morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-16
From: Franlin, NC

Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Still in the Budget Inn in Franklin, NC. Ran errands, got a good knee brace. Ate a free pancake and bacon breakfast all three days at a local Baptist church. Really nice people. Hit it if you can. Had my sister send my smaller (and lighter) pack, as well as my zero degree bag. The bag is bigger and bulkier than my current bag, but I won¢t have to carry the under quilt. I¢ll futz with stuff, and see if I can¢t get my pack weight down a bit.
Date: 2014-03-21
From: Wayah Bald shelter

To: Wesser Bald shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

Yet another long, tough day to Wesser Bald shelter. Hung my hammock, ate two tacos provided by June Bug, and hung out by the fire for a bit, entertained by a cat named ¢Monty,¢ who brought a backpacking guitar. He was quite good, with a wide-ranging repertoire. First night in the new sleep system (zero degree bag, no under quilt). We¢ll see how it goes.
Date: 2014-03-22
From: Wesser Bald shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night wasn¢t too bad. Nice and warm until the wind picked up and the clouds cleared. Got a little CBS (Cold Butt Syndrome), but a couple of shifts took care of it. Got an early start, as we¢re trying to make it to the NOC today. There¢s only a few uphills, but they¢re steep, and the descent into into the NOC is about four miles, which will be rough on the knees. Also, June found a pair of Superfeet in the hiker box in Franklin, so I swapped out the Dr. Scholl¢s I had been wearing. Bad idea, as I now have three very painful blisters, which in addition to the knees, make every step excruciatingly painful. Water is a ways back up the trail, so we¢re starting out low, although we hear there¢s a spring a mile or so down the trail.
Date: 2014-03-23
From: NOC

Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Made it to the NOC a little after noon yesterday. Rough day; there was no spring until almost four miles into the hike, so I got a bit dehydrated, to add to the fun of the knees and blisters. Had a big lunch, but by 6 PM I still hadn¢t showered, done resupply or laundry, or planned the next few days, so I planned a zero for today. Good thing, as the weather sucks...
Date: 2014-03-24
From: NOC

To: Sassafras Gap shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: few clouds

Had a good breakfast and hit the trail, as it¢s a tough climb out of the NOC. Stopped for lunch at the ¢Jump Up,¢ took a few pics, then headed for Sassafras Gap shelter. Long climb, and it worked the knees a good bit. There¢s definitely something going on there, more than just a sore ligament. I¢ll have to keep an eye on it.
Date: 2014-03-25
From: Sassafras Gap shelter

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 6.7

Snowed last night! Not a lot, but enough to make hiking more difficult than usual. The snow and slush are hard on the knees. By the time I made it to Stecoah Gap, that was all she wrote. There were a couple of rock scrambles that wrecked my knees, what with the snow and all, and the weather was horrible. From the gap, it¢s two more days to Fontana, and my knees just don¢t have it in them. So I had lunch with Tex, June, and Husker (a guy I met earlier), and then hitched to Fontana Lodge. I¢ll take a couple zeroes, and the kids (Tex, June, and Husker) will let me know when they reach the Fontana Hilton. It was snowing so hard I had to keep wiping off my thumb so people could see it. Took a while, but I finally got a ride from a nice lady who took me right to front door of the lodge.
Date: 2014-03-26
From: Fontana Resort

Miles today: 0.0

Stayed at the lodge, nursing my knees. Sort of. The only resupply is a half mile walk downhill to the general store, then of course there¢s the walk back. Managed to get a shuttle in to Robinsville to get some munchies for the room, as well as some meals; the onsite restaurant is rather pricey. Hung out with two guys from PA (Sweetmeat & Dad) who I¢ve run into off and on of late. We played mini golf, and Sweetmeat got his butt kicked by a papaya named Frodo. Buy me a beer and I¢ll tell you that story. The kids had shown up, and we shot some hoops. The rule was, we had to shoot until someone made a half court shot. And that was me. Then we found the game room, so we hung out there until it was time to leave.
Date: 2014-03-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I want to apologize for the lack of entries. I have taken may photos during my hike, as promised, but uploading them has been an issue. I don't have a fancy phone, so I have to upload them to my sister, then send her the descriptions, then have her post them. The computers I have had access to have not had any compression software installed on them, so uploading pics has been all but impossible. Most of them have been barely operational. Life on the Trail, I reckon. My sister and I are working to resolve this issue as best we can, and I promise more frequent updates in the future. As I can't update from my phone, they will come in spurts, posted as I get to a town (and a working computer!). Thanks for your patience, and for following me.BTW: While the name on this account will remain "Thunderbolt," my trail name has been "Treebeard" since I hit the trail, so if you see me refer to myself that way, you know why.
Date: 2014-03-30
From: Fontana Hilton

To: Mollies Ridge shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Spent the night in the Fontana Hilton with a bunch of college kids. Lots of smoking and drinking (on their part). Hiked out of the shelter and ran into Catnip, The Admiral, Lobo, and Luna (all hikers we had met before). We¢re all looking forward to hiking into the Smokys, and Mollies Ridge shelter is our goal. I¢m hoping the quasi rest I gave my knees in Fontana will do the trick. Mollies Ridge shelter is 11 miles, a long first day, and Catnip, The Admiral, Lobo, and Luna decided to call it a day at Birch Creek campsite, where the kids and I had lunch. It was a bit too windy a site for my liking, so I pressed on. The shelter was full when we got there, but they made room for me, and I went straight to bed. I had taken a fall on the trail (my third bad one so far), and had tweaked the knees and back. I didn¢t wake up until 7:30 the next day; odd for me as I usually only sleep six hours.
Date: 2014-03-31
From: Mollies Ridge shelter

To: Spence Field shelter
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Got a good start (9 AM). Trail conditions are terrible. While it had rained in Fontana, it had snowed in the Smokys. Now the weather has warmed, and the trail has turned into a muddy, slushy, semi-frozen river. Trying to navigate it with the way my knees are is impossible. I had planned a 12 mile day to Derrick Knob shelter, but my knees gave out at Spence Field shelter. I¢m hoping I can make it to Double Spring shelter tomorrow, but that still leaves the climb up Clingman¢s Dome, the highest point on the AT. Each step is absolute torture; I shuffle up mountains putting one foot half a step in front of the other, like an old man struggling through the mall. Only the slopes are 60% grades, with roots and rocks and mud and slush and leaves beneath it all. Every step downhill sends a bolt of pain up from my knees, even though I use my poles like dual canes. There¢s definitely something wrong.
Date: 2014-04-01
From: Spence Field shelter

To: Derrick Knob shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Made it to Derrick Knob. Dragged my ass into the shelter. Short miles, but a tough hike. Constant ups and downs, most at 60 degrees or better. The trails in the Smokys so far have sucked! With or without bad knees. I¢m likely going to call it at Clingman¢s Dome. Not for good, but for a bit. I think I might be doing real damage to myself.
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Derrick Knob shelter

To: Double Spring shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

The hike to Double Spring shelter wasn¢t as bad as I was expecting. Almost makes me want to rethink my calling it at Gatlinburg. But there¢s more going on in the knees than I¢m comfortable gambling with. So I¢ll get off trail for a bit and get things checked out. BTW - I slept in NC, got water in NC, but I pooped in TN. You guys should build some privies...
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Double Spring shelter

To: Clingman's Dome
Miles today: 3.1

Made it to the top of Clingman¢s Dome today. Not too bad, as I had to do the first 1.5 miles from the shelter twice. We (the kids and I) got up at 4 AM so we could watch the sunrise from the top of the mountain. In my haste to leave, I left my sleeping bag in the shelter, so I had to go back to get it. The weather sucked, with a wet mist blowing around us. Tex and Husker both offered to hike back to the shelter with me, but June was having a bad time with her back, so I told them to stay with her. I hiked back down the trail, cursing like the dad in The Christmas Story working on the heater. By the time I got to the shelter, it was starting to rain. And there was my sleeping bag, on the bench where I had left it. I thought about rolling it out and napping until daylight, but I saw flashes of lightning, and I thought to myself, ¢No damn mountain is gonna beat me!¢ So off I went. Having hiked this part of the trail in the dark, and now seeing it in the daylight, I swore I would never night hike again. We missed so much.Husker met me about a half mile from the summit, having hiked back down to make sure I was ok. I made it to the summit (barely), and the kids and I had a nice little reunion. We hiked down to the parking lot to hitch a ride, but the weather was so bad there were only two cars in the lot. Trail magic ensued, and after about 10 minutes a hiker named I Believe and her husband Jimmy pulled up. He was dropping her off to continue her hike and gave us a ride to Newfound Gap, where he knew there would be some more trail magic. We got fed by Bernie & Beth, who have been doing trail magic for their anniversary for several years. Then we Yogi¢d a ride into Gatlinburg from the NOC shuttle driver, and hit the hotel.
Date: 2014-04-04
From: Gatlinburg, TN

Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

Zeroing in Gatlinburg. Kinda a weird mood, as we all know this is the last time we¢ll be together, on the trail at least. Had to go to Pigeon Forge to get resupply. I went for the fun of it, as I don¢t need any. For my money, I¢d get the shuttle from Newfound Gap to Gatlinburg, then take the trolley (bus) from the aquarium to Pigeon Forge and stay there; cheaper hotels, and closer to resupply. Took about eight hours all told to get to Pigeon Forge, shop, and get back. Plus about six buses.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: Gatlinburg

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Stayed at my Mom¢s near DC for a couple weeks, saw a doctor. He removed about 13 cc¢s of fluid from my left knee. He actually squirted it into a cup from his water jug. There was so much fluid on my knee, one of the muscles was atrophying, nearly dead. Had I continued, I would have done some serious, permanent damage. Like not being able to walk without a cane damage. Having been there before, I was glad I decided to call it when I did. So I went home for a bit to recoup, and hope to be back on the trail by the end of May. The knees feel better, and I¢ve done a few practice hikes. None with a pack yet, but that should be coming soon. I want to get back on the trail, but not at the cost of never being able to hike again.
Date: 2014-05-14
From: Home

Miles today: 0.0

I¢ve done a few hikes, with and without the pack, and everything seems to be working out well. I¢m going back to the trail with my larger pack and lighter sleeping bag (now that the weather¢s warm) because my stuff fits in it better. A 105 liter pack is overkill, and it weighs more than the 50 liter, but overall it¢s a more comfortable pack, and WAY easier to pack, due to the extra space. I¢ve gotten my food weight for five days down to about 7 pounds, and my total pack weight, with water, is right around 40 pounds. That should make a huge difference. I¢m getting back on the trail at Erwin, TN, which means I¢ll miss the Smokys from Clingman¢s Dome to there, but I¢ll go back and do those miles (plus the ones I missed in Franklin) next year. With any luck, my next post should come from the trail!
Date: 2014-06-04
Miles today: 0.0

Sad NewsUnfortunately, I will not be returning to the trail this season. As much as I would like to, in addition to the torn meniscus in both knees, I apparently did some damage to the tendon in my right thigh, rendering me unable to hike more than five miles a day. All will be better in a month or so, but by that time returning to Clingman¢s Dome and heading north I wouldn¢t finish in time in any event. I plan to continue training and return to the trail next year, starting where I left off. Thanks to everyone who helped me on this adventure:Tex - You were my first true hiking partner. Every time I see a ¢Jackson¢ I¢ll think of you. And take a rest. I hope I see you on the trail next year.June - I can¢t tell you how many mountains you got me up. All I had to do was look up the trail and see that stellar smile, and somehow it gave me the strength to keep going. I¢m really proud of you.Husker - You still alive? Thanks for your support at Clingman¢s Dome. That was a rough hike, especially to do any part of it twice. Trust me; I know. Now leave the bears alone, you bully.My sister, Pat - You were the reason I was even able to attempt this. Without your support I couldn¢t have made it to the first shelter, let alone the first town. Hell, I wouldn¢t even have left for Atlanta. No one could ask for a better support person. Or sister.My bro-in-law, Don - Without your support, I don¢t think Pat would have been sane enough to handle being my support person. She¢s been dealing with me as a little brother for 50 years, after all. Thanks for all the runs to the PO.My Brother Bill & sister-in-law Cathy - Thanks for using me as an excuse to go to Gatlinburg, like you needed one. Seriously; thanks for coming to get me. I¢m not sure how I would have gotten home without your help. And the room was awesome!My Mom - Thanks for your love and support. Thanks for coming to get me, taking me home, and coming to get me again when I couldn¢t make the test hike I tried. And thanks for always being my Mom.To everyone else I met on the trail, all the folks from work who followed me here, and everyone who left me encouraging notes on my guest book - Thanks for your support. Keep an eye out here for a trail journal from Treebeard. He¢ll be starting northbound from Clingman¢s Dome next year, with a lot more smarts.P.S. - I have a bunch more photos to upload. Just going through them and picking the good ones. Check back in a week or so and they should be up.
Date: 2014-06-15
To: My Pillow
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Though this is my third long distance hike in as many years I find that I am still gripped with trouble sleeping before the hike during my final week of preparations. Oddly, I am more concerned with the troubles I will face traversing NY State along the Erie Canal than the Whites. No reliable camping or potable water along the Canal pose a new set of challenges.
Date: 2014-06-20
From: Home

To: Suppliers
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

There has been much debate over the Thru-hike. I had to have my mother committed to the funny farm last night. After a soul search and a bottle of Scotch I decided to continue planning for Sunday's departure. I missed five days of preparations being in the hospital with my mom and need to get my act together or I will be grossly unprepared.
Date: 2014-06-22
From: Home

To: Buffalo
Miles today: 0.0

It's the last few hours before heading to the airport and all I want to do is head to the beach and wade out into the ocean. Odd really I am not a beach guy but it's what I woke up wanting...and of course it's raining. So no pleasant motorcycle ride to the beach. Instead I will have to finish doing the thousand small things to finish preparations. Like smoke my pipe and check Facebook. I should be sewing some extra material to My sleeping bag liner and portionining my breakfast drinks. I won't be able to see my mom in the hospital before I leave and that pains me.
Date: 2014-06-24
From: Medina, NY

To: Comfy Couch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I made the trip into Buffalo just fine, with only a few hours delay. I never imagined so many people to be flying into Buffalo, I figures it would be a two propeller plane with a frumpy stewardess and stale peanuts. I was very pleasantly surprised to sit next to a young college student attending my Alma Matter, U.B. (Please don't judge my spelling ability for their lack of effort.) My Amigo, Shawn picked me up and we headed out for the half hour drive through the wilderness to our small town, however it seems that strip mall have replaced the entire journey. No longer are there Maples and Oaks, Fields and Orchards. Instead its more of the same asphalt jungle that the rest of the world is battling. With the exception of Mighty Taco....who doesnt love Mighty Taco and Marks Pizza.After sitting on my laurels long enough to go over my gear, drop off some resupply and eat some Tim Hortons, its time to hit the start of the Canal tomorrow.    The plan is to be in Downtown Buffalo in the early morning, take a few pictures, marvel at the wonders of urban planning and renewal then hike up the lake to North Tonawanda. Hopefully there I can sleep under a bridge like a Troll, avoiding the storm that is sure to be raging by tomorrow night. If I can I will push on to where the River meets the Canal a few miles Northeast of town.   The first day or two will be mostly road walking, not the most glorious way to see Western New York Countryside, or the Canal, but like Life, the Canal is a work in progress....or decline, depending on your perspective. Either way, I am sure it will prove more more interesting and athletic than watching last seasons episodes of ...whatever.
Date: 2014-06-25
From: Buffalo Harbour

To: North Tonawanda
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

I had almost no sleep the night before. I would like to blame it on nerves or a crying baby, but it was a good movie and pleasant conversation that pestered my ability to sleep. Shawn woke me up and with Wyatt, his 8 year old by, we left as the sun was rising to head into Buffalo. The trip was great...until Buffalo. In otherwords we were fine as long as we were in the sticks. We managed to get lost in Buffalo, despite gps and had to take the Skyline Bridge. For those not familiar with this engineering marvel, it is the worse bridge in America. It is suspended hundreds of feet and twist and turns like a river, all while swaying in the constant lake effect winds. I kept my eyes closed and prayed to the gods of blind luck that we would survive the bridge, not once, but twice.      Once we actually found the Erie Canal Harbour it was a nice time viewing.....rocks. Stacked rocks, but rocks nontheless. A few pictures later and we were off to walk along the USS Little Rock and the USS Sulivan and a nameless submarine. Not such a big deal to a guy who lives near Norfolk VA, but to see the ships through the eyes of an 8 year old boy was wonderous. Last year a hiking companioin of mine, No Rush, commented that it would be wonderfull if we could live live with the wondement of an 8 year old child. since then I have often thought of that sentiment. Not a bad way to look at the world. after all we would still have Santa Clause and the Spirits of Halloween.   By 0800 we parted ways and I made off for the pier so I could look out over he majestic Lake Erie, view the Chinaman (Lighthouse), and then backtrack a mile because its a pier! The area was soo fogged in with the impending thunderstorm that I am glad I have memories of Virginia to remind me of what open water looks like.    Following a series of streets and bike paths I was able to meander out of the city along the waterfront, when high rise condos didnt block the way, but hey, the city needs tax revenue. Once I made it north of the city, past the colorful graffiti and broken Labats Blue bottles, the path became rather broken and unmarked, leading me to miss a turnoff onto a new section of the Riverwalk. It would be a mile or two up the road before I could get back on trail. However, it was a pleasant journey along the waterfront of the Niagra River, with plenty of places to rest, resupply water and play hopscotch around geese droppings.   I made it into North Tonawanda in time for the city to clebrate my arrival with a music festival, very nice of them but I would have rather had a cold compress for my ankles. Instead a free show with a horrid cover of Journey and Springsteen songs. The Harbourmaster office let me pitch my tent behind the office and refill my water from a house connected to the Long House, a historical home, that despite the name was not very long, but rather named after a family who owned the site of the first Sunday School in the area. Their Christian Spirit lives in in the fine people of Tonawanda who let me slip off to sleep with a lullaby and rest unmolested through the night.
Date: 2014-06-27
From: Lockport

To: Gasport
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

I had hoped to catch a ride through the Locks today and spend a full Zero exploring the great history of the Town of Lockport, but since my budget is sparce I decided to do the only logical thing, eat breakfast at a diner. To,'s Diner actually. After all, hiking up from the river worked up an appatite for Coffee and Potato Pancakes....another one of my to do items....pancakes not the cheap coffee. Either way, after hittng the library and post office I am heading out of town. I did watch a sailboat go through the locks, so I will just have to count that as my Locks experience for now, who knows what the day will bring. I just dont want to sit around thumbing a ride on the canal.
Date: 2014-06-28
From: Gasport

To: Medina New York
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The Canal Trail out of Lockport was great. I made it to Reid's....a dive roadside straunt. Unfortunately my guides failed to mention it was cash only. No problem for an experienced Yogy. I asked a guy who had just pulled up in a new Beemer where I could get some cash...impressing his hot young date he whipped out his wad of cash and handed me a fiver. More than enough for Reids. A cheeseburger. .Red Hot with Special Sauce...fries and a Strawberry shake. Damn good value. Of course I was compelled to share my hiking stories in exchange....but hey who doesn't want to toot their own horn.After Reids came Gasport. I had planned to camp there. But when I got to the town I got a bit of a bad vibe from the town. I even walked away from the promise of yoging a cold Labbats Blue. But I following my feeling and not my taste buds....despite my waste band size. So I hiked on and found a great spot a few miles outside Middleport. I had thought to make it to town and hitch over to the drive inn but was to damned tired and the sunset provided enough entertainment. In fact it looked like I was camped out on the African planes...with an active imagination.Middleport was quaint. Complete with kids having a car wash at the fire hall. Filled up on water and talked with a dirty pipe smoking cut up t-shirt wearing lift operator. What he lacked in appearance he made up with personality. Just outside of town I came across some boaters from Norfolk. My neck of the Old Dominion State. They offered a ride up stream but I am sticking to the canal..despite my ankles pleading with me to sit and sip beer all day.....more like pound beers really.so now I sit under a bridge outside Medina taking a siesta waiting for my buddy to come join me for the last mile into town. I am passing up having a Monte Crist for lunch but that is the price of friendship.if all goes well I will crash on his couch and do laundry and head out in the morning.