morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-03-04
To: flights and shuttles
Miles today: 0.0

I have been finalizing some small details. Haha what a joke - I have absolutely no plans, once in a while I look at my guide book and thank, you know, I should at least plan a few resupply points, but the notion is always overwhelmed by my second thought, I can decide all that when I'm on the trail.Okay, I did get my flight to Atlanta booked, absurdly, I'll be flying 500 miles the wrong direction in order to save $272 amazing, three stops and 9 hours 15 minutes will complete the first leg. I intended to stay at the hiker hostel but to my surprise they were fully booked, apparently 30 days notice is not enough time to reserve a room. After looking at the alternatives I understand now at least one of the reasons why the place is so popular. The hiker special they offer including both the shuttle to the hostel and a night's stay is a very good deal.  Since I will be arriving at the Northsprings MARTA station too late to be shuttled to the trailhead before dark (it would be close) I have reserved a hotel just outside of Atlanta and will be shuttled to Springer bye Survivordave early the next morning. Dave is cool and offered some helpful  suggestions, I don't want to say  he's expensive, because his rates are in line with what I would charge but with  hotel stay + his cost, it more than doubles what they get at the hiker hostel.  I'm itching to get this thing kicked off, unfortunately there's nothing left to do now but count the days in anticipation of my next adventure.
Date: 2012-04-01
From: Springer mountain

To: Hawk mountain 
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

Took my first step on the trail today.  Stepped out of the shuttle in the parking lot below Springer mountain, walked up to the top, touched the sign, took a picture and hiked back down the same way I come up, covering the same mile twice, couldn't  be avoided  and the extra mile will not be reflected on this journals total miles.  There will be a lot of miles like this for various reasons and  this is the last time I will mention it, I have been thinking about it today and I believe  it deserves being said and this is a good time.  This journal only counts miles on the trail and not road walking, getting lost, fetching water, taking care of business (outhouse) and walking  connecting trails for views you would otherwise miss. Also to avoid being redundant I want write about miles walked, or where I camp, this can be seen at the top of each page. The trail today was pretty easy but I didn't want to over do it too soon, and decided to cut it short. The trail is beat down, packed dirt and very easy to follow. I couldn't help but wonder how many countless feet it has taken to carve the scar in the earth that is now the AT. I'm tenting tonight on a good flat spot although very crowded, many people here.  Not much views today just a walk through the woods mostly.
Date: 2012-04-02
From: Hawk mountain 

To: Woody Gap
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

If yesterday was a walk in the woods today was a walk in the mountains. The hardest was Sassafras mountain, it's the one that had me talking to it. " what's that Sassafras? Who's your daddy? Oh your kind of sassy ant' you sassy Sassafras. Your not my daddy, and I'm going to kick your but no way you kick mine". I want reveal most of what I told Sassafras, it will take along time to forget that workout.  It was really tough, the whole day was. It was more inline with what I thought the AT would be like. Fantastic views, switch backs, big climbs and even a few false summits. The weather has been good but a little on the hot side. Refreshingly windy in the mornings and evenings. Not nearly as many people here tonight, I think they stopped back at Gooch mountain shelter. Almost left my walking sticks where I was taking a break, thank you Tin Can. I've talked with maybe a dozen thru hikers, but I don't know most of them by name yet. I have hiked alone the last 2 days but there is about 7 of us that leapfrog all day.
Date: 2012-04-03
From: Woody Gap

To: Neels Gap - Blood Moutain Cabins
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light rain

This morning my feet were really sore, definitely overdid it yesterday. Totally surprised me when they loosened up once I finally got started. Completely out of food today. My mother tried to tell me to bring one more day of food, unfortunately I didn't listen to her, big mistake. Others had said they didn't have much of an appetite in the beginning, not true for me. Today's big event was Blood Mountain, the highest mountain in Georgia the AT crosses. I had been dreading it knowing it would be tough because it's a 1000 feet higher than Sassafras, luckily I was wrong, it was a cake walk. It was a gradual climb with lots of switch backs and ridge walking. No one passed me going up today, probably because I was on a mission to get some food. No one passed me going down today probably because I was franticly trying to get out of I lightning storm. I heard the first thunder just before I reached the summit so I got up there took some pictures and hauled  butt. Nowhere near fast enough though, that thunderhead moved over me in a matter of minutes. I was freaking out every time the thunder echoed through the mountains. The descent was nothing like anything I've exsperanced, basicly a rock scramble and I was never really sure where the trail was with all the rain. In some places I was literally descending a waterfall. Today, the last part of it at least, was no fun! I don't like lightning, especially while standing on car sized rocks, on an open faced mountain, 4000 feet up.  I sit here now dry and comfortable astonished that I didn't get hurt as I bolted off that mountain. Washed my clothes, bought too much food, cleaned up my gear and took a shower. Ready for another day of surprises.
Date: 2012-04-04
From: Neels Gap - Blood Moutain Cabins

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Wildcat mountain is straight up! Easy the hardest thing I did today. I still had a small piece of my ass left and Wildcat wanted it. As soon as I reached the top the trail turns around headed down to the same highway (it looked a lot like the same place I started). I kept thinking if this blasted trail takes me back to where I started I will die right here. Turns out it heads back to the same 348 Russell HWY only a mile down. If you're a cheater when you reach Tesnatee gap hitch down 348 to Hogpen gap (only a freaking mile) and you will miss a very tough climb.  Rained again but only a short while no big deal at all. A past thru hiker "Christmas" was handing out free ice cold sodas at Hogpen, I had two Yummy Cokes, trail magic at a perfect location. The views today were incredible, I hope my pictures at least captures a little of the beauty.
Date: 2012-04-05
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Unicoi Gap
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was awesome, I felt stronger than I have yet. I covered more miles in a shorter period of time mostly because we were all racing to beat a storm headed this way. I climbed to the top of mountains today as usual but there were no vistas, the trees obscured what would have been great views. The mountains hid from my eyes but not my feet. The AT is referred to by many as the green tunnel, it gets this name because you spend so many hours walking through the forest and you only occasionally get a view of the mountains. I made it to the road ahead of most of the group that I have been hiking with. Slowsky and I called for a shuttle into Hiawassee for two, by the time the shuttle arrived I think there was nine of us that piled into an old beat up thing they called a van. Slowsky is a section hiker out for 30 days. Don't let the name fool you, he is usually one of the first ones into camp. By the way, the AT guide book that I use to navigate this trail list a free shuttle with a stay at the Budget Inn, but they now charge five dollars ahead for a round trip. Slowsky and I are sharing a room here tonight, great guy, I'm glad to have met him.There is a 11 year old girl out here hiking all the way to Maine with her father. Amazing! Apparently she has thru hiked the PCT already. Believe it or not they will ride out the storm in the mountains. The rest of us are just wimps LOL.So here I am in a motel after only one night in the mountains. It will probably be at least six days before I get to another town.
Date: 2012-04-06
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Threatened rain all day but never really came. Hiked in a cloud or fog and never seen nothing but the ground I was walking on. The first mile was a thousand foot climb but it didn't hurt that bad, not like I thought it would. I'm really footsore but other than that no problems. I almost feel guilty that I haven't got a blister, almost everyone I meet has blisters to deal with or knee problems, back trouble, allergies, cuts or scratches where they fell and gear issues of one kind or another.  I've been lucky so far, I do hope that good luck holds out, Lord knows I'm going to need it.
Date: 2012-04-07
From: Sassafras Gap

To: Bly Gap
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

It was still a little dark when a heard of folks showed up trying to get to the same place we were, everybody wanted a good spot. I ran when my friend ran but I stepped in a hole and down I went. I told everyone  it was just a sprang, but that turned out to be wishful thinking, the  X-ray showed my ankle was fractured in 3 places. That was 7 years ago, and today, I twisted it again. It really twisted it good with nearly all my weight on, my hiking poles kept me from falling. Gave me a good scare but it doesn't hurt at all, nice to know that my ankle is strong enough to take it. Big miles today, big mountains today and big milestone, I crossed the GA/NC border. I'm in North Carolina tonight by a measly .01 of a mile. I am footsore at the end of everyday, it's like my feet are bruised heal to toe. I'm guessing it's normal but not sure. Man do I hope they hurry up and toughing up because it's killing me to walk on them. They're ok the first few hours in the morning but then it's back to hurting with every step.
Date: 2012-04-08
From: Bly Gap

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Two major climbs said welcome to NC - a fine how-do-you-do, but it's great to be in another state. Makes me feel like I have accomplished something, though a small feat it is in the grand schema of things. I'm ready for a zero mile day to give these old dogs a restY, I don't know  if a days rest will satisfy them, may just piss them off more than they already are. The trail looks easier than has been for the next couple of days, that's what I'm a hoping anyway. The cell service has been almost non exsistant the last couple of days.
Date: 2012-04-09
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin NC)
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Six miles into the hike, my stomach growled so loud it scared me. It must have been close to where I busted the 100 mile mark. Yeah baby - 100 miles! I think my stomach said "one hundred miles, are you kidding me?"I broke camp in record time, moving on the trail 20 minutes after I  woke up. Holly crap it was cold! The cheap thermometer pinned to my pack showed 35 degrees but the wind was blasting right thru me.  It was mostly  down hill this morning and the Greenhorn was really moving, until he run slap in the face of Albert mountain. Oh my God! I seen the little pointed thing in the profile but I had know clue it was that vertical. What was a hike slowed to a crawl and was now rock climbing. At the top there is a fire tower to climb. Wow!  The view was absolutely amazing and I'm not easily amazed by these vistas anymore. Unfortunately, my pictures did not even come close to doing it justice.  Today's photo was taken only a few miles from where i had camped. Made it to the road into Franklin footsore, exhausted and starving. Took off my pack and sit down about to look for a number to get a ride, when a guy in truck pulls up, stuck his head out the window and said "want a ride to Franklin?" Hmmm let me think "Yes Sir!"
Date: 2012-04-11
From: Franklin NC Sapphire Hotel

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Cold all day, getting ready for cold cold night. Hoarfrost everywhere on the trail, expect bellow freezing tonight. I hope my 30 degree bag will be good, but it's times like this that I wish I would have got the heavier 20 degree bag. Trail was pretty mild today but we got a late start coming out of town. My feet are better maybe only because they are frozen. When you summit Wayah Bald you walk the last hundred yards or so on pavement. I crossed a gravel road several times on the way up the trail so I new cars could get up there, still, I was disappointed to see the last part was black topped.
Date: 2012-04-12
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Wow! One of my biggest surprises is how fast you can get in town or at least resupply points. I'm already her at the NOC restaurant, bunkhouse, outfitter and store. I'm packing way to much food, need to plan better. There was a cool section today where I was walking on top of a narrow mountain finger that connected to mountains, there was just enough room for the trail and it dropped straight down on both sides. Walking along I was wondering what could have caused a geographic feature like that. There is a place called Jumpoff Veiw that's fairly tough to get to, one of those places you come to where you need to stop and say, how do they they expect me to do this. When I got to it I couldn't believe I was standing where I was. Not so much because of the view rather because it made me feel I was standing where few people had stood before. The NOC is a beautiful place to bad I can't stay longer but I have a long tough climb out tomorrow.
Date: 2012-04-13
From: NOC

To: Locust Cove Gap
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: few clouds

I basically deer hunted today, slowed my pace down and walked as silently as possible. Didn't see a deer or any animal for that matter, very little wildlife in these mountains, at least near the trail. I did sneak up on the "dude" never really met him yet but he looks like Grizly Adams younger brother. Other than a rabbit in Georgia I haven't seen any wild animals, hope to see more wildlife up the trail. Have to say this adventure has been amazing, the never ending mother earth in front of me has something new for me everyday. I'm hiking smarter, smoother and faster. I dont think I'm realy that much stronger, that will come later, I'm improving because I'm learning to hike. It may sound strange but you get used to walking in the concrete jungle so used to you really do need to learn to walk out here. This is nothing like the walking we are use to. In one day the terrain can be a dirt path, slanted dirt path, loose rocks, flat rocks, slanted stone, boulders, and pine needles or leaves covering the trail. All different combinations of slipperyness, I'm learning when to step, where to step, how to step and when to take long strides or keep it short and choppy. I'll be in the Smokies in a few days, if I still have all my fingers and toes, I'll need to pick up my pace when I get out of those bad boys. If I continued to average the miles I am now it would take 6 months to complete this journey.
Date: 2012-04-14
From: Locust Cove Gap

To: Cable Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Had to use my ear plugs for the first time last night, some guy was sawing some logs. He arrived in camp just before dark, set up his tent, ducked inside and started cutting wood immediately. Never heard snoring like that in my life, guy must have been tired. There was some gunfire early this morning. I figured turkey hunters but you could knocked me over with a feather when 3 beagles crossed the trail on the sent of something. About midday I climbed Jacobs Ladder, 700 feet straight the hell up, no switch backs.  There was a day hiker laying in the trail about halfway up that told me to just step over him. Someone had left Cokes and snacks on a picnic table just before it and that's what fueled me up, it was delicious. I stepped on a garter snake a few miles later. In the fraction of a second it took me to figure out it was a harmless snake, I had already just about come out of my shoes. The snake didn't seemed unscathed but it darn near killed me. Man I was looking for snakes after that ordeal.
Date: 2012-04-15
From: Cable Gap Shelter

To: Fontana Dam Visitors CenterÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: broken clouds

Temps warmed up, first night in a few days I wasn't freezing in my sleeping bag. Short miles into Fontana dam. First was a fair climb that left me winded a little but it put me in my first good position to see the Great Smoky Mountains and I had service so decided to call my mom to share the moment, still winded she just kept saying what's wrong. I finally calmed her down and explained where I was. Called for a shuttle on a landline phone in the parking lot. Here at the Hike Inn showered with fresh clean laundry. The room comes with a free ride in to Robbinsville for resupply and dinner.Tomorrow I enter the Smoky's and the weather looks bad so we will see how that goes. I'm ready for anything, bring it on.
Date: 2012-04-16
From: Fontana Dam Visitors CenterÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

Walked over the dam this morning and entered the Smoky's .2 in I seen a whitetail deer, my first real wildlife sighting. Next I witnessed  a teenager rolling his luggage down the trail, could not believe my eyes, guess he didn't have a pack. I got off to a late start this morning, what a mess. You're required to have a permit to enter the Smoky's and there was not a pin at the box and of course I didn't have one and nobody was around. The guys I'm hiking with we're in front of me so I sit around waiting for someone to show up for a half hour, finally I found a pin in the trash but it wouldn't write. What I ended up doing was taking the pin apart and stick the head in the ink and write two letter and stick back in the ink, it worked but there is ink blotches all over my permit. It took me all day to catch up to my group, I was the last in camp for the first time. Seven miles up the trail I seen more crickets than I have ever seen in my life, millions of them. As I was walking they would jump this way and that off the trail and that went on and on for 3 miles. The Smoky's were is easier than I expected so far anyway. Nothing steep, it was all gradual but also all up, 11 miles up. Some of the younger thru hikers or calling me the Green Hornet, the guys I hike with are calling me Green Horny and there's a woman in her fifties that calls me Green Honey, practically none of the hikers call me Greenhorn anymore. But I told them all I'm sticking with Greenhorn all the way to Maine, once a greenhorn always a greenhorn. I can't believe all the people that's got off the trail for one reason or another, some of witch were in much better shape than me. I'm sleeping in a shelter for the first time tonight. It's crowded, with hikers were packed in here like sardines but there is a fire place in here and it is cold outside. Hope the mice leave me alone but I know they want.
Date: 2012-04-17
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Good views this morning, I was hiking above the clouds for a while. The last part of the day I was hiking in clouds. It's  spooky watching the clouds move through the area I was walking on. For some reason I had the feeling something was following me, it was strong enough that I couldn't  stop thinking about it and I would turn around to try to see something, but I never did.  My feet are better but now I have a problem with my right knee, also I think I may have shinsplints although I have not been running, but the trail has been fairly gentle so I have held a faster pace.  Seen a Chipmunk for the first time ever, except in the movie. Apparently I snored in the shelter last night, lost some popularity points. There were a lot of snoring and my own was not the loudest but it seems it was the most annoying. I couldn't  say, I had earplugs in and slept soundly. It's raining and it's cold now but the temps were great most of the day. Only 6 people in this shelter. Be glad to get out of the Smoky's so I can go back to tenting.
Date: 2012-04-18
From: Double Spring Gap Shelter

To: Newfound Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: moderate rain

Lousy day of hiking! That about sums it up, walked in the rain most of the day. It was more like walking up or down a stream than a trail. Rain water takes the easiest path down the mountain and that's usually the trail. Sloppy mud and slippery rocks are no fun, add a water current and you have an unwelcomed, unpleasant course even a pig would surely turn his nose up at in fear of damaging his reputation. Speaking of pigs, there is a lot of hogs in the Smoky's I haven't seen any but I can see where they have been rooting up the soil. These are supposedly the notorious and dangerous Russion Bores unlike the feral hogs we have in Arkansas. Today I climbed Clingmans Dome, the highest point of all the Apilachine Trail. I have so been looking forward to getting here. It was so disappointing that I can't even describe how awful it was to go over what I have heard is such a beautiful  place in a cloud with visabilty at forty feet. With rain soaked feet, muddy shoes and nasty foul smelling clotheing, body odor that would  scare the crap out of a skunk and the disappointment of the would be grand views obscured by the billowing veil clouds, my situation screamed "what am I doing out here"? When I slogged down into Newfound Gap I rode the Cherokee shuttle in to Gatlinburg. Now warm and dry my attitude has improved, the weather also improving I'll get at it again tomorrow. No picture today, this one was taken the night before.
Date: 2012-04-25
From: Newfound Gap

To: Tri Coner Nob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

Late start coming from Gatlinburg for the second time. The first time I only made it three miles in before deciding to return to town to rest my shin splint for 5 days. I had planned to start tomorrow but a guy offered me a ride and I felt great so I packed up and left.  My leg was fine but I was constantly worried the nagging pain would return. Worrying about the stupid leg was actually worse than the pain was to begin with. Rained for awhile but nothing bad, a little cold but nothing I couldn't deal with, I think for the Somky's you could call it a fair weather day. I passed many places that should have offered good views but my timing was off and it was clouded in each time. It was a easy hike to the second shelter and only five miles to the next so I decided to push on, not to mention it was a mile in and out off the trail to the shelter, I hate that crap. To be honest I'm ready to get the heck out of the Somky's so I can't tent wherever I please. Very crowded shelter and I don't know anyone here. We have a loud mouth fellow here that claims he started on April 10 and is already here, I have my doubts, he just doesn't appear to be in the shape for that kind of hiking. The picture was taken back on the 19th but in the right location for today's hike, only you couldn't see doodlie squat.