morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-09-16
To: Q and A
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm an American working for a fine Canadian company the last 6 years. At best I get home to Massachusetts 40 days out of the year. Even in that small amount of time I've probably worn out the family's good will to listen to me blather on about the AT.That leaves me Canadians to entrap into one sided discussions about the trail. I find myself spinning conversations to go my way. It goes like this:Q: Where's your next project?A: No next project. When this one's done I'm gone.Q: You retiring?A: I'm not sure. All I know is next March I'm going hiking.Q: Where?A: The Appalachian TrailQ: ?A: It's this incredible trail that goes from Springer Mt in Georgia to Mt Katahdin in Maine.Q: ?A: That's OK. Americans are even worse when it comes to Canadian geography. It follows the Appalachian Mountains up the east coast of the States. 2,180 miles...er...3500 kilometers.Q: You're going to hike it? The whole thing? A: Yeah the whole thing. It'll take 6 months or so.Q: By yourself?A: Yeah, by myself but I'll not be alone. A couple thousand attempt a thru hike every year. Plus there's all the week enders, day trippers, and such.Q: What will you eat?A: Anything that has the most calories per weight. And there's trail towns where you can resupply and gorge yourself on real food...every few days or so. It's all about the weight you've got to carry. Q: Where do you sleep?A: I've got a tent. There's about 250 shelters along the trail. They get pretty crowded at the beginning of the season.Q: And you're going to walk the whole thing?A: Yup The conversation usually changes at about this point. Sometimes it changes abruptly. That's when I know I've gone too far. I'm sure this hapless victim senses that I'm just getting warmed up.My boss calls this hike my walkabout. And it really is all of that. The company has been very supportive...encouraging even. Each superintendent within the company has some odd quirk and I suppose this one's mine.
Date: 2013-11-13
To: Earl Shaffer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm no biographer and my information comes from Google, but one cannot check out the Appalachian Trail without hearing something about Earl Shaffer. In 1948, as the legend goes, Earl Shaffer became the first person documented to have completed a thru hike of the AT, NOBO from Georgia to Maine. One story is that he hiked in worn boots, an Army rucksack, and took no stove nor tent. There seems to have been some controversy, as no one had previously visualized someone hiking the entire trail in one season. The founders saw the trail as a more local resource for those "seeking fellowship with the wilderness." Earl was most likely walking off the horrors of WWII.In 1965 Earl again thru hiked the AT. This time SOBO from Maine to Georgia, becoming the first documented hiker to thru hike in each direction.In 1998, at the age of 79, Earl Shaffer again thru hiked the AT. This time he went NOBO from Georgia to Maine, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his first thru hike.The picture is of a plaque in Hot Springs, NC celebrating Earl Shaffer's 50th anniversary hike.
Date: 2013-11-15
To: Grandma Gatewood
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

What can you say about Grandma Gatewood? She raised 11 children on a farm. That's extraordinary enough. In 1955, at the age of 67, Grandma Gatewood thru hiked the Appalachian Trail. She wore Keds sneakers and carried a home made sack over her shoulder containing an army blanket, a rain coat, and a plastic shower curtain for shelter. Original ultra light thru hiker? Grandma Gatewood thru hiked the AT again in 1960. And AGAIN in 1963 at the age of 75. She was the oldest female AT thru hiker until 2007. We, the AT class of 2014, walk in the foot prints of giants.
Date: 2014-02-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

There's a mental twisting in the wind that goes with being a newbie. A newbie is what I'll be when my feet hit the ground on Springer Mountain in a week. At 66 I'm an old newbie to boot. When was the last time I toddled like a baby into such an adventure? Other than my recent sporadic training hikes the last time I backpacked and hiked for multiple days was way back in Boy Scouts,over 50 years ago. I found that old BSA "Bearclaw" packpack in the attic recently, after being away from home for almost 5 decades. A some point, long ago, I had written on the pack an accounting of the places it had taken me. And there, on the upper right corner, I had written "Mt Katahdin, Maine." That was when and where the dream of an AT thru hike was planted. My skin crawled with goosebumps to look upon this powerful talisman from the past. This pack had ridden on seemingly another person, long ago, with a much smaller body full of youth and energy. Had I not been on my knees poking through a box the electric shock of uncontrolled memory and destiny would have knocked me down. I think I will use the power of this blast often in the coming months. I'm a newbie. A babe in the woods. But I do like the idea of splashing a bold circle on the canvas that is my life.failure is not an option. Although my present hiker experience toolbox is empty I cannot visualize any ending this year other than standing atop Katahdin 50 years later as a thru hiker. But I can be patient. I'm most definitely a newbie and 2185 miles is a long hike. Honestly I'm intimidated by successful thru hikers. They are the hierarchy of gods and goddesses in my sky. A fresh batch twinkled into existence as the 2013 season closed. God gave me two ears and one mouth for a reason. I'm a baby. The words of these grownup hikers is all I have to put into my hiker experience toolbox. I suppose somewhere up the trail nature will take its course and I'll become a rebellious hiker teenager. And the trail will good naturedly take me behind a tree and tan my hide. The trail is, after all, the top dog god of this whole shindig.I recently retired as a project superintendent, the top dog on site in that world. Let me tell you I welcome and embrace my regression into newbiedom. First thing I've flung out the window is that damn thorn in my side called The Schedule. I aim to misbehave with any schedule that's counter to my hike. And no longer do I have to tell others what to do. Or play the den mother. Or file reports and endlessly field phone calls. As I wobble north on my baby trail legs I'll trust the grownups and grow up to be a tween somewhere around Damascus. I vow to be potty trained, hang my food bag, and leave no trace. The rebellious teenage years should kick in somewhere in Pennsylvania. If I survive that then maybe somewhere in the Whites I'll be allowed into the honored ranks of hiker trash. And always out there, never forgotten, is the top dog god's throne. Katahdin. But I fully intend to steadily dawdle my way north while smelling some roses and having play days on the trail. The grownups tell me it's best that way.
Date: 2014-03-04
From: Springer Mt

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Hiker Hostel did an excellent service picking me up in Atlanta and taking us within .9 mile of Springer Mt today after breakfast. I didn't intend to hike to Horse Gap today. It just happened. It was excellent hiking weather. Cold but not windy. A few of us kept leap frogging up the trail. Everyone in a good mood...excited to finally be making a dream reality. Often the trees were covered in ice and there would be ice rains. Nothing alarming. Kind of fun actually and the trees were beautiful with their icy accents. The miles seemed to go by fast. This part of the AT seems to me to be well maintained and smooth walking. I think most of today's hikers stopped at Hawk Mt shelter, 8.1 miles in. I got there around 3:00, felt good, and didn't really feel like stopping yet. So on a couple more miles to a tent area at Horse Gap. Without foliage to block the view I thought the last two miles were the most picturesque of the day. I'm wondering what tomorrow will bring. Life is good. BUT, my fingers are getting cold so...I'll do what the sun has done and set into my sleeping bag.
Date: 2014-03-05
From: Horse Gap

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm glad I slept at Horse Gap last night because the warm up was right into Sassafras (or kick-yo-a$$) mountain. And it was outstanding with a wonderful saddle at top. Up there the trees were doing their ice fall routine. With fresh morning legs I was lovin' Sassafras Mt. About three miles from Woody Gap I was dragging. I mean if there'd been a flat spot I'd have made camp and slept. But it was a sunny, perfect for hiking, day. I couldn't figure it out. Legs didn't hurt. The dogs were barking a bit but not bad. What gives? What a newbie I am! I stopped in the middle of a climb, rooted around in my food bag, and sat there and ate two Snickers bars. 15 to 20 minutes later it was way better than Red Bull. I had Snickers wings. Lesson learned. Have a snack every couple of hours. The last couple miles to Woody Gap flew by. And even better the was trail magic. The Leapfrog Cafe is in the gap. Want to see a lot of happy faces? Feed them. It. Was. Awesome. Then I caught the 5:00 Hiker Hostel shuttle into town, got a room, and jumped into the bathtub in my hiking clothes. Life is good. Back to Woody Gap in the morning.
Date: 2014-03-06
From: Woody Gap

To: Neel Gap
Miles today: 10.7

I have a new respect for hikers who journal on this site. It's probably the same on other sites. Navigating the site on the wee screen is challenging. At least for me. I had this idea that I'd enter witty observations and amuse the reader with my wry insights. The reality is by the end of a day of hiking I'm not sure I CAN think. Which is odd because one spends all day just walking and thinking, with the occasional snatches of singing. I wonder how many journal entries I've read were typed on one of these infernal tiny keyboards with frozen fingers. Lots, I'm thinking. There was trail magic going on still at Woody Gap this morning. And a wind driven morning it was! There's a bear issue from Jarrod Gap to Neels Gap. To camp one has to have a bear canister. I suppose that's fine for "campers" but we's hikers and who in their right mind is going to carry the extra weight? So option 1 is to tent at Lance Creek 3.3 miles in, or 2 hike to Neel Gap 10.7 miles away, over Blood Mt. Blood Mountain looks daunting on the profile map but it's really just a long gentile climb. Sassafras Mt was worse. And the view from Ole Blood is awesome. So spending the night at the Walasiyi-inn hostel in Neel Gap. The AT actually goes right through the building. And more trail magic! The local Baptist church showed up with a huge spread of home made goodness. And yes I wrote my name down on their prayer list. Life can be so good!To top the evening off the legendary Baltimore Jack, 9 time thru hiker, is on the premises and regaled us with stories and wisdom. It may be sleeting outside but this has been one outstanding day!
Date: 2014-03-07
From: Neel Gap

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Up to today my whole focus was Neel Gap. Most thru hikers are aware that up to 20% drop out by this point on the AT. I didn't want to be in that statistic. So Neel Gap, 3 or 4 days away, was what I tried to not think about but really was the blackboard my mind was writing on. This morning, as we set off in a soft rain, I felt different. I felt the AT stretch north in a Katahdin infinity and I knew my hike had just begun. I remembered Jack saying...we want to do what we can to help you hikers make it the next few hundred miles. After that your success rate is good...I thought about this nugget much of the day. And about the support that all of us have gotten already. It really is a flowering of the best in humanity. Today was made for hiking. The rain stopped. No wind. The sun made guest visits. It warmed up. And the views, including through the leafless trees, were wonderful. As I came down the long decent into Low Gap I first could hear voices and laughter. Then down through the trees I began to see tents. I realized that I couldn't wait to join this evolving family. And sit down with my food bag in the circle. Another great day on the AT.
Date: 2014-03-08
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Rocky Mt
Miles today: 11.1

I've been drinking water for 66 years. You'd think I know how. Not on the AT I don't. It may not be summer, or particularly warm, but I cannot believe how much water I'm drinking. I'm learning that I need to rethink my water drinking habits. I am learning to camel up. The added benefit is a lighter pack. I've started researching the trail ahead for water sources. And not the ones ".5 miles down a steep blue blazed trail." Not if I can help it! I'm learning to filter my water and then stay at the source and force myself to drink as much water as I can. When I slosh to my feet and hoist the pack I'm completely water logged. It works! One more lesson learned by this newbie. 11.1 miles just happened today. The goal evolved over the course of the day. Unicoi Gap was a steep down and then a long up to the top of Rocky. I resisted the temptation to catch a ride into Helen at the gap and am so glad I did. I tented on grass atop Rocky at 4000 feet under clear skies. Incredible sunset as the stars came out and the lights of Helen, GA came on below. Outstanding! Our circle of tents was Adam, Zacksquatch, Big Mac, Grasshopper, Runaway, Mountain Mama, Pretty Bird, Chris, Thunder, and AMP. And a merry gathering it was. I am having the time of my life.
Date: 2014-03-09
From: Rocky Mt

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

Kelly Knob you kicked my assAnd you did it with scenic classI don't know who Kelly is but the namesake knob had me crawling. Chris and Pretty Bird said they got to the top and had fits of laughter over, well I guess the exhaustion of the climb and the wonder of having the time of ones life. Who was this Kelly person? But then it was downhill to Deep Gap Shelter and the gathering of today's family of hikers. This is so much fun!We've been having wonderful weather. Of course it has to change. Meanwhile I'm grateful. We all are. And when the weather turns bad I think the hiker family will just bond tighter. As for Deep Gap Shelter I thought it the nicest I've seen yet, though I skip some. It was almost tempting to stay in the shelter. But the promise of a clear moonlit night made my tent the first choice. And, I'm not motivated to meet the shelter mice yet.
Date: 2014-03-10
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 3.6

Today was a nero day...not a zero but not a full day of hiking. I came down into Dicks Creek Gap around 10:00 with the hostel, a shower, laundry, and resupply on my mind. Only to find trail magic again, being done by some thru hikers from last year. Nobody knows hiker hunger better than hikers! I just stay amazed at the almost daily random acts of support by trail angels. Sir-Packs-Alot's hostel opened March 1. Very nice. The shower felt incredible. Stand Up washed my funky, and I mean funky, clothes that I'd last laundered, while wearing them, back in Woody Gap. Was that 5 days ago? Time has warped. I found an awesome cuben fiber pair of camp shoes in the hiker box. And some Spam. I've been dreaming about Spam lately. How weird is that. Sir-Packs-Alot himself drove us into Hiawassee to resupply. Myself, Grasshopper, Runaway, Mountain Mama, Adam, Zacksquatch, Big Mac, Chris, and Pretty Bird all met at an AYCE buffet for some good southern grub. I don't know how long our little clan will hike at the same pace but that only makes these moments together all the better. Some people I passed on the trail earlier also showed up at the hostel today. It was so good to see them again. Especially Shelly whom I started out from Springer with. She's from Brisbane, where my daughter now lives, so I felt somehow closer to my daughter. 'Cept Shelly is now Bean Dip. Because of all the layers she wears. The family steadily evolves. It's really quite wonderful.
Date: 2014-03-11
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

I sure complained about Kelly Knob a few days ago, didn't I? What a noob! The climb out of Bly Gap, just over the NC border, set a new benchmark for wheezing, leg burning, compound granny gear ascending. Hello NC. We all had fun at the end of the day, around the camp fire, replaying the climb. The AT is making us into hikers. Today's climb was training for bigger things on up the trail. I'm liking this season. There's just about always a fine view through the leafless trees. Today was sunny. The mountains stretched in all directions. Stunning! Crossing the GA/NC border was a huge psychological boost. It's probably silly because over 2100 miles still remain. But who cares. We are all excited about it, together, and that's a fine thing.
Date: 2014-03-12
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: broken clouds

I had to include a picture of trekking pole tracks I took a few days ago. Before I become immune to the phenomena. A couple years ago, while watching an AT documentary, I thought these poles quite odd. What are these woosies doing hiking with ski poles? I get it now. Several days in and I've been saved from falling countless times. Almost all the hikers I see on the AT use trekking poles. Some don't. The trail tread way it lined virtually every where. I like to imagine the tracks as hiker training wheels. Chalk today up to rain. Time to ante up for the beautiful weather we've been having. I got to try out my cuben fiber rain kilt for other than my tent door mat. Works great! As for my rain jacket...they're made to keep you warm, not dry. It rained much of the day. My boots got wet. The wind blew. And the temperature dropped. Around dusk the ground was covered with a layer of wee ice balls. We just made the best of it. Beats the heck out of going to work.
Date: 2014-03-13
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap
Miles today: 12.2

Whoa, she was a tad cold this morning. I had put my boots in the shelter rafters last night, to hopefully dry a little while I tented. This morning they were frozen solid, as was my pack. Everything that got wet in the rain yesterday. Plus, my tent blew down during the night and my sleeping bag was wetish. AND I didn't keep my Sawyer water filter in the bag with me so it's ruined. Still the noob. But the trail is schooling me. I left camp with Franklin as the goal. Usually my plans are vague but today I needed to get into town and get my stuff dry and to see Outdoor 76 about new footware. I've been nursing bad fitting boots since Neel Gap. My feet have grown! Baltimore Jack recommended this outfitter. I was hobbling pretty bad by Rock Gap. Called Haven's Budget Inn in Franklin and they drove all the way to the gap to pick me up. Just part of Ron Haven's legendary support for thru hikers. Incredible. Mountain Mama passed me as I hobbled along. Zacksquatch, Adam, and Big Mac didn't hike in yesterday's rain so they're back there somewhere. I don't know where Big Gulp and Pretty Bird stopped tonight. Grasshopper and Runaway camped shy of Rock Gap. Our little clan has dissolved for now. It will be so much fun if we meet up again. Chances are good. Part of the fun on the AT. Tomorrow is a zero while I take care of my feet. Meanwhile life is good!
Date: 2014-03-14
From: Rock Gap

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a zero day. No miles. First order of business? Get to Outdoor 76 outfitters, as recommended by Baltimore Jack. I was fitted by the same man who did Jack. It. Was. Awesome. I learned things about foot structure that I was totally unaware of. After 66ish years of walking. The process took almost 2 hours. Turns out my foot is really about size 11.5. But with short toes. I've been buying shoes all these years based on toe placement. My arch and insole have been crammed in a shoe 1.5 to 2 sizes smaller. I'll be taking the miles easy for a while to adjust to my new trail runners. And recover from any lingering effects from my old boots, since the discomfort started way back on Blood Mountain. I am so glad I got to Outdoor 76. I cannot recommend them strong enough. And, they have micro brews on tap! I wrote my name on the wall in the pub. The class of 2014 has a ways to go to fill that wall with trail names. Meanwhile, back at Haven's Budget Inn, Ron Haven himself picks us up in his bus at 4:00. And proceeds to take us around town to resupply. It was really fun. Ron has been doing this for decades. Who had the most fun? Ron? Us? It's been a wonderful day. Lots of trail family is here. And family in the making. This is so much better than I imagined.
Date: 2014-03-15
From: Franklin, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: light rain

I promised myself I'd do an easy day with my new shoes. It wasn't easy to stop hiking at 2:30 and set up camp...but probably important for the sake of my feet. On the other hand it's peaceful here at the shelter. It'll be fun to see who shows up. And I've got time to really look at what hikers have written in the shelter journal. Big Gulp, Pretty Bird, Grasshopper, and Runaway are now several miles ahead. Mountain Mama has a zero today so she's behind. None of us have seen Adam, Zacksquatch, or Big Mac for a while. Our little group has dissolved. But the trail has surprises, so you never know. Today Fun Size and I started from Rock Gap while the rest got off the shuttle at Winding Stair Gap, 3.7 miles north of Rock Gap. It's all good. This morning the First Baptist Church of Franklin picked us up at the hotel and shuttled us to the church where they fed us pancakes and bacon. They even took our pictures, provided envelopes, printed the photos, and offered to mail the envelopes to wherever one wished. And they were excited to serve us. The dining hall was full of pictures of thru hikers. Each class of the past few years had a mural of trail names on the wall. We all signed the class of 2014. The church will be doing this for four weeks. Every day. It makes one speechless!
Date: 2014-03-16
From: Siler Bald Shelter

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Rain. Yup, rain. All day. Reminded me of all those years I lived in the Seattle area. No big deal. But on the trail there's no bus stop shelter or store awning to duck under. My gratitude to the weather gods for keeping the wind down. I saw plenty of signs of blow downs from times past. It tends to remind one that the Appalachians can get wild. It has been a good day. I'm on the AT! There's no Maine without rain. I did miss some great views I suppose. The overlooks looked out upon...well, clouds and rain. The last 1.2 miles out of Burningtown Gap to Cold Spring Shelter brought reward. There, at the shelter, was Big Gulp, Pretty Bird, and Fun Size. Totally unexpected. Life is good. I spent my first night on the AT in a shelter.