morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-13
From: Mollies Ridge shelter

To: russel field shelter
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: overcast clouds

too cold and rain is coming, lotsa rain. so I turned left and headed 6 miles to a picnic area and hitched a ride into Gatlinburg. tik came along. man i hate my fair weather mindness. i need to just get going. my mileage is down and i only hiked like 3 days this week. all the same guilty, wimpy feelings came back, but i just can't handle the cold. make it 85 degrees and i will go all day, but make it 40 and I am done.staying at the Grand Prix hotel with about 30 other hikers. all dodging this rain, but they all made it to newfound gap. so they are 20-25 miles ahead of me. I will ride out this front then move on and get my miles in. I know I will make it up when the weather clears. I need to double my total, i need to get 400+ miles a month. It will slowly creep up.I will start out at newfound gap on monday. then when I am done, come back and pick up the 25 miles I missed due to the weather. This is because it is a bit rough to get back to where I was with out going southbound from the gap or redoing the trail from fontana dam. I will do it in the fall south from the gap to fontana. Does this make me a section hiker now? LOL! The section is not being skipped, just postponed. I hope it warms here soon and that this is the last cold weather for a bit. i can handle the rain with 70 degrees, just not in the 30's.
Date: 2007-04-19
From: newfound gap

To: icewater spring shelter
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: scattered clouds

a slow start out of the gap and stopped to rest but decided to stay with the sky turning dark and the temp falling. good thing too as it started snowing and snowed all nite! 5 days in Gatlinburg and i still get caught in the weather! in the shelter was a good crew and they didn't mind the hammock hanging in there.rafiki, sapra, paul, hangglider, worn heel, oreamnos.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: icewater spring shelter

To: tri-corner knob shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

walking thru the snow is no fun. same group at the shelter plus a few others. long day of walking and many blow downs across the trail. the trail here is also covered in rocks making it hard on my feet. feet killing me. had to crawl over and under and around like 15 trees today. fun. everyone is goign to go for the 14 miles tomorrow, but I don't think I can go that far. I will have to stop at 7, would love to do 10-12, but can't camp on the side of the trail in the park.pt
Date: 2007-04-21
From: tri-corner knob shelter

To: cosby knob
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

so lame. stopped after 7 miles, but I just didn't think I could go another 7 miles. probably best for my sore feet. i probably could have made it. got 10.4 downhill miles tomorrow to standing bear hostel. no problem. I hiked well today. quickly and strong. I can feel it all getting better and stronger. saw trout lilies today while walking. so pretty. it's nice being at the shelter early, it is quiet, a cool day, no one else here yet. i'm still not eating much, but i know i need to for the energy. i feel sluggish at points during the day. this is my last nite in the smokies. they gave me all they got to give, except bears. got snow, sun, rain,views, fog, flowers, shelters, mice, gatlinburg, climbs to over 6k feet, horses, weekender's, day hikers, shuttles, hitchhiking, sore feet and cold fingers, wet boots, blow downs, storms, mud, ridge runners, and more than a few slips and falls.at the shelter are radar, wrong way, joe, moosehead, scuffles and little bug shoes( 2 young women who are twins)
Date: 2007-04-22
From: cosby knob

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Ok, so I know it has been a while since I posted here, sorry. Internet access is harder to find than I thought and when I do get it, I am mostly rushed with others waiting or too many things I need to do in town, ie. laundry, food shopping, sleeping, etc. So, things are going well. The usual about the hiking, hiked in rain, cold, heat, nite, etc. feet and knees are sore, always tired, etc, etc. Went to trail days, had a blast. I have done 500 30 miles or so so far. Now I know that some of you who know the trail know that Pearisburg is at about 620 miles or so. I had a pretty bad week last week. Tough physically and mentally so I decided I needed a break. Not wanting to give up my hiking partners, I jumped ahead to Pearisburg and rested for a week while they caught up. I feel much better and am itching to get hiking again which I will do this morning. to be honest I've been more than a bit bored sitting here for a week. My knees feel a bit better. They were the main reason I needed a break. I hope they can hold up to more hiking.So the biggest news I have is that I found a dog. I named her Bella. She was found near Shady Grove, TN by two hikers and we ran into them in Damascus. Since we were hiking south back to Kincora, we took her with us to look for signs and to call the shelter. There were no signs. When we got back to Damascus I had her scanned for a chip and there was none, so I decided to keep her. She is 10-12 months old and the vet says she is a pure bred Red Australian Shepard. she is very sweet and playful. she hikes well and stays near me. she has a pack and carries her own food. she knows a couple of commands and I am working with her on learning more.SO today, Monday June 11th, I am back on the trail and let's see how I do. If I can't continue, I have still had a great time and hiked 500 more miles than most people thought I would.pt
Date: 2007-01-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

happy new year did a couple miles today with my wife and kids.we went down into our back woods to a place called peters cave.its not really a cave just a spot that goes into the rocks a little bit.nice day here in western mass.we plan on hiking every sunday that we can weather permitting.there's a new trail here in lee we want to check out next week.not to long 3 mile loop trail that goes to an old dam that let go in 1968 killing three people and flooding much of east lee.
Date: 2007-01-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

trying to decide weather or not to fly to roanoke.the price is pretty steep almost 500 bucks.its a 10 hour drive but im leaning that way i'll have to see if airfare's come down in the next couple of months.im going thru my usaul new years weight loss program maybe this year i can really lose 20 lbs.gotta give up the beer we'll see how it goes.
Date: 2007-04-25
From: home

To: bryant ridge shelter
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I got going this morning at 5 a.m. My dad and uncle brought me to albany airport.Im flying to philly then on to Roanoke.I met up with jaybird and our shuttle driver delwood there.We leave jennings creek at 2 p.m a nice easy 3.7 miles to bryant ridge shelter.Jaybird and i catch up on whats been happening in our lives since last year.We stop and water at a spring then keep going.Im walking along when i see a big black snake in the trail.We stop and take some pics then jaybird realizes he dropped his water bottle.As he drops his pack and goes back for the water i sit and watch this snake.It starts up the trail in my direction when it gets about six feet from me it suddenly dives into this stump.When it does a mouse shoots up in the air abour two feet with a baby hanging onto its back the second baby was'nt as lucky and i watch as this snake gulps it down.Heck this is better than animal planet.Jaybird returns and says the water fell out all the way back at the spring.Delwood had given him a bottle holder and i help him get this on his hipbelt.We soon come to bryant ridge shelter and its a big one, a double decker.We're joined for the night by a thru hiker named no joke from georgia.It feels good to be back on the trail after a long winter.
Date: 2007-04-26
From: bryant ridge shelter

To: thunder hill
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The one new piece of gear i bought this year was an insulmat air mattress. And its worth every penny as i slept great.No more sore hips from my little z-rest ive been using the past few years.We get going around 8:30 after pop tarts and instant coffee.Its uphill right out of the shelter to Floyd mt. elv.3560 its very hot already mid 80's.As we take a break we meet a thru hiker named bacon turns out he's from dalton ma. wich is about 15 miles from me.Bacon did'nt have much to say as he was in a hurry.We take a lunch break at cornelius creek shelter then start the climb up apple orchard mt.As we get close to the top i see this big dome on top must be some kind of weather station.It looks like a giant volley ball.After the summit you come to the guillotine wich is a rock wedged between two other rocks its really cool.I had heard thru the grapevine that their is another jigsaw hiking this year.And as was setting up camp at thunder hill he showed up.Turns out he's also a carpenter from birmingham alabama.Jaybird has switched to trail runners and as i bragged that i had'nt had a blister since i switched to them you guessed it i got a blister.First one in a couple years.The temps are dropping and it looks like rain.Thunder hill has an exellent box spring its just the three of us here tonight.As i was fixing my dinner i melted a hole in my ziploc bag but was quick enough to avoid wearing to much of it.Another good day
Date: 2007-04-27
From: thunder hill

To: matts creek
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: moderate rain

It poured rain all night.Alabama jigsaw pulled out at 5:30 he was quiet as a mouse.By 6:30 the rain had stopped but heavy fog stayed.We left at 8:30 this seems to be our regular time to go.We soon crossed the blue ridge parkway for the first of many times.Then up to thunder hill lookout there were no views today.crossed the B.R.P again then climbed up to high cock knob elv.3073 it was a fairly tough climb.After that it was down to marble springs where we watered up.Then we climbed up to the belfast trail and something called the devils marble yard as it was all small rocks.I finally got some cell service and called helen and the girls.I talked for a while then made my way down to matts creek.The first order of business was to soak my feet in the creek downstream from the water source of course.As i was sitting there jay bird got to the shelter and decided to join me.Well he promptly slipped and fell on his butt in the middle of the creek luckily he did'nt drop his camera.This water was COLD but boy did it feel good on my feet.Also here are 3 section hikers two tented and i cant remember thier names.The one guy was named thumper and he was from new jersey.
Date: 2007-04-28
From: matts creek

To: punch bowl
Miles today: 12.7

I slept really well last night.We sat and had breakfast with thumper then he left.I had a good laugh watching jaybird try to pack his new pack.Its quite a bit smaller than his old one and it turned into a two man job but we got it all in and no zippers popped.We left and soon came down to the James river walked along it for a while then crossed on the foot bridge.Its the longest foot bridge on the trail.When you get to the river the elv. is only 678 feet wich means the rest of the day was gonna be uphill.It was a long climb up little rocky row then came big rocky row.Called and talked to my mom for a while.Jaybird caught up and we headed into salt log gap.Then headed up bluff mt.elv.3372.Once on top you come to the monument for little ottie cline powell who died on this spot in 1891.Ottie went for firewood for his school and wandered off seven miles to this spot and died he was 4 years old.We left bluff mt and dropped down to the punchbowl shelter we just beat the rain in.Im very tired tonight gonna turn in early.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: punch bowl

To: cow camp
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a near full moon last night.I got up to pee and the moon was so bright i did'nt even need my head lamp.Just after we got settled in our bags last night i was trying to get the weather on my radio.I closed my eyes for a minute when i opened them up there was a mouse sitting on the edge just looking at me.He chewed all night long but thankfully it was'nt our food or packs.We got going around 8:10 our usaul time.Today was going to be our longest day of 15 miles.The day started with a crossing of the blue ridge again.Then we dropped all the way down to robinson gap elv.607 ft.Then we started the climb up rice mt. all the way up to 2228 ft.Gaining 1600 ft. in 1.5 miles that hurt.Once we climbed down the other side we crossed the pedlar river suspention bridge.Then we headed around the very nice pedlar lake.Stopped at brown mt.creek shelter for lunch.Jaybird caught up and took his shoes off for a long break.I left and soon came to the old foundations of a settlement where freed slaves had built thier cabins.I crossed u.s 60 and started the long climb up bald knob, a 4000 footer at the end of a 15 mile day yippeee.tHE SUN WAS AT FULL FORCE AND IT WAS STEAMING.It was almost 3 miles up and had several false summits.A false summit is just when you think you've reached the top it goes up again.I ran outta water almost at the top.Idid'nt rest long as i was very dry.Came down the mt. to the cow camp side trail i knew what was next a half a mile off the trail to the shelter WAY DOWN THE HILL. Joined by a thru hiker named turbo jaybird came in about an hour later.We are two very tired hikers.Had a quick dinner and hit the bags.
Date: 2007-04-30
From: cow camp

To: dutch haus b&b
Miles today: 12.5

After the long climb back up to the trail.A half a mile that dose'nt count.And man it was a long half mile.We came to cold mt. a nice open bald with 360 views.Next came tar jacket ridge another bald.I just dont seem to be into hiking today.I miss my family and just start thinking the hell with it what am i doing here.Could just be that its been six days without a shower am im tired.But the lure of hot water and cold drinks keeps me going.I pass greasy spring road and a couple of small streams.Then i came to woodworth shelter.This is where we're to call earl from the dutch about picking us up. Down at the bottom of fish hatchery rd.There is a father and son from n.c then 3 thru's came.Dice from maine and hike and caterpillar both from florida.Jaybird came in soon after them and then a kid from vermont called the brain.We had no cell service here so it looks like we'll be walking all the way down.The brain is also heading to the dutch haus.And we start down, when we get to the turn off jaybird gets through to earl and we're soon on our way.What a differece a couple of hours make.As i write this im sitting in a bath robe after a hot shower sipping cold sweet tea with smell of dinner in the air.AHH life is good again.Dinner was awesome. asparagus soup lasagna with meatballs and peanut butter pie.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: dutch haus b&b

To: harpers creek
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

I did'nt sleep good at all last night.Next door a bunch of beagles barked all night.And if you know that beagle bark you know what i mean.Took a shower and enjoyed breakfast with real coffee.Im carrying instant and it sucks.Earl drove to the store to resupply then to the gate at fish hatchery rd.1.1 miles later we were back on the trail.Did a little bouldering on spy rock wich is very nice.Then came main top mt.4040 ft. Passed crab tree falls trail then headed up the priest.The priest is the last 4000 ft mt. until you get to killington vt.I stopped at the priest shelter for lunch.I left before jaybird and went over the top.It was an easy climb.It was however a long rocky way down the north side though.Today is a much better day and im back to having fun again.I guess i have one of those days every year.But the older my girls get the harder it is to leave them for two weeks.I dont how thru hikers can be gone for six months.After the priest i came down to the tye river.I crossed on another suspention bride then headed the 2.5 miles up to harpers creek.We're joinded tonight by mark,sarah,and lisa from here in va.out for a week.also a thru named eleven and then the brain came in.He had stayed at the dutch haus for the free lunch they offer then left at 1:30 and was 20 minutes behind jaybird who left a nine a.m Man those kids can cover some ground.Tommorow is a short day of only 6.2 but its over three ridges wich from here looks a long way up.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: harpers creek

To: maupin field shelter
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: scattered clouds

We had a full shelter last and i slept the best nights sleep ive had yet.We took our time getting going today as we only had 6.2 miles for today.jaybird and the brain traded candy bars with jaybird giving up a little payday energy bar for a king size snickers. the kid never saw it coming.the day started with the climb of chimney rocks.Its hot again today in the 80's.We leapfrogged with the 3 from va.most of the morning.Heading up the last part of the 3 ridges the smell of all the wildflowers was awesome.Your sense of smell seems to really intensify out here.I stopped to call home and jaybird called donna.Then we stopped at hanging rock overlook.The 3 from va. were having lunch here. we took some pics and headed for the shelter.A thunderstorm blew in and cooled it down thankfully.Met matt and his dog u-dog. A former thru hiker he's doing side trails and heading for delaware water gap. There is a big group from a school in charlottesville camping here to.It was a nice day with plenty of views.Jaybird gave me a mt. house dinner to go with my potatoes so im having 2 dinners i guess the hiker hunger has caught up with me.Tommorow we get back to a full day 16.2 miles the profile map dosent look to bad.We'll see
Date: 2007-05-03
From: maupin field shelter

To: paul wolfe
Miles today: 16.2

The rain lasted all night.And its still raining this morning.Jaybird was still packing when i left. I put on my packa and headed off into the rain.The fog is thick so i dont think there will be much to see today.I soon cross reeds gap va.664 and then come to three ridges overlook there's a bunch of school kids having some kind of nature class.Not the best day for outdoor classes.Right after 3 ridges you walk right into what looks like someones backyard these houses are close.Im moving right along as the fog has taken any chance at views today.The rain has made the rocks VERY slippery and i almost go down a couple of times.I cross over cedar cliff and humpback mt.The downfall of the packa is that the jacket and pack fly are one piece so if you want to take off your pack you have to take off the jacket too. So i decide im not gonna stop i put it high gear and just get into a fast pace.The trail is pretty easy going and ive got a package of mrs.grasses chicken noodle soup ive been carrying from the start just for a day like today.So all afternoon im driven to hike by the rain and the thought getting into the shelter, putting on warm dry clothes and having chicken soup.Before i new it i could hear the mill creek and soon came to the shelter.16.2 miles in under six and a half hours thats real fast for me.Matt and u-dog are already here i have my soup and its as good as i hoped for. got to talk to helen for a while cell service has been scarce.Its now five and we have a full shelter.We have 4 section hikers from allentown pa.out for a week.We have dice,cat and hike thru hikers.Jaybird came in later looking worn out, he tells me he took a hard fall on the rocks and landed on his arm.I saved a spot up top for him and he climbs up and takes some vitamin I.Its not broke but its bruised pretty bad.With ten hikers here its gonna be a noisy night.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: paul wolfe

To: calf mt.
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The penn. hikers were up and going at the crack of dawn and not trying to be quiet in anyway.We hung out till nine as its our last full day of hiking and we're in no hurry.I stayed with jaybird all day as we took our time.We came into rockfish gap then headed into shenendoah park.Stopped and got our permits to be in the park.We stopped at beagle gap and made plans with lyle the guy who will shuttle us back to daleville.Now im at calf mt. shelter having a double dinner thanks to jaybird giving me a mt. house meal.We're gonna have our traditional last night fire its something we started a few years ago with the model-t crew.Dice shows up and we have a good laugh as we try to use the most ass backward bear pole system you've ever seen.You have to hook you food bag onto a 8 foot pole then try to put it over a steel y not that easy.
Date: 2007-05-05
From: calf mt.

To: turk gap
Miles today: 4.4

Dice was gone early as he was hiking 26 miles today.Jaybird and i have 4.4miles so we go slow.We cross skyline drive a few times this morning and before long we come to turk gap our ending point.As soon as we get there it starts to rain.we put on rain gear and wait and we WAIT we call del and he says lyle is reliable we'll see.We WAIT some more finally lyle shows up 2 hours late the guys he was to shuttle first had a flat tire.So now im in daleville we went over to the rancho villa mexican restarant and pigged out then stopped at the store for ice cream.Its been another great hike thanks jaybird for another great year. Year number5 for the jigsaw and jaybird show stay tuned for another adventure in year 6. till then im gonna continue on the long trail with my wife helen and hike massachusetts with my girls anita and kara.Till next time Jigsaw.
Date: 2006-12-10
To: My name is Joe.
Miles today: 0.0

After many years of thinking about it, two years of talking about it and a final year of planning it, I am ready to start my AT thru-hike. If not for the support and understanding of Ann Marie, Nina and Peter, I would not be undertaking this adventure. My plan, you see, is to leave Iowa for Springer Mountain on March 10.Last weekend marked 100 days until my go date. Although most of my plans are made, I am currently re-thinking everything: Gear, mail drops, projected speed, start date, transport to Springer -- everything is on the table and open for review. Despite this uncertainty I am still quite giddy about the whole deal.
Date: 2006-12-11
To: Shakedown
Miles today: 0.0

My first backpack was an external frame Camp Trails that weighed in around 8 or 9 pounds. I got the biggest one at the store so I could haul more gear. My first bag weighed 5 pounds and was only rated to 40 degrees. Just a few years ago I was still dragging around a 7 pound tent. The weight of an item was way down on the list of criteria when selecting gear. Times change: I got older, I got wiser, I read Ray Jardine's book. Today the total weight of everything I will be carrying(including food) on my thru-hike will range between 20 and 30 pounds.Late this fall I went for a final pre-AT shakedown hike on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) in Minnesota to get a feel for my new 20lb pack. Prior to this hike I had not yet been out with all my lightweight gear at one time. It was amazing to travel so light and unburdened. I trucked along in my running shoes, was comfortable the entire time (high temps hovered around 32 degrees each day) and covered 20+ miles on two days of the hike.I am not going to change much gear from my SHT shakedown. I decided to dump my whisperlite stove, although I love my stove it will be messy, heavy and cumbersome over the long haul of the AT. I am going to start at Springer with a butane stove which is small, fast and clean (my java can't wait). I am also going to add a bivy to my sleep system.