morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-12-11
From: Derrick Knob Shelter 

To: Fontana Lodge 
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: overcast clouds

(In which I wake up to frozen everything and end up staying in Fontana Dam Village) -Currently sitting in a bed at the Fontana Lodge-Last night started out comfortable - even in the wet bag. By about 3 am though, things were chilly in the bag - not super uncomfortable, just chilly. At 6 am I decided to get moving so I partially unzipped my bag and felt around for my headlamp in the pure darkness of the shelter. I ended up picking up an object that didn't feel like my headlamp, but it didn't register as something I normally keep by my bag at night. It was rigid, and out of sheer curiosity I tapped it on the shleter floor - it rapped like wood on wood and that really confused me. Eventually I found my headlamp and took a look at the object I had picked up... one of my socks. A very frozen sock. The temperature at that point had to be below 20. Everything outside of the sleeping bag that was wet the night before was frozen - my socks, shoes and pack. Dante's hat and gloves were rock solid too and I was thankful that I slept with mine.The morning moved slowly. We ate a little extra for breakfast and tried to do as many morning chores as possible before leaving our sleeping bags. I had a dry pair of socks to use, so the worst part of the morning was putting on frozen shoes. The uppers and laces were so frozen that getting the shoes on was a major challenge that hurt. It took about an hour of hiking before the shoes were thawed enough that I could use the laces and actually tie them.It was a rough start, but the day turned into an up and down ride. At Thunderhead Mountain we hiked above cloudline and popped into blue skies sitting on top of a bed of puffy white clouds. It was like taking an airplane through the clouds on a rainy day to reveal blue skies and sun. We spent the whole day hiking into and out of the clouds, around northfaces and southfaces, into ice-covered forests and dry, grassy bald patches in the sun. The temperatures varied by 20 degrees over the course of minutes sometimes. The combination of sun, ice and snow made for great photographs. It was a dangerous kind of beauty - like the frozen World of Narnia. Absolutely gorgeous at times, but very lifeless. Though beautiful sometimes, the temperature fluctuations in the forest were exhausting and I was happy to drop out of the Smoky Mountains just before sundown.We made it to Fontana Village by 6 pm but everything except the inn in this little village is already closed. Neither of us have any food left so we have to wait until 9 am tomorrow when the only store opens up. Meantime this lodge has a good hiker rate that we're splitting. It's nice to have a warm place to dry out the gear and get a shower.Today's post is brought to you by frozen shoes, because nothing puts damper on your morning like stepping into ice cubes.
Date: 2012-12-13
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center 

To: Wayah Bald Shelter 
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

(In which I get a late start from the NOC and get over the last big climb of the trip) -Currently sitting in my sleeping bag in the shelter after dark-This morning I knew that the outfitter wasn't going to open until 10 so I spent the time writing up yesterday's blog entry and making use of the unusually strong cell coverage. AT&T seems to have strategic coverage - only on major roads and in cities - while Verizon seems to blanket everything including the woods.Dante and I were at the outfitter the moment they opened with plans to eat everything they had in there and then resupply for a 3 day stretch to Hiawassee. When we entered the store we found that our resupply and food options were Mountain House meals and a scattering of food bars. Weak and disappointing. I talked with one of the fellas working there about our situation and he told us our best bet would be the convenience store 0.9 miles to the east. Another employee was listening and chimed in that he needed to swing by the store anyway so he'd give us a ride. A few minutes later Dante and I were pacing up and down the isles of a small convenience store throwing things in our baskets. The tough part of resupplying in a hurry, especially when you intend to immediately eat some of the things you're shopping for, is not buying too much. Practice over the last few months paid off and I ended up with 7.5 lbs of food after gorging on the rest. Perfect. Back at the outiftter I bought the last fuel that I'll need on the trip and picked up a few instant coffee packets. Almost done!We didn't get started hiking until about 11:45 but made good time despite a 3300 ft elevation gain over 10 miles. We rolled into the shelter minutes before headlamps needed to come out. Tomorrow we might pull a 27 to get to Hiawassee a little earlier, but there's no rush now. I'm on track to finish on the 19th with 20 mile days from here on out.Today's post was brought to you by the mad-dash convenience store resupply, because the most useful thing I get from hiking this trail just might be the ability to acquire exactly enough junk food in 10 minutes to prevent weight loss for 3.5 days.
Date: 2012-12-14
From: Wayah Bald Shelter 

To: Big Spring Shelter 
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

(In which I get a great sunrise view from Wayah Bald) -Currently sitting at the picnic table in front of a fire (this time started by me)-This morning I made it up the short climb to Wayah Bald about 60 seconds before the edge of the sun broke the horizon. The view from Wayah is always amazing from what I've heard, so to catch it at sunrise must be a special treat. The day went by without much eventful to talk about. Mid-way through the day I decided that rather than pull a long day today and a short day tomorrow, I'd switch the order. I need an early bedtime tonight to fully recover from the last two hectic days.The early arrival at the shelter (about 3:30) meant a little more exploration than usual and enough time to gather fire wood. The only trouble is that this shelter seems very popular and the downed wood is picked clean within a 75 yard radius. I can imagine that this shelter and surrounding area is packed with hikers in late March. I can imagine the dozens of tents scattered about from the great mass of northbound hikers that start around that time. It must be a circus. A scarcity of firewood isn't a problem when you have Dante around though. I think he must have walked back to Maine to do it, but after a good hour he came back to the shelter with enough wood to build a second shelter. He says we didn't have good fires in the Smokys so we need to make up for it. Sounds good to me.Tonight I want to be in bed by 7 so I can roll out early. We're gonna pull a 26 mile day to set us up for a resupply in Hiawassee that we don't need to rush. 100.7 miles left to go... I can almost smell the cookie cake.Today's post is brought to you by a sunrise on Wayah Bald. Why? Look at that photograph! That's why.
Date: 2012-12-15
From: Big Spring Shelter 

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 26.6
Weather: broken clouds

(In which I hike my last long day into the last state on the trail) -Currently sitting at a picnic table in front of the shelter after dark-Today was significant as the last day that I hike more than 25 miles in a day, and as the day in which I walk into Georgia. Today's strong 26 miles were the culmination of 2100 miles of hiking almost continuously. The trail was smooth and the legs felt great. It took just under 10 hours to get from shelter to shelter and though the pads of my feet are a little sore, everything feels good. I'm finally getting good at this...I crossed the NC/GA border around mile 22. I took a picture of it and stared at it for quite a while. Thirteen states I've walked through. Just one more. The next few days are short and easy starting with a 15 mile day after reloading in Hiawassee. I've been texting Lotus lately and found out that he summited Springer the morning of the 13th - speedy fella. He told me to tell him when I got to Georgia and he'd make his way to one of the shelters with a cookie cake. I told him I had a better idea - meet me and Dante at the shelter at the end of the approach trail and we'd give him some cash to take us to Atlanta the next morning. He liked the plan so I'm looking forward to cookie cake and good company at the end of this MEGA vacation.Today's post was brought to you by Georgia. I wish I good reason why. I'm running out of good reasons. Hooray 14th state!
Date: 2012-12-16
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter 

To: Tray Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: light rain

(In which I resupply in Hiawassee and hike through the rain to Tray Mountain) -Currently lying on my stomach in my sleeping bag... and I just shook a mouse off my back-The picture for today was taken yesterday. It's Dante looking down on Hiawassee.This morning was dry, which according to the section hikers who were at the shelter last night, was a bonus. A few people throughout the day today told us it was supposed to start raining at night and keep raining through Tuesday. People love to give bad news, and this is especially true about weather on the trail. Really? It's going to be cold and rainy for the next few days? Thanks for making sure I know in advance that I'm going to be miserable. At the road crossing to Hiawassee Dante and I waited patiently to get a ride. I thought we might have made a mistake trying to hitch on a Sunday morning in Georgia. There weren't any cars going by. After about 15 minutes, two cars and no luck, a fella hiked out of the woods from the south and introduced himself as Grandpa. I had seen shelter register entries from him, and from his relatively slow pace I expected to pass him sooner or later. He had gone into Hiawassee last night but didn't get all of his town chores done before a lady asked him if he wanted a ride back to the trail. Considering how close to dark it was at that point, he opted for the ride back to the trail head and planned to hitch back to town this morning in daylight. A few minutes later a Honda pulled over for us and a couple in their 70s in church clothes asked if we needed a ride. Victory!!In town Dante and I went in one direction and Grandpa in another. I had my sights on the breakfast buffet and Dante was easily convinced. Thinking that would be my last AYCE on the trail, I made the most of it. Once again I ate so much I thought it might come back up, but I kept it down and didn't need to eat again until dinner.At the grocery store I picked up two days of food to get to Neel Gap. While packing it up in the atrium of the store (at this point it was raining steadily) a fella came over to Dante and me and asked if we wanted a ride back to the trail head. There were other chores we could have completed, but they could wait considering we had just gotten lucky with a ride. We took CJ up on his offer and were whisked back to the trail in no time.Its been raining all day now and I pulled into Tray Mountain Shelter soaked. It's a chilly rain, but not nearly as cold as the Smokys - thankfully. Dante made much better time than me and when I got here he was already huddled in his bag. Tomorrow looks to be another wet one (thanks random guy on the trail who likes to deliver bad news) but hike we must.Today's post is brought to you by the Georgia Mountain Restaurant, because a place where you can get a day's worth of calories at breakfast for $7 is hiker heaven.
Date: 2012-12-19
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter 

To: Springer Mountain, GA
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

(Need I preface this one?)There's a poster in the Smoky Mountain Diner in Hot Springs that says: "The greatest reward for a job well done is the personal satisfaction of having done it." When you want to say something that's concise and to the point, rest assured someone else has already said it. I hiked 2,184 miles from Maine to Georgia in exactly four months and I am very, very satisfied.Last night I slept like an eight year old on Christmas eve. I woke up at 5 am without an alarm and layed wide awake until my alarm went off at 5:30. The only thing different about the first 15 miles of today than any other on the trail was that I started them overly tired and I didn't drink nearly enough water. I was on a mission. Dante caught up with me a few miles before the summit and we practically ran. We left day hikers and section hikers in the dust and stopped only once to chat with a group of bearded guys who I would have pegged as long-distance hikers, but they had almost zero hiking experience. They seemed even more excited about the 2.8 miles we had left of the trail than we were. With 0.1 left I stopped to let Dante walk up by himself. I followed a minute later. After ten years of scheming, one of intense planning and four months of hiking, I made it to Springer Mountain. We both sat silently for quite some time before embarking on the most intense photo shoot I've ever been involved in.Springer Mountain is 3,782 ft in elevation. The climb up it from the north can hardly be called a climb. On any other day of this trip there's a good chance that I would have hiked over this mountain without bothering to make note of its name or to even stop to look at the view. There's nothing truly remarkable about Springer Mountain except that it happens to be the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Some have asked me: "well, isn't it anticlimactic to end at Springer?" After finishing this trail I can assure them that there's nothing anticlimactic about it. It's a fitting ending to an incredible journey. A supremely satisfying conclusion on an appropriately humble mountain. The best conclusions to tales of epic journeys, in my opinion, are wonderfully understated. They are endings that remind the reader, as cliche as it might be, that the journey was never really about the destination, but the path that lead you there. So it is with a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.Thanks for reading folks, and happy trails. Today's post was brou... well, never mind that. This journal was brought to you by 2,184.2 miles of the Appalachian Trail, because I doubt this blog would have been nearly as interesting to read without them.P.S. - Lotus showed up at the shelter tonight with a cookie cake and a bottle of Jack Daniels... southbounder par-tayyy!
Date: 2012-06-04
To: none
Miles today: 0.0

I've created a new account for 2012. To link up with Trail Journals, I must have 3 entries. This is th first..... a little background.My trail name is Repack. I began hiking the AT in '07 with a trial hike with new friends who ran an ad in ATC magazine. Hiked 83 or so miles in and around Hot Springs NC and was immediately hooked.
Date: 2012-06-05
From: none

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Second of three entries to get the journal going and linked up with Trail Journals.Since '07, have hiked each year with the intention of finishing the trail each year but injuries have prevented. To date I've completed about 1500 miles from GA to just about the MA border, more specifically, Salibury CT. Did not get any miles in early last year due to recovering from treatments with a problem with my tonsils. Got back in shape through summer last year and had firm plans to add some miles in September from Hanover to Salisbury but Irene came roaring thought and closed Vermont. So no miles added to my sections in 2011. This year, hope to complete MA, VT, NH, and ME.
Date: 2012-06-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Third of three entries to link up.This past week, friends and I hiked about 48 miles from Damascus south to Hampton/Braemer TN as a shakedown/warm up for New England. We did only 9-11 miles per day and on Sunday, slackpacked Pond Flats Mountain, and returned home. Thursday the 7th, I'm flying into Bradley Airport servicing Hartford CT to meet my hiking pal High Tops and his brother-in-law who will shuttle us over to Salisbury. Friday, we will slack a 10 mile treck south to junctions RT7/rt12. Hitch back into Salisbury, rest, and finish the day to Riga Lean-To 4 miles north of Salisbury.
Date: 2012-06-07
From: none

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today, Thursday June 7, I flew into Bradley Airport servicing Hartford CT and Springfield, MA.; met up with my hiking pal Don from Atlanta. His brother-in-law, AJ, picked us up and shuttled us over to Salibury, CT where we spent the night at the home of Maria McCabe who has been hiker friendly for many years, putting them up in her home in the quaint little CT town of Salisbury.Uneventful day visiting with Maria. We had a pleasant late lunch / early dinner at the "Your Country Bistro", on the patio, a beer and sandwich.Visited with Maria on her porch. Maria will shuttle us to the spot where I got off the trail in 2010. We will slack pack (not carrying a pack) in sort of a semi-circle back to her place, rest, pack up and head out for a few more miles.At the time I'm writing this entry, we've been on the trail for 7 days so I'm keeping the entries short and to the point. I will say, at this time in Dalton, MA, I'm having a good time and hiking Massachusetts is as many have said, wet and boggy, but we're still enjoying the hike. Wohoo, soom will have 100 miles behind us.
Date: 2012-06-08
From: Junction US 7 / Ct 112

To: Riga Lean-To
Miles today: 14.2

First day on the trail. Maria took us to the exact spot where I got off in 2010 with a busted-up toe. I must say, I was very excited as we came upon the intersection of CT rt 7 and CT rt 112. We slack packed 10 miles back to Maria's place, rested and repacked for a 4.2 miler (uphill) to our first night out at Riga Lean-To. Shelters in the NE are called Lean-To's and in the mid to bottom portion of the trail, shelters, same-o-same-o, although styles and designs differ from area to area.Riga Lean-to is noted for its magnificent easterly view, the only shelter on the trail with such a view. Will attach a photo when I have more time. I pack a tent and Don is very comfortable sleeping in a hammock, strung up between two trees. I do prefer a shelter only because I'm lazy and it's time consuming putting up my tent.We visited with a few hikers at the shelter. A dad with his son and niece, and a single senior (like us, senior) just out for a few nights on the trail. As usual, when hikers get together, the conversation leans toward gear, brands, and preference. Nice night, woke up to the sunrise, very nice.
Date: 2012-06-10
From: Hemlocks Lean-To

To: Tom Leonard Lean-To
Miles today: 14.3

Today, when I'm writing this entry, is actually6/26. Haven't been able to get to a computer until now. I'm in Killington, VT, a long way from 6/10.Today's significant notes are a long hike and difficult terraine, mostly down hill and a rocky and rooty path (but what's new!) We didn't get into the shelter until like 6:30; 10.5 hrs on the trail for only 14.3 miles, very slow going.AFter dark, another hiker arrived. Her name was Anne. She got a late start on her first day on the trail and grossly underestimated her arrival. Now, this Anne lady, talked incesively! And she wasn't talking to us, but babbling to herself. Yak, yak, yak. MY goodness! More on her later. She will be hiking along with us for many days.. and that's ok. We trail named her "Gabby". She didn't like that. She preferred "Mountain Anne". She a school teacher from near Ashville, NC. She works with the most severly mentally handicapped young adults and older children. She sometimes said it was extremely difficult to measure any progress in some of the peoples learning. God bless her for her efforts. But what a character, she was. She will be with us through Williamstown, MA.
Date: 2012-06-11
From: Tom Leonard Lean-To

To: Shaker Camp Site
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today's plan was only 11.1 miles with a stop into Great Barrington, MA to resuppy. Anne hiked ahead and didn't join us in GB. The trail crossed a busy Rt 23 and we hitched into town (3.5 miles), about 9:30. We got a ride with the 4th car that passed, a lady in the landscaping business.First stop, McDonalds for a pancake, sausage, coffee, and milk breadfast. Best pancake I've had in a long time! Next door was a Price Chopper suppermarket, a very popular chain hereabouts. Charged our phones at the office while we shopped cover 3 days of meals and snacks. Bought too much! and I forgot to buy instant coffee... darn. I do enjoy a coup of decaf after a day's hike. Hitched back to the trail after an hour and 45 minute delay. A young man in the service picke us up. He was only going a couple miles and wasn't planning the 3.5 miles back to the trailhead. I asked him to take us on and he agree. Gave him $5.00 for gas. He was most gracious. Don and I tend to tip those that do us a favor.Arrive at the campsite about 4:00 and Anne was already tented. She complained about the bugs, even though she was hunkered down in her tent. The campsite, no shelter, as nice. Had a privy and bear box for overnigh food storage, and a great water source, a flowing strea. We treat all water with a product called Aqua Mira, a chorline bleach product. It just takes a few drops to tread a full liter. We built a fire which seemed to help with the bugs. Slept well in my tent, and a dry night.Massachusetts does a nice job with their shelters and campsites. Just about all have a privy and metal bear box to store food through the night.
Date: 2012-06-13
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Farm House called the Cookie Lady's Place
Miles today: 11.1

We (me, Don, and Anne) had heard while at the Upper Goose Pond Cabin, of the "Cookie Lady" She was famous for offering hikers cookies while passing through her area. Her place was only 100 yds from a trail head. She also would let hikers camp in her yard with permission. So we called her the night before and asked to camp in her yard. This added another couple miles to the planned mileage for today. In return for camping, she 76 yrs and her husband 83 yrs old, asked for some chore help around the place. She sold sodas, hard boiled eggs, and ice-cream bars.They had like 20 acres and a large, large blueberry patch which they had a thriving business in season. He was an excentric in that he collected junk (reminded me of American Pickers on cable) and owned an airplane which he kept in a hangar on his property, and had his own airstip. She would not fly with him. They also sold fresh eggs, right from the coup!Don and I mowed for about an hour and Anne helped the misses plant geraniums. It was a very pleasant afternoon and evening. Rufus, their dog, was watchful for fallen crumbs from the picnic table. She prepared some hot muffins for us before we took off in the morning. Nice night, slept well on her soft new-mowed lawn.
Date: 2012-06-23
From: Lost Pond Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

Just me and hiking new friend, through hiker "Flip". Trail Angel named "Plans Too Much" stopped in (shelter near a road) and brought us a soda ans said if we needed anything, to call him. He's retired and does hikers favors for gas money.
Date: 2012-06-24
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Govenor Clements Shelter
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: clear sky

Was planning on another 4.3 miles but inadvertantly got side-tracked and hiked for a couple miles off the trail, realized error and hiked back, which is the thing to do when that happens. Dumb! Just kept my head down and hiked away without looking for blazes. I should have known better and wasn not a happy hiker that night as it threw off my plan by a half day. But that's ok, I have no agenda or deadline. I got over it.