morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-04-14
From: Muskrat Creek shelter

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: few clouds

I left the campsite at 10:30 this morning, it was definitely a lazy start. Partway through the day, I noticed a group picking plants off the side of the trail. I almost kept walking but last minute turned around and asked what plant they were searching for. Ramps! I learned a new edible plant today. I foraged for a hefty pile of ramps and continued on my way. I was slow going today, didn't feel any need to rush and I wasn't even sure if I was going to make it the full 12 miles I was aiming for but I wound up at Carter gap shelter. Mike and I were pretty stoked about the ramps and we cleaned and sauteed them together and shared them with the other hikers in the shelter during dinner. I am so impressed with myself and overjoyed to have had such a successful foraging day. My tomato pesto pasta was delicious (unlike last night's dinner) even without the fresh food and the sauteed ramps made this dish unbelievably amazing. This life is feeling less and less like a survival TV show. If you ask someone where they're heading for the night the typical response is, "it depends where y'all are going."
Date: 2017-04-15
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Gooder Grove
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

This was a big day! Climbed my steepest climb yet and got to enjoy a fire tower at the top of Mt Albert. Then we hit the 100 miles marker. Spent the second half of the day walking with Mike, that was the most I've ever walked with another hiker so far on this trip. When the crowd arrived at rock gap shelter we all decided to push another 4 miles to get to town. I had been talking to the owner of the Gooder Grove and he was already half expecting to come pick us up tonight. We got to the hostel around dinner time and somehow I found the energy to check out the lazy hiker brewery in Franklin. There was an awesome bluegrass band and I saw almost everyone in my bubble at the bar. Crazy how town days work. I was exhausted by the time I made it to my tent. Excited for my first zero day tomorrow.
Date: 2017-04-16
From: Gooder Grove

To: Gooder Grove
Miles today: 0.0

Today was my first zero day. It was nice to sleep in and get to stay in my tent for a while. The dogs barking all morning was a little bit less nice but I was so exhausted I barely even noticed. Glad we stocked up on eggs, bread and avocado so I could feast on a breakfast sandwich without having to walk to town first. The day passed quickly. This was the first time I'd slowed down for a day since starting? the trail and I was hit with a wave of exhaustion. I was generally productive though throughout the day but had a tough time taking care of myself. It's hard to rest when you're in an unfamiliar area with lots of people always around, lots to do and only your feet as a mode of transportation around town. I have given up a lot of resources by choosing this life. I hate how much I have to mooch off of everyone around me. I like to be able to be independent. At least I could walk to a grocery store from this hostel but I'm generally dependent on the kindness of strangers in order to meet the basic needs that I have been able to satisfy by myself for a very long time This is frustrating to me.
Date: 2017-04-17
From: Gooder Grove

To: Siler bald shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Mindful or mindless:Miles. Miles. Miles.The compass points NorthI am groundedAnd feel physical and emotional momentumbut I am uncomfortable.I am relearning how to live but still questioning the weight of the expectationand commitment on my shouldersUnsure how to ease the transition, unsure howTo rest my mind and bodyI try to catch my breathBut merely spin in circles.
Date: 2017-04-19
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala outdoor center
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

It was really tough to get out of my tent this morning. The rainy weather and the combination of some off days was wearing at me and I was tempted to take a zero day so I could stay in my tent forever. My tent was soaked and it was still raining and I had no desire to leave my sleeping bag. Lucky turbo snail (one of the goon squad members if y'all remember them from earlier) convinced me to at least get a few miles in because the thunderstorms weren't forcasted to hit till the afternoon. By the time I got out of my tent, most hikers had cleared out of the site, but I'm pretty used to that by now. Traveled 6 miles to a shelter and was very excited to set up there for the night. It was still midday so I would have time to journal and stretch and process all of my thoughts. I had even beat the storm! An hour later, I was quite settled. I had changed into my base layers, unpacked my bag, danced around and stretched and even got to play a song with a passerby that's carrying a ukulele! After all this, the sun came out and I was inspired to keep moving. I'd been traveling on a ridgeline in the fog for days. It cleared up this afternoon though and I could actually see what's around me! Very steep decent today (lost about 3000ft of elevation today) all the way to the bottom of the Nantahala gorge. I've been traveling through a fair amount of land that has been recently impacted by forest fires. I had a dramatic view of the destruction as I would along the ridge today. There was a gradual transition to more and more life as I continued my decent and now I'm surrounded by a green and flowery, but filled environment! Nantahala outdoor center (NOC) is an awesome spot! I'm very grateful that I found the motivation to hike a full day today and stay on track with my buddies, the goon squad. They're a positive force in my life right now; good motivators and lovely company at camp. I was greeted with a warm welcome upon my arrival to the gorge because they're weren't expecting me to hike this far. We picked up some beer, swam in the river and grabbed an awesome hidden campsite along the water. Recently, I have been questioning if I really want to do the entire Appalachian trail in one go. I'm hoping I'll fall into the pattern of this life and until then I'm? trying to remind myself that I still have agency. This way I can remember that it is my choice to be here instead of feeling obligated to be here and walk each day. I'm currenly still planning on doing it all at once, but I like to allow myself room to follow the wind and avoid expectations. Glad I had a good day because I was getting discouraged. Side notes: I love getting responses about my blog posts! I always wonder who's actually reading this thing :-) Hopefully I'll figure out soon how to add pictures to the posts. I'm thinking those will be a new feature soon.Thanks for all the support!
Date: 2017-04-20
From: Nantahala outdoor center

To: Asheville
Miles today: 0.0

Took some time off and this was exactly what I needed to mentally and physically reset. Nice to wake up along the river and I grabbed a big ol' breakfast at the diner with No spoon and his brother and the goon squad. I was so tempted to go rafting or rent a ducky and explore some whitewater on the Nantahala but timing didn't align. I'll come back along the trail on a road trip someday and make sure there's an inner tube in my adventure mobile.My friend from college (Laura) came to get me today. We hung out by the river for a bit and then headed to Asheville. Great to have a night away and get to visit with my friend and sister. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I feel more at home in my own tent then in my sister's home that I've visited several times before.
Date: 2017-04-21
From: Asheville

To: Nantahala outdoor center
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day number 2. Ran some errands around Asheville today and borrowed my sister's car for the day. Felt weird to be driving again but it was amazing to temporarily have that independence. Bought a ukulele today! It's plastic so it's waterproof. Very productive day. Feeling ready and excited to get back on the trail and very grateful for my trip.to Asheville that Laura and Elana made possible.
Date: 2017-04-22
From: Nantahala outdoor center

To: Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel
Miles today: 13.8

Got up and I was excited for an early start but I stepped in human poop when I was taking my bear bag down and that was an expected setback. Then I bumped into a hiker fest at NOC and wound up getting my tent floor patched by Big Agnes because it had ripped the night before (trail karma, am I right?). Bought a footprint for my tent and a solar powered light for my tent at night and hit the trail around 10am. Climbed over 3000ft today, back into the mountains. It was gradual (spread over 6ish miles) but definitely took some energy. I was hoping to do a 14 mile day so I could get back on track with my bubble of hikers after taking two days off but I didn't know how the initial climb would factor into things. Ended up pushing all the way to Stecoah gap. Set up my tent along an old dirt road near the gap because I didn't have it in me to push 2.4 more miles to the shelter. This was the most isolated camping spot I've had yet this trip. Took my time getting settled and was feeling good but when the thunderstorms rolled in, I changed my mind and called a hostel owner who put me up for the night. The storms were forecasted to last 24 hours and I didn't want to be alone in the lightening over night. Figured I'd sleep better and was tempted to take yet another zero the following day because I hate walking up and over peaks with an umbrella in storms. I left my tent set up and escaped to find shelter. It felt serendipitous that I had met this hostel owner earlier in the day at the trail head. He left his business card and told me to call if I needed anything. Had a room to myself in a trailer that I was splitting with another hiker. Best night sleep I've had yet this trip.Met a lot of new people today. That's what happens when you take some time off and the bubbles shift.
Date: 2017-04-23
From: Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel

To: Fontana Lodge
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: moderate rain

Started off my day expecting to take a zero day but I checked the forecast at it was no longer predicting storms, only rain all day. No lightning, no problem. I decided to push for another 14 mile day, had my mind set on making it to town. I was low on food and feeling antsy after my two zero days. Had to go back and pack up my soaking wet tent in the morning but besides that, my gear was nice and dry because of my indoor home for the night. The trail was testing me today. Very slippery and muddy, the trees were catching my umbrella, the mud was grabbing my poles and I was thoroughly damp. Kept plotting along though and I actually had some great inner dialogues today. Had lots of ideas circulating about goals and projects for this trip and for the next few years. I'd been meeting new hikers throughout the day and trying to find people to split a room with me at the lodge tonight. This is a nice resort and I didn't want to pay for my own room but I've fallen behind my friends and wasn't sure if I'd know anyone here. Sure enough, I bumped into friends as soon as I arrived and they invited me to join their room (Pablo, Blackfoot and Victoria who I met back at the mountain crossings hostel). They were so gracious, letting me stay in their room and they even drove me back to Stecoah gap to get my tent poles that I left when I went back to pack up in the rain this morning. My legs are tired and the arches of my feet are tired but I've got a new food drop, dry clothes, my tent poles are with me, I'm caught up with my bubble, the weather is supposed to clear up, and I'm excited to head into the Smokies!
Date: 2017-04-24
From: Fontana Lodge

To: Mollies shelter
Miles today: 12.5

I had another great night sleep last night. I'm glad I was able to get out of the rain two nights in a row. Grabbed some boiling water at the hotel for my tea, my breakfast, and my dinner, what a treat! I'd packed up most of my pack the night before so I took some time to catch up on journal entries before hitting the trail again. Seems some people were wondering if I quit the trail because of my short hiatus from posting blog entries. All good stories need some suspense, figured I'd keep y'all on your toes for a couple days! I started off my day walking across the Fontana dam and then had another 3000ft climb up into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Had an amazing 360 view from a firetower today. The trails' still a bit slick but it didn't rain during the hiking day which was quite a wonderful thing. There's a lot of mist encompassing the peaks but once in a while clear views pass by. I seem to be traveling in a bubble of women now which is nice. It's always a good feeling to be surrounded with some feminine energy. I'm back in some sort of familiar bubble. They're all melding together at this point though. I love the idea that this community is so tangibly present and supportive no matter how much or little we know each other. We all need each other to keep moving forward, whether that be mentally or physically. In order to access this community though, you need to get out of your tent every morning and keep walking, otherwise you'll start to fall behind. I think this is applicable to so many aspects of life. It often doesn't matter what you do as long as you keep moving forward. I'm somewhat glad that I've split off from my original crew. I'll probably join up with them in Hot Springs and in the meantime I've been reminded that this is my own adventure and I have the freedom to go at my own pace. I also think it's unhealthy to expect one support system to satisfy all of your needs and it's important to be in the habit of feeding off the community instead of one person or group (another thought of mine that applies to much more than my AT life).It doesn't really work to go out of your way in search of something, but the trail often provides what you need when you truly need it. Whether that be people?, certain conversations, tangible items, or weather. I'm just plotting forward, following white blazes, and having faith in the unknown and the belief that I will always (or at least often) have what I need in future moments to make it through whatever surprises might be coming my way. I'd like to make note that today a challenge was established. Gareth thinks he can sneak a large rock into my pack and get me to carry it for at least one mile without me noticing. Glad I met up with with Gareth and Jono at the shelter, I haven't camped with them in a while. We had some good 'bants' (aka banter) going between our tents.
Date: 2017-04-25
From: Mollies shelter

To: Derrick knob shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up to cold, rainy mist and it was another one of 'those days' where getting out of my tent was quite the feat. Everyone at the shelter was slow going this morning because of the weather. I left the site just after 11am but still got into camp around 5 even with some breaks. Twelve miles is feeling like a comfortable and generally easy distance at this point. The sun came out midday and I was actually able to dry my gear once I got into camp. My pasta pesto was one of my favorite meals so far. Also had some chocolate coconut milk before bed. Om nom. Had a good sunset now that the skies are clearing up.
Date: 2017-04-26
From: Derrick knob shelter

To: Mt Collins shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

I don't have much service these days so I'm preemptively posting midday. Today's a big day! As of this morning, I have less than 2000 miles left until katahdin!!!! Wahhoooo! I'm getting close. I also hit the highest point on the trail today, clingmans dome. This afternoon I'll pass my 200th mile. Great views hiking to the summit today. Good day so far so I'm heading back to finish my last 4 miles of the day.Add on from a future me: I loved the last four miles of the day! I was cruising along the ridgeline, barely even noticing elevation change because my body is finally settling into this life. The woods here remind me of my home mountains. There were moments where the trail looked identical to stretches I've seen in the Adirondacks or the whites. I felt very at home and even more excited to connect the dots and follow this trail until it takes me home/North.
Date: 2017-04-27
From: Mt Collins shelter

To: Quality Inn, Gatlinburg
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy nero day! We were going to do a 4 mile day but bumped into lots of trail magic at a gap earlier in the day. So with a stomach full of treats and free shuttle ride from NOC, we were quickly convinced to shorten our day and get out of the rain. I had the room to myself most of the day and I was able to thoroughly clean and reorganize my pack. I want to take this time to be social (and I was a bit) but the Smokies have already been quite socially stimulating so it was nice to have some time alone to reset. I'm feeling good and ready to crank out some miles tomorrow. I'm still a day behind some friends that I'd like to catch up to again before I see them at trail days. I was talking to the Austrian last night about the importance of prioritizing our own desires and subsequently choosing our own pace. I'm aiming to find and equilibrium point between my social life and time of solitude.
Date: 2017-04-28
From: Quality Inn, Gatlinburg

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up early, feeling fresh and excited to hit the trail. I had to travel back to Indian Gap and finish the 1.7 miles that I skipped the day before. I had no idea how beautiful it is up here because it was so most yesterday! I stopped at Newfound Gap for a bit. I met Beverly and when I complimented her earrings she decided to send them on a 1970 mile journey with me. Also spent some miles walking with Dick who's volunteering/doing trail maintenance in the Smokies. Loved learning about some local flowers and peaks and discovering that we have a mutual friend. The views from up on this ridge are unreal. The laundry list of possible complaints aren't phasing me today. I barely even noticed my fatigued or the fact that the hip belt on my pack is broken. Walking along these ridges in the Smokies reminds me of walking along the he rim of the grand canyon last year or among the red woods in California. The grandeur of the peaks and ridges takes my breath away; it makes my jaw drop everytime the trees open up and provide a view. There's sun but the cool breeze and lower temperatures due to elevation create the perfect weather for hiking. I slowed my pace toward the end of the day given that today was a big mileage day, but overall I've been cruising and I even found time to play some music along the way. I don't know know anyone in this bubble which is a nice break from the social component of this life. After my long hiking day, I had no energy left to be social. I had enough time when I got to camp to set up, feast and play some music and then I was in my tent by 8 and asleep by 9. Today was a good food day, probably because I splurged and decided to eat all of my best food first. Dipped Ritz crackers in hummus and added rosemary + thyme roasted sunflower seeds and craisins to the hummus for some tasty final spoonfuls. Also had a take 5 bar, a cous cous salad (with raisins, pecans, vegetables, olive oil, cardamom, herbs olive oil and salt) and chocolate coconut milk for dessert!
Date: 2017-04-29
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Davenport Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm sad to be leaving the Smokies, these have been by far the most dramatically beautiful and enjoyable section to walk through. Today was hot. I dropped down to 1500 ft of elevation and it instantaneously became summer. I've been wearing all of my winter layers at night this week and today I was hit in the face with 90 degree weather, it caught me off guard. I'm exhausted. My last 4 miles till the shelter were dragging on. I've walked 33 miles in the past two days. Tonight is the second night I'm sleeping in a shelter. There's not really any tent spots and I'm so tired, I figured I might as well save the effort of putting up my tent. I'm also technically required to fill the shelter before tenting because I'm still in the Smokies. I ate two of my lunches today, big ones too. Perhaps this 'hiker hunger' thing is real.
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: moderate rain

I started this day feeling very motivated. I left camp around 8am, before anyone else at the shelter despite the scattered showers that would usually keep me in my tent longer than intended. As the day went on, I became less and less motivated to keep pushing forward. I was excited enough to get into Hot Springs by the evening that I was able to push through another 18 mile day but I felt like a snail that was dragging my feet all day. Glad I made it to town. The trail goes directly through the one street of Hot Springs and there are some great stealth camping spots along the French Broad River. I was very grateful to finally find the sites and find some familiar faces after another 12 hour day on the trail.
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Hot Springs

To: Pump Gap trail crossings
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: light rain

I was feeling quite exhausted and confused this morning. I'd been pushing big mile days in order to catch up with friends and then I went directly into social town time. I've come to the conclusion that town time is not down time. I had a list of things to take care of but was so tired and overwhelmed by the pressures to get back on the trail that it was difficult to collect and direct my thoughts. I managed to run a few errands, enough to keep going and hit the trail mid afternoon. Around 4pm I stopped for a snack break and shortly after that decided that I was done hiking for the day. Most hikers took at least two zeros in Hot Springs, I felt I deserved a nero to rest my mind. I wasn't even at a campsite, but I had decided I wanted to be done for the day. I was a bit surprised by my decision to be so indulgent in my current desires but I find that out here, you often have to stop walking and take a minute to truly take care of yourself instead of pushing through the exhaustion and letting the problems build. I was almost positive Zo So was going to pass by and decide to camp with me and sure enough, he did. I haven't had much one on one time with hikers in the past month but it seems that things are changing and we are spreading out more. Even though I was originally looking for some alone time, this was still a much quieter pace than the town life and it was nice to have someone to talk to. Zo So made a fire, I played some music and we hung out until hiker midnight. Life is easier out here when you're camping with friends and can share responsibilities (getting water, bear hanging food, etc...).