morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-03-27
From: Woody Gap

To: Day's Inn - Dahlonega, GA
Miles today: 0.0

After our first two days, which had not gone exactly as planned, we decided to take a zero to regroup.  In taking a day off, we were able to continue eating, drinking, sleeping, and let the weather clear and warm up a bit more. We woke to the sound of cleaning people coming to our room (3 different offers for fresh towels - very attentive!), but more importantly, a bluebird day.  We all stayed in bed until nearly one before deciding to get motivated - time to clean the mud off our clothes, take stock of the food situation, get a shuttle secured for the following morning, and make some phone calls. Kev and I opened the door to our room, realizing the beauty of the day and wanting to air some stuff out.  The door next to ours was open also and lo and behold, out popped Guru's head.  Our three buddies had ended up next door to us and had the same idea to take advantage of a day off After dealing with gear, we all splayed out in parking lot to take in the sun.  I'm sure it's quite a sight to see a bunch of semi-clean hikers clad in long underwear and town clothes lounging on blacktop as if that's normal. What a difference a day makes.  Tomorrow we're ready to go!  We'll head to Neels Gap, hit up Mountain Crossings for some gear changes, and then stay in the Blood Mountain Cabins Moose stayed in a couple years back.  One more night of luxury and then it's truly back to the woods we go.
Date: 2013-03-28
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 10.7

Here's something I think you all will be happy (and relieved) to hear: today was INCREDIBLE!!!The day started early - a shuttle back up to Woody Gap at 7a.m.  The winding roads at early hours are still taking getting used to, but we made it unscathed and only slightly carsick It was another bluebird day - the sun was shining, the wind wasn't so bad, the views were spectacular, and I was finally able to shed some layers and hike comfortably.  On top of that, I had an appetite and consumed an appropriate amount of water!  Phhhew. 10+ miles passed with relative ease -  only one substantial climb up Blood Mountain (the highest point in Georgia) and then we headed down to Neels Gap.  We all opted to forgo the classic 'shakedown' that's offered, as we were able to shed some pounds yesterday with the help of Guru.  Unfortunately, the few items I needed had been wiped out as everyone else had scrambled for the same gear following the cold of the last week.  I managed to get a Buff to help protect against wind and sun, but the Sawyer Squeeze, sleeping bag liner, and Hot Hands/Feet were simply not in the cards.  Luckily, I picked up my mail drop and was happy to discover I'd put a pair of Hot Hands in the package that I'd completely forgotten about!!At this moment, we are comfortably holed up in one of the amazing Blood Mountain Cabins.  The cabin is reminiscent of those our families stayed in up in Acadia...but even fancier and a hell of a lot cheaper.  For $60, we've got two bedrooms (upstairs and downstairs), a living room with extra futon, kitchen/dining room, a back deck (with a little grill!), and a bathroom with a wonderful hot shower.  The goodness doesn't stop there - there's a small store with an essential collection of snackables, the owner took our laundry and did it for us for free (!!!), and there are two bookshelves chock full of games and books to borrow.  Did I mention the satellite tv?? Since early this afternoon, we've played a few rounds of Sorry!, eaten a lot of candy, heated up frozen pizzas, consumed more Gatorade, sipped on hot chocolate, and are currently watching Back to the Future.  It's fun to live like our 7 year old selves again  This place, my friends, is an absolute gem!!!Tomorrow, we're heading back into the mountains.  The plan is to spend 2-4 days out in the woods - no snow in the forecast, so we're feeling pretty pumped! Side note: Moose blue blazed around Blood Mountain today and swears he took out a family of at least five grizzlies.  He even had time to snooze in the sun for nearly an hour while he waited for Kev and I to catch up.  What a stud!
Date: 2013-03-29
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 11.5

After stocking up on bizarre sounding candy bars at Blood Mountain Cabins (.50-.75 cents each!!), we headed back to Mountain Crossings.  Kev was able to send back a huge bag of stuff and I found a sleeping bag liner that had just arrived that morning!  Yesss!!We did an official weigh-in of our bags before heading out...fully loaded with water, gear, and four days worth of food, my pack is now down to 30 lbs!!  Kev is down to 33 lbs, but Moose took the cake at 28 lbs It felt good to hike again today.  The sun started out behind clouds, but slowly made its way out and I was finally down to hiking comfortably in my base layers.  Kev and I stopped for lunch at a beautiful vista - what a treat to stop and eat whenever you want in excellent company and surrounded by so much natural beauty.  The major bummer of the day was saying goodbye to Moose.  He has decided to head home.  I'm sad he won't be along for the adventure, but proud that he's doing what's best for him, especially knowing it was a hard decision.  Much love to you, Moose - can't wait to see you in Maine!!Kev and I made it to Low Gap early this evening and found a sweet campsite.  It's my first night in my new little home since I set it up in my apartment a couple months back. So far, so good!  Now it's 9:30, which means it's time for bed.  Falling asleep to the sound of a running creek, a light rain pattering on my 'roof,' and a slightly cold nose.  G'night, all
Date: 2013-03-30
From: Low Gap

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy to say that I was plenty warm in my tent last night - I think the sleeping bag liner was clutch!  Given that lights were out from 9:30-7:30, I was also sufficiently rested.  I woke to a few passing rain showers, but everything compared to our first night seems like paradise!Kev and I started packing up just after 7:30.  Since everything was wet outside, all packing was done inside my tent - an undertaking that required some interesting acrobatics We thought we were ahead of the game, but by the time we were ready to roll out of camp at 9:15, the place was a ghost town.  Apparently a 9:15 departure time on the Trail is equivalent to sleeping past noon in the real world??  The hiking was a gentle incline for most of the day, which felt great.  Unfortunately, around the fourth or fifth mile, my right knee, which had been a dull pain for the previous day or two started to downright throb when I went downhill at all.  There was also a  growing pain in my left heel.  Kev and I met up at the Blue Mountain shelter for lunch and to make a game plan.  His feet had been bugging him since the day before too.  Looks like our bodies are fighting back to this new norm we're imposing on them!  We checked the weather forecast - 90% chance of rain for the night, 70% chance of thunderstorms the following day, and another 90% chance of showers the next night...orrrrr walk another 2.5 miles to Unicoi Gap and town.  Yes, we are living a luxurious Trail life so far, but we're still heading North a step at a time, which is the ultimate goal.  The descent from Blue Mountain was brutal, so I treated myself to music for the first time - amazing pick-me-up!  Even more amazing was spotting a neon colored table of treats from a half mile above the parking lot at Unicoi Gap.  I hobbled down to discover an amazing display of trail magic.  Sunshine, whom we'd met on our shuttle ride from the airport, is a thru-hiker who is currently injured.  While she rests up, she's staying with a local family and spreading trail magic to those nearby.  The spread included FIVE DOZEN dyed hard boiled eggs, plastic eggs stuffed with candy, moon pies, crackers, candy bars, 50 giant chocolate bunnies, and oranges...next to a cooler full of orange juice and an assortment of sodas.  Sunshine is putting some massive good karma out to the world and I'm hoping it comes right back to her so she can return to the Trail soon!  Thanks so much for the Easter treats and bringing a smile to the end of a hard day!!We got a ride into town and picked up this gem: "I don't think outside the box; I don't even consider the box to begin with."Looking like a zero tomorrow: lots of ice, Bengay, elevation, and naproxen in my immediate future.  Will be hunting for a couple knee braces before hitting the Trail again too.  Anyone have other suggestions to help ease these pains??
Date: 2013-03-31
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Best Western - Helen, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A zero day in Helen, GA.  Not much to report.  Hit up the breakfast buffet and have discovered I may be starting to get the hiker's appetite - I ate a plate of eggs, a sausage patty, biscuits & gravy, a danish, a yogurt, a blueberry muffin, a bowl of Frosted Flakes, and washed it all down with some apple juice.  Nom nom nom!Kev and I also have our trail names!  After careful consideration, Kev shall now be known as Toretto.  Just before Moose left the trail, he gave Toretto the name because of how quickly he hikes and scoots out of sight.  Toretto is a reference to Vin Diesel's character in The Fast and the Furious for those of you (like me) who didn't get it My name has gone back and forth between Little Engine and First Gear - both in reference to my slow and steady pace...generally all the time, but particularly up hills.  I refuse to stop, huffing and puffing away with red cheeks an inch at a time.  Toretto made the final call: First Gear.  It makes me smile when I walk.  I must admit with these sore knees, I've come close to stalling out a couple times going downhill...thank goodness for the ability to throw it into four wheel drive with my hiking poles!PS - Toretto and I have run into more creepy crawlers in this motel room than we did outside...
Date: 2013-04-01
From: Best Western - Helen, GA

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Back to the mountains we go!  Toretto and I have decided to cut back a bit on the miles in order to ease the strain on our bodies.  I was only able to pick up one knee brace in town because the little pharmacy had one small, one medium, and one large brace.  Ha!  I put it on my right knee, since it's been giving me the most trouble and it did help a bit today.  Definitely still very sore though :/We had a bit of a rough start before the hiking even began today.  We'd stayed at the Best Western in town partly because there'd been an almost guaranteed ride back to the Trail from the manager.  Welllll, ALMOST was the key word and it turned out the manager had a meeting today and couldn't shuttle rides.  Womp.  We hoofed through town, thought of calling a cab, and then decided it was time to try our luck with hitch hiking.  We threw up halfhearted, nervous thumbs since neither of us had ever hitched before and the very first truck pulled over immediately!!  They let us jump in the bed of their truck (Toretto was jammed between a rusty saw and a bag of garbage and I ended up halfway on a tire) and we laughed the whole way up the mountain.  It was freezing and windy, but we were glad for the ride!Sunshine had set up camp again at Unicoi Gap, so I grabbed a few Easter egg malt balls before Toretto and I headed north.  The hiking today was mostly uphill, a much needed break for my poor knees.  I should also mention it was 70 degrees!!!  What a drastic difference compared to last Monday when we started!We're camping just off the summit of Tray Mountain (over 4000 ft).  It's a bit windy, but really beautiful.  I think we're either a day ahead or behind most of the people we started with, so we've had a good time meeting new hikers tonight.  We had a fire going earlier and Jedi/Fifth Avenue pulled out a little guitar he's been carrying on his hike to play some tunes with dinner. Tonight's an early night - in my tent before dark.  Looking forward to another shorter day tomorrow!
Date: 2013-04-02
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: scattered clouds

A nice easy shelter hop today - 7.3 miles with only a few to go in the morning to hit a much needed food resupply in Hiawassee.  Laundry and a shower are sounding pretty good too Toretto and I were pretty much the last out of camp again today...might be starting a trend!  We stopped midday for our first hot lunch - we each had extra dinners that we figured we might as well consume before heading into town.  Felt very luxurious to have Mac Cheese in the middle of a hike! Thankfully the hiking was relatively even terrain today.  We had one major climb up and down Kelly Knob, but it ended right at Deep Gap where we're staying for the night.  Again, a totally new crew of hikers for the most part - a bunch of peeps who came all the way from Blue Mountain!  My knee seems to be on the mend (slowly), but I still can't currently fathom a 15 mile day.  Just reminding myself to hike my own hike...will get there a day at a time no matter what!
Date: 2013-04-03
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Blueberry Patch Hostel - Hiawassee, GA
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: broken clouds

Early to rise this morning!  Toretto and I even managed to be in the middle of hikers leaving.  By 7:45, we were on the Trail.  I had my heart set on the Blueberry Patch Hostel and we had to hoof it to make a 9:30 shuttle.  A giant hiking bubble had started to catch up with us and massive rain was in the forecast for the following day, so we wanted to ensure a warm bed for the night.  By 9:27, I could hear cars but couldn't see the road and had more or less resigned myself to the fact that I was going to miss the shuttle.  At 9:29, I popped out of the woods: yesss!!7 of us crammed into Gary's car (all packs on top and three of us in the trunk).  There were single bunks that were three beds high and a double bed bunk as well.  Patchouli and I decided to share a double - we'd met in the car, discovered we had the same backpack, green crocs, and green sleeping bags: kindred spirits! Happy to say the Blueberry Patch lived up to its reputation!  By 11, the hostel was full with 11 of us.  We stripped off our stinky clothes, wore mismatched outfits from the hiker box, left laundry baskets for Gary (ammmazing - can't believe he's willing to handle our filth), all had hot showers (oldest to youngest - happy to be in the middle), and sipped on Cokes.  When we were once again clad in clean clothes, we hitched into town, gorged at an all you can eat buffet for $6.50 each, and still got wayyyy too much at the grocery store despite having full bellies.  We had a super fun crew up at the hostel, including Bonsai, Sherwin, Patchouli, Rosy Eagle, Noodle, Jedi, Low Rider, and a couple.  Jedi sang another installment of 'Trail Acuna Matata' - a hilarious rendition that included anecdotes from the day. In bed early tonight - we all struggled to stay up til 10.  I've got to get better at falling asleep quickly...I seem to have been overtaken by a snoring symphony...so much for sleeping soundly tonight!
Date: 2013-04-04
From: Blueberry Patch Hostel - Hiawassee, GA

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: overcast clouds

What do you do when you're staying at an incredible hostel and the chance of rain is 100% and the highs are in the 30s-low 40s?  You thank Gary for starting a fire for you at 7:00, you fill yourself with as many pancakes (covered with blueberry sauce), hash browns, biscuits, sausage patties, scrambled eggs, hot tea, and OJ as you can...and then you pack your gear back into the truck and head to the trailhead.  It was a cold and miserable four and a half miles, filled with rain, wind, and hail...but all miles count and it was good to get a few done.  Toretto and I were in good company with about half of the group from the hostel.  We ended the day two hours after we started it at the Plumorchard Gap Hostel - it was by far the best shelter so far on the Trail.  It had three levels and we managed to cram 7 of us in the very top which protected us from the wind and helped with holding in body heat.  After changing from soaked clothes and wishfully hanging things from the rafters, we hunkered down for the better part of the next 24 hours.Jedi kept us all laughing while he increased his song repertoire from Acuna Matata to a few other Trail inspired songs...then we slept for the better part of the afternoon...then we cooked dinner...then we went back to sleep.  Ever since going to camp, there is not a more soothing sound in the world to me than rain hitting a tin roof - all it took was a day of terrible weather for me to sleep soundly.  Of course, no night is normal.  At 3:00, Jedi came crawling up the ladder shivering like crazy.  He had given his sleeping bag to Low Rider, who had been sleeping in an emergency blanket since his sleeping bag had gotten soaked during the hike and his water bladder had burst in his bag...and he'd been freezing too.  So Jedi snuggled in between Patchouli and I.  Patchouli shared her sleeping bag and I gave him some Hot Hands, but he shivered for a looong time after that.  Thankfully, everyone made it through the night!  As Low Rider, the eternal optimist says, 'It's all part of the adventure!'
Date: 2013-04-05
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: few clouds

Two facts to share from the day before I deviate: 1. We crossed our first state line!!!  So long Georgia, hello North Carolina! 2. We received some amazing trail magic today: a big thanks to Red Truck & Green Truck for the snacks and beers (Ranger IPA from CO!!). I plan to keep this journal primarily Trail related, but today I spent some time reflecting and it seemed worth sharing.  A year ago yesterday, I found a posting for the job which would ultimately bring me home to Maine.  I'd wishfully been looking at jobs on the east coast from afar in Colorado and there it was!  I told only my best friend/roommate and my (at the time) boyfriend.  I decided not to raise hopes with anyone in my family since the prospect of actually getting said job seemed like little more than a pipe dream.  The biggest factor in deciding to move back to the east coast was family.  A very large draw for moving to Maine had been the chance to spend some time with my 93 year old grandmother. The next day - a year ago today - my grandmother, Missy, passed away.  I have few regrets and 'what ifs' in my life, but if I could, I would have called her one last time, told her I was moving home, and that I loved her very much.  I know it wouldn't have gotten me to Maine any faster, but I wish she'd known. And so this morning, as the sun rose and the fog burned off into a day full of sunshine, I thought of her.  In her final years, Missy became small and frail, limited to her comfy chair, sharing stories, the daily crossword, and snuggles with her beloved cats.  But earlier on, Missy loved to be in the woods and was an avid birder.  Today, I remembered the grandmother of my childhood.  There's no way Missy could have put in the miles we did today, not because she couldn't have, but because she would have been too distracted by all the birds calling to one another.  I imagined her stopping short when there was a warble, signaling me to slow with a raised hand.  I pictured her with raised binoculars, a slightly stooped posture, and her walking stick dangling from her wrist.  What I would give to hear her beckon, "Come here, my little Kate Waite!" so I could follow the crooked point of her finger into a tree, straining to see what came so naturally to her.  Today, I hiked for my grandmother.  She would have loved it out here.
Date: 2013-04-06
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Long Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

16+ miles today!!  Our biggest day yet, although admittedly, it was by accident Our group has slowly disbanded over the course of the week.  Some people are now a day or two behind us, and today some people made a big push toward Franklin (19+ miles).  Patchouli and Yuke even got up at midnight in order to start hiking big miles today.  I have to admit, the hot chocolate smelled delicious in the middle of the night, but not good enough to get me out of my cozy sleeping bag and into the collllld.  Bonsai and Sherwin were off soon after breakfast, so Toretto and I were last out of camp (as usual) since we only intended to put in twelve miles.  We stopped at a shelter for a leisurely lunch before pushing on to the campsite we wanted to stay at for the night.  Unfortunately, Betty Creek Gap left a lot to be desired.  There was an abandoned tent full of water, an old car key, and plenty of other trash lying about - the place gave both of us the heebie jeebies.  Several groups came up behind us and were equally uninspired about the place, so we all moved on.  According to Awol's book, there was an old shelter site just another couple miles ahead - right past the 100 mile mark!  We became inspired by the milestone and, if nothing else, figured there would still be plenty of campsites up there...and so we pushed on.  Climbing up and over Mt. Albert at the end of a long day was a doozy, but  we hit mile 100, stood on top of our first fire tower, and got our first taste of New England-esque climbing!  When we finally stumbled upon the site of the old shelter, it was a gorgeous spot!  ...and under restoration.  Signs were posted everywhere that camping for forbidden. Womp!So, we looked at the guidebook once again.  The newest shelter on the Trail was just ANOTHER couple miles ahead...gahhhh!!  Our bodies (shockingly) put up with our shenanigans and we made it into camp as the sun was setting.  Sherwin saw us coming and let out a big woop  After three nights of surround sound snoring, mice scampering in alarmingly close proximity, and a 16 mile day, I was so ready to set up my tent and collapse all by myself.  This was not to be.  The Long Branch Shelter is a beautiful new structure, but it's built directly into a hillside.  There were perhaps three flat spots to sleep in and all were claimed by the time we arrived.  As a result, Toretto had to set up his tent more or less on top of the fire and enjoy being smoked out all night and I resigned myself to the top of the shelter again.  I must sing the praises once again of ear plugs - hooooorah!!It was also the first night that I was truly the only girl in camp - probably 15-20 men and lil' old First Gear What a complete and total reversal from my normal life in a profession dominated entirely by females!Tomorrow = Franklin. We'd originally estimated this chunk would take 5 days and we'll bag it in 3!!  Looks like we're starting to get our hiking legs