morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-08-21
From: Melville Nauheim Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: few clouds

When I planned this hike, my intent was not to go over 13 miles per day.That lasts 3 days. Today I'm back to the old ways of hiking to Story Spring Shelter. There's another shelter, Kid Gore Shelter, about 4.6 miles south, and I originally intended to stay there. But I get there around 3 p.m, and I feel fine, so I decided to hike another 4.6 miles to Story Spring.   The weather is beginnning to deteriorate today, high winds and cloudy and a little cooler.My lunch break at Goddard Shelter is really nice. It's one of the nicest shelters in southern Vermont.   Can tell a storm is coming. Looks like they have built a new privy here, and Goddard has one of the best pipe springs on the trail.Finally arrive at Story Spring shelter around 5:30 pm, with rain coming. It's a full shelter, I meet some good guys here, a mix of section hikers and a couple Nobo AT thru hikers and one SoBo AT thru hiker. Good thing decide to stay in the shelter cuz it rains hard and windy all night.
Date: 2016-08-22
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: moderate rain

This part of the AT/LT begins with up and over Stratton Mountain, a popular winter ski resort in Vermont. The morning is very misty, foggy and cold on top of Stratton. Wind chill in the 40s. The caretakers cabin has a fire going in the wood stove.I meet a section hiker here from Pennsylvania, she is only out for a couple days heading north, we hike a similar pace so I end up seeing her at shelters the next couple days.By mid day the weather is clearing, and I take a nice rest break on banks of Stratton Pond, it's a beautiful sunny day now and warming back up. I meet lots of section hikers and other AT SoBo thru hikers now along the trail. And begin to meet some of the college orientation groups out on the trail. I hear from a local there are alot of college orientation groups out in southern VT now. Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Williams College all do this with their incoming freshmen classes.Finally end up at Spruke Peak Shelter, which is a really big old log cabin with a wood stove, and sleeping platforms for up to 10 hikers. I meet quite a group here. One group of 3 SoBo thru hikers, the 2 NoBo thru hikers I was with the night before, and the lady section hiker. It ends up being one of my nicer nights on this hike, enjoyed talking with all these guys, and they build a campfire in the fire ring.My second time staying at this shelter, back in 2012 stayed in the tent area. Back then the pipe spring was not running. This trip the pipe spring is running very well, and there is a privy here.This shelter is about 2.8 miles south of the VT-11/30 highway crossing just outside Manchester Center, VT.
Date: 2016-08-23
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Today weather was perfect for hiking, still warm but sunny and not quite as humid.Got up early, hiked down to the VT-11/30 highway crossing, and within 5 minutes caught a hitch into town with a GMC caretaker from Stratton Pond shelter. He works for GMC from Aug 1st to Oct 15th at the shelter. Nice guy he's also taking in water samples to the USDA Forest Service office from some ponds and creeks up in the mountains.He takes me into town, where I visit "Up for Breakfast" in Manchester. There's a NoBo AT thru hiker here I chat with, he caught Lymes Disease in Pennsylvania and had to get off the trail for 2-3 weeks and taking antibiotics. He described the symptoms to me, not fun.   He said it was a tick so small he couldn't see it, it had burrowed into his skin right in center of stomach at bottom of his ribcage. The fever and chills and fatigue hit him before the rash showed up. He's getting back on the trail here, but I never saw him again on this hike.After resupply of food, a stop at McDonalds and a stop at a pharmacy and the Mountain Goat, I decide to get back to the trail. Get a ride back and on the AT/LT by around 2 pm. The hike up to Bromley Mtn is awesome.   This is the best visibility possible, clear and sunny skies you can see the Adirondacks and all the way to the NH White Mountains from top of Bromley, which is another ski mountain in southern VT.Finally after the tough hike up and over Styles Peak and Peru Peak, I get to the Peru Peak Shelter in the early evening. Full shelter here with a large family outing of really nice people here for the night.   Here I also meet VT-Mike, he's doing a NoBo Long Trail Hike, he's from NH.A very large group of Yale students come thru here and move on to Griffith Lake tenting area for the night.A section hiker has his guitar and over a campfire plays some Bob Dylan and other pop tunes.   Really the best night on this hike.
Date: 2016-08-24
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked much of this day with VT-Mike and Patty (section hiker from PA that I met at Stratton Mtn. Patty is very nice and I've enjoyed hiking with her, but she has decided to head home at the VT-140 road crossing this afternoon. I've been fortunate to meet and hike with VT-Mike and Patty, all of us hike about the same pace and enjoy talking to them.There's trail magic at the Danby Rd crossing parking lot, where "Paddywagon" has setup his truck and serving cold grape soda and hot dogs. I have a half cup of grape soda but pass on the hot dogs.I meet several SoBo and NoBo AT hikers thru the day. Orginally I planned to stop at Greenwall Shelter, but later decided to hike on to Minerva Hinchey Shelter.this is a very pretty section of the AT/LT, the trail passes Little Rock Pond and numerous beaver ponds....the trail here passes White Rocks and the amazing rocks along the trail that are placed by hikers. The 'cascades' just before VT-140 are very pretty too, we all stop here to cool off and get water.Finally arrive at the shelter late in the day, the shelter is full with another Yale student orientation group, so VT-Mike and I setup our tarps in the tent area. There is a spring and privy at this shelter. I also meet another NoBo LT hiker here from Pittsburgh, his name is "Bojangles".long day, very tired, so crash soon after eating, to the sounds of the Yale group at the shelter
Date: 2016-08-26
From: US-4 Killington, VT

To: Jacksonville, FL
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

AMTRAK leaves Rutland, VT at 9:15 a.m., Ethan Allen Express to Penn Station in NYC.Change trains with about 3 hour layover, (plus a 2 hour delay in Penn)Arrive at Jacksonville, FL the next morning around 11 a.m.   Get a one-way rental car and drive home, arrive later that day.Great trip, great hike, great to be home. NO injuries on this hike, no tick bites, just a few scrapes and cuts, no foot blisters. I really like these Brooks Cascadia shoes.I plan to add in more info and photos here later.   Lots to catch up on here.Natasha and I plan a mini vacation sometime this fall.   Like last year, our cleaning schedule is filling up in Sept-October with late reservations.
Date: 2016-09-04
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Back home for a week now. Miss the trail already but glad I got home. THe hurricane hit just east of here and did some damage east of here, now it's threatening the Northeast coastline.   Our cleaning schedule is filling for Sept and Oct already, but it's different and more scattered thru the week in the fall.Still cleaning up hiking gear and getting a bunch of clothing and gear ready to advertise for sale at WhiteBlaze.net. Went to the gym and did some elliptical and stair climber machine stuff, probably get back to the condo staircase next week too.why am I selling so much gear/clothing?I did a diet, lost 40 lbs, now all my size LARGE clothing is too large, now wear MEDIUM sizes. Also just selling some extra stuff and footwear I dont' use or need.so visit White Blaze for some super good deals soon.MontbellPatagoniaIcebreakerObozMerrelljust a few brands of like new stuff I'm selling in clearing out my gear roomthinking ahead to next AT/LT hike later in the fall either late Sept or Octoberhappy trails
Date: 2017-01-16
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It's been 4 months since my last entry. Lot has happened since my last entry.I suffered a bad fall and proximal humeral fracture in my right shoulder in mid September on a short section hike in VA. Lucky it was a minimal break, lots of pain, but no surgery required, wore an arm sling for 4-5 weeks and just finishing up physical therapy on the shoulder.So beginning to look at the calendar deciding on 2017 hikes. Most likely hikes:a. Resume AT NoBo hike from Manassas Gap, VA where I last got off the AT, probably start in early April.b. Another LT thru hike in Septemberc. North GA shakedown AT hike, probably in February.can't wait to get back to the trail!Happy 2017!
Date: 2016-03-07
To: Deciding to Hike
Miles today: 0.0

I have an amazing job, wonderful friends and family. For quite some time I have wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. After a life change, it popped into my head that perhaps this was the right time to hike the trail. I asked my supervisor about the possibility for a leave of absence. Based on our conversation, I was hopeful, but still believed the possibility of a leave to be remote. Low and behold, a week ago I received word that my leave of absence had been approved. I was ecstatic! At 44 years old, I am going to hike the AT!Of course, then all of the questions come about. Why do you want to do that? How are you going to make money? Isn't that too long a hike? Can't you just hike for a few weeks? Are you really going to do it? And on and on and on. Then there is the feeling of the dog who just caught the truck. I plan to start around April 20th. I need to put all of my belongings in storage, get out of my place, and finish my taxes! If only one person on Earth could find me on the AT, I have no doubt it would be the friendly, local IRS agent. And I do want to finish my hike this year! Now after listening to half of AWOL's book on the trail, I have my own self doubts. I really haven't been training for a hike. What the heck am I going to eat? And is that a twinge I just felt in my knee? How about my foot?The one thing I have going for me is that I do occasionally have a stubborn streak when my mind is made up. I have taken on the mind set that I will not quit unless I am physically unable to continue for weeks.More later.....
Date: 2016-03-18
To: Training For The Big Hike
Miles today: 0.0

I am normally in pretty fair shape. However, as soon as my leave was granted, I knew I was not in trail condition. I had hiked the Grand Canyon in February and my IT Band really flared up. That was a fantastic hike by the way. Then I read AWOL's book and it confirmed I needed to get in trail shape.The problem with only having a month to prepare, is being torn in a bunch of different directions. Preparing to move out of my place and put all of my belongings in storage. Ordering food items, etc. Figuring out what I am doing on this through hike. Get in shape! Yes that.I worked with my chiropractor and he gave me some exercises to deal with the IT Band. Then I have been upping my mileage, pack weight, and vertical. The up is great for conditioning. The down for testing my knee. Trekking poles are a life saver.My training area is South Mountain Park in Phoenix. I live only a few minutes from the Warpaint trailhead. Phoenix is marvelous this time of year. The weather has been in the 60's to high 70's. Today was actually a little too hot at 88! The park is large enough that in many places you really feel like you are out in the desert. I am definitely gaining confidence in my conditioning and my tricky right knee.
Date: 2016-03-23
To: Working to hike
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I work for an incredible company. They are allowing me to take six months off without pay to achieve my dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail. While I have always appreciated my employer, words cannot express how grateful I am to Southwest Airlines to have the time off to heal and grow. Pilots are salaried employees. We get paid, generally speaking, by how much we fly. We are regulated by the FAA on how much we can fly. Right now, I have been flying right up to the maximum to save money for my big trip.   It is really great financially, but not as good for training. It also means that I have to schedule all of my packing, moving, and travel around my flying. As a result, I am not going to pack many food boxes. I think I am mostly going to subside on whatever I can find in the stores and gas stations along the way. This may turn out out to be OK and it may be a disaster. Who can say?   I have promised myself that I will not quit unless I suffer some kind of traumatic injury along the trail. So from Newark, NJ, have a good evening!
Date: 2016-04-07
To: Back to Idaho
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It is interesting. If you asked me 3 months ago if I ever thought I might move belongings back in with my parents, I would tell you there is no possible way. I am sure my folks would say the same thing! But, here I am, driving my awesome car to Idaho with a load of camping gear and all that I will ever need for the next 6 months.
Date: 2016-04-08
To: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I am very excited to head out on my hike. However, it was also sobering to move out of my place and put all that I own in two storage units. It is a lot of work! However, it is also somewhat of a metaphor for this whole hike. I am storing nearly all of my worldly belongings and will do with what I can carry on my back. Likewise, I am giving up the comfort and companionship of many dear friends and family to take to the trail for six months. I will miss those whom I care about much more than the "stuff". Of course, I will miss my comfy bed pretty darn much! The unfortunate by-product of working a ton and packing up my place is that I have not had much of a chance to stay out on my training hikes. I am a little concerned about that. However, we all must play the hand we are dealt and I don't plan on folding!
Date: 2016-04-10
To: Pile of Gear
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

So, quite a few people have asked me about the gear I am bringing with me on my trip. I have good gear. Most of it is pretty light. I definitely would not classify it as ultralight. What I can say is that it all works for me. I am confident in my gear, even though it is a little more than I would like to be carrying. So here is my list:                                                        BACKPACK - Hyperlite Southwest 3600 - 33.6ozSTAKES & STAKE BAG 3.9oz 10 Stakes SLEEPING BAG / QUILT - GoLite 26ozSLEEPING PAD Thermarest Xtherm 15.5ozQUILT AND CLOTHES BAG Zpacks Dry Bag 2.1PILLOW Kooka Bay inflatable 2.2Items WornTREKKING SHIRT Short Sleeve Wool 5.7GYM SHORTS W/ LINER Nylon 6.6TREKKING SOCKS Darn Tough Boot Socks 3.6TREKKING SHOES Altra Lone Peak 25.2GAITERS Altra 1HAT WITH BRIM Tilley Sun Hat 3.7TREKKING POLES TI-goat ATP 7.3InsulationBASE LAYER TOP Patagonia Black Long 5.5BASE LAYER BOTTOMS Patagonia Black Long 5.8WIND SHIRT Patagonia 4.6RAIN JACKET Outdoor Research Helium 7RAIN PANTS Go-Lite Rain Pants 7.3SMARTWOOL BEANIE Orange 2.2WARM/ WOOL GLOVES Wool Liners 1.7BALACLAVA 1.3INSULATING JACKET Western Mountaineering Flight 13.4SPARE TREKKING SHIRT Smartwool coolmax 6SPARE SHORTS Gym Shorts 6.1SPARE PAIR TREKKING SOCKS Darn Tough Boot Socks 3.6DEDICATED SLEEP SOCKS Darn Tough Boot Socks 3.6SITTING PAD Thermarest 1.9Cook ItemsFIRESTARTING KIT Esbit Cubes/Lighter 1.1ozJETBOIL SOL TI Jetboil 11.15EATING UTENSIL Titanium Spork 0.5INSULATING COZY Freezer Bag Cozy 1.3WATER TREATMENT Aquamira Drops 3.1WATER BOTTLE(S) Two 1.5 Liter Deer Park Bottles 2.6BEAR BAG / FOOD STORAGE        Z-PACKS Bag/Line/Carabiner/Throw 2.3Miscellaneous GearCAMP SHOES Walmart Crock knock off 5.7MAP(S) AWOL guide 2LIGHT + EXTRA BATTERIES Petzel 2.8FIRST AID SUPPLIES/MEDS Adventure Medical kits 3.3PERSONAL HYGIENE Toothbrush/paste/Sanitizer/Dr.B's 2.5SUNGLASSES Native 0.9SUNSCREEN Banana Boat mini 0.82INSECT REPELLENT Ben's 100% Deet 1.9TP & Hand Sanitizer 3.5KNIFE Baldero 0.9BATTERY CHARGER & CABLE 5.2PHONE PLUG AND CABLE Two plug w/ mini cord 3.5CAMERA Iphone 4.6HEAD PHONES Apple 0.5SPORT SHIELD Roll-on 2.5BABY POWDER 1.5BABY WIPESCAAMP CHAIR Helinox Ground Chair 21.2Camp Towel REI 1.4Everything weighs something. All of the items going in my pack will weigh approximately 18.3 pounds.
Date: 2016-04-15
To: Visiting Family Before the Trek
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Before I hit the trail, I wanted to come to Detroit to visit my brother and his family. My folks also decided to make the journey to Detroit.   It was a really great time, and I'm glad I made the trip.My brother's kids are really great. It was fun to see them and do fun things like tea parties, etc. Every time I visit my brother, I always gain the highest respect for all of you parents out there. As good as his kids are, they are busy and things are always in motion. I am exhausted! It was so worth it!I also helped my brother move some things into his new place. It is going to a super nice home.I finally got all of my stuff packed and some supplies sent. I think it will be enough and the right items. If not, I will learn and adapt. I leave early tomorrow morning for Atlanta. I am very excited!
Date: 2016-04-16
To: Travel to the Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today I traveled from Detroit to the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, Georgia. It was a great day. I started the day not quite knowing what to expect. I am finishing the day ready to hike. I got up very early and my parents and my brother were nice enough to drive me to the airport. My flight on Southwest was punctual and smooth as usual. Since I got in a bit early and I had time to kill before I needed to head up north, I treated myself to breakfast at the IHOP in the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. It was satisfactory. I then took the MARTA to the north station. The Atlanta transit system was very easy to use.   I met several hikers waiting to be picked up at the station. A few minutes later Chief came and picked us up. We had a great visit while he drove us to the hiker hostel. Chris, a fellow through hiker, Heard that there was a festival in town. We confirmed that there was! It was the Bear in the Square festival. So, 20 years ago a bear wandered into town, climbed a tree in front of the courthouse, and stayed there for a couple of days. For the past 20 years, they have been celebrating the tree climbing bear.   The festival is a merger of food and bluegrass music. It was most enjoyable! I even bought a T-shirt. Of course I mailed that home.   All in all, a very fun and eventful first day in Georgia!
Date: 2016-04-17
From: Amicalola State Park

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

So, Today was my first day on the trail. It was one of the most special days of my life! After a good breakfast at the Hiker Hostel, Josh drove 6 of us to Amicalola State park. 6 went with Chief to Springer Mountain.   After a few pictures, I started my hike up by the waterfall. It was exceedingly pretty. I made a very good decision to let Endless and Mike get ahead. Those guys are fast and it would have killed me to keep up. The weather was perfect! Cool and clear in the morning and low 70's for the high. The trees in the higher elevations were just budding which allowed views of the valleys below, which were so pretty. I met a lot of interesting folks along the way. I hiked a ways with Jake, Seth, and Linda. Crossed paths with Alex. I met Bob and his wife at the top of Springer Mountain. Met Joe and Roxanne (cool Army folk), and ended up at the Stover Shelter. There I met Captain Caveman, William, Dustin, Mojo and her dog Zinga, and some of the aforementioned folks. I arrived at the Stover shelter at about 4pm. The competitive side of me said to hike on. The practical side said to stop at 11.5 for the day and call it good. I stopped feeling pretty good, feet good, and knees pretty good. I ate a big dinner and really enjoyed feeding Zinga, too. We all talked about literature and told funny stories. Some funnier than others. There was a lot of drama to see whether Mojo would burn her stuff down, and the shelter for that matter, with her new alcohol stove. Then it was time to turn in. It stays light pretty late here. 8:30 or so and that helps. Day one in the books. It was a good one!
Date: 2016-04-19
From: Gooch Gap

To: Neel's Gap
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 3. It was a big one! I got up and took my oatmeal. Not long after, people from the previous shelter started walking by. They were getting an early start! Right as I was packing up, Goose, Hummingbird, and Beth walked by. They said I need to get an earlier start. True. I walked with them for a while and we had a great visit! They are fast walkers. Hummingbird, who is 11 sets the pace and they finished an hour and a half before I did. Now I did soak my feet for a while in the stream. So, this is how it kind of works on the trail. There are certain places to get water and take a break. At these places, everyone tends to congregate. Everyone starts the day in relatively close proximity. However, over the day, the fast walkers tend to get father ahead and the slower walkers arrive at shelters a little later. I am a medium paced hiker. For example, Kevin, aka Matt Damon arrived three. The Vermonters 3:30. Mo and Tiho 4:30. Mike and I 5:00. Blue eyes, Alex, Dustin, Howl, and Tom at 7:00. Today I leaned that Tom from and Rob from Baltimore are Uncle and nephew. We were at the soaking stream. Since Rob has the oriole hat, I am pushing them to be Baltimore and Oriole.   Sure it's corny, but I think it works!We had a couple big climbs today. Pilot Mountain and Blood Mountain were a lot of work. Blood mountain is the highest mountain on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. The crazy thing is, the trail went down, down, down just before the mountains so then we had to go up, up up. I was hiking with Mike on the way up blood mountain. We did really well. The views were really great! Arriving at Neel's gap was really super! The Vermonters were just getting in a car to take them back to the hiker hostel as they have to go back to school. It was Great to be able to say goodbye. Matt Damon was here, so he showed us where the bunks were and helped us get situated. That was super nice! I ate a pizza, and then some nice folks brought homemade lasagna and salad. I ate a second dinner. It was really great! My shower felt phenomenal! So today was a little over 14 miles, but the most elevation gain and loss of the hike so far. The hike down blood mountain was the hardest stretch so far. Overall, I am tired, but feel pretty good. My feet are a little tired, and my neck is sunburned, but other than those two things, I am in really good shape! No blisters so far. Very thankful and fortunate. All right, time for bed!