morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-02-17
From: Unicoi Gap

To: Tray Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 5.7

Today was a short mileage day again, but I managed to put a couple of big climbs behind me. After being dropped off at Unicoi Gap I started hiking a couple of minutes before 8:00, my earliest start yet. First up was the 1,000 foot climb of Rocky Mountain. A little too chilly for shorts today, so I had on my leggings. On top I had a long sleeve shirt and my rain jacket. The climb got me good and heated up but I was glad I had the rain jacket on after topping out and getting hit by the strong breeze the mountain had been blocking. I went from a little too hot on the way up to just right on the way down to Indian Grave Gap. From there it was back uphill not quite as steep but now a 1,400 foot climb of Tray Mountain. Then it was a quick jaunt to the shelter. I had more miles in me, but it was drizzling most of the morning with heavier rain forecast for the afternoon so I called it quits rather than try to push 8 more miles to the next shelter. I¢m staying in my tent tonight rather than sleeping in the shelter. I will probably do this every time that it¢s the better option. Staying at the shelter are Bullfrog, Lotus, Now, and Arnie. I met Arnie this morning while I was waiting for my shuttle to pick me up. She offered to share the ride with me, but it sounded like her ride might take a while and I was anxious to get started and try to beat as much of the rain as possible. I visited and ate dinner with the gang at the shelter then said goodnight as it was getting dark. This was good timing because it started sprinkling moments after I got back in my tent. They are all very nice people but I doubt I will see them much after tomorrow morning. It sounds like Arnie is slower than me and the three guys are much faster. Looking forward to a nice hike tomorrow. The forecast calls for sun. The remainder of the extended forecast shows cloudy or rain for the next 7 to 10 days. The big apparent challenge of the day will be Kelly Knob which one local told me is the last tough climb in Georgia.Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward¢
Date: 2018-02-18
From: Tray Mountain Shelter 

To: DickÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.0

Today the script was flipped on the weather. When I got up pre-dawn for a privy visit and to get my food bag down, I was wearing my headlamp which was just lighting up droplets of the thick fog we had at that time, so I couldn¢t see much of anything. By the time I had breakfast, changed clothes and packed up, the fog had receded and there was a beautiful sunrise with a cloudless sky above. It was sunny all day long. When I was ready to leave at 7:30, Lotus and Bullfrog were also ready and they fell in right behind me. Now had left at 7:00. Arnie was still in the shelter with her gear not packed when I left. I let Lotus and Bullfrog pass me as soon as we were back on the AT, conceding that they were certainly faster than me. I pulled over soon after to let my fingers warm up because they had gotten pretty frozen during the final stage of packing up. Lotus and Bullfrog disappearing down the trail would be the last humans I saw the rest of the day until I got to my destination. I¢m staying tonight at the Top of Georgia hiking center. I arrived a few minutes before 4:00 and saw Now. He said that the shuttle to town was about to leave. I needed to clean up and I had just spent Thursday afternoon and Friday in Hiawassee, so I passed on the town trip. As a result I¢ve had the place to myself since the shuttle left. I¢ve showered and called Peaches. Now I¢m baking a frozen pizza. By the time I¢m done with the pizza my laundry should be finished. Great weather today so I made several rest stops where I could get my boots off. I changed into dry socks in the middle of the day and applied more KT tape to a couple of spots that were getting warm. I¢m approaching 40 miles since restarting with no return of my earlier blistering problem. Today was my longest day hiked so far and my first double digit day. Oh, and I forgot to report yesterday that I had my first fall. It wasn¢t an official AT fall because it happened at camp on the side trail to the water source. I had set my tent up and changed into my sandals. The steep, muddy trail was no match for the sandals and I fell down. No big deal since I fell on my backside which has plenty of cushion these days. The worst part about it was that there was a witness because Now was gathering water when I went sliding into 2nd.The Top of Georgia staff just put out a revised forecast for Monday and Tuesday that shows chance of precipitation down to 20% from the previous 40 to 50%, so this is great news!Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-19
From: DickÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Creek Gap

To: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: clear sky

Georgia apparently had enough sun yesterday because today was right back to gloomy. Pea soup gloomy. At one point I thought I should be taking a ring to Mt. Doom. I did manage to briefly sort of see the sun today. It happened as I topped out on the highest climb of the day. As soon as I got off the summit, that nonsense was over and it was back to Mordor. It was on the way down into the next gap that I had my excitement for the day. Against a backdrop of impenetrable fog, a large black animal partially shrouded in mist, crossed the trail 20 yards in front of me. A BEAR!! However, when Mr. Bear made his way up the hill I saw how he moved and heard the sound he made. Mr. Bear was not a bear at all. He was a wild boar. I would have preferred a bear. A wild boar running down the trail at you is the equivalent of being charged by a 300 pound bowling ball with tusks. Fortunately this one had no quarrel with me and went on his way up the hillside. I stood there for a couple of minutes clacking my trekking poles together and shouting, ¢No pig!!¢ I then cautiously continued past the spot where I saw him. I never saw any sign of him again and 15 minutes later I was at camp. I got the last laugh when I had a Spam single on a tortilla for lunch. I did short miles today because I did bigger miles yesterday. In fact, my plan for tonight had been to stay at Top of Georgia. Since I made it there last night, I was able to move on today and cover a few miles. This is the last shelter in Georgia. Tomorrow I will cross into North Carolina. I¢m staying here tonight with Maximus and Kett. Maximus thru hiked in 2014 and is doing it again this year. I actually shared the shuttle ride back to the trail with them this morning. This shelter sleeps 16, so with only 3 of us here, we set our tents up in the shelter to keep the mice at bay. Probably a good idea since I can already here the little pukes scurrying around outside.Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-20
From: Plumorchard Gap Shelter

To: Standing Indian Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I got a nice early start this morning at a few minutes after 7:00. I wore my headlamp out of camp, but didn¢t need it for long. Today I finally made it to North Carolina. I wasn¢t planning on making a big deal out of crossing an arbitrary line, but after what I¢ve been through to get this far, it was special. Shortly after making it to North Carolina I came to Bly Gap where there were 3 tents still set up at 9:30. The three gentlemen in the tents would later end up at the same shelter I did. North Carolina probably puts welcome centers at its borders along major highways. I¢m sure budget constraints prevent them from placing a welcome center on the AT. So instead, they put in Courthouse Bald, a relentlessly steep 900 foot monster. Welcome to North Carolina, NOBO¢s! After Courthouse Bald, only two more 400 foot climbs remained to get me to the shelter. This was my highest AT mileage day yet and I¢m wiped. About half an hour after I arrived Shoemaker came in. He is a hammock camper and we decided if no one else came I would set up my tent in the shelter and he would set up his hammock. Of course right after we finished setting up and taking all the shelter space, the three Bly Gap campers showed up. Their names are Dan, Jeremy and Buddy. We offered multiple times to take our gear down, but they said they would prefer to set up their tents outside. So this is the second night in a row I¢ve tented under a roof My feet have remained blister free now for 57 miles since I restarted. I tape the spots where the old blisters were in the morning. If possible during the day I stop, change into dry socks and make any necessary adjustments to my taping. I¢ve noticed the new boots becoming more and more comfortable as time goes on and hope the break in period is about over. There was again pea soup fog all day so no views. The only picture I took was a selfie by the state line sign. The consensus among hikers out now is we need some sun to dry things out. Days of thick fog and mist has made everything damp including our gear, our clothes, and even the inside of shelters. Can¢t wait to get to town and dry out!Zin Master¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-21
From: Standing Indian Shelter 

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

Today featured another helping of the AT¢s go to dish: heavy fog with rain. The afternoon and evening forecast called for thunderstorms and as I write this heavy rains have begun on cue. The morning started with a weather delay as heavy rain was coming down. I was able to pick up enough signal to get a local hour by hour forecast which showed a milder weather window coming up so I waited until 8:15 to leave camp. I started the day by finishing the remaining 800 feet of Standing Indian Mountain. It was a gentle climb that went by quickly. From there the trail was relatively easy until a climb just before camp. There were several small stream crossings today that normally could just about be stepped over. Today they were a little treacherous. I got to the shelter at the same time as Shoemaker. He had left after me but caught up at the end. Dan, Jeremy, and Buddy came in half hour later, had lunch and continued on. Shoemaker and I are joined tonight by Lotus, whom I first met at Tray Mountain and PT. PT¢s wife is picking him up Friday morning to go to Franklin, so Shoemaker and I may catch a ride with him. Tomorrow we all tackle Albert Mountain, a 1,000 foot climb with an extremely steep section at the end. There is a fire tower on Albert that offers great views¢if its not incredibly foggy. It will be a long day as we are trying to make as many miles as we can so we can nero (near zero) on Friday on the way into town.Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-23
From: Rock Gap Shelter 

To: Winding Stair Gap 
Miles today: 3.8

As promised, Fresh Ground came to the shelter this morning and made coffee. I¢m not a coffee drinker, but PT was very appreciative. Prior to Fresh Ground¢s arrival, Lotus had gotten up early and left camp pre-dawn under headlamp. Fresh Ground had a wonderful idea over coffee: he offered to slackpack PT and I to Winding Stair Gap where PT¢s wife would be picking us up. We didn¢t need to think that offer over long. With Fresh Ground taking our packs, the climb out of Rock Gap was much easier. PT and I had a great conversation on our short hike. I¢ve hiked 100+ miles alone, so it was nice to have someone to talk to for a change. When we arrived at Winding Stair Gap, Fresh Ground already had his stove going heating up hot dogs. He went on to heat up spaghetti and mac and cheese. PT¢s wife was running late, so we settled in and visited more with Fresh Ground, and had second breakfast. Three young NOBO thru hikers came into the Gap while we were waiting: Hot Sauce, Zoom Zoom, and CPU. They were followed by the fourth member of their group, Squirrel. Fresh Ground made a grilled cheese sandwich for each of them. PT¢s wife arrived and took us into Franklin, North Carolina. We each got rooms at the Microtel and PT and I went about the business of washing off the trail. I did what may become known as the Zin Sandwich. I took a full shower, then closed the tub drain and filled the bath to soak in and continue scrubbing the grime off my feet. When I¢d had enough bath, I turned the shower back on to rinse off. Those who live everyday in civilization don¢t know how good they have it. After getting cleaned up we headed to the laundromat. While our clothes were in the wash, we headed next door for barbecue. With clean clothes and full bellies, we headed to Walmart to resupply. We had dinner and drinks tonight at The Lazy Hiker Brewery. PT is hitting the trail tomorrow. I hope I run into him again. I can tell he is going to make it to Katahdin. I¢m taking a planned zero tomorrow, which I hope doesn¢t turn into more zeroes. My right shin is swollen and very sore. When I¢ve been in my room today, I have been applying an ice compress to try to reduce the swelling. If it¢s not starting to feel better tomorrow I will go to urgent care to see what¢s going on. Nice to sleep in a bed, but I¢m already missing the trail. Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-23
From: Colorado Springs, CO

To: Colorado Springs, CO
Miles today: 0.0

Peaches here!  Just spent some time on the phone with Zin.   It¢s nice to hear his voice even though we¢ve been in touch everyday.   If Verizon is scanning the internet looking for mentions, I hope they find us and give us new phones for promoting them.Moxie & I have our groove after 4 weeks without Zin around.   As most of you have noted, Zin¢s dry sense of humor is in each of his posts.  I miss it in person but you get to enjoy it as much as I have for years.I don¢t have any epiphanies to share now that some time has passed.  That just tells me we did a pretty good job of preparing for this journey.    It has proved true that the best thing I can do for Zin is cheer him on and keep sharing his story so others can cheer him on too.   He did say that you can¢t underestimate how important all of your posts are to keep him motivated to keep at it.  He knows people are following him to make him accountable but more importantly not let you down.Thank you to all of Zin¢s new trail friends.  I know he¢s fine but it gives me piece of mind that he¢s not alone.  You are just another reason this is his dream - with a new friend and new adventure each day to look forward to.  I hope to meet some of you when I join him on the trail on occasion.Keep up the posts.  I love to read them as well.   Thanks to our friends and family who follow along and share the encouragement.   We miss our Saukville crew but love hearing from you.  Same goes to my work family.   Keep Zin motivated... his shin is bothering him a bit so hope he can recover and push through.   Happy and safe travel to all on the AT.Small steps, Big DreamsLove Peaches
Date: 2018-02-24
From: Winding Stair Gap 

To: Winding Stair Gap 
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a planned zero day. Unplanned was the trip to urgent care this morning. I have tendinitis in my lower right leg. They gave me a steroid shot at the clinic and a prescription for steroid pills. The nurse said the shot needed to be in my hip. I told her that was a nice way of saying ass. I¢ve been taking the steroids as well as ibuprofen today. I spent the entire day outside of meals with my leg elevated and an ice bag on it. I¢m going to stay in town at least one extra night and maybe two. The more this heals, the less chance I will aggravate it or re-injure it. I suspect I will have to manage this carefully for a while and make sure I always have an adequate supply of ¢vitamin I¢ handy. It¢s strange  how the trail, its culture, and being outdoors can get its hooks into you. After the abuse of the last 40 miles, I was looking forward to the upcoming town break. But yesterday, before I had even spent one night in town yet, I was longing to get back on the trail. I¢m hoping that¢s a good sign that means I will continue to push forward and overcome whatever obstacles may be in my way. There are going to be epic obstacles ahead. They are all for future Zin to deal with. I can only take on the challenges where I am. Worrying about what¢s ahead is pointless. The concept of living in the moment may be the biggest lesson I¢m learning on this journey.Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-25
From: Winding Stair Gap 

To: Winding Stair Gap 
Miles today: 0.0

Ok, last day of town rest. This was a double zero. I figure I gave back the day I was ahead by leaving Dick¢s Creek Gap early. Another day spent icing and popping pills. Tomorrow I will head out mid-morning and see how the leg holds up. To really be bomb proof would be to take another week off. Not happening. I¢m not going to let good be the enemy of perfect. I will concentrate on leading with my left foot on steep ups and downs and I will slow my pace down a little, but I¢m not stopping. I spent an hour after dinner tonight organizing my gear for packing up tomorrow. I also spent at least an hour binge watching music videos on YouTube with my earphones in. To say my taste in music is eclectic is an understatement. Songs on my phone span 80+ years of popular music. Tonight¢s featured genre for the videos was girl singers from the 80¢s and 90¢s. Pat Benatar nailed how I feel at this point:  ¢And with the power of conviction, there is no sacrifice.¢Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-26
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Wayah Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

Back on the trail today. I took my time getting going this morning because I wasn¢t planning on going far. I arranged for a shuttle to pick me up at 10:00 and take me back to Winding Stair Gap. The driver must have been on Lombardi time because he was five minutes early, which was fine with me. We got to the gap a few minutes after 10, and I was on my way. Most of the day the sky was overcast with thick fog banks above 5,000 feet which I think I went above twice. I was passed by a young couple near mid-day and a few minutes later I was passed by a young man. I caught up to all three of them near Siler Bald. I stopped there for my lunch and chatted with them for a few minutes until their break was over and they continued on. I didn¢t take the side trail to the top of Siler because it was socked in with thick fog. Siler Bald Shelter was my first option for camping, but I still felt good and it was only 1:00. So I kept going. The next option was seven and change miles in. It was a campsite supposedly but I didn¢t see any good spots to set up a tent and I still felt pretty good so I decided to make for Wayah Shelter. On the way, I summited Wayah Bald. I was glad I¢m slow today because by the time I got to the top the fog had lifted and the clouds cleared away, revealing amazing views in all directions. I could see Albert and Standing Indian, both of which I climbed last week. It was amazing to see mountains in the distance and realize that I walked from there to here. Tonight I¢m set up in my tent at the Wayah Shelter. There¢s a pretty decent crowd here. Three in the shelter, one of whom is a SOBO who started last July, and four others in tents including the three who I talked with at lunch. I heard from PT tonight. He¢s at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) tonight and will be leaving in the morning. I plan on being at the NOC Wednesday night, so I¢m still two days behind him.Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2018-02-27
From: Wayah Shelter 

To: Tellico Gap
Miles today: 8.4

It was cold overnight with the temperature probably making it into the low 20¢s. Snuggled into my sleeping bag, I ended up not being cold, but a little chilly. And of course I would rather lay there and be chilly for hours rather than take three minutes to get up and put on more clothes. I finally gave in around 4:30 and put on my camp socks, lined pants, and puffy jacket. The next couple hours were much better. Once the sun came up and the temperature started to rise, today was the best weather day I¢ve had on the trail. I have passed several 5 to 20 foot long side trails over the last 100 miles. Every one has been fogged in with no view. Finally, I came upon one today and was able to take in an unobstructed, sun drenched view of hills and mountains receding into the distance. I was one of the first to leave camp this morning so during the first hour on the trail I was passed by all the 20 somethings who had stayed in and around the shelter with me last night. I was also passed by Patches. Patches hiked south from Katahdin late last year and made it to New York before stopping to take time off. She has now restarted by hiking north from Springer. I came upon her at Cold Spring Shelter making her lunch and I stopped to have a snack and talked with her there. As the day wore on, it became clear that my leg is not alright. Each step feels like I¢m bumping my shin into something. It took me 5 hours to cover a little over 7 miles. I¢m slow, but that¢s ridiculous and I could tell I was getting progressively slower throughout the day. I called Peaches to let her know that I¢m getting off trail. I was able to contact a shuttle driver who picked me up at Tellico Gap and took me to Enterprise car rental in Franklin. I¢m now back in Kingsport Tennessee and will take some time to evaluate what my next move will be. Until I figure out my plan, I will be suspending updates of this journal. Thank you, everyone for the support you have given me on this journey, it has buoyed my spirits time and again. I will post an update once I figure out what¢s next.Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢
Date: 2016-02-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

In 2011 my son Frank hiked The AT with his then wife and two dogs. He had graduated college and heard me dreaming about it. By the time they got to Damascus they separated. She got off the trail but Frank and Lucy (his pooch )kept on hiking. I was able to get time off work and meet up with him in July. We hiked for a week from Port Clinton to Branchville New Jersey. Even though that was one of the Rockies trails I have hiked on and I was so hot ,I absolutely loved it! The scenery is so different from Alaska and seeing fireflies while camping behind the church of the mountains in Delaware water gap was magical.
Date: 2016-02-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday i hiked 4.5 miles on turnigain arm trail, with my pack. every thing seems to be working fine. I am in the final stages of adjusting my clothing. It is so easy to overpack and take more then you really need. I am also taking a Delome in reach more for my family and friends in Alaska than for my own guidence.As such I want to pack a bigger battery to power all my electronics.(i phone iPod Kindle and delome ) One month till blast off, Cant wait!
Date: 2016-02-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well with four weeks to go excitement is building! I am retiring from my job of 41 years on March 25. On March 26 we fly to Atlanta and on Monday the 28 if all goes well I will start the approach trail. There are hazards on the AT you won't find in Alaska such as ticks,poison ivy and lighting storms. Of course there won't be grizzley bears or moose to chase me. I had the pleasure to hike with Holcomb on the Turnigan arm trail on Saturday, he is a strong hiker and I hope I will see him this summer.
Date: 2016-03-02
From: seatac airport

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today Linda & I boarded the red eye out of Anchorage. We are on a four hour layover in sea tac airport enjoying a dark chocolate mocha. They have those on the trail,right? It has been a strange mix of excitement and dread since I retired yesterday. Kinda of like that feeling you got when you graduated high school. I am super excited to start this trip. Alaska airlines please don't loose my duffle bag!
Date: 2016-03-28
From: Amicalola falls

To: three forks
Miles today: 13.1

What a great day! Linda and I drove to Amicacola state park,what a truly beautiful place. Anyone thinking about hiking the AT definately should do it. The hike up the falls was hard but I took my time. 3.5 hours later I was standing on springer mountain. A quick lunch of a subway sandwich and sign the register and it was off to three forks .Boy I could get used to this slack packing! I got a sunburn so I guess I am officially a Georgia redneck!