2 who are finishing a hike from Springer, then another 3 section-hikers along the way. The 4.2 miles down to Winding stair Gap was done in 2 hours -- that's pretty good. I got to Rock Gap shelter -- 8 miles --in just about 4 hours, which still feels good since I only did 6 something the whole morning yesterday.I stopped to use the privy at Rock Gap Shelter, built by Boy Scouts, I believe, out of plywood, unlike most other shelters. It used to have a porch over the picnic table; currently, that's being rebuilt in some different way. Every time I come down to a gap, it seems like there is more poison ivy. Oh well! This afternoon, I met Tortoise, Nepala, also 2 section hikers. Now for first big climb of the day, 6 long miles to the top of Albert Mtn.   After hearing thunder much of the afternoon, just as I got to the top, I met a hiker who said she'd been "drenched" coming up from the South. The sun was shining on my side of the Mtn. I never did see any rain, but coming down the steeper South side, the rocks were all wet & a little slippery. Altho I wanted a long day, I had considered stopping to camp at Betty Creek Gap, where I had stayed 3 years ago. When I got there, I found "No Camping" signs all over [to let the area regenerate]. Apparently the guidebooks haven't gotten the word.Less than 4 more miles to Carter Gap Shelter. I got there before dark ¢ about 6 hikers staying in the shelter or a nearly tent. Amazing how inexperienced these NOBOs appear. They've come less than 100 miles so far ¢ I guess I felt pretty experienced by the time I completed the 100-mile wilderness.
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: light rain

My various attempts to repair my air mattress have only succeeded in slowing the leak; so that means I have to pump it up a couple of times during the night. I woke up about 5:30 ready to pump again, but when I saw the time, I decided I might as well just get up & get going [quietly, so as not to wake others].The first few miles were a gradual walk up Standing Indian Mtn., the last mile-high Mtn. on the AT.   It's downhill from here! Views from the top weren't so great except to the South.   Then the Trail heads down on a fairly steep old road. I cut one deadfall along the way. I stopped at Muskrat Creek Shelter for lunch. The water supply behind the shelter looked dry & dirty, but there's a better source just down the Trail. Hot & Sunny. Not at all like going thru these Rhododendron thickets in freezing rain 3 years ago, enjoying their shielding from the wind. Then it was on to Bly Gap, with the iconic old tree, followed shortly by the Georgia state line. Only one state to go! Somewhat more poison ivy here, but not the big crop I remembered from a previous hike.I went thru a place called "Blue Ridge Gap". Given that I've been following the Blue Ridge Mtn. for some time, with many gaps, why is the one distinctive enough to get that name? The next little hill is called "As Knob" ¢ I could't figure that one out either: looks like they forgot either an "s" or an apostrophe.Arriving at Plumorchard Gap Shelter, I found 2 recent high-school graduates out for a hike. They spent most of their time working on a smoky fire. I offered them advice on that & also on equipment.
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap -- Hiawassee
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: light rain

I wanted to get going early & make short work of the 412 miles to the Gap. It was up & over Buzzard Knob, then only one little bump on the way down. I got to the road just as a group was being dropped off from the hostel; so I was able to get a ride right in. It's only a half-mile road walk, anyway, to Top-of-Georgia Hostel, a new one since my last time thru & really quite nice.I wasn't able to get in to the bunk room right away because they were still cleaning it, but they said they could get right on my laundry while I took a shower. The estimate was 112 hours, but the reality was considerably longer. I really needed to get my town clothes washed, tho, before going in. I could get a little done on the computer, but I'd be more focused at the library. They shuttle hikers to town at 1:00 & 4:00, which didn't seem like useful times to me. I finally got going a little after noon & went out to hitchhike into town. It didn't take long, & the driver was willing to take me all the way thru town to Big Al's Pizza for their buffet.   I thought it was pretty good, even if it meant walking 1.5 miles back to the center of town. Actually, I was able to hitch a ride from there to the library anyway & spent a very productive afternoon on the computer taking care of a number of things back home.The pick-up shuttle from the hostel is at 6:30, which seems like an odd time if hikers want to get a nice dinner. After the library closed at 6:00, I went quickly over to one grocery store, thinking I might be able to do the shopping I wanted to. Well, I got caught there in a very heavy rainstorm, after which I was able to get over to the other store nearby. As I came out of there, the shuttle was waiting. I said I wasn't ready, but wondered if they'd take me to Subway, which was on their way. They did. I got a sub & a few odds & ends at Taco Bell, then headed for a drug store back up the street. Their prices seemed too high, but right next door was a Verizon store I hadn't noticed before. I was able to get some useful help with my phone & then hitch a ride back to the hostel.   A good day for hitch-hiking!At the hostel, I met Leapfrog, Torch, Merlin, K-Bar, Torvin (Ger), Octopus, Foxtrot & Odd. I had received my package which I'd sent on from NOC ¢ it sure seems like plenty to get me thru to Springer.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Rocky Mtn

To: Swaim Gap
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: light rain

I got up & out before the others were out of their hammocks, then down the hill to Unicoi Gap, which gives access to Helen, Georgia [I've never been there ¢ too close to Springer ¢ but it apparently has a Bavarian theme] & Hiawassee.Then up & over to Blue Mtn. Shelter, where I had my second breakfast. The next 9 miles were generally downhill. Almost immediately, I started meeting hikers coming up from Low Gap Shelter. I don't have any names because my notes got deleted by my phone. Most of them are still optimistic about getting to Katahdin in time, some directly & some via flip-flops. Less than 50 miles into a thru-hike, most of them are surprisingly confident about their hiking abilities. Maybe those who start the Trail really early or really late are that way ¢ it's the mid-March to Mid-April group that has the most trouble. I did note a lot of hikers from Florida & kidded them about escaping the heat for the Mtns.After making pretty good time thru the middle of the day, I stopped for supper at Low Gap Shelter. There were 3 sets of fathers & sons, out for the week-end, & more family groups kept pouring in. I was able to find just enough room to cook. Someone had advised me early in the hike: "Anytime you get a chance to stop & sit, sit down." I don't do well at that. I get the pack off, but sometimes there isn't a place to sit, & at others I'm just too busy with getting water & cooking to have time to sit.After I left, I started meeting thru-hikers again. They won't find much space at the shelter, but there is still a lot of camping space around it. Many hikers prefer to tent, even if there is shelter space available ¢ for privacy, quiet, warmth ¢ I find that I can go either way. I often think I can get going earlier if I don't have to deal with a tent, but in reality that doesn't make much difference [unless it's raining]. The next shelter in theory was Whitley Gap, but I doubt many thru-hikers go there: it's 1.2 miles off the Trail!. The names in this area are interesting: Poor Mtn [was it the soil?], Poplar Stamp, White Oak Stamp, Hogpen Gap [a popular place for short-distance hikers to get on & off], Levelland Mtn. [oxymoron?].Just before that last one is Swaim Gap. I had camped there last time, so I stopped at exactly the same place. Actually, I'll call this a 3d time, since 8 years ago I thought I was camping on Levelland Mtn., but probably wasn't. I kept finding more poison ivy in the campsite this time. As I was setting up, I was joined by a German hiker named Christian, who had lots of questions about hiking, equipment, &c. He had just reduced his load & still had a pretty heavy pack. When he asked the time, I gave him an answer that didn't make sense [sun wasn't really above the horizon at 9:30 pm]. It turned out my phone was suddenly 1:15 hours off! I don't know how that happened ¢ I'll blame low battery.Anyway, I was set up & in bed in time for the rain.
Date: 2016-06-07
To: The Approach Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today, I did the 8.8-mile Approach Trail from the top of Springer Mtn. to the Amicolola Falls State Park Visitors Center. This does not count in the official distance for the Trail, but it is a nice way to get down the Mtn.I started down the Approach Trail at 8 o'clock. The first 3.4 miles took a little over 2 hours, a little slower than I'd hoped; however, it did have more rocks and more uphill portions that I had anticipated.The whole thing took 5-1/4. On the way down, I met a couple hiking up who are involved in Trail Maintenance. I got to talk with them about the shelter design & about the rocks removed from the Trail South of Blood Mtn, but I forgot to ask about the lack of blazes around the Three Forks area. I met others coming up [only one intending to hike the whole Trail], who kept telling me there were two women ahead of me who had also finished yesterday. I caught up with Cassidy & Breezy [sisters] around the middle of the falls area, near the end of the trail. Lots of tourists out today!I checked in at the visitors center [#12 SOBO for this year, a totally meaningless number -- they had 1600 NOBOs; probably more than twice that many didn't register]I got a shuttle to Hiker Hostel, a very nice place. Besides a number of section- & day-hikers, I was with Cassidy & Breezy, Maxipede, Mountain Man, ALL just finished. Plus  a hiker whose name I forgot, just starting, still planning to do the whole thing straight thru. I guess he's fast enough! Next, I will go back up to the South end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, to complete 45.5 miles that I was prevented from hiking previously because of a forest fire.
Date: 2016-06-08
To: Train to Charlottesville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up early & continued my re-packing till breakfast. Seemed like a good meal, & everyone was leaving for the Trail soon after. Then things quieted down & I used the computer a bit [should have done more!].Maxipede was getting a shuttle to Atlanta, so I rode with them to the post office. It's at the far edge of town, so I had a bit of a walk after mailing my package, to get to the library. I worked a little more, including printing off my train ticket, tho it would only print the left side of each page [as long as it had the bar code, I figured I was OK, & I was]. I thought I had had a good meal at the Smith House [family style, Southern Home-cooking] 6 years ago, so I wanted to go there for lunch. Mistake. They had nice, thick pieces of chicken, heavily breaded & deep fried, some kind of cube steak, which was the only way to get gravy for the mashed potatoes, breaded okra, well-cooked flat green beans, corn pudding, pasty buns -- I don't remember what else.Next I had to walk a half mile in hot sun, back out to the highway near the post office to find a likely spot for hitchhiking. After a while, a young woman in a Mercedes stopped & gave me a ride about halfway to Gainesville, at a place where the roads branched. An older woman who "never picks up anybody" gave me a ride the rest of the way. She works night shift at a nursing home & was still hoping to get some sleep before going to work, but she enjoys the fact that nothing much happens on the night shift.Neither of us knew exactly where the train station was, but she left me off where the bus station used to be [near the tracks], & a half-hour walk got me there. It's an old station, now occupied mostly by Norfolk Southern freight offices, but it does have a waiting room with old-fashioned wooden benches & a plug for my phone. And rest rooms!!! By this time, I had diarrhea, & it was really nice to have the place to myself 4-5 hours, with no one competing for the rest room. The only other person to get on there arrived about 9:00, late if the train had been on time (but it was 40 minutes late). There was a newspaper clipping on the wall telling about the waiting room being fixed up last Fall, but we agreed that the only thing done was to paint the walls. Even the vending machines hadn't been restocked for months! The seats would look nice if refinished, but they still wouldn't be very comfortable. The train was already dark when I got on; I was assigned a seat fairly near the rest rooms. It was hard to get comfortable, but I was too tired to do anything but try to sleep.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Rockfish Gap -- Waynesboro
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Up by 5:00; still not out till 6:15. I never seem to improve, but why start something new at this late date! One of my least comfortable campsites, and yet I didn't sleep too badly. Pickle & Jogwalker were the only names I got at the shelter this morning.Stopping to eat breakfast, I was passed by Lone Ranger, doing half the trail SOBO this year, then by 3 trail runners. During the rest of the day, I met [most of whom I'd met 4-6 weeks ago between Mt. Rogers & Erwin] Foxtrot & Mothly Stud, Lionheart & GI Joe, Slinger, Pookie, Joyride, Chatterbox, Spero, Gently & Scarface (Tasmania), Wook, Wild Child, Coach, Foot-Long, Banana-Pants, Jungle-bee, Blueberry, Bandana, 60-cents, Nora & Turnip (Japan),.The spiders or other web-builders have really been busy overnight and this morning. Even on the trail to the shelter, where someone had already gone out ahead of me! I had envisioned this day as 20 miles of mostly downhill after perhaps two sizable climbs. I learned that there are no sizable climbs in Shenandoah compared to farther South, & it's mostly very gradual soft Trail most of the day until the last few miles, which I had expected to be an easy downhill. That part turned out to be more difficult this time, but being so close to the end still left a"down-hill" feeling.SMP primarily uses concrete posts with writing stamped in metal tapes that are somewhat hard to read. This morning, I found them giving rather inconsistent information: Garman Gap was 12 miles from where I started, but wasn't mentioned again till I was almost there. Another place might be 1.9 miles and the next marker half a mile down might say 1.8. Then, after Beagle Gap, the system changed totally. They'd gradually been changing to wooden posts with blazes on them and no other information, but then suddenly nothing ... or only very faded blazes. Calf Mountain shelter, 7.5 from Rockfish Gap sure seemed a lot farther in than I thought it was. The last 3 or 4 miles get pretty rugged. I had thought there was a lot of smooth Trail too, but what there was was interrupted repeatedly by twists & turns, ups & downs over rocks or logs. It seems to be a re-route some years back because we can no longer use an old road that belongs to someone who owns the top of the Mtn. I did 1/2 hour of Trail work in 4 different places spread all over the day -- cutting various things impingeing on the trail.It was another hot day, tho less humid than Georgia, & hard to find water for about 10 miles in the middle, tho there were a lot of springs near the end.As I neared the Gap, I called Roy, one of the local shuttle volunteers, who took me into town to the Lutheran Church Hostel. There I met: Mothly Stud, Foxtrot, Gabriel, Holy Diver, Little Debbie, Hiro, Hellbender, Back-Seat-Driver, Morel, Fun-Size, Pie, Ghost, & a few others whom I had met farther South. It felt good to be done & to receive congratulations for completing the Trail [AGAIN!].
Date: 2014-03-02
To: Trail Book Library
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

In preparing for my own thru-hike I have been reading the memoirs of other thru-hikers. I have amassed a library of 40+ trail books, 99% of them Appalachian trail thru-hikes (three who hiked the PCT). Lower shelf has already been read and the top and upper shelf are the "yet to be read". I have had lots of time to read this winter in Michigan since we have been blasted by a Polar Vortex all season.
Date: 2014-04-05
To: One Year Countdown
Miles today: 0.0

It is now the one year countdown until my 2015 thru-hike. Lots of hiking and backpacking planned with my hiking group this season, most of my gear I have and my savings account is established. Can't wait to be a part of the class of 2015. Hopefully there is no polar vortex the winter before our hike. ( :
Date: 2014-05-26
To: A Taste of the A.T.
Miles today: 0.0

Memorial weekend five members of my Michigan hiking group and I embarked on the adventure of hiking the 40 miles of the A.T. in Maryland. Once on the trail we were joined by fellow 2015er Double A and The Hairy Missile as well as trial dog, Maximus.We arrived in Harpers Ferry, WV on Thursday and stayed at the Teahorse Hostel where we met 2014 thru-hiker Midnight Sparkle. We were shuttled to the PA/MD state line Friday morning to begin our hike. Being a holiday weekend there was high traffic on the trail. So we were able to interact with day hikers, weekenders, section hikers (Bones and Luna) and thru-hikers throughout the weekend.This weekend was my test to make sure that I really want to commit to a thru-hike in 2015. Even though this hike was tough, partly because I am out of shape right now, I know I want to be a 2015 thru-hiker.
Date: 2014-07-04
To: Loneliness
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

In all the books that previous hikers have written about their thru-hike experience they all mention the mental aspect of the hike. Loneliness is an obstacle that drives some hikers off the trail. So I thought I would practice loneliness by solo-camping on an island in Lake Michigan, North Manitou Island, for a couple of days.I was a little bored since I stayed in one spot all weekend but I had a beautiful view, great weather and had lots time for A.T. reading. I had some issues to deal with like a leaking sleeping pad, water pump with dirty filter made water a little smelly and on the first night deer surrounded my tent.Will definitely make the next trip solo-hiking and do some miles and not just solo-camping.
Date: 2014-09-13
To: Shakedown Hike - Isle Royale
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Labor day week was 6 days of backpacking on Isle Royale, MI. Forty-seven miles from one end of the island to the other (Windigo to Rock Harbor). Prior to this I had only done weekend backpacking. It was like a mini AT-like adventure. We slept in a different location each night (tents the first three nights and shelters the second three), we hiked in woods and on balds, flora, fauna, fresh air, unshowered for six days and socialized with fellow backpackers. I learned many things about myself and my gear. Balds with a breeze are a great place to dry gear. Although our clothes never seemed to get all the way dry. It rained every night but the last night on the island so there was always some level of moisture in the air. I made sure to keep at least one outfit completely dry the whole time as my camp clothes. My rain skirt and pack cover were not waterproof. My sleeping pad had a slow leak. Amazingly my thick hair stayed the cleanest looking of our group. More hair absorbs more grease? I did a little sponge bathing to keep down the stink in my stinky parts. Went home with an empty food bag so I planned that perfectly. Fell a few times on the downward sloped slippery rocks and bent one of my trekking poles. Isle Royale had tons of forest fungus which I love photographing. But the best moment on this adventure was seeing the moose and her two calves. When I returned to mainland Michigan I felt like all my senses had been heightened by spending a week in the woods. I could smell scents more strongly, I could hear sounds more clearly which was a bit overwhelming returning to real world noise.
Date: 2014-09-24
To: Start Date Locked In
Miles today: 0.0

Well this DREAM just reached another level of REAL. Plane ticket prices from Detroit to Atlanta are under $200 right now so I bought my plane ticket for next year. I have a direct flight from Detroit to Atlanta on March 29 and plan to be on the trail March 30. I have also started purchases food rations for my mail drops. The six month countdown is upon us!!
Date: 2014-12-04
To: The BIG 5-0 !!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This week I just finished reading my 50th Appalachian Trail memoir. Yes ladies and gentlemen I have traveled down the Appalachian Trail 50 times now through the words of those who have gone before us.Reading about it and doing it are two entirely different things and I have no doubt I will have my own struggles. But I will also have my own adventures and my own memories of the experience.Looking forward to this great adventure and to seeing if any trail memoirs are generated from the class of 2015.
Date: 2015-01-04
To: Cold Weather Gear Shakedown
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My hiking group makes fun of me because I never join them for the cold weather camping and backpacking events. But I did this time because I wanted to test what I planned on bringing on the trail for cold weather. The temperatures were a high of 30 and a low of 18. For sleeping I had an Omni-heat liner and my 15 degree Northface Hotlum sleeping bag. For clothing I was wearing hiking pants, omni-heat long sleeve shirt, insulated jacket, hat, gloves and neck gaiter. My footwear was my regular trail runners with gaiters to keep snow out and hold in some warmth.Thumbs up on my cold weather gear!Our adventure was at Nordhouse Dunes in Freesoil, MI. Our hiking was on snow covered sand dunes. In the photo the blue in the background is Lake Michigan.
Date: 2015-02-15
To: Valentine's Day Hike
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My local hiking group is awesome. Six other members followed me out into a winter weather warning Saturday morning to get in six miles on this snowy trail here in Michigan. The weather warning was for dropping temperatures and high wind gusts. Being in the woods really buffered the wind gust but there was one section of the trail that was open field where we felt the full impact of those wind chill temps. Everyone was dressed appropriately and was able to stay warm and we just kept moving. Gotta LOVE these HEARTy hikers!!
Date: 2015-03-08
To: How a Michigander trains for elevation
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

It is kind of hard to practice for elevation in Michigan since it is not a moutainous state. So we resort to stairs....lots of stairs.This is better than the stair machine at the gym, at least this way I am out in the fresh air.Happy trails to all my classmates beginning their AT adventure this month.