morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-12-02
From: Deep Creek Gap

To: Wallace Gap
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: overcast clouds

We decided to hike from Deep Creek Gap to Wallace Gap which is actually going Northbound. It was a bit harder of a climb but easier for Grammie to find us since she only had to return to yesterday's pick up spot. We were able to start around 8:15am and finish by 3:40pm. We can't believe how easily and quickly we are pulling these miles out. We broke the last 100 and now have only 85 miles left to go.The forecast was for rain today. Though it was mostly cloudy we did get a brief blast of sunshine. We took the time out to sit at a shelter and eat a snack. The shelter was built on a ridge overlooking the mountains. It was lovely and peaceful. The girls and I are relishing these last few days on the trail. We spent a lot of time today talking about our journey, the people who joined and helped us and the things we have seen. We also talked about being home in less than a week. Everyone has something different that they want to do. Cub really wants to see her good friend Sara. Badonkadonk wants her clothes and bed. I just want Blueberry! We also can't wait to get a new puppy from Kids and Canines. We talk about what kind of dog we might get to train next. I thought I would have completed writing my novel in my head by now. Guess I'll have to squeeze it out this last week. I also still have toenails left. So much left to do and so little time. I am able to check off finding my true self again. I feel a peace I haven't known for a long time. I feel closer to my girls than I ever thought possible. I have fulfilled a lifelong dream which has given me a strong feeling of accomplishment. The girls And I are wondering what adventure we should plan next!
Date: 2013-12-03
From: Deep Gap, NC

To: Dicks Creek Gap, GA
Miles today: 15.8

WE ARE IN GEORGIA!!!!!! Yahoo! Yippee yeah! Our 14th and Final State!!!!We crossed our last border(until we drive across Florida's)! We danced and sang with joy. Our 16 mile hike was from Deep Gap to Dicks Creek Gap. We spent the day literally in the clouds. The mountains were wrapped in thick, brilliant white clouds. The dark shapes of the trees pop with contrast against the icy whiteness. The short bouts of rain reminded me of the misty rains of England. Even though it was 42 degrees when we started we were able to keep warm with all the uphill climbing. The rain actually felt good especially since it was so brief and light. We are so focused on our hiking we have been finishing quickly. We got today done in 5 hrs and 15 minutes. We were able to spend a lot of time with Grammie. She took us to a restaurant called "Daniels". It was a home cookin' type of place. Grammie loved it. It was a buffet. Cub ate about 10 huge plates of creamed corn. She was thrilled to have an unlimited salad. Though I love cooking, the daily demands of it wear down my enthusiasm. Cooking one dish meals in a Jet Boil and the random restaurants we've been in has been a real treat. Now, when I don't feel like cooking I'll just pull out the jar of marshmallow fluff and Nutella. Throw in some honey roasted peanuts and M&Ms with Wonder bread and we will enjoy a well balanced hiker meal. Thanks everyone for all the well wishes and congratulations. We are excited but still holding off on celebrating until Saturday. We love all the support. It helps us keep our excitement going and our motivation in high gear. You all help us find a way to wrap up this life changing, significant journey.
Date: 2013-12-04
From: Dicks Creek Gap, GA

To: Unicoi Gap, GA
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: few clouds

Though the weather report sounded promising and the sun tricked us with a brief appearance we ended up being rained on all day. Surprisingly we stayed warm. The temperatures have risen which is the only way we could have made it. To be wet and cold is just too dangerous. We also had so many ups and downs all day. The ups rocket our body temperatures into the Florida beach heat zone. It seems amazing to us now when we think about the heat and how we hiked through that. We hiked about 17 miles in 5 1/2 hrs. With all the slippery, wet conditions that's a good pace. We started at Dick Creek Gap and ended at Unicoi Gap. We saw two huge, fat squirrels, one snail and 5 hikers. No thru hikers though. The shelters were empty and lonely looking in the mist. When Grammie picked us up we headed towards an Italian restaurant called Enricos. It was beyond delicious. We couldn't stop eating. We love coming back to the hotel with Grammie. We get hot showers and all snuggle up and watch movies. Grammie has to leave Friday morning. We plan to camp out that one last night. The girls aren't thrilled with that idea. They have become hotel spoiled. I really feel like we need to be in the woods that one last time. We need to reflect and savor the moment. I want to hike into Springer Mt with my pack. Blueberry and hopefully Lord of the Flame will join us at the shelter about 8 miles from the end point. We will take an easy morning, eat our last trail breakfast of oatmeal and saunter southward for the last time. Sob! Probably be there around 2 pm. Thanks to Trip and JD for the last day advice. A lot of people have asked if we are going to hike the PCT and CDT. I told Blueberry we would do it when we retire. He gave me an energetic affirmative answer. It was so positive I'm a bit suspicious that he may never retire. Buddy Backpacker and our friends Trip and JD are planning to hike the PCT next year. The girls and I would love to join each of them for a week or so. We can't take off for so long again for awhile. Blueberry wouldn't make it!! Badonkadonk also wants to start living her life now. She's got high school to finish and wants to start college. She also wants to get back to her baking business and eventually become a Culinary Institute of America baker. Cub is the most likely to hike again but she really can't miss anymore school for awhile. I just don't want to do it alone. I know I made it because I was with my sweeties. One never knows exactly where our lives may lead us. I still have Thailand's monkey festival and the Gal¡pagos Islands on my bucket list. Also want to hike New Zealand's Milford Track and Scotland. So many experiences to cram into the short time that we have on this glorious planet.
Date: 2013-12-05
From: Unicoi Gap, GA

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Yes, we were rained on ALL DAY! But on the BRIGHT side it was in the 50s temperature wise. We could stand the wet because of the warmth. For about 10 seconds the sun came out. It was gorgeous. The water droplets on the trees looked like sparkly pearls. I tried to photograph it but you can never really capture the beauty. I admit I was awfully miserable when I started hiking today. I was just so grumpy! I got out of the car and was instantly soaked. I had to remember that of we'd spent the night in the tent or shelter I would have been putting on wet clothing. One thing I've learned from the trail is no matter how bad it is it can be much, much worse. The humidity today made it feel like we were breathing pea soup. We had way more ups than I expected for Georgia. I was kinda hoping the trail just sloped downward towards Florida but alas no. Though the ups still cause the heart beat to rise and the lungs to struggle for air it's definitely gotten easier. We do get up quicker but not with absolute ease like I expected. Guess this is as good as it gets at 50! Really our bodies have held up and been so reliable it's a miracle. We never had one day of sickness. The girls didn't like the daily vitamin drink and protein drink I strongly suggested they drink. They tried to dodge it but the consequence of no candy just wasn't worth it. Now they admit our good health was probably due to my persistent urging. The girls absolutely do not want to camp out tomorrow night...in the rain and cold but I feel like it's only right to do it. They are now looking forward to it because their dad, Blueberry, is coming and he's very worried about the shelter mice. The girls are tickled about his squeamishness, especially after our 6 months months of wildlife. I swear my heartbeat increased when I saw Neels Gap. The trail runs right through the building of the outfitters store. It is the best store! Their gear is top notch. They have everything we used. If you want truly experienced help go there. Every employee has been a thru hiker. They really know their stuff and have personal relationships with the gear companies. We thought we'd get our finishing number there but they don't do that. I'm not sure how the ATC will count us. Anyone out their know where SOBOs check in? Guess we will check at Springer. I bought a shirt that made me get all teary-eyed when I saw it. I suppose all of these final moments will be emotional. The shirt has a big daisy on it with Appalachian Trail written under it. The center of the flower says, "Simple Life". Each petal has something the AT gives written on it. Here's what it says:ContentmentRelaxTendernessSerenityBalanceHopeEnjoymentWonderBeautyFaithInspirationHappinessNatureLove Peace23 miles plus 8.6 miles and we will be doing our happy dance.
Date: 2013-12-06
From: Neels Gap

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: light rain

The phone blipped at 6am. Sigh! We were going to sleep in until 7am. Someone texted me but was it important enough to get out of my cozy bed. Good thing I didn't fall back asleep. My husband, brother and good friend drove all night from Florida to help us finish, or maybe just haul us home. Enough is enough! They had arrived at 4:30am in Helen, Ga and went to sleep in the cold van. I was beyond thrilled to see their sleepy faces. I took them up to the room. The girls were instantly awake as was Grammie. Dancing around the room Grammie was singing,"I'm done, I'm done...I'm outta here". It is a difficult job to find the AT on these little forest roads. Grammie and all the Support Crew of friends and family did a superb job of finding us, smooches to all of you. The guys went to sleep immediately. We girls ate breakfast and then packed as they continued sleep. My brother, Strangler, drove us back to Neels Gap. We planned to meet them in 23 miles at Hawk Shelter. The misty whiteness enveloped us as we stepped out of the warm, comfortable car. The rain greeted us with its cold wetness. Strangler took a photo of us by the sign that says,"It's not the miles, it's the smiles". The large tree by the outfitters is filled with hanging boots. We wondered if they were SOBOs or hikers that quit by Neels Gap. I wanted to fling my last pair but thought I'd need them. As it turned out I hiked this whole week in Crocs due to my foot pain. Crocs really need to invent an open-back hiking shoe. We spent the rainy day taking ponchos and shirts on and off. We talked about the last 6 months. We got a bit emotional when we talked about the wonderful people we shared this journey with. We were excited to see our family and friends again. Lord of the Flame was brave enough to join our hike at Coopers Gap. Blueberry and Strangler went ahead and set up the camp and made a fire. How exciting to see a roaring fire as we moved towards the shelter. It was like old times with the NOBOs. Being our last official thru hiker shelter stay we were sad to find no trail journal. I guess our last sign in will be at Springer! With a celebratory feel in the air we made dinner and settled in for the night. What fun to be in a full shelter again. Lord of the Flame once again brought in the entertainment. When all the headlamps were out we were treated to a son on the harmonica. Blueberry took a turn, then Cub and finally Strangler entertained us. We were like babes made sleepy by sweet lullabies. It's a good thing LOTF thought of this, we were just so excited I thought we'd never be able to sleep. We had our very last mouse encounter. Mice ate through Cubs rain jacket in search for a few sunflowers seeds left behind. They also crawled down the food bag string and feasted on our last hiker morsels. I can't say I was sad to have our food gnawed on as I'm so sick of it anyways. Seems like an appropriate ending. Off we go for the end point...
Date: 2013-12-07
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 8.1

Afgehandel HotovyGetanGjortTehtudValmisFiniKeszBuineJie ShuYah nah YEH lasFattoBaigtasAfZrobioneGjordHoan thanhMayvoushal! (Naahsah)
Date: 2013-12-27
From: Florida 

To: Memory Lane
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I feel like the AT is slipping away. The loss of daily contact with the hiking community combined with the lack of long exposure to Nature each day and the chaos of daily life makes it all seem surreal and distant. Though I have loved being back with my family and friends I keenly miss the adventure. The singleminded ness of it, the beauty and the stinky hikers, sigh, how I cherish it all. I could not understand why people hiked it more than once but now I can absolutely see myself hiking the AT again, especially and probably only if Blueberry would. So life back started with going back to work two days after I got home. I was thrilled by the welcome I got from the women I work with. They printed photos from this journal, hanging them up with a huge banner. They wanted to hear all about the trail. I was so grateful for their genuine interest. Many of the nurses I work with also wanted to hear my tales. It's been fun to share (and scare) and hopefully motivate people to either hike or to pursue tier dreams. Since I work as a Child Life Specialist and we prepare all of the holiday going ons for the patients I reentered our busiest work time. I am happy to be there to help out and I love my job but my feet are not responding well to the hard floors and relatively few rests. I was hoping to have some time to rest and heal them but alas no. Add in my mom and wife duties and I never sit down. The laundry is bigger now that we wear more than one shirt each. The house is larger than a tent thus cleaning time takes longer. I can't just pick up the house and shake all the dirt out. Putting stuff away takes forever since we seem to have an overwhelming amount of stuff now. The girls and I are slowly bagging much of it up to either sell or donate. The simple life with limited choices allows so much more time to think and enjoy life instead of maintaining possessions. I feel very overwhelmed. Life seems so fast moving, especially when we are in a car and the distant landscape comes up so quickly. Cub has returned to school seamlessly. I think she was just thrilled to see her friends. The school made an announcement and gave her a big welcome back. Badonkadonk is busy working two part time jobs, studying and baking. She seems very focused on her life goals, which she clearly sees as attainable with a little AT persistence. Actually the girls are readjusting much better than me! Overall I just feel so lucky and grateful for having experienced this remarkable journey. The closeness I have gained with my kids, the values they learned or reinforced on the trail and the people we met make it such a life altering, monumental adventure how can I not miss it and long for it?!
Date: 2014-07-07
From: art studio

To: your home
Miles today: 0.0

One of the things I thought about on a daily basis on the trail, and discovered most people are using their abundant thinking time for, is what I want my life to be like when I got home. Being 51 yrs old makes one more conscious of purposeful choices. I've always wanted to be more dedicated to my passion to create things. I've decided to leave a job I loved and give my art the space and focus I gave my hiking. It is much more difficult to hold the chaos of daily life at bay but I am trying. I am creating a web site for my work, which to me is my play. Naturally much of it is my reflections of this incredible adventure the girls and I so happily experienced. Here is the first simple piece I've made and am selling. Hope you enjoy it. My next adventure begins!
Date: 2016-05-29
From: Home

To: Shenandoah National Park
Miles today: 0.0

So Cubby and I are back on the trail soon. We will be sad to leave Badonk behind. She is currently doing her externship as a Pastry Chef and cannot get away. Boo Hoo! The Florida Flip Floppers will be missing her and guess we're just the Florida Floppers. Of course we are flipping the trail and going SOBO though. Cubby and I are feeling excited, blessed and also reverent and pensive with some sadness mixed in. We have the honor of hiking Paul's boots up the AT. If you haven't heard the story you should. I will tell it to you briefly but you can look it up here and get the full scoop. Go to the podcast "Dirtbag Diaries" (an awesome adventurer/story-lover site) and search "Paul's Boots" Guarantee you will cry. Cub and I heard the story and knew we had to do this. In short a outdoor loving, generous Aussie had a lifelong dream to hike the AT. He bought his equipment and was headed out to hike this year. He suddenly passed away. Distraught his wife decided she would feel better if his boots could touch the trail. She wrote to Dirtbag Diaries Duct Tape Then Beer production team and they have organized for Paul's boots to travel the whole AT via dedicated hikers. We will be heading out this week with the boots. If you see us come touch the boots. Be a part of this special journey. Other ways to check this out:#PaulWalksOn @REI and @ducttapethenbeer
Date: 2016-05-30
From: Amelia Island, Florida

To: Waynesboro, Virginia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Just past midnight when we arrived in Waynesboro. Super tired from driving in Memorial Day traffic and inappropriately named tropical storm Bonnie. (I'd never ruin a holiday!). Got psyched when we saw the mountains. Cubby was grinning and bopping around in her seat as she pointed out the highest peaks and asked if I was ready for that?! Last minute charging, tucked Paul's boots in and off for some mattress sleep. #PaulWalksOn, @REI and @ducttapethenbeer
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Chester Gap mm 969.1

To: Somewhere on the AT
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

Slept at Quality inn Waynesboro Woke up early to meet trail angel Susan. Before leaving Tampa, we had talked by phone as she works the Waynesboro Tourist Info Office. We met at a kettle corn place - King's Gourmet Popcorn. Talked to her and some thru hikers getting off the trail for a zero. Told them about Paul. Filmed a bit. Yellow Truck man shuttled us to Front Royal 522 for $120. Walked 5 miles uphill to get into Shenandoah National Park (SNP) and on the trail. It's really hot out here today but sunny and gorgeous. It feels so good to be back. We ended up hiking 12 miles which is decent for starting at 11am. We feel slow and I was gasping for breath but still able to push myself. Waiting for my body to remember and kick in. Three years past my hiker legs and feeling it. Filled with joy to be out again. After the first day we are tired but optimistic that we can do this and in time. Bodies are amazing things. Mine's in shock but hanging in there. Good to know at 53 I can still schlep a pack and climb mountains. Very satisfying! Saw three very nonchalant deer that didn't flinch as we walked by. We stopped and filmed them. Can't wait to see if I sleep better out here like I used to. Love the sounds of the birds and the unidentifiable crunching animal steps. Hoping the bears find us as boring as the deer did. Tired. I have done about as much as I can take without collapsing. Can't wait to sleep. Night!
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Just North of Marshall Mountain (958)

To: Pass Mountain Hut (942.6)
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Fitbit data:44,694 steps19.44 miles- the side trips to shelters and springs adds up! 281 floorsGot up at 7:30 which would be late if we were thru hiking. We are surprised by the low number of hikers we are passing. The bubble hasn't hit here yet. This class has been hit up by a bunch of bears. One bit a guy in the Smokeys while he was sleeping in his tent. Very weird behavior. We heard stories about 3 different hikers losing their tents in the Watuga area. And an acrobatic bear has learned to lunge out of trees towards the hanging bear bags and ransack them. One hiker showed us his mauled stove (that still worked) and told us the only food the bear left was one Clif bar. He and the other hikers walked around looking for stuff and found a lot of shredded hiker bags. This will not turn out good for the bear. We saw a bear today but after staring at us for a bit it languidly ambled up the hill. Paul's boots are doing good and seem quite happy perched on our backs. (#PaulWalksOn, @REI and @ducttapethenbeer). We met two middle aged women hikers, one of whom had heard about the boots. She got quite emotional when she held them. Talking into our camera she disclosed that she was a cancer survivor and she can feel the meaning behind these boots. We all started weeping. It was a sacred moment. We gave her one of our laminated Paul walks on cards. On the back it says,"Dreams are needs. They happen one step at a time". It's got me to thinking that I'm so relieved and grateful that I was able to hike the AT when I was 50 and with my kids. Yet I want Paul's family to know that having the dream is awesome too. You spend numerous hours thinking about the trail, reading stuff and buying gear. Every mail ordered box that arrived at our doorstep brought us immeasurable joy. It was like our birthdays every day. Better to have the dream and move towards it than to never have dreamed at all.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Skyland resort!! (931.7)

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut (915.8)
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Fitbit: 42,360 steps18.57 miles252 floorsWoke up to one of my favorite views. The clouds were in the valley below us, nestled in the morning blueness of the mountains. We ate a hearty huge hot breakfast and then hiked out. I was busy taking lots of footage this morning. We said a brief hello to two hikers we passed. Cubby pulled over for a lookout when I suddenly realized I didn't have the GoPro I'd been keeping in my pocket. I just panicked. I threw my stuff down and started running back down the trail. The last photo I took was of some brilliant yellow flowers. I was hoping it fell in the grass there. I was worried about it lying on the path. I got to the flowers and it wasn't there. I almost started crying when we heard shouting. The hiker we'd passed came running up the trail...camera in hand. I happy today that chivalry still stands. This sweet young man and his dad found it and we're going to take it to the lodge. They heard our panicked voices and headed back to us. Losing it was so scary but meeting them was a blessing. They were Floridians to boot. We filmed this dramatic moment for the boots film. Hope I don't look like a big dweeb.We met loads of cool hikers who were psyched about Paul's boots. Slim Rim and Sacajawea were two cool Female hikers who were so happy and joyful I'm sure they'll make it. We met people all day and took lots of photos. Day hikers, families and two delightful kids who were shocked by the very idea of thru hiking. I could have talked to them for hours. You just never know who you're going to inspire. Future AT hikers! Big thrill when we met a VMI Keydet. He had on his soldier boots. Very nice young man hiking with his dog Roxie.Ate at the Big Meadow wayside which has the most delicious blackberry ice cream pie that's about a mile high. We had to split it!!Hard to do the miles because I talk to just about every hiker we pass. I don't want anyone to miss Paul's boots.I put Paul's boots on before walking across a stream per my brother's suggestion. Wow, they are so big, I almost lost it but managed to recover my balance as I joyfully skipped through the puddles. It feels sad that Paul isn't here but I also know if he was he'd be so filled with joy, so I filled the boots with as much mirth as I could muster in those gigantic size 13s!!