morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-09-18
From: Rutland, Vt

To: Stream near Harmon Hill
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Total trip miles:1608.8Happy to give another quick update. Were chugging right along and picking up more miles everyday it seems. The trails have been a bit muddy but the weather has been perfect. Not too hot and not too cold. This is the first place we have had singal in a few days. You can really see that the leaves are starting to change pretty quickly. The oranges are so bright and it is touched with alot of red / yellow leaves. I love fall its such a happy wonderful time of the year. Bring on the pumpkin spice overload! The highlight of our trip in this section has been Stratton Mountain. At the top there was a lovely look out tower where you could see for miles. One way you could see into New Hampshire and the other way you can see into Mass. Then from the tippy top you could see the diffrent color leaves all around. Im happy to report I got my glasses fixed and a new sleeping pad. The good ole knees are sore but still going strong. Gray is as strong as ever. We trying to push 20 plus days now in training for the 4 state challange. Thats where you hike 43 miles through 4 states in one day. Were going to do a practice run through CT because there is only about 45 miles in that state. That will ultimatly determine if the 4 state challange is possible for me due to the knees. If I dont make it I will be taking 2 days to do the 4 states challange while Gray is my support and I will then support him when he completes the challange. You have 24 hours to do it in so it will mean a record early morning for Gray. The nights here havent been too chilly. So much better with an insulated sleeping pad. Last night Gray made a lovley fire and I just layed in the grass for hours watching the sunset and the stars come out. Its perfect when your miles away from any city lights. One thing I will miss on the trail but I sure will not miss the using the loo in the woods. This girl loves a bathroom that flushes and has running water. Makes me really appericate how good we all really have it.
Date: 2016-10-11
From: Stream near Harmon Hill

To: Harpers Ferry, Wv
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Total Miles 2189.5Over the past few weeks I have really neglected my journal. A lot of that has to do with the fact that we have been knocking away the miles faster and all I really can think of doing at the end of a long day is sleep. Since I last updated we were able to do 2 days with 43 miles in it. The first day we were able to cross the whole state of Connecticut. That was hard. Then there was today where we were able to make it to the conservatory right before they were shutting down for the evening. The 4 state challenge was a complete success! We were able to finish much faster then our trial because there were literally no more mountains. We loved to see all the changing fall colors as we were hiking further south. The most color we experienced was in Vermont. During our walk in New York we did experience some colors but I was not a huge fan of that state it was dirty and we had to cross a few major highways. The Delaware water gap was super beautiful. Pennsylvania was everything we expected to include rocks, rocks, and wait for it more rocks. That went away half way through though and it was soon smooth sailing. So today we were up before the rooster crows getting to our starting point on the trail. Near Pen Mar road. We hiked out of Pennsylvania and into Maryland where a majority of our miles were in today. There was one spot that had a really cool look out. It was also where a local hang glider club launched there members off of. I think the most neatest thing was the war correspondence memorial they had for all the writer in the war. There was only 8 miles to walk in West Virginia. A majority of it we were walking along the Patomic river. When we hit Virginia it was almost too serial. We turned around and made our way to snap a shot at the AT conservatory. It was not really the finishing welcome we were expecting. Upon arrival we stated that we were finished. The ladies at the desk at first were confused then proceeded to ask of if we were sure. Its like seriously are we sure ummm.... heck yes. Well we got our 2000 mile photo taken and had a cheers with some apple cider. The next weird thing was the supervisor started to grill us on our hiking asking a bunch of questions as if she really didn't believe us. I'm sure if I took off my shoes the living proof lies there. My snarled caused feet tell a harsh story. No wonder most people don't choose West Virginia as there end point. It sure is no Katahdan.
Date: 2016-10-18
From: Harpers Ferry, Wv

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It has now been roughly a week since our finish of the trail. I can say that I am super excited to have completed this journey with Gray. In the end we could not have done this trip without the love and support from our family and friends. It will be a interesting adjustment from our biggest worry of the day being where to sleep or find water. We started our journey on April 8th on the chilly Springier Mountain, Ga. The forest had not yet been awoken by the breath of spring. Our views were of trees with no leaves and brown everything. Soon came changes as we progressed further north. Not only did the weather change but so did the earth. The trail transformed seemly overnight. We saw more flowers, birds, animals, and people. The oddest day was in the Smokie mountains waking up to snow in May. The changing of the seasons were not the only changes we were able to experience. In a way as we started Gray and I were both worn and weathered like winter in the woods. The longer we spent on the trail the more we were able to transform ourselves into happier better people. I found that as I became stronger I had more confidence in myself. Not only that; I was able peel away the onion of my mind and mentally fix things emotionally that I had been struggling with. One thing others would never get to experience is watching the transformation happen to your spouse. I am very lucky to have completed this journey with Gray. Would not have traded that for the world. Nature has a beautiful way of easing the mind and allowing you to fully reset. Until our next journey I believe Henry David Thearu said it best, "I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees."
Date: 2016-02-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'm not much of a writer or have never really kept a journal but here it goes. Friends and family all want to keep updated even though I tell them I'm going off the grid . I have four more nights at home before going to visit my daughters family and then leaving there to hit the trail. Thankfully the todo list is getting shorter even though I'm sure I'll remain very busy until heading to the airport. The preparation and anticipation of this adventure will soon become reality.
Date: 2016-02-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Made it to Texas one step closer to hitting the trail. The past week has been very hectic getting all those loose ends tied up before leaving home the next five months. The last night in Ohio I got two hours of sleep knocking out those last minute items on the list. The only thing I didn't get to, I think, was cleaning those crisper drawers on the bottom of the fridge...sorry Kerri . Also spent the last week saying a lot of goodbye's to the people in my life my family, friends and coworkers/friends. My peeps from work even made a map to put on the wall and track my progress. Now the pressure is on! Feeling very blessed to have all the great people in my life, leaves a little bit of sadness that I think can only be cured by getting there and start hiking. Now for a week with my granddaughter and her folks before hitting the trail.
Date: 2016-02-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

Made it to the Hiker Hostile in Dahlonega Ga. A great place to stay...they pick you up at the Marta tram, put you up for the night, have showers, feed you breakfast and drop you off at the trail the next day. These are previous thru hikers that seen a need for this service and made it a busines. They will also pick you up at other parts of the trail and bring you back if you need a break from weather or whatever. The trail goes around this town. This one place stop takes a lot of the guess workout of what you do after you get to the airport. Duffy picked me and a couple of other hikers up...he is working here for the season then will be in Maine this summer helping out hikers. He said a hiker gave him a new trail name "Bookends". I should begin the trail by 9 tomorrow and the next three days look rain free.
Date: 2016-02-26
From: Amicalola Falls

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Had 7:30 Breakfast, visited with other hikers. Some returned to hostile after a few cold wet days on the trail. One couple had started in Alabama hiked 350 miles on a trail to get this far. At 8:30 we loaded up and the folks from the hostel took us to the trail. Me and one other guy(Shawn) went to Amicalola Falls which is 8.8 miles from Springer(start of AT) The rest of the hikers went to a drop off a mile from Springer walked a mile to Springer then had to backtrack the same mile. I didn't know what to expectat the falls but it was s hugh water fall. I will post pics later but sure they won't do it justice. Had a good hike the rest of the way to Springer and arrived around one. Signed the log book and took a few pics before heading to Stover Creek Shelter 2.8 miles away. Hey we started hiking the AT!!!! Got to camp a little after 3. Got tent set up,resupplied water bottles from creek and then filtered and visited with other hikers. We had great weather blue skies temps in the low 40s, it was breezy and cool in the shade. They had snow the day prior...just a dusting where we started but a little heavier the higher we got but not bad. On the way up to Springer you could see snow. A lot had melted by the time we got there but when you looked up it was on the very top tips of the trees, pretty cool. Well that's all for now.
Date: 2016-02-27
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up about 7am got packed up refilled water bottles and was hiking by 8. I brought oatmeal but temps were in upper 30s so didn't feel like hanging out and cooking but would rather get moving. So far no big aches or pains so still moving well. I'm still hiking with Shawn we have a good pace and get up and getting going well without really even talking about it. He is 26 and from Boston Mass. We go without talking a while and then try to solve the worlds problems a d then back to just hiking. So we get down the trail a ways and think we are going to get some trail magic. This is an act of kindness by someone that leaves something for the hikers. Several jugs of water are sitting out, unfortunately for us they are empty. So we round the corner and there sits a mini van with some trail magic. It was a couple and their two children. They had hotdogs, chips, bananas, water, apples,coffee and tea. And a grill you could standby and warm up. Plus a trash can, always good for a hiker because you have to carry out any trash from the food you have been eating(pack it in pack it out is what hikers do also part of the trail "leave no trace philosophy"). So we continue hiking, it is odd but I have seen very little wild life the first two days of hiking, a couple of birds. I have yet to even see a squirrel. Off in the distance the Army are playing some war games, we see the helicopters and hear some shooting. Passed my ole pal Art, he was the first person i met while I was waiting for a ride to the hiker hostel. He started at Springer Mt so I had some catching up to do starting at the Falls. Good/interesting guy I enjoyed getting to know at the hostel. Probably the last time I will see him as we are traveling g at a pretty good pace. We get to camp around 3, set up tents, resupply water, plan for where we are heading tomorrow, plan on picking up more food in two days. We visit with the other hikers at the shelter,eat and go back to the tent a little after 7. We picked a good time to start,..we have had beautiful weather. Made it into the upper 40s today and tomorrow even warmer.
Date: 2016-02-29
From: Blood Mt GA

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.9

Made it through the night with no more skunk issues. It was very windy but we were on the side of the mountain and it protected us from it. Hiked down to Neels Gap and the folks that camped down there said it was miserable down there because of the wind. Resupplied food at Mountain Crossings Outfitter. It is an outfitter and a hostel. The building has an exterior hallway and the AT goes right through the hallway, before leaving had a honeybun and OJ. Starting to get some blisters on my feet so I need to take care of them before they get out of control. It is another beautiful day with temps reaching in the 60s and blue skies with a few clouds. Kept a pretty good pace and stopped for lunch at a gorgeous overlook. It was so nice I was able to break the shorts out for the first time on the trip. A hiker with the trail name Slingshot hiked with us in the afternoon. Had good conversation and helped keep mind off of the blisters. Arrived at camp around 2:30 and sat and chatted with the college kids from MI. They told us people were calling Sean(aka Shawn) and I the father and son team. Got a laugh out of that. Sean was telling us about him running the Boston Marathon the year of the bombing. He had just finished a few minutes before and before they cropped the pic of one of the bombers you could see him running past in a hamburger costume. Headed to bed...rain is in the forcast for tomorrow...we will see what happens.
Date: 2016-03-01
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Tray Mt Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Left camp at 7:45. Thunderstorms in the forcast this afternoon so we wanted to get an early start we had two shelters ahead of us, one 7.3 miles and the other 15.4 miles. We made good time to the first shelter so we felt confident to press on. About 10 miles into the hike we came to Unicoi Gap. At that pull off there was a camper with a trail angel. Her trail name was Mountain Moma and she has hike the trail and stopped to give out gatoraid and strawberries, apples, oranges, bananas. It always picks up your spirit when these people come along...great surprise. Four other hikers also stopped for the refreshments. We passed a hiker earlier in the morning coming the other direction. After a polite hello we found out he had started in Maine in July going southbound and was just finishing his thru hike. Pretty cool. We continued on and had a couple of good moutain climbs, one 3000' to 4000' and then dwon to 3100' and then up to 4400'. Our goal was get past the 4400' and down to the Tray Mt camp shelter. Made it to the shelter and stayed in the shelter due to Tstorms predicted.
Date: 2016-03-02
From: Tray Mt Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

So the Tstorms never came but we got rain and then it turned to snow. We had a dusting but it was cold. We had nine people in a seven person shelter. We had tarps over the front of the shelter so it wasn't all that cold in the shelter. Planned a short day of eight miles hiking so didn't get started as early as we had been. Started out about 8:45 and it was cold but hiking warms you up. I stepped on a log that was more like a step and it was slick and down I went. Fell on back but didn't get hurt and didnt damage anything, so I got up and on we went. First fall of the trip...sure more to come. There were a lot of clouds and fog in the higher elevations. The icey mixture stuck to the limbs making some nice scenery. Pretty windy but calm when on other side of the mountain. Sun broke out in the afternoon. Passed a group of older day hikers...they all wanted to chat with us. We stopped numerous times talking to different people. The last one took our pic and said he was going to post it online...forgot the website. Made it to shelter around one. Hung out with the other hikers, trail names, Stan, DL, Ho Ho. Ho Ho had hiked the Pacific Coast Trail last year so interesting listening to how that was. Think my trail name is going to be Stripe, referring to my skunk encounter. Tomorrow we plan to hike 3.6 miles then head to town for the night.
Date: 2016-03-03
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Dicks Creek Gap (Budget Inn)
Miles today: 3.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up early, hit the trail so we wouldn't miss our ride to town. Supposed to be picked up at 9:20 and we got there quicker than planned, 8:30. Waited til 9:20 then 9:30 then ready to give up at 9:50 and the van pulled up. Not the nicest van but we made the 9 mile trip into town and it was nice to have a private room even though it wasn't the greatest motel. Turned out to be nice day to be off the trail...cold rain expected. Sean and I were both ready for a break, shower, clean clothes and town food. Got into hotel, showered , did laundry. Went to Zaxbys and had some chicken for lunch. It started snowing and we headed to the grocery. After the grocery I headed to the library to update journal and it continued snowing. I was inturupted and told I need to leave because the staff lived on the other side of the mountain and was going home. I went back to hotel, we ordered pizza and drank a couple cold beers(I learned when I lived in Ark...have to add cold and an s to the word beer). And now I am signing off . All caught up.
Date: 2016-03-04
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: light snow

It was nice to rest up and refuel in town. What little snow that was on the ground was melted by morning. We loaded up with three other folks and headed back to Dicks Gap where we were picked up the day before. Up in the mountains snow was still on the ground, probably a little over an inch. The trail was a little treacherous, wet snow, mud and leaves, made for a slick mess. Being recharged I was feeling good , high pressure had moved in it was a sunny day with few clouds and very little wind. We passed quite a few people, the trail was busyest I have seen it. With the bad weather many had exited it the day before to find comfort. It was just me and Sean's great luck that we pick such a bad day to be in town. Some places snow was just on the trail beside it there was nothing. At one point we picked up a few other hikers, Dill joined then Quicksand and Mud Puppy behind her. They all eventually slowed up and it was back to just Sean and I. We did pass Rookie heading the other direction... Big beard gave him away he was a SOBO (southbound thru hiker) nearly done with his thru hike south. Seeing those guys really lifts you spirit. The next couple we passed were from Switzerland, we made short conversation and continued on. A little over seven miles in we hit the North Carolina boarder. That little sign was definately a moral booster. NC was no joke though. Nice up hill climb that just kept going. We had passed a lot of folks so the path was not as clear and had quite a bit of snow...more than we had been seeing. We managed to get through to Muskrat Creek Shelter where we planned to stay. We were feeling good and had five miles til the next shelter so we decided to press on. The day off before and the weather made for a great day of hiking...it felt really good to be back on the trail. Got to Standing Indian Shelter a little after five. Got tent set up on the snowy ground, got water from the creek and filtered it. Made instant mashed potato's for dinner with some summer sausage added for taste. Hung food bag, which is called bear baging, and was in bed by seven. It was a good day to be a hiker
Date: 2016-03-05
From: Standing Indian Shelter

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

3/5/16So let me tell you a little about my tent. It kind of old school with new technology. I use my trecking poles on both ends to stand it up. There is a ridge line from pole to pole and the sides go down at an angle and there are two gable ends. It has a bathtub floor that raises about two inches on the outer edges to keep water out. The floor and the sides are connected to each other with mesh. It is made out of real light material(Cuban fiber?) And weighs 24oz. Now the problem with the tent is it is single walled and depends on the airflow to keep the moisture off the walls/ceiling. So I keep a towel with me to wipe them down from time to time. The problem I had last night is the cold temps it turned to frost. So I wiped it down the best I could. Frost is on the inside and outside walls. Pack it up and off to hiking we go. We are getting spoiled by the great weather. It is cold in the morning but hiking you warm up fast. The trails were better today, there was still snow around and some was as deep as three inches but it wasnt in the direct sunlight like the day before so it melting so cast or so sloppy. We moved pretty well and stopped by a shelter about 11:00 for lunch. The extra miles we put in yesterday separated us from the pack and we really didn't see anyone except day hikers hiking the other direction. We travel through different terrain. Some just a regular trail, some places rock to rock, some have a lot of roots and some a combination of all those. We climb up hill, on level ground, and down hill. Downhill seems the worst on your feet. Some areas you have bushes and trees around you and pretty much walking through a tunnel. At one spot today beside the trail were trees and roots between you and a major cliff drop off. We get to one place and Sean says hey look that's where we are going and points to a fire tower on top of Mount Albert. We get closer and the climb is probably the most difficult we have seen. Climbing up rocks and finding small foot holds to get yourself up. Pretty challenging and I love it!!!! Sean says if you like this you will like The Presidentials and The Whites mountain ranges when we get up north. We get to the top an climb the fire tower for some magnificent views. It has been a few days since we had views like this. We take some pics and get back to hiking. We get to camp and I get my tent out and it still has frost on from the morning. It melts off quick. We get set up for the night and eat and chat with a couple of others , Kelly and Encourager. Then off to bed.