morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-02-21
To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

Another very wet day. The sun did come out briefly at supper time drawing oohs and ahhs at the shelter. A few more people here tonite including another from Jersey. Australians Georgia and Nick got soaked and had a mouse chew into their tent last night. They were last seen headed out the way we came. I hope they¢re just regrouping. I asked them if it rains much in their hometown, they said ¢maybe 2-3 times a year¢. It¢s gonna rain every day here for at least another week. Yikes! Keeping the miles low, planning about 8 tomorrow. I have supplies for 2 more nights.Corrections from yesterday: Marbles is from NC and ¢guy¢ is Music Man from GA.
Date: 2018-02-22
To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

A nice warm partly sunny day. It was needed to dry out my stuff. I can¢t believe how lucky we hikers are to have this first week be so warm. Even the wet first days were a blessing in disguise forcing us to learn learn efficient set up and beak down. Early this afternoon just as I was getting hungry I had my first Trail Magic! Snap and Lion-heart, ¢Class of 2017¢ thru hikers, were paying it forward at Cooper gap with an AWSOME spread. I filled up on fruits, veggies, and a doughnut.
Date: 2018-02-23
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: clear sky

9 hours walking up and down on this warm, sunny Georgia day. I¢ve spent each night so far at the shelter sites with the same several people. We see each other occasionally through the day but mostly we walk alone. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has lots of ¢Ridge Runners¢ here in Georgia, ran into 3 of them today. They make sure people follow the rules, especially with regards to carrying out trash and storing food properly. Kudos to them as the sites are in good shape. There are metal boxes at each shelter to store food overnight. Last night coyotes made some noise close by but stayed out of flashlight range. Big day tomorrow, gotta get up and over Blood Mountain. They say it¢s as tough as it¢s name but it doesn¢t stand a chance: there¢s a shower, laundry, and a bed on the other side!As I¢m typing this, at 8:30 pm, a big group of people arrived. Everybody is settled in and they¢re tromping about in the dark looking for flat spots to set up their tents...I hope they cook and store their food properly or say hello to Mr Coyote!
Date: 2018-02-24
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Neels Gap
Miles today: 3.6

Blood Mountain whaaaa? Kicked it¢s butt, so did all the other thru hikers. Staying tonight at Mountain Crossings hostel. I wasn¢t the first one here but I was the first one to ask for a bunk and BINGO: Trail Magic again! Someone anonymously payed the $20 for today¢s first hiker¢s bunk, I proudly took the prize and some ribbing from my fellow travelers. There was a small festival here sponsored by the outfitter, they call it the ¢Kick Off¢ of hiking season. There were a few vendors, live music, and hot dogs. The Altra shoe rep gave me a beer (I¢m wearing his shoes). The rumored laundry service proved to be just that but no matter, it¢s gonna rain hard tomorrow. There are a surprising number of hikers around, 12 here and at least another couple dozen at a near by campsite and the hostel down the road. Eight (give or take) of us have formed a little group traveling at the same pace. I think we¢ll begin to break up as each of our need for rest and showers spreads us out along the route. We¢ll all no doubt form new groups, everybody¢s going the same way!Note: word is I¢m entering a difficult area for cell reception, might miss a day or two posting.
Date: 2018-02-25
From: Neels Gap

To: Low Gap shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: broken clouds

Cold rain today. More rain tomorrow morning then still colder. Got more Magic at a road crossing. Billy was parked there with fresh fruit and a hot cup of Lady Grey tea. Thanks Billy! Lots of people in and around the shelter tonite although we¢re spread over about 1/10 mile of slimy muddy trail. There is no ¢bear box¢ for food storage here and the trees are not conducive to hanging my bag so I sealed my food up as best I could. It¢s laying right here under my hammock with my wet and stinky shirt, socks, and underwear laying on top. That ought¢a to do the trick. There¢s a dog in the shelter for back up. Marbles and I have been hiking near each other since the start. I pass him on the uphills and he passes me going down. We¢ve agreed to stay that way until at least the next hostel, three days away. Rumor has it they do laundry...
Date: 2018-02-26
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: moderate rain

Morning rain gave way to sunshine and it¢s clear and cold tonite. The moon is bright enough to read by but I didn¢t pack a book: too heavy! Marbles and I have become separated. He was beginning to struggle and may have gone into town for a ¢zero day¢ (zero miles, day of rest). I¢m sure he¢ll be fine and we¢ll see each other further north. Everyone in the group I started with is now ahead of me, behind me, or headed home. Here tonite are Blaze and Mike, who I¢ve run into a few times before, two brothers who have identical clothes, a father and son with whom I compared hammocks, the Ridge-runner Pete, and his wife. The shelter has a brand new privy (joy joy) and steel ¢bear cables¢ for hanging food. Pete taught us how to properly attach our bags before hauling them 15ft up. He says the bears north of here in the Smoky Mountains have learned to shake the cables so that improperly secured food will fall to the ground...uh, whuut?!!I¢m gonna try to push through to the hostel at Dicks Creek Gap on Thursday for cleanup, resupply, and maybe a zero. I¢ll need to stretch my food but I haven¢t been very hungry. They say the famous ¢Hiker Hunger¢ doesn¢t kick in for a week or two, I hope it¢s closer to two for me! Shout out to Mrs Taft¢s 4th grade class at Manasquan Elementary! Please, Mrs Taft, don¢t mark me too harshly on spelling and grammar, it¢s cold, my typing thumbs are numb, and I haven¢t enough battery for too many proofreads.
Date: 2018-02-27
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

This morning I watched the sun rise over Tray Mountain, where I am tonite, pretty cool. There was magic at Unicoi Gap. This time it came in the form of a Dr. Pepper and some chips from the trunk of Darren ¢The Encourager¢s¢ car. I met several people including 2017 thru hiker Lion King. All of them knew with a glance and a sniff that I¢m headed for Maine. One couple offered me a beer which I politely declined (what¢s happening to me?!!). Plodalong and Grandma Shortie are back refreshed after a luxurious night in an actual hotel. They brought news that Music Man dropped out, at lease temporarily, with a dental emergency and Marbles indeed did head to nearby Hiawassee for some rest. Among others present tonight are Blaze, Motorcycle Mama, and Maple who is sporting an impressively small pack. Every day I walk through many areas of blowdown (fallen trees) caused when Hurricane Irma barreled through here last year. ATC volunteers have done an amazing job clearing debris from the trail. Fellow NOBO¢er (northbounder) Mike was hiking here when Irma struck. Everyone was sternly ordered off the trail. Others tell tales of destruction in their hometowns nearby. Ironically, as I see the damage here Joyce is in Tortola, BVI seeing massive destruction from when the same storm passed directly over that small island. She¢s there making arrangements to rebuild the severely damaged getaway she recently took over from her parents. I noticed today that acorns are beginning to sprout. Of the countless thousands I walked past some will survive to fill the voids left by the storm.
Date: 2018-02-28
From: Tray Mountain Shelter

To: Deep Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Hard, cold rain all day. I got soaked to the bone. It¢s just water though. It¢ll wash off. As soon as I got to the shelter area I set up my tarp, hung the hammock, put on dry clothes, and took a little nap in my cozy down cocoon. Later I went to the shelter to cook dinner with the group. They¢re all sleeping inside on the hard floor there while mice run over and amongst them. No thank you, I¢ll stay out here with Mr. Coyote!Trail names. Some people make up their own: Plodalong and Grandma Shortie. Some are given one because of something they do. Weatherman got his because he checks the forecast early so people ask him instead of turning on their phones to check themselves. One of the rules out here is that you have to approve your trail name. Many don¢t have one.  Mike and Pete. Plodalong keeps trying to tag me. Romano: I packed stinky cheese from home. Freebie: I always seem to get Magic. Cathole: I was dumb enough to bring that one up, thanks George.I¢m sticking with my lifelong nickname. Come on, my MOM gave it to me! Not that I¢m not profoundly proud of being given the names of my father and grandfathers; all the finest of men. In fact I hold those names in such high regard that I¢ll only use them on very important occasions: graduations, wedding, legal proceedings, tax time, etc. For everything else Chip has always worked just fine. Life is kinda like a trail right? So Chip it is. More rain on tap for tomorrow. Just 3.6 miles to Dicks Creek Gap and the long awaited laundry day! Fingers crossed...
Date: 2018-03-01
From: Deep Gap Shelter

To: Top Of Georgia Hostel
Miles today: 3.6

NERO day: nearly zero miles hiked. Rain held off till I reached the famous Top of Georgia Hostel where there was indeed laundry service. $35 dollars covers bunk, shower, laundry, shuttle into Hiawassee for dinner and supplies, breakfast tomorrow, then a ride back to the trail 1/2 mile up the road.I ate massive heaps of salad and veggies at a buffet along with Blaze, a young man whose name eludes, and Marbles who ¢night hiked¢ in the pouring rain last night to arrive at Low Gap Shelter after 8:00. I also learned he is an excellent guitar player after he picked one up in the common area...super comfy couches there!The weather turns dryer, much colder, and very windy tomorrow as we move up into higher altitudes. I am clean, dried out, and fully laden with provisions for 5 days. Should be in North Carolina by mid afternoon...saddle up!
Date: 2018-03-02
From: Top Of Georgia Hostel

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 11.8

Sunny, windy, and much colder. Very cold tonite but I¢m super toasty in my hammock. Today was the first day that I struggled a bit and I arrived here exhausted. My pack is heavy with 5 days of food, the trail kept going up, up, up, and the cold just sucked the energy from me. It took 9 hours including several snack breaks to make it here. I got a little boost from crossing the border into North Carolina. One state down, 13 to go (but who¢s counting). Onward tomorrow...
Date: 2018-03-03
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter 

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

Another crisp day, trail not as steep as yesterday, 8 relatively easy hours. Last night there was a guy at the shelter who seemed different. Couldn¢t put my finger on it but he had an air of confidence and a bit of a Rock Star vibe. Having arrived too late for introductions it wasn¢t till this morning that I learned he is Giggles: the first SOBO we¢ve run into! He¢s been on the trail since July and will be done in a week. I salute you sir!Today near the top of Standing Indian Mountain I passed sign nailed to a tree. It¢s been there so long the bark has begun to grow over it. It said ¢North Carolina Wildlife Bear Sanctuary¢. I instantly recognized the font from the NC Wildlife magazines my Grandparents would subscribe to us as a holiday gift each year. Those subscriptions likely helped fund the sign. I used to read each issue cover to cover to learn about the plants and animals in these mountains, most of which are also common at home in New Jersey.Fred and Edna Daley were good people who worked hard to provide for my mother, my aunts, and my uncles. I always thought of their home and Valley Road neighborhood in Glen Rock as a kind of Walton¢s Mountain (as in the 70s TV show). A place where Father worked the earth, Mother made ends meet at home, and older siblings sometimes delayed following their dreams to care for younger ones. It was a place full of pictures and stories. A wonderful place to be a grandchild. I still see the house and yard as it was. Feel the rumble of freight trains passing at night. Smell the basement bedrooms with dark closets and mysterious cabinets filled with the last generations toys, stuffed animals, books, and games. There are no Daleys left on Valley Road. They moved north and south, mostly into states where this trail goes. We many grandchildren have spread wider. And so on. Why did they send us North Carolina Wildlife Magazine? I¢ve always wondered. Although they did eventually move here it seemed a curious choice until today. Those subscriptions planted the seeds of this adventure in my young head. Thanks Fred and Edna, it was good seeing you on the mountain today. Goodnight Grandma. Goodnight Grandpa
Date: 2018-03-04
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Long Branch Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

Beautiful day, perfect hiking weather. Decided not to push on another 3+ miles to the next shelter. That means I¢ve gotta make 7.2 miles in the morning to catch the 11am shuttle to Baltimore Jacks hostel where there¢s a bunk with my name on it. No cell service here, will post this tomorrow from Franklin, NC  Tonites bed time: 7:30. G¢nite.¢¢¢¢¢-Postscript: my eyes popped open at 5am this morning and it occurred I had a chance to make the 9am shuttle. Ate, packed up, and made it just in time!
Date: 2018-03-05
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 7.2

Worked hard this morning to beat the crowd of hikers into Franklin, bad weather rolling in tomorrow and many are getting off trail to avoid it. Ron, the operator of Baltimore Jacks Hostel, managed to fit 11 of us and our gear into his 6 passenger van (he said the record is 12). I rode squished between the back seat and the rear doors with packs on top of me. It reminded me of the ¢pre-seatbelt¢ days when we¢d just pile in till the doors wouldn¢t shut. Ron told us some cautionary tales about how quickly the weather can go bad in these mountains and offered tips on where to shop and eat. After restocking our food bags John (formerly Weather Man, he prefers John) and I had a burger then he, Mack Daddy, and I had dinner at Hardee¢s then some beers at The Lazy Hiker Brewery. Got back to the hostel way after ¢Hiker Midnight¢ which is an hour after dark. An injured hiker is sleeping in the bunk above John. He fell and cut his face on a log then hiked 20 miles to get to town. Ron took him to the clinic and he¢ll be OK but the bleeding hasn¢t subsided. John will surely sleep with his mouth closed. Taking my first Zero tomorrow, partly because of the weather, partly to rest my bones, and partly because I¢m enjoying the company.
Date: 2018-03-06
From: Franklin, NC

To: Franklin
Miles today: 0.0

Nasty weather here in Franklin this morning though this evening was pretty nice. A few dozen hikers spent the day lollygagging about town at the many businesses catering to us. There are food stores, cafes, pubs, and two outfitters one of which has a craft beer bar inside next to the shoe section (George: make a note for a future surf shop).Businesses here are gearing up, no... bracing for a ¢Bubble¢ of hikers due in starting tomorrow. ¢Bubble¢ is the term for a large group of hikers traveling on a section of trail at the same time. This bubble is made up mostly of 20 somethings who started at Springer Mountain in the sunny days the week after I started in the rain on Feb 20th. They¢re putting in more miles per day than us ¢Greybeards¢ and are predictably passing through our numbers now. The biggest bubble will begin hiking over the next 3 weeks and won¢t catch me till April. By then attrition will have thinned us all out so crowding shouldn¢t be a problem.I¢ll hit the trail refreshed tomorrow morning aiming to get to Fontana Dam on Sunday for some Magic courtesy of dear friend and hiking buddy Denise who is picking me up there for a zero.
Date: 2018-03-07
From: Winding Stair Gap

To: Watah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0

After a few early Egg Muffins Ron dropped us off at the trailhead and we headed back into the woods. The forest is dusted with snow that fell last night and it is very cold. I¢m warm now in the cocoon but getting set up and preparing dinner was unpleasant. Morning will be the same then I¢ll hike to keep warm
Date: 2018-03-08
From: Watah Bald Shelter

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Super cold this morning. Snow flurries all day with up to 3¢ of snow on the ground in some spots. Tonite¢s low temperature will be about 18 with gusty winds. I¢m confident my gear will suffice...toasty as I write this! The cold makes everything difficult but I¢m slowly getting more efficient at setting up at night and breaking down each morning. At Amacalola State Park (the southern end of the trail) the ATC has a table set up where prospective thru-hikers answer a few questions and sign in before they head up Springer Mountain. Sign in is not required and there is no fee. Each hiker is given a tag for their pack with a number on the back. I am Hiker #217. Of the 4000 people expected to sign in this year fewer than 1 in 4 will reach Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Several people I¢ve hiked with have already left the trail. Among them: Georgia and Nick were rained out, Music Man got a bad toothache, Gabriel blew out his knee, Marbles got picked up in Franklin with a possible broken foot, Water Leaf just didn¢t like climbing mountains, and today I learned John is headed home with a foot injury. I¢ve enjoyed their company and wish all continued success on their journeys, on and off trail. Yesterday I heard a description of a hiking couple that sounded an awful lot like Georgia and Nick. Could it be?Better weather tomorrow, high in the 40s. Back to rainy days after that. On we go, one careful step at a time...
Date: 2018-03-09
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: clear sky

Peach of a day today. Sunny and cool. I managed to avoid the temptation of a burger lunch at The Natahalia Outdoor Center Complex. Instead I ate a Spam Burrito and some almonds from my food bag to lighten my load for the long, steep climb out of there. The grade didn¢t look too bad in the guide book but in reality it seemed to go on forever and some of the terrain was very rocky. I didn¢t arrive here till almost 6:00 and now my feet hurt. I need to be more careful and not push so hard as to get injured.Nearly all of the hikers passing through NOC were smarter and are resting tonight at one of the nearby hostels or hotels. Among them are Class Act, Mac Daddy, Plodalong, and Grandma Shortie. Next time I¢ll run into them will probably be in The Smokies. Rain moving in tonight. What else is new.
Date: 2018-03-10
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel
Miles today: 6.8

A cold, drizzly, and unexpectedly short walk today. My feet have been sore the past couple of days and around noon I felt a growing pain in one foot. I¢ve seen others push through minor problems only to head home with serious injuries so I decided to get off trail a day earlier than planned. I pulled out the guidebook and called Lonnie at Wolf Creek Hostel for a pick up at the next road crossing. Within an hour I was showered and doing laundry. Swagman, Mac Daddy, and Class Act are here as well and we had dinner together at the diner next door. I¢m pretty sure my foot is fine but might not have been if I went on as planned. I may have been pushing too hard and the smart thing to do is get some rest...lots of miles to go...Denise is coming here to pick me up in the morning. I¢ll spend tomorrow and Monday with her in Murphy, NC. I¢ve made plans with Lonnie to spend Tuesday and Wednesday nights here at Wolf Creek while he shuttles me to and from the trail for 2 days of ¢Slack Packing¢. Slack Packing is when you hike with just a day¢s supplies and leave your gear behind or have it delivered to you up the trail. In my case I¢ll be doing easier miles while my heavy pack gets some rest back at the hostel. After 2 zeros and 2 days slacking I should be well healed and charged up for the big, bad Smokies.
Date: 2018-03-11
From: Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel

To: Murphy, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Denise picked me up as planned and we headed to the house for lunch, then off to Walmart for supplies. I have enough food to last through the Smokies now but will it fit in the pack? It¢s all de-packaged and sealed in zip lock bags now but I don¢t know...I¢m tired of looking at it all. And I¢m tired. Zero days are exhausting!
Date: 2018-03-12
From: Murphy, NC

To: Murphy, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Went with Denise today to help her prospect real estate and a few towns in GA where she and Pete might eventually relocate to. We had a long discussion regarding the differences between Chalets, Villas, and Cabins. She thinks the difference is architectural, I think it¢s more about the view. We agreed to disagree. Denise noted that in yesterday¢s post I referred to the building where we are staying as a ¢house¢. I am the guest here so I¢ll stand corrected: it¢s a ¢Villa¢. I feel very bad now about asking her to take me to Walmart. At the end of the today I feel I¢m getting too much civilization and am itching to get back on the trail but still convinced that the days off are needed. I start back up tomorrow with an easy 7.6 miles slack-pack to see how the foot is.***Big thanks to Pete¢s Mom for making her Chateau available, I very much needed the rest and, by any name, this is a very nice place to get it.
Date: 2018-03-13
From: Yellow Creek Rd. 

To: Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel
Miles today: 7.7

Denise dropped me off at the Yellow Creek Rd trail crossing after leaving my pack at the hostel. Thanks Denise! I then hiked SOBO back to Stecoah Gap where Lonnie picked me up. It was weird hiking SOBO, I passed a bunch of NOBOs and felt like an outsider. Everybody¢s catching slack pack fever. At least 4 others from here are doing it tomorrow in slightly different ways. As for me: Lonnie will drop me at Yellow Creek Rd. and I¢ll hike NOBO to Fontana where he¢ll pick me up and bring me back here for one more night. On Thursday he¢ll take me to Fontana where I¢ll finally enter The Smokies. It doesn¢t look like I can carry enough food to get through the whole Park. I¢ll likely get out of the mountains for a day when I get to Newfound Gap for rest and resupply in either Cherokee or Gatlinburg. Hello Dollywood!!!
Date: 2018-03-14
From: Yellow Creek Gap

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 9.0

Lonnie dropped me off early for one more cold day of slack packing. I hiked to Fontana Dam, called for a ride and Lonnie¢s caretaker, Shadow (Class of 2017), brought me back for a beer, an outside fire pit, and one more night in a bed. It¢s intimidating looking up into the Smokies from the Dam. Even though the mountain forecast is for high temps in the 40s there¢s still snow up there. Some hikers are skipping ahead to avoid it. My plan is to plow through. I¢m equipped to deal with most any weather but deep snow would pose a problem. Hopefully those ahead of me will have tromped it down. I¢ll be hiking by 8am with 2600ft of elevation gain in 10.3 miles before the shelter. I got this.Note: cell reception might be sketchy in them thar hills...will post when I can.