morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Sherman Brook Campsite

To: Nauheim Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

Big walk today, went too far. MA ended with a rock climb. Vermont border and the beginning of the Long Trail was nice. Climbed a 3,000 foot mountain, very nice. Somewhere along the way I decided I could go past my planned 13 miles. Big mistake! The last 6 miles was the 3 fastest miles plus the 3 slowest. 800 foot descent in the rain was followed by a 1,000 foot climb. Arrived at 7p, everyone there was ready for bed.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Nauheim Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke to clouds in camp. Uneventful walk to first shelter. Over 3,000 feet reminded me of Mt Leconte in the Smokies. Ate lunch at the shelter. Faced into the wind which was really cold. I packed up and walked 4.2 to Kid Gore Shelter. It rained most of the way. It remained cold, rained until 5-6. I stayed in the shelter.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Kid Gore Shelter

To: Stratton Pond Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

The day started with a cold rain. There were three of us at the shelter. We discussed our options, no one wanted to hike in the rain. Poor cell service made it hard to make a decision. Finally we got a weather report, no rain after 11. It was still cold but we packed up and left. I walked very hard for the next shelter, 4+ miles. It took 3 hours. I was disheartened. Kim, an LT hiker, arrived and we ate lunch. I headed out for Stratton mountain. My highest to date. Kim and I leapfrogged up the mountain. It was a long but good climb. The summit was cold with a strong wind. I climbed two levels of the tower. It was scary. I summited at 3p and was leaving by 320. It was 3 more miles to the shelter. I arrived at Stratton Pond shelter at 6p. A nice shelter, I decided to stay in the shelter due to the cold.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Cabin
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

Slept this morning until 7a. Longest of the trip. The shelter was dark and it was cold. I left about 830a. I arrived at the shelter at 1p. The hostel was full so I had to take the afternoon off. I called Toni, planned the next section of the trip and took fall #4. I tripped over my tent rope while looking for a bear hang limb. Today's short hike was beautiful. Sunny all day. VT seems to be making up for the last couple of days.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Spruce Peak Cabin

To: Green Mountain House, Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: clear sky

Got up early and hiked down to the road. At the road I met a young man on a bike. He told me he was on a 20,000 mile ride. With some reluctance I went up on the road shoulder and stuck out my thumb. After about 10 minutes a very nice couple pulled over and took me into town and right to the post office. Turns out they were friends of Trippin' Billy! I picked up my box at the PO and went to the store for a few things. Went to both outfitters in town. Ate an apple fritter, coffee, quich, salad, tea, and a sandwich for supper. I called Jeff at the hostel and he came and took me to the Green Mountain House. I showered, washed clothes, worked on my pack, a little TJ, cut my hair, talked with the other hikers, called Toni, Boomer and Rachel. Nice place.
Date: 2016-07-04
From: White Mountain Hostel, Gorham, NH

To: Update
Miles today: 0.0

This is just an update for my journal readers. Hopefully it won't mess up my journal. I've been in the White Mountains for the past week. Without question the most difficult part of the trail to date. The views have been outstanding, the climbs and descents almost impossible. Today we head north towards Maine. So I am fine, and have passed through the Whites. Until breakfast is ready here at the hostel I will continue to upload pictures. Hope you enjoy them.
Date: 2016-07-07
From: Andover, ME

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Another brief update. I'm in Andover, ME at the Pine Ellis hostel. I passed the 900 mile mark today. The weather continues to be cold for a Georgia boy, this afternoon it started raining and rain is in the forecast for the next several days. In the morning I'll have the Hikers Breakfast at a local restaurant and then return to the trail. Next objective is Stratton.
Date: 2016-07-13
From: Stratton, ME

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Another short update. I am now in Stratton, ME. Less then 200 miles from the northern terminus. After I summit Mt K, I'll be taking off a week to be with Toni and to travel back to Harper's Ferry, WV. I am hopeful I'll be able to bring my journal up to date at that time. Today I'll pick up my next food box from the post office and rest. I believe I have no more then 15 days left in this section. All is well, my feet are sore from the rocky trail and the long days I've recently put in. It is fun to watch how excited the NOBO hikers are getting as they approach the end of their hike. We have also seen a lot of SOBO's over the last week. The trail rumor is that this is a record year for southbound. Thanks for signing my journal and check the photo section. I've been able to upload most of my pictures, the captions are still to be completed but you can still enjoy the view.
Date: 2016-07-19
From: Shaws, Monson, ME

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Here's yet another update. Someday I will update my journal, but not today. I'm taking a zero at Shaws in Monson. Yes the breakfast was all you can eat of blueberry pancakes, plus home fries, three eggs and bacon. Juice and coffee. Tomorrow I'll begin the 100 mile wilderness, and then on to Mount Katahdin. For the last several days I've been hiking some and camping with some "young guns" on the trail. These NOBOs have now moved on, fueled by Katahdin fever. I enjoyed getting to meet them, a lot of positive energy. Due to their influence I was able to complete over 40 miles in two days. This enabled me to take a needed zero before the final section of my "flip." My new plan says I will summit Mount Katahdin on July 28. Perfect timing to meet Toni in Millinocket. More pictures have been uploaded to this site. Captions will come with time.
Date: 2016-07-29
From: Milinocket, ME

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I reached the summit of Mount Katahdin at 10am, July 28. I started the climb under overcast sky at 6. Several other long distance hikers joined me along with assorted day hikers and two camp groups. The weather throughout the hike went from sun to cloudy to rain and back repeatedly. After about twenty minutes and the best snickers bar I've ever eaten I returned down the mountain. Another four hours later I arrived back at the ranger station, the Flip of my Flip flop thru hike complete. I'll now take some time off and then return to Harper's Ferry, WV to head south on my flop. I've added a few more photos from the climb.
Date: 2016-08-03
From: Harrington, ME

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am still resting, six days after my summit. Knees and feet remain sore but are recovering. I am continuing to enjoy the beauty of Maine. My flip hike took 104 days to complete, Harper's Ferry, WV to Mount Katahdin. Trail distance was 1166.6 miles. My daily average was 11.2 miles. I took seven zero days, and as many nero's. Subtracting my zero's gives me a daily average of 12 miles. My longest day was 22 miles and my shortest around 2. The trail was much more difficult then I expected. The trail surface along much of the way was badly eroded, forcing you to walk on rocks and roots. This resulted in my feet being very sore. Large sections of boulders and actual rock climbing were also not expected. Along the way I was successful in reducing my pack weight. A light pack is certainly one of the essential requirements for a successful through hike. By the end of the White Mountains both my knees were very sore and my right knee was visibly swollen. The soreness has returned after my descent from Mount Katahdin. Journal readers please stay with me. I will return to the trail back at Harper's Ferry shortly. Then I'll turn south, headed home.
Date: 2016-08-12
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's been two weeks since my summit hike. Most of that time was spent in Maine. Toni and I visited several locations along the coast and took an excursion into Canada. I spent a lot of time in R&R. On Tuesday we arrived in Harper's Ferry. We visited the area and spent some time at the ATC office. Now it's time to start hiking again. This time headed south. I made a reservation at a hostel in Front Royal for the 15th. I'll update again from there.
Date: 2016-08-15
From: Front Royal, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I checked into the Mountain Home Cabbin late this afternoon. Along the way over the last few days I passed the 1,000 mile mark, which for me means 1,000 miles left to go. The weather has been a warm welcome to Virginia. Heat indexes over 100 every day and as high as 106. One night the heat advisory lasted until 11pm. The trail though has been a pleasent change with smooth wide surface covered with dirt. The roller coaster was an exception to this with steep ups and downs eroded to rock. Tomorrow I should enter the Shenandoah National Park.
Date: 2016-08-23
From: Charlottesville, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm staying with my friends from Macon, the Moultons in Charlottesville, VA. Since my last update I've completed all but five miles of the Shennadoah National Park. The trail was great and I saw a lot of bears. I also ate at all of the waysides and at the Skyland Lodge. Plus two of the Camp Stores. The Park was beautiful and I will be back to visit it again. I am now resupplied and ready for the next section of Virginia.
Date: 2016-08-28
From: Bueba Vista, Virginia

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm in Buena Vista, VA tonight, doing a re-supply. 216.4 miles from Harper's Ferry. Trail continues to be much nicer then northern half. Since leaving Shennadoah NP the trail has become rougher though. Hikers have become very scarce also. I'm meeting one or two a day, not counting day hikers. Next stop Dalesville. I've uploaded more pictures.
Date: 2016-09-03
From: Daleville, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero in Daleville, VA. Spent the last several days hiking with Veggieguy, the Advisor, and Kirby. The first two are also flip flloppers. Kirby is a SOBO. I like camping with folks in the evening. I'm into the final third of the hike, over 1,400 miles have been completed. I did NOT jump off the James River bridge. Hiking through Virginia has been a pleasure. The trail here is what I expected it to be like. My daily mileage has been increasing and l can almost estimate my finish date. Stay tuned. A few more photos have been added.
Date: 2016-09-27
From: Macon, GA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

On September 14, day 138, I was picked up at VA 42 (mp 1632.8) and taken to the hospital. I was told there that most likely I was suffering from Giardia. After four very bad days in a Marion, VA motel, I had Toni take me home. While I am on the mend I have been exhausted by the illness. I lost ten pounds in six days. By the time I am ready to return to the trail, I will have missed the available hiking season. So with great disappointment I have decided to end my 2016 through hike. At this time I plan to resume my hike in the spring.
Date: 2016-04-27
To: Almost There
Miles today: 0.0

Never really thought I'd keep a trail journal but here I am. Tomorrow give my last final exam in St Augustine, grade it and post final grades (Flagler College), then drive to Roanoke for commencement of the last and longest section of this six-year journey. I should be done by late July (approx 1000 miles left), if the creek don't rise.I will try to post at least once a week as i occasion upon a wifi signal.I hope this will become a site for two-way communication as things get rolling.Happy to be ready.
Date: 2016-04-28
From: Daleville, va

To: Stealth
Miles today: 4.0

24 hr travel to get here but finally in the woods. It's such a release emotionally to get back on track after a 10-month delay. That's part of the journey: surrendering to coincidence and not being stuck on The Way. Still getting this blog underway so I'll limit this until it's all set up. Glad to be here. Next post will be awhile as I'll be WiFi only which will be infrequent. With Will Eye (brother Charlie) for first few days.
Date: 2016-04-30
From: Stealth

To: Bobblets Gap
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

On the trail by 7am. 10 miles by lunch. Same as always with Charlie. The trail is pretty easy, relatively speaking. We hiked across one mtn and then up to the blue ridge. Lots of ridge walking, half smooth tread, half rocky. In a misty cloud all day - it got pretty cold on the windy side. Physically I feel pretty good; everything hurts the same. Charlie seems good: pretty mellow. Rhododendron, wild azalea (not orange), and mountain laurel all in various bloom. Happy to be on trail.
Date: 2016-05-01
From: Bobblets Gap

To: Jennings creek campground
Miles today: 9.7

Rained like crazy last night from 7pm til 9am. Charlie watched on radar and we waited til it broke to pack up. my stuff got pretty dirty in splash zone but important stuff stayed dry. Hiked in mist then clear. Short hike (10) to meet ken,Lotta, and Peggy for four days hiking. lotta made great meal for us all; ken drove straight from NYC. They all hunkered down under a pavilion to avoid oncoming storm; I stayed in tent site. I'm feeling good and relieved of the need to _______ (fill in the blank). I've been hard at it getting it all done so I can leave.
Date: 2016-05-02
From: Jennings creek campground

To: Apple Orchard stealth
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

Climbing day. 3650' ft up today. Went up fork mtn and Floyd mtn. It was a good workout for everyone. Camped at stealth spot next to Sunset Field on blue ridge pkwy. Thinking a slow trip up the blue ridge in a van is in my future some autumn. Invasive garlic mustard is pervasive on many slopes. Rained really hard last night - had me sitting up in my tent wide-eyed from the lightning. All was well. Clear most of the day; a big, violent storm just missed us to the west and north about 6 pm. Thinking about music theory all day. Did a haiku on standard guitar tuning: Every Altruistic Deed Gives Back Everything. Day Tripper slowed way down is classic eight-bar blues.
Date: 2016-05-03
From: Apple Orchard stealth

To: Matt's creek shltr
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Rained off and on all night, but really bad storms missed us. Much of what we hiked today was ripped up by micro-bursts - some limbs down but mostly new green leaves littering the ground (more than last year's leaffall) when it's not raining its pretty hot and sunny without leaves on mtns. My south Asian rice farmer hat is great in rain, Sun, and conversation. I'm really glad I got nephew Kurt to 're-lend it to me this year. Ill try and post some pics when I figure that out. Trilliums and mayflower abundant today. Water is abundant needless to say. Had a good hiking day with all; Charlie's last. Having all these folks close to me is a great sendoff; I'm grateful.
Date: 2016-05-04
From: Matt's creek shltr

To: Punch bowl shltr
Miles today: 12.7

Beautiful day today; no rain. Half overcast / half sunny. Cooled off considerably. Lots of ups (3500' up) - tough climbs but good switchback so just had to pace and breathe. Last two days came down then up James river valley, 4 miles wide. Longest pedestrian bridge on AT. When we got back up the north side the views were spectacular. Could see forever. River was swelled with recent rains. Lots of wildflowers. Tomorrow ken (30+), Lotta (Firefly), and Peggy go back to TN. I will be officially launched on my solo journey. Feeling good
Date: 2016-05-05
From: Punch bowl shltr

To: Bald Knob stealth
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

Rained again @ 2am. Continued thru nite. Got a break from 6:30 - 8:00 am and we packed. Walked in rain all day. Stopped at us 60 @ men's car. I got my food drop transferred and off they went and up the mountain I went, cold and wet. I did get a banana and 7up trail magic in parking lot (thanks Storm) 3000' ascent. I'm stealth camping @ 4000' peak. I'm feeling pretty strong hiking and managing water and food well. Rain is a bit of a drag but it'd probably bother me more after I'm out for awhile. Very few hikers out and about - I am in front of the bubble by design. It's cold this afternoon (40's) and moist but rain seems to be subsiding. I'm dry in my tent - thank goodness I brought my silk liner for cold. Bye to ken, Lotta, and Peggy - I think they really enjoyed it and it helped send me off in a really supportive way.
Date: 2016-05-06
From: Bald Knob stealth

To: Priest Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: broken clouds

Long day of small ups and downs. 3500' up and 3500' down (progress?) It rained all day and night. I started in the clouds and finished in the clouds. It was cold enough I didn't stop for fear of hypo-thermia. Cold and wet; bad combo. Plus at one point it started hailing on me. Not like thunderstorms hail; more like hard snow. So I figured the best thing to do in the cold and wet is hike. I'm bedded down and I think the rain may be over and beautiful tomorrow. It'll be low 40's tonight. George wash Nat forest is nice. Saw 4-5 red gets on trail yesterday. Tomorrow will be last 4000' elevation on AT until whites of my; bigelows of me for me. Va is not easy hiking but it is easier than nh or me. No cell signAl again ATT stinks. Life is good on trail.
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Priest Shelter

To: Maupin field shltr
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was a tough and beautiful day. Last nite got down to said 38 said the ridgerunner. I was comfy in my tent with silk liner and down bag. The rain stopped and skies were mostly clear. Hiking temps were 60's. Great weather. Hike was tough: almost 8000' vertical. That is at the high end of the scale. I'm beginning to think that's the best metric of difficulty. Lots of rock scrambling on top of elevation change and my feet were challenged. But my spirits are high. Late start - piddled around and didn't walk til 10:30. I like breaking routine. Poured hot chocolate mix on my peanut butter tortilla to help get it down. Think ill back off the pb for awhile although it's hi carb/g. Trail magic today : former pct thru gave an apple mid-hike. Helped a lot. Platypus water squeeze bag broke today; ill use backup plan (bottle to bottle) for water purification til I get to town
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Maupin field shltr

To: Paul Wolfe Shltr
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Waterfalls, switchbacks, and rocks today. Absolutely beautiful day today. Making bigger miles so I get a Nero ( near zero miles) tomorrow. I've pushed pretty hard thru a difficult stretch and I feel pretty good. Typical day: 7a awake - privy, bear bag retrieval/stuff everything/ tent down/breakfast (oatmeal/inst a nth breakfast/instant coffee/hot choc all mixed together in one hot drink); 8ish - hiking; 8:30 - down to t-shirt; 9-10 -first stream/spring wash off upper body; all morning - eat trail mix; 12-1 -lunch :/relax for about an hour; 4-5 - set up camp: tent/air mattress/sleeping bag; 6-7 dinner/ hang bear bag; 7-8 - read/ write journal; 9 - sleep. My rhythm is good. Finally had a signAl today. Sent several text. happy mothers day. Short 5 miles to town tomorrow then short out Tuesday into Shenandoahs.
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Paul Wolfe Shltr

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.2

Short walk to town. B/B tonight. Huge burger and salad for lunch. Resupply mailbox here (thanks Bette) Ben and Gerry's cherry Garcia. Shower yes. Off to laundry/pizza. All is good. Finally got all these journal entries in answered email and listened to music. Think ill keep this tablet.
Date: 2016-05-10
From: Waynesboro

To: Cow Mtn Shltr
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was another Nero (7.5) out of town to first shelter in Shenandoah Park. The shelter is packed with others also just having left town. There are at least 15 people here. I'm stashed in my tent. It's cold ( we're in the clouds) and it's supposed to rain tonight. Most of the nobo's will probably do big miles tomorrow and the section hikers short. I may do medium; just have to see what the weather is like and how I feel. I'm trying doing journal entry directly into my kindle for latertransfer. There is no writer on this device so I'm using the note writer on the calendar. That may be the only way without loading an app. Seems to be working. SNP is going to be a little different. They make you register (no fee) and they're pretty strict about where you can camp. Water is less plentiful and there's less wilderness. There's the Skyline Drive with several campgrounds, lodges, waysides, and stuff like power lines and communication towers. I haven't really seen it yet so it'll change, but the mountains aren't as tall and the woods seem like younger growth so far. The vegetation mid-story is dense and gnarly; probably good bear habitat. So far few large trees and a couple of the 'summits' are maintained bald. The early section seemed to be in mid-succession toward forest but was still early. Funny, I didn't see a single hiker; then they all showed up between 4-5 pm. Nice folks and everyone seems very positive and upbeat, although they're getting tired of the coldrain. I had a really powerful dream last night. I was hanging around a couple of guys and they said, hey let me show you our family pictures. The picture they showed me was taken in my parents house (long ago). Irecognized my folks but no one else. They began to point to each person, name them, and then, as they described each of their tragic deaths, that person's image would fade. Finally only these guys and my folks were left in the photo unfaded. Somehow it became clear that these were distant relatives but I didn't get to meet those who were passed. The emotion (isn't that what dreams really are) was overwhelming. I awoke to a desperately deep sense of sadness for not having shared life with some of my kinfolk coupled with joy at having discovered they existed. Maybe Ishouldn't eat calzone and antipasto salad right before going to sleep.Town day was over. I'm glad to be back on the trail. If my feet hold up, I might make my next stop Harper's Ferry and take a zero or two in Washington D.C.