morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-10
From: Rich Cove Gap

To: Long Branch
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: clear sky

Moving: Long BranchThere are some inspiring people out here. Two older guys hiking with titanium rods in their backs. Tinman with a reconstructed leg. Cat Lady traveling and hiking after graduation. A very overweight guy 15 pounds lighter on day ten. Several Eagle Scouts. I am always impressed by the people on the long trails.The trail route is easy to predict. Look for the tallest close peak that is anywhere that isn't south. East or West are fine. That's where the trail is going. Climbing every bump and walking the ridges down through the gaps, the views across the rolling mountains remain spectacular. Increasingly rhododendron patches form green tunnels. Some are huge, 18 to 20 feet tall. The flower buds are sparse and small, but leaf buds are starting to open as Spring arrives for them and the wildflowers. But the stately Oaks remain asleep.I'm working pretty hard, pushing up the hills, logging about eleven hours of actual hiking. On the PCT, that would yield 28 miles. Here, working harder, yesterday was 22.5 and today was 25.7. I'm eating like I never have before, even more than as a teenager on sports teams. This morning I ate three breakfasts and yesterday I had two lunches. Whenever the grade levels out I gorge on nuts and raisons. I met Spirit mid-day and had a snack of five eggs, toast and sweet potatoe tots. I'm carrying lots of extra food to keep shoving in!My jumpy legs are acting up at night. I take magnesium, but the bouncing keeps me awake a couple of hours, robbing the sleep I really need pushing this hard.
Date: 2013-04-11
From: Long Branch

To: Wayah Meadow
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

My town days are wonderful. Town comes to me.Spirit (Fran) paddled the 700 miles between Key West and St Marks, but cannot hike. Instead she met me at the trailhead on US 64 in our little RV. I grab a hot shower, hot meal, two mugs of hot chocolate, clean clothes, four days of food and fuel, and recharge the phone battery, do an hour of blogging and emails, and get a hug goodbye.Yep, she preps my food bags and has a fresh stack of clean clothes waiting, and cooks a meal while I'm there. Wow! Am I about the luckiest hiker out there? I hear Buzz and Izzy saying "She's too good to you. You don't deserve her". True enough.There is a practical side to it. I'm guessing that I save about ten days overall by not having to go into towns. That means ten fewer snow days in Nova Scotia! Paired with long hiking days, that's just about my whole plan on how I can keep going another 850 miles after the Appalachian Trail ends.Even with my town day, I made 14.5 miles. Actually I stopped an hour early to avoid an exposed ridge since thunderstorms are forecast, and sure enough I hear the first bangs as I write this, safe and dry in my tent.
Date: 2012-11-02
To: Getting Ready!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi! I am getting ready to hike the Appalachian trail starting in March 2013. For those who have never heard of the Appalachian Trail, it is a 2184 mile (or 3515 km) trail that starts on Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends on Mount Katahdin in Maine. It travels through 14 states and is one of the longest continuously marked (so I won't get lost) footpaths in the world. There are over 250 shelters along the trail with privies and water sources nearby. The trail passes close enough to towns every 3 to 5 days (for most of the trail) for a chance to resupply food, shower and do laundry. Many trail towns cater to hikers and offer cheap hostels and AYCE buffets (so I'm not going to starve)! I found out about this "footpath" when I lived in Virginia and promised myself that one day I would do it when the kids grew up (I remember making the kids walk 3 miles per day in hope that I wouldn't have to wait so long-lol!). So here I am! My youngest is away in university, I've requested a 6 month leave of absence from my job (starting in March) and I am having fun shopping for hiking gear, checking out hiking forums and reading past thru hikers journals hoping to learn something that will help me survive and succeed next year. Statistically only 1/4 of the people who attempt this make it to the end, so i need all the help I can get! So far I've bought a Hennessy Hammock Expedition (I know not the lightest but very comfy), Hammock Gear's Burrow and Phoenix, an ultra light down jacket and a Gossamer Gear G4. I've found a few merino wool clothing items that I still need to try out before I decide to include with my gear. And there is still lots to do/buy/make! Right now I'm typing this on my iPhone with an app called Pages to see if it will work on the trip. Aside from choosing the rest of my gear I still need to figure out how I'm getting to Springer, sort out a few mail drops and decide where I will store all my house stuff. I'm sure there will be many trips to the Salvation Army. Thanks for checking out my trail journal, please sign my guest book and come again!Trouble'Its a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to' JRR Tolkien The Lord of the Rings
Date: 2012-11-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Guess what! My leave of absence was approved this week! I'm so excited, I can't believe it! It is such a relief! I was so worried that I'd have to quit my job in order to do this. I thought I might have been a little short on cash for the trip too but just knowing that I have a job to come back to means I can use credit If I fall short without feeling irresponsible. What a relief! My other big concern has been whether my dog can handle this trip. I know it's a bit silly because he can probably handle it better than me but its my choice to do this and he is (I thought) pretty much stuck me. Anyway, should I need it, I have a dog rescuer! Someone who will come and bring my dog home should the need arise and take care of him till I am done! Life is good and this is gonna be an awesome adventure!Trouble"The mountains are calling and I must go.". John Muir
Date: 2012-11-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

So I haven't posted anything in awhile. I hurt my back about a month ago and was TERRIFIED that it was going to ruin my hike. It wasn't just that I was worried about permanent damage but also that I have the rest of my pay checks budgeted to be able to afford this and ANY time off could ruin it all. I'm happy to say that thank God I am 100% better and that my bank account will be ok! Anyway, while I was immobile I had the chance to read everything on whiteblaze and check out what my fellow hikers were buying for gear on Facebook. And now that I'm back in the real world I've been having so much fun trying DIY projects. My first project was a Pepsi can stove, these things are sweet! I put too much fuel (1 1/2 ounces) in the first time an had a burn time of 20 minutes. That's when the obsession began! Next I just had to get smaller cans V8 cans, mini Coke cans basically whatever I could get my hands on to play with. I bought 2 of those giant beer cans and made a really cool pot and lid but now I have to figure out a pot stand because the curve of beer can doesn't work with the ring of the stove. I'll figure it out, like I said this is fun! My next project was to convert a hazmat suit into a rain jacket and chaps! That project alone saved me 2 lbs of gear because I was going to start with a heavy nylon suit and switch out to something lighter when it got warmer. But i think this will wok great! Of course I had to go back and buy another hazmat suit and make separate snakeskins for my tarp so that I can set it up and still keep the hammock in its own skin. I'm contemplating going back for a 3rd suit to make a rain suit for Melkie I'm just not sure that it would hold up to that kind of abuse. Still thinking about it. Today I took my backpack into work and weighed each individual item to see where I can downsize if I need to. Right now my gear (minus the clothes I plan on wearing and food and water) is 10 3/4 lbs which I think is good but Christmas isn't here yet and I've already realized that I forgot to weigh a few heavy items like my iPhone and fuel ....This was just a quick update so that no one thought I was giving up or anything remotely like that. This is a once in a lifetime thing for me to be able to do something I have always dreamed about and if any problems come up between now and March 7 I'm sure I will find a way to make them disappear!Merry Christmas everyone!Trouble"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere" Frank A Clark
Date: 2013-01-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Happy New Year everyone! This is going to be an awesome year! Between working and Christmas I haven't really had a chance to do too much with my gear. My latest project was my food bag, it is a little different so there might be some changes after I try it out. But back to Christmas! I was totally and unexpectedly spoiled so rotten that I feel guilty for getting all this good stuff! Ashlee bought me a MyCharge for all my electronics while I'm on the trail and Michael and Joey bought me a GoPro2 so that I can video this adventure! These were the two most expensive items that I had been thinking about buying Boxing Day. My need list for this trip has shrunk to just a few items while my want list is growing at an alarming rate. I need to buy another pair of hiking socks and a waterproof case for my phone oh and at least 50ft of rope. I want to buy dual action knee straps, dirty girl gaiters, a multi USB adapter (so I can charge everything at once while in town), a compression sack and maybe trekking poles. If I actually buy all that, I can only imagine what my pack weight will be. This weekend I am cooking up freezer bag meals with my stove. Last night I made tomato and herb couscous and I'm about to try a pasta side. I don't want food surprises on trail unless it involves trail magic! Trouble"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did." Mark Twain
Date: 2013-03-08
To: Driving
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today I head to Georgia! Yesterday was my last day of work and Friday night my co workers took me out for drinks. In between I have been doing all those last minute things that need done and saying goodbye to friends and family. The whole last week has been crazy, exhausting and fun all at the same time! I am so thankful to those who have helped (Karen, Leslie, Vincent, Jay and Michael) me so much in the past week! I won't actually get to Springer until tomorrow but its such a good feeling to know that I'm on my way! I drove by some of the mountains that I will have to walk over soon. There was lots of snow, it was cold and the hills looked huge! Thank God there doesn't seem to be snow here (Franklin,NC) but the mountains are even bigger! I think my muscles are in for a HUGE shock tomorrow. I can't wait to start though! Trouble"The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Today and tomorrow are yet to be said. The chances, the changes are all yours to make, the mold of your life is in your hands to break. J.R Tolkien The Hobblit
Date: 2013-03-09
From: Springer Mountain

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

Day 1 Springer Mountain to Stover Creek ShelterI can't believe it! I am doing it! I am here! I am actually on the Appalachian Trail! This morning we woke up in Franklin,NC at a Quality Inn and now I am here! We had breakfast at the hotel and the attendant there told me about how smelly the hikers are that stay there and how the room needs to be aired out for days, things to look forward to! Lol! Next we drove to Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap so that I could drop off a resupply. I ended up buying two wall maps of the trail, one for Michael and one for Karen to put up on the board at work. Next stop a gas station to pick up some Heet (methyl hydrate/denatured alcohol) for my alcohol stove. Of course I left it till the last possible gas station and yes they were already sold out due to all the hikers ahead of me and yes I will be eating cold food and no coffee for the next three days. Live and learn. We took this deserted, windy dirt road through the mountains to get to Springer and the whole time I thought that we were going the wrong way and was getting frustrated. All of a sudden three huge military trucks were coming at us and there was no room on the road. We pulled over as far we could and asked them if we were going the right way. Thank God we were! After they squeezed by we went another few miles and were stopped by another military crew who made us wait twenty minutes while they finished up the combat drill they were doing. Finally we were at the parking lot, we still had to hike up to the top of Springer Mountain to get to the beginning. It was so nice out, I was too hot immediately! It was a good warm up walk not too steep. I signed in at the top, took some pictures and a few for other hikers up there and then began the trek back down to the parking lot. At the car we realized that Michael didn't have proper directions to get home so that took a bit of time. But soon I was on my way! I expected that when Michael pulled away I would start second guessing myself but that didn't happen! It felt great to finally be doing this and the panic didn't hit till I had to stop and restock for water. I forgot to take my pack off first and almost landed in the creek! Good times! I originally planned on staying at Long Creek Falls but because I started so late I'm the day I decided to stop at the first shelter Stover Creek Shelter so that I wouldn't have to night hike. Melkie did awesome, he stayed right with me and wouldn't let me out of his sight when we got to the shelter. I'm exhausted and it's only 8pm. Good night!Trouble"Go out in the backyard... Remember when we were kids and needed nothing to have fun. You can be that kid again! Go and do it!" Snifur on Whiteblaze
Date: 2013-03-10
From: Stover Creek Shelter

To: Horse Gap
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: clear sky

Day 2 Stover Creek Shelter toStealth camp at Horse GapIt is so beautiful here! I am surrounded by mountains right now and it is awesome! My day started off in the early hours waking up because I was cold, turns out Melkie had stolen my blanket. But after rearranging things and waking up one more time to the sound of an animal outside I managed to sleep in until 7:3O. Melkie didn't bark the whole night in the hammock with me even though there were so many other people around. I didn't end up leaving camp until almost 9:00 and then it began. The mountain weren't even that steep but I felt like I was dying. Seriously! I must have stopped four or five times and put the tarp on the ground and fell on it and just stared at the clouds. I know I am not in shape and I expected to take it easy at first but not like this! Yesterday I did low mileage because I didn't want the sun to go down before I set up camp, today I am totally exhausted (it's only 5:30pm) and I've only gone 7.7 miles. It was all up or down! I was debating whether to make it another short day (slower at first means no serious injury) when I caught up to this couple for the third time and followed them here to Horse Gap. We are stealth camping and have no water source. I'm trying to conserve what I've got because there is a brutal mountain tomorrow and I don't think there is water for four miles. Trouble"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.' TS Eliott
Date: 2013-03-11
From: Horse Gap

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 6.7

Day 3 -Horse Gap to Gooch GapToday was so amazing! Everyone should try this! We started late and started with Sassafras Mountain (known as kick yo ass mountain to all thru hikers) but honestly it wasn't that bad and the views were amazing! Right after that came Justus Mountain and it was almost as high. It was really cool, when we finished Sassafras we turned back and looked up and were impressed but then we climbed halfway up Justus and turned back and it was incredible! It's hard to believe that we climbed that huge mountain and were halfway up one almost as big! When I mentioned how awesome it was James said that we had already went over five! No wonder yesterday was so brutal for me! I ran out of water today and had to go two miles until we reached a stream, I think that's the best bottle of water I have ever had! Even Melkie downed almost a litre. We are right at Gooch Gap at this cool stealth site (not so stealth to hikers as its just off the trail) but it is perfect compared to the hill we camped on yesterday. We will have to take a little longer to get to Neels Gap because you need to have a bear canister to sleep in the five miles before the gap so we are adjusting our days to hike through that area. We actually stopped pretty early today but when we saw this perfect site it was hard to pass up. Other than at breakfast I haven't had an appetite at all, I've been too hot and exhausted than anything more than a handful of trail mix. Tonight I made lemon spinach couscous and it was so good I still couldn't finish it and have leftovers for tomorrow. So far every night someone has started a campfire, tonight was my turn. Success! And I clued in that I didn't have to eat cold because I can cook over the fire - duh! Maybe I won't need to carry fuel at all, my system worked perfect over the fire. Michael had made a cage pot stand the night before I left and it works perfect for fires. It kept my beer pot straight anyway. It's only 7:15pm but I'm going to bed. Good night!Trouble"Live your life. Take chances. Be crazy. Don't wait. Because right now is the oldest you've ever been and the youngest you'll be ever again."
Date: 2013-03-12
From: Gooch Gap

To: Lance Creek
Miles today: 7.1

Day Four /Strealth at Gooch Gap to Stealth at Lance CreekWe woke up in the clouds this morning and walked in them all day. We stopped to get water at this muddy spring only to find out there was a better source half a mile later. The mountains today were a combination if not bad and crazy steep. Surprisingly my muscles aren't sore! I'm exhausted and winded at the end if everyday but no real pain yet! There weren't any views because of the cloud we were in but it was kind of cool knowing that we were walking in clouds. It started pouring down rain just as we stopped for the day and everything I have is soaking wet. I borrowed fuel from James an Kiryan but couldn't get my stove to start. Melkie is soaked and now so is everything else in my hammock. My fly is not right but I'm not going out to fix it until this rain stops. I'm pretty cold now and my 20 hour warmers that I brought aren't working. I think I'm only six or seven miles from Neels Gap and its probably warmer for me to pack up and hike in the rain but it turns out there is a bear causing problems ahead and I'm not night hiking to meet him! So I couldn't handle the rain coming anymore, I got up and fixed my tarp and put on the very last dry items I have but I'm freezing cold (even the dog isn't warming me up). Trying to go to sleep. Good night!Trouble"No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress you are still way ahead of everyone who isn't trying." Unknown
Date: 2013-03-13
From: Lance Creek

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: few clouds

Day Five Lance Creek to Neels GapI'm alive! I made it cold and wet through the night! And I'm finally at Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap! I thought I would be here the end of day three or early day four but I made it! Today started out bad. Everything was wet and we packed up and left as fast as we can. Our fingers were freezing so we didn't eat. I forgot my trekking poles and had to go back and get them, then I needed to re-tie my shoe , then Melkie rolled in poo! The day was not looking too good. We finally stopped for something to eat and even though I was cold I felt better. The climb wasn't too bad at first but near the top it was brutally steep but the views were amazing! Seriously, all you can see in every direction is mountains and we walked here! Going down was slow and almost as bad as up. It was all rocks and mud and extremely steep. Kiryan hurt her knee and the going got a bit slower. Finally we made it to Mountain Crossings! I picked up my resupply package and paid for a bunk. I was just getting settled and getting all my laundry together when Pirate said I couldn't stay there with a dog. So I moved all my stuff outside, dried my wet quilts and did a load of laundry. They said I could still stay for supper so I did! After that I packed everything up and moved up the trail a few hundred yards and set up camp. It was so windy that I set up the extra tarp as a wind break. I was upset about being kicked out especially when I had told them I had a dog but it all worked out because the place was crowded and I bet I wouldn't have been able to sleep anyway.Trouble"The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been." Albert Einstein
Date: 2013-03-14
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Day Six - Neels Gap to Low GapI got up and went down to Mountain Crossings to use a real toilet and water that you can turn on and off! Then I decided I had way too much food and mailed some to Budget Inn at Hiawassee. After that I discovered the computer, I wish I had seen it last night! I only had a few minutes so I figured Facebook would tell as many people that I was ok, trailjournals will have to wait. We got a bit of a late start and of course started with an uphill! It wasn't that bad until after 5 miles in we got to this crazy steep hill. It was bad! And to make it worse Melkie got all strange and wouldn't go forward, he kept circling me (and getting his leash all tangled up) like he was protecting me but nothing was there. James and Kiryan went on ahead and after a lot of frustrating I took him off the leash. He was still circling me but at least I wasn't having to fix the leash every few steps. After that there was a nice break from the steep ups and downs and everything was more gradual. Oh I forgot, the view on top of the "hell hill" was absolutely damazing and I took lots of pictures. Coming out of Neels Gap this morning I turned around and couldn't believe how big the mountain I had climbed the day before was! I still can't believe I'm actually doing this! The day wore on and I wanted the ups to end. I was starting to get tired but I knew I couldn't stop because I was too high (= too cold) and I would run out of water. Coming down a hill I could see tons of tents set up and knew I was almost there! I saw that the shelter was way at the bottom and found a spot halfway between the shelter and the trail. I'm sleeping next to another hammocker too! He said its supposed to be 27*F tonight and that's without the windchill (and right now it's really windy). It's only 6:30 but I'm already in my bed trying to keep warm. Good night!TroubleMay your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountain rise into and above the clouds.' Unknown