morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-09-29
From: Laughing Heart hostel

To: Laughing Heart Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hikers at the hostel:Rock Spider - Israel. Twisted - Gil Schaefer (Earl is his great uncle, 7th AT thru hike. Journalism major, wrote reviews on gear)Mac - Hammock "Hanger", not a hiker, wears 3ID gear, was a mechanic in 9th Engr Bn in 1974-1978.Jeff (Ketchup) Heinz - manages the hostelMr. Magoo - poor eyesightJohn Reed - former saddle maker, prosthetics maker, made his own boots and prosthetic leg. Lost his leg when he was 17 following difficult recovery from vehicle (maybe motorcycle?) accident. Played guitar for us last night, sang his own music. Quit his job in South Dakota, and walked across the United States to Maine to start the AT Southbound. Went from Monson south for a few weeks. Gave up. Hitchhiked to Rhode Island and got involved  with a filmmaker who spent six weeks filming him and his guitar as part of a hitchhiker culture documentary. Then hitchhiked to New York City and spent a few weeks there as a homeless person. Then hitched rides down the East Coast ended up at Standing Bear Hostel and worked there 17 days or so. Came here looking for something new, asked Jeff if he could work for stay but Jeff did not need the help. Probably will go back to Standing Bear, which is 32 miles south of here.Rainfall and Mt. Dew - Christian evangelists Littlefoot and daughter - Trail maintainer out for birthday weekend with daughterI got up sometime after 7 am. Had some coffee. Met military friends Carroll and Dayna when they came to town around 11:00. Went to lunch with them and caught up.  Afterward, got supplies, went back to the hostel and rested. Got late lunch with Sauce, Lost, and Pickles. Then back to the hostel again. Movie night there. Bed.
Date: 2017-09-30
From: Laughing Heart Hostel

To: Laughing Heart Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Same crew of hikers stayed at the hostel for another zero day. Finished thru hiker "Hoops" joined Pickles and offered to drive our packs up to Max Patch so we could do tomorrow's 20 miles as a slack-pack hike.I discussed strategy for the hike through the Smokies with Rock Spider and the others. We decided to carry four days worth of food leaving here and shuttle to resupply in Gatlinburg rather than two and resupply at the Standing Bear hostel (which has gotten really bad reviews). This also would lighten our loads, on average in the Smokies. Consequently, I needed to go back to the store for some more supplies.  I had lunch at a restaurant in town with Rock Spider and Pickles, and then we went to the Outfitters, where I got the items I needed.In town, I saw an historical marker indicating that the town was named "Warm Springs" until 1886, when a warmer spring was discovered. That was during the era of 1800s grand hotels serviced by railroad lines. The rail is still here, but there are no passenger cars on the trails that come through anymore. The sign explained that during WWII, the crews of German merchant ships were captured and this town was an internment camp. In fact, the camp itself was on what is now the grounds of the resort. Owners of several of the town's homes also rented rooms to these German "guests".In the later afternoon, the hostel manager, Jeff, made a big fish fry buffet dinner for all the hostel guests and had a bunch of his friends over, too. I went to bed by 9:30 p.m.
Date: 2017-10-01
From: Laughing Heart Hostel

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 19.9

I got up this morning at the hostel around 6 a.m., finished packing up my stuff, scrounged up some breakfast from leftovers in the hostel's hiker fridge, and had some coffee. I actually got on the trail about 10 after 8 a.m. Hoops was carrying backpacks in her car, so I was able to hike with a small pack and minimum load (slack pack). Our "group" also consisted of Rock Spider, Sauce and Pickles. Around 9:15 a.m., I reached the Deer Park Mountain shelter, and around 10:20 Garenflo Gap. There began the second large climb for the day, from 2400 feet to 4800 feet. The initial 3 miles out of Hot Springs had been uphill as well, from 1400 feet to 2600 feet.I arrived at the Walnut Mountain shelter at about 12:15 p.m. Finding no logbook, I stopped to have lunch.Rock Spider and I reached the Roaring Fork shelter about 2:30 p.m. and took our time having a snack. Hoops was to meet us at Max Patch at 5, so we did not want to rush into being too early. It was getting chilly though, so we decided to hike to the open grassy mountain-top hoping that would be sunnier and therefore warmer. We got to the top about 3:45 p.m. Sauce and Pickles arrived about 4:30. There were dozens of small groups of day hikers on top, too. So, we picked out a flat area to claim as our camp site. Then we hiked 0.5 mi off trail to a parking lot where we had arranged to meet Hoops. Hoops got there about 5:15 p.m., and we switched gear to our larger back packs. Then we divided up the additional "supplies" that Hoops had transported for all of us. That included pizza for dinner, oreo cookies, pretzels, water, donuts for breakfast and some beer in a cooler with ice. I got the cooler, and carrying it back up the steep 0.5 mi hill really felt like it made up for the easy hike we had had all day long. We were joined by mid-20s hiker "Sniffles," who had previously been hiking with Pickles. He was also on the sobo part of his flip flop, and had started at Harper's Ferry in mid May.We set up a small tent city and gathered to enjoy the dinner food. Then we got set to watch the sunset. It was cold, maybe in the 30s, and there was a strong wind and associated wind chill. So we got our sleeping mats and bags and lined up with a view to the west. The sunset was beautiful. (Pictures)After it got dark, we cleaned up our area and retreated to our tents.
Date: 2017-10-04
From: Pack's Corner shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: clear sky

I got up at 6:30 am, started changing and packing, and got down bags from the bear cable system. Then as the sun began to rise, I went through a normal morning routine, along with Sniffles, Pickles, Sauce and Rock Spider. Later some of the members of the groups which had arrived late last night began to get up. I recall from last night's chatter that one of groups was a Junior ROTC unit from a high school somewhere. I'm not sure about the other group.I got on the trail somewhere between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. and around 8 a.m. I arrived at a nice viewpoint with visibility to the southwest. You could see the shadow of mountains from the east on the mountains to the west. (Picture)Charlie's Bunyan around 10 a.m. Lots of pictures.New Found Gap, the road to Gatlinburg, around noon. Stopped for lunch. Rock Spider caught up and said he would be meeting a friend and was going into Gatlinburg. We took a picture with him.Mount Collins around 3 p.m. - this was a wooded mountaintop, so there were no views.Clingman's Dome just after 4 p.m. the tower was under construction, so I couldn't go up. I took some pictures of the work that was on going. Walked 0.5 mi down to the visitors' center for water and snacks. Back on the AT south about 5:30 p.m.20.7 trail miles1.0 visitor center0.4 side from shelter22.1 miles total
Date: 2017-10-05
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

I was up at 6 a.m. because some of the other hikers in the shelter we're getting up and nature was calling. Last night I noticed a blister on the end of my toe, so this morning I took a few moments before other activities to perform a minor surgery on it, relieving the pain and pressure, and putting some neosporin ointment on it along with some super tape to provide additional protection. When Sniffles, Pickles, and Sauce got up at about 6:30, I finished changing and went about my normal routine.I had oatmeal and coffee with carnation essentials for breakfast, what has become my usual over the last couple weeks. I got on the trail about 7:30 a.m. First up this morning was Siler's Bald. This was a short climb, and about a half mile into it there was a nice view to the southeast, with the sun rising on the left casting shadows on mountains on the right, and a sea of clouds nestled  between the peaks of a myriad of mountain tops. (Pictures)I reached the top of Sellers Bald which actually was not bald but wooded, and then I reached the Tylersville shelter on the other side of the peak around 8:15 a.m. I stopped and talked to to other hikers for a while. A few days ago I had noticed that by pure coincidence, some of my clothing was actually sort of color matched. The orange stripe in my under Armour running pants kind of matched the orange of my lightweight Patagonia windbreaker, and they kind of matched the reddish orange color of the top section of my trekking poles. Since this was what I had on this morning, I asked Sauce to take a picture of me in it. (Pictures)I was back on the trail about 8:30 a.m., and I reached the top of Miry Ridge between 9:15 and 9:30. Derek's Knob shelter at about 10:30 a.m. stopped there for a snack break, and I filled up 2 liters of water. I helped Sauce make a 2000 mile milestone marker out of small Stones. (Picture) Back on the trail about 11 a.m. past Sugar Tree Gap around 11:15. Of course, a gap is a low point between higher elevations. However, I noted that the sign indicated the elevation was 4435 feet. At Starkey Gap around 11:45 a.m. It was a steep climb from there to the top of Thunder Head Mountain and then Rocky Top. The latter being the place which the University of Tennessee fight song is about. I reached there and stopped for lunch about 12:45 p.m. I stayed there for about an hour and had lunch. Pickles and Sauce were right behind me. Sniffles came about a half an hour later. He had been having difficulty with his water filter running slowly. I got back on the trail shortly before 2 p.m. Devils Tater Patch at about 5:20 p.m. Mollies Ridge shelter about 5:30 p.m.  Set up tarp because there were already about 8 people in the shelter. Dinner. Chatter. Bed.
Date: 2017-10-06
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up under my tarp this morning at about 6:30, when I heard the squeaking of the bear cable system. Someone was lowering their food bags. Packed up. Breakfast. Chatter. On the road by 7:45.Hiked 11 miles to Fontana Dam by 11:00 a.m. (Pictures)  Got soda and ice cream at Visitors Center and called shuttle which took Sniffles, Pickles, Sauce and me to town. We had lunch at a grill restaurant. Also got some food to go, for dinner. Stopped at the General Store to top off supplies for tomorrow. Mailed 3 pounds of excess stuff (mostly cold weather clothing and extra shorts) home to myself. Shuttle back to the dam. Hiked another 7 miles to cable gap shelter. I set up in the shelter. Dinner. Hung bear bags. Bed. Woke around 10 p.m. when a very skinny lost dog wandered into the shelter. It had two radio collars and a regular one with the name Billy Tipton and a phone number on it. We gave it water and a little food. Later someone came looking for it and took it away. (Picture) We helped him find the trail and the way back to the road. He said they had been hunting bears, and the dog had run away. (It was clearly malnourished). I had trouble getting back to sleep, but did eventually.
Date: 2017-10-07
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at 6 a.m. this morning. Normal morning routine, but it is staying dark earlier, so I started hiking in the dark just prior to 7 a.m. I stopped for a break at Brown Fork Gap shelter shortly after 9. This has been hard uphill climbing and I had a long way to go today. It was cool. The sky was great, and the air was filled with humidity. All around the ridge tops on which we climbed, we could see valleys full of coffee cutting like White Cloud. I thought the effects of Hurricane Nate were beginning to show up in this area. However, sources were telling me by email that it would hit the coast of Alabama tonight around 1 a.m., and pass through Atlanta tomorrow afternoon about 1 p.m. So the full effect would not be felt in this area for another day and a half. Local forecasts were fairly decent for the rest of today, but it looked like it would rain all week starting tomorrow.Took a break at the Brown Fork Gap shelter and had lunch at Cheoah Bald mountain top after a hard climb. Nice view, just under the ceiling of clouds. It had rained here only hours earlier. Then one last hard climb and then down to the Nantahala Outdoor Center. (Pictures)Shower. Laundry. Dinner. Bed
Date: 2017-10-08
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Cold Spring Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: drizzle

I forgot to mention yesterday that when we crossed the road between Fontana and the NOC, I saw Sniffles sitting at a picnic bench, taking a break. He pointed out a paper Kroger grocery bag with trail magic in it -- all expired, some items with July 2016 dates. He would not eat any of it. I ate six oreo cookies, and a bunch of other items, and when Sauce and Pickles joined us, I split a pack of mini Keebler chocolate cookies and a pack of mini Oreos with them. None of us got sick.Last night after dinner, I went back to the hostel room which was maybe 8' x 12' with 2 bunkbeds. I got a top bunk and slept fairly well. Spent the morning at the NOC: breakfast, supplies for one day, picked up laundry started yesterday, packed. I got my trekking poles fixed at the outfitters, then had lunch. After lunch, we took our time getting our hike started. It had rained all day due to Hurricane Nate and the forecast continued to show predicted rain all night and through tomorrow... anyway, we got under way around 1 p.m. We took a break at the Wesser Bald shelter, about 6 miles from the NOC, and as soon as we were under its roof, it really started raining with a vengeance. As we got ready to continue our hike, the rain let up a bit, and although we did have a lot of cold wind and a good amount of rain, it could have been a lot worse. We got to the Cold Spring shelter just after 6 p.m., and I think we hiked the last 2 miles in about a half hour (fast!). There was a section hiker, Dennis, and his dog already there. Dennis was very surprised to see four other hikers show up at the shelter that he thought he would have all to himself, but he kindly made room for us, and we enjoyed the fire he already had started. Priorities: unpack, set up, hang bear line, dry clothes, dinner, hang food on line, bed. In bed by 7:45 p.m.11.8 miles (not counting all the walking around at the NOC).
Date: 2017-10-09
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Budget Inn, Franklin, NC
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: moderate rain

Up around 6:30, still a little rainy, but not too cold. Normal morning. Discussed strategy for the day with Sniffles, Pickles and Sauce, and we decided to stop in Franklin for the night and get dry, instead of just resupply there and go another 3.8 miles after. Stopped at Wayah Bald for a break. There was a stone tower there. In the pictures in my guide, it had an enclosed top with a roof, but that is now gone. It was still pretty foggy and cloudy when we got there, eerie. (Pictures)Arrived at the road to Franklin about 3:15 p.m. Got a hitch to town from a nice couple with a pickup. Tried the Gooder Grove hostel first, but it just didn't feel right there so we moved on to the Budget Inn. I shared a room with Sniffles; Sauce with Pickles. Shower. Laundry.We did a little resupply at the Outdoor 76 Outfitter, then had our first dinner of the evening at the Lazy Hiker Brewery (quesadilla and a flight of their brews). (Picture) Then more resupply shopping at the Ingles Grocery Store. Back to the Inn just to drop off the supplies, and then on to our second dinner at a restaurant called Mulligans. Afterward, back to the Inn. Ice cream. Bed.
Date: 2017-10-10
From: Budget Inn, Franklin, NC

To: Camp Site Near Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Up at 5 a.m. Couldn't go back to sleep, so I posted yesterday's journal and uploaded and captioned some pictures. Then I broke down the packaging from supplies I purchased yesterday and reloaded my food bag. After that I repacked my clean clothes and got dressed for the day, and by that time it was about 7:30 a.m.I went to breakfast at a place called the Kountry Kitchen, and I sat and drank coffee while I waited for the others. Sniffles, Sauce, and Pickles arrived at different times over the next 30 minutes. We had a big breakfast, and then walked back to the Budget Inn. During breakfast we talked about the fact that today we would cross mile 2089.8, and at that point we would have less than 100 miles to go. Double digits. We also discussed the fact that tomorrow we would cross mile 2100, and we would enter the state of Georgia. We got a shuttle ride back out to the trailhead, and we were on the trail again at 11:15 a.m.It started raining lightly at about 12:15, as I was crossing Wallace gap. That didn't last long though, and although the forest was damp and the rocks were wet and slippery, it was a very nice day for hiking. Stopped for lunch about 1 p.m. at Long Branch shelter trail intersection. Reached Albert Mountain tower about 3 o'clock. Nice views. (Pictures) That was the point at which we had 99.9 miles to go.Sniffles and I arrived at the Carter Gap Shelter about 5 p.m. We had a favorable weather forecast, so we decided to tent rather than stay in the shelter. Got and treated water. Pickles and Sauce arrived shortly after, and we all set up tents. Dinner. Chatter. Hung two bear lines since all our bags were fuller and heavier today. Fog rolled in as it got dark, and visibility quickly dropped to almost nothing. Bed.15.9 trail miles 0.1+ blue blaze dust to water, etc16 miles total
Date: 2017-10-11
From: Camp Site Near Carter Gap Shelter

To: Tent Site Just North of the Road to Hiawassee
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: broken clouds

Normal morning at Carter Gap shelter. On the trail sometime before 8 a.m. Most of the fog had cleared off during the night, but it was still grey in the morning. The ground was damp and the forest quiet. It was raining lightly, almost a mist, with occasional drops.There was no shortage of water today. I crossed a number of streams, some of which would have been dry a few days ago, and I saw some others that were significantly swollen. (Pictures)I stopped at the Muskrat Creek shelter for lunch about 12:30 p.m. Met through hiker "Handy" there. He was a 46 year old bearded man who had begun a flip flop in Vermont in May, after hiking south on the Long Trail from the Canadian border. He had also spent 4 months last winter working at the Stratton Motel in Maine (a place I stayed) after he had hiked the portion of the Appalachian Trail between Vermont and Katahdin. He said that when he finished the AT, he intended to go work at the Angels Rest hostel, in Pearisburg Virginia, another place I stayed. After lunch, I got back on the trail about 1:30 p.m. At some point the rain had stopped and it got sunny and hot, and the trail got dry. I also started to get pretty thirsty. I passed thru the Plumorchard shelter about 4 p.m., and I decided to push on. I texted my hiking friends Sauce, Pickles, and Sniffles to let them know. I was disappointed there was no pen with which to write in the log book. I filled a liter of water from an excellent water source near the shelter and hiked to a tent site about four miles further. 23.9 miles for the day.  I tried to see where the others would stop for the day, but I had no signal at the tent site. I was solo again. We all hike our own hike, and sometimes we are in sync and sometimes we get out of sync. I had only been with them for about a week, but I really enjoyed their company. With the finish so close, I'm starting to feel ready to get home. That said, the remaining trail is only so big, and it is possible I will get to see them again and have a more graceful goodbye.I set up my tarp (picture), hung a bear bag line and made dinner. Then I went to bed. There were a lot of ants, and they crawled on me during the night. I didn't sleep well, but I did get to sleep eventually.
Date: 2017-10-15
From: Tent Site Near Cooper Gap

To: The Lodge at Amicalola State Park
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: few clouds

I got up just before 6 a.m., and went about breaking camp and making/having breakfast. Stewart did the same. We hiked south starting just before 7:30 a.m.We arrived at the Hawk Mountain shelter sometime around 9 ish. I signed the logbook and talked with day and section hikers. One of them said there had been about 50 people camped there last night - busy weekend! We continued south and reached a short side trail to Long Creek Falls shortly before 11 a.m., stopping there to get water and take pictures.Around 11:30 I met fellow southbound through hiker Piper. Shortly afterwards a through hiker who finished in August named Wood Pile met us at the 3 Forks Road crossing and gave the three of us trail beer and chips as trail magic.Stopped at the Stover Creek shelter at about 12:30 p.m. (Picture) Ate lunch, effectively emptying my food bag. I signed the log book, and noticed that another hiker who had signed earlier today ended their entry with the phrase, "On to life's next white blaze" which I found poetic, so I made this note to remember it.About 1:30 p.m., we reached the Forest Service Road parking lot north of Spirit Mountain, and with only 0.9 miles to go began the final segments of the climb to the top of Springer Mountain. On the way up we met hiker Handy, who I had met briefly several days ago, and we chatted with him for awhile before continuing. We reached the top at about 2:15 p.m., took several photographs, and signed the trail register log book. We then said our farewells, and some time after 2:30 p.m., I continued down the approach trail to the south while Stewart and Piper went back to the parking lot where Stewart would be picked up by his wife and Piper by his mother.I felt too much to process both joy regarding successful conclusion of one of the most amazing experiences of my life and simultaneously a very deep sadness about the conclusion of one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I tried to think about the list of things I would want to do when I get home. I tried, but I found myself just drifting down the trail in front of me. It had become a grey afternoon. I was absolutely alone for quite some time. It began raining. There were no sounds except for those made by my feet and the raindrops on the trees. Then from about 3 to 3:30 I saw a whole bunch of guys, all in their 30s or 40s and all with the "look" of ex-military. Then it got quiet on the trail again.I arrived at the lodge at Amicalola State Park about 5 p.m. After checking in, I jogged down to the falls so I could photograph the 700 foot waterfall before it got dark. My next priorities were clean clothes and a shower. There was no laundry facility, so I bought a t-shirt From the gift shop, and after my shower, I put on the new shirt and my running pants. Then I went to the buffet dinner in the lodge. I also took a bunch of pictures of the beautiful sunset.After dinner, with my AT hike complete, I sat on the lodge's balcony and relaxed while watching the sun continue to set, just getting more and more beautiful, until it got dark.