morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-07
From: Poplar Ridge

To: Stratton
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

It looks like there may be a break in the weather today! It's incredibly warm with highs in the lower 80s and sun is trying to peak through clouds. Woke around 6, stuffed 4 doughnuts down, dawned my soggy hiker garb, and did what i do ever morning. Walk. I met my first SOBO today. His name was SOLO and he'd left Baxter on the 20th of May. We spoke for a bit about the trail and hikers we have seen. He has a long road ahead. The blackflies were out in full effect today and the trail has dried up considerably with just this one day of sunshine. Made it to Hwy27 by 6 were i tried hitchhiking for a while before calling into town for a ride. Sue picked us up with her giant poodle named Knucklehead. We're staying at the Stratton Hostel. Met Neptune, the second SOBO of the year! How strange to meet other thru-hikers heading in the opposite direction. And they are coming from Katahdin! This trail does have an end and people are departing from it! Only 183 miles left now. I can almost taste it. How sweet it will be.......
Date: 2008-06-19
To: Millinocket
Miles today: 190.0
Weather: clear sky

It is finished. I have successfully completed a thru-hike of the Applachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. I summitted with Dozer and Brer Rabbit yesterday around 8:30am. We approached in a torrent with zero visiblity. But it was worth all the while. Views are visual. This was physical. I was done and headed for home. Nostalgic? Hardly. All in due time. My walking days are over........for now. To be continued.......I am flying home from Bangor on the 20th and will try to tie up the loose ends of this journal. Over 700 photos to come. Could i overload the site? We'll see....
Date: 2008-02-03
To: Nashville, TN
Miles today: 0.0

It's February and just to give you an update...I no longer work Dell (thankfully) and have since been teaching and writing music for a living. I am really enjoying this career path now and am much more interested in going for my Masters degree. I am still with Megan and we are doing better than ever. If anything, Dell gave me the possibility of meeting and falling in love with her. I am planning for another hike on the AT this June...hopefully around 3 weeks or so. I'm shooting for Pearisburg, VA but wish I was going to Harpers Ferry.For now I am fairly content on hiking on my spare time and seeing Megan as much as possible.Heres to curve balls...Cheers!Vultran
Date: 2008-03-13
To: First Post
Miles today: 0.0

So I am just 9 days away from taking my first step onto the AT. I wouldn't say that I am nervous right now but I do feel quite a few emotions through out the day when I sit at my cubicle and dream about what it must be like. Yesterday I decided-correctly I hope-that since the AT will most definitely change at least something about myself I really wouldn't have anything to relate this experience to already to know how to approach it initially. I figure that that is the approach that I need though...no approach, just an open mind and a willingness to change and battle up and down hills every day for 6 months facing some extreme and some not so extreme odds. I will be quitting my job next Wednesday (a week from yesterday) and then I will take one day to myself for more preparation and to see friends and family and then I will be off on that Friday to hike the approach trail. Garrett, my trail partner, and I figured that if we went ahead and hiked the approach trail Friday afternoon then on Saturday we could take our first step on the AT on the first day of spring. Sort of symbolic to start a day, a hike, and a season all with one foot. It is about 6 am right now and I am about to make myself late if I don't get up and leave for work so...off I go! Hunter
Date: 2008-03-13
To: Prep #2
Miles today: 0.0

Ok, so I know that this is the second post on the same day but I wanted to go ahead and jot down my thoughts before it got too late. Today I went to work and took phone calls all day. Afterwards I came home driving my car which seems to be on its last leg-thankfully I will not be needing it anymore after this next week. I figured that this would be a good time to fill any of you in who are actually reading this on a little bit about who I am. I am 23-turning 24 April 21st of this year (on the trail!)-and I have been in school for what seems like all of my life until December 15th of this past year. I graduated with a bachelor of arts in Theory/Composition-which in essence means that I am a composer but would have to be one of the best to get a great career. Or I can teach-(that is if I went back to school and got my Masters or Doctorette). I love performing and composing and have been apart of several ensembles that have shaped and guided me for the past 13 years-of course it has always been the people that I have met along the way that made all the difference on my experiences...so thanks for the love and inspiration! I don't remember why I originally wanted to hike the AT but I do remember asking Garrett if he would be interested in hiking it with me. Garrett is a very stand up individual-honorable, moral, tactful, and of course catlike with his stealthy alertness to what is right (just being funny). We were in the middle of a hallway in the MTSU music building and right away after telling him about my interest and need for someone to come with he sprung to the call. Garrett, being an eagle scout, had been wanting to hike the AT for years but had just always kept it in the back burner (probably next to 'not likely to happen' and 'never going to happen'). After that day we started to plan and after tons of hikes and research and all of the other stuff that goes into preparing for a thru-hike we are finally there...well, almost anyway. Until then...we wait. Hunter
Date: 2008-03-14
To: Prep #3
Miles today: 0.0

Well it's Friday! All right so I am exhausted right now from 11 hours of work with 3 hours of drive time between jobs. Man it is tiring to try and make the mark financially for something like the AT when you procrastinate. I work at Dell as a sales rep because it is the fastest way to get the money that I need to hike the trail. I took the job feeling pretty bad about only working there for 2 months before quitting but it was my only option-(I seriously put in around 35 applications in 3 separate towns). I have been trying to figure out how to tell my manager that I'm out so soon fearing his potentially suppressed rage but I'm sure that people quit all the time this early...I mean, it is a call center and we do deal with customers that are not exactly always friendly. Anyway, I think that is about it for today...tired and ready to go to bed. Night! Hunter
Date: 2008-03-15
To: Prep #4
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a great day...I woke up at around 9am and lounged around the house. Billy Madison came on sometime in the morning hours so of course, having not seen it in a few years, I had to take a few hours to sit and watch it-and enjoy. Went to the bank. Finished cleaning out my house. Then I hung out with Tim-one of my best friends from the drum corps/WGI/PASIC/marching band days. We blew probably around $250 collectively as I shopped for last minute gear and food...nothing like freeze dried food! Got some new fuel tanks and made sure the pocket rocket works while accidentally getting a little too much of the butane in my system-whew...a little light headed. Afterwards I spent what will probably be my last extended evening enjoying company with my brother and his wife Emily. Kind of sad but hey...I'll be back in 6 months to see little Aidan at the ripe old age of 5 months. Although I am very happy right now I am definitely a little sad to not be able to be here when Emily gives birth to Aidan, which should be sometime in early to mid April. I am very lucky to have such great family and friends that care so much for me though...kind of makes me want to stay, but hey...I've got a dream. Tomorrow should be another great day...Garrett and I are going to REI and probably Cumberland Transit to pick up the last of the gear. After that it's time to officially put together our packs for the trail. By tomorrow night I should be completely ready for the trail, gear wise. My roommates are making cake right now so I am going to try and butt in and help. Until tomorrow... Hunter
Date: 2008-03-16
To: Prep #5
Miles today: 0.0

Ok, so I can make stupid mistakes from time to time and today was a day in which I made one. I was out the door to go to Nashville in order to pack the packs and go to REI with Garrett when a mile or so down the road my car puttered to a stop...So I did what any other normal person would do when your car-with a long history of problems-dies. I assumed the worst. I kept thinking..."oh no, maybe it's the pistons-not enough oil, aghh!-or maybe it's the fuel injector, or the transmission, or the" etc...and the list in my head went on. I called my brother Adrien thinking that he may have a suggestion as to why my car would not start up again and while I explained the symptoms of my fair dying car my brother laughed a little under his breath and stuttered slightly..."Do you have any gas in there?" ...crap... So I made the walk to a gas station. Bought a $10 dollar/1 gallon gas tank! Got 1 gallon of gas for $3.15!! Walked back to the car carrying said gallon of gas while being mocked by a whole group of all my ex-girlfriends!!! And with much distress poured the remnants of my leaky gas tank into my car...(of course I had to fiddle with the gas can for about 15 minutes before I figured out how to use it-while people were honking and my ex-girlfriends were all chanting "I told you so"). Sure enough my car started right up and after all of that I decided that going to Nashville after already spending today and tomorrows budget on gas might not be the best idea. I figured at that point I might be better off just talking over the phone with Garrett as we packed our packs. Well, like I said, I was not exactly the brightest of people today but hey...kind of makes for a good story...and it's all true (that is except for the ex-girlfriends' taunting me part). Hunter
Date: 2008-03-17
To: Prep #6
Miles today: 0.0

Monday's really do have a different vibe than any other day in the working world. If you haven't seen Office Space then you may not appreciate the "looks like somebody's got a case of the Monday's" line and how absolutely dead on all of the actors expressions are when the waiter says this to them. Luckily this was my third to last day of work and it really could not be over any faster-phone calls, yelling, phone calls, pouting, phone calls, manager inquiries on whether or not I got that memo, phone calls, outbounds, inbounds, sales coach inquiries on again whether or not I received that memo, followed by of course a few more phone calls. It's fine though because whatever it takes for me to get to this trail and succeed is worth the sacrifice. After work and a bit later on in the evening when I was listening to and writing some music my friend Rick called me up to talk about Mystique stuff (an indoor drumline I have marched in and taught). I went outside to get a bit better signal and like a feeling I would only assume Forrest Gump felt when he decided to start running I began to drift out of my yard and onto the street. Before I knew it I was at the end of the road. Then the next I knew I was at the end of the neighborhood. After that I ended up about 2 miles down Rutherford and decided to just keep on walking. I found myself on the college campus I had just graduated from back in December and decided to check out a percussion rehearsal just for nostalgia's sake. The rest of night was sort of a wash of beer and lots of friends in several locations. Let's just say that by the time the night was over it was early enough in the morning to go ahead and call out of work sick...Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hunter
Date: 2008-03-19
To: Prep #7
Miles today: 0.0

Nothing too amazing to say about yesterday but I will say that today kind of rocked! First of all I quit my job this morning. It was better than the best scenario I could imagine when thinking about quitting today. I walked in at 7:15 and talked to my manager in private right away so that it wouldn't seem too shady if I stuck around half of the day and then told him. He was not mad at all...in fact he was really excited about me going. He thought that since I was a good sales rep and that this was something that was a once in a lifetime opportunity then I could have my job back when I get done. What a great guy! What a great job!! So I am pumped and now feel a bit more secure about how to get by when I do get back from this hike. Hooray! One more day and it's go time... Hunter
Date: 2008-03-21
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Nimblewill Gap (Approach Trail)
Miles today: 0.0

This morning I woke up still tipsy from the night before-my friends had thrown me a surprise party that included a keg...so I partook. I was very sad to say goodbye to everyone and I honestly feel very sad and out of my element right now so I will try to just remember that I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life and I know that I will feel better. After a McDonalds breakfast with my brother and his wife I said my goodbyes yet again and headed out to pick up Garrett from Nashville. We bought some last minute gear from Bob-a nice guy who had hiked the AT once in 88' and then again in 96'-and then picked Allison up for the haul out to Georgia. The drive was a bit on the long side for what we were all expecting it to be so by the time we got to Amicacola it was 4pm! We weighted out packs (50lbs) and signed the registry and then got all of out gear settled and laces tied. After some emotional pictures next to the entrance gate and sign to the approach trail we were off. I will say this...600 stairs is just a little unecessary. We struggled up the waterfall stairs and upon finally reaching the top we were so beat that the next 6 miles were all we could do to not completely be out of commission before sunset. We didn't make it to Springer but we did keep pretty good time for the amount of daylight hours we had to work with. We are 2.8 miles from Springer and absolutely can't wait to be up and gone at a decent hiking hour! ...Sitting alone right now in my tent I really am missing Adrien, Emily, Allison, Tim and Evan. I know that they are here with me in my mind but I just miss them so much it kind of hurts... Tomorrow will be onward to Hawk Mtn. Shelter...Yay! Hunter
Date: 2008-03-22
From: Nimblewill Gap (Approach Trail)

To: Hawk Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

It's hard to remember exactly what all happened today because there was quite a bit that happened. we got up about 8:45am when we heard a car door shut-local hiker. Packed up and shipped out as soon as we had some breakfast (ramen) and got the gear in order (tent-boo!). The approach to Springer Mtn. was by no means easy but it was very rewarding. Spring is still not entirely alive yet so up high it is fairly boring flaura wise but after a windy ascent in a leafless heaven we were there. And oh my was it amazing. Everything I couldn't imagine it to be it was! The first white blaze! The bronze plaques! The view! We immediately met Circuit Rider who quickly jotted down some info from us while offering us some sodas-No thanks...don't want to dehydrate just yet. Several of the group of hikers were section or day hikers so I was a bit anxious to meet some of the class of 08' thru-hikers! The rest of the day was fairly sunny and easy...and I mean easy-(compared to Springer). Kind of dehydrated today but much happier after talking shortly with Adrien. Garrett is still sick from the cold he caught earlier this week but he seems to be absolutely fine minus a bad cough. Ended up at Hawk Mtn. Shelter a little before sundown and met Y, Vigilante, Flamethrower, Diane, Captain Hook, Meredith, Brad and Dustin. Several others here in tents-some day hikers, some thru. Kind of lucked out and got a spot in the shelter...supposed to be infested with mice though. Oh well, got to love the AT! I felt pretty good after talking with Garrett, Captain Hook and Flamethrower till pretty late about the next few months..Captain Hook had a lot of good info from when he had thru-hiked in 04" so we soaked it all in. Gooch Mtn. Shelter tomorrow as our approach will include Sassafras Mtn-(famed for being the hardest in Georgia) and Justus Mtn. Looking forward to it but a bit nervous as well...Onward and upward! Hunter
Date: 2008-03-25
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Walasi-Yi (Mountain Crossings)
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: clear sky

Finally a day like today. I am officially an uncle-Aidan was born at 2:31pm cst at Williamson Medical Center. My brothers words were what a good and loving father would say-¢He is the most beautiful thing I have seen.¢ I got to speak with Adrien once I hit Neels Gap and lord a mercy was I thrilled to hear that everyone was fine and healthy. Blood Mtn. today was gorgeous¢¦I would like to take it back to Nashville with me. Neels Gap rocks-showers, beds, movies, food, water, friends and AYCE spaghetti dinner! The last movie we were watching was ¢Into The Wild¢-good movie. Makes me wonder why I am out here. All I know so far is that I am loving all of this and have never felt this free. Connecting with nature and bonding with people seems to be the path that I have chosen for a while. I guess whatever the main reasons are for me doing all this one might be that I just need to take a long walk. Love you Aidan. Hunter
Date: 2008-03-26
From: Walasi-Yi (Mountain Crossings)

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

So today we went from Neels Gap-¢I¢ll miss you!¢-to Low Gap Shelter. Put my headphones on after 5.5 mile marker at Tesnatee Gap and cruised for about 3 miles to some weird mixtures of rock to heavy metal to orchestral and then to Frank Sinatra. Kind of nervous about bears throughout the day and upon arriving at the shelter came to find out that this was the scene of a bear coming into the shelter and literally straddling a hiker in 2000. Sitting in my sleeping bag next to Garrett, Meredith and Captain Hook. Looks like this might be the last night we will all be together as Garrett and I might be pushing on to the cheese factory (13m.)¢¦we¢ll see. Hope the weather stays nice. Hunter
Date: 2008-03-29
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: The Blueberry Patch
Miles today: 3.5

Finally got to use the rain gear full out this morning. Got up to the same noisy campers that I went to bed to last night and immediately started packing. The ritual of pulling down the bear bag and packing up is still very new to me but it seems to not be so completely unfamiliar. Watching the fog roll in and hearing the thunder roll on was pretty cool. It was like the vapor Drcual comes into rooms as-yet only sweeping down the ravine and then smothering us. After the descent down into Dicks Creek Gap we were greeted with out first hitch¢¦trail magic. He took us into The Blueberry Patch-a hiker hosterl with BA written all over it-and then on into the Shoneys in Hiawassee. What a great guy! I ate my buns off¢¦4 biscuits, 10 strips of bacon, 8 sausage links, a side of eggs, 8 mini donuts, 2 mini muffins, jello, 3 cokes and a large salad. Later after walking past Lake Chatuga and into the main epicenter of town I at e 6 packets of crackers. We bought food for 7 days at a couple of places and then got a hitch back to the hostel. A lot of lounging, eating and phone calls once I got in. I am laying in my bunk right now-wood ahead of me and wood on my back-enjoying my time away from clocks hoping that all of this will keep on going without a hitch. Should be in Gatlinburg around the 11th of April¢¦Yeah! Last thing and then it¢s my turn to turn off the lights¢¦got a trail name-Vultran (from ¢Hot Rod¢). Vultran
Date: 2008-03-30
From: The Blueberry Patch

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a pile of yuck. All day the mountains were in a heavy fog. Cold and wet and kind of miserable could sum this day up. My pack was a bit too heavy (overpacked on food) so my knees started to bother me. The fog brought so much moisture in that even though it wasn¢t technically raining the trees were still dripping, making it seem like it was. Got to the shelter and man did it feel good to get some dry clothes on. Sat in my sleeping bag just to try to warm up. Don¢t feel like cooking¢¦feel like sleep. Good night. Vultran
Date: 2008-04-04
From: Wesser Bald

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

I could really feel the strain of doing the hiking non stop and not taking a break. Both Garrett and myself were cursing the trail coming down into the Nantahala Gorge. It's time for a break. We sat, ate, talked on phones, drank beer, checked into a bunk for the night, ate, took showers, slept. It was wonderful. The only part of it I wish was a little better was how expensive everything was-whatever though. we needed it bad. In fact we even tried to make it on up part of Cheoh Bald to a campsite but as soon as we started the severe thunderstorm rolled in. Ladies and gentlemen...it just wasn't in the cards. We need a few days break pretty bad,which is exactly what Gatlinburg is for. Tomorrow should be a short day mostly uphill-probably around 7 miles. Try to take it easy and enjoy the hike as much as possible. For now just trying to get dry. On another note...it's been 2 weeks to the day that we have been hiking. We have gone roughly 140 miles and are making pretty good time. Yay! That's all for now... Vultran
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

Today was not bad at all. One long uphill climb that we took very slow on purpose-wanted to try and enjoy the scenery-smell the roses if you will. Got in a little before 4pm and realized while cooking that I had accidently thrown away my spork. Crap. So it goes I suppose-Garrett let me borrow his for my ramen. Decided to get into my sleeping bag around 5pm to read and get warm. Evan lent me his copy of 'Slaughter House Five', by Kurt Vonnegut. And just like he warned I couldn't put it down. I read over 100 pages before dark and was tempted to read more however the story was beginning to negatively influence my fame of mind at the time...in doses I suppose. Listened to the Beatles for a good while and drifted off to sleep. I woke many times to what sounded like first a woman screaming at the wind and then later a monkey screaming at owls. maybe it was just a few different kinds of owls waiting for the mice that were gnawing at our shelter to poke their little bodies out into the open and be captured by the owls talons. Who knows. Tomorrow is supposed to be a good weather day so perhaps we will shoot for the moon and hit 15 miles. If not then 9 miles will do. Vultran
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Hogback Gap

To: Fontana Dam Shelter (Fontana Hilton)
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Here at Fontana Dam Shelter (Fontana Hilton). Today was a bust as far as towns go. We walked into the marina and got a shuttle to come pick us up for $2 a person to go into town. Town or the Fontana Village was a joke. Don't go to the Fontana Village on a monday during the off season...everything will be closed. We ate trail food for dinner and for lunch we had 2 honey buns. We had to figure out how to get back to the marina and once we did we still had a mile to go before we were at the shelter. Today was not so hot. Vultran